Chapter 30 Chapter 30 He and Shuyun are the ones who have the best understanding...
Liang Mengyuan was looking for Shuyun on the bustling street. Following the crowd, he unknowingly walked to the riverside. The moonlight was bright, and the shadows of the willow trees were thick. Several couples of like-minded men and women were snuggling and talking by the river. Black-sailed boats were either moored on the shore or slowly sailing on the water with people on board.
Liang Meng watched from afar as a couple kissed beneath a willow tree. The light was dim, and the branches obscured the view, so he could only see the man's tall, broad back. The kissing girl, only her forehead visible, looked like Shuyun, judging by the style of her hairpin.
Liang Meng's mind seemed to explode with a thunderbolt. He opened his eyes wide, unable to believe it, and walked forward. The girl immediately turned her head away, huddled in the man's arms, and hid.
The man waved his long sleeves, covering the petite body in his arms from head to toe.
As Liang Meng approached, the man leaned slightly to the side, his cold eyes sweeping over. Through the shadows of the willow branches, he slowly made out the face. It was Xiao Ye!
Liang Meng was stunned, his face filled with suspicion. Xiao Ye and Shu Yun were siblings, so the girl kissing couldn't be Shu Yun. It was dark, and he couldn't really see the girl's face clearly.
Realizing that he had seen something he shouldn't have seen and had caused trouble, Liang Meng turned around and was about to leave, but was suddenly stopped by Xiao Ye.
"Sir Liang, what a coincidence, we met here."
Liang Meng had to turn around. Under the willow tree, Xiao Ye was tall and had broad shoulders. He held the girl's petite body in his arms. With his wide long sleeves, he covered the girl in his arms without allowing others to see her at all, even a strand of hair was hidden tightly.
Liang Meng smiled awkwardly and put the matter aside, "I went in the wrong direction."
Xiao Ye: "Sister Yun went out of the house tonight. How come you didn't meet her?"
He looked over with a puzzled expression, and the person in his arms was tense.
Today is Qixi Festival, and there's no curfew. Girls long confined to their homes are free to explore, carrying lanterns and strolling the streets. Both men and women can find love in the marketplace. This night is also a day for lovers to meet openly.
Liang Meng and Shu Yun are about to get engaged, so it is natural and appropriate for them to meet tonight.
"I got separated from Miss Yun and was on my way to look for her. She should have..." Liang Meng pointed backwards and said, "She should have gone over there."
Liang Meng said goodbye to Xiao Ye and quickly left, feeling relieved. He had always heard that Xiao Ye was a man of few desires, but he had never expected him to have a secret meeting by the river, or to be so reckless in public.
Liang Meng's ears felt slightly hot. The girl, hidden in his arms with her long sleeves, looked particularly delicate when standing next to Xiao Ye.
The willow branches swayed, and the night breeze carried the sweet fragrance of cosmetics, which emanated from my arms and lingered on my nostrils.
Xiao Ye lowered his eyes, covering them with his long sleeves. The girl hid her head in his arms, her whole body stiff with fear. Her long, white fingers clenched his collar, and she pressed against his chest, looking delicate and pitiful.
Xiao Ye patted her hip lightly and said calmly, "Sister, your brother-in-law is gone."
Shuyun bit her lip, feeling truly embarrassed. He was always like this, so cunning, constantly teasing her. Previously, when he was removing the love poison from her, he had Liang Meng eavesdropping next door, and today, Liang Meng had nearly discovered it.
She felt sad and tears fell one by one. She bit her lips in grievance to prevent any sound from coming out. She grasped the man's clothes with her slender fingers, treating the clothes as him, pinching them hard with her nails.
That's all she can do.
Warm tears wet the clothes on his chest. Xiao Ye stretched out his hand to lift up the palm-sized little face, but Shu Yun refused and turned her head away.
Xiao Ye lowered his head and followed with his fingers. His little face was full of tears and he looked pitiful and had suffered a lot of injustice.
Shuyun didn't know where she got the courage from, but she pushed away his outstretched hand.
