Shu Mingzhu was giggling sweetly. "Cousin, this teahouse has a branch in Luanhe City too. I used to go there often with the young ladies there."
Gu Liyue felt a bit dizzy. People said that Lu Jinchen was a dissolute and irresponsible man who even beat women. They also said he was fierce and cold, and never got close to women. They said she, Gu Liyue, was the first one who could get close to Lu Jinchen. But now...
The first one, but not the last one.
Just like the rumor since the day her second brother got married, saying that Shu Mingzhu and she, Gu Liyue, shared quite a few similarities in temperament. Not only that, she had also heard that Shu Mingzhu, being a well - bred young lady from a noble family, was generous and decent in speech and behavior, and quite outstanding in knowledge and literary talent. She was much better than Gu Liyue who grew up in the countryside.
In the past, Gu Liyue never cared about these rumors. She grew up in the countryside, and there was no way to change that. She never even thought about changing. The whole Gu family was kind to her, only loving and protecting her. They never forced her to be like other noble ladies.
But today, she was a bit confused. Was it because everything she had, Shu Mingzhu also had, and even better?
In an instant, Gu Liyue's tears fell. No, it couldn't be like this. If someone could be replaced, what kind of love would it be? He said it was love at first sight. Was it just an occasional moment of passion? At the beginning of this year, he went to the emperor in person to ask for the imperial marriage.
Qin Caiyin noticed something was wrong and walked over. "Liyue, what's wrong with you?"
Gu Liyue quickly closed the window and secretly wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. She whispered, "The wind got into my eyes."
Qin Caiyin didn't suspect anything. She smiled and said, "Even though the weather is nice today, you still need to be careful. The wind is strong outside while it's warm inside. No wonder it got into your eyes. What else do you want to listen to?"
...
Outside the door, Shu Mingzhu asked curiously, "Cousin, what are you looking at?"
Lu Jinchen came back to his senses and shook his head. Just now, he seemed to hear someone calling Liyue, but it was too noisy. Maybe he was just hearing things. Maybe he missed her too much since he hadn't seen her for so long.
Lu Jinxuan walked over, carefully holding a box. "Brother, you left your box in the carriage."
Lu Jinchen casually turned around, took the box and asked, "What book do you want to listen to?"
Lu Jinxuan was a bit excited and quickly replied, "I'll listen to whatever you want to listen to, Brother."
Shu Mingzhu frowned slightly and then said sweetly, "Cousin, I want to listen to the story of the female top - scorer in the imperial examination."
"Okay." Lu Jinchen led his two younger sisters into the private room. "Do you have any new storybooks that young ladies like? Order two more."
Lu Jinxuan had big eyes and looked at Lu Jinchen gratefully. The story of the female top - scorer was an old one. Not many people listened to it these days, and even the theater didn't stage it. Maybe Mingzhu didn't know the situation in the capital since she was new here.
Anyway, she was just here as an accompaniment today. She wasn't really here to listen to the storytelling.
Shu Mingzhu was open - minded and generous. While listening to the story, she chatted with Lu Jinchen about daily life.
But Lu Jinchen had something on his mind. He looked up unhappily. "If you want to talk, just ask the storyteller to leave."
Shu Mingzhu was stunned for a moment and forced a smile. "Cousin doesn't like it. I'll stop talking."
Lu Jinchen sat by the window, rubbing his fingers. The window was half - open. He looked down and saw a sugar - figurine vendor passing by on the street. He remembered that in spring, Gu Liyue had run down eagerly to buy some maltose.
Later, Gu Chengzhi told him that of the two baskets of maltose he sent to the Gu family, everyone in the Gu family, including the servants, got a big piece. As for Gu Liyue, afraid of hurting her teeth, she only got one piece.
His eyes softened. He had been busy investigating his own affairs recently and hadn't had the time to see her.
Shu Mingzhu shrank her neck. In order to look good, she didn't wear a fur cloak on purpose. It was just getting warm in the private room. Why did Lu Jinchen leave the window half - open?
"Cousin, I'm so cold. Can I close the window?"
Lu Jinchen gave Shu Mingzhu a cold look, endured it for a while and then closed the window.
Shu Mingzhu said meekly with her head down, "It's not this cold in Luanhe City."
Lu Jinchen didn't reply, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward.
Lu Jinxuan quickly smiled. "Yes, Sister Mingzhu is new here and doesn't know the situation in the capital. I didn't even think to bring warm clothes when I went out. I'll ask Mother to prepare some more for you later."
Shu Mingzhu thanked her and then talked to Lu Jinchen again. "Cousin, what's in the box in your hand?"
She reached out to take it, but Lu Jinchen pressed the box down quickly and said coldly, "A jade pendant."
Shu Mingzhu asked curiously, "What kind of jade pendant is it that you need to carry it with you all the time? Can you let me have a look?"
"No."
Lu Jinchen put the box in his sleeve, stood up and said, "I'll come to pick you up in an hour."
Shu Mingzhu quickly called out to him, "Cousin, didn't you promise to accompany us here for tea?"
Lu Jinchen sneered when he reached the door. "I promised to send you here, and I've done it. I'll also pick you up later."
Shu Mingzhu watched Lu Jinchen's back and gritted her teeth angrily. "How could he be like this!"
Lu Jinxuan comforted her. "Brother is always like this. He doesn't like to talk to people. Cousin, don't you want to listen to the storytelling? The next two stories are brand - new. You can't hear them anywhere else."
Shu Mingzhu impatiently suppressed her anger. She had finally got this chance with the help of the princess to make Lu Jinchen grateful to her. She just wanted to perform well in front of him, but why didn't he appreciate it at all?
No, if it went on like this, she still couldn't get closer to him. She had to think of a way!
"What does your brother like to do on weekdays?"
Lu Jinxuan was stunned for a moment, lowered her head guiltily and shook it. "Brother used to stay in the palace often when we were kids, but he doesn't go home much later... I don't see him very often, so I don't know what he likes to do."
Shu Mingzhu frowned. She really didn't understand why the princess had such a stupid daughter. As a princess, she was timid and inexperienced. She was really useless.
Lu Jinxuan thought for a long time, then her eyes lit up and she smiled. "Oh, I remember. Brother likes cats. He used to have a yard in Cang'er Alley. There were all kinds of cats in it. He would buy a lot of food for them every day. Once he even took me to play with them... But it's been almost eight or nine years. I don't know if he still raises cats."
"Cats?" Shu Mingzhu curled her lips. "Impossible. I've inquired about it. Your brother doesn't like animals. The only animals he raises are two wolves. The prince was even angry with him for that."
Lu Jinxuan sighed. "Yes, he liked cats before, but he may not like them now. I haven't seen him get close to any animals anymore. Cousin, why do you ask these questions? You... don't have a crush on my brother, do you?"