The atmosphere was a bit too cold. Rong Xuan coughed lightly, nodded to Zeng Haomiao, and said, "It's rare for Brother Zeng of the Zeng family to come. My wife has been feeling a bit unwell these days. I'd like to ask Brother Zeng to take a look at her."
No matter how much the Rong family had fallen from grace, they were not so poor that they couldn't afford a doctor. Moreover, since they were in the manor, a female doctor must have been prepared long ago. Why wait for Zeng Haomiao to examine her?
This was to give Rong Sui and Shi Ning'an some time alone.
Zeng Haomiao realized this later. He followed Rong Xuan away in a daze.
Shi Ning'an had imagined countless times how excited she would be when she saw Rong Sui again. She had also thought many times that Rong Sui must have been eating and sleeping poorly during these days and would surely be terribly thin.
Unexpectedly, apart from still being thin, he looked almost the same as the former Fourth Young Master of the capital.
A surge of jealousy welled up in Shi Ning'an's heart. So, while she was in Nanling, worrying about him and traveling a long distance to share his hardships, he was not only fine but also living quite comfortably?
Heartless.
Shi Ning'an was unhappy, but she couldn't take her eyes off Rong Sui.
Rong Sui's face was a bit gloomy. He stood under the tree and waited until Rong Xuan and Zeng Haomiao were out of sight. Then he quickened his steps and walked over, reaching out to grab Shi Ning'an's wrist.
Shi Ning'an let out a soft cry, "Third Master..."
Rong Sui slowed down his movements a bit but still didn't let go. He half - dragged her inside.
Shi Ning'an followed beside him and had to almost run to keep up. She looked up at his side profile. His sword - shaped eyebrows and starry eyes were so handsome that they made her heart flutter.
This was the Rong Sui she loved.
At this moment, she even felt a sense of strangeness.
Rong Sui walked quickly and soon brought Shi Ning'an into a room. Before she could react, Rong Sui closed the door, pinned her against it, and kissed her.
Shi Ning'an's mind went blank. She seemed to just follow his movements and didn't know what to do.
The long, tender kiss was also strong and domineering, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.
I don't know how long it took before Rong Sui let her go. He rested his head against hers, his voice a bit hoarse, "Why didn't you listen to me?"
Shi Ning'an was dizzy from his long kiss. Leaning in his arms, she was completely disoriented and didn't understand what he meant. She just gasped and looked at him blankly, with the mist in her eyes caused by his passionate actions.
Rong Sui had a solemn face and a somewhat stiff voice at first. But seeing her like this, the anger in his heart vanished. He pulled her into his arms, and his hand unconsciously slipped into her sleeve.
Although it was autumn, the weather was still quite hot. Shi Ning'an was wearing thin clothes, not as thick as those she wore before leaving the capital.
She quickly reached out to grab his wandering hand, almost pleading, "Rong Sui... Third Master."
Her soft words made Rong Sui even more restless.
Just then, it was already dinner time. Outside the door came Rong Ping's trembling voice, "Third... Master, the... the old master asks you to... to... to have dinner."
Shi Ning'an blushed deeply and tried hard to push Rong Sui away. But Rong Sui held her tightly and refused to let go. He even gently bit her ear, making her shiver and unable to dodge.
The voice outside had long disappeared. After finishing this difficult task, Rong Ping was afraid of being punished by his master and had already run far away.
Rong Sui picked Shi Ning'an up horizontally and walked towards a chair beside.
Shi Ning'an was frightened and whispered softly, "Third Master... Don't do anything improper..."
Rong Sui chuckled and put her on the chair. He took out a comb from somewhere and combed her messy hair.
It turned out he was just combing her hair. Shi Ning'an felt relieved, but for some reason, she still felt a bit empty.
With strands of hair twined together, Rong Sui combed very carefully. Without a mirror, Shi Ning'an couldn't see, but she just felt that he was gentle and meticulous, not even pulling a single hair.
"Why didn't you listen to me and come back?"
Shi Ning'an hung her head halfway and pouted slightly, "If I had known that you had such thoughts when you sent me away, I would never have left."
Rong Sui's hand paused for a moment. He should have been angry at her disobedience, but he just couldn't get angry.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Shi Ning'an thought he was angry. She turned her head suddenly, and a few strands of hair were pulled out, making her cry out softly in pain.
Rong Sui quickly put down the comb and frowned, "What are you doing?"
Seeing that he not only didn't show concern but was also so strict, Shi Ning'an felt even more aggrieved. She pouted and ignored him in a huff.
Rong Sui picked her up and threw her on the couch beside. He pressed himself on her and kissed her forcefully.
Shi Ning'an was greatly shocked. She tried to push him away but couldn't. She could only dodge.
But her strength was less than one - tenth of his. All her movements were like tickling on his body.
Rong Sui's hand reached up, making her arch her body in shock. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she just couldn't dodge.
Thunder rumbled in the early - autumn sky, and the autumn rain began to fall patter.
The originally hot weather finally became a bit more comfortable, as if smoothing out the irritability in people's hearts, leaving only a sticky feeling all over.
Princess Zhaoming looked at the sky and murmured, "It's raining. I wonder if the second brother and the others are okay."
Rong Xuan sat beside her, "The weather is different in each place. Mother, don't worry."
Princess Zhaoming got up and walked to the corridor. Another thunderbolt roared, and her heart rose and fell with it.