Xiao Ye's hand missed and he was obviously stunned. Instead of being angry, a smile appeared on his face. He grabbed the soft white hand and placed it on his chest, tightening his arm around her shoulders.
The man lowered his head, kissed the tears from her cheeks, and whispered softly in her ear. After a long time, she slowly stopped crying, a trace of red at the corners of her eyes, looking pitiful, but she wanted Xiao Ye to bully her even more.
There was a crowd of people in the market town, and the carriages were moving very slowly.
Shu Yun and Xiao Ye were sitting in the carriage together. His scent was everywhere in the small space. The man was silent, and she didn't say anything either. She lowered her head and looked at the tip of her embroidered shoes that were exposed under her skirt.
The man's hand suddenly reached out, Shuyun was startled and subconsciously tried to block it.
Xiao Ye pulled off the pink sachet from her waist and rubbed it in his palm.
A light scent of white orchid, with a very light cold fragrance at the end.
Xiao Ye stroked the embroidery of the sachet with his fingertips and said in a commanding tone, "Don't send anything to Liang Meng anymore."
Shu Yun pursed her lips and nodded. She looked at the sachet he had snatched away, her eyes sore. She would never give anything to Xiao Ye again.
After a while, Xiao Ye stuffed the sachet into Shu Yun's hand and said, "Put it on me."
The sachet was stained with the residual warmth of his palm. Shuyun had no way to refuse, so she slowly moved over, twisted the rope with her slender fingertips, and tied the sachet to the man's waist.
Although the pink color did not match his robe today, Xiao Ye lowered his eyes and looked at it, adjusted the tassels with his fingers, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The carriage was moving slowly, and the streets were bustling with noise. Xiao Ye lifted the window curtain and looked outside.
After a while, Xiao Ye said, "Stop the car."
The driver pulled the reins and the carriage stopped steadily.
Xiao Ye bowed and left the carriage. Shu Yun didn't want to get off, so she stayed where she was. With one person missing from the carriage, her tense nerves gradually relaxed. The bustle outside was still going strong. On previous Qixi Festivals, she and Lin Yunxi would go out and play in the streets, joining in the fun at every crowded place, returning home late at night. They had a blast.
Shu Yun rubbed her sore eyes, and the car curtain was suddenly lifted. Xiao Ye came in with a rabbit candy painting and sat down next to her.
Xiao Ye handed the sugar painting over, but Shu Yun didn't take it. She lowered her eyebrows and puffed her mouth, still angry with him.
Xiao Ye said softly, "My sister likes sugar paintings and cute little rabbits."
Shu Yun pursed her lips and looked at the rabbit candy painting handed to her. She hesitated for a long time before taking it from him.
Shuyun was feeling down, her slender fingers gripping the long bamboo stick. When she was feeling down, she loved sweets, and when she had a quarrel with her siblings, she was quickly coaxed into a good mood.
What was he doing? A slap and then a sweet treat. Shu Yun pursed her lips and bit the ear of the sugar-painted rabbit. The amber sugar crunched between her teeth, making a crisp sound.
Shuyun didn't want to make peace with him. She bit the candy hard with her teeth, breaking the hard candy into pieces, and her mouth was a little sore.
As the days passed, Shuyun never saw Liang Meng again. When the love poison attacked, she went to Yanfuju as usual.
Shuyun lingered in every corner of his bedroom. She didn't like staying by the window or on the armchair.
Shuyun didn't like lying down, as her knees were sore from kneeling, but by burying her head in the pillow, she didn't have to see the horrifying thing.
The water temperature was just right, covering her shoulders, and Shuyun leaned softly on the edge of the tub. He had replaced the tub with a new one that could accommodate two people at the same time, but it was still a little crowded.
Warm water sprinkled with flower petals flowed across her skin. Shuyun was tired and dozed off in the bathtub. Xiao Ye sat behind her and hugged her tightly.
A wet petal touched his snowy shoulder, and Xiao Ye took it away with his lips. He chewed the thin petal between his lips, and it was fragrant.
The water ripples, and the slender fingers are washed in the water, twisting the softness and slowly rubbing the fingertips.
