Li Shiyue looked at the porcelain bottle without saying anything. Actually, copying scriptures requires keeping the wrist in one position for a long time, which can cause soreness and numbness. Chunling rubbed it for her and it was fine.
Xu Yunyao made a special trip for someone, and his intentions were quite obvious. Although they hadn't spoken a word since arriving at Zhaode Temple yesterday, everyone knew exactly what was going on this trip.
If we follow Madam Xu's wishes, Xu Yunxu would be the most suitable youngest son of the eldest son, but he is just too much like Xu Yunci. Every time they get together, he has that purpose in mind, which makes Li Shiyue feel very uncomfortable.
"Go back and rest. Chunling will be keeping watch tonight."
The maid's room was in a row of meditation rooms on the south side, not far away; she could return by walking around the corridor. Seeing her leave, Chunling took two steps forward, picked up a candle, and followed Li Shiyue.
"Is the young lady really sure she wants to marry Fifth Master?"
In fact, based on her understanding of the girl, she knew that if the girl truly liked Wu Langjun, she wouldn't be so silent. She felt that the girl's interactions with Wu Langjun were far too polite.
A strand of hair fell down Li Shiyue's chest, and she twirled it between her fingers. The hair prickled her fingers, sending a distinct, ticklish sensation. She lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
“My maternal grandmother has thought things through very well. My fifth cousin is close to my first cousin, and he will inherit the Duke’s mansion in the future. If I marry my fifth cousin, my future will be secure.”
“But Miss doesn’t like Wu Langjun.” Chunling’s eyes were filled with worry. She would rather her daughter find someone she liked.
She remembered that when the girl was being raised by the old lady, she said that when she got married, she wanted to find someone she liked who also liked her, otherwise she would end up like the Earl and his wife, who were husband and wife but hated each other. Such a life would be so depressing.
Why has the young lady's heart changed when she was enjoying such a happy life in the Duke's mansion?
Although Chunling was puzzled, she wouldn't be foolish enough to ask directly; as long as the girl had her own plans, that was fine.
The dark clouds hadn't cleared up in the early morning, and rainwater fell on the jade steps under the eaves, leaving the ground wet and even the stone bricks in the corridor stained with water.
Today, Li Shiyue wore a pink brocade bodice, a long-sleeved silk robe, and a white, misty blue waist-length skirt, with a light blue ribbon tied around her waist.
A pair of jeweled white jade hairpins were inserted diagonally into her right side as she adorned her hair bun, with a few stray hairs falling from her temples. Before leaving, she carried a round fan in her hand, and once everything was in place, she stepped out through the corridor.
Just outside Madam Xu's room, they encountered Xu Lingzi and the other two. Xu Lingzi, who was in the middle, seemed to have not slept well, and yawned several times as she walked over.
Upon seeing Li Shiyue, they completely forgot about the two brothers beside them and ran straight towards her.
"The thunder last night scared me to death; I didn't sleep well at all."
Li Shiyue looked up and inadvertently met Xu Yunyao's gaze. He was very composed, which made it seem as if Li Shiyue had misunderstood something.
Xu Lingzi raised her wrist and waved it in front of Li Shiyue's eyes, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance: "I copied for a long time last night, but the ointment that Fifth Brother sent is still the best. Did you put some on?"
“I applied it, and it really works well.” Li Shiyue let Xu Lingzi link her arm with hers, and the two sisters went inside first.
After listening for an unknown amount of time, Old Madam Xu sat at the round table, smiling as the four people entered one after another. Her gaze first fell on Li Shiyue, who was chatting and laughing with Xu Lingzi in front, then on Xu Yunyao, who was intently watching the path behind her, and she couldn't help but sigh.
The temple's breakfast was very simple, consisting of a bowl of white porridge with vegetarian dishes. The variety was limited and the taste was bland, which took some getting used to.
Li Shiyue slowly sipped her congee, and when she put down her spoon, the others also put down their chopsticks. Taking out a handkerchief to wipe her lips, Li Shiyue and Xu Lingzi helped Old Madam Xu down to the front to listen to the sermon.
Old Madam Xu couldn't sit still. Considering the two younger girls, she left only Granny Chang to serve them and told them to go around and wander around, and she would come back to pick her up later.
Having not slept well last night, Xu Lingzi went to find a quiet room to rest. Li Shiyue, however, couldn't sit still any longer, so she simply took Chunling and went for a walk in the back mountain.
It was a peach orchard, and when the blossoms were in full bloom, even the ground beneath our feet was covered in petals, but the smell was rather pungent.
Peach blossoms are beautiful and delicate, but their taste is always a major drawback. They are indeed beautiful to admire from afar, but getting close to them only spoils the experience.
Li Shiyue stood in the pavilion, gazing at the peach grove in the distance. This place was so quiet; no wonder the young monks all said it was a good spot.
She stretched out a hand, and the light rain outside the pavilion poured into her palm, instantly leaving it cool and damp. Rain comes from the sky; people say it's God's tears, but it's actually a gift to the earth.
The palm turned over, and the rainwater that had lingered in it fell to the ground, instantly disappearing beneath the soil. The dampness on the ground was the trace it had left behind.
"girl."
Chunling's voice was soft. Li Shiyue looked up, her eyes filled with doubt, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure coming this way.
Xu Yunyao did not come in. He stood on the jade steps outside the pavilion, holding an umbrella. His position was lower, but he only needed to look at Li Shiyue at eye level to meet her gaze.
There was one person inside and one person outside the pavilion. Li Shiyue took two steps back to one side of the pavilion, and the large empty space in the middle was exactly the left and right sides of the pavilion.
Fifth cousin.
Her tone was polite, with a hint of barely perceptible aloofness. Her lowered eyes could only catch a glimpse of the young man's robe and boots on the other side of the pavilion.
Xu Yunyao put the umbrella behind her, looking a little awkward: "I wanted to talk to my cousin about something."
Li Shiyue looked up and saw his flustered expression. She seemed to guess why he had come over: "Fifth cousin, please speak. I also have something to say to you."
"Then you go first." It wasn't that Xu Yunyao had any feelings for Li Shiyue, but rather that his upbringing taught him to prioritize his sisters. He was the husband, and his sisters were his mothers, so they deserved more love and care.
He felt the same way about Li Shiyue, just like he did about Xu Lingzi and the others.
"I suppose my fifth cousin already knows about my grandmother's plan, which is to arrange a marriage between you and me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Shiyue didn't rush to say anything more. Instead, she looked at Xu Yunyao's expression. Sure enough, his earlobes turned slightly red after hearing her words. He pursed his lips and finally nodded.
Seeing his sincerity, Li Shiyue felt less nervous: "Then today I will tell my fifth cousin what's on my mind. I consider you family, so I'll be frank with you. Please bear with me."
Xu Yunyao sighed. Although Li Shiyue was polite, she was actually drawing a clear line between him and Xu Lingzi.
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