Speak frankly
Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm as he softly said:
"Miss, have you misunderstood something? We were just passing by and had no intention of offending you."
Yao Niang snorted coldly, her eyes filled with provocation, and approached her step by step:
"Just passing by? That's a bit too much of a coincidence. Do you think I'm easy to fool, young lady? I see you have an upright posture and a composed demeanor. Such an outstanding person as you is rare in Mujing. There's no one else around right now, so why don't you just tell me directly, young lady, which family are you from, and why you followed me all this way, and now that I've caught you red-handed, you dare not admit it?"
It seems that Yao Niang's personality, like her beautiful appearance, is also quite sharp.
The two tall, burly men behind her stood with their arms crossed, staring at Lin Xu with a fierce look in their eyes.
Zhu Ling was terrified and hurriedly cast a worried glance at Lin Xu. She then took a step forward without making a sound and tried to protect Lin Xu behind her.
Lin Xu smiled calmly, gently held up the light gauze that was almost blown away by the wind, and said softly:
"I don't know why you are so convinced. Is it because you have some secrets you are hiding that make you so worried about your whereabouts being exposed?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Niang smiled, but the chill in her smile deepened, and she said with disdain:
"You certainly have a silver tongue. Since you won't admit defeat until you see the coffin, I'll see how far you can go today."
After saying that, she raised her hands to both sides, signaling the burly men beside her to block their way.
Lin Xu showed no fear, but instead smiled slightly and gently lifted the veil covering her face. Beneath the thin veil, a pair of gentle, watery eyes held an almost icy chill.
She slowly began to speak:
“Since you insist on knowing the truth, then I will reveal my true identity to you. I am actually Lin from Mujing, and the wife of Dou Yanxun, the second young master of the Dou family, whom I married not long ago. I am here today because my husband is too busy to accompany me, and I have heard that he has many acquaintances in Mujing, and you are one of them. I found you to be very kind, so I dared to come and visit you. I have no other ill intentions, and I hope you will understand.”
Upon hearing this, Yao Niang's expression froze, and her gaze turned cold, as if just hearing the name Dou Yanxun was enough to make her subtly nervous.
She narrowed her eyes, quickly glancing at Lin Xu's dignified attire, then looked at Zhu Ling standing beside her with her head bowed, as if carefully weighing the truth in their words.
"So you're Dou Yanxun's new wife..."
After a long silence, Yao Niang finally spoke, a faint smile barely tugging at the corners of her lips. "Since that's the case, then I was truly disrespectful just now. However, this place is desolate and quiet, not a place for Madam Dou. I wonder why Madam is so persistent in wanting to inquire with me about this matter?"
Lin Xu's eyes remained unwavering, radiating a clear and gentle gaze:
"My actions may have been abrupt, and I concealed them to avoid causing you any trouble. In truth, I came here today with two reasons: first, I wished to establish a good relationship with you; second, I had indeed heard that my husband had quite a few old friends in the capital, and I was quite curious about them. From the moment I met you, I felt an instant connection with you and wanted to learn more about you. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize in advance."
Yao Niang's brows furrowed with impatience; she was not buying it.
"Since you insist that you are Dou Yanxun's new wife, then your love is as strong as gold. If you have any questions, just ask your husband. Why bother asking someone who is completely unrelated to you? Besides, your husband and I were just casual acquaintances before, and we had some occasional interaction. We are not old friends as you think. Madam, you should not waste your time and energy on me and cause me any more trouble."
Lin Xu said softly, "I only exchanged a few words with you just now, but I found you to be exceptionally intelligent. No wonder you are the most outstanding person in Bihua Tower. To be honest, I came here with no ill intentions, but just to ask you some questions. And these questions are obviously more appropriate to ask you than my husband."
Yao Niang froze, her alluring eyes growing even colder and more menacing.
She looked up at Lin Xu, the cold smile on her lips fading slightly, replaced by an indescribable complex expression.
"You already know who I am. So what exactly do you want to ask?"