The petals floating on the water surface drifted with the ripples, hit the wall of the bucket, and then bounced back and stuck to the snow-white skin.
Shuyun moaned, her eyes red. Xiao Ye turned her head over and kissed her wet, moving red lips.
The evening breeze blew in through the window, gently ruffling her hair, and the bath water overflowed from the bucket, wetting the floor.
*
Sunlight shone through the curtains. Shuyun bit her lips and grabbed the corner of the quilt with her long, white fingers. Her knuckles turned slightly white due to the force.
Xiao Ye was applying medicine to her. Shu Yun closed her eyes, not wanting to see. But because she had her eyes closed, in the darkness, her senses were particularly sharp. The man's fingertips, smeared with ointment, moved across her skin, and wherever they touched, they felt like a ball of flame.
Shuyun's breath hitched, and her legs trembled slightly. Xiao Ye held her knees, looked up at her, freed one hand, held her soft palm, and lowered his head to continue applying the medicine.
He wasn't taking the medicine seriously.
It was a hot July day, but gradually things got cooler. The autumn wind wasn't too dry, but after applying the medicine, Shuyun still broke out in a light sweat. She lay on the couch, feeling weak as if her bones were gone, her heart pounding.
Xiao Ye took the hand towel to wipe his wet fingers, placed a kiss on her hair, and called Biluo to help her dress.
Shuyun took a break and stood up from the bed. Her black hair fell to her waist and a white jade arm stretched out, with sporadic kiss marks faintly visible. She rubbed her aching waist, thinking that she had been bitten by a dog again.
She couldn't avoid it, so she could only follow his wishes. Everything would be fine after she married into the Liang family.
…
After an autumn rain, the matchmaker from the Liang family came to the Marquis's Mansion and formally proposed to Shuyun with a live goose as a gift.
Old Madam Cui had a kind face and responded with a smile. They exchanged birthday cards with Shuyun and Liang Meng.
"I watched Miss Yun grow up. The young and promising Liang family man is an excellent choice. There hasn't been a happy event in the Marquis' Mansion for a long time. Why not set the wedding date for three months from now?"
Now that Marquis Anlu is about to return to the capital, he is particularly fond of Shuyun. No one knows how things will develop by then. Old Madam Cui is worried that the longer she stays, the more trouble she will have. She needs to set the wedding date as soon as possible and marry her off.
After she gets married, the Marquis's Mansion will be peaceful.
This was the first time the matchmaker had seen a high-class family marrying off their daughter in such haste. She said, "Three months later, the old lady... this is a bit too rushed."
"What's too rushed?"
Xiao Ye was on vacation today, so he naturally couldn't miss this happy event. Soon after the matchmaker came, he arrived at Shou'an Hall.
Xiao Ye came to the reception hall and bowed to Old Madam Cui, "Grandma."
Old Madam Cui's expression changed slightly. With the appearance of Xiao Ye, she already felt the difficulty of the situation.
Xiao Ye lifted his robe and sat down on the chair. He had a reserved and cold demeanor and no emotion could be discerned on his face.
Nanny You looked at the tea, and Xiao Ye took it over, opened the lid and gently touched the edge of the teacup. The porcelain lids collided, making a crisp sound, and he lowered his head to sip the tea.
Neither the grandfather nor the grandson spoke, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn, and the matchmaker felt that something was not right no matter how he looked at it.
Xiao Ye raised his eyes and looked over. The matchmaker's heart sank, and he replied with a stiff upper lip: "Old Madam, Young Master, isn't getting married in three months too fast?"
"It turns out to be Sister Yun's wedding date."
Xiao Ye said slowly, as if it was none of his business, and put the teacup on the table.
The man looked at the birthday card they had exchanged with each other with a serious look, as if he was in deep thought.
After a while, in the silence, Xiao Ye slowly spoke, "Three months is a bit long, why not change it to two months later?"
"Ah?" The matchmaker was surprised and suspected that there was something wrong with his ears. The dates were getting longer and longer.
