Dead knot (repair)
With the eldest son suddenly pregnant, the banquet naturally included expressions of concern and instructions for Dou Yanzhou. What was originally a feast for praying for blessings turned into Bai Shi's repeated admonitions to the servants of the eldest son's family.
Dou Yanzhou was in high spirits. He had just gotten Lang Ge'er and soon received more good news, so he couldn't help but drink a few more cups.
Lin Xu sat opposite Dou Yanzhou, the two of them silently eating side dishes and porridge. Dou Chu's casual, childlike questions earlier had drawn everyone's attention to their table. Lin Xu, having sat there for a while, began to feel uneasy.
However, after a short while, she realized that, unlike her feeling of unease, Dou Yanxun remained silent, as if he didn't care about the matter at all.
He continued to sip his tea leisurely, then picked up a few pieces of golden-brown, crispy fried fish. His previously unpleasant expression had gradually softened, and he no longer seemed to be upset about the eldest son's current smugness.
He's indifferent when he should be, nonchalant when he should be, and calm when he should be... but he seems a little too calm.
Lin Xu silently cursed the man, but could only continue to endure the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, who seemed to be speculating whether the two of them were truly at odds.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief when the banquet was over and everyone left.
The night in the courtyard was chilly, and a thin layer of frost had fallen sometime earlier, icy and covering the road. As the night deepened and all was quiet, the road became even more difficult to walk on.
Feng Daizhu was now being watched closely by over a hundred pairs of eyes in the mansion. She was already wrapped tightly in an exceptionally thick fox fur cloak, and surrounded by four or five maids and servants. She was extremely careful with every step she took.
Lin Xu walked beside Dou Yanxun. The moonlight seemed to have a touch of coldness, shining on the tip of her straight nose, making her profile look exceptionally bright.
Judging by her age, Feng Daizhu is only eighteen or nineteen years old, yet she is about to become a mother of twins. Lin Xu recalled the day Feng Daizhu came to visit him at the villa, kicking a shuttlecock with great energy for half a day, and couldn't help but feel a little scared now.
Lost in thought, she hadn't paid attention to where she was going, and her right foot landed on a thin layer of ice, causing her to sway and stumble. Zhu Ling cried out in alarm behind her. Just as she managed to regain her footing, she suddenly felt something being moved in her sleeve. Before she could react, a hand slipped into her wide sleeve—
Dou Yanxun gripped her hand tightly, steadying her as she nearly fell.
He wore a thin silver fox fur cloak, the inner lining of which was also thin, and sure enough, his palms were cold.
As Lin Xu's warm hand was gripped tightly by him, a chill rushed towards her, and she turned her head to look at him.
Dou Yanxun's expression remained unchanged as he softly said, "Nuan Nuan."
He clearly only came to help her because he saw her about to fall, but now he casually says it was to borrow her sleeve to warm his hands.
Lin Xu didn't expose him, but simply responded softly. She then took his hand and held it in both of her own. After taking a few more steps forward, the hand held tightly in her palm felt warm.
Dou Zhen walked slowly to the fork in the small garden, with a tall maid holding a lantern beside her. Further ahead was her own courtyard.
Dou Zhen stopped, intending to turn back and say goodbye to Lin Xu and the others, but she happened to see the two of them holding hands and whispering softly. She smiled gently and then turned and walked deeper into the sycamore grove.
.
Inside the elegant residence, a charcoal fire had already been lit, and the burning black stone occasionally emitted fiery red ash. As soon as they entered, Granny Qin stepped forward and poured them two cups of hot tea. Upon returning, they felt a sudden warmth spread throughout their bodies.
Dou Yanxun exhaled a breath of cold air, his cheeks red from the cold of traveling at night. Looking towards the candlelight in the hall, he saw a handsome face with red lips and white teeth.
He casually took off his coat and was about to sit down when he saw Lin Xu still standing at the door since he returned, looking down and trying to untie the knot on the hood of his cloak.
Those slender, white hands fluttered over the knot at her neck, but after a long while, they were at a loss. Granny Qin glanced at them and was about to step forward to help when she saw someone had already beaten her to it and reached Lin Xu's side.
Dou Yanxun was tall, a full head taller than Lin Xu. As soon as he walked over, the light in front of her was dimmed by the person in front of her.
The person in front of him bent down and deftly untied the tightly knotted cloak around Lin Xu's neck with his long fingers.
Lin Xu raised his eyelids to look, only to see that the face, which was now exceptionally alluring and handsome, was very close to him, yet his expression was indifferent.
He always seemed nonchalant, yet he handled these trivial matters with remarkable ease.
Dou Yanxun also raised his eyes, his gaze as gentle as the moon:
"It's cold outside, let's go inside and warm up."
Lin Xu's lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, and in the end, he did not utter a sound.
She lowered her eyelashes, turned and went into the house. Warmth rushed towards her, mixed with the aroma of charcoal from the stove, and her whole heart almost melted away.
Dou Yanxun followed her inside, took off his thin cloak, and casually placed it on the back of a chair. His cheeks, flushed slightly by the night's chill, were illuminated by the candlelight, making him appear even more handsome and refined.
Standing to the side, Qin Mama saw that the two were unusually harmonious today, so she smiled knowingly and quietly withdrew without disturbing them any longer.
Lin Xu picked up the hot tea from the table, her fingertips touching the inside of the cup. The steam rose gently, but she didn't drink it immediately. She sat quietly, her almond-shaped eyes slightly lowered, but a hint of confusion and unresolved thoughts lingered between her brows.
Normally, Dou Yanxun would rest in the study at night, but now he sat with her for a long time without moving an inch, showing no intention of leaving.
On second thought, Dou Yanxun had been very considerate to her during the meal, which seemed to be a little different from his usual cold and aloof demeanor. In addition, there were small things like helping her up in the dark and taking off her coat. Although he was still not very talkative, his words and actions showed a hint of warmth.
