With Fang Mingzhu under house arrest, Chen Siyi missing in Shushan, and Liu Qiao'er imprisoned in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion, Su Xuerong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
A few days later, Su Shirong's letter also arrived in Hangzhou.
Nearly twenty days had passed since Su Xuerong asked Cui Yun'er to send someone to find Su Shirong.
The letter also mentioned the two guards sent by Cui Yun'er who caught up with them halfway and escorted them safely to Quanzhou.
Su Xuerong told her family the news, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou's eyes reddened as she whispered, "Why is Chen so impatient..."
Even if Su Shirong really did have an accident, once the news was confirmed, she might not necessarily force Chen Shi to not allow her to remarry.
But her son had only been gone a few days when she started an affair with another man. If it weren't for her clever daughter, the whole family would have been ruined.
Su Jingxuan said in a muffled voice, "It's not entirely her fault; someone deliberately seduced her..."
Zhou snorted coldly: "If Chen is a law-abiding person, no matter who tries to seduce her, it won't work! Hasn't my daughter been targeted enough? I haven't seen her be seduced by anyone!"
Before Su Jingxuan could say anything more, he saw Su Jian slowly walking over from the front corridor.
The two immediately fell silent.
Since the passing of Zhang and Chen, Su Jian has become a different person. He has lost his innocence and liveliness at a young age and spends his days in a daze.
He could stare at the blue brick floor for two hours straight.
Zhou wiped away her tears, stepped forward and hugged him tightly, and said softly, "Jian'er, what lessons did the teacher teach you today?"
Su Jian didn't even look up, and muttered, "The Three Character Classic..."
Su Xuerong carried Yuanjie over and, seeing Su Jian looking sullen, suggested, "After the hot summer is over, let's send Jian to school."
Otherwise, staying cooped up at home all the time will make your personality become strange.
Mrs. Zhou hugged her silent grandson and sighed.
Cui Yun'er came again, inviting Su Xuerong and her family to go to Xiao Yuan's Hushan Hall on the south side of West Lake to escape the summer heat.
Hushan Hall is nestled against the mountain and beside the water, making it very quiet. A waterside pavilion has also been built by the water, from which one can walk down the steps to the water.
The temperature here is a few degrees lower than in Hangzhou, making it a great place to escape the summer heat.
Su Xuerong wanted to refuse, but seeing Su Jian looking somewhat listless, she asked, "Won't it bother other people if you send our whole family?"
Cui Yun'er smiled and said, "There's no one else, just my aunt and me. She's the one who suggested that I take your family to escape the summer heat."
Su Xuerong looked at her with some surprise.
Cui Yun'er immediately avoided her gaze and said to Su Jian, "Brother Jian, would you like to go out and have some fun for a few days?"
Su Jian was already familiar with Cui Yun'er, and nodded blankly.
“Look, Jian’er has already agreed, what are you still considering?” Cui Yun’er said. “I heard from Ming Shu that it’s much cooler over at Hushan Hall than in the city.”
Madam Zhou also said, "Arong, you should take Jian'er and Yuan'er with you. Your father and I will stay at home."
Cui Yun'er immediately said, "Auntie, my aunt invited you and Uncle to go together!"
Madam Zhou smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. We won't stay with you young people."
She could also tell that Old Madam Cui invited her daughter to escape the summer heat probably because of Ling Qingxue.
It's rather inappropriate for the couple to go and visit their daughter who isn't engaged to Ling Qingxue yet.
Zhou refused to go no matter what.
Su Xuerong thought for a moment: "Then let Jinyu come along?"
"Alright!" Cui Yun'er breathed a sigh of relief. "Remember, the Prince's carriage will come to pick you up early the day after tomorrow."
Having agreed on a time, Cui Yun'er returned to the Prince's Mansion and went directly to Juxian Hall.
"She agreed?"
Cui Yun'er raised her chin: "With me stepping in, how could she possibly refuse?"
Xiao Yuan grinned slightly: "Alright, that red Ferghana horse is yours."
Cui Yun'er immediately beamed with joy, but then, as if remembering something, she added, "Auntie doesn't know about this yet..."
“I will speak to her myself,” Xiao Yuan said.
Cui Yun'er immediately returned to the west courtyard.
That evening, Xiao Yuan went to Cui's courtyard for dinner.
After finishing his meal with Madam Cui, a maid brought over tea for rinsing her mouth. Xiao Yuan personally handed it to her, saying, "Aunt, the weather has been too hot these past few days. Would you like to stay at Lakeside Hall for a few days?"
Cui waved her hand listlessly: "Forget it, it's cool over there, but it's damp. I'm afraid I'll catch rheumatism if I stay there for a few days..."
At this point, she glanced at Xiao Yuan: "You just came back from Shaoxing, why don't you take Yun'er and Fang Shi over there for a few days?"
Xiao Yuan's face immediately darkened: "It's fine if Yun'er goes, but what's with bringing Fang Shi along?"
Since Fang Mingzhu was placed under house arrest at Fenglin Temple, Fang Ningzhu has become a completely marginalized figure in the Prince's Mansion.
Madam Cui sighed and said, "Her elder sister is vicious, but she is honest and dutiful. Now she can't even go back to the Fang family. You are unwilling to take her in. Do you expect her to be an old maid in the Prince's mansion for the rest of her life?"
Xiao Yuan frowned and said, "Why don't you find a time to tell my aunt that if she wants to get married, she should marry out of the Prince's Mansion, and I will give her a decent dowry."
Mrs. Cui rubbed her temples and said, "Alright, I'll talk to her about it sometime."
Xiao Yuan said, "I'm going to Hushan Hall to rest, so please don't let any random people disturb me!"
"Alright, I know, I won't try to force anyone on you," Cui said irritably.
When Cui Yun'er learned of Xiao Yuan's arrangements, she couldn't help but say to Ming Shu in private, "Cousin, isn't this a bit immoral? Mr. Ling is waiting to marry A Rong."
Ming Shu replied, "Ling Qingxue's situation is still far from settled, why are you in such a hurry?"
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