But before Steward Shi could return, Nangong Chiyu arrived, bringing two cartloads of cotton seeds with Su Zuo and Su You.
Su Luo frowned. Why was he here?
The weather was sweltering. As soon as he got off the carriage, Nangong Chiyu pulled the water bag off Su Luo and drank it all in one gulp.
Su Luo was about to raise her hand to stop him and tell him that she had already drunk from the water bag, but before she could say anything, he had already drunk from it.
"Luo Luo, I've brought you the cotton seeds. If you want more, I'll go get some more."
There are still some in Shuiqingzhuang, and with these two truckloads, that should be about enough.
"We'll only find out after we've finished planting. Didn't we tell you not to come to the estate? Why are you here again?"
When Su Luo said this, she pulled Nangong Chiyu aside, not wanting Zhao Chunlan and the others to hear it.
“You are my wife, how can you go to the fields while I stay at home?”
Su Luo wanted to remind him not to forget their agreement that they were only husband and wife in name only.
"I'm warning you, don't call me 'wife' in private, and I won't let you get out of bed because of your high status. Go back now."
Having already come this far, how could Nangong Chiyu possibly go back? A smile played on his lips as he said, "I won't..."
He turned and headed toward the manor's house, calling out Zhao Chunlan's name.
"Auntie, is Auntie home?"
Upon hearing the sound, Zhao Chunlan came out. Her older sister had been happy these past few days and had invited her home to play for two days, during which she also met with Huai Xu a few times.
"Huai Xu? Huai Xu has come too."
"Yes! They brought over cotton seeds. We'll go to the fields with you in a bit."
Zhao Chunlan smiled bitterly. Her sister had told her about Huai Xu's identity; he was now a prince. Was it really alright for him to go to the fields to work?
"Huai Xu, why don't we just forget about it? You can just eat some bayberries here and wait."
Zhao Chunlan brought over a basin of ripe, red bayberries. Li Yongchang had picked them that morning while cutting grass for the cattle. They were sweet and sour, refreshing and thirst-quenching.
"No need, Aunt. The cotton seeds from the farm are all there. I'll carry them to the field."
When persuasion failed, Zhao Chunlan had no choice but to take him to get cotton seeds.
This year's cotton crop is very important to Su Luo; she wants to personally supervise the planting by her servants in the fields.
Since Steward Shi didn't need to return to Changping Village, Su Luo told him to go to the county to check on Ji'an Hall and Wanxiu Pavilion.
After watching for a while, Nangong Chiyu also took action himself, throwing the soaked cotton seeds into the tilled soil and then covering them with soil with a hoe.
Su Luo was worried that he wouldn't plant it well, so she followed behind him and kept checking on it.
"Nangong Chiyu, do you know how to farm?"
He didn't turn around, and while working, he answered Su Luo: "I grew up in the countryside, do you think I know how to farm?"
"This cotton is for making cotton-padded clothes for your Red Feather Army. If you don't grow it well, don't blame me."
Nangong Chiyu straightened up, placed his hands on one end of the hoe handle, and said, "It's not your fault. Blame the two of us. We're one, after all."
Su Luo quickly turned around and glanced back. Fortunately, there was no one else around them.
"Who says we're one with you? We're just partners."
As she spoke, Su Luo handed him the water bag she was carrying at her waist: "Take this."
Nangong Chiyu smiled and accepted it; the weather was hot and humid, making it easy to feel thirsty.
"Thank you, my wife!"
Su Luo was speechless, turned around and left, tossing the water bag to him.
"If you hadn't already drunk it, I wouldn't have bothered to give it to you."
Nangong Chiyu felt that this kind of life was very good, without the open and covert struggles of the imperial court, and without the endless war in Beichuan City.
He had only a few acres of fertile land, a quiet house, a wife and children, and a hot meal waiting for him every day. He cherished every single day.
After returning home and having dinner, Su Luo felt unwell due to the stuffy and hot weather after a long day of work. She checked the time.
In the dead of night, Su Luo packed two pieces of clothing and walked towards the river. She preferred to bathe in the river rather than at home in a tub.
The spot where she used to bathe had a deep pool of water and was also a good place to swim.
It looked like it was going to rain, and the moonlight was dim. Su Luo put on a light undershirt and went into the water.
This is a little camisole, Xie Wanwan made it for her. Wearing this is much more comfortable than wearing a bellyband.
He had just entered the water, and before the splash had even subsided, a person emerged from the other side of the pool.
Su Luo was startled and retreated repeatedly. When she saw the person clearly, she realized it was Nangong Chiyu again.
Nangong Chiyu also saw Su Luo and immediately turned his head to the other side: "Luo Luo, I didn't know it was you. I didn't see anything this time, I promise."
Su Luo was already underwater, so even if he wanted to see her, he couldn't.
The scene was all too familiar; he had witnessed the last time something like this happened.
Su Luo shrank into the water, only feeling relieved when she saw that Nangong Chiyu had his back to her. Besides, she was wearing an undergarment this time, so it wouldn't be too embarrassing.
"You...you can go upstairs once you're done washing."
Nangong Chiyu was secretly delighted, and with his back to Su Luo, he said, "Aren't you done washing yet?"
"You're not allowed to turn around and peek until you're done washing, or I'll gouge your eyes out."
Su Luo threatened her, saying how unlucky she was, running into this person everywhere she went, even when she went to the river to bathe late at night.
Besides, he arrived first this time, so I have no reason to scold him.
"I promise I won't look, Luo Luo, you can wash without worry."
Nangong Chiyu had already finished washing up and was just practicing holding his breath when Su Luo suddenly barged in.
After saying that, Su Luo and he each took turns washing their hair, squeezing out a little shampoo and some herbal bath products, wanting to wash quickly.
To everyone's surprise, Nangong Chiyu spoke slowly and casually, with a slightly frivolous tone.
"Luo Luo, do you think this counts as our second time taking a bath together?"
Su Luo rolled her eyes and immediately cursed, "Fine, you son of a bitch..."
“My uncle has been dead for many years, and he won’t answer you if you call him.”
Su Luo paused in her hair washing, only then realizing that Nangong Chiyu was deliberately teasing her.
Seeing that Su Luo was not speaking, and feeling that Su Luo had sped up her hair washing and bathing, she accidentally pulled out a strand of her hair.
Nangong Chiyu dared not tease her anymore. He got up, picked up his clothes from the shore, put them on, and turned his back to Su Luo, who was still in the river.
"Take your time washing, I'll keep watch here and won't let anyone over."
Su Luo glanced back at him and, seeing that he was indeed not peeping, she felt relieved and slowed down to wash again.
Several cups of tea's time passed, and he didn't urge her at all. Su Luo still believed in his gentlemanly behavior.
The pool was about three meters deep in the center, and Su Luo was standing on the edge of it.
Just as she finished washing up and was about to get up, preparing to swim to the shore to get her clothes, she unfortunately got a cramp in her right calf, so severe that she couldn't move and was in excruciating pain.
Her body involuntarily bent over, and after a muffled groan, she sank down completely.
She swallowed several mouthfuls of river water, and her calves ached and she couldn't move them, but she couldn't panic. With a quick thought, she entered the space and was finally able to breathe deeply.
Then he coughed incessantly until he coughed up the river water that had choked his lungs, only then could he feel that he was still alive.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com