Zhanxin
Lin Xu smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to be so polite. You were so agile and graceful just now, I really admire you. If I have time another day, I will definitely ask you for some pointers."
Feng Daizhu walked gracefully closer, took Lin Xu's hand, her hair slightly disheveled from the movement, and said with a smile:
"I'm just glad my sister-in-law doesn't laugh at me. How could I dare to teach such trivial skills? I think my sister-in-law is the one in our family who is sweet-talking, clever, and knows how to please people. No wonder you were so well-liked by our parents as soon as you came in."
She took the embroidered handkerchief handed to her by the maid beside her, casually wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead, and tossed it back to the maid, smiling affectionately at Lin Xu:
"I didn't expect to come at such a good time today. I usually get so bored being alone in my room, so I thought I'd come and chat with you and your wife. Who would have thought that we could have such a lively time in this cold weather? It's quite enjoyable. I just forgot my manners for a moment, so please don't mind."
Lin Xu smiled, and Zhu Ling, with great tact, had already served hot tea and a variety of sweets and pastries. A young maidservant also respectfully arranged a seat for Feng Daizhu.
As the two sat down and chatted, Feng Daizhu glanced casually at the low rosewood table beside her, her eyes narrowing into slits as she smiled:
"Was your sister-in-law embroidering a pattern just now?"
Lin Xu followed her gaze and saw Feng Daizhu gesturing towards the pattern she had previously embroidered, looking rather embarrassed. She could only say:
"That's right, but Xu'er's embroidery skills are really poor, so I won't let my sister-in-law see how bad they are."
Feng Daizhu, who had been curiously glancing at the half-embroidered pattern, chuckled upon hearing her words, then covered her mouth and said:
"That's true, but it's quite a coincidence that my sister-in-law and I are of the same mind on this matter. Needlework is such delicate work that it's too hard on the eyes and takes a lot of time, so I can't do it."
Knowing that Feng Daizhu came from the northern frontier, possessed a striking and spirited air, and exuded a bold and unrestrained spirit in her every move, she naturally wouldn't be overly fond of the delicate and refined manners of a woman from Jiangnan. She took a small sip of her hot tea and said gently:
"Speaking of which, I heard that my sister-in-law's ancestors came from the northern frontier. I've heard people say that the desert stretches far and wide there, and the mountains are magnificent. It's a pity that I haven't had the chance to see it yet."
Upon hearing this, Feng Daizhu's eyes revealed a hint of pride, and she laughed loudly:
"That's natural. I grew up there and saw nothing but the scenery of nomadic horses and winds everywhere. But to be honest, I got tired of it after a while. Since coming to the Central Plains, I find the scenery everywhere I look to be beautiful and wonderful, which is quite novel."
The two chatted for a while longer. Feng Daizhu, perhaps bored out of her mind, spoke in a rapid-fire, cheerful, and amusing manner, even making the little maidservants standing in the corridor laugh. The courtyard hadn't been so lively in a long time; even the chirping of birds in the branches sounded much more cheerful.
But after a short while, Feng Daizhu, still thinking about Lang Ge'er and worried that he might be waking up soon, reluctantly held Lin Xu's hand, said goodbye to her in a hurry, and went back to her room.
Lin Xu escorted Feng Daizhu to the courtyard gate, and the two walked side by side along the bluestone path in the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the bare branches, casting a rare bright glow on the ground. A group of maids followed quietly behind them, and only the chirping of birds echoed in the distance, making the scene particularly tranquil.
Finally, as if suddenly remembering something, Feng Daizhu slapped her forehead in annoyance and then sighed:
"Look at my memory, I really have a terrible memory. I talked with my sister-in-law for a long time today and completely forgot the main reason for coming here. My sister-in-law has just entered the mansion, I'm afraid she is not used to it yet. I told Mother the other day that if you need anything in the future, just tell me, don't be polite or think it's too much trouble."
Lin Xu nodded slightly and smiled, "Everything is fine in the manor. I haven't felt any inconvenience yet, but thank you for your concern, sister-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Feng Daizhu's smile widened, and she affectionately and feigned a scolding:
"Why are you always so polite to me? We're all family, we should be closer. But if my sister-in-law is doing well, that's the best thing, then I, as her sister-in-law, can rest easy."
After seeing Feng Daizhu off, Lin Xu tightened his cloak and turned back the way he came.
Stepping on the blue stone path, a gust of wind rose in my ears, rustling through the withered trees on both sides of the road. In no time, the temperature dropped sharply. Sure enough, the sunny days would not last long. Tonight would probably be another sleepless night with a relentless gale.
Zhu Ling followed beside her, and seeing that no one was around, she whispered:
"This servant thinks that the eldest young mistress has a very cheerful and straightforward personality."
Lin Xu nodded slightly, "The people of the northern frontier are naturally bold and forthright, which is quite outstanding amidst the gentle and tender atmosphere of Jiangnan."
With her stunning beauty and generous, forthright personality, she possesses an undeniable brilliance. Given time and experience, she will likely shine even brighter than she does now. The Dou family is truly fortunate to have such an outstanding eldest daughter-in-law.
The two walked along the winding corridor for a while before returning to the main hall of the detached courtyard. Zhu Ling stepped forward and lifted the curtain. Lin Xu was about to step inside when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Zhou Quan hurrying towards her.
He bowed to Lin Xu, handed her something, and said respectfully:
"Miss, Fourth Master has sent you a letter and some things."
Liang Zhengyuan? Lin Xu's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.
The two hadn't seen each other for almost half a year since they parted ways several months ago. So much had happened during that time that she was overwhelmed with worry. But now, finally, she had received news from him.
