Chapter 35, Chapter 13: The Heir Apparent's Wife
Third Uncle and Xu Qingzhou's grandfather were of the same generation.
Perhaps due to his years of martial arts training, his eyes were as sharp and clear as an eagle's, and his posture was upright, exuding a crisp and domineering aura.
If it weren't for his gray hair, you really wouldn't be able to tell from his appearance that he was already an elderly man in his eighties.
Xu Qingzhou got off the carriage first, turned around and helped Yu Wanwan down, then cupped his hands in greeting.
"It's me, I've met Third Uncle."
After exchanging greetings, Xu Qingzhou then introduced the two people behind him.
"This is my wife, and this is my half-brother Mingche, who has not yet received a courtesy name."
Yu Wanwan and Xu Mingche bowed to him one by one as he introduced them.
"Third Uncle".
"Greetings, Third Uncle!"
Xu Mingche's greeting was more elaborate, while Xu Qingzhou and Yu Wanwan's were just ordinary greetings.
Given their status, even if they were willing to perform a grand ceremony, Uncle San would not dare to accept it.
This is just right.
Uncle San smiled so much that his eyes narrowed.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! Don't just stand there, hurry back, it's going to rain again soon!"
"good."
They returned to their respective carriages, and with their third uncle leading the way, they continued their journey.
The Xu family's ancestral home is quite a distance from the city gate.
To get back to the ancestral home, you have to cross several streets.
Sitting in the carriage, you can hear the lively hawking on the street, and from time to time you can hear broken Mandarin and foreign languages that you can't understand.
The unrestrained, loud, and straightforward shouts, the lively scene of children laughing, chasing, and playing, were things that could not be found in the capital city where you could throw a brick and hit a nobleman.
Xu Qingzhou peered out the window, completely absorbed in the view.
Suddenly, the carriage shook violently, and the horses neighed loudly.
Xu Qingzhou was caught off guard and nearly crashed into the window frame. Fortunately, Yu Wanwan pulled him back in time, preventing a fatal head injury.
Once he was settled, Yu Wanwan let go of his hand.
"Thank you..."
Xu Qingzhou, still shaken, opened the car door and peered out, suppressing his anger.
"What happened?"
Outside the carriage, Tinglan stared intently ahead, her face full of anger. As soon as he came out, her anger was directed at him.
The guard driving the carriage had a strange and subtle expression on his face. He turned slightly to the side so that the guard could see clearly ahead.
"Your Highness...you should see for yourself..."
Xu Qingzhou, feeling both puzzled and impressed, looked ahead with a sense of wonder.
In front of the carriage, fruits and melons were scattered all over the ground, and in the middle, a young woman sat slumped down, her eyes slightly red and her face pale, as if she had been badly frightened.
As he looked over, the woman also happened to look up at him.
The moment she saw him, the woman's eyes lit up, and a hint of joy appeared on her face.
"World……"
The carriage door was slammed shut without mercy, cutting off any view from the outside.
"Hurry up, hurry up!"
Oh no, how could Xiaotang be here?
Isn't she at Zuixianlou in the capital?
The guard looked bewildered, but still subconsciously obeyed Xu Qingzhou's words. With a flick of his whip, the carriage shot off like an arrow, whizzing past the woman and leaving.
Before Tinglan could even vent her anger, Xiaotang had already been left behind.
All of Xiaotang's joy and unspoken longing were stuck in her throat by his venomous attitude, leaving her speechless and unable to express herself.
Yu Wanwan glanced at Xu Qingzhou, who looked like he'd seen a ghost, and suddenly became curious.
"What's wrong?"
As he spoke, he reached out to look.
Xu Qingzhou's eyelids twitched, and he quickly went forward to close the window tightly.
"nothing!"
"..."
Yu Wanwan remained silent for a few seconds.
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
His reaction was so strong, how could it be nothing!
Move aside! She wants to see what's going on!
Xu Qingzhou had a terrible headache, so he simply grabbed her wrist to stop her from moving forward.
"It's just some clueless person who bumped into us, nothing to see here!"
"..."
Yu Wanwan smiled.
"Let go."
The gentle tone sent a chill down Xu Qingzhou's spine, and he instinctively let go.
Yu Wanwan glanced at him, then pushed open the car window and looked out.
Everything happened so fast that Xiaotang didn't even have time to react before sitting on the ground, completely bewildered.
Their eyes met without warning.
Yu Wanwan smiled.
It was her.
They actually tracked us all the way here.
No wonder Xu Qingzhou reacted that way.
It seems that life in Changam County won't be too boring.
Yu Wanwan didn't look at her again, pulled her head back, and closed the window.
But Xiaotang saw her attitude as blatant provocation.
Her face contorted involuntarily.
It took them a month to travel from the capital to Cangyan County, and now there are still half a month until the provincial examination.
Xu Qingzhou originally planned to take advantage of the next two weeks to travel around Cangyan County and experience the local customs and culture.
But after Xiaotang's incident, he abandoned the idea without hesitation and spent his days studying in the ancestral home.
Things happened so fast that day that Xu Mingche didn't get off the carriage and had no idea what was going on.
Seeing how hard Xu Qingzhou was working, she decided to join him.
The third uncle was very pleased to see how diligent the two of them were, and instructed the servants to take good care of them.
Yu Wanwan was disappointed.
No matter how many tricks Xiaotang has up her sleeve, if Xu Qingzhou doesn't leave the house or meet with her, she can only sit there helplessly.
With no excitement to be had, Yu Wanwan could only regretfully take Tinglan and wander aimlessly through the streets.
