Chapter 16: I went to catch Miss Chu cheating, why are you here?
The days passed slowly, and soon it was the end of October.
Recently, Chu Yufu went to Jinma Street twice on the pretext of buying medicine for her grandmother. She saw with her own eyes that Mr. Li San entered the Yuzhen Temple at 3 p.m. Lan Zhu followed him all the way through the palace and saw him walk into a plum forest. Lan Zhu stopped a servant and quietly retreated after learning that behind the plum forest was the residence of the Taoist practitioners.
The day of 'catching the adulterer' approached, and both master and servant were a little excited, but they couldn't show it on their faces. They continued their daily embroidery and reading, and in their free time, they went to spend time with their cousin and grandmother. Perhaps it was because she went to Cishoutang too often, but the few times she saw her elder sister, she was quite cold towards her, but Chu Yufu didn't take it to heart, pretending not to see it.
On the last day of October, the red marks on Lu Jiaan's face had mostly faded, and she looked much more energetic. Hearing that the late plum blossoms in the garden had bloomed, he insisted on dragging her along to appreciate the flowers. Chu Yufu couldn't resist, so she only let Lanzhu and Sang Lu accompany her as they walked towards the small garden.
The two chatted and laughed, and when they were about to walk to the garden, they suddenly heard a shout from the Chaohui Courtyard beside them: "My good third brother, please go back to the house quickly——"
"Mother Zhang, I'll just play for a while."
The two of them paused and looked toward the courtyard. They saw their third brother, Chu Junze, squatting in the pavilion, gathering snowballs. His tall, thin mother followed behind him, her face anxious, her tone pleading and helpless. "You've said 'a while' several times. Madam has instructed you to complete the homework assigned by the teacher today. If you delay, you'll be the one to be scolded later."
Chu Junze was annoyed by the urging, so he stood up and threw the snowball in his hand at his mother's feet, splashing snow everywhere and scaring his mother.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry, you keep urging me! I'm so tired of the constant 'zhihuzheya'! What's the point of learning? What's the point of not learning? Anyway, my second sister's marriage to the Li family is already set, and my admission to the Imperial College is a foregone conclusion. What else is there to learn?"
Lu Jiaan's breath stagnated when he heard this, and he turned to look to his side.
In the winter sunshine, the second sister's beautiful profile was white to the point of being almost transparent, and her clear and pure black eyes stared quietly at the young man in the pavilion with deep eyes, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Yes, she said something seemed wrong, and today I finally understood.
My aunt couldn't even light a charcoal fire for my second sister, so how could she be willing to give her such a good marriage? She just treated her as a property and sent her to the Li family to exchange for her own son's future!
Chu Yufu regained her composure and retracted her gaze. She pulled her stunned cousin into the garden and chuckled softly, "Sister, don't be surprised. I've already guessed this. Even if Mother's motives are not pure, it's a blessing to me. The Third Young Master Li is both handsome and has a good family background. Marrying him won't necessarily mean a bad life."
"Let's not think about that anymore. Tomorrow is the first day of the lunar year, a good day to burn incense. I'll go to the temple and get a peace charm for you, your grandmother, and your elder sister. May it bless you all with good fortune and good health, okay?"
Lu Jiaan was dazed, looking at his second sister who was smiling like a flower under the plum tree. He always felt that something was wrong. But after thinking about it, he felt that this was the only way. After all, the Chu and Li families had exchanged notes, so what else could he do?
Her second sister is beautiful, gentle and simple in nature, and has good medical skills. In her opinion, no matter who she marries, the other party will take advantage of her. She only hopes that Mr. Li San will have a keen eye for talent and cherish her second sister!
She raised her hand and plucked a branch of late plum blossoms, pinned it on Chu Yufu's bun, and sighed: "Ah——"
Chu Yufu lowered her head and stroked the plum blossom on her bun. When she wasn't paying attention, she raised her eyes and smiled secretly at Lan Zhu.
Lan Zhu couldn't help but clearing her throat and winking at her daughter. Let the third brother dream for another day. The second daughter would never marry a guy like Mr. Li San!
