Chapter 30: Control
When Jiang Shu returned to the room, the people who played the piano and chess were gone. Tan Yu and Chu Yu were cleaning up the chessboard and tea sets.
"Where are they?" Jiang Shu asked knowingly.
Tan Yu cooperated and said, "Aunt Xu is tired, and the Marquis sent her back to Songlan Garden to rest."
"Oh." Jiang Shu's face was full of regret, but her brisk steps betrayed her.
Tan Yu and Chu Yu looked at each other, not understanding why Jiang Shu wanted to push Shen Changze out.
Since being reprimanded by Old Lady Shen, Cheng Jinchu has calmed down and rested in the Yunyuan every day, not caring about worldly affairs.
Even when Shen Changze moved to live in the side room, she did not stop him.
"Madam, the Marquis went to Songlan Garden again." Qiu Shuang replied in a low voice.
"I know, go down." Cheng Jinchu was not surprised at all.
Shen Changze moved his clothes and belongings to the side room, but he never lived there for a day.
What puzzled Cheng Jinchu was that Shen Changze stayed in Songlanyuan for several days in a row, but Jiang Shu did not react at all.
Did she not want her husband's favor or was she convinced that her position was unshakable?
"This is black plum and brown sugar drink, Madam, drink it while it's hot." Xu Lingyi presented the sugar water she cooked herself.
Jiang Shu took it and stirred it gently: "How do you know about my life?"
Xu Lingyi did not dare to act clever in front of the smart man, and said truthfully: "I wanted to send you ice cream, but Miss Chu Yu said that you can't eat ice these days, so I guessed it."
Jiang Shu took a sip: "It tastes good."
"If you like it, I will send it to you every month in the future." Xu Lingyi took the opportunity to say.
Jiang Shu smiled: "You don't have to do that, just serve the Marquis well."
"It is my duty to serve the Marquis and the Madam." Xu Lingyi was respectful and not at all impatient.
Jiang Shu looked at her intently, a little puzzled.
"How is the Marquis in a good mood recently?" Jiang Shu asked casually.
Shen Changze seemed to be very busy recently and had no time to come to her, so she was happy to be quiet.
Xu Lingyi said carefully: "He is moody. Sometimes he gets a headache because of the Young Master, and sometimes he is happy because of the wine shop."
Jiang Shu drank the sugar water slowly and learned about Shen Changze's recent situation from Xu Lingyi.
Seeing Xu Lingyi's radiant face and tender eyes when she talked about Shen Changze, Jiang Shu found it incredible.
"You like the Marquis very much."
She thought Xu Lingyi had to marry Shen Changze as a concubine, but from Xu Lingyi's reaction, she seemed to be truly in love with him.
Could there be some hidden secret that she didn't know about?
Jiang Shu's firm tone made Xu Lingyi unable to deny it. She blushed and asked back: "The Marquis is majestic, handsome and elegant, doesn't the Madam like him?"
Shen Changze's status and appearance, although not the best, are also above average in Shangjing. Moreover, he is a brave and skilled general, and the dream husband that many young ladies want.
Xu Lingyi looked at Jiang Shu bravely and found that there was no emotion in her eyes.
"I did like him before, but it's like a seed that just broke through the soil. It was drowned by the heavy rain before it saw the sun." Jiang Shu laughed bitterly.
In Xu Lingyi's heart, Shen Changze was so handsome and noble, a man who was not promiscuous and sympathetic to women. He was simply a good son-in-law that was hard to find in the world. Jiang Shu
didn't like such a man.
She didn't understand and didn't dare to ask.
"When did you like Hou Ye?" Jiang Shu asked.
The affection in Xu Lingyi's eyes was too strong, it must be because of years of accumulation.
But Shen Changze had been guarding the border for six years and had only been back for a few months, so he had no chance to meet her.
Could it be the Peony Banquet seven years ago?
Seeing Jiang Shu's clear eyes as if he had guessed it, Xu Lingyi bit her lip shyly and said, "At the Peony Banquet seven years ago, I fell in love with the Marquis at first sight."
