Chapter Ninety-Seven: Zhao Yu Advances Step by Step, Asking His Master to Advance by Retreating
Xu Chumian looked up, her gaze fixed on the door behind her. "Zhao Yu, are you there?"
Guan Yan said, "Yes, Master hasn't left the manor at all today."
The door opened, and Zhao Yu was reading memorials behind his desk inside. His study was originally in the front yard, but now that he was recuperating, he mostly dealt with matters in his room.
Zhao Yu was dressed in a black robe today, with the collar slightly open. His face was still pale. Upon hearing the voice, he leaned back in his chair, raised his eyes slightly, and looked at Xu Chumian as she walked in.
He asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong?"
Xu Chumian only came for Zhao Lingyao's sake.
She met Zhao Yu's dark and aloof gaze.
"So, what do you plan to do, Lingyao?"
Besides being Zhao Yu's younger sister, Zhao Lingyao is also Xu Chumian's classmate and close friend, so she can't just sit idly by.
Zhao Yu closed the memorial and said calmly, "Wait until Second Uncle returns to the capital."
In his previous life, the second master of the Zhao family was separated from his wife and children. After the beautiful concubine and the illegitimate son returned to the mansion, the second wife was depressed for many days. The beautiful concubine took advantage of the favor and forced the upright second wife into dangerous situations many times. In particular, after Zhao Lingyao married far away in Longxi, the second wife fell seriously ill, ruining her life.
Later, Zhao Lingyao divorced and returned to the mansion. With the death of Mu Mu, Madam Zhang moved out of the Duke's mansion, and the second madam also passed away shortly after.
Zhao Lingyao could not forgive her father and never called him "Dad" again. Master Zhao felt remorse, but it was too late.
The year before Xu Chumian passed away, she unexpectedly discovered that the second son of the concubine was not the biological son of the second master of the Zhao family. The second master of the Zhao family was furious, hugged his deceased wife's memorial tablet and cried bitterly, feeling guilty and remorseful for the rest of his life.
Seeing that Xu Chumian was still looking at him, Zhao Yu smiled faintly.
“Li’s brother’s husband has already arrived in the capital. We can wait for Second Uncle to return to the capital.”
Only then did Xu Chumian feel relieved. She turned to leave, saying, "I'm leaving."
Just then, Guan Yan came in carrying the medicine.
Besides the dark, murky medicinal soup, the tray also contained three pills and other ointments in a small dish.
Xu Chumian paused slightly, stopped, and looked back.
Zhao Yu's gaze never left Xu Chumian's back.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is there anything else?"
Xu Chumian moved her lips and said quickly, "You should focus on recovering."
After saying that, Xu Chumian left the house.
The pale purple figure disappeared from Zhao Yu's sight.
A smile appeared on Zhao Yu's lips.
...
Not long after Xu Chumian left Zhao Yu, Steward Chen arrived, saying that the tutor they had invited had arrived.
Xu Chumian asked in doubt, "Master?"
Butler Chen smiled and said, "It was arranged by the young master. Miss Xu, go and take a look. The young master has also gone over."
The tutor Zhao Yu invited was a former classmate and friend of the tutor Yu from the Zhao family's clan school. There was also a martial arts master surnamed Jiang, who was the junior brother of Zhao Yu's former martial arts master.
One in literature and one in martial arts.
Just like in my previous life.
Master Jiang was examining Mu Mu's bones and muscles, while Master Wu was chatting with Zhao Yu.
A woman appeared in the corridor. She was wearing a smoky purple cloak and holding a hand warmer in her hands. She walked slowly with a graceful figure.
Zhao Yu's gaze faltered slightly; for a fleeting moment, the light and shadow of his past life overlapped with that of the present.
It seems that he and Xu Chumian have never been apart.
Steward Chen couldn't help but say, "A month ago, the young master sent people to find two teachers. This old servant wants to say something, and I hope Miss Xu won't take it to heart. Ever since Miss Xu came to Wenju, the young master has been different from before... It's like he has normal human emotions of joy and anger. This old servant has never seen the young master treat any other girl so well."
Xu Chumian paused slightly, her fingertips curled up, she pursed her lips, and ultimately said nothing.
When Mu Mu saw her older sister arrive, her eyes lit up with joy.
The Master and Master Jiang also nodded to Xu Chumian.
The teacher gave Mu Mu her daily lessons, starting with martial arts training and horse stance practice in the early morning.
Xu Chumian smiled faintly: "Then I'll have to trouble you two."
"You're too kind, young lady. This girl looks thin, but she's agile and flexible with strong bones and muscles. She's a good prospect for martial arts."
Even Master Wu stroked his beard and nodded, "She is quick-witted and understands things immediately. If this girl were a boy, her future would be limitless."
Xu Chumian patted Mu Mu's head. She wouldn't restrict what Mu Mu would do in the future, as long as she lived a safe and healthy life.
Zhao Yu's gaze lingered on Xu Chumian's profile for a moment, as if deep in thought.
On the way back, Xu Chumian couldn't help but call out to Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu paused, then turned to the side, his lips devoid of color.
She pursed her lips: "After New Year's Eve, Mu Mu and I will leave."
The two were in the corridor.
Zhao Yu stood in the windy spot, his eyes lowered. "She's also my sister."
Good teachers are hard to find. If Mu Mu could have a good teacher to guide her, Xu Chu Mian would naturally not delay her younger sister's studies because of her own affairs.
Zhao Yu's lips curled into a sneer: "If you don't want to see me, fine."
"But Mu Mu is also the Zhao family's granddaughter. She will have everything she deserves. I will not come to the housewarming party again after the New Year."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Chumian's eyes widened, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Zhao Yu, you don't need to do this."
Zhao Yu chuckled, "Back to your rented courtyard? Anyone can climb over that wall. How are you going to protect her?"
Xu Chumian pursed her lips: "This is your house, I can find another place to live."
"You're used to living here. Mu Mu is still young, and changing places frequently isn't good for her. Unless it's something important, I won't come here again, so you don't need to worry."
Xu Chumian dug her nails into her palm, "That's not what I meant..."
Zhao Yu coughed twice. Xu Chumian glanced at his thin clothes and frowned, saying, "Let's go back first."
Even though he was still sick, he wore thin clothes in the dead of winter. Even a body of iron couldn't withstand it.
Xu Chumian walked ahead, unaware of the barely perceptible smile on the man's lips.
The two returned to Lanyun Courtyard one after the other.
Back in the house, Xu Chumian sat at the table, and Qiu Niang brewed her a pot of tea.
There are still about ten days until Lunar New Year's Eve.
We've been brewing autumn wine and winter wine at Wenju for several years now. Every year around this time, we prepare for the New Year, decorate the mansion, and hang lanterns and colorful decorations.
Xu Chumian's thoughts drifted far away. In her previous life, she would get busy every year-end, not only with matters in the Duke's mansion but also with the Zhao family's businesses reaching the end of the year.
The Zhao family will be busy from a few days before New Year's Eve until the fifth or sixth day of the Lunar New Year. On the seventh day, the Zhao family will hold another family banquet.
The seventh day of the first lunar month...
It is Zhao Yu's birthday.
Xu Chumian looked out the window and caught a glimpse of a figure leaving Lanyun Courtyard.
Zhao Yu left the mansion.
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