Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Burning grip on her feet
Xiao Shuzhen couldn't stop smiling. Before she was sold as a maid, the Luo family had been trying to put off the marriage proposal. She had thought the marriage was already off the table, but she hadn't expected it to be so useful.
As long as Shuyun marries the man surnamed Luo, no one in the Marquis's Mansion will compete with her, and Zheng's cousin will also be hers.
On this side, after receiving the verbal message, Xiao Shuzhen left the Marquis' Mansion in a carriage.
The carriage stopped at Zui Chunfeng Restaurant, a famous restaurant in the capital. In the past, she could only look at it from afar, but now that she received a monthly salary from the Marquis' Mansion and had some spare money, she could come and go freely.
Xiao Shuzhen ordered Xin'er to wait by the carriage and went into Zuichunlou alone.
Li Ce, the crown prince of Huainan, was walking down the street, playing with birds in a golden cage. He saw a carriage parked outside a restaurant and wondered, "Isn't that the Xiao family's carriage? When did a strange girl arrive at the Anlu Marquis's mansion?"
The bodyguard was stunned and thought to himself, you hang out outside all day and are always well-informed. There is nothing in the capital that you don't know.
"My Lord, the third daughter of the Anlu Marquisate was swapped with a farmer's daughter. That daughter is the real daughter of the Marquisate."
"Interesting, no wonder I haven't seen Miss Yun for a long time."
Li Ce smiled and used a thin golden stick to tease the bird in the cage. He held the birdcage in one hand and waved a folding fan in the other. He was wearing gold and silver and looked noble and ostentatious as he swaggered into Zuichunlou.
Xiao Shuzhen went upstairs. Li Ce ordered a pot of tea and asked for a private room next to Xiao Shuzhen. He also went upstairs, fanning himself with a folding fan.
In the box, Tian Wangshun, Aunt Tian and Luo Fangming were all there. Xiao Shuzhen's arrival cheered up the three worried-looking people.
Xiao Shuzhen glanced at them indifferently and sat down at the table. She was no longer a peasant girl, and her manners were elegant. She adjusted her sleeves and reached out to fix her hair. With a condescending attitude, she said impatiently, "What's going on? The marriage is already settled. Why are you so anxious to call me out?"
Luo Fangming clapped his hands anxiously, "The marriage is finalized, but the betrothal gift is ten taels of silver. Where can I find ten taels of silver?"
"Niuniu." Tian Wangshun just called out to her when he was met with a cold stare from Xiao Shuzhen. He had no choice but to change his name and said with a fake smile, "Third Miss, you know the situation of our two families. In the village, marrying a daughter or daughter only costs a few chickens, ducks, and a pig, which is only one or two taels of silver at most."
Tian Wangshun pulled Xiao Shuzhen aside and whispered, "You came up with this idea. Since we don't have enough betrothal gifts right now, naturally I have to come to you."
Xiao Shuzhen frowned and patted the sleeve that he had pulled with disgust.
She hesitated for a while, then took out ten taels of silver from her purse and placed them on the table. "Go to the Marquis' Mansion on a certain day to propose marriage. This time, let's set the wedding date to avoid any further complications."
Luo Fangming took the silver and nodded. As expected, the matter became a big deal and the Marquis's Mansion gave in. As a commoner, how could he dare to tell the Marquis's wife? Spreading the news on the street would be just as effective.
With his status, it is impossible for him to marry the real daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, so marrying a fake one is also a good choice. Although the fake one is fake, she is a beautiful girl who is so beautiful that she can make fish sink to the bottom of their chests and geese fall to the ground, and the moon and flowers blush to shame.
Tian Wangshun put his hand on Luo Fangming's shoulder and asked him to go back and prepare other betrothal gifts.
After Luo Fangming left, only the Tian family mother and son were left in the box. Aunt Tian talked about business and wanted Xiao Shuzhen to give her some more money to support the family.
Xiao Shuzhen laughed sarcastically, "You've already sold your niece, and you still have the nerve to ask for money? You've got the wrong person. Shuyun is the daughter of Tian Laoyao."
"My mother didn't come to trouble you, but the Tian family's ancestors are already in great trouble." Xiao Shuzhen didn't want to stay any longer, so she stood up and left the box. Before leaving, she turned around and said, "The cakes and tea have been paid for, so enjoy."