Lin Xu accepted the letter and gift box from Zhou Quan. His fingertips trembled slightly, and his gaze lingered on the familiar seal for a moment. As he strode into the main hall, he whispered, "You can go down now. Zhu Ling, you stay outside the door."
After Zhou Quan and Zhu Ling left, she slowly opened the envelope.
She gently unfolded the letter with her fingertips, and saw a plain folded piece of paper. Upon opening it, she saw two bamboo leaf patterns drawn at the beginning and end.
His brushstrokes were elegant and powerful, carrying Liang Zhengyuan's unique free and easy style, while also revealing a sense of familiarity and intimacy between the lines. In fact, she rarely saw Liang Si write, but even so, she recognized his handwriting at a glance.
As she reads the letter, the days she spent playing with her cousin in the mansion flash before her eyes.
"To my cousin Xu'er, it is as if we are meeting in person."
How are you doing? Congratulations on your marriage! Although I couldn't be there in person to offer my congratulations, my heartfelt wishes remain unchanged. Military affairs have kept me busy, and this trip south has been arduous, so I could only send this letter to express my feelings. I am well now, so please don't worry. The small gift I've enclosed is nothing precious, but I hope it stays with you and protects you.
I never imagined that after our parting, you would now be married. From the moment you decided to enter the Dou family, I knew your mind was made up. Although I tried my best to dissuade you, I was ultimately powerless. Now that the die is cast, I only wish that you can find peace and happiness. If you encounter any setbacks, please do not endure them. Everything should be done to your heart's content.
Xu'er, remember this: though your fourth brother cannot be by your side, his heart is always with you. In the event of a crisis, Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan will surely risk their lives to protect you.
I wish to inquire after my uncle and aunt's well-being.
"Ying"
Lin Xu read it word by word, and his gaze gradually softened.
Liang Zhengyuan was her support in her youth, and among her cousins, he was the closest to her. During her short stay at the Lin residence, he often stayed by her side. He was always playful and mischievous in front of her, and rarely spoke to her in such a serious tone, which made her feel a surge of emotions.
Military discipline is strict, and he must have suffered greatly on his journey, yet his letter made no mention of his own situation, focusing instead on her safety. His words remained as meticulous as ever, even tinged with a hint of helplessness.
It was as if he had matured and become sensible overnight.
Liang Zhengyuan left in a hurry, and she didn't have time to tell him about her plans. She imagined he would be quite surprised when he suddenly heard the news of her marriage in Huidong. Yazhou is remote and the terrain is treacherous. She didn't know how much hardship he had endured on this journey, nor how many difficulties this letter had gone through to finally reach her hands.
She sighed softly, her fingers tracing the letter as if touching those carefree days of the past. Each word in the letter was like a soft whisper, leaving her momentarily lost in a trance.
Setting the letter aside, Lin Xu opened the small gift box Zhou Quan had given her. Inside lay a sapphire blue sachet inlaid with kingfisher feathers. A delicate fragrance wafted out as the lid was opened, its scent quite soothing. She picked up the sachet, carefully examining the embroidered bird pattern, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Liang Zhengyuan has always been like this since she was a child. No matter how big or small the matter is, he is always very caring and never makes her feel isolated or helpless.
Just then, Granny Qin pushed open the door to refill the tea. Seeing her young mistress's cheerful expression, she couldn't help but ask:
"Why are you so happy, Miss? Is there something good to celebrate?"
Lin Xu smiled and said:
"It wasn't anything particularly joyous, but Liang Si finally wrote after more than a month, saying that he was doing well, which put my mind at ease."
Granny Qin couldn't help but smile and say, "Young Master has always been gentle and thoughtful. Now that we finally have news of him, and he is so considerate, Miss should be happy."
She placed the sachet into the yellow pearwood makeup box on her dressing table, carefully put it away, and nodded happily: "He didn't forget to mention Father and Mother in the letter. It's touching that he still showed such filial piety from so far away. If Father knew, he would definitely be very happy."
.
Now Lin Xu spends her days alone in the villa, and Dou Yanxun doesn't appear often. After a while, she inevitably feels bored and loses her appetite. After quickly eating a few bites of lunch, she thought of going out for a walk.
So I simply draped a thick, lake-blue silk cloak over my shoulders and walked along the cobblestone path. The afternoon sun shone through the bare branches, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
Zhu Ling followed behind her, and it was rare to see her young mistress smiling after marrying into the Dou family. Her mood also improved, and she couldn't help but say, "Miss, you seem to be in a good mood today. The letter from the Fourth Master has indeed made you quite happy."
Lin Xu nodded gently and said tenderly, "Yingzhi has always treated me like a younger sister since I was a child. I imagine he is busy with military affairs now and is stationed in such a turbulent place, yet he still remembers to send a letter to inquire about my well-being. How can I not be happy to hear from an old friend?"
Zhu Ling also chuckled and said, "Fourth Master is so thoughtful, no wonder Miss has been so close to him since childhood. But now that Miss has married into the Dou family, Fourth Master will probably have even more to worry about."
Upon hearing this, her smile remained unchanged, but a slight thought stirred within her.
After marrying into the Dou family, life wasn't exactly unbearable, but the complexities, the forbearance and restraint involved were not something outsiders could easily understand.
She suddenly sighed softly, her gaze passing through the withered branches to the distant sky, feeling as if the cold sky itself was also filled with wisps of sorrow.
Now that Liang Zhengyuan has suddenly written to her, besides feeling sad and moved, there is another thing she needs to do right now.
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