"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself," Wu Chunzhe said as he jumped onto the carriage. His attendant, Kan Ning, drove the carriage away.
Zuitao helped Liu Yushu into the sedan chair, and the bearers carried it forward slowly. Unnoticed by anyone, a carriage followed behind. Zhao Qin sat inside, grinding his teeth in indignation. He punched his leg and muttered, "Damn Wu Chunzhe. He's pestering Miss Liu again. I must teach him a good lesson."
Zhao Qin hadn't seen Liu Yushu. He had been waiting outside the marquis's mansion. He had planned to greet her when she came out and escort her home. But unexpectedly, Wu Chunzhe's carriage had been waiting there. He didn't want Wu Chunzhe to see him pestering Liu Yushu, fearing that Wu Chunzhe would blabber everywhere and ruin her reputation.
When he saw Liu Yushu talking to Wu Chunzhe just now, he was almost boiling with anger.
Liu Yushu's sedan chair stopped at the gate of the Liu Mansion. Zuitao helped her in.
From afar, Kan Ning turned his head and asked Wu Chunzhe in the carriage, "Young master, shall we go back?" There was a mischievous smile on his face. It was the first time he had seen his young master care so much about a girl. It was truly as if he were holding her in the palm of his hand.
Wu Chunzhe withdrew his gaze and glared at Kan Ning. "If we don't go back, are we going to spend the night here?"
Just as he was about to leave, he saw Liu Yushu and her maid come out again, looking for something outside.
"What are you looking for?" Wu Chunzhe jumped off the carriage and went over to help.
"My young mistress lost an earring. If it's picked up by someone with ill intentions, then..." Zuitao left the sentence unfinished.
Liu Yushu nodded. That was indeed the case.
Wu Chunzhe glanced at the remaining earring on her, a round piece of green jade. He told Kan Ning to hold the lantern and search on the ground.
Suddenly, a dog barked. Liu Yushu let out a panicked cry.
"My young mistress is afraid of dogs!" Zuitao quickly stepped forward to drive away the stray dog coming towards them.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here," Wu Chunzhe frowned and pulled Liu Yushu into his arms. She lost her balance and fell directly onto his chest.
Such an intimate contact made both of them blush involuntarily.
Instinctively, his big hand tightly grasped her waist. He couldn't help but think, "Her waist is so slender. It's truly as delicate as a willow branch!"
Liu Yushu somehow remembered what Geng Rong had said to her. Geng Rong had told her, "Let that silly boy pin you against the wall, tear your skirt, and ravage you fiercely. Once a man like him tastes the sweetness, he won't let you go easily. And he looks so dull - witted, like a one - track - minded person. You must be careful with this kind of man, sister. This kind of man always speaks very directly and likes to contradict others. Even if you don't provoke him, you'll be pissed off by his lack of romance sooner or later."
She微微 raised her head and glanced at Wu Chunzhe with a blushing face. Her strange look left Wu Chunzhe bewildered.
It was the first time he had held her in his arms. The person in his arms seemed a bit timid, snuggling against him like a little bird. His breathing became erratic, and he couldn't help but hold her tighter.
Liu Yushu was stunned for a moment in panic, then pushed Wu Chunzhe away. "You're being disrespectful!"
"Oh, I didn't mean it. Don't be angry. It's just the situation. If you could stand steady, I wouldn't have to hold you. It's actually your own problem," Wu Chunzhe said seriously. He let go of Liu Yushu.
His words made Liu Yushu extremely angry. She thought Geng Rong was right. This Wu Chunzhe really couldn't say anything nice.
"Alright, go away quickly. Don't make a ruckus in front of my mansion. I don't want others to see and think there's something between us," Liu Yushu said. If it weren't for the rules, she would have really shouted at Wu Chunzhe to get lost.
He knew his rudeness had scared her and didn't argue. He pouted, jumped onto the carriage, and muttered, "It's not a big deal. So delicate."
After returning home, Wu Chunzhe paced back and forth in the room. He was a young and energetic man, a real straight - laced guy. When it came to the girl he liked, he simply couldn't control himself. But Liu Yushu's attitude towards him was not good at all. It was even a bit harsh. She always glared at him.
He sighed in frustration and muttered, "This girl has no gratitude at all. I've helped her so many times, but she doesn't thank me. Instead, she's cold - hearted to me. Just because she's the legitimate daughter of the grand tutor. What's so great about that? I'm the son of a general, too."
Kan Ning saw that he was so angry and stuck his head in. "Young master, how about I find a girl for you?" He wanted to do something nice for him.
Wu Chunzhe glared at him and roared, "Get out of here!"
Kan Ning sighed. "Then what are you going to do?" Well, his flattery had backfired.
Wu Chunzhe growled angrily, "Deal with it as you like. I'm going to sleep." He slammed the door shut.
On the other side, after Zhao Qin returned home, he couldn't find his concubine, He Caiwei. After searching around, he found her in the kitchen.
