tail
Dou Yanxun knelt for an entire night. The next morning, as Dou Huaisheng was about to go to court, he found his pale-faced illegitimate son kneeling silently before the ancestral hall. Fortunately, Dou Yanxun was now just an insignificant, idle official in the government office. Even though he hadn't gone there for several days, and Dou Yanzhou had personally gone to plead for him, the superiors, out of respect for the Dou family, did not pursue the matter too much.
Within two days, the official transfer order for Dou Huaisheng to take over as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was issued.
However, a cool breeze blew through the hall that night, and Dou Yanxun was dressed in thin clothes. The servants in the ancestral hall were afraid of Bai's wrath and dared not add more clothes for Dou Yanxun. Even though Dou Yanxun rested for a whole day afterward, he still collapsed due to the severity of his illness.
Lin Xu flipped through the ledger in his hand, sighed softly, and turned another page, but his vision gradually blurred.
Since she married into the Dou family, although she knew that Dou Yanxun was an illegitimate son and that she would be walking on thin ice in this deep mansion, she never expected that Madam Bai would be so harsh on him.
Recalling that night, I saw him kneeling alone in the cold wind, his thin clothes already soaked with dew, his face pale and silent, maintaining his upright kneeling posture with a touch of arrogance.
Even when he was looked down upon and in a low position, he still smiled nonchalantly, as if no matter how many times he was torn apart or how much he was humiliated, no one could hurt him.
That relaxed and composed demeanor seemed to come from something he was already used to.
She closed her eyes slightly, her heart churning with even greater turmoil.
If it weren't for this punishment of kneeling, Dou Yanxun wouldn't have fallen ill. Now he's lying in bed, unable to move, and his pulse is extremely weak.
The numbers in the ledgers that used to tug at her heartstrings now seemed to hold no appeal, her thoughts already wandering elsewhere.
Zhu Ling approached her and whispered:
"Madam, the Second Master just woke up and seems to want some warm tea to soothe his throat."
Lin Xu gently closed the ledger, stood up, and said:
“Then let’s warm up the ginseng soup that was brewed early this morning, and I will go see him in person.”
She grabbed a cloak and draped it over her shoulders before quickly leaving the study.
The morning light was just right in the hall, but the person lying on the bed was pale and looked awful. She approached Dou Yanxun and saw that his eyes were slightly closed and his brows were slightly furrowed. Even though he was now suffering from illness, his expression still carried a touch of aloofness and indifference.
Zhu Ling brought over the warmed ginseng soup. Lin Xu took it, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to his lips, saying softly:
"Is my husband awake? Would you like some ginseng soup?"
Dou Yanxun's brow twitched slightly, and Lin Xu continued:
"Now that Father's promotion to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is a done deal, the official transfer order has been issued, and he should be leaving in the next day or two. Mother no longer mentions this matter, and I think she has calmed down. Husband, you should focus on recuperating these days and not worry about what others say. Getting well is the most important thing."
Dou Yanxun slightly opened his eyes, his gaze towards her still indifferent, but his eyes were full of exhaustion.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, "It's alright, I'll rest for a few days and it's nothing serious. I'm sorry to have made you worry."
Lin Xu smiled faintly and said, "Why are you so polite, my husband? We are husband and wife, and I, Xu Xu, should naturally care about you."
Dou Yanxun looked at her with a complicated expression.
She watched his lips open and close, but he didn't say a word. After a while, his hand reached out from under the blanket and grasped hers.
He is now very ill; his body is burning hot, and his large palms are slightly sweaty.
"Lifelike".
He looked at her, then softly said to Zhu Ling, "You may all leave."
Soon, only he and Lin Xu remained in the hall.
Dou Yanxun tightened his grip on her hand, coughed lightly a few times, and then whispered:
"Now that it's just the two of us, you can tell me your innermost thoughts. Don't you really care about my frequenting of Bihua Tower? On the surface, you are my lawfully wedded wife, even though we have never consummated our marriage. The rumors in the manor have never subsided, and if they get out, they will be enough to embarrass you... Lin Xu, don't you hate me?"
Lin Xu paused slightly, nearly spilling the soup bowl she was holding in her left hand. She placed the bowl on the side table before turning to look at Dou Yanxun, a faint smile in her eyes.
"Do you hate me? Why would my husband say such a thing out of the blue?"
She reached out and grasped his palm in return, speaking softly and calmly.
"Perhaps Xuxu is foolish and doesn't understand what hatred is or why it is. Xuxu only knows that her husband is the one she is destined for in this life. Since we have become husband and wife, it is a good marriage bestowed upon me by heaven, and I will not harbor resentment because of gossip. Xuxu said this before, but perhaps her husband did not believe her then, so Xuxu will say it again today."
Her gaze was gentle, caressing every inch of his face:
"...Xuxu's only happiness in this life is marrying her husband, and her only wish now is for him to be healthy and happy. There is nothing else."
She watched as a complex mix of emotions—doubt and shock—swirled in Dou Yanxun's eyes, then simply smiled faintly and leaned down slightly.
"...As for the reality of marriage, Xuxu does not wish to force it. I will always stand by my husband's side, and as long as he turns around, he will see me one day."
