Chapter 38 A Soldier in the Army? A Seeking a Partner? Is She Willing?

"Otherwise what?"

Zhao Yueru began to nag, “When the young master sent someone to bring you back, he said that you ate whatever you wanted at the Princess’s banquet and somehow fainted! The young master and the second young lady were both quite frightened! The imperial physicians came to see you and said that you were greedy and may have eaten something that was hard to digest, or that you were just weak and couldn’t handle the tonics all at once!”

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoyu frowned.

Didn't she suddenly faint when she got off the carriage?

How did it become eating something you shouldn't have because you were greedy?

How could that be? She knows her health; it's always been excellent. Besides, what kind of place is the Princess's residence? All the food there must undergo rigorous inspection; there's absolutely no way there would be anything unclean or incompatible.

Moreover, so many people ate it, so why was it only me who had an accident?

She found the whole thing strange.

[Could it be because I changed the original plot? For example, the scene where Du Tingting framed the Second Miss, and the scene where the Prince and Lin Wan'er exchanged poems?]

[No, no, even though I knew the plot after I transmigrated, I didn't do anything too outrageous, right? At most, I reminded the Second Miss a few times. I shouldn't be punished by heaven, right?]

[Perhaps it's because my constitution is too weak, and the diet of ladies from wealthy families in ancient times was too refined, so I couldn't handle the nourishment all at once?]

Yes! That must be it! I'm just unlucky!

It took Su Xiaoyu less than a minute to convince herself.

After all, changing the plot of the original book is too far-fetched, and she is just a minor character in the book, so she could not possibly have such power.

"I understand, Mother. I will be more careful in the future."

She obediently agreed, lowered her head and sipped the bitter medicine, thinking to herself that once she recovered, she would have to find a way to exercise and improve her physical condition.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Zhao Yueru softened her tone.

"Drink slowly. The young master specifically instructed that you should rest in the courtyard for the next few days and not go to the front to work. Sigh, although the young master appears cold, he is kind to his servants."

Not on duty?

Su Xiaoyu's eyes lit up.

[The young master is quite a nice person. Although he's usually cold, he's very considerate in crucial moments! And the madam has also bestowed so many good things upon him.]

She felt a warm glow in her heart and felt she should express her gratitude; she couldn't accept something for nothing. Otherwise, it wouldn't be right.

I've been recuperating and have some free time these past few days, so I can start making preparations.

Su Xiaoyu began to ponder in her mind what to give the young master. He seemed to lack nothing...

Gold, silver, and jade artifacts? Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones?

Forget it, even if I sold her, I still couldn't afford it. Besides, he only uses top-grade tribute items, where would she buy them... Sigh, I've got it!

She recalled the scent of ink in Xiao Jingheng's study, and how he often stayed up late reading, his brows furrowed in thought. Reading those official documents all the time must have been very tiring!

Why not make him a calming and refreshing sachet? The ingredients don't have to be particularly expensive, but the combination must be carefully considered!

Alternatively, you could ask at a pharmacy or ask a familiar purchasing agent for help to find some mint, borneol, or citronella, which can refresh the mind and relieve fatigue.

She thought the idea was excellent.

But what should the lady send as a gift?

What good things hasn't the lady seen? Jewelry and clothing certainly wouldn't catch her eye.

However, she thought that since the lady was going to worship Buddha today, perhaps she could embroider a Buddhist scripture cover or an iron box to wrap the scriptures, embroidered with exquisite lotus patterns, which would be both elegant and practical, and would also express her respect for the lady's sincere worship of Buddha!

Yes! That's what we'll do!

Once she made up her mind, Su Xiaoyu immediately began preparations.

She begged a familiar purchasing agent to help her find the necessary fabrics, herbs, and spices, and also dug out her treasured silk threads of various colors. During her few days of recuperation, she devoted herself to working diligently.

Three days later, feeling that she had recovered considerably, she took the carefully prepared gifts and went to Liu's Yilan Garden to express her gratitude.

When she presented the sutra scroll embroidered with delicate lotus and auspicious cloud patterns on off-white soft satin, adorned with light gold tassels, Madam Liu was indeed delighted. She held it in her hands, caressing it repeatedly, and couldn't put it down.

"Oh, you're such a thoughtful child!"

Madam Liu couldn't hide her affection as she exclaimed to Zhao Mama, who was standing beside her, "Zhao Mama, you're so lucky to have given birth to such a sweet little girl. Look at this needlework, this thoughtfulness, so meticulous! Unlike my Lingxi, who's always running around and causing trouble, giving me a headache!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yueru immediately said humbly, "Madam, what you say is unacceptable. This little girl Xiaoyu is just clumsy and is only trying to do some needlework to please you. How can she be even slightly better than the Second Miss?"

"Second Miss is truly a woman of character! At such a young age, she dares to love and hate, and is lively and spirited. When she goes out to banquets, everyone praises her for being cheerful and lovely. You see, she loves to run around and make a fuss, but she cares about you more than anyone else. A few days ago, she heard that you had a headache at night, and she even asked me to go to the pharmacy to ask for a calming prescription. It's just that young ladies are impatient, so she didn't say her concern out loud."

His words praised Xiao Lingxi while also giving Liu Shi ample face.

Sure enough, Lady Liu beamed with joy upon hearing this.

Su Xiaoyu secretly gave her mother a thumbs up in her heart.

Indeed, people with high emotional intelligence speak differently.

My mother is truly capable to have become the housekeeper of this marquis's mansion.

The more Liu looked at Su Xiaoyu, the more she liked her. Thinking of something, she quickly asked with concern:

"Speaking of which, Xiaoyu will be eighteen after the New Year, right? Have you parents arranged a marriage for her yet?"

Just then, Xiao Jingheng, who had come to pay his respects, arrived at the door. He had just stepped one foot over the threshold when he heard this, so he paused and instinctively looked at Su Xiaoyu.

At this moment, Zhao Yueru replied with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I wrote to her father a few days ago, asking him to keep an eye out in the army for any good-looking, honest and reliable young men. We'll arrange a match when her father returns to the capital with the Marquis at the end of the year to report on his duties."

Xiao Jingheng's heart sank, his gaze fixed on Su Xiaoyu's face, trying to glean something from her expression.

However, Su Xiaoyu just lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, seemingly a little shy and bashful.

It's as if she's already accepted her parents' arrangements for her!

This scene deeply stung Xiao Jingheng's eyes.

A soldier? A potential match? Is she willing?

An inexplicable feeling of unease and restlessness instantly welled up in my heart.

As if his possessions were being coveted, the pressure around him unconsciously decreased, and his eyes turned cold.

He stepped forward with a calm expression and greeted his mother: "Your son greets his mother."

When Lady Liu saw her eldest son, her smile became even more benevolent.

"You've come at the perfect time. Xiaoyu is just getting a little better, but she's already thinking of coming to express her gratitude. She even brought such a thoughtful gift. What a sensible girl she is."

Thinking of something, Madam Liu instructed her eldest son, "Now that Xiaoyu has returned to serve by your side, treat her well. Don't always have a stern face and scare her away."

Xiao Jingheng's gaze swept over Su Xiaoyu, whose cheeks were still flushed, and then he glanced at the iron book that his mother was carefully embroidering in her hand. The nameless fire in his heart burned even more fiercely.