Cangyan County bordered the Southern Barbarians. After the Southern Barbarians submitted, trade relations were established between the two sides.
In Cangyan County, you can find many unique delicacies that are only found in the Nanban region.
This offered some consolation to Yu Wanwan's heart.
Of course, it would be better if Xiaotang didn't show up here.
She may want to watch the excitement, but she has no interest in becoming part of the excitement itself.
Yu Wanwan rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she sized up the uninvited woman in front of her.
Xiaotang was also sizing her up.
"Princess Consort, would you be interested in having a chat?"
"presumptuous!"
Before Yu Wanwan could react, Tinglan couldn't hold back any longer.
"Tinglan".
Yu Wanwan stopped Tinglan and waved her hand.
"Go wait outside."
Tinglan was somewhat reluctant.
"lady……"
This kind of despicable hussy should be beaten out with sticks!
Yu Wanwan gave her a light glance, and no matter how unwilling Tinglan was, she had no choice but to curtsy and obediently retreat to the door.
Tinglan left, and Xiaotang also dismissed her maid.
The door closed, leaving only the two people in the private room, which was completely silent.
Only the occasional hawking sounds from the street downstairs could be faintly heard coming in.
Xiaotang remained silent, and Yu Wanwan was not in a hurry either, playing with her teacup with one hand.
In the end, Xiaotang couldn't hold back any longer and broke the silence.
"Your Highness, have you not heard me play a piece before? It is fate that we have met. How about I play a piece for you?"
Yu Wanwan didn't quite understand what she wanted to do.
Xiaotang didn't need her to understand. Without waiting for her reply, she walked to the zither placed to the side.
With a slight movement of her fingertips, clear and melodious piano music flowed forth.
With a touch of ethereal beauty, in just a moment, it felt as if the music had transported you to a tranquil, secluded valley.
Yu Wanwan raised her eyebrows, propped her head up, closed her eyes, and quietly appreciated the music.
I must say, Xiaotang truly lives up to her reputation as a famous courtesan in the capital. Her musical skills alone are comparable to those of the palace musicians.
No wonder so many scholars flocked to her and fell in love with her.
After the prelude, the clear and ethereal piano music gradually changes, with a slow and regular rhythm.
The melody is tender and the singing is melodious, as if whispering tender feelings.
Yu Wanwan opened her eyes and met Xiaotang's eyes.
She had a pair of extremely beautiful eyes, eyes that seemed to hold endless emotions, capable of captivating the soul with just one glance.
At this moment, his eyes were slightly red, and his eyelashes trembled as if he had suffered a great injustice.
"..."
It has to be said that Xiaotang certainly has the talent.
If she were a man, being gazed at with such deep affection by Xiaotang, he probably would have already been unable to resist pulling her into his arms and tenderly kissing her.
Unfortunately, she wasn't a man.
but……
【Wanwan, it's hypnosis.】
I knew I was right.
Hypnosis, also known as seductive arts in this world, was once the most proficient technique of the southern barbarian witches.
After the Southern Barbarians were incorporated into the Great Rui, the Rui Emperor deeply abhorred these witchcraft practices and had already issued a decree prohibiting them.
I never expected Xiaotang to know this, and to do it so well.
So, what is her identity?
Yu Wanwan's smile deepened.
What does she want to do by using hypnosis on her?
After a few seconds of contemplation, Yu Wanwan gradually let her gaze drift away.
As the music gradually faded, Xiaotang rose from behind the piano and slowly walked to the table.
She lowered her eyes, gazing into her hazy gaze.
"That night was chilly. I was playing the zither in the pavilion when I happened to meet the young master who had come to Zuixianlou with his friends."
Xiaotang stared intently at Yu Wanwan, her tone slow and gentle, as if she wanted to etch these words into Yu Wanwan's mind.
“The prince is a very good person. Seeing that I was all alone and worried that the drunken guests would disturb me, he stood guard outside the pavilion and drove away the drunken guests for me.”
Yu Wanwan's eye twitched.
If she remembered correctly, Xiaotang was the top courtesan at Zuixianlou, having entertained countless customers.
As the top courtesan at Zuixianlou, is she worried about being harassed by customers?
Um……
Xiaotang didn't notice her distraction and continued talking.
"The second time we met, he wrote this song for me. He said he couldn't bear to see me as miserable as I was that night. He said he wanted to take me away from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. He said he would marry me. But in the end, I didn't wait for him to marry me. Instead, I only received a sedan chair..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she blinked and tears rolled down her cheeks like a broken string.
"..."
Yu Wanwan almost couldn't hold back her emotions.
That ability to cry on cue is amazing.
Besides, shouldn't these words be said to Xu Qingzhou? Why would we say them to her?
Yu Wanwan was completely baffled when Xiaotang suddenly lifted her skirt and knelt down.
"Your Highness, I know my status is lowly and I am unworthy to enter the Marquis's mansion. I thought that by speaking my mind so firmly that day and leaving that place of trouble in the capital, I could sever my thoughts of the Prince. Who would have thought that heaven would be so kind as to allow me to see the Prince again in this remote Cangyan? Seeing him avoid me like this, my heart is breaking. Your Highness, I have no other request but to ask for your mercy and let me see the Prince one more time. Just one time, even if it is only from afar, I would be willing!"
"..."
"???"
No, it sounds like she's the one preventing Xu Qingzhou from seeing her.
Just as Yu Wanwan was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out at the door.
"Your Highness! What are you doing here?!"
"Young Master! Please save our young lady!"
At that moment, Xiaotang grabbed her hand, put it on her shoulder, and then fell heavily backward.
Yu Wanwan: ? ? ?
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