0004 Wuling Colors (Part 4)
Shufu turned and left alone, her steps quick and bright, her bright clothes making her seem like a trail of fire in the dim courtyard.
Luo watched the girl walk away until she could no longer see her back, then took off her white fox fur coat and instructed Li Mama to extinguish the charcoal fire in the stove.
"In your opinion, what did Afu want to say to me just now?" Madam Luo closed her eyes to rest, while Li Mama gently fanned her to dispel the fine sweat that had been brought up by the fox fur coat and the stove fire.
"It's nothing more than hoping that Madam will punish the eldest daughter, and also... that the young lady probably doesn't want this marriage with the Liang family anymore."
Luo suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze bright and sharp, which did not match her delicate and frail appearance: "Marriage is arranged by matchmakers and parents, how can she be allowed to abandon it as she pleases? Having missed this good marriage with the Liang family, can a girl who has broken off an engagement find a better family?"
Granny Li focused on fanning herself and didn't respond to Luo's words, but she knew perfectly well that Luo's reasons for opposing the annulment of the engagement were not just because she was afraid that Shu Fu would not be able to find a better match.
It should be noted that Liang Zhiyan's father, Liang Wanshan, was a close companion of Emperor Chongde, a true inner circle of the emperor, enjoying immense prestige. Furthermore, his maternal grandfather was a renowned Confucian scholar with countless disciples serving as officials in the court. For someone pursuing a career in government, having such connections would be a truly meteoric rise.
Indeed, besides Shu Fu, the Luo family had another young son, Shu Fu's younger brother Shu Mingde, who was only ten years old that year.
Compared to the superficial concern shown towards Shu Fu, Shu Mingde was truly Luo's eyes, lungs, and heart.
From the moment he was born, Luo Shi doted on him. Shu Mingde was exceptionally intelligent and destined for a career in government, so Luo Shi wished she could cut down all the obstacles in his path, and Shu Fu's naturally beautiful appearance was the best weapon.
Heaven knows how excited she was when the Liang family came to propose marriage. Even if the young master of the Liang family was really a playboy, she wouldn't have been unable to grit her teeth and marry Afu.
Not to mention that Liang Zhiyan is exceptionally talented and elegant. He passed the imperial examinations twice at the young age of 18. Although he has only been appointed as a Hanlin Academy Attendant, he may very well become one of the six ministers in the future.
Such a promising young man is a marriage that many people would dream of. The only problem is that he is a little unrestrained in his pursuit of women, which is not a big deal in Luo's eyes.
The most troublesome thing right now is how to appease Shufu and get her to marry him smoothly.
Madam Luo shared her concerns with Granny Li and asked her for advice.
After pondering for a moment, Granny Li said, "The Second Miss has always felt more of a brotherly bond than romantic love towards the Liang family's young master, so this matter is indeed a bit difficult to handle."
"However, as the saying goes, the one who tied the knot must untie it. We must have Young Master Liang explain things to the Second Miss in person and say a few kind words to coax her. Who knows, it might really soften her heart."
Mrs. Luo seemed lost in thought, twisting the handkerchief in her hand; it was unclear whether she had taken it all in.
...
Shu Fu rushed back to her Spring Festival Gala building.
This place is named after the phrase "In late spring, the green fields are beautiful, and white clouds gather on the high cliffs." Although it is called a pavilion, it is actually an extremely beautiful courtyard. In front of it is a pomegranate flower garden, and in the main courtyard is a two-story embroidered building. When the flowers are in full bloom in late spring, it will become the most elegant and refined residence.
Shu Fu walked through the Pomegranate Blossom Garden, and the maids sweeping the garden stopped their work to bow to her. When she reached the front of the building, she saw the second-class maid A Jian leading two young maids with their hair in tufts down from the building.
When the three maids saw her approaching, they stopped and bowed to her in unison.
Shu Fu was about to nod in greeting when she suddenly remembered what she had said to the young man in the carriage. Her expression turned strange, and she asked the three maids, "You just came downstairs?"
"That's right, Miss. These past few days have been cold with an unseasonable chill in the air, so we've added an extra quilt for you," replied A-Jian, the head maid.
The men all remained calm and answered her respectfully. Shu Fu guessed that the boy had most likely failed to get in.
At this moment, Shu Fu couldn't quite describe her feelings, but it wasn't the relief of getting rid of a big problem; instead, there was a vague sense of loss.
This sense of loss only lingered in her heart like a wisp of smoke before being quickly washed away.
Shu Fu composed herself and said to A Jian, "A Xing, who used to be by my side, made some mistakes at the Spring Festival banquet today and has been punished by Mother. For the time being, no head maids will be added to my courtyard. From now on, none of you are allowed to enter my room without my permission."
Ah Xing actually made a mistake and was punished? And now the young lady is so wary of her that she doesn't allow any maids into her room, it must be that Ah Xing did something disloyal and immoral.
A-Jian cursed A-Xing in her heart, but didn't ask any more questions, only respectfully agreeing.
"By the way, Mother's cough from the winter has somehow relapsed. I'm afraid we won't be able to find fresh pears to make soup for her to stop the cough at this time of year. I still have some leftover pear syrup candy from last autumn. Please send someone to deliver it to Mother."
"Furthermore, after the Third Miss returns, you should take a few maids to pick out some things from my storeroom and send them to her courtyard. Tell her not to be afraid, and that no matter what happens, her parents will take care of her."
“There is another matter…” Shu Fu thought for a moment, then instructed, “You send someone… no, you go and see for yourself whether my elder sister went to pay her respects to Mother after she returned. If she did, find out what Mother and elder sister said to each other.”
A-Jian agreed again.
After doing all this, Shufu went into the house alone and subconsciously scanned the entire room.
The first thing you see is a screen painted with a phoenix facing the sun. Behind the screen is a canopy bed with a white jade ruyi-patterned curtain that holds up a soft, begonia-colored canopy.
The west window was half-open, and the wind blew through the curtains; everything was exactly the same as when she left that morning.
It's definitely impossible for more than one person.
Shu Fu suddenly felt a little unwilling when she thought of the boy's smile that she had caught when she got off the bus not long ago.
Didn't you confidently ask, "Is this all?", so why can't you get in?
Shu Fu took two more steps forward, peered over the screen, and peeked behind the curtain in the west room. She couldn't help but whisper, "Hey?"
She didn't know his name yet.
But there was no one behind the curtain, and no one answered.
Shufu's strange and faint hope was completely extinguished.
She reached out and removed the two butterfly hairpins from her hair, turning slightly to toss them into the dressing case on the mirror stand not far away. But in the instant she turned her head, she met the face of an extremely handsome young man.
The young man stood with his hands behind his back by the west window, the curtains behind him swaying in the spring breeze, and his eyes, as bright as the morning sun, looked directly at her and said, "You were looking for me?"
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