A moment later, Wang Jingxuan reappeared in the courtyard, looking relaxed. Compared to the previous days, the snake demon seemed even weaker. Presumably, it had used its demonic power to fulfill his wishes, which was good. It would be more obedient to him. Moreover, the county mistress had been much nicer to him in recent days. With the help of the snake demon, he was surely going to climb the ladder of success soon!
"Xiaochun, please entertain the celestial masters well. I'm going to the prince's mansion to see the prince."
Before leaving, Wang Jingxuan got very close to Lu Chun affectionately, trying to hug her. But he always felt an inexplicable chill, as if being pricked by needles on his back, which made him very uncomfortable!
After trying several times and still having the same feeling, Wang Jingxuan couldn't help but shrink his neck and quickly left the door.
Lu Chun watched his excited back, a shadow flashing across her eyes.
Strangely enough, when she woke up this morning, she was shocked to find that her hair in the bronze mirror had returned to its original state!
Although she didn't know the reason, it calmed her originally anxious mood a lot. She thought Wang Jingxuan would notice, but unexpectedly, he didn't seem to notice at all!
Lu Chun's heart gradually cooled down. If she had still been hesitating about whether to save this relationship last night, now she was certain - his heart was no longer with her.
She went to the courtyard where Shen Cuiyu and the others were staying and confessed:
"Actually, I originally thought about getting divorced from Wang Jingxuan. He could pursue his future, and I could go back to being a tea girl. But Wang Jingxuan lied to me. I'm not willing. I don't want... to see him living better than me. I'm going to expose his lies to the county mistress."
Hearing this, Pei Yu lowered his head and talked to Shen Cuiyu for a while, then left the villa too.
When Wang Jingxuan returned to the villa in the afternoon, his face looked a bit strange for some reason.
"The county mistress somehow heard that you're here and wants to invite you to meet her."
Everyone looked at each other, knowing that this must be Pei Yu's doing!
Hearing this, Lu Chun's heart started beating violently. She was actually a bit excited, but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, a look of appropriate confusion appeared on her face:
"I'm just a country woman. Why does the county mistress want to see me? I'd better not go."
Wang Jingxuan didn't say a word. This was exactly what puzzled him.
"Maybe the county mistress has taken a fancy to Young Master Wang and wants to find out more about him?" A handsome disciple suddenly said, his tone full of teasing.
"Don't talk nonsense." Xu Qingfeng scolded in a low voice.
The disciple shrugged and closed his mouth awkwardly.
But Wang Jingxuan's mind suddenly became clear because of this sentence!
Could it be that the county mistress had really fallen for him and wanted to give Lu Chun a warning?
Wang Jingxuan felt a bit proud. He thought the county mistress, being of such noble birth, would be hard to win over. But now, after only a month of pursuit, she was already jealous for him. What a royal relative, she was just the same!
As for Lu Chun... Wang Jingxuan looked at her with a complicated expression for a moment. He actually still had feelings for Lu Chun. After he married the county mistress in the future, he would keep Lu Chun outside his mansion, so as to be worthy of her!
Thinking of this, Wang Jingxuan's attitude suddenly changed, and he began to persuade Lu Chun kindly!
"Xiaochun, don't worry. The prince and the county mistress are kind - hearted people, and they've taken good care of me in the past. They definitely don't have any other intentions this time." After saying that, he took Lu Chun's hand and put it to his lips, sincerely saying, "For your husband's future, please go and meet the county mistress!"
Lu Chun seemed a bit embarrassed, but couldn't stand Wang Jingxuan's pestering and finally agreed.
"I can go, but I want Celestial Master Shen to accompany me."
Wang Jingxuan hesitated for a moment and looked at Shen Cuiyu, then nodded in agreement without hesitating for too long.
Originally, he thought these celestial masters were very powerful, but now they hadn't noticed anything strange about him. It seemed that their cultivation was still too shallow and they weren't to be feared. Moreover, Shen Cuiyu was just a girl in her teens. What kind of trouble could she cause?
"Xiaochun, I'm glad you're willing. It's really my fortune to marry a virtuous wife like you!"
Wang Jingxuan smiled brightly and rushed to prepare the carriage.
After he turned around, the worry in Lu Chun's eyes gradually faded, and the disciples also looked thoughtfully at Wang Jingxuan's leaving back.
On the carriage to the prince's mansion, Lu Chun's palms were cold, and she felt inexplicably nervous.
Shen Cuiyu noticed her uneasiness and gently patted the back of her hand.
Lu Chun gave a bitter smile - she had never experienced so many strange things in her life. If the county mistress didn't believe her, the situation would surely be very embarrassing...
After they arrived at the prince's mansion, a maid came up to lead the way. Lu Chun carried the snacks she made by herself and walked forward nervously all the way.
After passing through the pavilions and waterside terraces, they stopped outside an elegant pavilion.
Lu Chun timidly looked up and saw a dignified young girl standing in the pavilion. She had a beautiful appearance, an outstanding temperament, and was full of nobility in every gesture. At the moment, she was idly teasing the kingfisher in the cage, looking extremely lazy.
Lu Chun withdrew her gaze and suddenly felt self - conscious.
The maid stepped forward and whispered something in the county mistress's ear. Only then did the county mistress put down the things in her hand, wash her hands with the warm water brought by the maid, and then sit down slowly.
"Take a seat."
Lu Chun sat down as she was told and subconsciously straightened her back.
The county mistress's eyes fell on Lu Chun. After sizing her up for a moment, she asked:
"You're the wife of Staff Officer Wang. You're really young and beautiful."
"The county mistress is overpraising me," Lu Chun lowered her head, and her voice was muffled.
Noticing the pastry box in Lu Chun's hand, the county mistress slightly raised her eyebrows: "For me?"
".....These are the snacks I made myself. They're not presentable."
Hearing this, the county mistress waved her hand. The maid beside her immediately took it. She opened the lid, glanced at the pastries, and casually picked up one:
"The appearance is not bad, but there are plenty of cooks in my mansion. Why do you have to go to so much trouble..." Even so, the county mistress still put the pastry to her lips and took a small bite. After chewing it lightly, she suddenly paused for a moment, and then changed her tune: "....The taste is actually quite good."
After saying that, she took the box herself, calmly reached out for another one, tasted it again and again, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
"With your skills, how can you be willing to just be a so - called virtuous wife at home? You should open a shop."
Lu Chun was stunned for a moment. First, she was a bit embarrassed because of the praise, but after understanding the county mistress's words, a look of confusion appeared on her face:
"The husband is the head of the wife. Since I'm married, I should stay with my husband... Besides, how can a woman open a shop?"
The county mistress pouted, seemingly disapproving of Lu Chun's words, but didn't say anything.
"You've come from afar. I should play the host's role."
Shen Cuiyu and Lu Chun looked at each other, and both saw surprise in each other's eyes. Didn't the county mistress just finish an entire box of pastries? Why was she going to have a meal again?
In a daze, several dishes were all served and neatly arranged.
Shen Cuiyu stared at the dishes for a moment - boiled green vegetables, stir - fried crown daisy, cold bitter gourd, roasted green peppers, vinegar - flavored Chinese cabbage...
"So... so green," Lu Chun looked at the sea of green in front of her, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help twitching.
What did the county mistress mean? Was she provoking her in public? Hinting that she was wearing a cuckold?