Chapter 84 Encountering Scumbags
Mo Yunbo was dressed as a wealthy young nobleman, with a black brocade cloak draped over his body, making him look both noble and tall and elegant.
In terms of appearance, Lu Yunbo was indeed more outstanding than his older brother Lu Yunzhang. In addition, he was serving in the Dali Temple, so even though he was just a minor official, he had a very imposing presence.
Yu Qingci couldn't feel close to the people from the second branch of the family, treating them all equally. She frowned slightly after seeing who it was, but still curtsied.
Lu Yunbo stepped forward with a gentle smile and said, "I saw someone over there from afar and thought she looked a bit like my sister-in-law. When I got closer, I realized it really was her."
Yu Qingci said, "I was just out for a casual stroll, it's time to go back."
Lu Yunbo seemed not to understand the aloofness in her gaze, and looked around at the snowy scenery before saying:
"Sister-in-law, you have such refined tastes. It's snowing today, and the weather is even colder than the past few days. Please take care to keep warm and avoid catching a cold. Why didn't you bring a hand warmer?"
Yu Qingci looked at the hand warmer in Tong'er's hand and said, "Of course I brought it with me. Thank you for your concern, Second Cousin. I've been out for a while, it's time for me to go back."
After saying that, he stepped aside a few paces to let Lu Yunbo go first.
Lu Yunbo, however, showed no intention of moving. Looking at the tree full of blossoms, he said in a very good mood:
"I didn't expect that after the heavy snow fell, many plum blossoms would bloom overnight. People love to go out in the snow to find plum blossoms. Since you and your sister-in-law have come here, you must also love flowers. Why don't you pick a few plum blossoms to take back and enjoy?"
However, the branches are covered in snow, so I'll take over the plum-picking work and save these little girls the trouble.
After saying that, he strode into the plum grove and quickly picked out a few of the most beautifully blooming branches.
Holding several bunches of lush, blooming flowers, he walked back to Yu Qingci's side, handed the flowers forward, and said in a low voice:
"The plum blossoms complement the beautiful woman perfectly. My sister-in-law is naturally beautiful and elegant, which is most suitable for the plum blossoms' cool and elegant nature."
After saying that, he handed the plum blossom in his hand forward.
His words made the girls around him lower their heads.
Yu Qingci did not reach out to take it. Her cold, snow-like eyes looked at the person in front of her. She saw that the other person's smile was even more obvious, and his gaze was fixed on Yu Qingci like a drawn thread.
Yu Qingci felt a chill creep up her back and into her body, making her extremely uncomfortable.
Looking back at Lian Qiao beside him, Lian Qiao quickly stepped forward to take the flower branch from Lu Yunbo's hand and stood in front of Yu Qingci to separate the two.
Yu Qingci took a step back and said, "Thank you, Second Cousin. I should be going now."
After saying that, he left without lingering, bypassing Lu Yunbo.
As the two brushed past each other, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Lu Yunbo moved slightly, his arm sliding across her cloak. Although it was only for a brief moment, it deepened Yu Qingci's annoyance.
The group hurried forward for a while until they turned past the artificial hill and reached the lotus pond, which was farther away from the plum grove, before the feeling of being watched from behind disappeared.
She breathed a sigh of relief, hoping she was just overthinking things.
Upon returning to Guanlan Pavilion, Granny Pei immediately came to check if her mistress was cold and whether the hand warmer in her hand was still warm.
Yu Qingci took off her cloak and handed it to Bai Shao, saying, "Take this out and throw it away."
She doesn't plan to wear the clothes that that person touched again.
Bai Shao took the cloak hesitantly and said, "Young Madam, should we... throw it away?"
Yu Qingci: "I threw it away."
Upon hearing this, Granny Pei glanced at her and whispered an instruction to Bai Shao:
"Wash it clean in the snow, then dry it and store it away."
Bai Shao then responded and carried it out.
Lian Qiao, holding the plum blossoms in her hands, asked, "Young Madam, what should we do with these plum blossoms?"
Yu Qingci: "I threw it away."
Lian Qiao smiled and said, "Young Madam, I think these plum blossoms are blooming quite beautifully, and it's a bit of a waste to throw them away. Why don't we give them to the cleaning ladies in the courtyard? They'll definitely like them."
Yu Qingci retorted angrily, "You little devil, do as you please."
Lianqiao, holding the flower branch, left with a smile.
After dismissing the other maids, Granny Pei stepped forward and asked:
"Did something happen in the garden just now?"
Yu Qingci didn't hide anything and told her what had just happened.
Granny Pei frowned upon hearing this and spat lightly:
"Second Master is really quite leisurely. Today isn't a day off, so why is he at home? He even has the leisure to stroll alone in the garden?"
Yu Qingci: "Never mind him, I'll just avoid him in the future."
Granny Pei nodded, and the two tacitly agreed not to mention the matter again.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunbo stood there for a long time, staring in the direction the group had left. His face had lost its previous gentleness and amiability; a faint sneer hung on the corner of his mouth, and his gaze was even colder than the surrounding air.
The third sister-in-law usually lives a secluded life, rarely appearing in other parts of the mansion except for her own courtyard and her eldest aunt's place.
His cousin, who lived a distant house, was already quite far away, and with his job requiring him to leave early and return late every day, it was simply too difficult for him to find an opportunity to get close to her.
He finally managed to find out today that his third sister-in-law had gone to the plum grove in the back garden, so he quickly changed his clothes and rushed over to meet her. Unfortunately, although he saw her, he left after only a few words, which was a real pity. It would have been nice if they could have spent more time together.
What a pity, such a pity.
He sighed helplessly. He never imagined that even though his cousin was gone, such a beautiful woman would become his wife and stay by his side. It was such a waste of talent.
The resentment and that dark desire surged up in his heart again. No rush, some things need to be carefully planned, he needed to think it over.
Back in his own courtyard, his wife, Madam Ye, rushed to help him undress when she saw him return. Lu Yunbo stood there, his expression calm yet cold.
The woman lowered her head to remove the jade belt and accessories from his waist. He lazily lifted his eyelids and looked over. What came into view was Ye's sallow face, with freckles covering the corners of her mouth and cheekbones.
The woman, who had already given birth to two children, had long lost her former youthful beauty. He glanced at her and then turned his head away in disgust.
This woman is worlds apart from the fairy in the plum grove.
"I have official business to attend to today, so I'll go to my study first. You can have Bi'er come and serve me later."
Lu Yunbo left immediately after finishing his sentence.
Bi'er was Lu Yunbo's concubine. She was a beautiful and charming young woman who was very much loved by Lu Yunbo.
Upon hearing this, Madam Ye softly replied, "Yes."
Watching her husband leave without a second glance, Ms. Ye stood there numbly for a long time without moving.
As evening fell, the snow outside gradually lessened, but the temperature continued to drop. Fearing that the young mistress would get cold, Granny Pei asked someone to add another charcoal brazier to the room.
Yu Qingci leaned back on the soft couch, flipping through the letters in her hand by the three lotus candlesticks on the small table. These were sent by her mother today, and they contained not only a letter from her mother but also one from her younger brother, Yu Qingbai.
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