Visit (repair)
Dou Yanzhou seemed to be in a very good mood. He casually walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said loudly:
"Did your sister-in-law just go to pay her respects to Mother?"
Lin Xu replied softly, "That's right. With the end of the year approaching, Mother is working hard on household affairs. She's really exhausted. My sister-in-law was also sitting with her in the hall just now."
Upon hearing this, Dou Yanzhou nodded slightly, his face showing little emotion. Lin Xu and Dou Yanzhou were not acquainted, and the two rarely spoke alone. They should have exchanged a quick greeting and then parted ways, but Dou Yanzhou remained calm and composed, clearly having no intention of saying goodbye.
Lin Xu continued walking slowly, while Dou Yanzhou followed naturally beside her. The two walked slowly along the overlapping corridor. The wide sleeves of her robe brushed against the carved railings beside her, carrying a trace of cold air.
In winter, the courtyards are all particularly deserted. At the end of the corridor in the distance, a few plum trees are scattered and interspersed, their branches are full of newly opened buds, and a faint fragrance floats in the cold.
The two walked in silence for a few steps, then Dou Yanzhou suddenly asked:
"Is my second brother's health much better now?"
Lin Xu said softly:
"Thank you for your concern, brother. My husband is still not fully recovered. He caught a chill last time and developed a cough. He is currently resting in his room and will probably need some more time to recover."
Dou Yanzhou simply nodded slightly after hearing this.
A chilly breeze blew through the deep courtyard, rustling the red plum blossoms and causing the leaves to sway softly. The two stood quietly at one end of the long corridor, surrounded by the evergreen bamboo shadows swaying, dappled sunlight casting light, delicate shadows on the ground covered with fine snow.
Dou Yanzhou looked straight ahead and spoke calmly:
"It's good that he's alright. My second brother has been frail since childhood, and he caught a cold last night. He needs to rest for a while to avoid aggravating his old ailments. Although Mother doesn't say it, she is very worried about his health. You've worked hard these days too. With your wife taking good care of him, I'm sure he will recover soon."
Lin Xu lowered his eyes and whispered:
"My husband is unwell, and it is my duty to take care of him. I will do my best. I also thank you for your kind concern, brother."
Upon hearing this, an unreadable expression flashed across Dou Yanzhou's eyes. He looked at a few snow plum trees not far away, their red and white blossoms intertwining in his eyes, revealing a touch of cold tenderness.
After a moment, he said, "It's alright. I have nothing to do right now, so I'll go with you to visit my second brother at the other residence. My brother and I have been very close since childhood. I was just planning that in a few days, once he has fully recovered, we could go together to admire the plum blossoms in the outskirts of the capital."
Lin Xu looked up and saw Dou Yanzhou's handsome and refined face, with a hint of deep emotion in his eyes. He smiled faintly and said:
"Then I will follow my elder brother's arrangements."
So the two of them walked through the snow toward the other courtyard. They remained silent the whole way, only the soft rustling of leaves on the flagstones beneath their feet and the rustling of the cold wind blowing through the corridor, carrying a few wisps of plum blossom fragrance to their noses, filling the air with a faint, subtle scent.
Several young maids, dressed in thick cotton-padded coats, were knitting knots with their heads down. Granny Qin, who was standing guard in the courtyard, showed a hint of surprise upon seeing Lin Xu and Dou Yanzhou arrive together, but quickly put on a smile and greeted them:
"Young Master, are you well? Madam, are you well?"
Lin Xu said, "Young Master came especially to visit my husband. How is he? Is he still asleep?"
Madam Qin said, "After having a low-grade fever this morning, the Second Master just took another dose of medicine. He should be sound asleep by now. Shall I go and check on him?"
“It’s alright, I’ll go call him.” Just as Lin Xu took a step, Dou Yanzhou said softly, “Sister-in-law, there’s no need to wake my second brother. He’s not feeling well and should rest. I’ll just sit for a while.”
After speaking, he casually glanced at the scenery in the courtyard, then turned around with his hands behind his back, lifted a corner of his robe, and sat down casually on a stone bench in the courtyard.