He Caiwei was a bit surprised. "Second master, you're looking for me..." Before she could finish her sentence, Zhao Qin slapped her hard across the face. She fell to the ground with blood oozing from the corner of her mouth and sobbed, "Second master, what did I do wrong for you to treat me like this?"
"You deserve to die. Who told you to pester Miss Liu? You're just a country bumpkin. I'm going to beat you to death today, you bitch." He picked up the bowl on the stove and threw it at He Caiwei.
He Caiwei was a weak woman. She had no strength to fight back. After a few blows, she was black and blue all over and vomiting blood on the ground.
Zhao Qin took He Caiwei as Wu Chunzhe. After venting his anger, he flicked his sleeves and left. He returned to his study and continued to draw a portrait of Liu Yushu with a smile on his face.
Early in the morning, Liu Yushu went to pay respects to the old lady.
The old lady was chanting Buddha. Liu Yushu bowed respectfully at the door and then retreated to the outer hall.
She had been paying respects to the old lady like this since she was a child. The old lady was busy with her Buddhist rituals and didn't have time for her. After bowing, she would go to the front hall to wait.
Nanny Xie poured her a cup of tea. Before she could pick up the cup, she smelled the mellow fragrance of the tea. It was a rare good tea, even better than what the old lady usually drank.
Liu Yushu looked at Nanny Xie curiously. "This tea smells so good. When did grandmother change the tea?"
Nanny Xie smiled. "I'm glad you like it." A maid brought in some pastries. Nanny Xie took a plate and put it on the table. "Have some snacks first, miss."
"Okay. Thank you, Nanny Xie."
"You're welcome, Miss Shu."
In front of Nanny Xie, Liu Yushu always followed the rules.
A few days ago, Zuitao told her after some inquiries that Nanny Lu's body had been found in a dry well near the hidden back door. When the servants fished out the body, it was already swollen. There were many wounds on her body, her hair was shaved off, most of her teeth were pulled out, and the flesh of her lower lip was cut open and hung down to her chest. Her death was extremely tragic.
Liu Yushu couldn't help shivering all over. She couldn't imagine that there was such a cruel person in the mansion.
As for who did it, she had no idea.
When the old lady heard about Nanny Lu's tragic death, she fainted. After all, Nanny Lu had served the old lady for more than ten years, and the old lady had deep feelings for her. After Nanny Lu's death, the old lady chanted Buddha day and night, praying that Nanny Lu would have a good afterlife and not suffer anymore.
Liu Yushu also felt very sad. That day, Nanny Lu had protected her and her younger brother...
As for Concubine Sun, the old lady had Nanny Xie torture her for a month. After that, she still bled continuously every day. Her body was ruined. She only had her life left. She cried piteously in front of Liu Daqiang every day. Naturally, Liu Daqiang pitied her and secretly sent her some medicinal herbs and tonics behind the old lady's back.
The old lady turned a blind eye to these things, and Liu Yushu didn't want to be too fussy.
"Grandmother," Liu Yushu saw the old lady coming out and stood up to bow.
"Come and sit down quickly," the old lady waved at her. After sitting down, she glanced at the teacup and asked with a smile, "What do you think of today's tea?"
"The tea is fragrant and the taste is mellow. It's a rare good tea," Liu Yushu picked up the teacup and took a few more sips.
"Indeed," the old lady nodded and then glanced at the pastries on the table. "Have you had these?"
Liu Yushu smiled brightly and shook her head. "Not yet. But they look so delicate. I'm a bit reluctant to eat them."
The old lady was amused. "You little girl, you're the most talkative." She watched as Liu Yushu picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.
Liu Yushu's eyes lit up. The sweet and sour fragrance was mixed with the taste of lychee flesh, which was quite a surprise.
Lychees were fruits from the south. It was very difficult to get fresh ones in the capital. The palace must have them, but it would still take some effort for ordinary noble families to obtain them.
The old lady knew what she wanted to ask and said directly, "These things were sent by Mrs. Wei from the Ministry of War early in the morning. She said it was for me to taste something new. I knew right away that these things weren't for an old woman like me. They suit your taste very well."
So these things were sent by the eldest mistress of the Ministry of War!
Wait a minute. She remembered that Zhao Qin was the youngest son of the Minister of the Ministry of War.
Liu Yushu quickly put down the pastry in her hand. Suddenly, she felt that she couldn't accept these things. She said with a worried look, "Grandmother usually doesn't like to accept gifts. Why did you accept Mrs. Wei's things?" She immediately understood Mrs. Wei's intention.
Could it be that the old lady wanted her to marry Zhao Qin? She didn't want to. Although Zhao Qin was quite handsome, she had only met him twice. She didn't have any feelings for him, let alone any romantic feelings.
Moreover, the old lady had told her last time that Zhao Qin had a concubine. She was even more reluctant. She would never marry a man with a concubine.
The old lady looked at her with a mysterious look in her eyes. "The Minister of the Ministry of War has an important position. He is in charge of the soldiers. Although his title is just a minister, he has great power. And he is highly favored by the emperor. This Lord Zhao has a bright future."
"I don't want to," Liu Yushu said straightforwardly. No one could force her on this matter.