Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Crab Feast

After everyone dispersed, Wu Tianyue saw that Daiyu looked unhappy and was afraid that she would think that he was in a relationship with another woman. He wanted to talk to her about it, but he saw that she, Xiangyun and Baoyu had gone to Lady Jia's room, so he had to go back to the Yihong Courtyard alone.

Thinking of the poetry meeting tomorrow, he sent someone to ask the teacher for leave for tomorrow. He had almost learned everything he needed to learn, and he had been going out to work frequently recently, so the teacher was used to it. So when he saw him send someone, he agreed.

Wu Tianyue was not worried about not being able to ask for leave, but he thought that since he was a stranger, it would be difficult for him to discuss it with Xiangyun, so he asked Lan Ye to ask in the evening. If there was any need to contribute money or labor, he would pay for it.

Lan Ye agreed, and when she heard that Xiangyun had returned, she ordered Lu Mo to wait on her and went to Hengwu Garden alone.

After Wu Tianyue finished talking to Lan Ye, he went into the study, made some arrangements, and replied to the letter handed to him by Fei Yan. When he heard that Daiyu had returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, he hurriedly got up to look for her. When he arrived at the yard, he saw Lan Ye entering the yard with a maid who looked unfamiliar.

When the maid saw him coming out, she smiled and bowed, "Greetings, Prince."

Wu Tianyue asked her to stand up and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Our girl asked me to ask the prince if he has any thoughts on tomorrow's topic and rhyme?"

Wu Tianyue knew she was Xiangyun's maid and said with a smile, "Your daughter will do fine."

Cuilu heard his answer and stepped back with a smile.

After she left, Wu Tianyue was about to go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, and Lan Ye hurriedly came up to talk about the dishes for tomorrow's banquet.

After knowing that Xiangyun was going to hold a crab feast to appreciate osmanthus, Wu Tianyue frowned unconsciously. Daiyu was weak, and although she had adjusted a lot in recent years, she still had to eat less cold foods like crabs.

However, he was not very familiar with the Jia sisters. He joined the poetry club because he wanted to be involved in Daiyu's life. He had not participated in the planning. It was difficult to refute him. He just smiled and said, "Go and tell them that since they are planning it, I will take care of the crabs and other things. You will be responsible for the dishes on the table. The crabs will be the main dish, and you can also provide some other foods."

"Miss Xue has already mentioned that one of the clerks in her pawnshop has some crabs," Lan Ye said. "And many people in the Jia family love crabs. We'll have to invite the old lady and the others tomorrow."

Wu Tianyue was very confused as to why Baochai would get involved and invite everyone in the mansion: "Why invite all these people?"

"I overheard it. They said that the day before yesterday, Madam Wang mentioned that she wanted to invite her old lady to the garden to enjoy the sweet-scented osmanthus and eat crabs, but something happened to delay it."

So what does this have to do with the poetry club? Wu Tianyue was even more confused, but since he was just a small extra, he didn't say anything. He just said, "In that case, what that family sent shouldn't be enough. You should prepare some more."

Seeing Lan Ye nod in agreement, he continued, "Go over there later and tell her that this club was founded by Miss Shi and me. I can't just sit there and pay for the rest of the food and drinks at the banquet."

"Yes." Lan Ye agreed and went.

After Lan Ye went to Hengwu Garden, Wu Tianyue went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Daiyu was reading a book. Seeing him coming, she laughed and said, "How can you find time to come here, my lord? Are you not discussing tomorrow's poetry club with others?"

"It was you who brought it up." Wu Tianyue sat down next to Daiyu with familiarity and said aggrievedly, "Why are you blaming me?"

Daiyu choked and bit her lip. She didn't know what to say. She turned her head and said angrily, "What did I say to blame you?"

"You didn't, I was overthinking it." Wu Tianyue hurriedly explained, "It was just a poetry gathering. You know I've been busy lately, so I didn't show up at the whole event. Lan Ye went there."

As he spoke, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back. Seeing her pouting in anger, which was very cute, he smiled and moved closer: "I'm not angry, why are you angry?"

This sentence made Daiyu even more depressed: "Then you can blame me. I pushed you to start a poetry club even though you were so busy."

"When did I ever blame you?" Wu Tianyue rubbed his forehead against hers and chuckled softly, "I know you don't want me to be alone and bored because I can't fit in."

