Zhou Chengyu was silent for a moment. He picked up the letter and went back into the room. After quietly reading it, he fetched an iron basin, put the letter into it and lit a fire. He silently watched it turn to ashes. "My lord!"
The attendant had never seen Zhou Chengyu looking so ugly. Although his expression was calm, his hands were tightly clenched into fists. Drops of blood fell to the ground and pooled into a dark red stain.
"It's nothing."
Zhou Chengyu curled his lips and looked at the attendant. "Remember to prepare for me tomorrow..."
"Forget it."
Tomorrow was the anniversary of Shen Mingcheng's death. Zhou Chengyu had originally planned to visit his old friend, but after reading the letter, he only felt a chill all over his body.
He used to think that the Zhou family had only started to look down on others after Shen Mingcheng's death. His father, no longer restricted by his grandfather, had begun to only pursue power. But...
But what if the Zhou family was related to Shen Mingcheng's accident?
For the first time, Zhou Chengyu felt despair. Looking at the flickering candlelight on the table, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. The chill spread from his heart to his whole body bit by bit.
Then how should he treat Mingzhu? How should he treat his old friend?
It turned out that his father had started to guard against him many years ago, which was why he knew nothing!
Zhou Chengyu was slightly stunned. He spread out his palm and looked at the wound. After a moment of silence, he got up to apply medicine and bandage it.
The attendant was extremely frightened. He saw that the usually gentle and polite eldest young master suddenly became terrifying, and his gaze made people feel cold all over.
...
Next came the banquet. Shen Mingzhu's subordinates were checking the door, and Xie Lang was also taking action on his side. But somehow, the two of them became unexpectedly idle.
Mrs. Liu had been especially attentive recently. From time to time, she would send some small trinkets over and also pass on some news about Xie Fangfei to Shen Mingzhu.
Xie Fangfei's injuries from the last beating had almost healed, so she started to stir up trouble again. Shen Mingzhu just watched the show. She and Xie Lang listened to the news and then ignored it.
One day, just as the two of them got up, Chun Tao hurriedly knocked on the door and said, "Your Highness, Mrs. Liu sent someone to deliver a letter. She said that her niece has come to seek refuge with the Xie Mansion, and she asked if you and Young Master Xie could come for dinner."
Shen Mingzhu was putting on her shoes. Hearing this, she subconsciously glanced at Xie Lang and saw the look of "I wish the world would be in chaos" in his eyes. So she said to Chun Tao, "Sure. Reply to her."
Xie Lang quickly washed up and then stood behind Shen Mingzhu, watching the maidservant coil up her hair, draw her eyebrows and lips, which added a bit more compelling heroism to Shen Mingzhu's already beautiful features.
"Not bad," Xie Lang said suddenly as he watched.
Shen Mingzhu raised her eyebrows upon hearing this. She turned to look at Xie Lang and said, "What? Just 'not bad'? This maidservant has the best skills among those around me."
Hearing this, Xie Lang looked directly at Shen Mingzhu for a few moments and then added, "It's really just so - so."
Saying that, Xie Lang took a step forward, walked to Shen Mingzhu's side, reached out and hooked her chin, and looked at her carefully.
Xie Lang's hands were warm, and the fingertips had a slight callus, so it was a bit prickly, but the tips of his fingers were still soft, passing on his warmth to Shen Mingzhu bit by bit.
[The eyebrows aren't drawn well. It just doesn't feel right. No, I'll give it a try.]
Hearing his thoughts, Shen Mingzhu knew that Xie Lang could actually draw eyebrows. So there was a bit of surprise in her eyes as she asked, "Young Master Xie, from which girl did you learn this skill?"
Shen Mingzhu didn't know why she suddenly said such a thing. So the look in her eyes as she looked at Xie Lang carried a bit of a smile that didn't reach the bottom of her eyes, which made Xie Lang feel nervous. He said, "For a useful skill, should I not learn it? Do you expect me to let the maids draw my eyebrows every day?"
The maidservant standing beside: "???!!!"
What was the son - in - law talking about?
Only then did Shen Mingzhu remember Xie Lang's hidden identity. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed, so she stopped talking and let Xie Lang draw her eyebrows.
Xie Lang picked up the eyebrow pencil on the table, lightly drew a few strokes on the back of his hand, and then lifted Shen Mingzhu's face and started to draw.
[I really want to draw something on Shen Mingzhu's face.]
[What should I draw... How about a turtle?]
"Xie Lang!"
Hearing his malicious thoughts and seeing him stop there, looking thoughtful as he stared at her, Shen Mingzhu immediately spoke up quickly to stop him. "Don't have any other ideas!"
Xie Lang was still hesitating. Seeing the suspicion on Shen Mingzhu's face, he immediately raised his eyebrows dissatisfiedly and said, "What kind of look is that?"
"If I really don't draw well, you can draw on my face."
Shen Mingzhu never expected Xie Lang to answer like this. She was momentarily speechless and then said indifferently, "Who wants your face?"
But Xie Lang looked at her and was silent for a few more moments, as if in a daze. Then his gaze turned to the lip - painting brush beside him and he picked it up.
Seeing that he was really going to do it, Shen Mingzhu subconsciously reached out to stop him.
Xie Lang gave her a dissatisfied look and said, "Your Highness, don't worry."
Shen Mingzhu felt that it was precisely because the person in front of her was Xie Lang that she couldn't be at ease. So the suspicion in her eyes as she looked at Xie Lang became even stronger.
Seeing this, Xie Lang quickly stepped forward. He put one hand on the back of Shen Mingzhu's head to hold it still, and then with the other hand, he immediately placed the brush dipped in rouge and lightly moistened with tea on Shen Mingzhu's forehead.
"Don't move," Xie Lang said proudly as he looked at Shen Mingzhu. "If Your Highness moves, my hand might slip, and I don't know what I'll end up drawing."
This was a blatant threat!
There was anger in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
Seeing this, Chun Tao, who was standing beside them, quietly sent away a few maidservants standing nearby and then quietly watched the two of them interact.
Her Highness had really been much better these days. There were more smiles on her face, and her temper was becoming more and more like that of the proud eldest princess she used to be.
At first, Chun Tao didn't like the carefree Xie Lang very much, but now she thought he was a good son - in - law. At least the princess was much happier than before.
The pattern on her forehead gradually took shape.
Perhaps because Xie Lang was so focused, Shen Mingzhu couldn't even hear his thoughts. She only saw that his eyes were serious as he stared at her. The two of them seemed to be looking into each other's eyes, and they were so close that Shen Mingzhu could see the tiny beads of sweat on the tip of Xie Lang's nose.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly heated up a bit, carrying a hint of amorous feelings.
Shen Mingzhu's breath caught slightly, and a blush gradually crept up her ears.
"Done!"
[Hahaha, it must look good! Shen Mingzhu must never have seen anything so beautiful!]
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
Why did Xie Lang seem like a magpie with its tail held high on a branch recently?
[Humph, having Mr. Wen Song himself draw your eyebrows, Shen Mingzhu, you're really lucky!]
Wait!
Before Shen Mingzhu could come back to her senses from his previous thoughts, she heard his next thought. The words "Mr. Wen Song" were like a thunderbolt, which left Shen Mingzhu stunned. She just stood there looking at Xie Lang.
Could it be that Mr. Wen Song, who had risen to fame in recent years and was extremely good at painting, was actually the playboy Xie Lang from the rumors in the capital?