Dou Yanxun stared intently at her, his gaze slightly lowered, as if trying to read a hint of wavering in her eyes. But after a long while, he failed.
He shook his head and chuckled softly:
"You... do you really think that way? Even if I frequent brothels every day and put you in the eye of the storm of rumors, you won't feel unhappy?"
Lin Xu lowered her eyes slightly, a faint smile on her lips as gentle as the first rays of dawn:
“I trust my husband completely.”
Lin Xu lowered her eyelashes and looked at her hand, which was tightly held in Dou Yanxun's palm. He held her slender hand firmly, gradually increasing his strength.
.
A few days later, Mujing North Street was bustling with people, filled with the lively atmosphere of the upcoming festival. In this most prosperous area of Dayu, a brand-new flower and plant shop quietly opened.
A newly woven rattan plaque hangs high outside the shop, with the words "Yuancaoju" written in large black characters. Fresh, green potted plants and flowers are displayed all around, their delicate fragrance attracting many passersby to stop and admire them.
Lin Xu, dressed in a bamboo-green floor-length cloak, followed Zhu Ling as she slowly entered the flower and plant grove. There, they saw a slender woman with a gentle face busy greeting guests. Her eyes held a calm and composed air; after so long, she possessed a mature demeanor that seemed almost unrecognizable.
It was Zhiyuan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.
Zhi Yuan turned around and saw Lin Xu and Zhu Ling arrive. Her eyes immediately filled with joy. She quickly put down what she was doing and went to greet them, bowing gracefully.
"I hope you are well, Madam. It has been a long time since I last saw you. You have become even more elegant and graceful."
Lin Xu reached out to help her up and said with a smile, "Why are you being so polite? There's no need for you to be so courteous to me."
Zhiyuan nodded and smiled, "That's true. I must not be impolite in front of you, Madam. I must thank you for your support and trust, Madam, so that I can manage this shop."
Lin Xu smiled slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes, and said gently:
"It's clearly your own outstanding ability that has led to this achievement. You've worked hard every day in the greenhouse, so there's no need to thank me. When I came here just now, I saw that your place was decorated in a novel and unique way, which was very eye-catching. Moreover, the variety of flowers and trees here is very rich. I think it won't be long before you become famous."
Zhiyuan's eyes were full of gratitude, but she said nothing more. She led Lin Xu and Zhu Ling to the backyard, away from the bustling crowd.
The shop's backyard is decorated in a simple and quiet style. Several carefully cultivated bamboo plants are lush and green, swaying gently in the wind. Even in the cold of winter, the surrounding flowers and plants are still arranged in a pleasing manner, which is quite interesting.
As soon as they were seated, a diligent servant brought tea. Zhi Yuan lowered her voice slightly and said to Lin Xu:
“Madam, everything has been fine in the manor lately, but not long ago, Qi Rou’er suddenly started causing trouble again. She said that Aunt Qi has been sleeping soundly all day long because the Zhang family doctor was just doing his job and not taking good care of her. Qi Rou’er cried for a long time, causing panic in the manor.”
She paused, then continued, "Besides, before I went out to shop yesterday, I saw two maids beside Qi Rou'er helping her organize many personal belongings. I overheard them talking, and she said that everyone in the mansion was neglecting her and kept complaining about the master, as if she intended to leave. Now, Madam Gao is overwhelmed with cleaning up the mess that Qi Rou'er has made every day, and she sighs with a worried look on her face all day long."
Lin Xu lowered her brows slightly and nodded faintly. She picked up her teacup and took a slow sip, but a sense of disgust arose in her heart.
First there was Qi Shuang'er, then Qi Rou'er. These Qi sisters cause trouble every day, and their words are so annoying. I imagine that Father and Gao Youyi must have been fed up with them for a long time.
The group continued chatting about recent trivial matters in the Lin residence. Lin Xu put down his teacup, but out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw an extremely graceful figure pass by the window of the flower and grass shop.
Looking up, one could see a woman in a green silk dress walking past the window. Even from a distance, one could see that her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and beautiful, and her posture was very elegant. Her appearance was unforgettable.
Zhi Yuan also turned around to look, then her expression changed, and she whispered:
"Madam, that is Yao Niang, the top courtesan of Bihua Tower."
Lin Xu remained silent for a while, then covered her face again with the light veil she had brought with her, and quickly left the flower shop with Zhu Ling, quietly following behind Yao Niang.
Yao Niang walked with graceful steps, very slowly. The two of them followed behind her, bypassing the noisy streets and alleys, and soon followed her to a secluded alley.
The walls of the alley were covered with moss, and the end of the alley was hidden in a dark and gloomy place. There were no more pedestrians around. When she came to her senses, she noticed that the atmosphere around her had also become quiet and oppressive.
As Lin Xu stood at the alley entrance, debating whether to continue forward, two burly men suddenly appeared, arms crossed, faces fierce, blocking their way and staring coldly at them.
"Did you two ladies enjoy yourselves just now?"
A charming and alluring voice came from inside the alley.
Lin Xu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yao Niang slowly emerge from the shadows, a cold smile on her face, and a hint of coldness flickering in her alluring eyes.
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