Mrs. Shao was pregnant and was teaching Han'er to recognize characters with a book in her hand.
Han'er looked up and asked, "Mother, is Uncle Fourth coming back? Can he play with Han'er?"
Mrs. Shao reached out and patted his head, "Does Han'er miss Uncle Fourth?"
Han'er nodded, "Yes. Han'er wants to be a heroic man and be a great general like Uncle Fourth!"
Seeing her mother - in - law looking so worried, Mrs. Shao wanted to stop her son from talking. But Han'er didn't understand so much and was still excitedly talking about his future dreams.
When Rong Zhuo came in, he heard Rong Han's words and picked him up with a smile, "Does Han'er want to be a great general?"
Rong Han giggled, "Uncle Second."
Rong Zhuo pointed to the book in Mrs. Shao's hand, "The Thousand - Character Classic. How many characters do you recognize?"
Rong Han stared with his eyes wide, "I'm going to be a great general. This..."
Rong Zhuo laughed, "Who said that a great general doesn't need to recognize characters? If you don't recognize characters, you won't even be able to read military books."
"Is this how your Uncle Fourth taught you? But your Uncle Fourth was a child prodigy since childhood. He could recite the Thousand - Character Classic and the Three - Character Classic at the age of three, write hundreds of characters at the age of five, write essays at the age of seven, and at the age of ten... Well, Han'er, how old are you?"
Rong Han was stunned, "Could Uncle Fourth recite the Thousand - Character Classic and the Three - Character Classic at the age of three?"
He looked at the Thousand - Character Classic in his mother's hand guiltily. His mother did make him recognize characters every day, but he preferred to practice martial arts with the uncles outside the mansion every morning.
But Uncle Fourth could recite the Thousand - Character Classic and the Three - Character Classic at the age of three?
Rong Zhuo nodded seriously, "Of course. Not only Uncle Fourth, but look at your father and your Uncle Third. Which one of them is not outstanding in both knowledge and culture?"
Rong Han struggled to climb down from Rong Zhuo and ran over to hold Mrs. Shao's hand, "Mother, I also want to practice calligraphy."
Rong Xuan looked at the backs of his wife and son, then glanced at Rong Zhuo, "Recite the Thousand - Character Classic and the Three - Character Classic at the age of three? If the fourth brother had that ability, he would be really promising. It's true that he could lift grandfather's big sword at the age of three. Isn't it something you were good at before, talking about reciting and recognizing characters?"
Rong Zhuo spread his hands, "I just said it casually. It's a good thing that Han'er wants to make progress. But after all, he is still young. He shouldn't practice martial arts too hard every day. It's also good to read books occasionally."
Rong Xuan didn't say anything.
But A Xi beside turned pale. If she stayed in the Rong family, would her child have to start reading and recognizing characters at the age of three?
Shi Ning'an was sitting on a chair, resting her chin on her hand and in a daze.
Ying Tao was making the bed beside. No matter how she made it, it just wouldn't be flat. Although she was a maid, she was originally trained as a bodyguard. After growing up, she was given to the young lady. There were so many maids around the young lady that she didn't need to make the bed. Now, Lu'er and the others hadn't come, and she was the only one left.
The wrinkles on the bed didn't matter much. There was no need to make it perfectly flat.
Thinking so, Ying Tao put down the quilt and thought it was good enough.
An old maid came with two maids outside the door.
"Miss Biao, the First Lady said that your maids didn't come back with you, so she sent these two maids for you to use for now."
Shi Ning'an was still in a daze, with a slightly red face. She didn't know what she was thinking and didn't even notice the people at the door.
Ying Tao quickly stepped forward and nudged her young lady, "Miss, Miss, the First Lady sent someone here."
Shi Ning'an came back to her senses. Her face was still blank, but she quickly nodded, "Go and do your work, Mama."
The old maid left. The two maids came forward to salute and reported their names. But Shi Ning'an didn't hear at all. She waved her hand, told them to listen to Ying Tao, then changed her posture and continued to rest her chin on her hand and be in a daze.
Ying Tao was very happy to have someone to help. She immediately ordered them to clean the room, and then clapped her hands and sat opposite Shi Ning'an to eat fruits.
Shi Ning'an thought it was too noisy in the room, so she simply went to sit in the corridor.
Ying Tao followed her out, "Miss, what's wrong with you? You've been in a daze all the time. Before, you were worried about the affairs in the court and the Rong family. Now that you're back and everyone in the Rong family is okay, what else are you worried about?"
Shi Ning'an shook her head, "I'm not worried."
Ying Tao thought for a while and then asked, "Is it... that the Third Master didn't treat you well when you saw him today?"
Shi Ning'an blushed and turned her face away, ignoring her.
Ying Tao took a bite of a pear, "The Third Master is just like that. He treats people coldly. Maybe he's too busy with his own affairs to accompany you, Miss."
Shi Ning'an murmured an "um".
Ying Tao continued, "If you're not happy, Miss, go and tell the First Lady. If that doesn't work, tell the old master. The old master loves you the most and will surely not let you be cold - shouldered."
Shi Ning'an turned back, "Ying Tao, is the pear delicious?"
"Ah?" Ying Tao looked down at the half - eaten pear in her hand, unconsciously took two more bites, and pointed to the plate on the table inside, "It's delicious. Does Miss want to eat? I'll go and get one for you..."
Shi Ning'an said angrily, "If it's delicious, just eat it. Can't eating shut your mouth?"