Chapter 23 You can't kiss someone if you can't give them a formal title...
Zhou Chuanxing extended his little finger and hooked it with Tang Xinuan's soft, white little finger.
"I will definitely come."
This is the first time he has made a promise to a girl, and he will definitely keep his word.
Having finally met again, Zhou Chuanxing was reluctant to leave.
As dawn approached, the little girl seemed fairly energetic, but she yawned several times in a row.
He had to leave.
"Miss Tang," Zhou Chuanxing had more important instructions to give.
Tang Xinuan rested her face on her hands, seemingly lost in thought, but appeared to be in a good mood.
"Um?"
Zhou Chuanxing hesitated for a moment before touching her lips.
Tang Xinuan didn't understand what he meant.
Unable to say it, Zhou Chuanxing pursed his thin lips, "When you can't give a man a title, and that man can't give you a title either, you can't kiss him."
Tang Xinuan didn't quite understand, but she wasn't completely clueless either.
Her cousin couldn't give her a proper status, and now when she recalls the days she spent with him, she feels particularly uncomfortable.
There were even faint signs of regret.
"knew."
Zhou Chuanxing added, "You absolutely must not untie his belt. If a man does this in front of you, he must be a bad person. You must learn to protect yourself. Run away, call for help, and hit him with anything you can grab, such as hairpins, vases, scissors, etc. Use any method you can think of."
Do you understand?
No one had ever taught Tang Xinuan these things.
Because in this mansion, the only men she could come into contact with were her cousin, uncle, and the teacher who taught her to read and write.
When she was a child, the Lady of the Marquis hired a governess.
However, my cousin rejected me after only a few days of teaching.
She always thought it was her cousin's way of showing her affection.
Now, she vaguely realizes that her cousin seems to have cut something off her body.
"Understood," Tang Xinuan nodded earnestly.
Zhou Chuanxing patted her little head approvingly.
Her long, flowing black hair was so hot that it made my palms burn when I touched it.
Zhou Chuanxing continued to instruct, "You can't let anyone touch your head either."
Tang Xinuan asked in surprise, "Then you..."
Zhou Chuanxing smiled and said, "I'm different. I'm someone who wants to give you a title, and someone who also needs you to give me a title."
Tang Xinuan had been living in a daze, but she listened to every word Zhou Chuanxing said and kept it in mind.
After leaving the Houfu Mansion, she didn't know what she would face.
However, she was very serious about protecting herself.
Her cousin couldn't give her a formal title, but he tore open her belt.
He's a bad person.
She watched Zhou Chuanxing jump out of the window and leave, and a smile as bright as the morning sun gradually bloomed on her slightly tired face.
Like flowers that have just bloomed in the yard.
After saying his last words to her, Zhou Chuanxing left Cuizhu Garden.
Three days will pass quickly.
Tang Xinuan was also extremely tired, so she went back to bed and fell asleep.
I didn't wake up until the afternoon.
Zhou Chuanxing stayed in Tang Xinuan's boudoir for almost a whole night, so naturally he couldn't escape Xiaoqian's eyes.
She originally intended to stop him, but the young master was going too far.
She didn't want her mistress to focus all her attention on the young master.
So that after escaping the Marquis's mansion, the young lady wouldn't be able to let go and would come back to find him.
Furthermore, Zhou Chuanxing was not as bad to the young lady as the young master.
At least, he wouldn't undress the young lady.
He can be considered a gentleman.
Most importantly, he could come and go freely in the Marquis's residence.
He must be a very capable person.
If you truly care about a young lady, you can be someone she can rely on.
It was almost noon and the young lady still hadn't woken up. She called her twice, wanting the young lady to eat something.
However, the young lady was too sleepy and couldn't be woken up no matter what.
All we can do is prepare the food so that the young lady can eat as soon as she wakes up.
The Crown Prince didn't come today; he must be busy with wedding preparations.
Tang Xinuan slept well and ate well, feeling refreshed all over.
Without my cousin bothering me, I felt even more relaxed and at ease.
"Miss," Xiaoqian asked quietly after the meal, taking advantage of her mistress's good mood, "who was that man last night?"
Tang Xinuan did not hide anything from Xiaoqian.
However, she genuinely didn't know.
"We met in the palace. By the way, he gave me that jade pendant."
Xiaoqian had met Prince Duan several times.
I heard Prince Duan mention that the jade pendant belonged to one of his friends.
Prince Duan was dressed in fine clothes and was surrounded by many guards when he went out, which made him look like he was either rich or noble.
His friends must be just as good.
Xiaoqian felt a little relieved. "I hope he's a good person."
Tang Xinuan had a feeling, "He must be a good person."
Xiaoqian didn't quite believe her mistress's judgment. "You used to think the young master was a good person."
After she finished speaking, she realized that she was worried that the young lady would be upset, so she quickly covered her mouth.
Tang Xinuan wouldn't get angry over a single sentence.
"I was young at the time, and besides, the only man my age I could meet was my cousin."
The day before Chu Yannuo's wedding.
The portraits of the Marquis and his wife painted by Tang Xinuan are finally finished.
When I went to pay my respects to the Lady of the Marquis early in the morning, she personally presented it to me.
"Aunt," Tang Xinu knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the Lady Hou.
She then handed the portrait to Xiaoqian, indicating that she should give it to her aunt.
