Chapter 22 The Double-Pupiled Beauty in the Backyard of the Deep Mansion 4
The night was cool and still, the daytime hustle and bustle subsided, and a lingering trace of cooking smoke lingered in the candlelight.
Luo Yunyao sat in front of the dressing table, and a maid combed her hair. After removing her exquisite makeup, her face was half-lit and half-shadowed, and she had a deepness that did not belong to a girl of her age.
Behind Luo Yunyao, kneeling, was the stewardess who had gone to Luo Shu's courtyard with the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince that day. Her figure was hunched over, like a curled-up shrimp.
The stewardess knew that Luo Yunyao was kind on the outside but ruthless on the inside, but when she thought of what the pale-faced, beardless eunuch had said in her ear today, her body trembled even more violently, her clothes were soaked with sweat, and her forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
She couldn't say that while the young lady might be kicked out of the manor at most, she could be killed. She couldn't say that.
“Mama Li, Miss is asking you where your two distinguished guests went today. You’d better tell me the truth.”
A maidservant beside Luo Yunyao shouted angrily. The maidservant had raised eyebrows and was dressed much better than the average maidservant. She was Luo Yunyao's personal maidservant.
Luo Yunyao didn't even look at the woman kneeling on the ground, but only at her own reflection in the mirror, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
Her appearance in this life is truly beautiful and charming. She looks at the mirror in front of her. At this time, there are already mirrors with mercury bases, no longer the blurry bronze mirrors. In her previous life, she was a liberal arts student and did not know the raw materials and processes of these manufacturing techniques, so she had no way to make money from them.
So she could only focus on creating future ideas in terms of food, drink, and entertainment, and even that was enough to make her a fortune every day.
She's beautiful, I know.
Money, we have it.
He gained fame.
Status: the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor. That's not enough.
She's the one who's going to take that position.
She had high hopes for the second prince because in many palace intrigue novels, the male protagonist was always portrayed as sickly and indifferent, but in the end, he was actually shrewd and persevering, and successfully seized the throne.
The second prince should be the same.
However, the second prince remained indifferent to her, and she gradually lost patience.
Even though Li Xuanshu possessed the same temperament and appearance as the white moonlight in her heart that she longed for, Luo Yunyao had been pampered by others for so many years, yet she had bowed her head in front of him alone, and he completely refused to accept her. This made Luo Yunyao feel resentful in her heart.
Luo Yunyao gripped the jade hairpin tightly, her finger bones bulging with force, and the veins on the back of her hand were faintly visible, revealing the protagonist's immense anger.
With a "snap," the fine jade hairpin broke in two. The maidservant beside it immediately knelt down. For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath, and the silence was so profound that you could hear a pin drop.
"It's nothing, I just slipped. Shihua, you can pick it up for me."
"Yes, Miss."
Shi Hua picked up the broken jade hairpin for her master and placed it back on the dressing table. The sharp end gleamed coldly in the candlelight, no longer possessing the warm luster of white jade.
"Get up, everyone."
Luo Yunyao's voice was soft and sweet, and she had a smile on her face, appearing gentle and virtuous.
Only then did the maids and servants dare to stand up, but Li Pozi, who was kneeling in the middle, had her sweat-soaked clothes dried, but now she was covered in sweat again, and her body smelled sour.
Luo Yunyao frowned and said, "Aunt Li, right? I called you here today for no other reason than to ask where our two distinguished guests went today. Just tell me the details and you can go back."
Madam Li said tremblingly, "Miss, where did those two distinguished guests go? I don't know the specifics. I followed the two gentlemen out of the waterside pavilion, and then they wouldn't let me follow anymore. It seems that the two gentlemen said they had a headache and wanted to find a place to have tea."
After speaking, Li's mother wiped the sweat from her face with her sleeve, her expression fearful and uneasy. She only dared to look down at Luo Yunyao's gold and silver embroidered soft satin shoes, not daring to look up at her master.
"Why is Madam Li so nervous? I'm not some man-eating beast. Could it be that you're hiding something?"
Luo Yunyao's voice was calm, but it made the woman on the ground tremble even more, shrinking back and pressing her head even lower.
“Miss, I have always served in the outer courtyard. Today is the first time I have been blessed by the gods to meet you. You have a noble air about you. I have never seen anyone more noble than you. I am timid and have offended your eyes. I beg your forgiveness.”
After saying this, Li Mama kept kowtowing. Seeing the woman's humble, timid, and shabby appearance, Luo Yunyao waved her hand and told the old woman next to her to pull her away.
