Chapter 855 Extra Four
Zhao Tulin glanced at him up and down before lazily looking away: "So it's Young Master Xie. I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner."
She calls him "sister" so affectionately, but are they even close? Who knows what kind of trouble she might be hiding?
"Why didn't you visit your mother and father first this time?"
Xie Yulin was completely unaware of Zhao Tulin's aloofness towards him; he only felt nervous from her tone.
His grip on the curtain tightened slightly, so much so that the veins on the back of his hand bulged. He didn't dare look at Zhao Tulin, his eyes darting around. "I...I just entered the city and was on my way to pay my respects to my aunt and uncle."
"That's perfect, come with me." Zhao Tulin's lips curled into a smile, his eyes darting away as if hooked, making Xie Yulin's heart skip a beat.
It both amazed him and frightened him.
The carriage began to move slowly. Xie Yulin covered his chest with his left hand and scratched his hair with his right.
What should we do? We've been caught.
No wonder Mother always says he's brainless. Judging from Sister Zhao's appearance, she doesn't seem like someone who would be attracted by his good looks.
He should stay for two days and then run away.
Wei Li lay on a recliner in the courtyard, tossing steamed buns into the pond to feed the fish.
very nice.
He used to think he had children too early, but now he realizes that there are advantages to having children early. For example, he started living the leisurely life that others live in their sixties or seventies when he was only thirty-four, and he has been living that kind of life for five years.
Looking at others, I heard that Jiang Su is almost seventy years old this year, and he still has to deal with government affairs every day. Tsk tsk tsk.
Zhao Xiheng, holding a stack of paintings that was almost half her height, tossed it into his arms.
Wei Li was nearly buried alive. He struggled to peek out from the painting: "Zhao Xiheng, what are you doing?"
“These are portraits of all eligible unmarried men in the city.” Zhao Xiheng took a breath, clapped her hands, and sat down next to him.
"Oh, oh." Wei Li casually stuffed the remaining half of the steamed bun into his mouth, then picked up one of them and gave a harsh critique: "This one has crooked eyes and a crooked mouth, no good."
Zhao Xiheng looked at him coldly, "Be more objective."
She didn't pick up Zhizhi; the men in these portraits are all handsome.
Wei Li harbors no goodwill toward any young man, especially those who are associated with Zhao Tulin.
He hesitated for a moment, then realized he couldn't be fair, so he simply pushed the paintings all over the ground and pulled her to lie down on the rocking chair to bask in the sun: "Never mind, let Zhao Shiliu come back and see for herself. She can marry whoever she likes. We're not short of money, we can afford it."
Although she felt something was off, Zhao Xiheng had spent a lot of time with Wei Li and her thinking had probably been assimilated, so she actually found some of what he said to make sense.
"I'm just worried that all the good ones will be taken, that's why I'm a little anxious." After all, most of Zhizhi's peers are already married, and she's afraid that the good ones will be taken first.
Wei Li hugged him, nuzzled his chin against her neck, and said lazily, "What are you afraid of? If you want something, you can snatch it even after you're married."
Zhao Xiheng paused, her hand that was about to pat his head, and instead pulled his ear. "Are you planning to pass on this tradition of bride kidnapping in your family from generation to generation?"
Given Zhizhi's personality, it's quite possible.
"My lord, my lady, the young master has returned!" a servant announced joyfully.
Zhao Xiheng sat up abruptly, instinctively pushing Wei Li away: "Really!"
Zhao Tulin came over, followed by a young, handsome man.
Zhao Xiheng's heart skipped a beat. Could her daughter have really stolen someone's man?
"Mother!" Zhao Tulin finally showed some girlishness, with a genuine smile on her face and her eyes crinkling.
"Hmph~" Wei Li snorted coldly.
"Mother, I've acquired quite a few rare treasures outside. I'll give them to you to play with in a bit." Zhao Tulin stepped forward, and Zhao Xiheng took her hand and looked her over. She wasn't thinner or darker, and only then was she relieved.
"Hmph~" Wei Li snorted again.
Zhao Xiheng almost laughed out loud in front of outsiders. Wei Li was so old, yet he was still jealous.
Xie Yulin bit his finger. What rare treasure? Could he take a look?
Zhao Tulin didn't care about her bastard father and pulled Xie Yulin out from behind her.
"Greetings, Aunt and Uncle. I am Yu Lin, my father is Xie Qingyu, and my mother is Qi Yan. I am new to Pingzhou, please forgive my intrusion." Xie Yu Lin forcibly pulled his mind from the rare treasures and quickly bowed his head to pay his respects.
Zhao Tulin casually leaned against a pillar and said mischievously, "Young Master Xie, did you not bring any gifts or treasures with you when you came to Pingzhou to visit relatives this time?"
Xie Yulin ran away secretly; how could he possibly bring gifts and treasures with him?
He scratched his hair and lowered his head slightly shyly: "Yu Lin is not talented, but Yu Lin is the most precious treasure of Yongzhou."
What he said doesn't seem to make any sense.
Wei Li grinned, this little brat was just as annoying as his father.
Zhao Xiheng still liked Xie Yulin quite a bit, mainly because he was good-looking. His father was handsome, but he was even better looking than his father.
Compared to him, the men in those paintings all seem ordinary and vulgar.
Back when she was pregnant with Zhizhi, she even thought that it would be great if Xie Qingyu could give birth to a boy so they could become in-laws.
She beckoned Xie Yulin over, and Xie Yulin shyly moved over.
"You're seventeen this year?"
"Um."
"Which school of thought did you follow? How are your parents' health?"
Xie Yulin answered each question obediently. Compared to Zhao Tulin, who was playing with grass, he seemed more like a well-bred young lady.