Lin Xu smiled gently: "Miss Yao is wise, so I won't beat around the bush anymore. I've heard that my husband often frequents Bihua Tower and has a close relationship with Miss Yao. That's why I wanted to ask you for advice on how to make my husband treat me as intimately as he treats you."
Yao Niang's expression grew increasingly complicated. Her brows furrowed as she looked at Lin Xu, and after a long while, she finally spoke:
“I don’t think you are infatuated, nor do I seem like the kind of person who would have so many concerns. But since you’ve come all this way, I’ll give you face and speak the truth. The matter that you’re worried about, I can’t answer. As I just said, your husband and I are really not that familiar.”
Lin Xu then said:
"Does Yao Niang know of a beautiful and charming Miss Sun from the Bihua Pavilion? Was she acquainted with my husband?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Niang paused again. Her eyes flickered, and she said softly:
"Let bygones be bygones, why bother with such troublesome things, my lady?"
Seeing that Lin Xu was still staring at her, Yao Niang sighed after a long while and said coldly:
“I advise you, Madam, that these are all things of the past. Who Sun Biying was friends with or enemies with in the past is none of my interest, nor is it any of my business. Madam Lin, you should not waste any more time on these pointless entanglements.”
After speaking, Yao Niang prepared to leave. The two burly men beside her exchanged glances, tightly blocking the alley entrance, clearly not letting their guard down completely.
Then, just as Yao Niang was about to walk away, another soft voice rang out behind her in the narrow alley:
"Since Miss Yao is unwilling to discuss Sun Biying's affairs, could you perhaps tell me something about a girl named Qingqing from Bihua Tower in the past?"
Yao Niang stopped in her tracks, and after a long while, she finally turned around.
The two burly men accompanying her were specially assigned to her by the madam of Bihua Tower; they were only waiting for her to give the order to act. This Lin Xu, however, was clearly testing her patience repeatedly.
But when she looked back, the dim light at the alley entrance was dappled, and that slender figure seemed to be swaying precariously, extremely weak.
Lin Xu's face was deathly pale, and half of her body was obscured by light and shadow, making her appear even more frail and pitiful. It seemed that just asking that last question had already exhausted a great deal of her strength.
And those unforgettable eyes were overflowing with fragmented, shimmering light.
Like a pool of clear spring filled with fallen leaves, it ripples with the last few rays of the setting sun.
They look...so pitiful.
She had heard the rumors before. Everyone said that Dou Yanxun had been a playboy for half his life, but he was entangled by a lovestruck noblewoman from a high-ranking family. The noblewoman seemed to be bewitched, completely disregarding Dou Yanxun's past philandering, and only focused on throwing herself at him. No matter how cold Dou Yanxun was, she couldn't get rid of him.
Even when those words first reached her ears, she secretly chuckled to herself. In her life of romance and countless encounters, Yao Niang had met all sorts of people, but the person she hated most was Dou Yanxun, the person she feared most—
It is also Dou Yanxun.
So she wondered which foolish girl was so blind to be so infatuated with Dou Yanxun. After witnessing Sun Biying's death, all she wanted was to protect herself. She had no other thoughts.
But when she saw the person in front of her now looking so cold and broken, she couldn't bear it and even felt a bit resentful.
Throughout history, many women, both beautiful and demure, have been deeply affectionate, but they were all just pitiful souls.
She sighed softly and whispered:
"Actually, Madam Lin, you don't need to worry too much. I know Fu Qing; she used to be a courtesan at Bihua Tower, and she was quite beautiful. However, she has long since been redeemed by a good family and no longer needs to do such servant work. As far as I know, many years ago, Dou Yanxun saved Fu Qing's life, and since then, this silly girl has secretly fallen in love with him, but she has never received any response from Dou Yanxun. Dou Yanxun only sees her as an old friend, someone he goes there to see when he is injured, and to ask for a few miraculous medicines that only Fu Qing can make."
Lin Xu nodded slightly, then asked:
"So, she just kept this fruitless relationship without any regrets?"