This person probably wouldn't dare lie to himself, which means that Li Xuanwei and Li Xuanshu really did drink too much and went ashore for tea. Furthermore, it's likely that Li Xuanshu was in poor health and felt nauseous while on the boat.
However, neither of them had any romantic feelings for him.
Luo Yunyao was furious. Could it be that she really had no choice but to choose the eldest prince?
She was somewhat unwilling, but she did need to start planning for herself. She was not young anymore and would likely get engaged by the end of the year.
Her marriage is not just her own affair, but also a major event for the Grand Tutor's family. It seems that she needs to discuss this matter with her father.
The next day, Luo Shu was awakened by Chun'er's shouts outside. The sun was past noon, and it was getting late. She put on an outer robe and got up to go to the courtyard, where she was also stunned by the scene before her.
Dozens of chests were piled up in the courtyard, some of them open, containing silks and satins, as well as food, tonics, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, and everything else.
On the front box were two letters addressed to Miss Luo Er.
Luo Shu opened the letter. It was written by one of the two men from yesterday. In the letter, he apologized for his impetuous visit yesterday and brought some things to make up for his rudeness. He hoped that Luo Shu would accept them.
The other letter conveyed a similar message. After reading it, Luo Shu casually stuffed it into the box. These things must have been delivered last night. They probably didn't come through the main gate of the Prime Minister's residence; they must have been brought in by scaling the walls and rooftops, otherwise the residence wouldn't be so quiet today.
These two are indeed shrewd and clever, but also quite domineering. Luo Shu scoffed, "Ha, royalty."
"It's alright, please accept it. Zhou Ma and Chun'er, you two organize the things and use what you need."
After saying that, Luo Shu went to wash up. She was a little hungry and hadn't had breakfast yet.
Zhou Ma and Chun'er exchanged a glance, both of them quite excited. If Miss said she could keep them, she definitely could; these were all good things.
Meanwhile, Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei returned home together in a carriage after the banquet yesterday. The atmosphere inside the carriage was tense, and the two were at odds.
Such a rare treasure would be coveted by anyone who saw it, so let's see who wins in the end.
"Don't let a third person know about this."
Li Xuanshu's voice was indifferent, and his face, which was usually gentle and refined, was now somewhat obsessive.
"Does Second Brother even need to say that?" Li Xuanwei's voice was mocking, and his face seemed to show anger, no longer the carefree person he had been before.
"I wanted to send Miss Luo something as an apology, but the Grand Tutor's residence is heavily guarded. What do you think, Fourth Brother?"
Li Xuanshu toyed with his teacup, thinking about the unique woman he had seen today. His heart was filled with emotion. It was heartbreaking to see a pearl covered in dust, but it also brought him peace of mind, didn't it?
But she should have been using the best of everything—silk and satin, gold and jade treasures—which should have been her daily necessity.
Judging from the dress she's wearing today, which is faded from washing, I know she's in a precarious situation at the Grand Tutor's residence. However, the Grand Tutor's residence probably doesn't know what kind of appearance she has, otherwise, given Grand Tutor Luo's cunning nature, he would probably have spread the word far and wide, profiting himself immensely.
Therefore, the reason she remained silent in the mansion should be because of her double pupils.
Li Xuanshu's heart skipped a beat. Recalling those mysterious and captivating eyes, he could no longer suppress his greed. His throat was parched, and he lost his composure, picking up the teacup on the table and taking a sip as a cover-up.
The other person in the carriage wasn't paying attention to him either; Li Xuanwei's eyes were vacant, his mind and soul were fixed on the other person.
He was pampered from a young age, his mother was favored, and his maternal grandfather was from a prominent family. Whatever he wanted, he could get it easily. His interest came quickly and went quickly.
Even today, when he sees that person, it feels like a fire is burning in his chest, his heart is pounding, and every move she makes captivates him.
He seemed to be captivated by those beautiful eyes.
The two looked at each other in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, while secretly plotting to send something to Luo Shu that evening.
It's perfectly normal for members of the royal family to have their own private forces, but the fact that they're delivering things together tonight means they're preparing to join forces, first to deal with external threats and then eliminate other threats.
This didn't need to be said openly; both of them knew it in private.
From that day on, every two to three days, someone would be sent to deliver things to Luo Shu and the others.
No legal wife would like a child born out of wedlock, so the Grand Tutor's wife chose the most remote place for Luo Shu. This actually benefited them, as they could come and go as they pleased, and within half a month, Luo Shu's little courtyard had changed completely.
The recliner was replaced with a chair made of Phoebe zhennan wood, covered with the finest brocade quilt. Exquisite cushions were also placed on the stone benches. Not to mention, every piece of furniture and bedding in the room was a treasure.