"Stay here for a while. What would you like to eat tonight? Let the kitchen make it for you." Zhao Xiheng was now giving up on the idea of bringing the two children together. Zhizhi was too wild. This child was both well-behaved and silly. It would be heartbreaking if she got bullied badly.
Xie Yulin's eyes lit up. He had been traveling for many days and hadn't had a proper meal. He quickly raised his hand and said, "I want to eat pearl meatballs and sweet and sour fish."
Zhao Tulin couldn't help but chuckle. Everyone knows what politeness is and what it means to follow the host's lead. Xie Yulin, on the other hand, was quite straightforward and ordered the dishes.
Xie Yulin frowned. He felt like he was being mocked again. Why was he being laughed at? He hadn't done anything wrong. His aunt had asked him what he wanted to eat, and he had told her the truth.
His servant Chunsheng couldn't help but facepalm. With a brain like his young master's, he thought, "What a honey trap? He's so clueless! He doesn't even know how to be polite on our first meeting."
Xie Yulin was an honest boy. After eating half a fish, half a bowl of soup, and half a bowl of rice by himself, he shyly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said that he was full.
Chunsheng covered his face, feeling that the people of Yongzhou had been greatly embarrassed by their young master.
"Have your sister take you to settle in. Go out for a stroll tomorrow. The customs and culture of Pingzhou are different from those of Yongzhou. You should find it interesting."
Xie Yulin nodded frantically; he had already given up on his plan to assassinate Zhao Tulin.
His greatest strength is his pragmatism. Zhao Tulin was clearly difficult to seduce, so he didn't try. He spent some time in Pingzhou before going home.
His mother will probably beat him, but it's okay, his father will stop her!
Zhao Tulin didn't have time to talk to this rabbit-like young man, so he casually pointed to a courtyard for him.
"Sister, can you take me there? I'm afraid I won't be able to find it." Zhao Tulin had just turned to leave when Xie Yulin grabbed her sleeve.
Chunsheng doesn't know the way, and neither does he.
As for why he takes Chunsheng with him when he goes out, it's because Chunsheng won't complain.
Zhao Tulin always felt that his tone was like a lotus flower quietly blooming in a pond in the dark of night.
...
With so many maids in the manor, there shouldn't be a shortage of guides, yet Xie Yulin insisted on having Zhao Tulin lead the way, like a leech.
Zhao Tulin walked in front, with Xie Yulin following behind her.
She suddenly turned around, and Xie Yulin froze.
"Take two more steps and show me," Zhao Tulin said, crossing his arms and slightly raising his chin.
Xie Yulin's body stiffened, but he still obediently took two steps as she instructed.
"Why do you walk with your arms and legs moving in unison?" Zhao Tulin frowned; he was strangely handsome.
Xie Yulin became even more nervous after hearing her words; he didn't usually walk like that.
He frantically tried to regain his balance, but tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.
Chunsheng's face was scrunched up like a rag as he stepped forward to help Xie Yulin up.
We should go back to Yongzhou as soon as possible; we really can't afford to lose face like this.
Xie Yulin lay on the ground, refusing to get up, and covered his face, pretending to be dead.
It's so embarrassing. He's seventeen, not seven. He can't even walk properly. He'll be laughed at again.
As long as he can't see or hear, it's as if this never happened.
Zhao Tulin tilted his head and silently raised the corners of his mouth.
Does he really not know that such beauty, coupled with such a weak, easily bullied, and foolish personality, makes one really want to rape her?
It would be even better if it could cry.
She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up from the ground.
Xie Yulin's face was as red as a boiled shrimp, her eyes were slightly moist, and she covered her face again, saying, "Sister, I'm not usually like this."
He just didn't know why he would get nervous whenever he saw her.
Zhao Tulin pried his hand away: "I didn't see anything just now. Go to sleep early, aren't we going out to play tomorrow?"
Only after being offered a way out did Xie Yulin blush and slowly nod.
He watched Zhao Tulin's figure walk further and further away, then suddenly chased after her, cautiously tugging at her sleeve and asking, "Sister, I'm going out tomorrow, can you come with me?"
"No." Zhao Tulin said firmly.
She has plenty of things to do. Xiaoming, Xiaoqiang, and Xiaohong are all eagerly waiting for her to come back so they can eat together. She's so popular, she doesn't have time to spare for this little rabbit spirit.
"Oh." If he doesn't want to come, he doesn't have to. It's fine if he goes by himself.
Xie Yulin thought to himself, then waved goodbye to her.
Girls' schools flourished in Pingzhou, leading to greater gender equality, and many officials are now women.
This led to a more open atmosphere, with women on the streets allowed to frequent taverns and gambling dens just like men, and their behavior became bolder.
As soon as Xie Yulin went out, he was favored by women who gave him handkerchiefs and notes.
Among them were groups of two or three men making advances towards them.
Xie Yulin had never experienced anything like this before. In Yongzhou, he used to stay at home all the time.
Terrified, he didn't dare accept any of them and quickly found a teahouse to sit down and calm his mind.
Chunsheng fanned him, and he quickly drank several cups of tea.
All that could be heard was the sound of whispers coming from behind a screen.
"I heard that the madam is currently choosing a husband for the young master."
“Portraits of eligible men have all been submitted. If one is selected, it means a meteoric rise to power, and even one’s family and friends will benefit.”
"Brother Liao has an extraordinary appearance; perhaps he can catch the young master's eye."
The man addressed as Brother Liao smiled and said, "I still prefer women who are more delicate, but there are many advantages to marrying the young master, so I'll reluctantly agree..."
The screen was suddenly pushed down, and the group's conversation came to an abrupt halt. They looked over and saw a handsome young man standing there with an unhappy expression.
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