Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Originally, I should have married Uncle Ye! ...

The man's warm breath was in her ears. Nan Xu looked at the cards that had just been stacked in her hand, her mind a mess.

When did he come?

What are you doing here at this time?

Didn’t Liu Hui say he didn’t see anyone?

"What are you standing there for? Play your cards."

"Ah? Oh!"

Nan Xu naturally picked up the nearest card and was about to play it without thinking, but was stopped by the man behind her.

His tall body circled around her, taking the cards back with one hand and picking up another card with the other.

Nan Xu no longer had time to think and just let the person behind him do what he wanted.

Nestled in his slender and strong arms, she looked like an innocent kitten.

Yin Wu suddenly thought of Nan Xu's golden ball, and couldn't suppress a smile. He played his cards, teasing, "I was wondering why Ah Xu started with a hundred coins today. It turns out he had hired help long ago. Ah Xu, don't accuse me of bullying you this time."

Nan Xu was shocked, her face flushed, and she scolded, "Sister-in-law!"

The person behind him also said: "Sister-in-law is joking."

Nan Xu couldn't see his face, but she could hear his voice which was softer than usual.

The card game was not over yet, and everyone's attention turned back to the cards in their hands. Li Wan was taciturn and laughed along twice, but the cards in her hand never stopped. Yin Wu handled it with ease, and only Nan Xu became a tool for the man behind her to sort the cards.

Without having to use his brain, Nan Xu's eyes wandered around, looking at the ducks playing in the pond, then at the slightly swaying willow branches, and then again, he saw the pair of hands in front of him playing cards slowly.

She compared it secretly, and it was much bigger than her own hand, so big that it could completely cover her hand...

"Ah, what a shame to waste such good cards!"

Yin Wu exclaimed and turned sideways to look at the cards in Li Wan and the maid's hands.

Looking at his empty hands, Nan Xu finally realized that the game was over.

She won!

"Please collect the money."

He whispered in a low voice, and his breath made her ears numb. Looking at the three sisters-in-law who were still discussing the card game, Nan Xu couldn't help but tremble.

She is really ticklish!

A maid came forward to count the cards and exchange them for money. The table in front of her, which was empty just now, was instantly piled with a small mountain of silver and money.

Nan Xu turned around, but the person behind her had already gone up, leaving her with only a tall back.

"Ah Xu, come here."

The Marquis's wife's table had finished its meal long ago, and several elders were sitting at the top, looking at the two of them with smiles.

Looking at Duan Wenpei who had already greeted A Niang, Nan Xu suddenly realized that it was no wonder that he was so intimate with her just now.

Yin Wu and the others quickly surrounded Nan Xu and stood beside Duan Wenpei. Zhou pointed at the two of them and couldn't stop praising the Marquis' wife, "What a talented man and beautiful woman, a match you wouldn't find even with a lantern!"

The two aunts also praised her repeatedly, which made the Marquis's wife laugh so hard that she couldn't stop, and Nan Xu lowered her head in shame.

In the corner of his eye, the person beside him was still standing there with a calm smile.

Nan Xu had thousands of words swirling in his chest, but in the end they just turned into a cold snort.

I didn't expect that my cheap husband is so good at pleasing the elders.

The maidservants brought round stools for the two to sit on. It was the first time that the marquis' wife met her son-in-law, so she spoke very cautiously.

She first praised and then criticized that Nan Xu had grown up in luxury and had been spoiled by her. It was inevitable that she would do something wrong in her daily life, and asked Duan Wenpei to bear with her. Then she changed the subject and said that she was not bragging, but Nan Xu was one of the best in Kyoto in terms of appearance, temperament and talent. If she did anything wrong in the future, she asked the uncle to be considerate and not to hurt her dignity, because she, as a mother, would teach her.

The Marquis's wife rarely spoke in such earnest words. Nan Xu felt a surge of emotion when she heard this. If it weren't for the presence of so many people, she would have just wanted to snuggle into her mother's arms.

Nan Xu was still immersed in what she had just said when suddenly a warm hand came over hers, just enough to wrap around her hand.

"Don't worry, mother-in-law. Since Ah Xu has married me, I will treat her with all my heart and will not let her live worse than she did in the Hou Mansion."

That's right. Jingyuan is more than twice as big as her own Xiefangyuan, and she was given the power to manage the household. She didn't have to serve her parents-in-law or take care of her younger siblings, and she was very comfortable.

"If anything happens, it's my fault as a husband. Mother-in-law doesn't need to blame Ah Xu."

Of course!

Nan Xu thought of the unstamped divorce letter in her hand. She decided to go back and hide it somewhere safe. No one could see it, let alone her mother.

"A Xu, what are you thinking about? Uncle is calling you." The aunt stretched out her hand and waved.

Nan Xu came back to his senses and looked up to meet the half-smile gaze of the person next to him.

What did he...just say?

Everyone's eyes were full of hope, but Nan Xu's face was confused and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Duan Wenpei looked at her and repeated in a gentle voice, "Will you come back to the Bo Mansion with me today? Or will you stay with you at the Hou Mansion for one night?"

Nan Xu's eyes lit up, and without even thinking, she said, "Stay one night."

Her eyes were filled with joy, something Duan Wenpei had never seen before.

He smiled and said to his superior: "Listen to Ah Xu."

The Marquis’ wife was extremely happy that the couple could get along so well.

He repeatedly ordered people to clean Xiefang Courtyard, change the bedding, and arrange a few reliable night servants before he was willing to stop.

