Chapter 41 Xu Chumian learns about the relationship between the two brothers
From day to night, Zhao Nai stood guard at the door.
Xu Chumian felt helpless, but after she chased Zhao Nai away, Zhao Nai soon returned, touching his nose.
Xu Chumian frowned.
The people around Zhao Yu, just like him, are all people he can't shake off.
As darkness fell, another figure appeared at the doorway.
It is Xiao Qingyan.
Xiao Qingyan quickly changed his clothes as soon as he finished his shift and came over.
He just stood there, completely lost in thought, neither speaking nor knocking on the door, and the people in the courtyard didn't even know he had arrived.
After a long while, Xiao Qingyan finally asked, "Why are you standing at the door?"
Zhao Nai remained expressionless: "Miss said it's safer to guard the door."
Xiao Qingyan said with a self-deprecating smile, "Could it be that they're wary of me?"
Zhao Nai coughed lightly, "Young Master Xiao, I didn't say that."
Xiao Qingyan stared at Zhao Nai for a long time, "You know me?"
Zhao Nai showed no change in expression and calmly said, "I heard Miss mention it that day."
Xiao Qingyan then fell silent.
Before long, the people in the courtyard started eating dinner.
The two people at the door moved their lips but did not disturb them.
A moment later, the courtyard gate was opened from the inside. Xiao Tao looked at the two door gods at the gate with a shocked expression and subconsciously called out, "Miss."
Xu Chumian and Xiao Qingyan gazed at each other from afar.
Xiao Qingyan was dressed in a crescent-white brocade robe, the same one he wore on the day he first met Xu Chumian. He stared at her blankly.
For one day only.
Their states of mind are completely different.
At this moment, Xiao Qingyan was no longer the dashing and noble Imperial Guard, but more like a person who had made a mistake, was confused and homeless.
Xiao Qingyan's eyes were bloodshot as he stared straight at her.
Xiao Tao and Qiu Yu left, and Mu Mu was carried back to her room.
Xu Chumian was the only one left in the courtyard. She moved her lips but couldn't speak. She walked slowly to the door.
A layer of sorrow settled over Xu Chumian's brow.
Xiao Qingyan wanted to comfort her, but he was not in a position to do so. He said with difficulty, "Chumian, I've come to see you..."
Xu Chumian looked up at him, not missing the tears welling up in his eyes. She clenched her fists and hardened her heart, "Go away, and don't come back again."
Xiao Qingyan swayed slightly, his face turning pale.
Xu Chumian then looked at Zhao Nai beside her.
Just as Zhao Nai was about to grin, the courtyard gate was slammed shut.
Both door gods got a nose full of dust.
Zhao Nai comforted Xiao Qingyan: "Don't be too sad. There are so many women in the world, and there are others who are more suitable for you than Miss."
"Don't get too hung up on things."
“There must be a reason why our young lady doesn’t want to be with you. If you love someone, you should respect her wishes.”
Xiao Qingyan looked at him blankly, "Where did you learn all this?"
Zhao Nai: "The stories in the novels are full of tales of lovesick men and women. Young Master Xiao, please move forward."
Xiao Qingyan wore a bitter smile. He respected Xu Chumian, but he couldn't bear to part with her; he was unwilling to give up.
He was unwilling to separate from Xu Chumian just because of the fact that he had concealed his identity.
This is unfair to him.
Xiao Qingyan left.
Only Zhao Nai remained at the doorway.
...
The Duke's Mansion.
Tonight, the Zhao family is having dinner at the old lady's Rong'en Hall.
The old lady hadn't returned to Beijing for a long time, and the people in the mansion would jokingly talk about what had happened recently. The old lady smiled broadly, but her attention never left her eldest grandson.
Zhao Yu remained taciturn, his expression calm and composed, and no one could discern his true nature.
"I heard that construction is underway on the bamboo grove near Songchi Courtyard in He'an. Is it for expansion?"
As soon as he finished speaking...
Everyone in the room put down their chopsticks and listened intently.
Qin Ruoyu, in particular, bit her lip and looked at Zhao Yu.
The expansion of Songchi Courtyard was most likely in preparation for getting married.
Madam Zhang also looked at her son.
Zhao Yu said calmly, "The scenery has been the same for the past twenty years. I want to see something different."
His words were flawless.
The old lady hummed in agreement, her eyes still filled with affection, "He'an is always the most worry-free."
After dinner, the old lady kept Zhang behind alone.
Zhang felt a vague unease, and sure enough, when she looked up, she saw the old lady with a sullen face.
