Chapter 36

On the other side, Jiang Wanrou kept Chen Yu behind and said earnestly, "The engagement has been called off, and things should be made clear this time. But your reputation..." She sighed and continued, "You can't be so willful about marriages in the future."

"I understand." Chen Yu lowered her head, her eyes reddening, and sniffed. "I won't be willful anymore."

Jiang Wanrou stood up and patted her on the shoulder: "Alright, since it's all in the past, don't think about it anymore. It's not a big deal. Even if you never get married, the Xiao family can still support you."

Chen Yu burst into laughter through her tears and nodded vigorously, saying "Mmm".

Xiao Yu brought the little girl back home, then sent her to the kitchen. He said a few words to Song Luoning, and the two went into the kitchen together. Xiao Yu gave Song Luoning the only stool in the kitchen to sit on.

The little girl squatted on the ground, looking enviously at the young mistress who was also picking vegetables and sitting on a stool.

"Young Master, you're being too biased." At least find me a stool to sit on. The little girl's legs were getting numb from squatting, and she pouted with a pained expression.

Since she stopped being afraid of Xiao Yu, she has become bolder in her speech. In addition, she is young and has been spoiled by Jiang Wanrou, so she has become a bit disrespectful when she gets close to her.

"Why not?" Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow and put the vegetables they had picked into a wooden basin to wash: "My wife is beautiful and kind-hearted."

"Stop talking nonsense." Song Luoning glared at her, her face slowly turning red. She was somewhat helpless. This person always spoke so recklessly and without any sense of propriety. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw the little girl roll her eyes.

Song Luoning found it amusing and didn't say anything more, letting the two bicker on their own.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door. The little girl went to open it and found Jiang Wanrou and Chen Yu.

Song Luoning stood up and curtsied to Jiang Wanrou. Jiang Wanrou took her hand and patted the back of Song Luoning's hand twice: "We don't follow these rules at home. You don't need to bow when you see me in the future. Now that you've married Ayu, you're my daughter. If she dares to bully you, just tell me."

"Mother, what are you saying? How could I possibly bully my wife?" Xiao Yu pouted, clearly displeased.

That cheapskate mother of mine is really something, she put such a big label on her without even asking her clearly.

Jiang Wanrou smiled and glared at her, her eyes full of affection, and said reproachfully, "Don't I know what kind of person you are?"

“Exactly.” Chen Yu agreed, shoving the cured meat in her hand into Xiao Yu’s hands, then hooking her arm around Song Luoning’s and sticking her tongue out at Xiao Yu: “I’ll leave this to you. I’ll go outside with my sister-in-law for a chat.”

"Why do you need to go out and say it?"

"I won't tell you." Chen Yu smiled mischievously and pulled Song Luoning to the courtyard.

Seeing that the person had left, Jiang Wanrou gave the little maid a wink, and the little maid also left the kitchen.

Xiao Yu looked at her stepmother with a puzzled expression.

Jiang Wanrou straightened her expression, pulled her arm closer, and lowered her voice, saying, "She doesn't know your identity yet, does she?"

Xiao Yu was terrified by these words and couldn't help but take a step back to create distance. She hadn't forgotten Jiang Wanrou's violent behavior and looked at her warily.

Jiang Wanrou's heart skipped a beat when she saw her like that. Her eyes were scrutinizing. Had this brat's identity been discovered?

Jiang Wanrou asked anxiously, "Does she already know?"

“My wife won’t tell,” Xiao Yu said, while observing his stepmother’s expression.

I actually found out!

Jiang Wanrou was both angry and anxious. This was a crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family. She shouldn't have been soft-hearted back then. No, she had to stay calm.

"What did she say?" If that's true, she'd better keep the girl calm. She started to think about it in her mind.

Young women value their reputation most, so divorce is definitely not an option. If all else fails, let them get a divorce. As for the young woman's demands, they should obediently comply. Only in this way can the family be preserved.

