Yi Ning thought to herself that it wasn't true. She had long known what kind of person Luo Shenyuan was, but after spending so much time with him, she had even forgotten what he was like. She only remembered the brother who, though indifferent, loved her. She said, "You know your limits. I trust you."
Luo Shenyuan walked behind her and saw the little girl shrouded in his own shadow. He lowered his eyes, his bloodstained hands clasped behind his back.
In the afternoon, Luo Shenyuan took her to see the canal.
The canal was indeed bustling with activity, with boats coming and going, fishermen, vendors, peddlers, and people going to the market. Yi Ning sat in the carriage, watching for a while, but couldn't get out. Luo Shenyuan then took her to a restaurant, which served excellent snacks.
But because of what happened that morning, Yining's interest wasn't as strong anymore. Luo Shenyuan didn't force her and took her back soon after.
When I arrived at the mansion, I saw a carriage surrounded by servants parked in front of the screen wall.
The carriage curtain was drawn aside, and Yi Ning saw a jade-white hand. Then, a delicate and charming face. The girl's eyes lit up slightly as she looked at Luo Shenyuan, but she turned back and said softly to Yi Ning, "Is this my sister Yi Ning? I haven't seen her yet."
Yi Ning looked at her demeanor and then her gentle temperament. She guessed that she must be the Miss Sun!
Her future sister-in-law.
Yi Ning bowed slightly to her and asked with a smile, "Exactly. Are you the elder sister of the Sun family?"
Yi Ning turned her head to look at Luo Shenyuan. Her third brother had the same expressionless face as usual, and he didn't even step forward to greet him. Why wasn't he so welcoming towards her? After all, she was a charming beauty.
*
Yi Ning welcomed Sun Congwan into the mansion and sat down in the main hall outside the third brother's courtyard.
Sun Congwan was holding a brocade box in her arms, which she placed on the table.
The maid brought up fresh bayberries. Each one was plump and purple-red, and looked sour and sweet. Yining pushed the plate of bayberries in front of Sun Congwan and said with a smile, "I've heard of Sister Congwan's reputation for a long time, but I've never been able to meet her. Today I finally get to see her."
Sun Congwan had her hair in a bun, pinned with a jade hairpin. She looked truly graceful. After hearing Yi Ning's words, she smiled softly, "I shouldn't have come here. My father told me there's something he wants me to teach the Third Young Master, so I came. I didn't expect to see Sister Yi Ning here. If I had known you were here, I would have brought you some gifts!"
As Sun Congwan spoke, she intentionally or unintentionally turned her head to look at Luo Shenyuan who was standing next to her.
She had heard that this Yining sister, though adopted, was deeply loved by Luo Shenyuan. Naturally, she wanted to please him. But seeing that Luo Shenyuan treated her even colder than usual, seemingly displeased with her sudden visit, she felt a little overwhelmed. Although she came under the guise of being her father, she also missed him terribly after not seeing him for a long time.
Yining knew that Miss Sun might have other intentions.
Seeing Sun Congwan standing next to Luo Shenyuan, Yi Ning felt that she and her third brother were a good match. He was tall, and Miss Sun was gentle and pretty. But on the other hand, Yi Ning felt a little disappointed. Was her third brother really going to marry Sun Congwan? Her wise and powerful third brother also wanted to marry and have children.
Who did Luo Shenyuan marry in his previous life? She only remembered that he was married in his previous life. Even if it wasn't Sun Congwan, it should be a woman similar to her.
"Sister Wan can just send someone to deliver it. There's no need to go there in person." Luo Shenyuan accepted the brocade box and made a gesture of invitation, "Please go inside and sit down."
He looked at Yi Ning again and said, "I have something else to do. You take care of Miss Sun."
When Yi Ning heard him say he was busy, she couldn't help but think of the blood on his hands when he had just rolled up the whip...
"You go ahead and do your work. I'll walk around the courtyard with Sister Wan." Yining agreed. He nodded, strode out of the main hall with his hands behind his back, and the guards on both sides followed him out.
Yining took her future sister-in-law for a stroll along the lotus pond, a young maid following behind them, carrying a stool, tea, and other supplies. Sun Congwan was incredibly polite, a true lady of noble birth. She was also articulate, and since she loved Luo Shenyuan, she felt comfortable with Yining. Soon, the two grew close, and as they chatted, they discovered a shared passion: tea and snacks, and their conversation became even more intimate.
Sun Congwan listed seventeen or eighteen kinds of vegetarian snacks, then took Yining's hand and said, "I know a teahouse nearby that serves excellent vegetarian snacks. I usually can't go out. Why don't I go with you tomorrow? We can get a few guards and maids to go with us—on the second floor, you can even see the canal."
Yining knew the teahouse that Sun Congwan mentioned, and her third brother took her there that afternoon. She couldn't refuse Sun Congwan's kindness, so she smiled and said, "Then Sister Congwan can come to see me tomorrow."
The two walked slowly back along the corridor and saw Luo Shenyuan sitting in the main hall talking to someone. The man was wearing an official robe and was in his forties or fifties. Luo Shenyuan had a faint smile on his face, and the two were chatting happily. Luo Shenyuan turned around and saw the two people, and beckoned Yi Ning to come over. "Yi Ning...this is Lord Sun."
That was Sun Congwan's father, Luo Chengzhang's teacher, and a third-rank official in the imperial court.
Yi Ning bowed to this Lord Sun. Because it was inconvenient to meet a man from outside the family, Luo Shenyuan asked her to go to the back of the main hall. Through the door, they could still hear their conversation.
Lord Sun admired his third brother very much and this time he came to take Sun Congwan back. He intentionally or unintentionally asked Luo Shenyuan about Luo Chengzhang's visit to Beijing.
Luo Shenyuan heard this and replied, "...my father will be here soon."
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