Chapter 109
Xie Yun's eyes kept looking towards the main hall door.
If she didn't want to meet him, how could the Lin family, who had just moved to the capital and were considered a newly wealthy family, be worthy of her and her mother making a personal visit?
Mrs. Xie had always doted on her, always accommodating her requests. Hearing that she was still thinking about the newly crowned number one scholar, Luo Shenyuan, she smiled and said, "With my son's status, who wouldn't be a good match for him? The last time I saw her from afar, she was indeed quite remarkable. She's bound to become something great in the future." Then she changed the subject, "I heard they've already decided on the young lady from the Sun family."
Xie Yun grabbed her mother's hand and said angrily, "That's not true. The Sun family said they would wait until he passed the imperial examination before getting engaged. I think if he doesn't pass, the Sun family might regret it."
Her daughter has always been cold to others, and it was rare to see her so attentive to someone, so Mrs. Xie kept her in mind.
She happened to receive a visiting card from Lin Hairu, so she simply brought her daughter to visit the Luo family and see what the Luo family was like.
While Mrs. Xie was drinking tea, her eyes fell on Yining.
Old Madam Xie had long heard that the Duke of England had brought home a daughter from outside. She remembered Zhao Mingzhu, the former Duke of England's daughter, as domineering and rude, while this biological daughter was more capable. Standing behind Lin Hairu, she had a strikingly beautiful face. Although her family background wasn't traditional, such beauty was rare.
Mrs. Xie couldn't help but take a few more glances.
At this time, Nan Ge'er was carried out. He was lying in the arms of his wet nurse. He had just woken up, chewing his little fist and not saying a word. Lin Hairu took him from the wet nurse's arms and said to Yi Ning, "I think the sun is getting high. Why don't you take him to the house to play and take Miss Xie with you."
Lin Hairu had just learned that Xie Yun didn't like opera either. But the troupe had already arrived, so what else could the ladies do but watch the opera?
Yi Ning took Nan Ge'er into her arms, and Nan Ge'er leaned into her arms when he saw a familiar face. Xie Yun also stood up, surrounded by servants, making her look more impressive. She said softly, "There's nothing fun to do in the house. Why don't you, Sister Yi Ning, accompany me to see the mansion?"
Yi Ning secretly complained. It was a hot day, and Xie Yun didn't mind the heat, but she did. Besides, Luo Shenyuan had gone to court, so there was no way he'd run into him even if he turned around a lot.
But since the guest had asked for it, there was no reason to refuse, so she could only nod and agree, hand Nan Ge'er back to the wet nurse, and accompany Xie Yun to the garden.
The two walked along the corridor, passing through a moss-covered stone corridor, which was very quiet. A cool breeze blew over, and Yining felt her burning cheeks feel a little better. But when she looked up, she saw that Miss Xie had already walked ahead of her. After passing the moon gate in front, she would reach the front yard.
Songzhi held an umbrella for Yining and whispered, "Miss Xie, why are you out in such hot weather? You feel hot even with an umbrella... Would you like some sour plum soup?" Before going out, she specially cooled the well water and put it in a pot waiting to be drunk.
Yi Ning shook her head and said, "If she goes any further, she'll run into Lu Ming Tang's guards..." She quickened her pace to catch up with Xie Yun and said, "I heard Sister Xie Yun and Third Brother talking last time. Do you two know each other?"
Xie Yun glanced back at her. She had thought it was her business to come out, and she hadn't actually wanted Luo Yining to accompany her. She had always disliked girls her age, always thinking they were all little girls with nothing to say, so she said lightly, "Yes, I know her."
"Third brother went to court early this morning and shouldn't be back yet." Yi Ning looked up at her, smiled and said, "If Second Miss Xie is tired, let's find a pavilion to rest for a while. My maid brought some sour plum soup."
Xie Yun was stunned for a moment, and Luo Yining had already turned around and instructed Song Zhi: "...Go and ask someone to bring the tea set."
It was indeed very hot that day.
There were no pedestrians on the street, and the peddlers in the alley had packed up their stalls. Lian Fu leaned against a small rosewood table, watching the sun rise outside. This house in the alley was her home. Outside the window, the grass and trees were lush, and the cicadas chirped endlessly.
Lian Fu was bored waiting, so he took out a pair of scissors from the basket and made insoles according to the shoe pattern.
A little girl with two rings in her hair came in hurriedly and said to her, "Miss, the master sent someone to tell her... that he is not free to come."
Lian Fu lowered her eyes after hearing this, pursed her lips and said softly: "He is finally tired of me..."
The little girl felt uncomfortable when she saw her holding Master Cheng's shoe pattern. She advised, "Miss, I think Master Cheng is really busy. He doesn't even go to the pleasure boat now."
Lian Fu pretended not to hear and continued, "He was impatient the last time I saw him. He wasn't like this before. He always spoke softly and gently. I don't know who he's with, but now he ignores everyone... People told me they couldn't like him, and I told myself the same thing. Why doesn't he come to see me anymore? I'm still so upset."
The little girl saw how tightly she clutched the shoe pattern in her hand, and thought of how she often got up at dawn to attend Master Cheng's morning court session. If Master Cheng's new shoes didn't fit, she'd immediately make him new ones. And since Master Cheng didn't like cosmetics, she'd never use any at all... She said, "I'll go and tell you again. Please wait!"
With that she ran out quickly.
Lian Fu sighed, leaning against the wall with the pipa in silence.
Outside the palace gates, guards stood every five steps and sentries every ten, a testament to the imperial majesty. Under the scorching sun, the guards, sweating profusely, stood motionless. The palace was adorned with golden glazed tiles, vermilion pillars, and golden dragon-shaped corbels. Cheng Lang stood quietly, observing this imperial majesty.
A servant came over and whispered to him, and he listened and said, "...If she sends someone to deliver a message again in the future, you don't have to tell me." His tone was a little cold.
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