Chapter Six: Zhao Yu Has No Interest in Marriage; Their Relationship Heats Up
The autumn air is crisp and clear.
Zhao Yu returned from his shift at Dali Temple. Passing through the side gate, he found himself on a long, shady path. Large camellia blossoms, their red and white petals scattered by the rain of the previous night, were in bloom.
Zhao Yu had clear, sparse features, but there seemed to be an unyielding darkness in his eyes. He was momentarily stunned.
The main gate of the Duke of Zhao's mansion was not often opened; those living in the west courtyard mostly used the west side gate.
The year he married Xu Chumian, every day when he returned home, that slender figure would be waiting at the end of the path.
As he approached, Chu Mian would walk towards him, her skirt billowing with petals, and finally, along with the faint fragrance emanating from Xu Chu Mian, she would rush into his arms.
Footsteps approached from ahead, and Zhao Yu regained his composure.
The old woman beside the Duchess had been waiting for a long time.
"Your Highness, the Madam requests your presence."
Whether in civil administration or military affairs, Zhao Yu was an outstanding person among his peers from a young age. Neither the Duke of Zhao nor his wife, Lady Zhang, were particularly serious people. Yet Zhao Yu was mature beyond his years, upright and honest, and never caused the Duke any worry.
However, the matter of marriage almost drove Zhang Shi to despair.
Which of Zhao Yu's peers from prominent families didn't have both sons and daughters?
Zhao Yu stepped into Chengfu Hall, where Madam Zhang and her two aunts from the second and third branches of the family were talking inside.
The maid wanted to report.
Zhao Yu raised his hand.
Second wife's aunt: "With so many eligible girls, the young master will surely be able to choose one."
Madam Zhang said, "As long as He'an is happy, the family is clean and the population is small, it doesn't matter if the family background is not good."
Third Aunt added, "The family background can't be too bad either, otherwise any relatives will come to our door to freeload, and people will laugh at us."
Madam Zhang nodded and said, "The most important thing is that the woman must be of virtuous character and must not hold He'an back."
Zhao Yu paused slightly.
When Madam Zhang first met Xu Chumian in her previous life, she was extremely fond of her. However, after learning about Xu's family background and Mu Mu's illness, Madam Zhang became particularly opposed to it and even considered sending the Xu Chumian sisters out of the capital.
At that time, Zhao Yu had already risen to the position of Grand Secretary, and the Duke of Zhao had passed away. Zhang had no choice but to nod in agreement.
At the time, Xu Chumian felt that the Zhao family had been kind to her, and she deeply loved Zhao Yu. She was willing to endure everything for Zhao Yu.
Despite her mother-in-law's coldness, she still did her best to serve Zhang's daily life, paying her respects morning and evening without fail.
Xu Chumian went to great lengths to maintain peace between her and her mother-in-law.
But after Mu Mu died, everything changed.
At that time, the late emperor and the late crown prince had passed away one after another, and the imperial grandson had only recently ascended the throne. Zhao Yu was extremely busy every day, and before anyone knew it, Xu Chumian had wrapped herself up in a cocoon.
Unless absolutely necessary, Xu Chumian rarely went to the Zhang family's courtyard; otherwise, it would inevitably lead to an argument.
Xu Chumian's condition improved after Zhang moved away from the Duke's mansion.
Madam Zhang caught sight of the figure at the door and asked in a questioning voice, "He'an? Why aren't you coming in?"
Zhao Yu lifted the curtain, his expression unreadable.
His two aunts nodded to him.
The second aunt said, "We'll be leaving now. You two can continue your conversation."
Third Aunt had always been afraid of Zhao Yu, so she left with Second Aunt.
The room quieted down, and Madam Zhang beckoned Zhao Yu over.
"He'an, come and take a look, is there anything here that you like?"
"If you've taken a liking to someone, Mother will send someone to propose marriage."
The woman in front of him, surnamed Zhang, was only over forty years old. She had a dignified appearance and demeanor, unlike the gaunt and haggard look he had in his previous life.
Zhao Yu pressed his wife's younger sister about her death more than once, but Zhang only said that she had forgotten and that it was an unintentional act.
Zhang never revealed the truth until her death.
Zhang kept this secret to herself for the rest of her life.
Zhao Yu didn't even glance at the paintings.
Madam Zhang pretended to glare at him: "Why are you as stubborn as your father? You'll have to settle down and start a family sooner or later. How wonderful it would be to have a wife who cares about your well-being at home."
Zhao Yu still refused, saying, "The situation is unstable right now, and my son has no time to think about these things."
Zhao Yu left, citing being tied up with official duties.
Zhang looked troubled and sighed in anger.
The head maid comforted her, "Madam, there's no one in the young master's courtyard. He doesn't even know how good it is to have a woman."
When Zhang heard this, she thought it made sense. Her son's courtyard was full of servants, and there wasn't even a female mosquito.
As soon as Zhao Chenyu entered the mansion, he bumped into Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze cold and deep. Zhao Chenyu felt a chill run down his spine, and fear welled up in his heart.
"Big brother."
Zhao Yu: "Where did you go?"
Zhao Chenyu swallowed hard: "I just went for a stroll in the street."
Zhao Chenyu was born with a serious illness, and doctors diagnosed that he would not live past the age of eighteen.
