Chapter 107 No, she just left like that?
Chang Hong leaned down slightly and sighed softly, "Young Master, this Lady Lu is truly amazing time and time again. Your spirited horse, Fei Hong, has been tamed by her, even though many strong men have been helpless against it. Such courage and riding skills are something that not only women, but even soldiers may not have."
Seeing that Meng Xi did not interrupt, he continued with a smile: "A woman, humiliated by her husband's entire family and betrayed by her beloved husband, would have broken the heart of an ordinary woman. But she was able to endure all kinds of grievances, calmly deal with the situation, gather all the evidence, and finally, in the courtroom, she meticulously analyzed the case, forcing the entire Shen family to submit to the law."
"Such a temperament, so calm and collected, so ruthless and principled! Truly gentle yet firm, soft yet sharp. Let alone women, how many men could possess such decisiveness and courage?"
As soon as Chang Hong finished his sigh, Meng Xi raised her phoenix eyes and gave him a cool glance.
Seeing that Chang Hong still looked completely oblivious and full of admiration, Meng Xi slowly asked, "When did your mouth become so talkative?"
Chang Hong immediately fell silent, quickly pursed his lips, and stood to the side with his head down.
At this point, the listeners downstairs began to gradually disperse.
Chang Hong immediately spotted the familiar figure wearing a veil and holding a brocade box, and hurriedly whispered, "Young Master, look, isn't that Madam Lu? What's she doing here?"
Meng Xi didn't even glance at them, only saying calmly, "Having waited so long with gifts, you must have come to find me."
Upon hearing this, Chang Hong turned around and was about to go downstairs: "Then I will go and invite Madam Lu up."
Meng Xi: "..."
This guy!
Chang Hong led Lu Zhaoruo to a private room on the second floor, his attitude exceptionally warm.
He deftly moved a stool for her and personally poured her a cup of hot tea. Before Meng Xi could speak, he smiled and exclaimed, "Madam Lu is truly a heroine! Her heroic figure taming the horse yesterday is still vivid in my mind, and today I have heard of her demeanor in court. It has truly broadened my horizons and filled me with admiration!"
His words were full of sincere admiration.
Upon hearing this, Meng Xi, who was sitting to the side, didn't even lift his eyelids. He simply rubbed the rim of his cup slowly and casually, and suddenly said, "You like it so much? It just so happens that Madam Lu has already severed ties with the world, so it's not like I'm breaking up a marriage. How about I act as matchmaker for you two, and you can marry her and be revered day and night? What do you say?"
Chang Hong's smile froze instantly. He hurriedly bowed, his face ashen: "Please forgive me, young master! I... I misspoke!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo's expression remained unchanged beneath her veil. She merely turned slightly to give Chang Hong a shallow bow, her voice gentle yet distant: "Brother Chang Hong, you flatter me. I was merely seeking justice and fulfilling my duty. I do not deserve such high praise."
Meng Xi chuckled lightly: "Of course, Madam Lu has high standards, how could a mere servant be worthy of her attention?"
Before she could respond, he glanced lazily at the brocade box with his phoenix eyes, his tone drawn out, yet each word was like a soft needle: "My lady came all this way today, and prepared such a 'perfectly timed' gift, and patiently waited for the whole audience... Surely you didn't come all this way just to listen to this vulgar music, or for a mere 'thank you'?"
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and asked with a smile, "Could this brocade box contain... the 'Cloud-Ascending Shoes' that you, my lady, have carefully prepared?"
This blatantly exposes the act of "climbing the social ladder" in plain sight.
Lu Zhaoru thought to herself, "What a venomous mouth!"
She stood still, her veil fluttering slightly, her voice calm: "Young master, you misunderstand. I have not come here with any ulterior motive. I have only heard that you have come from the capital and wish to inquire about the recent situation of a young friend."
Upon hearing this, the private room fell silent.
Chang Hong subconsciously held his breath and lowered his eyes, not daring to look any longer.
Meng Xi's fingertips, which were stroking the rim of the cup, suddenly stopped.
You misunderstood.
It was a bit embarrassing.
He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Chang Hong beside him.
But Chang Hong's face was blank, as if he hadn't heard anything, and he was staring intently at the tips of his shoes.
Meng Xi subtly withdrew his fingertips, coughed lightly, and his tone returned to its usual languidness: "Oh? I wonder which family's young master Madam Lu wishes to inquire about, and what his name is?"
He glanced casually out the window, shifting his gaze slightly to ease the awkwardness.
Lu Zhaoruo said, "My little friend is a young official of seven or eight years old. His surname is Xiao and his given name is Wuyun. He said that his father runs a stationery shop in the capital and has a little reputation."
"Surname Xiao?"
Meng Xi raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Xiao family, which is prominent in the capital, is the only one of its kind. It is the ancestral home of the Linhai Navy Commander, General Xiao Yeming, whom you know. The Xiao family has been a military family for generations, but unfortunately, his grandfather and father both died heroically on the battlefield. Now, only his grandmother and mother, both ladies of high rank, are left to support the family."
"General Xiao is the only son of the direct line, and has no brothers. His father only married his mother and had no children born out of wedlock."
He continued, "There is a younger uncle who took the civil service path and now holds a leisurely position in the Censorate. But that branch of the family has long since established its own household, and all of its children are adults. I have never heard of a child named 'Xiao Wuyun'."
"As for running a stationery shop..."
A faint hint of mockery flickered across Meng Xi's lips. "Although I have no interest in literature, I do know that the two major literary studios in the capital are 'Shumozhai' and 'Shuyuange', which are owned by the Zhou family and the Tan and Xu families, respectively. There is no one owned by the Xiao family."
No?
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze, hidden beneath her veil, narrowed slightly.
Meng Xi added lazily, "Perhaps... he's just a young man from an ordinary family surnamed Xiao in the city?"
The image of Xiao Wuyun instantly flashed into her mind—his refined and noble demeanor was undeniable, his manners were like those of an immortal, and he was accompanied by two respectful attendants...
How could such a demeanor be produced by an ordinary family in the city?
So, is the name Xiao Wuyun fake?
However, he didn't look like a child who would lie to people.
She decided to wait two months and go to the capital herself. After all, she had a promise with Xiao Wuyun; his words from that day still echoed in her ears: "This time next year, at the third baluster of the Vermilion Bird Bridge in the capital, I will hold this half of a copper coin, waiting for you to come and complete the contract."
"Madam Lu?"
Meng Xi called out.
Lu Zhaoruo came to her senses, lightly touched her veil, and calmly curtsied: "Thank you for your explanation, Young Master Meng. I am deeply grateful."
Meng Xi smiled slightly, already prepared for her to find some more excuses, present the brocade box, and continue the conversation.
His fingertips rested lazily on the table, waiting to see how she would continue.
Sure enough, she handed the brocade box to Chang Hong, her tone calm: "This is just a small gift, an ordinary robe that I sewed overnight. I don't know if it will meet your standards. I apologize for disturbing you today."
Meng Xi scoffed inwardly, "Just as I thought. Now that the gifts have been presented, it's time to find an excuse to sit down and have a deep conversation."
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaoruo then said gently, "Now that I have asked, I dare not disturb your peace any longer. I will take my leave."
Before she finished speaking, she turned around decisively, her skirt swaying slightly, her steps steady, without the slightest hesitation or lingering.
Changhong stood frozen in place, clutching the brocade box, and subconsciously looked at his young master.
Meng Xi's fingertips, which were resting on the table, paused slightly. Looking at that back figure that showed no sign of lingering, he was completely taken aback.
She just left like that?
They've left?
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