Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Is this a fool?
==Chapter 18==
The Zhou family is located in the east of Yangzhou City. It is not as noisy as the south of the city. It is surrounded by high walls and decorated with blue bricks and black tiles. It seems that there is an indescribable barrier separating them from the occasional passers-by.
Mrs. Lu arranged for Zhou Chibai to accompany Feng Wenyu to visit Yangzhou City today.
But Feng Wenyu had something hidden in her heart, so she had no expectations for the so-called outing. As the sun was about to set in the west, a maid came to Wenshi Garden and asked her:
"The young master is already waiting for my cousin in the living room."
Feng Wenyu didn't want to spoil the fun, so he glanced at himself in the bronze mirror. He was wearing a rouge-colored Su brocade with a hundred flowers, his hair was neatly combed, and his long black hair was not messy. He didn't see anything inappropriate. Feng Wenyu withdrew his gaze and went to the reception room with Jinshu and Shuyao.
Shuyao was a little happy: "Miss, do you want to go release river lanterns later?"
There is a curfew in the capital, so unless there is a festival or banquet, the streets and markets will be completely quiet in the evening, and there will not be the bustling scene like in Yangzhou City.
Seeing that the girl did not refute, Shuyao could not help but speak with a hint of longing:
"I heard that if you make a wish while releasing river lanterns and the lanterns stay lit, it will be very effective."
Feng Wenyu smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll go there later."
However, Feng Wenyu himself did not believe in this. If releasing river lanterns could really make people’s wishes come true, the riverside would have been crowded with people from ancient times to the present.
As soon as the three of them entered the reception room, they heard a voice coming from inside:
"...You didn't come back all night?"
There was a hint of anger in his voice, but he held it back.
Feng Wenyu recognized that it was her cousin's voice. She paused for a moment, then hesitantly leaned in and the scene in the hall caught her eye.
The servant was so frightened that he kept bowing. Zhou Chibai had a clear look of anger on his face, but when he saw her, he deliberately restrained it. His brows were still furrowed, and he called out to her with a bit of guilt:
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, cousin."
Feng Wenyu shook her head, a little confused. She carefully asked, "What happened?"
Zhou Chibai's eyebrows were slightly cold, but he knew that he couldn't hide this matter, so he didn't hide it from her, but the anger in his voice could not be dispelled:
"My third brother didn't come home all night. It wasn't until the people from the academy came looking for him that the people from his courtyard came to report."
Zhou Chibai has three brothers. Except Zhou Chibai, the other two are born out of wedlock, and the third brother he mentioned is Zhou Chiyu.
Feng Wenyu was stunned.
Didn't come home all night? Even missed the time to go to college?
Feng Wenyu glanced at the servant, then looked at his cousin. After a little thought, he guessed what was going on.
Zhou Chiyu didn't return home last night, and the servants didn't want to cause any more trouble, so they didn't report the matter. It wasn't until the academy came to the door and it was impossible to hide it anymore that the servants hurried to report it, and...
Feng Wenyu glanced at his cousin secretly. This boy did not go to find his aunt, but came to find his cousin. It can be seen that his cousin is an easy-going person in the eyes of the people below.
Leaving such an impression on your subordinates may not necessarily be a good thing. To a certain extent, being easy to talk to also means being easy to fool.
Feng Wenyu guessed that his cousin must have understood this, which was why he was so angry.
Feng Wenyu was a guest after all, so it was not right for him to interfere in other people's family affairs. He could only hesitate and say:
"Something happened in the mansion, cousin, you should deal with the mansion affairs first. It's not too late to mention going out for fun next time."
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Lu's voice suddenly came from behind her, as if it were normal: "No need, Ah Yu, you and your cousin can go out as usual, and leave the mansion to your aunt to handle it."
Feng Wenyu saw out of the corner of his eye that the boy shivered violently.
Guessing his aunt's harsh approach, Feng Wenyu didn't say much, but questioned his cousin with his eyes.
Zhou Chibai was about to speak but was interrupted by a look from Madam Lu. Madam Lu's face was very cold: "It's because you indulged him too much that he became the bastard he is now!"
Zhou Chibai didn't say anything else. He sighed, then turned to Feng Wenyu and nodded: "Let's go, cousin."
Feng Wenyu no longer refused. When she and Zhou Chibai walked out of the living room, she could still hear her aunt's voice coming from behind:
"Send someone to look for them. Once they find them, bring them back to me immediately. As for these servants, since they don't recognize their master, they don't need to serve in the mansion anymore. Sell them all to human traffickers!"
Slaves who are sold out by their masters usually don't have a good ending.
Feng Wenyu put the pleading behind her. She looked at her cousin's silent expression and couldn't help but ask softly, "Are you worried about my cousin?"
This kind of tangled blood relationship has always been complicated, and Feng Wenyu can only be thankful that she has no illegitimate brothers and sisters in her family.
Zhou Chibai smiled bitterly:
"Mother has made great plans for me. I wouldn't be so ungrateful."
He was worried, but not about Zhou Chiyu, but about his mother.
My mother was always harsh in her methods of ruling her children, and she treated her illegitimate children coldly. She didn't abuse them, but she wasn't very enthusiastic either. In my father's eyes, husband and wife were one, and concubines were just servants who could serve him closely. Therefore, he never cared about these things and left it entirely to my mother to handle.
But my grandmother had some complaints about my mother's behavior. Moreover, my grandmother always loved Zhou Chiyu. If my mother punished Zhou Chiyu too harshly this time, it might cause my grandmother's dissatisfaction.
