When Jiang Shu returned to the house, the people playing chess and zither were gone. Tanyu and Chuyu were packing up the chessboard and tea sets.
"Where are the people?" Jiang Shu asked knowingly.
Tan Yu cooperated and said, "Aunt Xu is tired. The Marquis sent her back to Wolan Garden to rest."
"Oh." Jiang Shu's face was filled with regret, but his brisk steps betrayed her.
Tan Yu and Chu Yu looked at each other and didn't understand why Jiang Shu pushed Shen Changze out.
After being admonished by Mrs. Shen, Cheng Jinchu stopped and spent every day raising his child in Lanyun Court without caring about worldly affairs.
She didn't stop Shen Changze from moving to a side room.
"Madam, the Marquis went to Wolan Garden again." Qiu Shuang reported back in a low voice.
"I know, let's go down." Cheng Jinchu was not surprised.
Shen Changze moved the clothes and supplies to the side room, but he did not live in the side room for a day.
What puzzled Cheng Jinchu was that Shen Changze stayed at Silang Garden for several days in a row, but Jiang Shu didn't react at all.
Doesn’t she want her husband’s favor? Or does she firmly believe that her position is unassailable?
"This is black plum brown sugar drink. Madam, drink it while it's hot." Xu Lingyi presented the sugar water she had cooked herself.
Jiang Shu took it and stirred it gently: "How do you know about my little life?"
Xu Lingyi did not dare to be clever in front of smart people, and said truthfully: "I originally wanted to give Madam ice cream, but Miss Chu Yu said that Madam can't eat ice these days, so I guessed it."
Jiang Shu took a taste and said, "It tastes good."
"If Madam likes it, I will send it to Madam every month from now on." Xu Lingyi took the opportunity to say.
Jiang Shuxiao: "You don't have to be like this, just serve the Marquis well."
"It is my duty to serve the Marquis and his wife." Xu Lingyi's attitude was respectful and not arrogant.
Jiang Shu looked at her intently, a little uncertain.
"How is Lord Marquis feeling lately?" Jiang Shu asked casually.
Shen Changze seemed to be extremely busy recently and had no time to look for her, so she was happy to be quiet.
Xu Lingyi considered it and said: "It's uncertain. Sometimes I get a headache because of the young master's anger, and sometimes I feel happy because of the wine shop."
Jiang Shu drank sugar water slowly and learned about Shen Changze's current situation from Xu Lingyi.
Seeing Xu Lingyi's face glowing with tenderness when talking about Shen Changze, Jiang Shu found it incredible.
"You like the Marquis very much."
She thought that Xu Lingyi married Shen Changze as a concubine out of necessity, but looking at Xu Lingyi's reaction, she seemed to truly love her.
Is there some hidden secret in this that she doesn't know about?
Jiang Shu's determined tone made it impossible for Xu Lingyi to deny it, and she asked with a slightly red face: "Master Hou is majestic, handsome and graceful. Madam, don't you like it?"
Although Shen Changze's identity and appearance are not among the best, he is still among the best in Beijing. Moreover, he is also a brave and capable general, and he is the dream son-in-law that many ladies want.
Xu Lingyi boldly looked at Jiang Shu and found that there was no emotion in her eyes.
"You must have liked it before. Just like a seed that has just broken through the ground, it was drowned by the heavy rain before it could see what the sun looked like." Jiang Shu laughed sadly.
In Xu Lingyi's heart, a man as handsome and dignified as Shen Changze, who was not sentimental but also compassionate, was a good son-in-law that was hard to find in the world.
Jiang Shu doesn't like such a person?
She didn't understand and didn't dare to ask.
"Since when did you like Mr. Hou?" Jiang Shu asked.
The emotion in Xu Lingyi's eyes was too strong, which must be due to the accumulation of years.
But Shen Changze had been guarding the border for six years and had only returned a few months ago, so he had no chance to meet her.
Could it be the peony banquet seven years ago?
Seeing Jiang Shu's eyes clear and clear, Xu Lingyi bit her lip shyly and said, "At the peony banquet seven years ago, I fell in love with the Marquis at first sight."