Yao Niang remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed softly:
“That’s right, that’s why I said Madam need not worry. Although Fu Qing has feelings for Dou Yanxun, she has never hoped for a reciprocation, preferring to bury these feelings deep in her heart. She is an orphan with superb medical skills and exceptional intelligence. If it weren’t for this entanglement, she might have already left Mujing and found a better home. However, just a few days ago, she seemed to have suddenly come to her senses and accepted the ransom from the fellow villager guard who had been waiting for her all along. She has already left Bihua Tower. As for her whereabouts, I really don’t know.”
Lin Xu said softly, "Thank you for informing me, Miss Yao."
Yao Niang gave Lin Xu a deep look, her eyes filled with a strange mix of pity and complexity:
"Life is unpredictable. Lady Lin is devoted to you. Perhaps one day, Young Master Dou will understand."
.
The next morning, as the sun was still low in the sky, Lin Xu sat upright at her desk, meticulously copying the calligraphy model that Liang Zhengyuan had given her. Several months passed in the blink of an eye, and the once thick calligraphy model was now almost finished.
Just as she was engrossed in her work, Zhu Ling walked in with light, quick steps and said softly:
“Madam, when I went to the front courtyard to collect the winter clothes and clothing, I heard that this morning, for some reason, the old lady summoned the managers of many shops and stores and made many changes. Among them was the old manager of Muchunlou whom we met last time.”
The steward was old and frail, cautious and meticulous, yet experienced, and his accounts were flawless. If he were to be replaced, it would certainly not be because of his incompetence.
...It could only be his very existence that caused some people to feel displeased.
Lin Xu paused in mid-air with the brush in his hand, and the ink he had just dipped in the inkstone slowly dripped onto the rice paper, spreading out in a blur.
The brush tip barely touched the rice paper before a thick blot of ink spread, staining most of the originally smooth and white paper. She frowned slightly, forcing herself to calm down, and only after finishing the last page did she put the brush aside.
Zhu Ling whispered, "Does Madam think that the Old Madam's sudden actions are related to our visit to Muchun Pavilion a few days ago?"
She had just visited Muchun Tower for an inspection, and a few days later, Bai Shi replaced the manager who had received her. Such a sudden move did not seem unintentional at all.
The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. However, she is now preoccupied with various trivial matters and has no energy left to deal with the Bai family.
Moreover, the fact that Bai Shi dealt with the deceased Xia Shi in the past, or that she inadvertently arranged for Dou Zhen to attend important occasions, is enough to prove her methods.
All she can do right now is to use minimal force to achieve maximum effect and to remain calm and patient.
Lin Xu changed into a soft satin dress with auspicious cloud patterns, carefully examined her face in the mirror, put on a thick cloak, and then walked slowly towards the Bai family's courtyard, braving the cold wind.
.
Upon entering the palace where the Bai family resided, a refreshing fragrance wafted into the air.
Madam Bai sat regally in the seat of honor, her expression amiable, leisurely sipping the newly delivered tea from the estate. Seeing the woman bow in greeting, Madam Bai's gaze swept over her gently, and with a faint smile, she raised her hand and said softly:
"You've arrived. Please sit down."
Aside from the fragrant aroma that filled the hall, a delicate color had already appeared in the room, sitting peacefully to the side.
Feng Daizhu wore a royal blue floor-length dress, but her face was somewhat gloomy. Since her pregnancy became more and more obvious, she began to come to pay her respects alone and rarely brought Lang Ge'er with her.
She held a cup of tea in her hands, seemingly lost in thought, completely unaware of Lin Xu's gaze upon her.
Now that she is quite far along in her pregnancy, her waist is slightly rounded, and her temperament has softened somewhat due to her pregnancy. However, the heroic spirit and dashing demeanor in her eyes remain unchanged, and she still possesses a captivating beauty that is unforgettable.
Lin Xu sat down as instructed, and Fu Lian brought over a cup of hot tea.
Bai glanced at Lin Xu slowly, took a sip of warm tea, and then smiled:
"With the year-end approaching, everyone's been busier than usual. Is everything alright at the villa?"
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