Does this mean they're going to stay here overnight?
When Qingmo brought warm water to help him wash up again, Dou Yanxun was still lazily resting on the soft couch, casually flipping through the calligraphy books on the table.
Qingmo then tentatively asked, "Second Master, would you like me to help you with your washing and grooming?"
If he didn't rest in the palace, Granny Chang would bring a maid to his study to help him with his toilette. Dou Yanxun, however, yawned casually, his expression still lazy, and without even raising his head, said, "I'll rest here tonight."
Upon hearing this, Qingmo hurriedly agreed.
Zhu Ling brought in hot water to help Lin Xu wash up. The hot water in the copper basin was steaming, with several rose petals floating on top, emitting a faint fragrance.
Lin Xu soaked her hands in rose juice for a long time before she felt her palms were warm. She carefully dried her hands, and Dou Yanxun's voice drifted from the soft couch beside her.
"—Are these all your calligraphy practice books?"
He held up a thick book of seal script, which she had already practiced when she was in Zhiqiong Hall. Lin Xu nodded gently.
Dou Yanxun looked up at her and said, "You're so young, yet your writing skills are quite impressive."
Even when it comes to praise, this person can do it in such an unusual way...
Lin Xu curled her lips into a slight smile, recalling her first visit to his residence on their wedding day, when she was curious about the calligraphy and paintings covering the walls. She then said with a slight smile:
"Could it be that my husband is also an expert in calligraphy and painting?"
Dou Yanxun raised an eyebrow, following her gaze to the several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall in the distance, and said calmly:
"Are you referring to these? I paid someone to draw them all, otherwise the old man would think I'm uneducated and incompetent, and I wouldn't be able to deliver."
Lin Xu was stunned by the shameless appearance of the person in front of him. Upon reflection, it made sense. This person, who had previously claimed to be sick and dropped out of the martial arts school and refused to show up for duty in the officialdom, why would he suddenly have the interest in writing?
After they finished washing up and changed into their nightgowns, Qin Mama and the others, being perceptive, dismissed all the servants, leaving only the two of them in the hall.
The candle wicks were already extremely long, and the originally quietly flickering flames were now dancing wildly without restraint. Lin Xu held a pair of silver scissors in his hand and trimmed the wicks of the candles on different tables in the corner one by one.
The room was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing softly. Dou Yanxun had already lain down in the bed curtains. She walked to the bedside, and the heavy gauze curtains fell to the ground, completely blocking out the chill in half of the hall.
She was wearing soft-soled velvet shoes embroidered with mandarin ducks. Her steps were extremely light. She had just slowly walked to the bedside when a hand suddenly reached out from under the curtains. In a moment of hesitation, the owner of that hand exerted force and pulled her onto the bed.
The culprit, however, lay quietly on the bed, his eyes closed as if asleep, with only the faint crackling of the fire in the stove in his ears.
Sensing Lin Xu's gaze, Dou Yanxun slowly raised his eyelids. "Go to sleep."
Lin Xu responded with an "oh," but seemed somewhat hesitant. Dou Yanxun then released his grip on her waist and glanced at her sideways, asking, "What's wrong?"
She pointed to the side where Dou Yanxun was lying, looking a little embarrassed, but still spoke:
"It's nothing, I just prefer to sleep on the inside."
Dou Yanxun curled the corners of his lips, but said nothing. He simply and nimbly got up and switched places with her.
Sure enough, she felt more comfortable when she slept on the inside, and the noise around her gradually subsided. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she suddenly heard a low and gentle voice in her ear.
"I've heard some rumors circulating in the manor lately?"
Although her eyes were closed, her eyelashes couldn't help but tremble slightly.
No wonder he was behaving so unusually today; it turns out that these rumors had also reached his ears.
Rumors are now rampant in the manor that the two have not yet consummated their marriage. Some opportunistic servants, knowing that she does not please Dou Yanxun, have also begun to treat her with indifference.
She originally thought she could just turn a blind eye to these things and let them pass, but she didn't expect that they would still alarm many people. In fact, on this one day alone, Bai Shi, Feng Daizhu, and even Dou Yanxun mentioned this matter one after another.
Whether these words were well-intentioned advice or meant to sow discord, she had no interest in investigating further.
However, Dou Yanxun's mention of this matter late at night still made her wonder about his true purpose, so she cleared her throat and said softly:
"...Husband, are you referring to the recent rumors circulating in the manor about our marital relationship?"
Dou Yanxun remained direct, asking her in return:
Do you mind?
The candlelight outside the curtains had burned extremely weakly, and through the layers of thin gauze, only faint specks of light could be seen flickering, as if they would go out in a moment.
She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Dou Yanxun. His peach-blossom eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the night, and when he wasn't smiling, they held an added chill, as if trying to see through all the secrets in her heart.
She could only laugh softly, her voice as delicate as a feather:
"Rumors and gossip are nothing but empty talk, and I understand this perfectly well. So why bother taking them to heart?"
Dou Yanxun's lips curled into a faint smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it revealed a hint of coldness. He looked at her quietly, his tone sharper than before:
"Madam is very broad-minded and magnanimous."
Upon hearing this, she felt a chill run down her spine.
However, his few words, though seemingly casual, were laced with sarcasm, and Dou Yanxun's demeanor instantly shifted from a state of lethargy that had persisted throughout the day to one of sharp incision.
It was something she couldn't adapt to for a while.
Lin Xu paused, then said in a low voice, "My husband, are you implying something...?"
But she knew in her heart that his words just now were not only pointed at, but he had even made it clear that he suspected her.
She suspected that the rumors circulating in the mansion were all orchestrated by Lin Xu in secret.
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