Chapter 113 I am yours alone
As Lin Xin had instructed before leaving, the maids did not enter the bedroom, and Xu Rong slept soundly until nearly noon.
When she got up, the discomfort in her body had lessened considerably. She lazily spent the rest of the day, and Lin Xin did not return until evening.
He then naturally went to his bedroom, had dinner, took a bath, and went to bed, smoothly completing the transition of his identity.
However, he was considerate enough to simply ask Xu Rong how she was feeling before obediently closing his eyes to sleep and doing nothing else.
After falling asleep, he unconsciously snuggled closer to Xu Rong. Xu Rong tried to push him away but couldn't, and since his sleeping posture was generally acceptable, she let it go.
Three or four days passed in this manner, and Lin Xin maintained his routine of leaving early in the morning and returning at dusk. With the results of the imperial examination just released, he would continue this busy schedule for quite some time.
During this process, Xu Rong gradually got used to having someone else beside her. Lin Xin was mostly quiet, and relatively speaking, he did more than he said. For example, even though he had to run around outside all day, when he came back at night, he would still find something to do, which was to move his belongings to the bedroom little by little, like ants carrying food.
"This cabinet is mostly empty. Do you have any use for it?" he asked Xu Rong.
Xu Rong shook his head, and he put his clothes in one stack at a time.
Xu Rong watched silently, suppressing a laugh.
She could have asked the maid for help—in fact, he could have done it himself, but he didn't ask and insisted on arranging things himself, and he seemed to enjoy it, so she didn't bother with it.
His things were also added to the small table by the bed: a couple of casually untied pouches, two or three books. When Xu Rong came to her senses, she found his traces everywhere around her.
To be honest, it doesn't feel bad.
Life went on peacefully until the day Xu Huazhang was to get engaged.
Lin Xin finally had some free time. The other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) had to worry about being selected as officials. According to the court's regulations, the top-ranking candidates would be directly admitted to the Hanlin Academy. He only needed to wait for the official appointment.
He returned to the Marquis of Ji'an's residence with Xu Rong, and then, at Madam Xu's request, accompanied Xu Huazhang to the Luo family to finalize the engagement—with the top scholar as his companion, there was nothing more dignified than this.
Xu Rong didn't need to go over; he just sat in the hall chatting with Madam Xu.
"I'm finally relieved of your brother's worries." Madam Xu said with a look of relief. "Rong'er, now you're all I have left."
Xu Rong asked in surprise, "What?"
Her worst moment has passed, so what else is there for Madam Xu to worry about?
Moreover, Madam Xu's concerns were often not on the main issue—
"How dare you ask? How long have you and your son-in-law been married?" Madam Xu scolded her. "I've already asked for a remedy for you, but there's still no sign of it. How can you sit still like this!"
Xu Rong sighed, rubbing his forehead. Just as he expected.
"Mother, these things should be left to nature; there's no need to rush them," she said dismissively.
This time, however, her perfunctory response carried a hint of hesitation compared to before. Previously, she knew for certain that such a thing was impossible, but now—
After hesitating, I became very conflicted.
She hasn't even considered marriage, let alone having children.
She knew nothing about how to give birth, how to raise children, or how to be a mother; she didn't even dare to.
Xu Rong sighed, her face full of worry. She couldn't blame anyone else; she could only blame herself for not being able to resist the temptation.
Forget it, I'll stop thinking about it now. Things will work themselves out. It's not going to happen that quickly anyway.
Xu Rong finally calmed herself down, but she rarely showed such a demeanor in front of Madam Xu. Madam Xu misunderstood and was shocked: "Rong'er, tell your mother the truth, do you—have a health problem?"
Xu Rong: "No, Mother, don't overthink it."
"How could I not want to!" Madam Xu exclaimed anxiously. "My son-in-law has become the heir apparent and also passed the imperial examination with top honors. He is on the verge of becoming rich and powerful. So many families outside want to curry favor with him. Things are not like before. Do you think our family can still control him?"
Xu Rong glanced at him sideways.
Is the Xu family controlling Lin Xin?
It's a wonder Madam Xu dared to say that. Even when he was still "Xiao Xin," it wasn't that possible. His future didn't even depend on Lord Xiao, let alone the Xu family. So how could anyone control him?
But the more Madam Xu thought about it, the worse it seemed, and she said earnestly, "Rong'er, you should make plans soon."
Xu Rong asked casually, "What are your plans?"
Madam Xu thought for a moment and asked, "Where is Bai Fu? I remember she always goes out with you."
Xin Cheng came along today. While Xu Rong was talking to Madam Xu, she took the opportunity to reunite with her mother, Granny Qian.
