The rain, once it started, poured down the whole day.
When the downpour stopped, it had already reached the evening. A rainbow arched high in the sky, its seven-colored halo especially enticing.
Su Xian’er couldn’t recall how she had returned to i Garden. When she finally ca back to her senses, she realized she had been standing in the garden for half the day.
She had been married into the Lui Family for over a decade. Living in the present Lui Family’s Mansion for more than five years, she had always regarded it as her own ho. But at this mont, she recognized just how laughable that was!
Looking around, the surroundings were so lacking in rit. The cold and desolate courtyard, with its old and simple furnishings, apart from a few personal items she had brought when she first moved in, there were hardly any presentable things.
"Soone co."
She called out several tis, yet no servants ca in.
Only then did she rember the ager number of servants attending to her in i Garden—especially after just having seen the layers of servants in the central courtyard.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly, bringing forth a lancholy smile.
She rembered the ti when Lui Muyi had just left, and she, pregnant, moved into i Garden. The old master had asked whether she wanted to add more servants for attendance, and back then, she had refused to increase the number of servants, claiming she "didn’t like to be followed by too many attendants."
Over the years since, she had forgotten all about that.
But now, compared to that woman in the central courtyard, she clearly saw her own place in the other’s heart.
The sayings "to not fear not knowing the goods but to fear comparing them" and "without comparison there’s no harm realized" rang true. She earnestly wished for that man to return. She even made a heartfelt vow that should that man return safely from crossing the ocean, she would gladly trade ten years off her lifespan.
But when he truly did return, she realized, she wanted even more!
Her hands clenched tight on her skirt hem, fingers whitening with the force, biting her teeth together to stop herself from crying.
Ti had bleached the years, changed many people, and also changed her.
She went from a woman who dared to love and hate, who would cry when she felt like crying, laugh when she felt like laughing, into the weak figure she was now...
"Madam, the young master has sent for you."
At the courtyard gate, Lui Muyi’s personal page boy reported.
He looked around the courtyard with curious eyes, seemingly surprised by the quietness of the rear courtyard.
"Understood."
After a silent pause, Su Xian’er collected herself: "Wait for to freshen up, and then I will go."
In fact, there were no luxurious adornnts around her, nor was she accustod to using Rouge Water Powder. Most importantly, "A woman adapts her appearance for the man who pleases her!" At this mont, she no longer had the person for whom she needed to dress carefully.
She sat in front of the dressing table for a long ti, got up, straightened her clothes, and without even changing them, stepped out of the room.
"Let’s go."
She took the lead to leave, with an air of resigned determination.
The personal page boy was slightly startled and then hastily followed.
In the parlor.
Lui Ming had already returned to the mansion, sitting at the head of the table with a smile covering his face, amiably chatting with An’er. Lui Muyi sat beside An’er, nodding gently from ti to ti, adding so comnts. And Lui Huai’an sat beside Lui Ming, silently eating his food in the bowl, sneakily observing the two across from him, his eyes filled with curiosity.
When Su Xian’er walked in, what she saw was the harmonious scene before her.
She seed like an extra person, suddenly bursting into a heartwarming scene, making everyone stop their actions, turning their heads in unison to look at her.
Su Xian’er steadied her nerves and stepped forward to greet them.
"Xian’er greets Father."
"Xian’er has co."
Lui Ming then noticed her, inviting her to sit: "Co co, sit down to eat, we have all been waiting for you."
"Yes."
Su Xian’er obediently responded and was about to sit down when she beca frozen in place again.
Over the years, with Lui Muyi away from ho, she had already grown accustod to taking her seat to the right of Lui Ming, coaxing An’er to eat while reporting business matters to him.
But now, the seat she usually occupied was taken by another woman, with fair skin, a tall nose, and blue eyes!
Just as she felt at a loss, her sleeve was gently tugged.
"Mother, co sit here, An’er misses you and wants to eat with you."
Lui Huai’an looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
Su Xian’er exhaled in relief and hurriedly took the seat next to An’er.
Annie blinked her blue eyes and smiled friendly at Su Xian’er, "Hello. We’ve t before at the entrance, haven’t we? You’re really beautiful," she complinted.
Su Xian’er managed a forced smile, not quite sure how to respond.
"You’re very beautiful too..."
Lui Ming burst into hearty laughter: "Xian’er! This is Annie. Annie has recently been learning how to paint ink wash with Yi’er. I just looked, her paintings have quite a character, and she’s beginning to capture the essence..."
For a person from a foreign tribe to learn the traditional paintings of the Great Zhou Dynasty is truly not easy! Annie indeed has more talent than most. But there is still a considerable gap from what Lui Ming claid.
Lui Ming’s talent for lying through his teeth is getting increasingly polished!
Annie extended her hand generously to Su Xian’er: "So your na is Xian’er. Can I call you sister? Sister Xian’er, do you like to paint?"
Su Xian’er’s hand, holding the bamboo chopsticks, suddenly tightened.
Sister?
Did she beco the sister as soon as this woman arrived?
Her heart ached so much she could barely breathe.
Looking at those long, white fingers, which garnered countless admirations, Su Xian’er suddenly stood up.
"I, I’m feeling a bit unwell, please excuse ." She said, then quickly fled the scene.
"Mother, wait for ..."
As soon as she left, Lui Huai’an also set down his chopsticks and hurried after her with his small legs.
Annie’s face was filled with confusion as she looked at Lui Muyi: "Muyi, what happened to Sister Xian’er?"
"It’s nothing."
Lui Muyi comforted her, then used the common chopsticks to pick up so slices of beef for Annie: "Annie, have a taste of this dish. This braised beef is specially prepared by the chef for you, I hope you like it."
"Ah, beefsteak is my favorite. My dear, let try your hotown’s braised beef."
Annie ate joyfully.
The interaction between the two filled Lui Ming’s heart with both joy and worry.
The joy was that his foolish Yi’er finally caught on and brought a woman back to the mansion. The Great Zhou ordered the slaughter of draft cattle, and yet, for this woman, Yi’er even had beef served at the table.
In his view, a man having multiple wives and concubines wasn’t anything significant. Unfortunately, this woman was from a foreign tribe.
His worry was for the girl Xian’er. He had seen how hard she’d worked over the years. Now that Yi’er had returned, and even brought a woman with him, he was concerned that she couldn’t handle it and would co to him to complain. But, she hadn’t made a move yet.
So he had purposefully tried to test the waters.
Never would he have imagined that despite all this, the girl Xian’er remained silent.
What should he do?
The sumr night after the rain carried a crisp scent in the air.
Lui Muyi stood hesitantly outside the gate of i Garden, frowning as he looked at the lone lantern lit inside the courtyard, unsure whether to enter or retreat.
He didn’t understand why he had co here, maybe it’s because Su Xian’er’s pale face kept hovering in front of his eyes when she left, compelling him uncontrollably to co here on his own accord.
Reviews
All reviews (0)