Chapter 2 I Saw It All
Fortunately, someone else came outside. Qingwu stood up immediately when he saw him, and his expression was finally not as indifferent as before.
There were three people coming. The leader was her father Xi Jianan, who was also the governor who would go to Jingzhou tomorrow. The two people following behind him were also her brother Xi Qingbai and her husband Song Yunhe.
Qingwu called out "Father." Xi Jianan was very happy to see her and replied with a smile, "Qingwu is here."
He wanted to reach out and touch his daughter's head, but then he remembered that his daughter was already married, so he put his hand down.
Xi Qingbai also nodded to Qingwu, and said, "What a coincidence, I happened to meet Yunhe on the way back." But his eyes involuntarily passed Qingwu and looked at the people deeper in the room.
Qingwu felt a little depressed, but she could do nothing about it. After all, feelings grow with time, and she was indeed not as close to them as they were in their daily interactions and their feelings were not as deep.
After sighing softly in her heart, Qingwu turned and raised her lips to look at the person beside Xi Qingbai. She wanted to call him "husband", but Song Yunhe didn't even look at her. He just bowed his head upwards.
"I have met Lady Liang."
Qingwu closed his mouth and sat back in his chair.
Seeing this scene, Xi Qingtong curled his lips slightly and exempted them from formalities. "Brother, cousin, please don't be so formal. Please sit down."
In the evening, the Xi family held a big banquet. After the banquet, the drunk father and brother were helped back to their room by the servants. Qingwu, who was hiding his worries, also drank a few glasses and smelled slightly of alcohol.
She followed Madam Zheng and Concubine Liang to the backyard. After taking only two steps, Song Yunhe followed after seeing off his father-in-law and uncle.
The cool night breeze blew by, and Qingwu smelled the scent of alcohol coming from Song Yunhe. She turned her head sideways and her eyes met his.
Reflecting the light of the lantern, a hint of tenderness appeared in Song Yunhe's eyes.
Qingwu couldn't help but slow down his pace, and slowly walked side by side with him, with some hope in his heart.
They had been married for three months, but their marriage was in name only. During their first wedding days, Song Yunhe had never touched her, saying that he was afraid to indulge in women because of the upcoming imperial examinations.
Qingwu didn't dare to disturb him, but only took care of his food, clothing, housing and transportation, and served him tea and water when he was studying, and kept him company.
But after he passed the imperial examination, he still did not consummate his marriage with her. Qingwu thought that he was introverted and even plucked up the courage to take the initiative twice, but was still rejected for various reasons.
Qingwu was a little discouraged and angry. After being insulted so many times, he hadn't been close to anyone for a long time.
Perhaps God heard Qingwu's expectation, and her hand hanging by her side was gently held, and the warmth was instantly transferred between their touching skin.
She was startled, but couldn't help feeling shy, and finally she slowly shook hands back.
After all, Song Yunhe is her husband, the person she will accompany for the rest of her life, so it would be good if their relationship could be closer.
A young couple walked side by side, their clasped hands visible under their sleeves, their intimacy needless to say.
Xi Qingtong, who was walking in front, looked back and saw this scene. He became angry instantly and whispered a few words to Madam Zheng beside him.
Madam Zheng immediately turned around, and with just one glance, her eyebrows knitted together. They were still outside...
Qing Wu was just delighted by her husband's sudden closeness when a maidservant from Madam Zheng stopped in front of her and softly reminded her, "Madam asked me to tell you that she had two rooms cleaned."
As soon as these words were spoken, Qingwu's face turned red instantly. Looking at her mother and sisters who stopped in front of her and looked at her, she immediately let go of Song Yunhe's hand.
"Okay, okay, I understand."
Qingwu knew that this sentence was directed at them.
There is a local custom in Dayu that daughters and sons-in-law cannot live in the same room when they return home, and they must sleep in separate rooms.
Although not every household follows this custom, it is obvious that Mrs. Zheng does.
She has always attached great importance to rules, and because of this, the mother-daughter relationship between her and Qingwu was damaged a lot.
But at this time Qingwu was only concerned about being shy and didn't notice the expression of her husband beside her. She felt like she was falling into an ice cellar.
Song Yunhe was also sobered up by the maid's words. He thought clearly about what he had just done, and then saw the person in front of him looking at him in the dark night. He was shocked and strode forward to widen the distance between him and Qingwu.
Qingwu thought that he was just like himself, being shy and timid because of his elders, so he stopped talking. However, he was thinking about how to get closer to him later.
She planned to invite him into her house, drink some hangover soup together, and chat about family matters...
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard where they lived together, Qingwu smiled and was about to speak out the speech she had prepared all the way, but Song Yunhe interrupted her and said, "Qingwu, I'll stay in the wing room tonight."