Lady Hou unfolded the portrait herself, and it turned out to be a scene of her and her husband holding hands under a crabapple tree.
In the portrait, the two people are still young. She is wearing a light pink strapless dress, looking beautiful and carefree.
The Marquis, dressed in his official robes, gazed at her with deep affection.
They've been married for nearly thirty years, deeply in love and harmonious, and it's hard to believe they've reached this age.
The only drawback is that the Marquis is in poor health and has needed someone to take care of him since he went out ten years ago.
He has been unable to get out of bed for the past two years.
Otherwise, the son wouldn't be in charge of the family.
"Warm and cozy..."
Lady Hou's eyes reddened.
She placed the portrait aside, stood up, and helped her beloved niece up, saying, "Good girl, you're so thoughtful."
Tang Xinuan's eyes also reddened, "Nuannuan is grateful for Aunt's care over the years, from now on..."
She couldn't finish speaking; her throat was too sore and uncomfortable.
As if sensing something amiss, the people from the Marquis's residence patted the back of her hand. "Nuan Nuan, you've suffered so much these past years. Your aunt is sorry for you, and for your father too. In the afterlife... Your aunt..."
She wiped away her tears, then smiled and said, "Whatever you want to do, your aunt will support you and always be on your side."
Tang Xinuan was truly grateful to her aunt.
Since entering the mansion at the age of five, as the daughter of a disgraced official, she has been able to live a life of luxury and ease, entirely thanks to her aunt.
Actually, my aunt was also wronged.
She overheard her cousin talking back to her aunt on several occasions.
They accused her aunt of being the daughter and sister of a disgraced official, implying that without the protection of the Marquis's mansion, she would have been punished along with him long ago.
Tang Xinuan didn't understand at that time.
Looking back now, it feels like being stabbed in a vital spot, causing unbearable pain.
"Thank you, Auntie, Nuannuan..."
She choked up as she said, "No matter where I am, I will live well and not bring shame to the Tang family."
Lady Hou couldn't resist taking her delicate and naive niece into her arms.
They held on tightly, unwilling to let go.
"Nuan Nuan, you must be happy."
After paying her respects, Tang Xinuan returned to the Green Bamboo Garden.
Chu Yanqing felt that her cousin was acting strangely today.
After everyone left, she dismissed all the maids and said to the Lady of the Marquis, "Mother, is my cousin... leaving?"
Lady Hou held the water glass in a daze.
After a long pause, she spoke absentmindedly, "Although our Tang family has committed a crime, none of us are unworthy of respect. We shouldn't be humiliated all the time. She deserves a better life."
Chu Yanqing's cousin has lived in the mansion since she was born.
Because the two were close in age, she was closer to them than to her two older sisters.
She's not a normal person after all; how could she not worry?
"But my cousin..."
Lady Hou was saddened, but her eyes held an unprecedented resilience.
"We, the girls of the Tang family, would rather die standing than live a wretched life."
Chu Yanqing: "But can my cousin escape? Even if she can, how will she survive?"
Lady Hou gripped her water glass tightly. "If she could escape even with your brother keeping such a strict watch on her, it proves she has the ability to survive."
Chu Yanqing couldn't help but worry, "Why don't I help her?"
Lady Hou objected, saying, "No need. Escaping the Hou Mansion is the first step in her new life. She wants to go out on her own."
Chu Yanqing: "Should we ask her what her plans are?"
Lady Hou still tried to stop her: "Only if none of us know will we not tell your brother in the future."
Chu Yanqing knew her brother's temperament; when he went crazy, he wouldn't care about anything.
She had absolutely no idea whether she could withstand her brother's madness.
"mother……"
Sisters who have lived together for over a decade are forced to choose such a difficult path.
Chu Yanqing felt sorry for her cousin, "Does it really have to be like this? We're family!"
Madam Hou sighed, "It's your brother who's acting like a human being. Things have come to this point, can his marriage to the Wei family still be stopped? The daughter of the Tang family will never be a concubine, much less a mistress. Let it be, Yanqing. If you truly care about your cousin, you should set her free."
Chu Yanqing wiped away her tears and left her mother's room, looking utterly dejected.
In the afternoon, she planned to give the two new outfits she had made to her cousin.
Then I realized that my cousin might not be able to carry too much stuff when she travels, so banknotes would be more suitable.
She put the five hundred taels of silver notes she had saved over the years into her purse, and then walked alone towards the Green Bamboo Garden.
On the way, I ran into my brother, who was directing the servants to decorate the wedding room.
Three days ago, the mansion was already decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, creating a festive atmosphere.
Chu Yanqing felt that every lantern was particularly glaring.
She stood at a distance, staring at her brother's face as if she didn't recognize him.
Chu Yannuo scolded with a stern face, "Such an important matter, and you don't even know how to help. What are you busy with all day long!"
Chu Yanqing chuckled, "Help me? I'm already being lenient by not taking it apart for you, how could you possibly do that!"
Chu Yannuo gritted her teeth in anger, "You're my only sister, and I'm your only brother, is it really necessary!"
Chu Yanqing had no idea that the two had any sibling relationship.
"Big brother, do you think this is funny? My cousin only has one cousin, and what happened?"
Chu Yannuo couldn't understand why his sister didn't understand him at all.
"It's not like I don't love her. How can someone like her be a mistress of the house!"
A note from the author:
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Our Nuannuan will be the Empress of the world in the future, who will want to be the mistress of your manor?
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