Chapter 13 Trumpet Creeper: "No refusing a second time."...
With one day left before arriving in Longtang, Meng Yu, Aunt Shen, and Huaiyin discussed several countermeasures to deal with any unexpected events that day.
After hearing this, Aunt Shen was restless and couldn't sleep all night, so much so that when she woke up the next morning, she had dark circles under her eyes.
Meng Yu felt very sorry for him after seeing this.
From the time she was old enough to understand, her impression of Aunt Shen was that she was weak and easily bullied, indecisive and timid. Not to mention the young masters and ladies of the Meng family, even the kitchen maids who were tending the fire would spit on her when they passed by. The madam never regarded her as an opponent.
But now, she dares to risk her life to fully support her escape from Lu Xiuyi.
Meng Yu once asked her why she was so determined about this matter.
After hearing this, she smiled faintly and said earnestly, "I know better than anyone the hardships of being a concubine, so how can I just watch you fall into a pit of fire? I am getting old, and my life doesn't matter, but it's different for you, Yu'er. You still have a long life ahead of you. If you are confined to the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion for the rest of your life, wouldn't it be a waste of your more than ten years of forbearance?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu abruptly raised her eyes, her lips trembling uncontrollably. Her wide-open almond-shaped eyes held shock, doubt, disbelief, and a trace of unspeakable guilt.
After a long pause, she slowly began to gesture: "You...you know everything."
Aunt Shen seemed to be thinking of something, a faint bitter smile appeared on her lips, and she reached out to stroke her face: "No one knows a daughter better than her mother. I have seen all the efforts that Yu'er has made."
She knew, she knew that she studied diligently by lamplight and never forgot to strive for progress;
She knew, she knew she had tried every medicine imaginable, just to cure her voice;
She knew, she knew she had secretly slipped out of the house to diligently learn the craft from the masters;
She knew; she knew she could brew wine, fire kilns, make fan-making machines, and was also skilled in medicine.
She also knew that she longed to one day step out of that square courtyard and teach or practice medicine to help people, as long as she could realize what she considered to be the value of life.
She didn't understand why her daughter had such strange ideas, but she thought her daughter was amazing and she was proud of her, so she wasn't surprised that the adult had taken a liking to her.
However, life was hard, and even men struggled to make progress, let alone a woman as weak as she was. So when Meng Yanqing wrote back to Xuzhou, asking them to set off for the capital, she immediately agreed.
She hoped that she could find a good husband through the Meng family, someone who would respect and understand her, allowing her to fulfill her life's desires and aspirations.
A stinging sensation filled her eyes, and Meng Yu's reddened eyes traced the contours of Aunt Shen's face, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
Warm tears slid down her cheeks. Meng Yu finally couldn't help but reach out and hug the person in front of her tightly. At this moment, she had a thousand words to say, but she couldn't utter a single one.
***
It was half an hour later when Meng Yu finally composed herself.
She straightened her clothes, washed her face, looked in the mirror, and only after confirming that her previously red eyes had regained their former radiance did she open the door and go upstairs.
As soon as Meng Yu entered, she saw Lu Xiuyi sitting by the window, still flipping through the book "Lin'an Star Classic". The book under his fingertips had already become much thinner.
Hearing her footsteps, Lu Xiuyi didn't even look up. He curled his hand on the table and gently tapped the surface. His voice was as clear and pure as a mountain spring: "Sit."
As soon as he finished speaking, two guards brought breakfast and placed it in front of Meng Yu.
Upon seeing that there were two sets of bowls and chopsticks, Meng Yu frowned slightly.
Lu Xiuyi was used to getting up early, so it must be well past his mealtime by now.
Seeing that she seemed puzzled, Lu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow, picked up a soup spoon and ladled a bowl of chicken porridge for her, as if answering her question, and said to himself, "Eating with you makes my appetite better. This chicken porridge is sweet and delicious, you should try it."
Meng Yu took it and ate a couple of bites. It was indeed sweet and delicious. Her expression brightened, and she smiled at the person opposite her, nodding emphatically.
Her head shook like a rattle, and a hairpin adorned with only a small pearl swayed back and forth on her dark hair bun.
Lu Xiuyi's eyes darkened slightly.
He opened the drawer of his desk, took out the jewelry box inlaid with rubies, and pushed it in front of her, his domineering tone leaving no room for argument: "Wear this."
Meng Yu stared at it for a moment and recognized that this was the gift that Chu Ze had instructed Lu Xiuyi to deliver to her that day.
The box was inlaid with six large, dazzling rubies. Meng Yu opened the box, took it out and looked at it. It was a gold hairpin inlaid with filigree and pearls, with three yellow trumpet creeper flowers at the bottom. Sunlight streamed in through the window, reflecting off the trumpet creeper flowers and making them sparkle.
Meng Yu frowned, raised her head and was about to speak, but Lu Xiuyi spoke first without allowing her to speak, "You are not allowed to refuse a second time, put it on."
She didn't actually mean to refuse; she just wanted to say that the hair ornament was very pretty.
Meng Yu swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and gently placed the hair ornament in her hair.
The morning sun kissed her cheek, her fair skin glowing. The filigree and pearl-encrusted hair ornament made her look like a lotus emerging from the water, pure and ethereal.
Her reflection was mirrored in the eyes of the person opposite her, and their gaze dimmed slightly.