When Daiyu heard that he had expressed her thoughts in one word, the depression in her heart disappeared and a smile appeared in her eyes.

Wu Tianyue stepped back slightly, prepared to be pushed away by her, but she was never pushed away.

He saw Daiyu looking up at him again, her eyes sparkling, without any other movement. His gaze slightly moved downwards, and he saw her pink lips, which had become a little moist and bloody because of the action of Daiyu biting her lips just now.

Wu Tianyue's mouth suddenly felt dry. He lowered his head and was about to press his seal, but just as he was about to move, the parrot's voice suddenly rang out from the corridor outside: "From now on, I will not be afraid of the passage of time, and we will grow old together hand in hand."

Daiyu was frightened by the sound and suddenly pushed Wu Tianyue away.

Wu Tianyue stumbled for a moment, then quickly regained his balance, gritting his teeth and saying, "I'll stew it sooner or later."

Daiyu was frightened by the poem and was afraid that Wu Tianyue would ask about it. Her face was still red, but after hearing his words, she realized that he had not heard clearly, and finally she felt relieved and snorted, "What are you going to do?"

Wu Tianyue knew that she loved that beast, so he didn't dare say anything more. He just muttered, "It has ruined my business so many times."

Daiyu listened, and remembering what had just happened, the redness at the base of her ears, which had just faded away, came back. Too embarrassed to continue, she asked, "How was the poetry club tomorrow?"

Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, Wu Tianyue sighed deeply, then thought about what would happen tomorrow. He didn't know much about these people, so it would be a good idea to ask Daiyu. So he said, "I was just about to ask you."

Then she told him about the crab feast to be held tomorrow, with Baochai providing the crabs and inviting everyone in the Jia family. She added, "I think it's not a good idea for a poetry club of the younger generation to become known to everyone, but I don't know the circumstances of the other girls in the mansion, so I can't object."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Then why are you asking me? Why don't you ask your Miss Yun or Miss Xue?"

But while she said this, she was actually wondering what was going on.

Wu Tianyue was about to refute her when he suddenly heard her say, "That's right."

"What is it?"

"I know why Sister Bao ordered crabs." Daiyu tilted her head and smiled, "but I won't tell you."

"You've been too arrogant these past few days." Wu Tianyue saw her mischievous face and stood up to tickle Daiyu. "It seems I have to deal with you."

Daiyu was caught off guard and fell sideways on the chair, begging for mercy: "I was wrong, I will tell you now."

Wu Tianyue then stopped and was about to get up when he saw Daiyu surrounded by him in a chair. She had not put on any makeup that night, her cheeks were flushed, and there were tears of laughter in the corners of her eyes. Her hair was slightly messy, and she looked different from her usual proud or fragile appearance. She exuded a sense of relaxation and cuteness.

Daiyu took a deep breath and looked up to meet Wu Tianyue's eyes. Her heart was beating like a drum. She pushed him away with red ears: "Don't you want to know?"

Wu Tianyue quickly retracted his gaze and sat back in his seat: "What is it that I don't know?"

"Yun's parents died young, and she grew up in her uncle's house..." Daiyu sighed and stopped talking, then said, "Sister Bao plays better with her. She must have known her situation, so she offered to serve the crabs herself."

Wu Tianyue was still puzzled: "But this poetry club is just a small fight among the younger generation, why do we need to invite people from the palace?"

Daiyu didn't know how to explain it for a moment. If it were in the past, she would also be puzzled, but after spending a long time with Princess Zhongshun and seeing and hearing a lot about the things in the mansions and the backyards, she could understand why Baochai always had to please everyone and take everything into consideration.

With a brother who is incompetent and often gets into trouble, she can only rely on herself to keep the family alive. However, as a woman, she cannot go out and start her own business. If she wants to not give up her brother and maintain the current Xue family, all she can do is to please her second aunt and hold on to the Jia family.

She was a young lady living away from home, and she had a mother and a brother above her, both of whom were ignorant of the ways of the world. Baochai naturally could not do such a thing without their knowledge, so she had to rely on herself to go around to maintain her life. This time, she had the opportunity, and with the name Xiangyun, she naturally wanted to give it a try.