Xu Rong: "She took leave."
Bai Fu was always diligent and honest, and it was rare for her to ask for leave. When she gave her reason, she was a little hesitant and seemed unable to say it. Xu Rong did not ask any questions and immediately granted her leave.
"This girl must be around twenty, right? She's decent-looking and seems to have a pretty good personality."
Xu Rong was about to nod when she suddenly felt something was off. She paused, and Madam Xu continued, "I remember, she only had one brother, right? He also gave you his brother back then."
Xu Rongcai nodded. She had taken Bai Quan's indenture with her back then, but Bai Quan had never served her for a single day. He had been left to wander outside and no one knew where he had gone.
Madam Xu nodded in satisfaction: "The whole family is in your hands. You've given her a second marriage and placed her by the son-in-law's side. You don't have to worry about her causing any trouble."
Xu Rong: "..."
Crackle, crackle.
Xin Cheng was coming in through the door, carrying some trinkets that Granny Qian had given her as a subsidy. She dropped them all over the floor and hurriedly apologized while bending down to pick them up in a flurry.
Xu Rong withdrew her gaze, speechless: "Mother, you can worry about Zhang Ge'er. I know what I'm doing."
Of course, she wouldn't listen to Madam Xu, but given Madam Xu's muddle-headedness, Xu Rong was too lazy to argue with her and didn't intend to say anything serious to her.
"Your mother is doing this for your own good—"
Madam Xu continued nagging for a few more minutes, but Xu Rong couldn't hear a word she said; her attention had shifted to Xin Cheng.
Xin Cheng's initial surprise was understandable, but Xu Rong could sense that after she stood beside her, she became even more uneasy, even somewhat absent-minded.
It wasn't until after noon that Lin Xin and Xu Huazhang returned. Lin Xin looked the same, but Xu Huazhang's face was flushed—he had gone to place the betrothal, and the Luo family naturally wanted to invite the new son-in-law to dinner, so he had drunk a little too much.
Madam Xu was busy making arrangements for Xu Huazhang, telling him to rest and ordering someone to make a hangover soup. She had no time to pay attention to Xu Rong, so Xu Rong took the opportunity to say goodbye to Lin Xin.
"grandmother."
On the way out of the mansion, Xin Cheng hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Xu Rong was waiting for her: "What is it? Speak."
Xin Cheng glanced at Lin Xin cautiously, unable to say anything.
Xu Rong smiled knowingly: "I have no such plans, not in this lifetime."
She didn't know exactly what had caused Xin Cheng's outburst, but she didn't hesitate to tell her her maid the truth.
Xin Cheng breathed a sigh of relief: "Mm."
Xu Rong understood then, and asked with great interest, "Bai Fu has someone she likes?"
Only in this way can the reaction of the new orange be explained.
Xin Cheng was startled when she was told that the answer was right in an instant: "No, I didn't know."
She gave three answers at once, and then realized she had given herself away. She said regretfully, "Grandma, I can't say it. It's like I'm tattled on someone behind their back. Grandma, just ask Bai Fu later."
Lin Xin wasn't interested in the girl's affairs. After getting into the car, he asked, "What were you planning to say?"
"It's not mine, it belongs to my mother."
Xu Rong denied it and briefly repeated what Madam Xu had said, then said with a half-smile: "I am not used to sharing my husband with others, under any circumstances."
Even if she really can't have children.
She and Lin Xin had just fallen in love, and there was no need to talk about such things later, but since Madam Xu had interrupted, she decided to speak frankly.
After she finished speaking, she saw that Lin Xin's ears turned red.
Xu Rong: "...?"
No, she's making threats. What does he mean by that?
"There's nothing else going on." Lin Xin pursed his lips, as if he couldn't help but smile, yet also felt a little embarrassed. "I belong to you alone."
This is it—
cough.
Xu Rong coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment, then suddenly felt his face getting hot.
Spring was getting warmer and warmer. The carriage swayed back to the Yongjing Marquis's residence and stopped outside the second gate. Xu Rong had just gotten off when he saw two figures hurriedly separating under the shade of flowers not far to the left of the gate.
One looked somewhat familiar, while the other, though his back was turned, was so familiar to Xu Rong that he could recognize him at a glance.
She raised her eyebrows—well, spring is getting more and more beautiful.
Xu Rong's gaze swept over the somewhat familiar man. He was tall and strong, with a dark and upright face. He looked honest and simple, but when he was bumped into, a hint of panic appeared in his eyes.
Xu Rong recognized him as Xiang Shi, the head of the family retainers brought in by Lin Ding. She had sent Bai Fu to deliver messages when the mansion was being arranged.
"Your Highness, Grandma."
