Chapter 81 The Marquis Has a Way to Get Jingheng Married?
The following day, as promised, Lu Xinghe took Su Xiaoyu and Shen Yuejiao to stroll through the most bustling streets of the capital.
Shen Yuejiao was like a bird released from its cage, everything was new and exciting to her, and she wanted to buy everything. Behind her followed a large group of more than a dozen servants, who went from empty-handed to carrying large and small bags in less than an hour.
From fine silks and satins, jewelry, to all sorts of novelties and local specialties, everything is available.
"Little Fish, this hairpin suits you very well, wrap it up."
"Brother Xinghe, look at this inkstone, isn't it perfect for Uncle?"
"Wow, these clay figures are really interesting! Give us one each!"
She was like a carefree little sun, radiating light and warmth, wishing she could give the two people beside her the whole street.
Su Xiaoyu's hands were quickly stuffed with all sorts of exquisite pastries and snacks. This was in response to Shen Yuejiao's 'inhumanly extravagant' sweep.
Seeing the two girls so enthusiastic, Lu Xinghe was happy to accompany them. However, he couldn't help but secretly marvel at the wealth of the Shen family when he occasionally glanced at the large and small bags in the servants' hands.
Around noon, Su Xiaoyu was too exhausted to walk any further.
She's the type of person who would rather sit than stand, and after walking for half a day, her legs felt like they were filled with lead, and she had a pained expression on her face.
"Cousin, Yuejiao, can we... find a place to rest for a while and get something to eat? I really can't walk anymore."
Shen Yuejiao was in high spirits when she heard this and looked around, her eyes lighting up.
She pointed to a luxuriously decorated three-story building not far away, with several brightly dressed and alluring women standing at the entrance, and excitedly shouted, "There! There's a teahouse there, it looks really grand, let's go there to rest."
As she spoke, Shen Yuejiao was about to rush inside.
Su Xiaoyu glanced in the direction she was pointing and was so frightened she almost jumped out of her skin!
That wasn't a teahouse at all; it was clearly the "Hundred Flowers Pavilion," the most famous brothel in the capital.
Su Xiaoyu reacted quickly, grabbing Shen Yuejiao, "My dear sister, stop yelling! That's not a teahouse, it's..."
She whispered a few words in Shen Yuejiao's ear.
The next second, Shen Yuejiao froze on the spot, her cheeks turning bright red, like a boiled shrimp.
"A brothel?"
My goodness! The brothels in the capital are so luxurious!
It's even more impressive than my own high-end restaurant.
"Uh, I misread it, let's go quickly."
After saying that, he fled the scene as if he were escaping.
In the distance, a delicate hand lifted the carriage curtain and saw this scene.
"Who is that?" Lin Wan'er asked Qingdai.
Qingdai quickly went down to inquire and received the news in no time.
“Miss, that’s Shen Yuejiao, the daughter of the Shen family in Qinghe County. I heard that she played with the young master of the Lu family and Su Xiaoyu since they were little. It must have been a long time since they last met, which is why they have reunited.”
Lin Wan'er frowned.
She had clearly heard that it was Lu's parents who came to the capital to discuss the marriage with Su Xiaoyu, so what was the purpose of this Shen family girl suddenly appearing?
Moreover, if she wasn't mistaken, the way that Shen family woman looked at Lu Xinghe just now was all too familiar to her.
Isn't this the same look Xiao Lingxi gave Shen Moyan earlier?
A young lady from a wealthy family, traveling alone with her parents from the Lu family to the capital, was even seen strolling around in the streets. Could it be...?
Lin Wan'er's face suddenly darkened as she thought of something.
She instructed Qingdai: "Go and find out who Lu's parents met today and what they said. Also, find out about Su Xiaoyu's parents carefully."
"Yes," Qingdai replied and stepped down.
——
In the stillness of the night, the red silk curtains are warm.
After their lovemaking had just ended, Liu nestled lazily against her husband's strong, broad chest, her face flushed and a hint of allure still lingering in her eyes.
Her slender, snow-white fingers unconsciously traced circles on her husband's chest. She let out a satisfied sigh, which was then tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"Why do you sigh, Madam? Are you still not satisfied?"
Xiao Dingshan joked, shifted his body, and prepared to get up again for another 'deep exchange'.
Lady Liu gave him a coquettish glare, "My lord is so vigorous, how could I dare? If you want more, I'm afraid I won't be able to get up tomorrow. I'll be a laughingstock."
"Hahaha, our relationship is very strong, it's perfectly normal for us to enjoy this kind of marital bliss, who would dare to laugh at us?"
"That being said, Your Excellency still needs to exercise restraint. After all, the children are all grown up now. If word gets out, you'll make me..."
Xiao Dingshan took Liu's hand and rubbed it in his hand. "Alright, I'll listen to you, my wife. Now, can you tell me why you sighed?"
Lady Liu paused, her tone wistful; "With the Marquis back, I feel at ease. Everything in the manor is going smoothly now, but when I think of Jingheng..."
By now, he'll be twenty-five after the New Year, and he still hasn't settled down. His peers in the capital already have kids running around. My heart is filled with bitterness."
Xiao Dingshan gently stroked his wife's smooth back with his large hand, his voice hoarse and steady afterward:
“I understand your thoughts, my lady. However, Jingheng is the heir apparent, and his marriage is related to the future of the Marquis’s mansion. Therefore, we must be cautious and find a virtuous, beautiful, eloquent, and capable young lady who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him and uphold the honor of the Marquis’s mansion. We cannot rush this.”
"How could I not know?"
Madam Liu sighed again: "The girls we arranged for him before were all top-notch, but he always used official business as an excuse to avoid it. Either he had a case to investigate at the Dali Temple, or he had to go to inspect the military camp in the suburbs of the capital, and he would disappear for ten days or half a month. This child, his mind is not on this at all! Now that you are back, you must have a good talk with him, and he can't let himself be like this anymore!"
When the topic of his eldest son's marriage came up, Xiao Dingshan recalled the rumors he had heard when he went to the capital and said:
"Speaking of Jingheng, on my way back to the capital this time, I heard some rumors that Jingheng risked his life for a maid in his household. What happened to that maid...? Is she still clinging to Jingheng?"
Upon hearing this, Lady Liu playfully punched him: "Why would you listen to those rumors from the streets, Lord Marquis? To be honest, it was all because that girl Lingxi was so ignorant and caused some trouble outside. It was only thanks to Xiaoyu's cleverness that Lingxi had a chance to escape. As for Jingheng, he only went to the bandit stronghold to save Xiaoyu in order to protect Lingxi's reputation."
"Speaking of which, it was Lingxi who dragged them into this mess, but thankfully that girl's marriage wasn't affected. Today, Zhao Mama even asked me for leave, saying that her future in-laws have come to the capital to discuss the two children's marriage."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dingshan gave a thoughtful "hmm" and tightened his grip on his wife's arm.
"If that's the case, then I'll trouble you, Madam, to select some noble ladies from good families and with good character, and make plans for Jingheng as soon as possible."
Lady Liu was secretly delighted: "Does the Marquis have a way to get Jingheng married?"
Xiao Dingshan paused for a moment, not wanting to make any definitive statements: "I'll talk to him tomorrow."
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