She was betting that Jiang Shu didn't know anything about the aristocratic past, and at most he only knew about the Peony Banquet seven years ago.
In fact, she had loved Shen Changze earlier and for a longer time.
But this is her deepest secret, and she won't let anyone know.
Jiang Shu was not uninterested in other people's personal affairs, but was amazed by Xu Lingyi's infatuation.
"Now, you have got what you wanted." Jiang Shu sighed respectfully.
With Xu Lingyi's status as a concubine, there was no way she could be the head wife of the Hou Mansion. She wanted to marry Shen Changze, but she could only do it as a concubine.
Xu Lingyi also understood and said with great gratitude: "I can only fulfill my wish because of my wife."
Jiang Shu chuckled and said nothing.
It wasn't until just now that she realized that the chance encounter at Zhaojue Temple that day was no accident.
With this tenacity of waiting for seven years, Xu Lingyi would never be able to commit suicide. Zhaojue Temple's desperate situation was just her careful planning.
Although Jiang Shu was unhappy about being taken advantage of, he didn't blame Xu Lingyi.
Women are not easy, and Xu Lingyi's behavior did not hurt her, so she can forgive it.
Coming out of Tingzhu Tower, Xu Lingyi had a thin layer of sweat on his back.
Although Jiang Shu didn't blame her, she still felt guilty.
After some deliberation, Jiang Shu took control of her and she could only let it go.
No, she cannot be manipulated by others, she must establish a firm foothold in the Hou Mansion.
After taking a look at the sky, Shen Changze was about to return home. Xu Lingyi stroked his hair and went back to dress up carefully.
After getting along for a period of time, Xu Lingyi has figured out Shen Changze's preferences.
Knowing that he didn't like flashy and coquettish looks, she dressed up clean and fresh. He doesn't like to be sour, jealous and unreasonable, so she is generous, tolerant, sensible and considerate.
In this way, Shen Changze was held tightly.
Shen Changze, who had been tired for a day in the sweltering heat, returned home, sent Yan Yang back to Shouyong Hall, paid his respects to Mrs. Shen, and then went to Silan Garden.
Xu Lingyi brought a bowl of ice cheese to Shen Changze to relieve the heat.
After eating a bowl of ice cheese, Shen Changze sighed happily.
These past few days were the most comfortable days he had experienced since returning to Beijing. There was no need to explain or coax anyone, and he could relax wholeheartedly.
"Master Hou has been tired for a whole day, do you want to take a hot bath to relieve your fatigue?" Xu Lingyi asked tentatively.
Since he has been staying in Silan Garden recently, Shen Changze's clothes are also here.
"Yeah." Shen Changze responded.
Xu Lingyi immediately ordered Bitao to prepare hot water.
After a while, the hot water was ready. Xu Lingyi took clean clothes and waited for Shen Changze to take a bath.
A tired Shen Changze sat in the bathtub, enjoying Xu Lingyi's gentle massage with his eyes closed.
Guessing that the soaking was almost done, Xu Lingyi took a bath bean, dipped it in water and applied it to Shen Changze's body. The smooth and soft catkin rubbed it gently, which made Shen Changze feel itchy and unbearable.
He opened his eyes suddenly, and his half-exposed breasts suddenly hit his eyes. Shen Changze's eyes tightened.
Xu Lingyi didn't notice anything and was still focused on giving Shen Changze a bath.
In order to keep cool, she only wore a light gauze, her jade skin and fragrant shoulders were hazy and semi-transparent, which attracted people's imagination.
Shen Changze felt his blood surge all over his body. He reached out and grabbed Xu Lingyi's hand and pulled her into the tub.
"Ah!" Xu Lingyi exclaimed softly, her light gauze clothes soaked and clinging to her body, making her even more attractive.
Shen Changze looked at her clean face and enchanting figure, feeling that she was pure and charming, and she could be called a beauty.
The water waves beat against the bathtub rhythmically, accompanied by intermittent moans and low gasps, which made Bi Tao blush outside the room.
It's broad daylight and the sun hasn't set yet.
