Chapter 5: Unexplainable
The look in his eyes when he looked at her was not warm, but only contempt and anger...
He questioned whether she had deliberately sent the maid away, and why she had the audacity to take advantage of him while he was drunk...
At that time, her heart ached, and she didn't understand why the relationship between husband and wife was said so unbearably...
Later, she figured it out. He didn't like her, so naturally, he didn't want to have too much sex with her. The first time, he was just giving her a chance. The second time, she had no choice but to do it because her mother pressed her. The third time... he had no intention of doing it. And with the evidence left behind, it was obvious that she was deliberately plotting to take advantage of the situation...
As usual, he asked the maid to bring him contraceptive soup afterwards.
After that, she rarely appeared in front of him. The people in the mansion looked at her with more inquiry, more pity and gossip.
These looks made her feel very uncomfortable and extremely painful, but she didn't tell anyone.
Later, he asked the Ministry of Works to build a canal, and the two of them saw each other less and less.
After three years of marriage, they were already apart most of the time, and with the unclear entanglements, he became even colder and more distant.
Is he still misunderstanding? She thought, how should she explain it clearly? Will he believe it...
Zhao Yan spoke to Madam Zhao for a few more words. Madam Zhao knew he was also busy, so she said, "It's been half a day, you should go back too."
Yu Huatang was naturally happy, thinking about the colorful lanterns she had made the day before, she might as well take the opportunity to explain it to him clearly while delivering the lanterns.
She stood up and said goodbye to her mother-in-law, and followed him on the way back.
From Chunhua Pavilion to Lanyuan where he lived, one had to pass through four long corridors. She memorized every scene along the way because they had seen it together.
She followed quietly behind. She had learned the etiquette of the noble ladies in the capital very well. In addition, she had a good posture, so it looked like she was doing the right thing.
She lowered her eyes to look at the shadows on the ground. The angle of the sunlight made their shadows touch each other, making them feel intimate.
The magnolia flowers beside the corridor have a rich fragrance and a sweet taste.
She took a deep breath and suppressed the unnoticed sweetness in her heart. She thought, if only this road were longer, she would be willing to continue on this path.
After a while, when she arrived at Lanyuan, she knew it was time for her to go back to Jingyantang because he had not invited her.
But she still wanted to talk to him and give him the lamp...
But she didn't have the courage. She sighed inwardly for a long time. She picked up her pace and walked towards Jing Yatang. At this time, he turned around and said, "I just told mother that I have been invited to Qiao Qingxuan's promotion banquet tomorrow. If you have time, come with me. He was my former colleague, and you have met him before."
Yu Huatang didn't expect that he was willing to take her to his friend's promotion party. She was ecstatic for a moment, and the entanglement and disappointment just now disappeared instantly. She was like that, always getting happy because of a word or two from him.
Suppressing his emotions, he regained his composure and said, "Of course I am willing."
Perhaps these words gave her courage. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Husband, ... I noticed the light in your room was broken a few days ago. I happened to have made a new one. How about I bring it to you..."
Zhao Yan wanted to refuse, but seeing her timid look, he finally sighed and said, "Since it's ready, just give it to me."
Yu Huatang bit her lower lip lightly and said, "Then my husband, wait for me for a moment." Then she quickly returned to her room.
She gently picked up the colorful lantern and quickly folded it back. The sunlight fell on the exquisite brocade, and the colorful lantern in her hand was particularly eye-catching and beautiful.
Zhao Yan took it and looked at it for a while. "The craftsmanship on this lamp is too gorgeous."
Yu Huatang wanted to explain that she couldn't afford these fine forged clothes, and she only got them when her second sister-in-law distributed clothes every season.
Generally, the silks that came to her were not very good, and this red one was the best. She didn't think much about it at the time and just used it.
"Next time, I'll use more elegant fine forging or silk to draw the pattern. It should be much better."
Yes, the young men in the capital all like elegance. She wears red and green, and even the lights are extravagant. Only those who come from small places would be like this.
But she wanted to say that she only had these few sets of clothes, and except for ordinary parties, she always wore her old clothes.
Zhao Yan said nothing more and walked forward with the lantern in hand.
Yu Huatang remembered something else she had to explain, and somehow she called out to him, "Husband..."
He stopped and turned around, "Is there anything else?"
She carefully glanced around, making sure no one was around. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I didn't do that last time on purpose..."
Zhao Yan frowned and said coldly, "I understand. Don't say it again in the future."
Yu Huatang suppressed his emotions, lowered his head and said, "Okay."
Since he has already exposed this matter, is it...
She knew that he liked kind and intelligent women. Thinking of He Shangshu, she mustered up her courage again and said, "My dear, I saw you came in worried. Is He Shangshu okay?"
In fact, she also wanted to ask, how is Miss He...
She had no intention of destroying their relationship, and now that Minister He was falsely accused again, she felt a little guilty.
Zhao Yan glanced at her and said calmly, "It's nothing serious. Just wait until we find the evidence."
She listened carefully and thought of He Rongjin's marriage proposal. "I wonder which family Miss He is promising to marry. It would be great if that person could also contribute."
He Rongjin is already twenty years old this year, which is also older among the noble ladies in Beijing. Regardless of what happened before, Yu Huatang sincerely hopes that she can find a good husband.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yan's face turned cold. "Why do you need to worry about the affairs of the He Mansion? Just take care of yourself and don't worry about other things."
Yu Huatang was stunned. He looked up and wanted to explain, but he went straight back to Lanyuan.
She didn't know what she said wrong to make him angry and disgusted, even though she was normal just now.
She has never been good at guessing what others are thinking. She is easily panicked around Zhao Yan, and now she doesn't know the reason.
When I returned to Jingyantang in a cheerful mood, I heard Chu Tao say, "The wife of the Zhou family's shopkeeper is here."
Yu Huatang nodded absentmindedly and walked towards the front hall.
The wife of the Zhou family's shopkeeper is surnamed Wang, and she is usually called Madam Wang.
After arriving in the capital, unlike her other sisters-in-law who had family businesses, she lived a poor life, so she took the lanterns she made to sell to Lady Wang.
After a few interactions, they learned that Lady Wang was also from the south, and the two became much closer.
Seeing her approach, Madam Wang grabbed her and said, "This is the wages you received last month. Those Quanzhou rabbit and butterfly lanterns you made are very beautiful. No one else has your craftsmanship. Although they are both lanterns, the way you make the skeleton is different from tracing the red lanterns."
Yu Huatang smiled, "Thank you for the compliment, sister-in-law. It's hard for you to run errands for me. This money is my compensation."
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