When Li Shiyue arrived at Shousong Hall, Zhou Shi and Xu Lingqing were no longer there. Li Shiyue breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, she still didn't know how to face Xu Lingqing.
She didn't know things would turn out that way, but she had no right to criticize the fourth branch of the family. She just felt a little sad when she thought of that slightly arrogant concubine outside Qingji Hall.
“You’re back. Your fourth aunt and ninth aunt just left a little while ago. If you had come earlier, you would have seen them.”
The heated couch where Madam Xu sat had a specially made partition underneath, which could be opened to place a small charcoal brazier. It was this special structure that made it a heated couch in name only.
On one side was a small table that Granny Chang and the others had brought over. On it was a tea set, hawthorn cakes on a plate, and a small half-plate. It seemed that Old Madam Xu had used quite a lot.
"I saw my cousin when I came back, but I thought I'd go to my aunt's first to talk about the shop, so I asked Chunling to bring the fruit cake over first, and I'll come over later."
"However, I was delayed a bit and missed my fourth aunt and cousin. My aunt is here at this time to pay her respects to my maternal grandmother, right?"
Li Shiyue habitually sat down next to Old Madam Xu. She hadn't had time to go back and change, so she was still wearing the clothes she had worn that morning.
Madam Xu didn't mind that she was covered in dust, and took her hand: "Paying respects is one thing, but the mother and daughter came to see a woman for the Fourth Prince. She is the daughter of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. I think the portrait is quite good. Madam Zhou wants to ask someone to inquire about their opinion after the New Year."
This was to arrange a marriage for Xu Yunyao, but Li Shiyue's expression was indifferent, as if she hadn't listened. Old Madam Xu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She was afraid of the thoughts she had harbored in the past. Before, she couldn't wait for Li Shiyue to fall in love, but now she was even more afraid that Li Shiyue would fall in love. After the last concubine, and the different thoughts of Xu Yunci and Li Shiyue, she was no longer so eager.
"That's great. If all goes well, I'll have Guo Shaoqing as my cousin-in-law and a sister-in-law."
Li Shiyue thought for a moment and then told Madam Xu about the tea plantation plan for today: "I have no experience. I will provide the money and leave everything to my aunt. If there is a profit, my aunt and I will split it 50/50."
Madam Xu couldn't keep her composure and burst out laughing, tapping Li Shiyue's nose: "Doing business isn't that easy. If you take out this much money, there won't be a suitable tea shop."
Even with a tea plantation, the distance between the capital and Yunshui County is considerable. Aside from the long journey and the manpower required, what if the profits from the capital don't reach your desired level?
"If there isn't a suitable tea plantation, then Manager Wang can go out and learn how to cultivate tea and do business. There will always be some profit; no one is always blessed by the heavens." Li Shiyue tilted her head. Even if they don't make money, they can always find a way later.
Madam Xu didn't say much. Since she had already given her the money, she didn't want to suppress Li Shiyue's thoughts. It was just some money. If she lost it, she could take it from her private treasury.
When Li Shiyue returned to Chengyu Pavilion, Xu Lingzi sat familiarly on the wide wooden couch, presumably having just arrived. Lian Dong served tea and happened to see Li Shiyue on her way back.
"Oh, you're finally back."
Hearing the noise, Xu Lingzi turned around and saw Li Shiyue walking in. Ignoring the tea that Lian Dong had just served, she lifted the curtain above her head to greet her.
Li Shiyue was surprised, but she quickly suppressed her laughter and sat back down with Xu Lingzi: "I didn't see you when I went to the main courtyard just now. Where did you come from?"
Xu Lingzi didn't hesitate at all, but the blush on her cheeks and the shy smile in her eyes betrayed her: "He asked me to go to the moat today. There are ice skating activities on the moat now, so we went to watch the fun."
"So you came straight here? What a coincidence, I just got back from outside. I went to see my aunt first, and spent some time with my grandmother before coming back. You didn't have to wait too long, did you?"
Li Shiyue handed the hand warmer to Chunling, picked up the hot tea that Liandong had served, took a sip, and felt incredibly comfortable as the warm tea aroma flowed down her throat.
As a result, when she looked up, she met Xu Lingzi's scrutinizing gaze, but the mockery in her eyes was completely different from the expression on her face.
"More than that, I'd like to know why you came back with your second brother. Did he accompany you out today? Just the two of you?"
Li Shiyue looked puzzled, and although she didn't answer, Xu Lingzi already knew the answer from the surprise in her eyes.
Xu Lingzi turned around, resting her chin on her hands, suppressing a smile: "It seems like my second brother takes special care of you. Whenever something happens, you always go to him first. Could it be that behind our backs, you and my second brother... um?"
Li Shiyue remained expressionless, not even glancing at Xu Lingzi, and placed the teacup on the small table in front of her.
She suspected that if it weren't for the small square table between them, Xu Lingzi would have pressed her face close to hers, as if she wanted to see into her heart clearly.
"Put away your thoughts. You're even making fun of your own brother just to tease me. I went out by myself. On my way back, I went to Shunxiangzhai and ran into my cousin, so we came back together. But when we got to the Duke's mansion, he was hurriedly called away."
Li Shiyue suppressed the turmoil in her heart. She was puzzled and asked casually, "How did you know? You didn't ask the gatekeeper on purpose, did you?"
Xu Lingzi shook her head, not thinking much of it: "No, when I came back I ran into Cousin Xie. He said he saw you with Second Brother and asked me if you and Second Brother were getting married soon so he could have another good meal."
Feeling puzzled, I asked a few more questions, and he said that when he came back, he saw that my second brother and I were both in the same carriage. I got off and entered the Duke's mansion, but my second brother was called away in a hurry and did not come back.
I was so worried, I came straight here to look for you as soon as I got back, but you weren't here yet. I was just waiting for you, and I was so curious, but there was nothing there at all.
A hint of doubt flickered in Li Shiyue's eyes, and her tone was somewhat helpless: "To me, what you're saying sounds a bit like a pity."
Xu Lingzi smiled, and it was undeniable that she tacitly agreed. After all, having good sisters as one's sister-in-law and brother's wife was a good thing.
"Do you know that my fourth cousin is getting married? I heard from my maternal grandmother that my fourth aunt has chosen the daughter of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies."
As soon as Li Shiyue finished speaking, Xu Lingzi's eyes widened, and she looked at her nervously: "We're talking about marriage, you don't still care—"
"No."
Li Shiyue interrupted her crisply, knowing without guessing that she was overthinking things, and tentatively asked, "Do you still remember the concubine that Fourth Cousin took in before?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com