Chapter 62 062 "Two years have passed, and Madam's beauty is even more captivating than before..."
Luo Fu wanted to get off the carriage, and Princess Kangping actually agreed to let her off. Luo Fu became extremely nervous again.
Everyone knew that the censor shouting outside was her husband, but Luo Fu hadn't seen Xiao Yu for two years and two months, longer than the time they had spent together as husband and wife.
So, what has become of Xiao Yu? Is he really as black as charcoal, as the princess said?
She's been riding horses and lying on a felt mat all morning, is her hair messy?
Thinking this, Luo Fu picked up the veiled hat placed to the side with one hand and subconsciously touched her hair bun with the other.
Upon seeing this, Princess Kangping instructed the maid kneeling near the carriage door to comb Luo Fu's hair again. The carriage was equipped with combs, mirrors, and even clean water.
Luo Fu wanted to refuse, but Kang Ping smiled and said, "A woman dresses up for the one who appreciates her. Although I don't know what it is about Xiao Yu that you like, I am willing to grant your wish."
Xiao Yu's figure and appearance were indeed impeccable, but Kang Ping had no interest in him whatsoever because of his annoying mouth.
Luo Fu lowered her eyes, her tone full of helplessness: "If I had known he was this kind of person before marriage, I would never have married him, even if you beat me to death. Unfortunately, I only figured out his temper after I married him. They say that a woman follows her husband wherever he goes, but I married this stubborn mule who is annoying in every way. What else can I do but accept my fate and be his wife?"
Kang Ping understood that Luo Fu both disliked and liked Xiao Yu, so he didn't tease her with the idea of "divorce".
The maid was very skillful and soon she had recombed Luo Fu's hair. Kang Ping personally put the veil on her and smiled through the light veil, "Go, go and meet your Xiao Lang."
Luo Fu said gratefully, "I must thank Your Highness for your magnanimity in not holding a grudge against that ill-tempered Xiao Lang."
A maid opened the carriage door and lifted the curtain, while an accompanying eunuch set up a footstool and helped Luo Fu out of the carriage.
At this moment, Xiao Yu was still blocked by the princess's personal guards several dozen steps away. He held the reins of his horse with one hand and peered longingly at the carriage through the gap between the dozen or so guards and the dozen or so horses in front of him. His demeanor was completely different from when he had righteously dissuaded the princess from cutting in line outside Dingding Gate.
As her father-in-law placed the footstool in the carriage, Xiao Yu gripped the reins tightly.
First, a crimson skirt appeared, followed by the figure of a woman leaning out. She wore a light blue blouse and a veiled hat adorned with pale pink peonies. The thin white veil swayed gently in the spring breeze that swept through the long alley, yet it seemed to be watching her faithfully, protecting her without revealing a single detail of her appearance.
A guard led a chestnut horse over, and she took the reins, led the horse aside, and gracefully bowed to the princess's carriage to say goodbye.
The princess's carriage set off again. The guards who had blocked Xiao Yu's way dutifully followed the carriage, leaving Xiao Yu behind and passing the young lady standing by the roadside. As the sound of the wheels rolling and the hooves of the horses gradually faded into the distance, only a man and a woman, each leading a horse, remained in the quiet and empty alley.
Luo Fu withdrew her gaze from the princess's carriage and glanced to the other side, where she saw Xiao Yu still standing motionless in the same spot.
Luo Fu paused, turned, mounted her horse, and once settled, looked up, gazing directly at her long-separated husband for the first time. The first thing she noticed was his face; finding Xiao Yu not as dark-skinned as the princess had teased her about, Luo Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking closer, she saw that he didn't seem to have lost much weight compared to her memory; in fact, his figure had become even more imposing, heroic and upright, diminishing his former refined, scholarly air.
Taking advantage of the fact that Xiao Yu couldn't see her features clearly, Luo Fu let her horse slowly walk forward while brazenly sizing up Xiao Yu until they got closer.