Tian Wangshun looked at the departing figure, furious. "She's suddenly become so powerful. Before, when I told her to go east, she didn't dare go west..."
Auntie Tian held her son back and said, "Come on, don't get angry. We can't afford to offend her now."
"If it was my aunt standing here, would she still dare to speak like that?"
Auntie Tian quickly stuffed his mouth with some cakes and warned him, "Grandfather, please don't mention that crazy woman again, or you'll get into trouble."
Tian Laoyao's wife simply disappeared on a rainy night and her whereabouts were unknown, but the Tian family was afraid that the Marquis's Mansion would be angry with them because the youngest wife had swapped children, so they lied that she had fallen into the water and died.
Fortunately, the Marquis' wife gave up and did not cause trouble for the Tian family again.
In the box separated by a wall, the bodyguard relayed everything he overheard.
Li Ce, the crown prince of Huainan, teased the bird and sighed, "This girl is so scheming and has such a vicious mind. Miss Yun is so pitiful. We are all good friends, so let's help her."
With a "swish", the folding fan opened, Li Ce gave the birdcage to his bodyguard, and left Zuichunlou waving the folding fan, and went to the alley to watch cockfighting.
*
Shuyun returned to Chanxueju in a daze, but when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, there was still no news of Xiao Ye returning home.
She was very anxious and couldn't sleep at night. When she finally fell asleep, she had a terrible nightmare.
In the dream, Wang Huilan brought her wedding dress and said in a cold voice with a frown, "You have the blood of the Tian family in your veins. Your marriage to the Luo family was arranged by your biological parents. Do you want Zhen'er to marry you?"
Wang Huilan looked at her coldly and urged Shuyun to change into her wedding dress.
Shuyun was dragged into a very small sedan chair, carried out of the Marquis' Mansion, and taken to the Luo family in the countryside.
Shuyun was dragged to the wedding hall and struggled to wake up suddenly. She found it was a nightmare and wet tears flowed all over her face.
Looking at the dark room, Shuyun felt uneasy and reached out to find a handkerchief under her pillow to wipe her tears, but she couldn't find it after searching for a long time.
But she clearly remembered putting the handkerchief under her pillow before going to bed.
Shuyun wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes red. She was so frightened by the nightmare that she lost all sleepiness. She hugged her knees helplessly and leaned against the head of the bed.
The next day, Aunt Fang came to Chanxueju and saw Shuyun's haggard face. "My dear girl, how could you become so haggard? I heard about that matter. The lady has made up her mind and it is difficult to change her mind."
Shuyun lowered her eyes, tears falling one by one like beads from a broken string.
"But the Luo family hasn't made an offer yet, so there might not be any improvement in this matter." Aunt Fang wiped Shuyun's tears, "I heard from the old lady a while ago that the Marquis sent a message back, saying that he wanted to keep you at the mansion, but the lady seemed to have her own considerations, so she hurried the girl to get married."
Shuyun was surprised, "Dad has returned with a message?"
Aunt Fang said, "That's right. The Marquis doesn't treat the young lady as an outsider. I heard that the war at the border is tense and Northern Yan is losing ground. I estimate that within half a year, the Marquis will be able to return to the court."
Concubine Fang was originally a maid of Marquis Anlu's first wife. Later, she became pregnant after climbing into his bed, and was promoted to concubine by Marquis Anlu.
This baby was born by chance, a boy and a girl, a dragon and a phoenix, auspicious combination.
Unfortunately, the second young master was too playful and broke his leg, so he was unlikely to achieve anything great and stayed in the house all day long and refused to come out.
Aunt Fang comforted her, "My dear child, the Marquis loves you the most and will never let you suffer such an injustice."
Aunt Fang has always been taciturn in the mansion, but now that she said such heartfelt words, Shuyun felt warm in her heart and slowly wiped away her tears. She thought that she would hold on until the Marquis came back and she would be fine.
*
That night, it rained heavily and the wind was blowing hard, and the lanterns under the eaves were blown back and forth.
Shuyun held an umbrella and carried a lantern, walking alone along the main road. Cold raindrops drifted down her cheeks in the wind. She walked so fast that the hem of her skirt was soaked by the rain, and even the toes of her embroidered shoes were wet.