She was betting that Jiang Shu didn't know about the noble family's past, and at most only knew about the Peony Banquet seven years ago.
In fact, she had loved Shen Changze earlier and longer.
But this was the deepest secret in her heart, and she would not let anyone know.
Jiang Shu was not uninterested in other people's private affairs, but was amazed at Xu Lingyi's infatuation.
"Now, you have got what you wished for." Jiang Shu sighed.
With Xu Lingyi's status as a concubine, she had no chance of becoming the wife of the Marquis's mansion. If she wanted to marry Shen Changze, she could only be a concubine.
Xu Lingyi also understood, and said with great gratitude: "I can achieve my wish, all thanks to Madam."
Jiang Shu smiled and said nothing.
It was not until just now that she realized that the chance encounter in Zhaojue Temple that day was not accidental.
With this tenacity of waiting for seven years, Xu Lingyi would never commit suicide. The desperate situation in Zhaojue Temple was just her careful planning.
Although she was unhappy about being used, Jiang Shu did not blame Xu Lingyi.
It is not easy for women, and Xu Lingyi's behavior did not hurt her, so she could forgive it.
After coming out of Tingzhu Tower, Xu Lingyi's back was soaked with a thin layer of sweat.
Although Jiang Shu did not blame her, she was still guilty.
After all the cover-ups, she was in Jiang Shu's hands in the future, and she could only let it go.
No, she can't let others manipulate her, she has to stand firm in the mansion.
Glancing at the sky, Shen Changze was about to return home, Xu Lingyi stroked her hair and went back to dress up carefully.
After a period of time, Xu Lingyi had already figured out Shen Changze's preferences.
Knowing that he didn't like flashy and glamorous looks, she dressed neatly and freshly. He didn't like to be jealous and unreasonable, so she was generous and sensible.
In this way, she held Shen Changze firmly.
Shen Changze, who was tired after a day of fighting in the scorching heat, returned home, sent Yan Yang back to Shouyong Hall, paid his respects to Old Madam Shen, and then went to Songlan Garden.
Xu Lingyi brought a bowl of iced yogurt to cool Shen Changze down.
After a bowl of iced yogurt, Shen Changze sighed comfortably.
These few days were the most comfortable days he had spent since returning to Beijing. He didn't need to explain or coax anyone. He could relax completely.
"My Lord, you've been tired all day. Do you want to take a hot bath to relieve your fatigue?" Xu Lingyi asked tentatively.
Because they have been staying at Songlanyuan recently, Shen Changze's clothes are also here.
"Yeah." Shen Changze responded.
Xu Lingyi immediately told Bitao to prepare hot water.
After a while, the hot water was ready, Xu Lingyi took clean clothes and waited for Shen Changze to take a bath.
Shen Changze, who was exhausted, sat in the bathtub, closed his eyes and enjoyed Xu Lingyi's gentle massage.
Estimating that the bath was almost over, Xu Lingyi took the bath beans, dipped them in water and rubbed them on Shen Changze's body, rubbing his smooth and soft hands gently, which made Shen Changze itchy. He
suddenly opened his eyes, and the half-exposed breasts caught his eyes unexpectedly, and Shen Changze's eyes tightened.
Xu Lingyi was unaware of it and continued to concentrate on bathing Shen Changze.
In order to keep cool, she only wore a light and transparent gauze, her jade-like skin and shoulders were half-transparent, which aroused people's reverie.
Shen Changze felt his blood boiling, and he reached out to grab Xu Lingyi's hand and pulled her into the bathtub.
"Ah!" Xu Lingyi exclaimed softly, the light and thin gauze stuck to her body after being soaked, making her even more seductive.
Shen Changze glanced at her clean face and charming figure, and felt that she was pure and charming, worthy of being called a beauty.
The water waves rhythmically hit the bathtub, accompanied by intermittent moans and low gasps, which made Bi Tao outside the house blush.
It was broad daylight and the sun hadn't set yet.