Chapter 9 A Gift of Grace "Master truly desires a woman, and needs her..."
After thinking about it, Meng Yu was still furious and was about to take out his notebook to retort when a guard rushed in and reported, "Reporting to the young marquis, Lord Chu has returned."
Just then, a steady footstep came from outside the door; it must be Chuze coming over.
Lu Xiuyi said to Meng Yu, "The master ordered the kitchen to make some cheese. Go and serve it to me."
The words were on the tip of her tongue but stuck in her throat, leaving her feeling awkward and unable to say anything more. So she could only suppress her words of criticism against Lu Xiuyi, curtsy to him, and retreat with her head bowed.
When she arrived at the kitchen, the cheese wasn't ready yet. Worried that the cheese might have been mixed with ginger powder, Meng Yu simply grabbed a small stool and sat down to watch and wait.
Suddenly, Aunt Qu, who was serving the dishes next to her, stuffed two scallion pancakes into Meng Yu's hand. Meng Yu thought she was going to charge him, so he quickly pushed them back and showed her his empty pockets.
Aunt Qu said cheerfully, "Good girl, this is free, consider it a gift from me."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.
This Aunt Qu was very opportunistic. When Huaiyin first boarded the ship, she wanted to buy two scallion pancakes, but Aunt Qu refused to sell them to Huaiyin even if she gave them to a sailor for free, simply because the sailor was a relative of the captain.
Meng Yu wondered why she was suddenly so kind. When Aunt Qu saw that she wouldn't take it, she forced it on without saying a word and turned to leave.
The scallion pancakes emitted an enticing aroma of scallions, but Meng Yu looked at them and couldn't bring herself to eat them. So she took a plate and placed it in a prominent position on the kitchen shelf.
Anyone who's hungry can easily grab it.
***
Chuze was ordered to go ashore to investigate the matter of the government silver.
"In the past two weeks, my subordinates have traveled all over Yongzhou, Xuzhou and Longtang, but have not found any large quantities of ceramic products being transported out of the city."
Lu Xiuyi placed his hand on his belt, feeling the lingering warmth of his body, and smelling a faint fragrance.
He listened to Chu Ze's report with furrowed brows and casually asked, "Are there any suspicious things about these three places?"
Chu Ze frowned, about to shake his head, when suddenly his mind raced and he quickly replied, "If we're talking about suspicious places, there really is one."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi's interest was piqued. "Oh? Tell me about it."
“When I arrived in Yongzhou, I happened to see a family repairing their house. I heard from passersby that this family had moved to another place two months ago and planned to sell the house. I don’t know why, but they suddenly returned from another place half a month ago and spent a lot of money to repair the house. If it were only in Yongzhou, it wouldn’t be surprising. What’s strange is that I later encountered the same phenomenon in Xuzhou and Longtang.”
Lu Xiuyi stood by the window, picked up his teacup and took two sips. His deep eyes reflected the ripples on the water's surface. After listening for a long while, he said calmly, "Have someone keep an eye on this matter. Remember, don't let anyone find out."
"yes."
After Chu Ze finished speaking, he still didn't leave. Lu Xiuyi sensed this and turned around to ask, "Is there anything else?"
Chu Ze immediately knelt down, bowed his head and said, "Young Master was attacked yesterday. It was because my arrangements were not proper, which gave the assassin an opportunity. I beg you to punish me."
Lu Xiuyi smiled faintly: "This passenger ship has nearly a hundred people, a mixed bag, and it will stop along the way to pick up people. The assassin may have already been hiding on board. Even if you are extremely careful, it is difficult to be thorough in every aspect. Besides, this matter still needs your investigation. Don't blame yourself, get up!"
Chu Ze breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. "I heard that it was Miss Meng who bravely saved the young master in the face of danger."
When Meng Yu was mentioned, Lu Xiuyi subconsciously curled the corners of his lips and responded lightly, "Mm."
Chu Ze, being perceptive, noticed the change in his expression. "Young Master is known for his clear distinction between rewards and punishments. How would you like to reward Miss Meng?"
Lu Xiuyi paused slightly as his fingertips caressed the handle of the teacup. He lowered his gaze to the steaming tea, its color slightly dark yet clear and transparent.
Just like her personality.
She rarely speaks, but when something happens, she really gets involved.
The same principle applies to saving her mother and sister, and equally to saving him.
Lu Xiuyi's eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles: "After returning to the capital, I plan to marry her as my concubine."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Ze was slightly surprised. He paused for a moment before saying, "You also intended to do so before, but Miss Meng is not..."
Did they refuse?
Chuze didn't dare to say those last few words.
Lu Xiuyi's eyes darkened instantly. "Does Master really want a woman and need her consent? Besides, after spending this time together, she also has feelings for me."
His words were chilling one moment, but the next moment, when he said "favorite," they were overflowing with tenderness. Meng Yu, who had just brought out the pastries, was startled. Her chest felt as if a hundred-pound boulder was pressing down on it, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Fearing that Lu Xiuyi would find out, she suppressed the fear welling up in her heart and dared not stay there any longer, so she quickly knocked on the door.
"Enter."
There was a moment of silence before Lu Xiuyi's deep voice came through.
Taking a deep breath, Meng Yu forced herself to remain calm and pushed open the door. Just as she placed the cheese on the table, she heard Lu Xiuyi say in a low voice, "If there's nothing else, you can go out now!"
