Chapter 88 The Rules of Huaiju
But just as he was about to step into the gate of Huaiju Courtyard, he was ruthlessly blocked by the servant.
“Miss Cheng, Huaiju has a rule that outsiders are not allowed to enter.” The servant said with a polite but distant smile, his tone calm yet carrying a warning.
Cheng Xiuxiu's smiling face froze instantly. Her expression changed drastically, and she couldn't help but shout, "Who's the outsider? Do you see clearly? I'm my aunt's own niece!"
After saying that, she confidently lifted her leg to walk inside, looking determined to succeed.
However, the servant stood firmly in front of her like a steadfast guard, showing no intention of backing down.
This scene completely enraged Cheng Xiuxiu. Her face flushed red, and she shouted, "Get out of my way! How dare a mere servant block my way like this!"
The servant seemed not to hear her roar. His face remained expressionless, showing no sign of distress. He mechanically repeated, "The young master has ordered that no outsiders may enter."
The tone was so calm, as if he were stating something completely ordinary.
Cheng Xiuxiu was furious. She had been in the manor for so long, and everyone treated her with utmost respect, like a precious treasure. But now that she was at Huaiju, they wouldn't even let her in through the door. How could she swallow this insult?
Just as she was furious, she caught a glimpse of a petite figure walking into Huaiju without any hindrance.
She looked closely and couldn't help but gasp. It was actually Ruan Xingzhu, whom she had mistaken for a maid.
For a moment, she couldn't help but sneer and shout, "Then why is she allowed in?"
After saying that, she suddenly walked over and grabbed Ruan Xingzhu, who was about to go inside.
The servant glanced at Ruan Xingzhu, who was frowning, and then at Cheng Xiuxiu, who was glaring angrily. His eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of looking at a fool.
Everyone knows that Ruan Xingzhu is practically the owner of Huaiju. Since Ruan Xingzhu entered the mansion, she has always lived in Huaiju. Although she was later given a courtyard, she still lived in Huaiju most of the time.
“Anyone permitted by the young master can enter.” The servant remained unmoved, speaking slowly and deliberately, as if Cheng Xiuxiu’s anger was nothing more than a passing breeze to him.
Cheng Xiuxiu was now completely enraged and embarrassed. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Ruan Xingzhu's hand.
Ruan Xingzhu was already dressed in thin clothes, and when Cheng Xiuxiu grabbed her delicate arm, she felt a sharp pain. She couldn't help but cry out softly and struggled to break free from Cheng Xiuxiu's grasp.
Having broken free, Cheng Xiuxiu carefully examined Ruan Xingzhu.
Only then did she notice that Ruan Xingzhu was not as ordinary as she had imagined. Ruan Xingzhu had a small and delicate face, with skin as white as mutton fat jade, and a pair of big, watery eyes that were even more alluring than her own.
She appeared petite and delicate, yet possessed all the curves one would expect, and was even a bit fuller than others. Her dress was merely an ordinary, plain-colored garment, but on her, it exuded a unique, pitiful, and delicate charm that stirred feelings of tenderness and pity in one's heart.
For some reason, looking at Ruan Xingzhu in front of her, Cheng Xiuxiu felt a strong sense of hostility.
Ruan Xingzhu finally managed to break free from her, feeling a little flustered.
She was a little afraid that she would make a scene and force her way in. If she really made a scene and Gu Yun'an was blamed, that would be troublesome.
But the next moment, Cheng Xiuxiu glared at her fiercely, then flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.
Ruan Xingzhu watched her departing figure and then breathed a small sigh of relief.
Ever since Cheng Xiuxiu left the gate of Huaiju Courtyard, this resentment had been lingering in her heart, and she just couldn't swallow it down.
She was going to become Gu Yun'an's legal wife, so how could she not even be allowed to enter his residence? Wouldn't people laugh at her if word got out?
When Gu Yun'an returned at night, Ruan Xingzhu wanted to tell him about Cheng Xiuxiu's visit to Huaiju that day, but seeing his tired face, she didn't say it.
Perhaps the servant had already told him, and repeating it again would make it seem like he was implying something.
These days, Ruan Xingzhu rarely sees Gu Yun'an during the day; he is always busy with various matters, leaving early and returning late.
Only at night, just when she was almost asleep, would Gu Yun'an wake her up. He seemed to have endless passion, keeping her up all night.
Under the hazy moonlight, Ruan Xingzhu was being gently kissed by Gu Yun'an, but her mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
She desperately wanted to ask him what she should do after he married—leave him or something else…
These days, Ruan Xingzhu has been extremely conflicted. She wants to ask Gu Yun'an where she should go, but she can't bring herself to ask.
Perhaps the answer will come when he gets married, and then she should be able to leave.
As she was thinking this, Ruan Xingzhu suddenly heard a hurried sound coming from the courtyard gate.
As Ruan Xingzhu was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the courtyard gate.
At this time, Gu Yun'an should still be busy with official duties outside, so why would anyone come?
Before she could get up to see what was going on, she saw Cheng Xiuxiu, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, walk in with a smug look on her face.
The moment Ruan Xingzhu saw her, a chill ran through her, and a bad premonition washed over her. How did Cheng Xiuxiu get in? Did Gu Yun'an give the order?
