Chapter 165
Luo Yining sipped from his teacup, the weather freezing cold. Mist rose from the cup and drifted across his face. Outside the flower hall, only dry branches remained of the trees. The sky was gloomy and low, and a white light shone overhead.
She looked up and saw that it looked like it was going to snow soon.
Pearl brought out a small plate of gingerbread and gave it to her to eat with her tea. She said, "It seems the cold came earlier today. It's only late October."
It was indeed colder than in previous years. Luo Yining suddenly asked Zhenzhu, "I remember that you and Daimao were born in the same year. You should be nineteen now. Ordinary maids should be sent out of the house at this age. Do you want to get married?" It seemed that the maids who served her had to marry late. Xuezhi also got married late back then.
"You are still young and don't have anyone you can trust around you. I am always worried about a new maid." Zhenzhu bowed and smiled, her tone a little obscure. "I don't like getting married. I have to take care of my husband and children and suffer from the in-laws' troubles. Especially for maids sent out of the mansion, some of the money they earn is also worried about by their in-laws. It would be better for me to serve the young lady for the rest of my life. I would be freer and no one would dare to look down on me."
Yi Ning shook her hand. Pearl's hands were always rougher than hers, and her palms were slightly warm. As long as she stayed with her for one day, Yi Ning would not treat her badly.
Yining stood up and prepared to go into the house. The weather was too cold, so Lin Hairu asked the maid to get a stove. After burning charcoal in the house, it became warm.
Da Zhou was saying to Luo Yilian, "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Commander Lu yet. I wonder what he looks like?"
Luo Yiyu pursed her lips and smiled very subtly: "I saw him once when I was young, but I didn't see him clearly. I just remember that he was very tall and handsome."
"Didn't Mei Jie'er acknowledge Governor Lu as her adoptive father?" Lin Hairu, who was cracking melon seeds, turned to ask Yi Ning, "Isn't that right? You must have seen him at the Duke of Ying's mansion. What does he look like?"
Yi Ning grabbed a handful of five-spice melon seeds from her small dish and said calmly, "I don't see him very often. It's probably similar to what Fourth Sister said, just that he needs to be more dignified."
Little Zhou interjected with interest, "Third brother's wife is the governor's adopted daughter, how come I haven't heard you mention her?"
Yi Ning said, "My father asked him to adopt me as his adopted daughter. I don't usually visit him, so there's nothing much to say."
There are many kinds of adopted daughters: those who are verbally adopted and those who are officially listed in the family tree. Luo Yining did not interact with Lu Jiaxue on a daily basis, and did not mention him. Naturally, others did not take this matter seriously.
In the afternoon, a light snowflake began to fall, as fine as salt. Nan'er was delighted. His nurse had wrapped him up tightly, so he wasn't afraid of the cold. He grabbed Yining's arm and dragged her out, "Sister-in-law, snow! Snow! Snow!" The child had just learned to walk, and he refused to be held by anyone.
Yi Ning was dragged outside by the chubby little ball to watch the snow. The stone path was already wet. He reached out to take his hand, but Yi Ning took it back and kissed his soft, milky face. "Don't take it. You might catch a cold, or I'll force you to drink medicine."
Brother Nan was chewing his fingers. Maybe his little brain was thinking about something, or maybe he just didn't react.
The outer courtyard was noisy, and a maid ran in to announce that Lu Jiaxue had arrived. Yi Ning wiped Nan Ge'er's saliva-stained hands clean and stood up. She saw that the maids and maids were gathered together, and everyone had already filed out with umbrellas. Yi Ning picked Nan Ge'er up and kissed him again: "Let's go and watch the fun."
Nan Ge'er hugged her neck and grabbed the jade earrings dangling from her ears to play with them.
Lu Jiaxue's appearances were always grand, with his personal guards standing guard throughout the front hall, a truly impressive sight. Luo Chengzhang, dressed in his official uniform, was chatting with him. Outside, snowflakes drifted, a chill wind blew. Yining caught sight of his handsome profile from inside the room, its sharpness etched through the drifting snow, like a sharp knife and an axe. He wore a black crane-shaped gown and a leather belt with lion and tiger patterns around his waist. He was as steady as a mountain.
Da Zhou couldn't help but sigh, "Not only is he incredibly powerful, but he's also so handsome. No wonder so many people flock to him..."
Little Zhou pulled Luo Yilian's sleeve and said excitedly, "Sixth sister, come and take a look!"
Luo Yilian also saw Lu Jiaxue for the first time. Such an outstanding person! Although he had an outstanding third brother like Luo Shenyuan by his side, Lu Jiaxue was a completely different type of person.
Those legends etched behind this man are like a bottomless fog, impossible to see through, impossible to understand.
Lu Jiaxue, standing before him, was an imposing figure, speaking slowly and unhurriedly, only replying occasionally. Luo Chengzhang, however, was extremely respectful: "...Since the Governor has come today, we dare not neglect him. My wife has brought Sister Lian here, would you like to see her?" Although this was against etiquette, Luo Chengzhang had no intention of exercising formality in front of Lu Jiaxue.
"Let's do as Lord Luo wishes." Lu Jiaxue covered the teacup.
Lin Hairu led Nan Ge'er and Luo Yilian into the front hall. Fearing she might be nervous, she asked the sisters-in-law to accompany her. Aunt Qiao didn't have the status to attend such a ceremony, and Yi Ning, wanting to see Lu Jiaxue's attitude, also went up with the two sisters-in-law.
Lu Jiaxue glanced at the crowd, seemingly not paying any attention to Luo Yining, his gaze fixed on the obviously well-dressed young woman. Luo Yilian then stepped forward to salute him, her voice trembling as she spoke, "...My daughter Yilian greets the Governor."
Lu Jiaxue had no interest at all. Luo Yilian was very beautiful, but he had seen countless beauties, some shy and some noble, none of them were special.
But he looked at Luo Yilian for a long time before saying, "Sixth Miss, please sit down."
Luo Yilian felt as if his gaze was heavy, pressing her down to the point of suffocating her. She sat down and saw Lu Jiaxue's fingers rubbing the ring, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Is she about to become this man's concubine... Luo Yilian's heart began to pound.
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