It was difficult for Zhou Chibai to say these words to Feng Wenyu. He knew in his heart that he was Feng Wenyu's cousin, but Zhou Chiyu was also Feng Wenyu's cousin.
It’s hard to say who is distant or close.
Hearing this, Feng Wenyu didn't ask any further questions. Everyone has their own biases.
She came to stay at her uncle's house for a while, but her uncle held an official position and was always busy outside. All the big and small matters in the house were handled by her aunt. It was also her aunt who entertained her and took care of her all day long. Regardless of whether her aunt's closeness was mixed with interests, she couldn't help but get closer to her aunt.
and……
Feng Wenyu actually has some prejudice against legitimate and illegitimate children.
Legitimate and illegitimate children really cannot be generalized. For her, her only legitimate cousin is Zhou Chibai.
But she is not stupid and will not say these words out loud.
Feng Wenyu consoled him, "Aunt has been able to manage the entire residence well over the years, and she will be able to handle this matter today as well."
Zhou Chibai felt a little guilty and embarrassed when he heard this:
"I was supposed to be here to help my cousin relax, but instead, she ended up having to worry about me and comfort me."
By the time they reached the Twenty-Four Bridges, it was completely dark. However, red lanterns were hung in the market town, and the lake was filled with river lanterns, making it as bright as day.
When Feng Wenyu got off the carriage, he saw this scene——
A blue brick arch bridge, a pleasure boat on the lake. A scholar leaned on a boat, letting it drift across the arch bridge, and sang a poem. In the attic, an actor threw down his handkerchief, and a beautiful girl poked her head out, covering her lips and laughing. Her voice drifted far away: "Great poet Song, can you compose a song for me next time?"
Feng Wenyu was stunned by the prosperous scene and it took him a while to come back to his senses. Yangzhou occupied two-thirds of the moonlight in the world, which was indeed true.
Zhou Chibai couldn't help but laugh twice when he saw this:
"How is it? Didn't disappoint my cousin?"
Feng Wenyu shook his head, regaining his voice from his amazement: "More than not, I'm not disappointed."
She still remembered Shuyao's request and followed the crowd towards the lake, completely unaware that someone in the attic had seen her and was rushing towards her.
Feng Wenyu finally squeezed to the lakeside. The river lanterns were all bought for her by Zhou Chibai, there were three in total, and her two servants did not miss any.
He stood by the lake, keeping an eye on the crowd. His skin was cold and white, but now it was a little red, and a little sweat was oozing from his forehead. He looked a little embarrassed by the crowd, but he still subconsciously blocked a space for her, and the hem of his clothes was slightly soaked by the lake water.
Feng Wenyu squatted down and couldn't help but look back at him.
Zhou Chibai also turned around at this moment, and their eyes met in the air. Zhou Chibai was suddenly stunned. The little girl was surrounded by thousands of lights, and the lights were like star rain, making her face a little hazy, but her eyes were particularly clear and bright, making the surrounding scenery pale in comparison.
Zhou Chibai tilted his head slightly, lowered his eyes and pursed his lips slightly to hide the pounding of his heart at that moment.
Someone finally arrived at this moment and hurriedly called out, "...Miss Feng."
Seeing the visitor, Feng Wenyu's expression faded slightly. She nodded slightly, her politeness becoming distant.
"Mr. Pei."
Pei Yan noticed her indifference and was at a loss for a moment. He paused, breathing a little more slowly, and said calmly, "What my mother did that day was not my intention."
Seeing that Feng Wenyu was not moved at all, his eyes dimmed a little, but he still said:
"Miss Feng has done me a favor, and no matter how I repay her, it will never be too much."
Feng Wenyu was a little puzzled. She said directly, "Mrs. Pei has already sent a thank-you gift. Mr. Pei, there is no need to mention this matter again in the future."
She had no intention of having any interaction with Pei Yan.
Pei Yan's face turned slightly pale. He knew very well that once this so-called favor was gone, he and Feng Wenyu would have no connection at all.
The two of them just met by chance. If he didn't do something, they might really just be passers-by.
Pei Yan finally saw the river lantern in Shuyao's hand. He asked awkwardly, "Miss Feng, are you going to release a river lantern? This is the river lantern I won at the poetry meeting just now. I'm giving it to you, Miss Feng."
Only then did Feng Wenyu see that Pei Yan was holding a rabbit river lantern in his hand. The lantern was lifelike. Her zodiac sign was rabbit, so she usually liked rabbit elements.
But Feng Wenyu only took a glance and then looked away. Her attitude was very clear:
"Thank you for your kindness, Master Pei."
After she finished speaking, Feng Wenyu squatted down again. She lit the river lantern, pushed the lotus river lantern into the lake, and let it slowly drift away.
Pei Yan stood there without moving. This was a rare rejection in his life, and he felt a little helpless as he stayed where he was.
Feng Wenyu felt helpless as her vision was a little dim. She looked up at Pei Yan and said, "Mr. Pei, could you please move a little?"
Pei Yan took a step back hesitantly.
Then he blocked out more and more light, and Feng Wenyu was completely hidden in his shadow. She was a little puzzled - is this a fool?
Feng Wenyu was about to say something else when her eyes inadvertently swept across the person on the other side of the bridge. She suddenly paused, and the words were stuck in her throat.
Gu Yushi stood opposite the arch bridge, staring at that direction with a heavy look in his eyes, and it was unknown how long he had been looking.
At this moment, two river lanterns collided with each other on the lake, causing light ripples on the water.
Mu Fan exclaimed, "Oh, the master's river lantern!"
Feng Wenyu looked over subconsciously, and when she recognized that the river lantern that was hit belonged to her, the fingertips in her sleeves trembled slightly.
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