She was overjoyed and immediately turned to leave, but Lu Xiuyi suddenly raised his voice: "Stop."
Not knowing what Lu Xiuyi was planning, Meng Yu's heart plummeted from the clouds to the bottom, and she hurriedly turned her head away tremblingly.
Lu Xiuyi glanced at Chu Ze, who was standing blankly to the side: "I'm talking to you."
Chu Ze snapped out of his daze and quickly replied, "Yes."
As he left, he made sure to close the door behind him.
It turns out I misheard.
Meng Yu breathed a sigh of relief and stood to the side with her head down.
Lu Xiuyi took a bowl of su lao luo (a type of cheese) and sat down. He took a sip and, seeing that there was no tea in his cup, said in a low voice, "Pour me a cup of tea."
Meng Yu stepped forward, about to pick up the teacup, when she heard Lu Xiuyi say, "It's impolite to pour tea in front of other people's tables. Come and pour it next to me."
It's not even tea, yet you have such a twisted logic?
Besides, she had poured tea in the same way before.
Despite this thought, Meng Yu didn't dare to ask any more questions and could only go to Lu Xiuyi's side and do as he said.
The tea was poured into the cup, creating a misty, steaming effect.
After pouring the tea, Meng Yu brought the water to Lu Xiuyi. However, just as she put it down, her elbow bumped into something and was suddenly lifted up slightly.
Caught off guard, the teacup overturned, and water instantly spilled onto Lu Xiuyi's left leg. Meng Yu was shocked and instinctively pulled out a handkerchief, bending down to wipe it off for him.
But before she could wipe herself twice, she suddenly felt someone grab her around the waist.
Meng Yu's face turned pale instantly. Before she could react, Lu Xiuyi had already lifted her onto his lap and placed her firmly in a seat.
She struggled to get down, but Lu Xiuyi's hand on her waist tightened even more, and his warm, deep voice rang in her ear: "Don't move. Did you hear what I just said?"
Upon hearing his words, Meng Yu was startled and turned pale. A chill instantly ran through her body, and she shook her head violently.
Lu Xiuyi reached out and brushed aside the stray hairs that had fallen onto her chest, his voice low and gentle: "I don't like liars. You're a good girl."
As he brushed aside Meng Yu's soft hair, his rough fingertips brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
Meng Yu froze, her mind blank. Lu Xiuyi's voice seemed to carry a seductive and alluring quality, and she forced herself to calm down and pull her thoughts back.
Lu Xiuyi already knew, so there was no point in lying anymore. She could only nod and take out her notebook to write down her thoughts.
Unfortunately, the pen ran out of ink. Meng Yu wanted to take this opportunity to get off Lu Xiuyi's lap, so she pointed to the dry pen tip and gestured to him with her eyes.
Although he understood the meaning in her eyes, Lu Xiuyi did not loosen his grip on her arm at all. He simply raised his hand slightly and took the inkstone from the table, his warm breath slowly filling the depths of her ear: "Why go to such lengths? I have ink right here too."
Meng Yu suppressed her trembling, dipped her pen in ink, and was about to write when the man's fingertips lightly brushed across her back and slipped into her hair.
His tone was seemingly casual, yet also carried a hint of warning: "I met your mother and sister a few days ago. They are easygoing and kind. I imagine your lives, though simple, were quite peaceful. This is all thanks to you. You made the right decisions in every situation. Otherwise, where would they get their peaceful lives today?"
His words were roundabout, but Meng Yu, with her keen insight, felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing them.
However, Lu Xiuyi seemed not to see it and still said in a low voice, "By the way, I don't like people who don't know their place. I remember a few years ago someone refused me twice. Later, his family members either died or were exiled. In short, his family was destroyed."
He spoke the words "family destroyed, people killed" so lightly that Meng Yu, his hands trembling, hesitated to write.
Lu Xiuyi then lowered his gaze and feigned surprise: "Didn't you have something to say to me? Why haven't you written it yet?"
Meng Yu's face was stiff as her mind raced. If she were to confront Lu Xiuyi head-on, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock; she would only shatter into pieces.
After pondering for a moment, Meng Yu picked up her pen and wrote: "My lord wishes to take me as a concubine. May I have one night to consider this?"
“Of course,” Lu Xiuyi said with a faint smile, his rough fingertips gently caressing her full, red lips. Meng Yu wanted to get up and slap him twice, but her body felt as if it were weighed down by a thousand-pound boulder, and she could not move at all. She could only listen to him say, “But I hope that what I hear from you tomorrow is an answer that satisfies me.”
Meng Yu nodded obediently.
Her body was warm and soft, and holding her in his arms felt like holding a ball of cotton. Lu Xiuyi was still reluctant to let go of her. He took another bowl of su luo and said with a light laugh, "I had someone go to the kitchen to inquire and heard that you like su luo, so I specially had someone make an extra bowl. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
I heard? Who told you?
When it comes to portioning food in the kitchen, Aunt Qu is the one who knows best.
No wonder, no wonder Aunt Qu is suddenly being so kind to her. When she first became Lu Xiuyi's personal maid, Aunt Qu ignored her, but now that Lu Xiuyi is asking about her preferences, she's suddenly very cooperative.
She must have guessed some of what Lu Xiuyi was thinking.
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