Chapter 97 Longing
"you?"
Xie San Niang lifted her droopy eyelids, her face expressionless.
Xie Xuchuan frowned, about to refuse, when he heard Hua Nanzhi say, "It's good that you go; you're worthy of your status."
"Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely handle this matter well."
Jiang Wansu smiled faintly, with a gentle and ingratiating air. Seeing her obedient appearance, Hua Nanzhi felt a little less annoyed.
"I'll go to Akane-in now."
After speaking, Jiang Wan curtsied gracefully and turned to leave.
A faint voice came from behind her, "It's still somewhat useful...", which made Jiang Wansu clutch her skirt tightly.
Xiaozhi stood outside Qianxiang Courtyard and was stunned for a moment when she saw that the person who came was Jiang Wansu.
Even Xie Qi and Shen Yuanzhu found it somewhat unbelievable when they heard it was her.
"She's willing to do something so thankless and difficult; she really is willing to do anything for Xie Xuchuan."
Xie Qi looked up at Shen Yuanzhu but remained silent.
She was unaware of the truth about Jiang and Xie being together, and naturally couldn't understand why a newlywed woman would get involved in such a matter.
He was able to understand some of it.
If the child in Jiang Wansu's womb is indeed Cui Yulin's, then Xie Xuchuan will naturally become increasingly unfriendly to her. In order to survive in the Xie family, Jiang Wansu will have no choice but to fawn over Xie Sanniang and Hua Nanzhi without any scruples.
This idea was probably Hua Nanzhi's.
Xie Qi thought for a moment and said, "If you don't want to see her, I can refuse on your behalf."
"That works too."
Shen Yuanzhu was indeed impatient with Jiang Wansu's crying and pretentious manner; she always felt it was unlucky.
Seeing that there was nothing exciting to see today, Chen Yuanzhu yawned and went to take a nap.
Xie Qi followed her around until he saw her lie down, then slowly left the courtyard.
In the courtyard, Jiang Wansu was being stopped by Xiaozhi and had an angry expression on her face. Only when Xie Qi appeared did she pinch her handkerchief and regain her elegant demeanor.
"Second Young Master..."
"Your young lady is asleep. When you go into the room later, don't disturb her."
Xiao Zhi nodded and respectfully withdrew.
For a moment, only Xie Qi and Jiang Wansu, master and servant, remained in the courtyard.
Seeing Xie Qi with his arms crossed and a frighteningly cold expression, Jiang Wansu said softly, "I suppose Brother Qi knows why I came to find you."
How would I know?
Xie Qi said indifferently, "In broad daylight, sister-in-law, stop talking nonsense. Since you have a habit of stealing other people's husbands, you should say less ambiguous things to avoid arousing suspicion in other people's ears."
“I have a clean background, unlike you, sister-in-law.”
He was known for holding grudges, and although Jiang Wansu provoked him several times, he refrained from doing anything because she was pregnant.
Not content with verbal abuse, she even tried to incite Xie San Niang to ask him for the money for the rouge cloth...
Xie Qi glanced at Jiang Wansu from head to toe, ignoring her ashamed and furious expression.
After a long while, Jiang Wansu said with a stiff face, "It was Mother's idea to come to see Brother Qi today. Although Brother Qi has received an invitation from Eunuch Yuan, he will not be able to go to Suzhou Prefecture without going through the Xie family. Mother's idea is to ask you to bring Xuchuan with you when you go to the appointment."
"As the old saying goes, 'When fighting a tiger, you don't have to be separated from your brothers,' and the same applies to doing business. The Xie family will still have to rely on the two of you in the future."
Xie Qi chuckled but did not answer.
He stared at Jiang Wansu silently, his gaze sending chills down one's spine, before Xie Qi finally asked, "How long have you been pregnant, sister-in-law?"
"Varied……"
Jiang Wansu took a step back, her brows furrowed, and her delicate appearance diminished.
Why are you asking this?
"Just out of curiosity."
Xie Qi, seemingly lost in thought, revealed a wicked expression: "By the way, ask your sister-in-law about someone."
"Who is it?"
"Does sister-in-law know Cui Yulin, who used to always be by her brother's side? The two of them were always inseparable, so why haven't we seen each other for a long time recently?"
"Sister-in-law has known my elder brother for so long, she should be quite familiar with Cui Yulin as well."
"What do you mean?"
Suddenly, Jiang Wansu was so startled that her voice cracked.
Standing behind her, Zi Tang's face was deathly pale, even her lips were eerily white, as if she had been drained of blood in an instant.
"you……"
Jiang Wansu stood there with her mouth agape, completely terrified.
Judging from the reactions of the master and servant, Xie Qi knew that his guess was correct. Xie Xuchuan did indeed marry Jiang Wansu, who was already pregnant, for Cui Yulin's sake.
Thinking of this, he felt inexplicably annoyed.
If Shen Yuanzhu knew, she would probably sigh at Xie Xuchuan's kindness and loyalty.
Xie Qi placed his hand to his lips and lightly bit his index finger in frustration. He couldn't suppress the anxiety in his heart until he saw Jiang Wansu looking lost and dejected, which made him feel a little better.
Since becoming pregnant, Jiang Wansu has been living in a state of constant worry and fear, like a frightened bird, living in constant anxiety.
Zi Tang, however, was calmer than her, and asked in a low voice, "What does Second Young Master mean? This servant doesn't understand. How could my young lady know Young Master Cui..."
She tried to explain, but Xie Qi completely ignored her.
"Judging from your expression, sister-in-law, the baby isn't sitting up very steadily yet. Since you're not feeling well, you should mind your own business and save your energy to keep a closer eye on your husband."
"It would be best to coax my brother to keep his spiritual senses open for as long as possible, so that he can remain confused for a long time."
Jiang Wansu's eyes were red: "Brother Qi really has deep feelings for Yuanzhu."
"Not as affectionate as my sister-in-law."
Xie Qi finished speaking and left, but Jiang Wansu couldn't stop crying the moment she turned around.
"Miss...Miss, please don't cry."
Crying like this in her brother-in-law's courtyard, isn't her reputation already bad enough?
Zi Tang clutched her chest, looking around in fear.
Jiang Wansu wasn't unaware of these principles, but she couldn't help feeling afraid and even more wronged.
Marrying into the Xie family was not as smooth as she had imagined. Moreover, because she had a secret, she was always afraid of being exposed. She lived in fear every day, both that Xie Xuchuan would suddenly change his mind and that Hua Nanzhi and others would discover something amiss.
When she was in the Jiang family, she only complained that the eldest madam treated her illegitimate children coldly, and that her elder sister often made sarcastic remarks.
But now she realizes that although there were some inconveniences back then, she was also carefree and relaxed.
And now? Now her great-uncle is in prison, and her father only wants to profit from the Xie family by using her, completely disregarding how she should behave in the Xie family.
If she and Xie Xuchuan were truly husband and wife, that would be fine, but...
Jiang Wansu gritted her teeth, her thoughts filled with endless longing for Cui Yulin.
"Zitang, I...I miss him so much, I miss him so much."
"Miss!"
Zi Tang pulled Jiang Wansu outside the courtyard, found a corner, and hugged her young lady in her arms.
Her voice choked with emotion, her eyes filled with resolve: "Miss, no matter how good that person was, he's gone now. You mustn't mention him at all."
"I know you are suffering, but now that you have married into the Xie family, you can only let bygones be bygones."
"Miss, please cry. Bite my hand and cry. After you've cried this time, don't think about that person anymore, okay?"
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