Under the eaves, Shuyun folded her umbrella, gripped the handle tightly with her long fingers, and looked at the brightly lit house. "I want to see my brother."
Fu Feng was quite surprised to see her visiting so late at night. He went into the house to report and invited her in after a while.
Xiao Ye wore her silver crown tied high, stood beside the screen, and used a towel to brush off the raindrops on her clothes.
The night rain came suddenly, and the rain gradually got heavier. Raindrops fell from the eaves, making a loud noise.
Xiao Ye sat down, a towel draped across his knees, and glanced at the embarrassed girl. "Sister, why are you visiting so late at night?"
Shu Yun bit her lip and stammered, "Brother, I don't want to marry into the Luo family."
"I've heard about this," Xiao Ye tapped his fingers on his knees and sighed softly, "A few days have passed, and I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Shuyun hadn't expected this to be the outcome. Her rain-soaked black hair was damp and stained her cheeks. She tucked it behind her ears and said, "The two families exchanged tokens. Originally, it was Zhen'er who was chosen, but now they want me to get married."
"Brother, I don't want to get married." Shu Yun's eyes turned red. She wiped her tears awkwardly and choked with sobs, "Please help me, brother."
Xiao Ye stood up, his muscular figure looming over her delicate, frail frame. The man reached out, his warm fingers wiping away the tears from her face. He soothed her gently, "Brother, how could I sit back and watch? Don't worry about the broken engagement."
"Look at this face, it's become like a little kitten." Xiao Ye took the handkerchief from her hand, held her little face, and gently wiped away the tears.
The man's fingertips slid across Shuyun's cheeks, and she slowly lowered her head.
The window was half open and a cool breeze blew into the room. Shuyun couldn't help but sneeze. The hem of her skirt, wet by the rain, stuck to her calves. At this moment, most of her embroidered shoes were wet. She embarrassedly retracted her toes into her skirt.
Xiao Ye turned around and closed the window. "The rain is getting heavier. Sister, please sit in the house for a while and come back when the rain stops."
Shu Yun glanced at the towel on the chair he had laid out. "My dress is wet from the rain and it's a little cold. Brother, give me a towel to wipe it off."
Xiao Ye took a look and handed the towel to her. He then took a coat from the hanger and draped it over her thin shoulders. "It's a cool rainy night. You're weak, so don't catch a cold here with me."
Shu Yun smiled sweetly, "Thank you, brother."
Xiao Ye nodded, turned his back and sat behind the screen.
A brocade screen separates the inner room.
The candlelight cast the man's shadow on the screen, his figure was dignified and dignified.
Shuyun went to sit beside the couch, wiped the wet ends of her hair with a towel, and lowered her head to wipe her wet dress.
The only sound in the quiet room was the rustling of clothes.
Brother's coat was draped over his body, and he had his usual refreshing aura. Shuyun felt as if she was surrounded by him. She was a little uncomfortable, and her cheeks couldn't help but blush.
The rain showed no sign of stopping, and her embroidered shoes were getting wet. Shuyun turned around and glanced at the other side of the screen. The man was supporting his forehead with his elbow, as if he was dozing off.
She hesitated for a while, took off her embroidered shoes, bent down to take off her wet and cold white silk socks, tucked her feet into her skirt, sat on the couch with her knees hugged, waiting for the rain to stop.
Rain beat against the banana leaves. Shuyun couldn't sleep last night. Now, with her brother's help, her anxious mood gradually eased. Listening to the sound of rain outside the window, she slowly felt sleepy.
She gathered her clothes and fell asleep on the couch unknowingly.
As the night deepened and the candles went out, steady footsteps were heard. Xiao Ye stood in front of the couch, lowering his eyes to look at the peaceful sleeping face.
After a while, he sat on the edge of the couch, using his long fingers to brush away the hair on the girl's cheeks, and gently stroked her fair and tender cheeks with his fingertips. The girl's long and warm breath fell on his fingers, staining them with her scent.
Xiao Ye's eyes were as deep as the sea, and his gaze passed over her eyebrows, nose, lips, and neck one by one. The pair of small feet half covered by his clothes were white and tender.
He reached out, lifted up the half-covered clothes, grasped the slender heel, and lifted it slightly.
Shuyun woke up with a start, only to see the man coming to the bedside at some point, holding her feet with his hot hands.
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