Lu Mingchao didn't expect them to come back at this time. When their eyes met, he froze on the spot. After a long while, he took the other foot and stood at the door looking at Lu Xingyue and Shen Lansui. He smiled lightly and said, "Back."
Shen Lansui bowed, his expression as usual, "Brother."
Lu Xingyue handed over his hand.
Lu Mingchao was accustomed to his cold appearance, but when he saw the two of them standing together, handsome and bright, the more they seemed to match each other, the more uncomfortable he felt.
"My eldest brother must have something to do when he leaves the house, so my wife and I won't delay and will take the first step."
Lu Xingyue calmly stepped forward to block Lu Mingchao's sight, held Shen Lansui's hand and said warmly, "You wanted to eat lion heads yesterday. I asked the kitchen to make them for lunch. Did you get it?"
Shen Lansui smiled and said, "Not yet, I'm not waiting for you to come together."
The two passed him by while laughing.
Like a warm dream.
He didn't know where his empty gaze landed, his mind went blank, and his heart was tormented.
Zhou Quan was a step behind, looking at his slightly pale face, he couldn't help but ask: "Eldest Young Master, are you okay?"
Lu Mingchao pursed his lips, took a deep breath and exhaled it. The heat dissipated in the wind. He waved his hand, "It's okay."
There were just some things that he had to deal with as soon as possible.
After saying that, he left without looking back.
Zhou Quan scratched his head, raised his eyebrows suspiciously, and murmured, "Really?"
It doesn't look like anything is wrong at all.
*
When Shen Lansui and Lu Xingyue returned to Pinglan Courtyard, they saw that there was no movement in the yard next door, and asked Guanchun who came out to greet him, "My cousin, you haven't left the house today?"
Guanchun shook his head: "Where is she? She was called away by someone sent by the eldest lady."
Shen Lansui glanced at Lu Xingyue with a clear look, "Looks like he can't sit still anymore."
Lu Xingyue tapped his fingertips on the armrest, "Just wait and see what happens."
Zhou Mengli, who was sitting on the Nuange couch, thought so at first.
She knew why the eldest lady called her here, but the plan could not keep up with the changes. No matter how much she had expected before, it had all been shattered into pieces now.
So she planned to pretend to be dead until she couldn't pretend anymore.
The eldest lady held the tea cup and looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled softly, and Zhou Mengli's heart immediately "thumped".
It's over, it's time to start.
"Mengli, don't be nervous. There's nothing wrong with me calling you here. I just want to ask you if you're used to living in the house? Is there anything that the servants don't care about?"
Zhou Mengli shook her head obediently, "The servants in the house are all very decent, and they have never treated Mengli badly at all."
The eldest lady smiled proudly and said, "The people I train naturally don't dare to do things like slaves and bullies, otherwise they will be beaten out."
Zhou Mengli's heart skipped a beat again, feeling like the eldest lady was nodding to her.
"Then how do your cousin-in-law and cousin treat you? You live close to them, why don't they see you walking around more?"
Finally, a lot of preparations were made, and Tu Qiongdagger was seen.
Zhou Mengli felt relieved that "the matter is over". She raised her head and looked at the eldest lady, and whispered: "Aunt, Mengli is a little afraid of her third cousin."
"Afraid? What are you afraid of?" The eldest lady's tone was a little anxious. Seeing that Zhou Mengli was startled and then calmed down, she held her hand and said sincerely: "Don't look at the stern face of the third child, but He is a caring person, don't you think he is very good to Shen Lansui?"
Zhou Mengli nodded hesitantly, "The third cousin is indeed very kind to my cousin. They are very loving."
"Hey, that's it! Think about it, he is such a cold person but he is completely obedient to his wife. When you become his person in the future, are you still afraid that he will treat you badly?"
Zhou Mengli was stunned for a moment. What she said was indeed very tempting, but...
Seeing the wavering look on her face, the eldest lady continued to persuade: "Besides, he is clean and self-sufficient, unlike other dandy boys who keep a bunch of concubines with one another. After you go, it will be just you and Shen Lan, Shen Lan, He also has a good temper, it would be great if you could be my companion."
"But my cousin and I have a good relationship. If I were with my cousin... wouldn't I feel sorry for my cousin?" Zhou Mengli's face turned red, not sure whether it was from shame or embarrassment.
The eldest lady's face darkened, and she poked her forehead angrily, "You silly girl, you can hardly care about yourself, yet you are still thinking about her?"
Zhou Mengli pursed her lips.
"Your father is a man who is eager to make money and climb high. He may decide who he will marry you to in the future. I won't be able to interfere with that. If he marries you to an old man or a sick man, you won't have anywhere to cry. Third child My leg was bad before, but now it’s cured. Isn’t it more than enough for you?”
Although the eldest lady tried her best to hide it, her superiority was revealed from the bottom of her bones. She could not hide it at all, and her true nature would be revealed inadvertently.
Zhou Mengli was entangled again. What the eldest lady said was indeed very reasonable. If she went back, she might not be married to anyone. If she stayed here and married her third cousin, she would be just a concubine...
But for her status, being the Marquis's concubine was considered a high achievement for her.
If she has children in the future, she will leave from the Hou Mansion, and her life will not be bad.
The eldest lady was no longer in a hurry now, picked up the tea cup and took a slow sip.
When the time was almost up, she held Zhou Mengli's hand and said in a lower voice: "You are not old enough now to know the importance of family status. You will understand later. I am your aunt. Is it possible that you will still be here?" Will it harm you? My aunt is also my mother-in-law. No matter what happens in the future, I will support you. Can you live so comfortably in someone else's house? "
These words touched Zhou Mengli's heart.
No matter how good the mother-in-law is, she is not a biological mother, but if she were a biological aunt, she would still take care of her to some extent.
After thinking about it, Zhou Mengli nodded, "Thank you, aunt, Mengli understands."
"Good boy, go ahead and have more contact with your cousin. As the saying goes, if a woman chases a man, it will happen if you work hard."
Zhou Mengli didn't have many ideas to begin with. He was fooled by the eldest lady so much that he felt a little distracted when he went out. He didn't even know how to get back. All the way, his mind was filled with the words of the eldest lady.
"My cousin is back?"
The familiar voice brought Zhou Mengli back to her senses. She took a closer look and found that the person speaking was Guan Chun.
Guan Chun is Shen Lan's age. Seeing her now, Zhou Mengli couldn't help but feel guilty. She looked away and asked, "Well, is my cousin in the courtyard?"
"Madam has gone to pick up the young master. The two of them are preparing to eat now. Madam asked the servant to come and take a look. If my cousin comes back, I can ask you if you want to eat together?"
Zhou Mengli wanted to refuse, as she was not used to being with others, but thinking of the eldest lady's words, she changed her mind and asked in a low voice, "Would it be too intrusive?"
"How could it be? Madam said that the three of us were having a good time, and my cousin invited-"
Guanchun turned sideways.
Zhou Mengli thought for a moment and then walked over. (End of chapter)