Lu Xiuyi stood up, walked to her side, and said in a hoarse voice, "There's something on your face."
Meng Yu subconsciously raised her hand and touched it.
I didn't touch it.
"Here."
Lu Xiuyi's low, husky voice came from above. Meng Yu was about to look up when she suddenly saw a hand flash before her eyes. Before she could react, he grabbed her chin and made her turn her head to the side.
The wet sensation repeatedly lingered on her lips as the man's tongue forcefully pried open her teeth and plunged in.
Meng Yu's face flushed red from Lu Xiuyi's kisses, and she almost couldn't breathe. She quickly raised her hand to press against his chest, and he slowly released her.
Looking at her lips glistening with moisture, Lu Xiuyi couldn't help but reach out and stroke them, saying with a smile, "Yanyan, you're so beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu paused for a moment.
Seeing her expression freeze for a moment, Lu Xiuyi frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"
A shadow flashed across the man's eyes, and Meng Yu snapped back to reality. She immediately lowered her head, feigning embarrassment, dipped her brush in ink, and casually made up an excuse: "You flatter me, sir. I'm afraid I can't accept such praise."
Lu Xiuyi scrutinized Meng Yu, and seeing that she showed no sign of panic, he picked her up and placed her on his lap. Leaning back in his chair, he laughed loudly, "You are my woman, how can you not accept this? Besides, Yan Yan is indeed very beautiful."
Her skin was like jade, her face was almond-shaped with willow-leaf eyebrows, and her eyes were like shimmering autumn water. Even without makeup, she was still exceptionally beautiful.
"Cough cough..."
Just then, a soft cough came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.
Meng Yu looked up and saw Chu Ze standing awkwardly at the door. She hurriedly got off Lu Xiuyi's lap, curtsied to him, and then turned and left.
It wasn't until she turned the corner of the stairs that Meng Yu's pounding heart began to calm down a little.
That was close!
Lu Xiuyi always called her "Jiaojiao," but he suddenly changed his address, and she didn't react for a moment, almost giving herself away in front of him.
***
After Chu Ze and Lu Xiuyi finished their discussion, it was almost lunchtime. Meng Yu went to the kitchen to check the food and then had it brought up.
The afternoon was the same as before. Lu Xiuyi read a book, and she waited beside him. Occasionally, he would get playful and tease her for a while, and then they would chat for a few minutes before the time was up.
That night, Lu Xiuyi still pressed her down on top of him, kissing her several times before letting her go.
Meng Yu straightened her clothes and was about to lift the curtain to get off the bed when Lu Xiuyi suddenly grabbed her hand.
Meng Yu turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
In the dim light, her silhouette was reflected in his heart.
Lu Xiuyi's eyes were dark and his emotions were hard to discern. A strange feeling suddenly welled up in his mind, which he couldn't quite explain. Before he could think about it, he blurted out, "Yanyan, you will always stay by my side, right?"
When he suddenly asked this question, Meng Yu felt her head snap out of her daze, and countless questions surged up in her mind. She suppressed her unease, grasped his hand in return, and then gently pried open his well-defined knuckles, writing calmly, "Why do you ask such a question, Master?"
Lu Xiuyi was speechless after her question. He didn't know why he asked it. Before he could think about it carefully, his mouth was already faster than his brain.
"I don't know either, I just suddenly felt like asking, so I asked," Lu Xiuyi said with a faint smile, lowering his eyelids.
Meng Yu breathed a silent sigh of relief and smiled as she wrote in his palm: "My heart is small. Once I've decided on someone, even if there are towering waves ahead, I will never back down."
Her fingertips landed on his palm, and the gentle caress slowly seeped into his heart, calming Lu Xiuyi's slightly uneasy heart.
He withdrew his hand, a sweet smile playing on his lips, and said, "It's late, go back to sleep! Tomorrow, I'll take you ashore to eat kiln-roasted chicken and crab roe pastries."
Meng Yu smiled and nodded.
***
The following afternoon.
The passenger ship stopped at Longtang Wharf. Lu Xiuyi led Meng Yu and Chu Ze ashore and headed to the market. It had just rained, and the air was filled with the fresh smell of rainwater mixed with earth.
The market was bustling with people, and taverns, teahouses and all sorts of shops lined both sides of the street. Various shouts mingled together, and the aroma of smoky food, along with the smoky fragrance of baked buns and the rich aroma of braised beef wafted through the air.
Meng Yu was wearing a veiled hat when her stomach started growling, drawing attention from those around her.
She lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly.
Lu Xiuyi glanced at her and smiled at Chu Ze, "I've heard that in Longtang, the kiln-roasted chicken and crab roe pastry made by Longxianglou are the most delicious. Miss Meng, are you hungry? Why don't you hurry up and lead the way?"
"yes."
Chu Ze hurriedly stepped forward and led the way.
Their clothes brushed against each other, the cool touch brushing against their fingertips. Lu Xiuyi looked up and saw Meng Yu's beautiful face partially hidden behind her plain veil. He couldn't help but move his hand, hooking his fingers together and covering her palm.
Her hands were slender and jade-like; when held in the palm of your hand, a warm current slowly seeped into your limbs and bones.
Recalling her words from yesterday and feeling the warmth of her palm, Lu Xiuyi felt inexplicably at ease.
Meng Yu didn't dare to refuse, and simply lowered her head to let him lead her away.
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