Mrs. Zhang: "Mother..."
The old lady said, "In the two or three years since I left the mansion, Songchi Courtyard hasn't even had a concubine."
Zhang looked troubled, as she still had to cover for Zhao Yu.
“He has been busy with official business lately, returning home very late every day. The young ladies of similar age have all shown him his portrait… Mother knows He’an’s temperament; if he doesn’t want to, no one can force him.”
The old lady sighed, a complicated look flashing in her eyes: "That girl from the Shen family is betrothed to the Crown Prince?"
Madam Zhang nodded. "That happened a couple of years ago."
Shen Lingyin was the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. She had feelings for Zhao Yu in the past, but the eldest grandson was as unresponsive as a rock. In the end, Shen Lingyin was chosen as the future Crown Princess, while Zhao Yu was still alone.
Seeing that the old lady's face darkened, Madam Zhang did not dare to speak again. It was also inconvenient to talk about the Xu Chumian sisters' matter at this time, lest she upset the old lady again.
After leaving Rong'en Hall, Madam Zhang returned to her own courtyard and told Duke Zhao about her encounter with the Xu sisters during the day.
Duke Zhao sighed softly, "After all, the blood of the Zhao family still flows in their veins. Once Mother gives her the nod, let's bring the two sisters to our manor."
Madam Zhang pursed her lips and did not respond for a moment.
The two sisters might not even be willing to come to our house.
...
That night, Xiao Qingyan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Under the moonlight, he stood in the courtyard for a long time before picking up his pen again and writing a letter to Prince Ding.
He had thought it through very clearly, and even swore to the moon that if he could be with Xu Chumian, he would never let her down in this life.
Seeing this, the butler shook his head and sighed repeatedly.
While the love between young people is certainly genuine and precious, under the influence of reality and power, who can truly stay steadfast until the end?
Xu Chumian was also wide awake that night.
After she finished reading the book, she stood in front of the antique display shelf in the room for a long time.
The shelves were gradually filled with the many things Xiao Qingyan had given him.
Xu Chumian picked up the fox mask, which Xiao Qingyan had bought for her at the lantern festival. Even now, she could still clearly remember the warmth of the man's hand that night and his subconscious protective posture.
Every single thing... is related to Xiao Qingyan.
Whenever she closes her eyes, all she sees in her mind are Xiao Qingyan's gentle and tolerant amber eyes.
Xu Chumian took a deep breath, covered her face with her hands, and spent the entire night without sleep.
...
The next day.
Xu Chumian went to the shop in the morning and planned to go home to study in the afternoon.
Before they even reached the courtyard, they saw Xiao Qingyan standing at the gate with his horse in hand.
His tall figure leaned against the wall, his eyes downcast and lost in thought, a sense of melancholy permeating his entire being.
He was also carrying a wooden box.
Xu Chumian stopped in her tracks and looked at the person in front of her.
Xiao Qingyan quickly noticed her presence. He looked up, and his dim and dejected eyes suddenly lit up.
He was about to lift his foot when he saw Chu Mian standing still, and the joy in his eyes froze for a moment.
However, he was not discouraged and walked steadily toward Xu Chumian.
Xu Chumian did not miss Xiao Qingyan's emotional changes. A pang of sadness rose in her heart. Xiao Qingyan was no different from her in her previous life. Her emotions could change with his at any time.
To take the other person's joys and sorrows as one's own.
Xiao Qingyan approached Xu Chumian, whose face remained lowered. Looking at her dark hair, Xiao Qingyan said softly, "Chumian, I thought a lot last night. In my entire life, besides you, I may never fall in love with another woman. I know your situation and attitude. Since I promised to stay in the capital, I will not go back on my word."
"As for my father, he already has my elder brother by his side. He doesn't need me as his son. Moreover, I prefer being a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to being by his side. You don't need to feel sorry for me or make any assumptions. More than anything else, Chu Mian wants to be with you forever."
"These are my properties in Beijing, all my assets. If I do anything wrong in the future, you can hit me or scold me, but please don't abandon me."
Xiao Qingyan spoke softly, while Xu Chumian's eyes reddened, her face lowered, and tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.
Xiao Qingyan was at a loss. "Chumian, don't cry. I... I... did I scare you? I'll leave, okay?"
Xu Chumian raised her eyes, about to speak, but at the end of her gaze was an extremely familiar figure.
At the end of the alley, Zhao Yu, dressed in black, with a face as cold as jade and eyes as icy as ice, strode toward the two.
Xu Chumian froze.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