Several maids had already cleverly retreated. Rongwei, with great tact, brought over hot tea and several small dishes. Dou Yanzhou's gaze lingered lightly among the sparse plum blossoms in the courtyard, his expression quite relaxed.
Since that was the case, Lin Xu, as the owner of the villa, had no choice but to stay and keep her company. Holding a teacup, she was thinking of something to say when Dou Yanzhou spoke up:
"Does your sister-in-law like keeping birds?"
Following his gaze, one could see Little Red and Little Gray, who had been hung outside to get some fresh air, hopping around in their golden birdcage.
Lin Xu chuckled, "It's usually quite boring at home, so I keep two birds to pass the time."
Dou Yanzhou stood up and teased the caged bird with his finger. Little Red was lively and became even happier when someone teased her. She chirped incessantly and even showed off her mimicry skills, saying in a high-pitched voice, "Good snow, good snow!"
This year, the snow has been falling continuously, and she once praised the auspicious snow, but little did she expect that Xiao Hong would easily imitate her.
Dou Yanzhou laughed and said, “'The parrots of Longshan can talk, and send letters to the ladies.' (1) My sister-in-law’s two parrots have bright colors and look very intelligent.
A cough suddenly broke the silence of the courtyard.
Upon entering the hall, Nongyu and the others stood respectfully to her side, bowing to her and Dou Yanzhou. Sure enough, Dou Yanxun lay on the bed, his eyes slightly open, his face still showing signs of weakness and illness; he had already woken up. Hearing their footsteps, he forced a smile.
Dou Yanzhou looked down at Dou Yanxun and asked with concern, "Second brother, are you awake? How are you feeling? Are you alright?"
Dou Yanxun said softly, "Big brother..."
He was wearing a plain-colored soft silk undergarment and struggled to sit up.
Lin Xu stepped forward and carefully helped him up, then placed an embroidered soft pillow behind him and said softly, "I just went to pay my respects to Mother and happened to run into my elder brother. He was very concerned about your health and came to see you, my husband."
Dou Yanxun smiled, his face still pale, and nodded slightly:
"Brother, you flatter me. My health is just an old ailment, nothing serious. It's only that it worries Mother and you."
Dou Yanzhou waved his hand and smiled:
"Between brothers like us, there's no need for formalities. You should focus on getting better; I'm looking forward to drinking with you."
The two brothers chatted and laughed, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. Because Dou Yanxun had been bedridden for several days, the charcoal fire in the room was warmer than usual. A few white plum blossoms were placed diagonally in a copper vase placed in front of the window, their very faint fragrance spreading everywhere, creating a world apart from the chilly air outside the courtyard.
Dou Yanxun coughed a few times and smiled:
"When I am well, I will definitely make up for everything we owed these past few days with you. Please don't rush me, brother."
Dou Yanzhou raised his eyebrows and smiled, "That's more like it. You should be in better health, so as not to trouble your younger siblings with worries all the time."
Dou Yanzhou always acted like an elder brother in front of Dou Yanxun, chatting and laughing non-stop. The brothers were very harmonious, seemingly unaffected by their past or the relationship between their mothers.
Lin Xu had even heard that before she married into the Dou family, when Bai Shi occasionally scolded Dou Yanxun, Dou Yanzhou would always gently persuade her.
Such brotherly affection and respect are truly rare.
Dou Yanzhou sat for a short while before leaving. Before leaving, he said, "Second brother, please take good care of yourself. The yamen affairs are waiting for you to handle."
It is said that Dou Yanxun was able to get a position in the Ministry of Works entirely because of the secret efforts of his elder brother, Dou Yanzhou. After the scandal broke a few days ago, it was thought that his sinecure would also be affected. However, Dou Yanzhou's words at this time implied that the position had been saved for him.
Thus, the villa incurred a great debt of gratitude to Dou Yanzhou.
.
After lunch, both of them felt a little tired. Dou Yanxun sat up and leaned against the couch, covered with a thick blanket. Although his face was still pale, it was much better than when he had a persistent low fever.
Lin Xu changed into a pear-blossom white shirt with dark cloud patterns and sat upright in front of a small ebony table in the inner room.