The next day, Chu Yufu slept until noon. After lunch, she took a short rest and began to change her clothes for going out.
She wore a white satin jacket with a light pink lotus pattern on the upper body and a pure white folded skirt on the lower body. She only pinned a water drop tassel hairpin in her bun. After dressing, she sat upright in front of the dressing table, picked up the rouge and applied a little bit to the corners of her eyes with her little finger. At first glance, this rouge did not seem special, but when her eyes turned red, she looked pitiful.
She frowned slightly at the brass mirror. The girl in the mirror had raised eyebrows, drooping eyebrows, and her teeth were biting her lower lip. She looked particularly aggrieved, and the teardrop-shaped tassels on her temples swayed slightly, which made people think of the tears of a beauty.
Yunsui took out the rabbit fur cloak given by the old lady and gently placed it on Chu Yufu's shoulders. She looked at the girl in the mirror and said, "Why are you dressed so simply, young lady?" Not only was the color light, but she didn't even put on lipstick.
Chu Yufu smiled slightly: "We are going to the Taoist temple to pray, not to visit the temple fair, why are we wearing such bright clothes?"
-
The Yuzhen Temple in winter was frozen in thin ice. New snow covered the plaque last night. The tripod of the incense burner outside the temple was sunken in the snow. The curling green smoke was crushed in the cold north wind. Perhaps because today was the first day of the new year, the Taoist temple was not deserted. There was an endless stream of pilgrims coming and going to worship.
Chu Yufu first led Lanzhu and Yunsui to the Sanqing Temple, knelt in front of the Sanqing and kowtowed to pray, then slowly walked to the Jade Emperor Temple to ask the Taoist priest for a peace talisman.
Taking advantage of this gap, Lan Zhu made an excuse to go to the toilet and hurried away. An incense stick later, the Taoist priest put three amulets into a brocade bag and handed it to Chu Yufu. At this time, Lan Zhu also happened to come back. She smiled and said, "Miss, I just saw a pink plum blossom behind the temple. It's in full bloom. Would you like to take a look?"
Chu Yufu put away the brocade bag, blinked, and replied, "Then go and take a look."
The Jade Emperor Hall was bustling with people, filled with chanting that could be heard even from the back of the hall. It wasn't exactly quiet. The further Chu Yufu walked into the plum forest, the faster her heartbeat grew, and a light sweat formed on her palms. Lan Zhu must have meant that Young Master Li had gone to the plum forest again, but could she really catch him in the act today? Would she even encounter them being intimate?
After passing through the plum forest, a row of dormitories stood before them. Suddenly, a muffled thud echoed from one of the rooms on the right, accompanied by a muffled cry from a woman: "...Do you really have to wait until after Qingming to grant me this status? Or are you simply dragging me along, refusing to grant me a status?"
Chu Yufu reacted very quickly, immediately showing a curious look, turned around and gestured to the two of them to keep quiet, walked closer with light footsteps and listened carefully, only to hear the female voice in the room speak again.
"Look at my belly. In another half month, I'm afraid even my corset won't be able to cover it. How can I stay in the temple any longer? I have nowhere else to go anyway. If you don't give me a way out, I'm going to run into my head and die in front of your Li Mansion tomorrow, so that everyone in the capital will know about your dirty deeds!"
abdomen?
Chu Yufu and Lan Zhu were shocked. Princess Wang is pregnant?!
When Yunsui heard the words "Third Young Master Li," her eyes widened and she nearly screamed out in shock! What the hell! Was she right? Was it the Third Young Master Li she knew? Who was the woman in the room? Did they just happen to stumble upon the second young lady's fiancé having an affair at the Taoist temple?
Lan Zhu was quick to cover Yun Sui's mouth and shook her head at her. The master and servant looked at each other, all with shock on their faces.
"Xuan'er has been practicing in this temple for a long time, why is his temper still so fierce?" A man's voice sounded in the room.