Xiao Ye spoke each word carefully and set a date, "Two months from now, Sister Yun will get married."
Old Madam Cui frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Ye in surprise. For a moment, she was unsure of what her grandson was thinking.
Xiao Ye said seriously, "Cousin Shao Jiu is marrying a young lady from the Wei family, and sister Yun has also found her ideal husband. She will be getting married in two months, so there's no rush."
Mrs. Cui said nothing. She had thought Xiao Ye had come to stop the marriage, but she hadn't expected him to be so forthcoming. It was truly a blessing in disguise.
Could it be that she was worrying too much before?
Mrs. Cui was originally worried that the night would be too long and things might go wrong.
Mrs. Cui thought about it and decided, "Just two months."
Since both of the people from the Marquis' Mansion said so, the matchmaker had no choice but to nod and agree, "Okay, I'll go back and talk to the Liang family."
As for the Liang family's situation, she didn't know, but she guessed that the Liang family should have no objection.
Without much gossip, the matchmaker drank a cup of tea and left Shou'an Hall.
Xiao Ye stood up and prepared to leave, bowing and saying, "Thank you, Grandmother, for your help. I have already prepared Sister Yun's dowry."
When Yun got married, he was preparing a dowry. Old Madam Cui frowned slightly, watching his back as he left, a doubt in her heart.
But it seems that the marriage between Shuyun and Liang Meng is almost certain.
Mrs. Cui let out a long sigh, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
…
After the matchmaker came out of Anlu Marquis' Mansion, he immediately went to Liang's house and conveyed Mrs. Cui's intention to the two elders of the Liang family.
Setting the wedding date for two months later is indeed a bit rushed.
But then they thought, Marquis Anlu will soon return to the capital. He has already defeated the Northern Yan cavalry, and many people will surely come to the mansion to congratulate him. Besides Shuyun, there are two other girls in the mansion who are of marriageable age but have not yet been engaged. Marquis Anlu's return will surely open up many doors for marriage proposals.
The two elders of the Liang family have inquired about it. Among his many daughters, the one that Marquis Anlu loves the most is Shuyun. Although Shuyun is a fake daughter, she has been raised in the Marquis's mansion for many years, and the feelings of raising her are still there. Even if she is not his biological daughter, he still spoils her.
Liang's mother said, "Marry! Choose an auspicious day. In two months, our Liang family will marry the daughter of the Marquis's mansion."
Two days later, Liang's mother and her mother-in-law went to the Marquis's Mansion to meet Mrs. Cui and discuss the marriage of their two children.
Wang Huilan looked down on the Liang family's status, but since the person being married was not her daughter, she just went along with it. She just wanted to set the wedding date as soon as possible and get the annoying person out of the mansion.
The time between the three books and six ceremonies can be shortened if possible, and combined if possible.
Finally, Shuyun's wedding date was set for two months later, September 17th.
At Chanxueju, Xiao Shuzhen was trying on new clothes. Marquis Anlu was about to arrive in Beijing. She had never met her biological father, so naturally she wanted to show her best side and couldn't let Shuyun take away her father's love.
Xiao Shuan looked at the woman trying on a new dress in front of the mirror and said with emotion, "I didn't expect that among all of us sisters who are of marriageable age, Sister Yun would be the first to get married."
The smile on Xiao Shuzhen's face froze, her expression turned ugly, and she snorted in disgust, "So what? She's marrying a boy from a poor family."
Liang Meng had no one to rely on in the capital, no power or influence. It was out of his reach for him to be a mere doctor in the Water Department and marry into their Marquisate.
Xiao Shuan raised the corners of her lips slightly, waved her round fan, and said, "Who knows, a child from a poor family might also achieve great things. I heard that it was Big Brother who recommended Mr. Liang, and Big Brother also prepared a generous dowry for Sister Yun."
Xiao Shuzhen's face became even uglier, her fingers clutching the corner of her clothes, and she felt jealous.
"When my elder sister got married, my brother didn't prepare anything." Xiao Shuan smiled lightly, as if she was happy for Shuyun. "Sister Yun is not a girl from our Xiao family, but it's great that my brother cares so much about her. When my father comes back, he will definitely add to the dowry."