However, in Daiyu's opinion, this was too reckless. Xiangyun was Jia Mu's great-granddaughter and had been loved since childhood. Although Baochai's behavior was understandable, it could also be said to be exploitation. In addition, there were stories of golden marriages circulating in the mansion. Even if it was spread by her unreliable mother, Jia Mu would put the blame on her. She was afraid that this time her wish would be violated.

Daiyu understood, but since this was Baochai's private matter, she couldn't bring herself to tell Wu Tianyue about it. She just said, "Since they've arranged it, you, who didn't contribute, should just pay. Why bother with all this?"

Wu Tianyue heard this and realized that it was not convenient for him to know. He nodded and said, "Then I will be a hands-off manager."

Then he added, "Don't eat too many crabs tomorrow, or you'll feel uncomfortable."

Daiyu used to have no feelings about these foods, but she has been spoiled in various ways over the years. The small kitchen in Yihong Courtyard would prepare dishes and send them to her every now and then. As time went by, she became a bit greedy. When she heard Wu Tianyue say this, she said unhappily, "I know my own limits, and it's okay to eat a little."

Seeing how much she wanted to eat, Wu Tianyue lowered his head and silently counted the days. He disagreed: "If you eat too much, you'll be in so much pain in a few days that you can't get up from your bed."

Daiyu opened her mouth to retort, but then she remembered that she had her period just in the past few days. Then she realized what he was talking about and said angrily, "You can't recite the book, so you keep writing about this all day long."

"Aren't these important?" Wu Tianyue saw that her cheeks were blushing and she looked very cute, so he smiled and teased her.

Daiyu felt her face getting hotter, and she wanted to say something but couldn't, so she stood up and wanted to hit him.

Wu Tianyue smiled and used his hand to block it.

Daiyu didn't come up to hit him. Seeing two blood blisters on his hands, she hurriedly grabbed them and looked at them, exclaiming, "How could this happen?"

Wu Tianyue realized that she had discovered his complacency and was about to retract his hand: "I've been training hard these past few days. I've been worn down by weapons. It will be healed in a few days."

Daiyu grabbed hold of him and refused to let him withdraw his hand, saying distressedly, "Why is it so painful..."

Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered what I heard when chatting with Lu Chen before. Those who practice martial arts will experience this. They have to wait until the blood blisters burst and grow again, grow and burst again, and repeat this cycle several times until thick calluses form in that place before they will feel better.

Then I thought about how he stopped rubbing his hands before, but suddenly started scratching them again a few days ago. He must have secretly used some callus-removing ointment.

Daiyu's heart was in turmoil, and tears kept pouring out.

Wu Tianyue originally saw her with her head down and silent, and wanted to say something to ease the situation, but he felt his palms become wet, and panicked, and hurriedly wiped them with his other hand: "Why are you crying? This is really a trivial matter, just ask Lu Chen and you will know."

Daiyu cried so hard that she couldn't speak. She held Wu Tianyue's hand tightly and let him wipe her tears clumsily. Feeling his hands were more delicate than before, she cried even harder.

Wu Tianyue was so anxious that he didn't know what to do. Daiyu gradually stopped sobbing and scolded him, "If you use that ointment again, don't come to me."

Seeing that she had guessed it, Wu Tianyue smiled and said, "I'm just using it casually."

Daiyu stared with red eyes: "No."

"Okay, okay." Wu Tianyue was overjoyed to see her care about him so much, and agreed repeatedly, "I'll throw it away when I get back."

Only then was Daiyu satisfied. Without even bothering to wash her face, she kept asking Lu Chen to bring her medicine.

Seeing that her face was covered with tears, but Wu Tianyue looked happy, Lu Chen thought that everything was fine, so he felt relieved and turned to go out to get the ointment he usually used.

Daiyu carefully applied the medicine. Seeing Wu Tianyue's grin showing his teeth, she felt angry and wanted to throw his hand away, but she was afraid of hurting him again. She put the bottle down on the table and said to him, "I need to rest."

Wu Tianyue knew she was angry, so he didn't dare to say anything more. He smiled and stood up: "Then I'll go back first, sister, you don't have to see me off."

"I didn't mean to see you off." Daiyu replied angrily, but after he left, she still walked to the door.

Wu Tianyue knew that Daiyu was saying one thing and thinking another. He saw her leaning against the door frame and waving her hands. He saw her turn back to the house in shame and anger, and then he walked out of Xiaoxiang Pavilion along the path.