Luo Shu wasn't one to compromise herself. If someone was willing to make sacrifices, she would accept it. Why wouldn't she take advantage of something good? She didn't have anything worth their coveting. Besides, these two only sent gifts; their own people didn't come, which pleased her greatly.
Luo Shu's eyelids were half-closed. The sky was clear and bright; it was another perfect day for sleeping.
It wasn't that Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei didn't want to come; they simply couldn't. The emperor was keeping a close eye on them lately, and with the summer palace matters to attend to, they were swamped with work and simply couldn't find the time to visit Luo Shu. The main problem was that many people were secretly watching them, and if they were exposed... well, it was better to appease them for a while.
Time passed slowly but surely, and the weather grew increasingly hot. Luo Yunyao's restaurant launched a novel product: milk tea, which became an instant hit throughout the capital.
This milk tea is sweet and contains pearls. It comes in many different flavors, such as matcha and watermelon, and the taste is very appealing. It's not cheap, but for the wealthy families in the capital, the price is nothing.
As soon as the milk tea was made, Luo Yunyao sent some to the palace and also to several princes.
It's served in a beautiful porcelain jar, with ice cubes floating inside and colorful little dumplings floating among them. The aroma is rich and sweet—who could resist?
Normally, the palace does not allow the sending of food, but Luo Yunyao is already famous and her various good things are obvious to all. If she does not send food to the palace, it would seem as if she does not respect the imperial authority.
Moreover, Grand Tutor Luo was happy for his daughter to make an appearance in front of the noble ladies in the palace. His daughter was also of marriageable age, and he wanted the Luo family to take a step further.
However, deciding which side to take requires careful planning.
Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei received the milk tea, and their eyes lit up after tasting it. This thing looked unremarkable, but it tasted really good. Why don't we send it over to Miss Luo to try?
The ice in this jar hasn't melted yet; we need to get it over there quickly.
They summoned their own bodyguards. For these bodyguards, who had risked their lives countless times, taking these things over during the day was a piece of cake.
Upon arriving in the courtyard, both bodyguards saw them. They had received the milk tea around the same time, so they guessed that the two bodyguards had come over as soon as they received it. The two bodyguards exchanged a glance. Recently, they had been delivering things together frequently, and they had developed some tacit understanding. However, today was the first time they had come during the day; at other times, they would come at night.
In the courtyard, only a woman was sleeping on a huanghuali wood recliner under a tree. She wore a long, cloud-colored gauze dress that reached all the way to her ankles. The front of the dress, embroidered with light pink silk thread, was slightly open, and her waist was not cinched, making her slender waist appear incredibly thin.
Her face was unadorned with makeup, her thick black hair was simply tied back with a ribbon, giving her a free and easy air. Her face was as smooth as jade, her lips as beautiful as peach blossoms, her eyebrows as dark as distant mountains, and her features were exquisitely crafted, so beautiful that she seemed otherworldly.
The two guards had never seen Luo Shu before; they usually came at night, and Luo Shu was already asleep. Today, upon seeing her, they were astonished by her beauty.
The two men were perched on the wall, preparing to climb over into the yard, put the jar away, and then leave.
Luo Shu lazily opened her eyes, her gaze filled with the shimmering light of stars. The two guards felt as if they were about to lose themselves in the starry sky, for the person before them was breathtakingly beautiful.
The two lost their balance and fell to the ground with a thud. It must be said that the guards' professionalism was extremely high; even though they fell, not a drop of milk tea was spilled.
“Miss Luo, I am here on the orders of my lord to deliver this to you. My lord specifically instructed that this should be consumed as soon as possible, as it will spoil easily if left for too long.”
The two guards gave similar accounts. After delivering the goods, they dared not look at the stunning beauty before them any longer. Such an unparalleled beauty was not someone they could covet.
The two bowed to Luo Shu again and then disappeared over the wall.
Chun'er just came out of the house. She asked curiously, "Miss, I think I just heard something fall to the ground."
Chun'er was a little puzzled, but then she saw the two porcelain jars on the table and looked curious.
Luo Shu told her to get two bowls so they could share the drink. Chun'er didn't dwell on the sounds she had just heard and happily ran into the house to get the bowls.
"Wow, this tastes so good!"
Chun'er smiled broadly. This was truly the best thing she had ever tasted. It was fragrant and sweet, and the little meatballs in the soup were also delicious. It was so good!
Luo Shu remained noncommittal. The milk tea was indeed quite good, and it had to be said that Luo Yunyao did have some effect.
Under a clear blue sky with fluffy clouds, sipping milk tea, life is good.
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