Xiao Shuzhen was furious and looked back at the person who spoke with angry eyes.
Xiao Shuan was stunned and stopped talking.
She picked up the teacup on the table, lowered her head to drink tea, a smile of success flashed across her eyes, and she was secretly happy.
Xiao Shuzhen ordered the maid to put away all the new clothes and went to Wang Huilan's yard unhappily.
"Mother, why should Shuyun marry whenever she wants?" Xiao Shuzhen's eyes turned red and she cried aggrievedly. Mother loved her and would definitely reject Shuyun's marriage. "Her surname is Tian. She has never experienced any of the suffering my daughter has endured before, and now she is marrying into an official family."
Wang Huilan had solved a major problem in her heart and was just happy, but she was suddenly disturbed by her daughter. She was inevitably unhappy, but she still patiently coaxed her daughter, "The marriage that mother found for you is better than Shuyun."
"I don't want it." Xiao Shuzhen had been spoiled by Wang Huilan these days, and her temper had become spoiled. "Shuyun can't marry Liang Meng."
Wang Huilan frowned, her face showing annoyance, and she said sternly, "Zhen'er, there should be a limit to your temper."
Xiao Shuzhen was horrified and realized that she had made a mistake, so she didn't dare to say anything.
Wang Huilan said with a cold face, "I don't want to hear this again. Go back to Chanxueju and reflect on yourself. Change your temper."
Xiao Shuzhen's eyes gradually turned red. She stood up and left, feeling a little dissatisfied.
Because of Shuyun, A'niang actually spoke harsh words to her.
======
The autumn wind is cool, and Shuyun is pruning flower branches in the pavilion.
Liang Meng sent a pot of peonies. It is not the season for peonies to bloom, but this pot of peonies has lush branches and leaves. If it is well cared for, it will definitely bloom with gorgeous flowers in the spring and summer of next year.
Shuyun was beaming with joy. She and Liang Meng had set their wedding date for September 17th. Two months wasn't too long, but it wasn't too short either. Weddings were complicated, and the busy schedule kept things tight. The wedding date arrived in the blink of an eye.
Shuyun looked forward to getting married so that she could finally escape from that man.
In the summer attic, a pair of eyes as dark as ink were staring intently at the girl in the pavilion, and her brilliant smile was a little dazzling.
Xiao Ye lowered his eyes and watched quietly, his expression becoming more and more sinister.
Laugh now, and cry at night.
--
The days passed in an orderly manner. Marquis Anlu returned to the capital two days earlier than expected. In the evening, news came that the army would rest in the suburbs of the capital for one night and enter the capital the next morning.
Everyone in the mansion was immersed in joy. The family had dinner in Shou'an Hall and waited for Marquis Anlu to return tomorrow.
Shuyun was happy, but also worried that the love poison would break out again tonight.
She raised her head and secretly glanced at the man who was talking to Old Madam Cui at the table. In just a short moment, she was caught by him.
Shuyun looked away and lowered her head to drink the soup.
The night is long, the courtyard is silent, and the candlelight in the bedroom is dim, outlining two hazy shadows, lingering and ambiguous.
Xiao Ye held her on his lap, caressing her soft waist with his fingertips. "Why did you learn to peek at your brother?"
The love poison hadn't yet taken effect. Shu Yun held down his rebellious hand and whispered in denial, "No way."
Xiao Ye lowered his head and pressed his nose against her delicate nose. "Let me see you tonight."
He pressed his lips against hers and tasted the bright lip balm.
A gentle kiss, gradually deepening, lips and teeth intertwined, lingering and tender.
Every time he would sweep away the breath in her lips, Shuyun leaned on his arms to breathe, a faint fragrance floated in the air in the room, and the man's strong heartbeat was particularly obvious.
"Don't leave any marks. I have to see my father tomorrow." Shuyun begged, with sweat oozing from her forehead and her cheeks slightly flushed.
Xiao Ye held the soft little hand, placed it on his waist, lowered his head and kissed the rosy lips again.
