Gu Yaoniang was displeased upon hearing this.
She grumbled discontentedly, held up a finger and waved it in front of Lu Zhaoan, giggling, "I only had one drink! I didn't drink too much!"
Suddenly, as if she had discovered something, she exclaimed, "Oh my! I recognize you!"
She looked up at Qiaoniang and said, "Isn't this the young master Lu we met the other day?"
Qiao Niang looked embarrassed and kept apologizing to Lu Zhao'an.
Lu Zhaoan remained unmoved and said it was alright.
Yao Niang, oblivious to everything, said to Lu Zhao'an, "Young Master Lu, smile more! Don't always act like you're ignoring people..."
At this moment, Bitao had already returned with the coachman, and Xiexiang had arrived at the entrance of Zuiyue Tower.
Qiao Niang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of Yao Niang's condition, she and Bi Tao helped Yao Niang into the carriage.
As Lu Zhaoan watched Xiang Xing disappear into the distance, he recalled Yao Niang's words.
Do I usually act like I don't care about anyone? Should I smile more? But how can I smile if I'm not happy?
Thinking this, the corners of her mouth curved upwards.
Carrying the fragrance, they walked towards the Gu family mansion.
Gu Yaoniang was quite obedient at this moment, neither speaking nor moving. She simply sat quietly on the sedan chair, her hands folded together, sitting obediently.
Bitao, unaware of what Yaoniang had done at Zuiyue Tower, assumed that Yaoniang had been so obedient since getting drunk, and exclaimed, "Our lady has such good manners when drunk."
Qiao Niang felt exhausted. She didn't argue or respond. She just looked at Yao Niang, afraid that she would do something unexpected again.
The carriage rumbled along the cobblestone street. The fragrant incense that Qiaoniang usually loved filled the carriage, and she felt her restless heart gradually calm down.
Yao Niang was quite obedient and didn't utter any more nonsense along the way. Carrying Xiang along, they arrived at the back gate of the Gu family mansion and drove straight into the backyard.
Qiaoniang brought Yaoniang back to Tinglan Residence without any problems. She breathed a sigh of relief and told Bitao to take good care of Yaoniang.
She was about to leave when she glanced at the bed and was startled—
Yao Niang was looking at her with teary eyes.
Gu Yaoniang didn't say anything, she just looked at Qiaoniang, tears streaming down her face. She didn't know when she started crying, but her clothes were already damp with tears.
Qiao Niang panicked immediately and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"
Seeing Qiaoniang turn around and sit down beside her, Yaoniang pouted, and her tears fell even more fiercely.
She seemed to have sobered up a bit, her eyes clearing somewhat. Yet, she also seemed still drunk, her mind working extremely slowly.
With tears streaming down her face, Yao Niang tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Sister Qiao Niang, I miss my mother."
Qiaoniang breathed a sigh of relief. She had heard the Second Master mention before that this was Yaoniang's first time traveling far from home, so it was only natural that she would miss her mother.
She felt a pang of sympathy.
She knew about Qin Yuxiu's situation. After Yaoniang arrived in Shuojing, she usually stayed by her side. She seemed quiet and resilient, even thinking about supporting herself through business, yet she still couldn't help but cry sometimes.
He's still just a child.
Qiaoniang put her arm around Yaoniang's shoulder, and Yaoniang leaned down and began to sob softly.
"I miss my mother. Although she never hugs me, she is very good to me."
She also steams osmanthus cakes for me, they're so delicious! Sister Qiaoniang, I'll take you to my house sometime and my mom will make them for you too.
She cried quite sadly.
Qiaoniang patted Yaoniang's back gently, listening quietly to her story.
"Although my mother doesn't say it usually, I know she loves me very much. My mother is the most elegant mother in our area; none of the other mothers are as beautiful as my mother."
But my mother argued with the aunts who were gossiping about me because of me.
I've never seen my mother argue with anyone.
As she spoke, Yao Niang laughed again, her laughter tinged with a heavy nasal tone, which made her all the more adorable.
She kept talking:
"Mother knew I was furious and wanted to go to the capital to confront Qin Yuxiu. Father wouldn't let me go, so Mother secretly told me to be careful."
“My mother is truly the best mother in the world!” she concluded.
Qiaoniang found it somewhat amusing, yet also filled with envy and heartache. Her mother had been gone for so long that she barely remembered her. Children with mothers are truly treasures.
But Yao Niang was still rambling on:
“My mother is so good to me, yet I still hurt her. I know she doesn’t want me to see Qin Yuxiu again; she’s afraid I’ll be sad and hurt, and she’s also afraid that Qin Yuxiu is truly a scoundrel and will cause me harm.”
But she knew she couldn't dissuade me, so she let me have my way. She insisted that I write to her regularly to let her know I was alright, only then could she feel at ease.
Yao Niang sobbed on Qiao Niang's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Mother. I was determined to go to Shuojing to find Qin Yuxiu and get an answer. I wanted to earn a future for myself and prove that Qin Yuxiu was wrong. I, Gu Yao Niang, will only be better off without him."
I want Qin Yuxiu to know that he has wronged me, that he was wrong, that I am the best woman in the world, and that he is not good enough for me.
But I made my mother worry.
Qiaoniang felt a dryness in her mouth and didn't know how to speak. She and Yaoniang had only met yesterday, and although they got along well, they hadn't known each other for very long. She didn't know how to comfort this young girl, so she could only gently pat Yaoniang's thin back again and again.
Suddenly, Yao Niang sat up straight from Qiao Niang's arms, but afraid that Qiao Niang would see her disheveled appearance with tears streaming down her face, she covered her face with her hands and turned away.
Qiaoniang smiled, even though she was heartbroken and a little confused from being drunk, Yaoniang still remembered to maintain her image.
She asked, "What are you doing up here?"
Gu Yaoniang paced around the room, as if searching for something. While searching, she replied to Qiaoniang, "I haven't written to my parents yet! The journey has been slow, so it's taken a long time. I haven't written to let them know I'm safe; they must be worried!"
Qiaoniang quickly pulled her back and coaxed, "How about we write it tomorrow?"
Gu Yaoniang shook her head repeatedly: "No, no! My parents will worry!"
Qiaoniang had no choice but to say, "Even if you write it now, you can only send it out tomorrow. You should take a nap now, and write it when you wake up. Your handwriting will be better when you're awake, and your parents will be happier!"
The beautiful woman stopped, as expected. She asked, bewildered, "Really?"
Qiao Niang nodded firmly in response. Gu Yao Niang then stopped and obediently lay down, led by Qiao Niang.
Qiaoniang saw that she had closed her eyes and didn't know whether she was asleep or not, so she stayed by her side.
Bitao brought in water and saw Yaoniang lying on the bed. She wrung out a handkerchief and wiped Yaoniang's hands and face before leaving.
Qiao Niang stayed by her side until Yao Niang's breathing became deep and she truly made no further moves before she left.
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