Chapter 5 Troubled

The second young master mentioned by the maid is the only son of Master Xiao Er, Xiao Jinrong, who was born to the late wife Zeng.

Xu Shuyao's aunt Chen was a second wife. After she got married, she gave birth to the second daughter Xiao Jinyi and the third daughter Xiao Jinshan. Chen did not give birth to a son.

In addition, Master Xiao Er also had a concubine named Zhao, who gave birth to a fourth daughter, Xiao Jintong.

Several girls stood up and called out to their second brother.

Xiao Jinrong first walked up to Chen respectfully, bowed, and greeted her. He then took the initiative to say, "My son heard that my cousin had entered the mansion, so he hurried here. I didn't expect to be left behind. Mother, please introduce me to her!"

Chen smiled and said yes, and called Xu Shuyao and her brother forward.

Xiao Jinrong is already seventeen years old. He is not tall, but his pair of phoenix eyes are slanted upwards, and he smiles when he looks at people. He is wearing an ochre-red robe today. This color seems to add a touch of charm to a man.

Xu Shuyao bowed and called her "Second Cousin". Xiao Jinrong's narrow eyes swept across her cheek. After a brief pause, he took out a box from his arms and said, "It's our first meeting. It's not worth much. Let me take it and enjoy it!"

Xu Shuyao didn't know what was in the box and was hesitating when the third girl, Xiao Jinshan, spoke up, "Second brother, you are so partial. Why did you give it to your cousin when she came, but you didn't give it to your own sister no matter how many times she asked for it?"

The girl's words were a bit spoiled and willful, but also revealed the intimacy of a family. Xu Shuyao looked up at her aunt and saw that she was indeed smiling, and it was obvious that she was happy to see such a close relationship between brothers and sisters.

Xiao Jinrong patted his sister's shoulder helplessly, "Don't you usually take away too many things from your second brother? I only gave you the same thing, and you're jealous?"

The right hand holding the box still stretched out, and even the second daughter Xiao Jinyi advised: "Cousin, please accept it quickly. You can't be humble to our little monkey. She is just like that. She wants everything."

Xiao Jinyi said as she went to pull her sister, then scolded her: "You are so old, and you are not ashamed?"

The third girl grumbled, "You are the one who is generous, but I am the one who has a petty temper."

Since it was acceptable, Xu Shuyao took it with both hands, but when their eyes met, she felt a hint of coldness in the eyes of her new second cousin.

Xu Shuyao was secretly surprised. She and her brother had just arrived and should not have offended this person in any way.

So she was angered?

The second branch of the Duke's Mansion seems to have a loving mother and filial children, and the brothers and sisters have a special kind of intimacy, but I wonder what they are thinking in their hearts?

At least she felt that this second cousin was not as simple as he appeared to be.

There has always been a bad relationship between the stepmother and the ex-wife's children, and Xu Shuyao doesn't want to be affected.

But she changed her mind and realized that as Chen's niece, she was probably automatically classified as her aunt's side.

She felt a little helpless for a moment, but also hoped that the gift in the box was not too expensive, because if it was too expensive, she would not be able to pay it back.

The room was full of people, and they chatted for a while before leaving.

When she left, her aunt did not tell her about the visit to Old Madam Xiao. Xu Shuyao thought it might be inconvenient at the moment.

However, on the way back, she couldn't help but ask Qiao Wei: "My cousins ​​seem to have all returned to their own courtyards. Don't we need to go and pay our respects to the old lady today?"

Qiao Wei smiled and replied, "The old lady in the mansion went to stay at the temple yesterday and hasn't returned yet."

Xu Shuyao thought to herself, "So that's how it is."

After Qiao Wei finished her reply, she looked at her cousin in front of her and said carefully, "Miss, are you worried about meeting the old lady? That's not necessary. The old lady in the mansion is a very reasonable person."

The maid's words surprised Xu Shuyao a little. The second wife was born out of wedlock, and Qiao Wei, as a maid in the second wife's courtyard, could say such words. It shows that Madam Xiao of the Duke's Mansion is really a good person.