"Okay, don't worry. I've rented you a house across the street. Just rest and take care of your pregnancy. Besides, you know my two older brothers haven't gotten married in two or three years, and my mother is counting on you. As long as you give birth to the baby, how can you not have a legitimate status? If you have a boy, it's not impossible for me to make you my co-wife after my wedding."
The woman's voice softened, her throat choked as she continued, "Minlang, Xuan'er only has you. I heard that Miss Chu is as beautiful as a flower. Don't forget the old one when you have a new one."
"She's just a mediocre girl with an empty appearance. What I love most is Xuan'er's talent..."
If the occasion and atmosphere had not prohibited it, Chu Yufu really wanted to laugh out loud three times. It was God's will, or maybe the wish she had just made in the Sanqing Temple had come true. She actually came at such a coincidence, and the two of them had said everything that should and should not be said in just five or six words!
She seized the opportunity and pressed the mint-soaked handkerchief under her eyes. Her dark eyes instantly turned red and tears welled up in them. Then she staggered two steps and bumped into the plum tree behind her. The broken snow on the branches fell all over her shoulders.
Lan Zhu cooperated and screamed, "Girl! Are you okay, girl?"
Yunsui came to her senses and hurried forward to support her, only to find that the second girl's face had turned as pale as paper, her eyes were full of disbelief, tears were welling up in her crimson eyes, and she was staggering!
There was silence for a moment after hearing the noise outside, and then the door opened. Li Min, the third son of the Li family, was standing in front of the door, just in time to meet the master and servant of the Chu family. Princess Wang, who was wearing a green Taoist robe and had a round face, stood behind him, revealing half of her body.
After seeing who it was, Li Min looked a little panicked and asked in surprise, "Miss Chu, why are you here?"
"Mr. Li..."
Chu Yufu stood up with Yunsui's support. She smiled bitterly and pointed at the woman behind him, saying, "Fetal development? Concubine? A mediocre woman with nothing but beauty? Young Master Li and his family have such a good plan. Do you really think the Chu family is made of paper? I deserve to be treated badly by you!?"
A tear rolled down her cheek. Without waiting for the other party to explain, she turned around, covered her face with her hands, and cried as she went into Merlin.
Young Master Li San tried to run after her, but his sleeve was grabbed by the woman behind him: "Min, Min Lang, don't go, I'm so scared, my stomach hurts!" As she spoke, the woman's body softened towards him. He caught her and stroked her stomach with one hand. When he looked up again, he could only see the snow-white back of Miss Chu Er running away. His heart sank and he thought to himself, This is bad!
Sitting in the carriage on the return journey, Chu Yufu covered her face with a handkerchief, crying without any result. Her crying voice was sad, but few tears came out of her eyes.
According to what Mr. Li San just said, the Li family is eager to have this child, and it is impossible for them to abort the child for this marriage. But if the other party wants to kill the mother and keep the child, then Princess Wang will definitely not agree. She is a wandering woman, and she wants to rely on the child to enter the Li family. It is absolutely impossible for him to abandon her and only keep the child.
This time, the engagement will most likely be cancelled!
When they arrived at the gate of the Chu Mansion, Chu Yufu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief again, which brought tears to her eyes. She walked towards Yunxi Hall crying, with Lanzhu and Yunsui following closely behind.
When they were halfway there, Lanzhu grabbed Yunsui and whispered to her, "Hurry up and report this to Madam before the young lady arrives at Yunxi Hall!" Seeing Yunsui staring at her in a daze, she stamped her feet anxiously, "You don't report such a serious matter, do you want to get beaten? The young lady will never be angry. She will tell Madam even if you don't tell her!"
Yun Sui T raised her eyes to glance at the second girl in front of her, then looked at Lan Zhu, gritted her teeth, nodded, quickened her pace, and went to the small side door of Yun Xi Hall.
Seeing Yunsui running away, Lanzhu stepped forward and grabbed Chu Yufu's sleeve. After receiving a signal from her eyes, she turned around and ran towards Cishoutang. How could the old lady not know about such a big thing?
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