Xiao Yu, who had been standing still, gradually changed his gaze from eye level to looking up. In this not-too-long, not-too-short period of time, Xiao Yu observed the lady from head to toe and from toe to head several times. The lady's figure was still full and graceful, especially when she mounted her horse, her sleeves slipped down, revealing a section of round, white wrist, exactly as Xiao Yu remembered.
The lady's shoes were also rouge-colored, and they were mostly hidden by her skirt as she wore stirrups.
The lady's veil hung down to her shoulders, the white gauze fluttering in the wind, revealing a glimpse of fair skin above her high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). It was a place Xiao Yu couldn't look at for long, his gaze immediately shifting upwards. Through the thin white veil, he could see the lady's hazy features: delicate eyebrows, clear black eyes, and rosy lips.
Closer, closer still. Why has the lady raised her right hand, still holding a riding whip...?
Seeing the whip raised towards him, Xiao Yu suddenly snapped back to reality and hurriedly took two steps back: "What is Madam doing?"
When Luo Fu heard him call her so affectionately, as if there was no awkwardness from the two years of separation, her heart beat faster. She pretended to be annoyed and said, "I'm urging you to get on the horse, so you don't stand there like a lecher and become a laughing stock."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu touched the sleeve on the side where he was holding the horse, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Madam, please dismount first. I have something to say to you."
Ralph was even more suspicious that he had something to give her!
It wasn't gold, silver, jewelry, or banknotes, but it only fueled her curiosity. So, Luo Fu dismounted without much hesitation. Seeing that Xiao Yu had deliberately made his horse stand sideways to the side and wink at her, Luo Fu had her own horse also move to stand sideways behind her.
"What's all this sneaking around about?" Luo Fu whispered, urging Xiao Yu to loosen the reins and walk toward her.
Xiao Yu walked right up to her, then raised his hand, but instead of taking something out of his sleeve, he lifted the white veil covering her face.
Luo Fu: "..."
Xiao Yu's gaze swept quickly up and down the face he had been longing for day and night, until Luo Fu pushed him away in a fit of embarrassment and anger.
The lady's strength was just as he remembered, pushing him until his chest ached slightly. Xiao Yu just laughed, mounted his horse with a smile, and caught up with the lady with a smile. When no one was around, he whispered, "It's been two years since I last saw you. You're even more beautiful than before."
Luo Fu turned her head to the side and sneered, "Judging from your lecherous behavior, you must have harassed quite a few respectable women in Loujiang, right?"
Xiao Yu raised his right hand and swore to the heavens: "I, Xiao Yu, am a man of integrity and have never spoken or done anything improper. I hope that you, Madam, will see the truth."
Luo Fu recalled the scene where she had called him a scoundrel last time. At that time, Xiao Yu had pulled her to the edge of the bed, and her entire waist was hanging there...
With a flick of the whip, the crimson steed from the Western Regions galloped even faster with its master.
Xiao Yu: "...Madam, please slow down, be careful not to bump into pedestrians!"
The couple ran and chased each other back to the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence. Not wanting to be laughed at by the servants, Luo Fu finally agreed to wait for Xiao Yu to walk side by side with her, and they went to Wanhe Hall together.
Mrs. Deng was about to have lunch alone. Her youngest son was not at home. Her daughter-in-law often came over to have meals with her, but today her daughter-in-law had been invited away by the princess and had not returned yet. She would probably eat out.
Because Luo Fu instructed the maids in the courtyard not to announce it, Deng Shi, just like a young daughter-in-law entering the city, was caught off guard when she saw her youngest son, who had suddenly appeared outside the main room door—her youngest son, whose face was tanned and who had become much stronger!
"The third brother?"
Deng exclaimed in disbelief.
Xiao Yu's eyes welled up with tears. He quickly took a few steps and knelt down in front of his mother, who was holding onto the table and preparing to get up. He kowtowed three times, saying, "Your unfilial son has troubled you again, Mother!"
