Xu Lanyin got up quickly and went to the backyard kitchen with Mrs. Lu and Aunt Yang. The wind, mixed with flying snow, stung her face painfully.
They cooked a few dishes and some dry rice to fill them up and give them some wine to keep them warm.
After the meal was ready, before daybreak, Xu Lanyin, carrying warm wine, went to the Zhao family with Zhangqi, who was carrying a food box. Xu Lanting and Xu Lanyue also came, leaning on Xu Qingyan's arms and talking.
Zhao Wu and Li Luo accompanied Xu Qingyan for dinner, while Ji Zhu ate in another room.
Xu Lanyin went back to her room to get the written letter and then went to the upper room.
Qin also stood up and handed the letter to Xu Lanzhou to Xu Lanyin, saying, "Tell your father to be safe. I also enclosed a silver note for two hundred taels of silver and a list in Lanzhou's letter, asking him to prepare the New Year gifts and send them to the Princess's Mansion."
Xu Lanyin went over to give the letter to Xu Qingyan and reminded him that he should send a New Year gift to the Zhou Mansion before the New Year.
Xu Qingyan nodded in agreement and continued, "You three must be filial to your mother. I definitely won't be able to make it back before the New Year, but I'll try to come back after the New Year. Lan Zhou will have a long vacation on the 20th and will be able to go home on the 25th or 26th."
The three Xu siblings and the Zhao Wu brothers sent Xu Qingyan and Ji Zhu out of the alley and watched them disappear in the flying snow.
In the evening, Zhao Wuxia went to the yamen and bought back Xu Lanyin's favorite He's fried tofu and Qin's favorite Wang's roast chicken. He also bought pens and embroidered purses for several children.
Those kids were just borrowing his light. He mainly wanted to comfort Xu Lanyin and apologize to Qin.
Xu Lanyin knew what he was thinking. She wasn't the real original owner, so she was mentally strong. Although she felt a little sad about her adoptive parents' divorce, she wasn't heartbroken.
As for Qin, he felt embarrassed that Xu Qingyan had neglected Qin as soon as he came back and focused on that matter.
Qin also knew what he was thinking, although she didn't say it explicitly. She ate a lot of roast chicken to show that she was not angry.
After dinner, Zhao Wu asked Xu Lanyin to go over there to look at the furniture.
The two children wanted to follow, but were stopped by Qin.
Zhao Wu held a lantern and showed her around. Their new house had already been painted, and the floor was paved with small bluestone slabs. Only the window paper hadn't been changed.
The two of them discussed how to arrange the room and where to put the furniture.
Arriving at the east wing, which would later become their bedroom, Zhao Wu pointed to a bluestone slab in the corner and said softly, "There's a secret compartment inside. I made it quietly so no one else knows."
The joints between this bluestone slab and other bluestone slabs are very good, and there is nothing unusual to see.
He handed the gauze lantern to Xu Lanyin and took some effort to remove the bluestone slab. Inside was a hole one foot square, just big enough for a small wooden box or a small jar.
Xu Lanyin was very satisfied and said with a smile, "This is much more secretive than the secret compartment on the bed or in the cabinet."
Putting hidden compartments in furniture required the help of a carpenter, which was not safe. She had mentioned this to Zhao Wu once, and Zhao Wu had made one himself.
After covering the bluestone slab, the two sat down on small stools. Zhao Wu held Xu Lanyin's cold hands, gently blowing warm air on them. Feeling her hands were warm, he covered her face with his large hands. His hands were scorching, and the calluses on his palms scratched her face, making it tingle and numb.
The room was empty and much colder than the others. The light from the gauze lantern was dim and gloomy, casting two large shadows on the wall. The wind outside made the branches and window paper rustle, and the two of them just wanted to sit here for a while.
Zhao Wu said, "If mother-in-law and father-in-law must separate, don't be too sad, sister. I will give you a warm home and treat you well for the rest of my life. I will also always respect mother-in-law and make her life easier. Don't worry, sister, no matter what time or situation, I will never do anything to make you sad... I am like my father, infatuated."
This child, I'm here to do some ideological work on her.
His last words amused Xu Lanyin. She said, "No matter what kind of man, when facing his wife or the woman he loves, he will always flaunt his infatuation."
Zhao Wu was anxious, and grabbed her hand again and said, "I'm speaking from my heart, not pretending. My father is infatuated, really. I still remember that after my mother passed away, my father rushed back from the military camp, crying and banging his head against the wall, wishing he could die. He didn't eat or drink for several days and nights, and it was only when my eldest brother and I knelt in front of him with water and food that he ate. He also assured us not to worry, saying that for our sake, he would live well, avenge mother, and let us grow up safely. Later, Mrs. Wen tried every means to force women into his arms, and even secretly betrothed Mrs. Wen's niece to him, but he managed to ruin it. He said that my mother was the only woman he had, and he would not marry again. If he had lived, I believe he could do it."
Thinking of those two short-lived good people, Xu Lanyin sighed deeply and said, "God is so blind to such good people." He then asked, "Your father is the crown prince and the eldest son, why did he have to serve outside? For the sake of your mother and you brothers, he should have found a way to transfer back to Beijing."
Zhao Wudao, "Neither my grandfather nor my grandfather made much of a mark in officialdom, and our family was already beginning to decline. My father always wanted to revive the family business, and he joined the army at a very young age. Before my mother passed away, he had been serving in the West Camp outside the capital, and could return home one day every ten days. He met my mother when he was on official business in Changzhou, where she was practicing in Wuxiang Mountain. But after my mother passed away, he was suddenly transferred out of town. My father was reluctant to go, and even asked for help from his superiors, saying that he had elderly parents and young children to support, but in the end he still went. By then, my father must have known something, and could see that my mother's death was suspicious. He was also afraid that without him, my brothers and I wouldn't be able to grow up safely... I never understood it before. Ever since that night when I visited the Wen Mansion and listened to what Old Lady Wen said, I felt it had something to do with the Pu family. Once I'm done with this matter with my mother-in-law, I will focus on investigating my parents' deaths. It would be even better if I could find out about my mother's life before she became a nun."
In the dim light, Zhao Wu's brows were furrowed, his eyes deep and resolute. Unlike in the past, when he would reveal hatred, resentment, and helplessness in his eyes whenever he mentioned his parents' untimely death and the abominations of the Wen family.
That cool big boy has really grown up!
Xu Lanyin pulled her small hand out of the big hand, then held the big hand again and said, "Okay, I'll check with you. You know, I'm very smart and I can definitely help."
Zhao Wu smiled, revealing his white teeth and big dimples. He took her hand and kissed it gently, then pulled her into his arms. His hot and wet lips roamed over her brow, cheek, and lips, making Xu Lanyin's body heat up bit by bit.
He murmured, "Sister, I wish I could marry you home tomorrow..."
Xu Lanyin was also a little confused and lost in love. When she felt his breathing getting heavier, her mind cleared up. She stood up and said, "If I don't go back, my mother won't let me come to your house before I get married."
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