Although Xiang Shi was flustered, he still dragged his feet over and was about to kneel down to pay his respects.
Xu Rong stopped her: "No need."
Even her own servants rarely kneel, let alone Xiang Shi, whose status is different. As a family retainer who protects the safety of the mansion, even Lin Ding would give him some face.
But Xiang Shi still knelt down, his face flushed red from his dark complexion, and said, "Grandma, I—I want to ask Bai Fu for your hand in marriage!"
He made up his mind and shouted so loudly that all the birds in the flowering tree flew away. Bai Fu, who had her back to him, turned around immediately, feeling both ashamed and angry: "What are you yelling about? I told you, I haven't told Grandma yet, and I don't know if Grandma will agree. I can't agree to your request."
Xu Rong said, "Oh, I agree."
Xiang Shi was overjoyed, while Bai Fu was stunned, too embarrassed to speak, and covered her face and turned her back.
Xu Rong gestured to Xiang Shi: "Get up and go prepare the betrothal gifts. Although Bai Fu is my maid, she has been with me for many years. I think she is almost like a younger sister to me. She must be married off properly. You can't neglect her."
"No, no." Xiang Shi got up, scratched his head, and was so happy that he didn't know what to say. He could only smile foolishly at Lin Xin again. Then he was about to leave, but then he remembered something, walked around to Bai Fu's front, and stuffed a golden bracelet in his hand into her hand.
—The two of them had just come back from strolling around the street, and when they parted, they argued about it. Bai Fu thought it was too precious and didn't want to accept it, but Xiang Shi insisted on giving it to her.
Now that her masters were in front of her, Bai Fu couldn't argue with him, so she had no choice but to back down, and Xiang Shicai ran away as fast as he could.
Xu Rong led Bai Fu back.
She roughly guessed when Bai Fu and Xiang Shi had developed feelings for each other, so she didn't ask any further questions. She just smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? I told you before that if you have your eye on someone, just tell me."
Bai Fu's shyness had subsided somewhat, but her voice was still soft: "I didn't mean to hide it from Grandma, I just didn't know how to bring it up. He wanted to tell her, but I felt it would be better if I told Grandma myself..."
So it was delayed.
Xu Rong was busy after entering the manor. Later, when she had some free time, she became troubled by matters of the heart and didn't have time to notice the changes in the people around her. Speaking of which, Bai Fu, as the person who served her most closely, was also caught up in her own feelings and thus ignored the differences between her, Lin Xin, and the people in the bedroom.
"It's alright, it doesn't matter now that I know," Xu Rong comforted her. "You pick a day you like, and I'll arrange it for you."
"No rush," Bai Fu said, blushing again.
The marriages of servants differed, but they always prioritized serving their masters, and some even delayed marriage until their twenties.
Calling Xu Rong to look at him makes more sense, but she still joked, "You're not in a hurry, but I think he's in a very hurry."
“I want to wait for my brother to come back,” Bai Fu said softly. “He has been away for several years and has only sent one letter. Although Grandma is lenient, he should come back soon. He can’t keep wandering around outside.”
Even Madam Xu had mentioned this before. Xu Rong said, "Then it's good to wait. Your brother has the same temperament as you. In such a long time, I think he'll have traveled all over the country by now—"
"Grandma, someone from the Marquis of Ji'an's residence wants to see you," Hongliu ran in to report.
Xu Rong and Lin Xin exchanged a glance—they had just returned from the Xu family, how come something else had happened so soon?
Lin Xin stopped in his tracks as he was about to enter the bedroom.
Xu Rong called someone in.
Two people arrived. Xu Rong recognized one of them; he was a minor steward from the outer courtyard of the Xu family. The other was a complete stranger—a short, stocky young man of about seventeen or eighteen, but very sturdy and travel-worn, as if he had come from afar.
“My dear aunt, this boy came to the door saying he had urgent business with you. Nobody in the manor recognizes him, so we were about to kick him out. But he said he was acting on Bai Quan's orders, and that it was a matter of life and death. I know Bai Quan is your maidservant, so I didn't dare to make the decision. I went to tell the Marquis. The Marquis originally wanted to come in person, but he was drunk and couldn't get up, so he asked me to bring him here.”
The steward, who had been the guide, stepped aside after speaking and gestured to the young man: "This is our eldest aunt. Didn't you say you had something important to say? Go back now."
The young man seemed to have little experience in aristocratic mansions, and was somewhat trembling with fear. He knelt down with a thud, kowtowed haphazardly, and then presented a letter with both hands: "I am a servant under Manager Bai Quan, and I am acting on his orders to beg you, Great Aunt, to save my life!"
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