Mrs. Deng wept uncontrollably, holding her son and calling him her darling. Seeing this, Luo Fu's eyes also stung. She turned and retreated to the courtyard, giving the mother and son some time to reminisce alone.
Yang Yanzhen and Li Huaiyun arrived one after another upon receiving the news. Currently, the eldest son and the third son are studying at the Imperial Academy, and the second son goes to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion during the day to learn martial arts with the Li family's sons. Only Yingjie is at home. The little girl is six years old. Two years ago, she clung to her third uncle's leg, crying and reluctant to let him go. Now, she only feels curiosity towards her third uncle, whom she has not yet met in the main room, and a slight nervousness as if she were meeting a stranger.
The three sisters-in-law stood in the courtyard for the time being, while Luo Fu explained why Xiao Yu had returned so quickly.
At this moment, Xiao Yu, who had obviously washed his face inside, came out and bowed respectfully to his two sisters-in-law: "Thank you for taking care of my mother and Fu'er these past two years. If you need any help in the future, please feel free to ask."
Yang Yanzhen looked at his uncle, whose eyes were red but who was still handsome and upright, and said with a smile, "We are all family, Third Brother, why are you being so polite? Please don't stand on ceremony."
Li Huaiyun nodded, and after Xiao Yu stood up straight, she pushed her daughter, who was holding her hand tightly, forward: "Quickly call him Third Uncle. Don't you always miss Third Uncle?"
Yingjie, who hadn't really thought about it, was speechless.
However, since her third uncle was so handsome and had a gentle and kind smile, Yingjie obediently stepped forward to greet him.
Xiao Yu lifted his niece up and held her in his arms. Luo Fu and her three sisters-in-law watched from the side and noticed the lines of his upper arm muscles outlined when his sleeves touched his arms.
Yang Yanzhen concealed it well enough that Li Huaiyun glanced at Luo Fu in surprise, which made Luo Fu flustered.
Everyone went to sit in the main room and had lunch at Wanhetang.
After a meal, she was able to ease her longing. Deng was very considerate and told her youngest son and his wife to go to Shensi Hall to rest. She knew her third son would definitely need to take a bath. As for whether the young couple would do anything else, Deng wouldn't speculate too much!
Xiao Yu was extremely polite in front of his mother, sister-in-law, and niece, barely glancing at his wife. However, as soon as they left Wanhe Hall and walked along the road where even servants were scarce in the afternoon, Xiao Yu's gaze was once again fixed on his wife. His wife walked quickly, but he didn't chase after her, keeping a half-step behind. This allowed him to steal glances at his wife's profile, neck, and even shoulders and waist, while avoiding being caught and glared at by her.
Upon returning to Shensi Hall, Xiao Yu watched as his wife fled to the backyard, then immediately ordered the water room to bring him two large buckets of cold water.
The countless mountains he traversed in Loujiang County were not for nothing. After being drenched in several heavy rains, Xiao Yu got used to taking cold showers, which were quick and convenient.
Of course, Xiao Yu still preferred to be more particular, but at this midday, he hoped to finish washing up quickly and go see his wife.
One bucket of water was used to carefully wipe and wash him, and another bucket of water was used to rinse him again and again. After thoroughly washing away the dust of his journey, Xiao Yu changed into a set of scarlet casual clothes that his wife had prepared in advance for his expected return in the middle of the month. He tied his hair with a jade hairpin and went to the central courtyard looking very presentable.
Luo Fu always took a bath after returning from horseback riding, and it was impossible for her not to today. However, she took her time bathing. When she heard the maids outside bowing to Xiao Yu, she even nervously sank a little deeper into the water, as if she was afraid that Xiao Yu would trespass into her bathroom.
Ping An, who was serving his wife during her bath: "..."
Fortunately, Xiao Yu didn't come over; he went to wait in the inner room on the east side.
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Author's note: Ahem, I didn't mean to stop here. I had to rush out tonight and didn't have time to write more!
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
P.S.: Luo Fu's outfit in this chapter is inspired by the painting "Lady Guo's Spring Outing". [kiss]
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