However, Xu Shuyao was in a hurry to return to her own courtyard for breakfast, and when she reached a fork in the road, she saw her second cousin, who had left earlier, coming from another road.

Everyone was a little surprised. Xu Shuyao wanted to nod from a distance and leave, but Xiao Jinrong's voice came from behind, "Xu's cousin!"

Xu Shuyao paused in her tracks and turned her gaze towards her second cousin. She saw that he was indeed not as submissive as he had been in Jinhua Courtyard just now.

Xiao Jinrong's eyes were cold, and the way he looked her up and down made Xu Shuyao very uncomfortable.

"Second cousin, is there something you want to ask me?"

Xu Shuyao raised her head, and her expression did not show the slightest bit of timidity, but rather frankness.

Xiao Jinrong retracted his gaze and said, "Nothing else, cousin, do you want to go with Jinrong?"

Xu Shuyao shook her head and moved aside to let him pass first, then she heard him say, "Cousin, aren't you leaving? You can go to the outer courtyard from here, don't you know?"

Going to the outer courtyard? Why should she know?

What does Xiao Jinrong mean?

After watching the person in front walk away, Xu Shuyao asked Qiao Wei beside her: "Is what he said true?"

Qiao Wei lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Master! Of course there is another main road coming in from the outer courtyard, but this way is closer."

Xu Shuyao turned her head and looked in the direction of Jinhua Hall, and her brows unconsciously frowned.

Shu Heng came over to pull her hand, "Sister!"

She turned her head and saw the worry on A-di's face, then she smiled and asked, "Are you hungry?"

Then she said to the two maids behind her, "Then let's go back quickly!"

Xu Shuyao could feel the inexplicable hostility of her second cousin towards her. She had only been there for one night, so how could she have ever offended this man?

But the yard that my aunt allocated to me was on the only way to the outer yard.

Seeing that Xiao Jinrong specifically pointed this out just now, it seemed as if she should know it?

Or did he think that living here was something his aunt had agreed with him beforehand?

Xu Shuyao shook her head helplessly. Although they had escaped from the Xu family this time, they had also put their fate in the hands of the Chengguo Mansion.

As for what happens next, it all depends on the conscience of my aunt and the person in charge of the Chengguo Mansion.

Should she accept her fate?

Of course not!

Xu Shuyao suddenly thought of the highly respected Madam Xiao, and her mind began to become active.

It is still unclear what kind of person her aunt is, but she knows that she cannot rely entirely on her.

The few of them walked along the way. This time, unlike at night, she finally saw the words in front of her courtyard gate clearly: Jiyunzhai.

Xu Shuyao raised her eyebrows. Clouds after the rain is a very good name.

At this moment in Jinhua Hall, Chen stood up and asked Mother Wu, "Did you really see the Second Young Master take the initiative to talk to her?"

Mother Wu took the tea from the maid and placed it on Chen's right hand. Then she said, "It's true. Madam, you can relax."

Chen smiled and said, "Why should I be relieved? It's far from time to be relieved. I just hope that all my painstaking arrangements will be worthwhile."

Mother Wu complimented her from the side, "Madam, you are indeed far-sighted. However, I think my cousin is a well-behaved person."

Chen smiled and said, "I just want her to follow the rules. It's better to follow the rules! Unintentional things are the most true..."

After he finished speaking, he saw the maid frowning, knowing that she didn't understand, so he didn't want to continue and said, "I just don't know what her personality is like? Is she obedient?"

Chen had no son, so she wanted to arrange the marriage of her stepson, but her natal family had no one left, and her only sister left behind a daughter, who just happened to come under her wing. Moreover, this niece was beautiful, and her words and deeds were good.

This is the best candidate for daughter-in-law.

Her only worry at the moment was that Xu Shuyao did not agree with her. After all, apart from their kinship, they did not have much affection for each other.

Mother Wu knew what Chen meant, so she naturally said what she wanted to hear, "Don't worry too much, Madam. You are the only aunt that my cousin has now. If she doesn't kiss you, who else can she kiss?"

"That's right, I'm the only one she can rely on." Chen on the opposite side thought for a moment and said.

Besides, it was her good fortune to be married to the second son of the Duke's Mansion.