The atmosphere around them gradually heated up, Shuyun's love poison took effect, and she tasted the sweetness of the kiss. She leaned over and hugged the man back, and the gentle and lingering kiss gradually turned into madness.
Xiao Ye guided her finger and touched the buckle on her waist. He said in a hoarse voice, "Help me untie it."
Shuyun's fingers trembled.
With a "click" sound, the belt fell to the ground.
Xiao Ye leaned forward and took down the hook of the curtain. The curtain fell down flutteringly, covering the inside tightly and hiding it.
Xiao Ye took out the medicine bottle from under his pillow, poured out a contraceptive pill and swallowed it.
He left her lips and immediately covered them, kissing her gently.
Xiao Ye lifted her knees and let her hang in his strong arms. Shu Yun's heels brushed against his tight waist and abdomen, and both of them trembled.
They are the most compatible couple.
No one is more suitable than Xiao Ye...
====
Early in the morning, Shuyun woke up in Xiao Ye's arms. Her waist ached, so she reached out to rub it.
Xiao Ye's hand reached over and rubbed her waist with just the right strength, but Shu Yun was still scared and pushed him away.
Xiao Ye didn't move his hand away. His fingertips overlapped with the red mark on his waist, gently rubbing the mark he left last night. Shu Yun hurriedly held his hand down and whispered, "It's time to get up."
Xiao Ye pecked her lips lightly, feeling somewhat unsatisfied, "Get up."
Biluo went into the room and helped Shuyun get dressed.
Shuyun hurried back to Hengwuyuan and asked Qiongzhi to do her makeup. She looked in the mirror and found that there were no marks on her snow-white neck, and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
In the morning, the army returned and many people came to greet them at the city gate. Marquis Anlu first went to the palace to meet the emperor.
Everyone was waiting in the lobby for the Marquis to return home. Xiao Shuzhen was dressed gorgeously today. She spoke in a pinched voice, calling them sisters gently and politely.
Shuyun's waist was sore and she was uncomfortable sitting on the chair. She was afraid of being noticed and didn't dare to rub it.
Xiao Ye was sitting opposite her, and naturally he was aware of her discomfort, looking over at her with a pair of dark eyes. Shu Yun pursed her lips, gave him a glare, and lowered her head to drink the tea.
"The Marquis is back!"
Over here, the servant came in hurriedly to deliver the message.
Wang Huilan smiled happily and led everyone out. Shuyun slowly stood up and walked to the end. When no one was paying attention, she rubbed her sore waist and followed.
Marquis Anlu has already entered the mansion and walked in from the Chuihua Gate. He is dressed in clanging heavy armor, with broad shoulders and back, a dignified figure, cold features, and a sharp and majestic gaze, as fierce as if he had fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Wang Huilan came forward and said, "My Lord."
"father."
When Shuyun listened to her sisters' voices, especially Xiao Shuzhen's soft voice, she retreated a little and did not dare to call him as before.
She looked up and saw Anlu Hou looking at her, as if waiting for her to speak. Shu Yun was slightly stunned and bowed, "Father."
Marquis Anlu was delighted and nodded with satisfaction, "Good boy."
Shuyun was happy that her father did not dislike her.
On this side, Marquis Anlu was going to Shou'an Hall to pay a visit to Old Madam Cui, so he asked his children to go back to their rooms first.
After everyone dispersed, Shuyun and Xiao Ye went to the east of the Marquis' Mansion, which was the same direction as Shou'an Hall.
Looking at the majestic figure in front of her, Shu Yun smiled softly and did not notice Xiao Ye approaching.
Xiao Ye said calmly, "Come to my place to apply medicine later."
Shuyun paused and the smile on her face froze.
Xiao Ye's eyes slowly moved down to look at the slender waist. Shu Yun immediately understood his intention and said shyly, "I'll go back and rub it myself. I won't bother you, brother."
Marquis Anlu walked down the corridor and as he turned the corner, he saw two intimate figures on the main road out of the corner of his eye.
He stopped suddenly.
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