Seeing that she wasn't as agitated as he had imagined, Xiao Yu felt relieved and comforted her, "Mother, you're overthinking it. My wife isn't that kind of person. Even if she found out, she wouldn't report us. Just relax."

She kept her mutual affection with Song Luoning a secret for the time being. After all, this was ancient times with backward ideas, and it would be difficult for her to suddenly accept that two women were in love. This matter needed to be discussed slowly and carefully.

The door opened, and a clear voice came through: "Aunt, my sister-in-law wants to show me the new house. Do you want to come along?" Chen Yu poked her head in and gave the two people inside a playful smile.

Jiang Wanrou nodded, her face full of worry. She looked at her daughter, opened her mouth but didn't say anything.

This matter must not be known to more people; even her own niece, whom she has raised since childhood, does not know Xiao Yu's identity.

This was interrupted, and now was not the time to talk about this. Jiang Wanrou cleared her throat: "I just wanted to take a look too. Let's go, I'll leave this to your cousin."

Jiang Wanrou left with Chen Yu.

Once the person had gone far away, Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that her stepmother would go crazy. Fortunately, she was sensible enough not to beat her in front of the young lady, otherwise it would have been extremely embarrassing.

Standing in the kitchen, Xiao Yu could occasionally hear laughter and playful banter outside. She couldn't help but smile, thinking that staying here in the future might not be so bad.

When it was time for dinner, the group brought the dishes to the table together. Jiang Wanrou sat in the main seat, with Xiao Yu and his wife on her right and Chen Yu and the little girl on her left. She subtly observed the young couple.

Xiao Yu helped Song Luoning serve food from time to time, and the two looked very affectionate.

Jiang Wanrou frowned. At first, she didn't think anything of it, but the more she read, the heavier her heart became. She had wondered why the two of them were sleeping together, but now... Jiang Wanrou was shocked.

The way he looked at the two of them again was different.

Since resolving the engagement controversy, Chen Yu has regained his energy and spirits, and he's been eating with relish, occasionally cracking jokes with the little girl.

Of all the people eating, only Jiang Wanrou seemed to have no appetite.

After finally getting through the banquet, Jiang Wanrou left with Chen Yu and the little girl. Before leaving, she hesitated, glancing at Xiao Yu, then at Song Luoning, especially at the loving look between the two, and finally said nothing.

When the three returned home, Jiang Wanrou was still somewhat lost in thought. After a while, she asked, "How do you think your cousin and your cousin's wife's relationship is?"

Chen Yu paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "I think they have a very good relationship. Outsiders don't even know how to keep quiet about it. But then again, my cousin only started to get better after he and his wife got married. That's good, at least my cousin won't go out and fool around anymore."

Jiang Wanrou seemed to be thinking. Well, Xiaoyu was right. In any case, her daughter was getting better and better, so she could rest assured.

On the other side, Xiao Yu prepared bath water for Song Luoning, then got into the carriage and carried the things inside into the house. The bedding on the bed was also made. After Song Luoning came out, Xiao Yu went into the washroom to wash up. When he came out, the bed curtains had been drawn, and Song Luoning was nestled in the soft quilt, lying on her side by the bed with her back to the outside.

The door closed, Xiao Yu paused, blew out the oil lamp, walked over quietly, lifted the bed curtains, and carefully lifted a corner of the quilt to slowly lie down.

In the quiet room, Song Luoning slowly curled her fingers. Her senses were exceptionally sensitive in the darkness, and even the slightest rustling of her clothes could be amplified. She could feel the warm body behind her even from a distance. Song Luoning's heart tightened, and at this point, it was not appropriate to send the person away.

She bit her lip, her body stiff. The silvery moonlight shone through the window, casting dappled patterns. After a long while, she seemed to hear long, even breaths behind her, and Song Luoning's tense body finally relaxed slightly.

That lecherous scoundrel...

She sighed softly and drifted off to sleep.