She carefully studied the account book in her hands by candlelight. The faint light reflected on her profile, making her appear even more gentle and graceful. She would turn a page from time to time, and the quiet room was occasionally filled with the soft sound of the pages turning.
She always had a habit of slightly furrowing her brow when she studied carefully. The candlelight cast a faint shadow on her profile, swaying gently in the breeze. Lin Xu casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and turned another page.
Dou Yanxun suddenly spoke:
"I heard that Mother has decided to replace a group of stewards in the manor these past few days?"
Lin Xu looked up. Dou Yanxun's face was obscured by the candlelight, making it impossible to tell whether he cared or if it was just a casual question. She smiled and nodded.
"That is indeed the case. However, it's not just the stewards in our manor; the stewards of some manors and shops outside the manor have also been replaced, including the Muchunlou, which my husband used to take care of."
Dou Yanxun raised an eyebrow slightly, but smiled without saying a word.
Lin Xu then said, "Mu Chun Lou was only able to gradually get back on the right track thanks to my husband's efforts in renovating it. What do you think of this, my husband?"
Dou Yanxun remained calm and asked in return, "I heard that you went to Muchun Tower a few days ago?"
Lin Xu closed the ledger in his hand and turned to look at Dou Yanxun.
"There are many things to do at home, and with the end of the year approaching, many things have been left unattended and have been left idle. That day, I went to the city to take care of some business, and I also went to the martial arts training ground on the way. I also met the steward who has been in charge of everything there since my husband left."
Her eyes were full of composure, without any hesitation.
"Xuxu thought that it was normal for the person in charge to change. Although the previous person in charge was experienced, he was too old and probably had many inconveniences in many matters."
The flickering firelight made her eyes appear even clearer and more serene.
Dou Yanxun looked at her quietly, and after a long while smiled:
"So you think there's no need to worry too much about this change in management?"
Lin Xu smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying, but her voice was filled with a newfound certainty. She shook her head, “Not so. Xu Xu believes that my husband has lofty ambitions. The Mu Chun Lou is merely a small test of his abilities. Now, he only needs to bide his time and wait to plan for a much broader horizon.”
Dou Yanxun's gaze lingered for a moment before he said, "You think I'm biding my time?"
Lin Xu stood up, walked to Dou Yanxun's side, gently stroked his hair, and said softly:
"My husband is intelligent and resourceful. In just over a month, he transformed Muchunlou from a barely surviving mess into a bustling restaurant. Others may think that my husband is neglecting his duties, but when I visited Muchunlou that day, all I saw was tasteful decor, a novel and unique menu, and a group of hardworking and dedicated servants. Without my husband's careful management, it would never have been possible to achieve such a success."
The firelight illuminated her profile, and in the flickering flames, her eyes appeared even more profound, as if a myriad of stars were rising in dazzling brilliance. There was no other place in the entire bedchamber that was so brightly lit.
Dou Yanxun's heart skipped a beat, then he slowly curled his lips into a smile. He looked up at her radiant face and said with a smile, "So that's why you deliberately went to Muchun Pavilion, just to test Mother?"
Lin Xu gently stroked Dou Yanxun's ink-black hair, returning the gesture with a tender smile:
“Xuxu and her husband are nothing more than each other.”
Her warm palms moved slowly down his neck until they rested on his strong, broad chest. Through the soft halo of his inner garment, he could faintly feel the warmth of her palms.
"My husband has been feigning illness and avoiding the world for many days, isn't it all so that he won't be blamed by my mother anymore?"
Dou Yanxun's eyes were filled with turbulent emotions. After a long while, his smile became more and more mischievous. He grabbed Lin Xu's hand tightly and then pulled him into his arms.
The person in his arms was slightly flustered, but quickly calmed down. She still had that cool and calm expression, with gentle and tender eyes, like plum blossoms in winter, standing quietly in the wind and snow, yet full of indomitable resilience in fighting against the cold wind.
...I underestimated her before.
Dou Yanxun wondered to himself. What secrets lay hidden in those eyes of hers, so clear and bright like spring water, beyond their captivating beauty?
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