Chapter Thirty-Two: Zhao Yu's Discovery
Early the next morning.
Xiao Qingyan then arrived outside the Xu family's courtyard.
He was also carrying some of Xu Chumian's favorite snacks.
Xu Chumian couldn't help but say, "You got back to the manor late last night, you should rest more, there's no need to come so early."
Xiao Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Mr. Xu, it's already broad daylight."
In the distance, on the horizon, there was only a sliver of dawn.
Xu Chumian couldn't help but glare at him.
Xiao Qingyan put his arm around her shoulders and pushed her toward the table.
"Mr. Xu, would you like to have breakfast first?"
On the table, Xiao Qingyan kept a close eye on Xu Chumian's gaze.
Seeing that she wanted to drink water, I brought her some.
If you look at the handkerchief, it will appear in front of you in the next instant.
Even when Xu Chumian needed to change her clothes, Xiao Qingyan carried her to the bedroom door.
They didn't let Xu Chumian walk an inch.
There were still people watching in the courtyard, and Xu Chumian couldn't help but glare at him, "Qingyan, that's enough!"
Xiao Qingyan crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. He shook his head and stared straight at Xu Chumian.
"It's not enough, no matter how good I am to you, it's never enough."
Not far away, Xiao Tao and Qiu Yu were secretly laughing.
Xu Chumian quickly covered Xiao Qingyan's mouth, "Don't look at me!"
After saying that, she went back to her bedroom.
Xu Chumian went outside the city to purchase raw materials today. It was inconvenient to take Mumu with her, so she left Xiao Tao and Liu Er at home to look after her before leaving with Xiao Qingyan.
Xiao Qingyan is riding a horse.
Xu Chumian and Qiu Yu sat in the carriage.
The place we went to this time was Anlin Town, which is near Beijing.
What she wanted to buy this time was the bark of the young branches of the *Shenzhi* tree, which is not easy to obtain.
Some villagers would go up the mountain to pick the fruit, dry it themselves, and then take it to the capital to sell.
However, these are eventually collected by some wholesale vendors, who then mix them with inferior leather to pass them off as high-quality ones.
Just in case, and to achieve the best results, Xu Chumian decided to buy it outside the city.
After arriving in Anlin Town, we had lunch in the town before heading to Linqiao Village.
In just two hours, Xu Chumian had bought a total of ten catties of agarwood.
But on the way back to Anlin Town, the carriage unexpectedly got stuck in a mud pit, and no matter how the horses ran, the carriage did not respond.
Xiao Qingyan finally used his sword to cleave through the wet mud near the wheel hub.
This delay unexpectedly led to a torrential downpour.
Xiao Qingyan and Liu Da were both soaked.
The group hurriedly returned to Anlin Town.
Xu Chumian was worried that Xiao Qingyan was overworked and had been caught in the rain, so she asked him to find an inn in town to take a bath and change his clothes.
Xiao Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly. "No need to worry. In the past, we had to travel in torrential rain for days on end. Today's rain is nothing."
Xiao Qingyan was still wet.
Xu Chumian spoke with a rare firmness, "I'm the boss, you listen to me today."
Xiao Qingyan let out a soft laugh, "Yes, sir."
Liu Da booked three guest rooms and bought two sets of clothes from the innkeeper.
While Xiao Qingyan and Liu Da went to bathe and change clothes, Xu Chumian and Qiu Yu waited in one of the side rooms.
The inn in town wasn't very big.
Xu Chumian could hear the commotion on the first floor even from her room.
It looked like a large group of people had come to take shelter from the rain.
...
Xu Chumian didn't pay much attention.
After the heavy rain, the guest room was damp and smelled musty, so Xu Chumian decided to go downstairs to get some fresh air.
Just as he was about to go down the stairs, a deep voice came from below.
"Grandma, the rain has stopped, you can come out now."
It's Zhao Yu...
Madam Zhao nodded and said, "Let's go."
Xu Chumian was struck dumb, frozen in place, unable to move.
The autumn rain was about to speak.
Xu Chumian suddenly stopped her with a look.
The people in the lobby on the first floor gradually left.
The servants left quietly and in unison.
Xu Chumian hid behind the wall after turning the corner, while Qiu Yu stood beside her, not daring to ask any more questions.
She breathed a sigh of relief only after the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, her face pale, as if all her strength had been drained.
Seeing Xu Chuming standing there motionless for so long, the waiter couldn't help but ask, "Miss, is there something you need?"
Inside the lobby, Zhao Yu, who had not yet left, paused upon hearing the sound.
He glanced to the side and saw a glimpse of a skirt quickly flash past the corner of the wall.
Zhao Yu didn't pay much attention and got up to leave.
Xu Chumian shook her head: "It's nothing. It's a bit stuffy in the room, so I came out for a walk."
She hadn't noticed Zhao Yu's movements. After standing by the wall for a while to regain her strength, she went to the lobby to find a seat.
A short while later, Xiao Qingyan and Liu Da came downstairs.
Xiao Qingyan: "Chu Mian, why are your hands so cold?"
Xu Chumian shook her head, forcing a smile, "Qingyan, let's go back to the city."
Xiao Qingyan narrowed his eyes and glanced at Qiu Yu, who lowered her head in fear.
He held Xu Chumin's hand and asked gently, "What happened just now?"
Xu Chumian didn't look at him. She lowered her eyes and said, "I caught a chill from the wind and I'm feeling a little unwell."
Xiao Qingyan touched the woman's forehead; there was nothing unusual.
He frowned. "Let's go back to the city first."
Since Chu Mian was unwilling to speak, he decided not to ask.
On the way back to the city, Xu Chumian sat in the carriage, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
In her previous life, Xu Chumian had heard Zhao Yu mention that Old Madam Zhao loved quiet cultivation and did not wish to live in the Duke's mansion for an extended period of time.
Even after Zhao Yu married her, the old lady only stayed at home for two months before leaving.
Madam Zhao was a strict and upright person. She looked down on Xu Chumian's background, but she never made things difficult for her.
Years ago, Madam Zhang took her to the temple to visit Madam Zhao. In the end, Madam Zhao couldn't stand it anymore and scolded Madam Zhang several times before Madam Zhang restrained herself a bit.
Otherwise, Xu Chumian's return to the mansion would not have been due to just a fever.
Xu Chumian returned to the Xu family courtyard, still feeling uneasy.
Seeing that she was sullen, Xiao Qingyan racked his brains and came up with several jokes.
Xu Chumian finally smiled politely.
It was almost dark.
Xu Chumian saw Xiao Qingyan off, and the two exchanged a few words outside the courtyard.
Xiao Qingyan couldn't help but poke Xu Chumian's face.
What's wrong with you today?
Xiao Qingyan feigned seriousness, "Did I make you angry?"
Xu Chumian couldn't help but glare at him, "Do you really think I'm such a petty person?"
Xiao Qingyan chuckled softly as he hugged Xu Chumian and coaxed her, "If you're still unhappy tomorrow... I'll take you out to have some fun?"
This is ultimately a personal matter.
Xu Chumian didn't want to affect Xiao Qingyan, so she brushed the dust off Xiao Qingyan's shoulder.
"It's nothing, you can go ahead and do your work."
And in the carriage not far from the alley.
A pair of eyes stared intently at the two people at the entrance of the courtyard.
Zhao Yu escorted the old lady back to her residence without stopping, and then came to Xu Chumian's place.
Xu Chumian.
very good.
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