Chapter 102: Hairpin Flowers

Cui Zhaoran walked over with a smile and called out affectionately, "Cousin!"

Zhuangzi once said: "It is as bright as walking under the sun and moon."

It means to forget worldly troubles and be free from the world. It also means that everything is simple and clear, calm and bright.

Xu Shuyao felt that this name was very suitable for her fifth cousin.

Xiao Mo on the other side also smiled and nodded, and seemed to have a good impression of this cousin named Cui.

Old Madam Xiao also saw her eldest grandson at this moment and said to him with a smile: "Fortunately, you found Yaoyao. It's a blessing!"

Xiao Mo didn't say anything, but took a look inside.

Madam Xiao then asked Xu Shuyao, "Where were you when he left?"

Xu Shuyao smiled and recounted how she had found the stoneware, bacon, and brown rice in the hunter's cabin. The old lady nodded at her and said, "You little girl! You'll never go hungry anywhere."

Then he smiled with a sigh and said, "Luckily, Mo'er found you. The trees in that mountain are so densely covered that I didn't dare to go in."

Xu Shuyao pursed her lips and smiled, then looked up and saw Xiao Mo was still there.

He had changed out of the ink-black cloak he wore last night and was wearing a moon-white robe with cloud patterns, which was a rare sight for him.

There was a smile on the corner of his lips at this moment, but there was a gentle taste in it.

From this perspective, he is also a handsome and elegant man.

Even Cui Zhaoran, who was sitting next to Old Madam Xiao, couldn't help but feel a little shy when she saw him, even though she had seen so many outstanding brothers of the Cui family before.

The atmosphere in the room was lively and Xu Shuyao did not express any opinion on the bandits.

But the way she looked at Old Madam Xiao and the young master, she seemed to have already made up her mind.

After leaving the old lady, Xu Shuyao quickly returned to her room.

Something happened on the road, so they all need to rest. After all, this place is not far from the capital.

Even if it is a little slower, we can still catch up with the Duke's return to the capital.

Xu Shuyao slept intermittently last night and walked on the mountain road for such a long time, so she was a little tired now.

Lying in bed, he listened to Qiao Wei and Hui Xiang talking about what happened yesterday. "After the young lady left, we were both relieved and thought we were going to die. Who could have imagined that the prince would be able to make it here, nearly 200 miles from the capital?"

The two maids didn't expect it, nor did Xu Shuyao and the old lady.

Then she asked, "When did the old lady and fifth cousin meet up with you?"

Hui Xiang thought for a moment and said, "It wasn't long before the prince listened to the coachman and went to the mountains to look for someone, but he found the old lady and Miss Cui first."

That's fine.

Maybe the unfamiliar voices she heard later were from people sent by Xiao Mo?

But she was like a frightened bird at that time, thinking that it was a bandit chasing her, so she missed it.

Xu Shuyao sighed for a moment, but slowly fell asleep.

When she woke up and got up again, the sun was already setting in the west.

Two maids brought over the food from the post station. The main dishes included roasted goose with bamboo shoots, steamed fish, and fried shrimps. They also thoughtfully prepared chicken porridge.

Xu Shuyao turned her head and saw Huixiang behind her holding two desserts, mint honey and cheese pastry.

She was taken aback for a moment.

Qiao Wei smiled and explained, "The prince saw that the old lady wasn't eating well, so he specially went to find a nearby chef. I heard he used to be the chef in the restaurant."

Xu Shuyao started eating happily.

Apart from a chicken leg and a small bowl of smoked pork rice in the morning on the mountain, she had not eaten anything at noon. Now she was starving, so she ate a little more.

After dinner, he took the two maids out for a walk.

On the right side of the post station is a small path paved with bluestone. Weeds grow out from the cracks in the stones. Even after being trampled by waves of passers-by, they still exude green vitality.

There are several osmanthus flowers in full bloom planted by the fence on the side of the road. The flowers are white with yellow, and the flowers are in clusters and clumps, which looks beautiful.

The woody scent is strong, with a mild woody and slightly sweet flavor, giving people a sense of elegance and restraint.

Xu Shuyao paced back and forth along the path beside the fence, and suddenly saw the prince coming towards her from inside.

"Cousin Xu!" he said.

"What are you doing?" He pointed at the grass under her feet and smiled.

Xu Shuyao thought about what she had just eaten and replied, "I'm a little full. I have to thank the chef that the prince specially hired."

Xiao Mo's eyes flashed and he didn't speak for a moment.

Xu Shuyao passed by him and turned back: "My Lord! When can we go back?"

She didn't want to stay in the inn even if the food was delicious!

I just wonder how my brother is doing now?

"Tomorrow." Xiao Mo replied to her, but his hand reached out to the fence wall covered with osmanthus flowers. Xu Shuyao felt her hair move.

She reached out to touch it, and came across layers of petals, her hand filled with pink and rich fragrance.

When I looked up at Xiao Mo again, he had already left casually, as if it was an unconscious action.

Xu Shuyao wanted to take the flower, but Qiao Wei, who was standing beside her, looked at her master and said, "This osmanthus flower goes perfectly with your dress!"

Today, the master wore a jacket with a white background and a floral pattern, and a primrose-colored embroidered skirt. Although she had a small jade-colored flower on her head, it was still a little plain.

Xu Shuyao did not listen to the advice, but picked the osmanthus flower resolutely.

Just before going to bed, she went to the old lady's room again. Her fifth cousin and Xiao Mo were both inside. Xu Shuyao said a few words to them and then went back to her room.

Thinking that I would leave tomorrow, I went to bed early.

The next morning, she got up very early, washed herself, had breakfast in her room, and went to wait for Old Madam Xiao.

Seeing her coming, Madam Xiao smiled and said, "Come and help me choose jewelry."

Xu Shuyao looked up and saw that the old lady had her hair in a bun and was wearing a dark green jacket with a crane pattern. She then took out an eyebrow band inlaid with agate of the same color and gave it to Dongmei.

Next came a gold-inlaid, pearl-and-jade hairpin, a necklace with gold filigree and coral beads, and a pair of emerald jade bracelets.

After dressing up, he looks energetic, dignified and elegant.

Xu Shuyao knew that the old man was thinking of the Duke, so she tried to act more energetic.

So, are the Duke and the Third Young Master, whom I have never met, going back home now?

The fifth cousin then asked her about the people in the mansion, and Xu Shuyao told her one by one. Sometimes Madam Xiao would add a few words, and they talked like this all the way.

Although Wuying was injured, it did not affect his riding. He just didn't dare to meet the stare of Madam Xu anymore.

Thinking of how she killed everyone with her hidden arrow yesterday, I felt a chill down my spine.