Cheng Xiuxiu swayed into the room with a smug look on her face. After returning home, she became increasingly angry and went to find Cheng Shi.
After all, the real power in this mansion is the Cheng family. So what if Huaiju has a rule that outsiders are not allowed to enter? As long as the Cheng family speaks, who would dare to stop them?
With Cheng's permission, she immediately became radiant and swaggered into Huaiju with her maid.
As soon as she entered, she spotted Ruan Xingzhu not far away, and her eyes lit up. She walked over with light steps, her gaze slightly disdainful, as if she were looking at a trivial object, and asked, "Your name is Ruan Xingzhu?"
Ruan Xingzhu was unsure of the other woman's intention in suddenly asking her name, and though she was wary, she still nodded gently.
Cheng Xiuxiu had no time to play games with her. She looked around anxiously but did not see Gu Yun'an.
So she asked without any hesitation, "Where is my fourth cousin? I'll take these pastries to him."
As she spoke, she waved the food box she was carrying, which contained peach blossom cakes that she had specially prepared.
Ruan Xingzhu instinctively didn't want to tell her where Gu Yun'an was; she felt inexplicably resistant to Cheng Xiuxiu getting close to Gu Yun'an. For a moment, she pursed her lips and remained silent.
Cheng Xiuxiu didn't have that much patience. Seeing that Ruan Xingzhu hadn't spoken for a long time, she frowned and impatiently urged, "I'm asking you a question, didn't you hear me?"
Her tone was as if she were ordering a servant around.
Ruan Xingzhu blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Fourth Brother has gone out to work."
Fourth brother...
Hearing her address Gu Yun'an so affectionately, Cheng Xiuxiu's beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly, and a nameless anger welled up in her heart.
Ruan Xingzhu originally thought that Cheng Xiuxiu would leave after hearing that Gu Yun'an was not there, but to Ruan Xingzhu's surprise, she actually sat down casually, as if she were at home.
It seemed she was waiting for Gu Yun'an to return. Seeing this, Ruan Xingzhu couldn't help but purse her lips, a surge of impulse rising within her, a strong urge to send her away.
But when she got to the point of speaking, she realized she didn't have that right at all, and could only feel resentful in silence.
Cheng Xiuxiu sat there, her eyes curiously looking around. Suddenly, she had an idea and decided to go inside to take a look.
After all, she had never been to Gu Yun'an's house before. Thinking this, she got up and walked towards the house.
Seeing this, Ruan Xingzhu instinctively didn't want her to go in, but she couldn't think of any way to stop her, so she could only watch helplessly as she approached the house step by step.
Just as Cheng Xiuxiu's hand was about to touch the door, a clear and authoritative voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard.
"How did you get in?"
Gu Yun'an walked over unhurriedly, each step he took seemed to carry an invisible pressure.
Cheng Xiuxiu was startled by the sudden noise and froze.
However, she quickly recovered and put on a charming smile. She hurriedly picked up the peach blossom cake in her hand and walked towards Gu Yun'an, saying sweetly, "Fourth cousin, this is a freshly made peach blossom cake. I brought it to you specially."
Gu Yun'an still seemed to emanate a chill from him. His expression was stern, but he patiently asked again, "How did you get in?"
His tone became noticeably harsher, revealing a hint of impatience.
Cheng Xiuxiu clearly sensed the displeasure in his voice and felt a little scared, so she avoided the main point and said, "It's my aunt. My aunt asked me to bring peach blossom cakes."
Despite being afraid, he really didn't want to miss this rare opportunity, so he said ingratiatingly, "Fourth cousin, would you like to try some?"
Gu Yun'an turned around, ignoring Cheng Xiuxiu's words, and his gaze fell coldly on Liu Mama, who was waiting outside the courtyard.
“It’s one thing if an outsider doesn’t know, but Granny Liu is an old servant in the household and someone who works by Mother’s side.”
His words were cold, each one seemingly carrying a chilling edge, subtly conveying a warning.
"You must know the rule that outsiders cannot freely enter and leave Huaiju, right?"
Granny Liu froze abruptly. She never expected Gu Yun'an to be so disrespectful, even disregarding Madam Cheng.
Cheng Xiuxiu's smiling face froze in place, as if frozen in time.
Before she could even react, Granny Liu quickly put on a smiling face and said, "Fourth Young Master is right."
As she spoke, she secretly gave Cheng Xiuxiu a wink, signaling her to leave with her quickly.
Ruan Xingzhu stood blankly to the side, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm. She had previously thought that Gu Yun'an had allowed Cheng Xiuxiu to enter Huaiju.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of joy upon learning that Cheng Xiuxiu's arrival at Huaiju was not permitted by Gu Yun'an.
Looking at her dazed expression, Gu Yun'an seemed to be able to see through her surface and into the hidden jealousy in her heart.
He couldn't help but smile slightly, feigning a reproachful look, and said softly, "What are you standing there for? Don't you know the rules of Huaiju?"
Ruan Xingzhu paused slightly, as if she sensed something else in Gu Yun'an's words, as if Gu Yun'an was telling her that she had the right to stop outsiders from entering Huaiju at will.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her—surprise, doubt, and a touch of indescribable gratitude.
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