Taking advantage of this free time, the Marquis' wife asked Nan Xu to take Duan Wenpei to visit the Marquis's mansion.

Nan Xu was somewhat reluctant, but she had to go through the motions and took Duan Wenpei out of the pavilion.

*

"This Taihu stone was brought here from the south when my grandfather was still alive. Look at it, those powerful characters were written by my grandfather himself."

"That's the library in the mansion. It not only has many rare and unique books, but also calligraphy works by successive generations of Yong'an Marquises."

…

As the scene changed, Nan Xu gave a halting introduction, as dry as if he was reciting something.

Duan Wenpei knew in his heart that she was unwilling, but he did not expose her. He just nodded in agreement.

When the emperor was choosing the mansion, he asked for his opinion. The mansions of these dukes and marquises were all similar and there was nothing special about them.

A few servants arranged by the marquis' wife followed closely behind them. Seeing the second young lady and her son-in-law standing side by side, sometimes pointing at this and that, sometimes smiling at each other, they all silently moved away.

After leaving the library and about to pass through the moon gate to the backyard, a person came around the corner.

He is the long-time attendant of Marquis Yong'an.

"Replying to Master Bo and Second Miss, Master Hou asked Master Bo to move to the study for a chat."

Nan Xu's shoulders slumped and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Uncle, go ahead." She said this so much that her mouth was almost blistered.

Duan Wenpei naturally did not miss the change in Nan Xu's expression. He nodded and asked Chang Sui to lead the way.

*

Watching Duan Wenpei's back disappear around the corner, Nan Xu relaxed her tense body and lazily put her arm around Yu Ming's shoulder, "Let's go back to our courtyard."

"Aren't you waiting for your uncle?" Yuxiang asked from the side.

Nan Xu tapped her forehead with his fingers. "What are you waiting for? How can he get lost in the Hou Mansion? After seeing his father, someone will naturally take him to Xiefang Courtyard."

Yuxiang pursed his lips, seeming to want to say something but stopped himself.

"What's wrong?" Nan Xu knew that she was a straightforward person and not the type to hesitate, so she found it a little strange.

Yuxiang counted on his fingers, a look of confusion between his brows. "I met Brother Changchun at the Second Gate earlier. He said that the person on duty with the Marquis today was Fulai, not the man from before. I'm just confused. Why would Brother Changchun lie to me?"

The Changchun she mentioned was the son of the manager of the front yard, Chang Da. The Chang family had the trust of his father. Yuxiang was a maid born in the family and had a friendship with Changchun since childhood, so naturally she would not lie to her.

Could it be that there is something wrong with the person who just delivered the message?

Nan Xu paused, "Are you sure you remember?"

Yuxiang shook her head. "This servant has a good memory, so I won't make a mistake."

That's strange. My father is a stickler for rules and won't change the person on duty at will.

"Yuming, call two servants and go over and take a look."

Although nothing will go wrong in the Hou Mansion, there may be some people who have bad intentions.

She naturally believed in Duan Wenpei's ability, but she was worried about other people.

*

The guide took many turns and the place became more and more secluded.

As they were almost at their destination, there was no movement behind them. The long-servant turned around to look, only to see that the second uncle, who had a warm face just now, had a terribly cold expression.

"Uncle, it's just ahead, let's go quickly."

He extended his hand as a gesture of invitation, but Duan Wenpei did not move.

"Uncle..."

"Nan Yun meets Uncle!"

A clear female voice rang out from the bushes half a man's height in the back, and a charming young woman in a pink dress emerged. Duan Wenpei pursed his lips. She knew Nan Yun: the third daughter of the Yong'an Marquis's residence, his sister-in-law.

Nan Yun stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"I'm looking for my lost bracelet. I wonder why you came here?"

She looked surprised at the encounter, as if her presence here was a coincidence.

A strong fragrance wafted towards him. Duan Wenpei leaned back and said mercilessly, "If I remember correctly, I have never met the Third Miss. How did she know my identity? Was she looking for the bracelet or was she waiting here specifically? She herself seems to have forgotten."

Nan Yun was slightly stunned; this time her surprise was genuine.

"Master, do you think I'm lying to you?"

Then she revealed a hurt expression, "Did my second sister say something in front of Uncle? I'm not that kind of person!"

After working in the Ministry of Justice for a while, Duan Wenpei subconsciously developed a dislike for such artificial behavior.

He had no intention of knowing why Nan Yun wanted to see him, he just wanted to leave here quickly.

"You." He called to his long-servant, who had been keeping his head down and not saying anything, "Lead the way!"

Chang Sui couldn't decide whether to leave or not, so he had no choice but to go see Nan Yun.

I've been regretting it for a long time. I wouldn't have coveted those dozen taels of silver...

Seeing that Duan Wenpei was about to leave, Nan Yun gritted her teeth. She might not have such an opportunity again after today. Besides, she had used up a month's salary, so how could she let it go so hastily?

She mustered up her courage and stepped forward to block the way.

He said stubbornly, "Master, do you know that my second sister doesn't want to marry you?"

"Master, do you know that she has never let go of the young master of the Li family!"

Seeing Duan Wenpei's indifference, she panicked and said, "Back then, if I wanted to marry Uncle, it shouldn't have been my second sister, but me!"

The sun gradually moved westward, the treetops cast shadows, and a breeze blew by, bringing a rustling sound.

Her voice echoed for a long time, but received no response.

It seemed as if it was her one-man show from beginning to end.

Duan Wenpei did not stay and strode away without even glancing at him.

Chang Sui didn't dare to delay, he hurriedly bowed to Nan Yun and quickly followed.

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