He usually stays in the mansion and rarely leaves.
Under Zhao Yu's condescending gaze, Zhao Chenyu dared not raise his head.
After Zhao Yu left, Zhao Chenyu wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Dealing with my eldest brother is just as difficult as dealing with my uncle.
Zhao Yu returned to his study and gave Guan Yan a few instructions.
Guan Yan's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.
The third branch of the family had done so many things behind the back of the Duke's mansion.
Lending money at exorbitant interest rates, secretly selling maps...
How did the young master know?
Zhao Yu said in a deep voice, "Investigate as soon as possible."
The current dynasty strictly prohibits the private lending of usurious loans, but in the previous life, just half a year later, the family of Zhao's third aunt was implicated in a money case, which enraged His Majesty.
Zhao Yu investigated thoroughly and discovered that the actions of the third branch of the family went far beyond this.
The third master was the illegitimate son of the old Duke. He worked in the Ministry of War and owed more than 10,000 taels of gambling debts that he was unable to repay. He ended up selling the map of Bingzhou, which was adjacent to the capital, to Prince Ding.
The Duke of Zhao was furious and reported the matter to His Majesty. In the end, all three branches of the family were beheaded.
Prior to this, the third patriarch, while drunk, accidentally killed the only son of a general surnamed Zhang in the Ministry of War. Fearing that the matter would be exposed, the third patriarch forged evidence that the general surnamed Zhang had embezzled soldiers' pay and was demoted to the frontier.
In the end, the general surnamed Zhang defected to Prince Ding, thoroughly hated the Zhao family, and became the top leader by Prince Ding's side.
Later, when the Prince of Ding rebelled, the Duke of Zhao led his troops to attack and won a great victory. On his way back to the capital, the Duke of Zhao was ambushed by a general surnamed Zhang and died tragically.
Furthermore, the third wife has always had her eye on Chu Mian.
In any case, the third wife cannot be kept.
-
By the time the afternoon treatment ended, Mu Mu was exhausted.
Xu Chumian planned to take her younger sister back, but as soon as she picked her up, Xiao Qingyan took the little girl into his arms first.
Xiao Qingyan's palm accidentally touched the woman's fair wrist, which was softer than anything he had ever encountered.
He froze on the spot, his whole body burning as if on fire.
“…I am a man, I am strong, I will carry her.”
Xu Chumian hadn't thought that far ahead.
Watching Xiao Qingyan stride away.
Xu Chumian came to her senses, thanked Doctor Chen, and left.
Back in the courtyard, Xiao Qingyan had calmed down. The woman approached from behind, her fragrance wafting faintly. Xiao Qingyan casually asked, "Where is Mu Mu's room?"
Xu Chumian pointed to a room.
Mu Mu has no peers and doesn't like to go out, so Xu Chumian often makes all sorts of dolls for her younger sister.
There was a pile of them on the bed.
Xiao Qingyan felt something in his heart slowly softening.
Xu Chumian went into the room and covered Mu Mu with a blanket.
The man stood beside the bed, his tall and strong figure almost filling the space.
The air was thick with tension; Xiao Qingyan could almost hear his own heartbeat. "It's hot in here, I'll go out first..."
Xiao Qingyan fled in panic, and Xu Chumian withdrew her gaze, carefully wiping the sweat from her sister's face.
In the courtyard, Xiao Qingyan stood under the huge osmanthus tree.
Under the eaves, Xu Chumian stood gracefully, smiling as she called to him.
Xiao Qingyan turned around, his hand clasped behind his back.
Xu Chumian looked at him and said, "Lord Xiao, thank you very much today. If it weren't for you, Doctor Chen wouldn't have agreed so quickly."
Xiao Qingyan: "It was just a small favor."
Xu Chumian stepped forward, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I wonder what kind of thank-you gift Lord Xiao would like? Money, gifts... I will do my best to agree to anything I can do."
Xiao Qingyan was momentarily stunned and lost his composure. He abruptly shifted his gaze and fixed it on the kitchen.
"...Then let's have lunch. I'll have someone come and collect lunch every day for a month."
Xu Chumian looked surprised, and nodded: "That's it?"
Xiao Qingyan coughed lightly, feigning anger, and said, "Even the Jinyiwei's lunch is hard to swallow."
Xu Chumian couldn't help but laugh.
"If Lord Xiao doesn't mind, then I would like to invite you to dinner tonight?"
Xiao Qingyan agreed, but just then, the horse tied at the door neighed, and someone from the Imperial Guard came looking for him.
Xiao Qingyan's expression tightened; outside stood the same Imperial Guard from yesterday.
A moment later, Xiao Qingyan looked into the courtyard.
As darkness fell, Xu Chumian stood in the courtyard. The night wind blew her long hair at her temples. Dressed in light-colored clothes, she looked just like a pure and enchanting fairy from a storybook.
The young man's amber eyes reflected the woman's figure, and he smiled at Xu Chumian.
"I will be back in three days."
"Miss Xu, you remember our promise."
With that, the young man mounted his horse, the silver-saddled white steed kicking up dust as it galloped away.
Xu Chumian closed the wooden door.
Mu Mu came out of the house. The little girl sat under the eaves, propping her chin up with her hand, looking at Xu Chumian thoughtfully.
Xu Chumian walked over and ruffled her sister's hair.
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