The smile on Qingwu's lips faded slightly. This was what she had planned.
But before she could say anything else, Song Yunhe walked straight into the wing room, leaving her alone again.
The footsteps were hurried, as if someone was chasing him from behind, and he obviously didn't want to pay attention to her.
Qingwu felt a sense of indescribable loss in her heart for a moment, but she didn't like to force others, so she went into the main house.
Yuzhu was busy making the bed, and Baozhu went to help her get hot water.
It was still a bit chilly in the evening of February, so Yuzhu lit the stove to prepare some hot water for the night. When the charcoal fire started to burn and there was some smoke, Qingwu opened the window to let in some air, and just in time saw Song Yunhe walking out of the yard quickly.
He looked in a hurry, as if he had something urgent to do.
Yuzhu also caught a glimpse of this and looked at Qingwu deliberately and said, "It's still early now. Maybe she's gone to look for the eldest son. The charcoal is just burning and the smoke is thick. Why don't you go out and take shelter?"
Hearing the hidden meaning in Yuzhu's words, Qingwu's face turned slightly hot, and he nodded and followed her out.
Her husband had finally shown some signs of intimacy, so it was only right for her to be more humble.
After all, grandma hopes that she can live a harmonious life with her husband and live a simple and happy life like an ordinary woman.
However, not long after Qingwu went out, he bumped into the third lady Xi Qingmian.
Xi Qingmian hurriedly ran over and grabbed her arm. She was about to cry, but lowered her voice as if she remembered something.
"Sister, please ask Madam for me. I want to go to Jingzhou with my aunt."
Madam Zheng wanted to stay in Beijing to take charge of household affairs, so she sent Concubine Liu to Jingzhou. On the one hand, she wanted to serve her master, and on the other hand, she wanted to guard against other women.
As for Xi Qingmian, she is already thirteen years old and is old enough to learn how to manage the household. In order to control Concubine Liu, Madam Zheng will keep her in the capital.
Thinking of this, Qing Wu touched his sister's head and said helplessly: "You know, I can't change Madam's decision."
When Qingwu was just born, Aunt Liu was still Madam Zheng's maid. She was the one who took care of the twin sisters at that time, so when Qingwu was found, Aunt Liu was also very happy.
Later, seeing that she was always blamed by Madam Zheng and Madam Tong, Aunt Liu often asked her daughter Qingmian to accompany Qingwu. As a result, the relationship between the two became more harmonious. Compared with Xi Qingtong, they were more like sisters from the same mother.
However, Qingwu was powerless in this matter. Not to mention her relationship with Madam Zheng was not good, Concubine Liu would definitely not want to take her daughter with her. It would be more beneficial for Qingmian's future if she were to receive Madam Zheng's guidance in the capital.
"Auntie won't let you find Madam, right?"
These words made Xi Qingmian lower her head, and her hand on Qingwu's arm gradually loosened.
Of course she had heard what her aunt said, but she really couldn't bear to leave her aunt. Her father would be gone for at least three years, and even if her aunt came back after three years, she would probably be getting married soon.
"I understand. I know my sister is in a difficult situation too. Madam is very strict about rules and won't allow me to go with you."
Xi Qingmian understood everything, but still felt reluctant.
Wiping the tears from the little sister, Qing Wu sighed softly and whispered comfortingly:
"Just stay home and learn how to make a living. Don't worry Madam Liu. Although I don't like those rules, I know they are necessary in this official circle."
Now that his father has been promoted to the governor of Jingzhou, even if Qingmian is a concubine's daughter, she can still marry into a good family. This requires mediation in the official circle.
After listening to Qingwu's detailed story, Qingmian gradually held back her tears. After calming down, she turned to care about Qingwu's condition.
"Sister, why are you out so late?"
At this moment, Qingwu remembered the reason why she came out, and she told Qingmian the truth: "Your cousin just went out, and I was just about to go look for him."
Qingmian's face flushed, and she said quickly, "I'm sorry for disturbing you, sister. Go find your cousin now, and I'll come talk to you tomorrow!"
Before Qingwu could respond, the little girl quickly ran away holding up her skirt. Looking at her back, Qingwu laughed. Just as he was about to continue walking out, he suddenly felt a few drops of rain falling from the sky.
It was already mid-February, and the spring rains were heavy. Qingwu stopped and prepared to go back to get an umbrella. When he returned to the main room, he saw Baozhu putting down a bucket of hot water. He turned around and saw her, and asked with a smile:
"Madam, where is my husband? Didn't he come back with you?"
Qingwu's steps faltered, "My dear"
Baozhu said mischievously, "I saw it all when I went there just now. You two were together."
Qingwu looked at Baozhu's ambiguous expression under the lantern, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
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