In front of a medium-sized pool, a woman in a lotus-colored dress stood with her back to her, staring silently at the water.
Xin You remembered clearly that the dress Duan Yunwan wore when he came to see her today was this color.
"It's a big girl!" Xiaolian also recognized it.
Xin You made a quick decision and walked behind a row of flower stands and looked towards the pool.
Duan Yunwan remained motionless, as if the scorching sun had no effect on her.
"Why is the big girl coming to see the fish now? There is no shelter and no one to accompany you. Aren't you afraid of heat stroke?" Xiao Lian whispered.
Of course she didn't feel sorry for the older girl, she just couldn't figure it out.
Xin You didn't answer, but thought about that scene.
It was the pool in front of me, and the sun was so bright. There must be a few koi swimming lazily in the water with their tails wagging.
Could it be today?
Xin You couldn't believe it for a moment.
Even if the eldest lady wants to silence Duan Yunwan, it would be too fast.
Seeing that beads of sweat were forming on the tip of Xin You's forehead and nose, and her fair cheeks were flushed, Xiao Lian asked worriedly: "Girl, are you feeling hot?"
Xin You shook his head and stared in the direction of the pool: "It's okay."
"Are we going there?"
"Take a look here first."
After hearing what Xinyou said, Xiaolian stopped saying anything. Even though she didn't know what the girl wanted to see, she also looked at it.
After looking at it, I found that Duan Yunwan raised her feet and walked away...
The little maid looked at Xin You in shock: "Girl, she's gone!"
Xinyou wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said calmly: "Then let's go too."
Xiaolian:?
Back at Wanqingju, Jiang Shuang brought out two ice bowls, saying they were from the big kitchen.
Xin You ate the ice bowl one bite at a time, feeling that the heat had subsided a lot.
Xiaolian ate faster and sighed after finishing the meal: "It's so delicious. I've touched the girl's flesh."
Xinyou smiled and said, "I have eaten a kind of ice cake called frozen milk. It is topped with jam and fresh fruit cut into small pieces. It tastes even better than an ice bowl."
Xiaolian swallowed her saliva when she heard it: "Just hearing the name, I think it's delicious. Where can I eat it?"
Xin You hesitated for a moment and said, "My mother made it for me to eat. Now that I have some free time, I'll try it."
Well, it should be successful, right?
Thinking about the results of cooking in the past, Xin You was not very confident.
Xiao Lian didn't notice it, so she stroked her palm and said, "Okay, I will help you when the time comes, and you can also taste the deliciousness of frozen milk."
After eating the ice bowl, Xin You felt sleepy and lay down on the bed to fall asleep.
There was nothing to say after that, and the next day turned cloudy. Xin You went to Ruyi Hall on time to pay his respects to the old lady.
The old lady said angrily: "I want you to rest for a few more days, why are you here again?"
Xin You smiled and said, "It's okay. I know my grandma loves me, and I miss her too."
"You girl, your mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter." The old lady was happy to hear this and glanced at Mr. Qiao from the corner of her eye.
Qiao had a flawless smile on her face.
Xin You secretly paid attention to Duan Yunwan and noticed that her makeup seemed a bit thick under her eyes.
Didn't sleep well?
In the afternoon, although the sky was still cloudy, Xinyou sent Xiaolian to the garden, and Xiaolian came back to report shortly.
"Girl, you guessed it right. The eldest girl is indeed still there. The maid came back after watching her leave."
Xin You nodded and decided to take a look tomorrow.
The next day it was still cloudy and it seemed like it was going to rain. In the afternoon, Grandma Fang came back from outside.
"Girl, I heard some rumors about Shaoqing's mansion outside."
Aunt Fang has been running out every day these past few days, and today she finally got something.
"What's the news?" Xiaolian rushed over and sat down on the embroidered pier.
Aunt Fang stretched out her hand and tapped her forehead: "You are the girl who has manipulated you, and you are becoming more and more unruly."
Xiaolian rubbed her forehead and urged: "Mother Fang, please tell me quickly, the girl is waiting."
Aunt Fang glanced at the door and lowered her voice: "You can say anything, but the most unpleasant thing is that if the cousin of the Shaoqing Mansion disappears, then all the wealth brought by the cousin will belong to the Shaoqing Mansion. There is no need for the Shaoqing Mansion to buy another dowry for my cousin."
Normally, let alone occupying Kou Qingqing's family wealth, as an orphan girl who has taken refuge with her maternal grandfather's family, when she gets married, the Shaoqing Mansion should buy Kou Qingqing a dowry that is not inferior to that of the girls in the house.
This is a kind family recognized by the world. Therefore, when Xiaolian cried out those words in public, it was easy for people to overthink her.
At the feet of the emperor, there was prosperity and stability, and the capital was always filled with idle and dazzling people. Although Kou Qingqing came to Beijing quietly four years ago, these people still inferred something from the cousin's background.
For example, no one dares to guess the cousin's wealth, which is one million in silver, but one can still guess at one hundred and eighty thousand.
One hundred thousand taels of silver, a lot of money!
Xiaolian sneered: "Whatever is the most unpleasant thing to say, it's obviously the truth!"
By this time, she understood more deeply why Xinyou made her cry that day.
"There is also the righteous man who saved the girl. The old slave also found out his identity." Aunt Fang smiled and felt much more relaxed.
Mother Fang's experience at her age is naturally not comparable to that of Xiaolian. When she heard those rumors, she knew that the girl was safe for the time being.
Gossip can kill people, but it can also save people.
Thinking again, Grandma Fang's heart ached again when she thought that her uncle's family, who was supposed to be the closest to her, was murdering her every step of the way, and had to rely on a few gossips from the world to protect her life.
Xin You didn't know the ups and downs of Grandma Fang's mood, so she raised her eyebrows unexpectedly: "Did you find out so soon?"
Aunt Fang smiled and said: "It's not difficult to find out. It turns out that the righteous man is quite famous in the capital. His surname is He and his given name is Qingxiao. He is actually a marquis."
Xin You listened quietly, knowing that there would be more to come.
The position of governor of Jinlinwei Town is an important one, so it is not surprising that a noble person should be chosen to hold it.
Sure enough, Grandma Fang's expression changed and her voice became lower: "But this young Marquis' identity is quite embarrassing. His father and the current emperor are sworn brothers. They fought together in troubled times, and later they separated and became kings. After defeating his father today, Gu Nian spared the life of the marquis out of his sworn friendship, and also named him Marquis of Changle..."
"Marquis Changle——" Xin You muttered these three words in a low voice and understood the old lady's avoidance attitude.
The ministers were not sure whether the emperor really had affection for the sworn brother, or whether it was just to show his benevolence and righteousness. What is certain is that the emperor definitely does not want to see his ministers get too close to the Changle Marquis.
"In that case, how did he become the envoy of Jinlin Guard Town?"
Aunt Fang shook her head: "I didn't ask about this."
"Thank you for your hard work, nanny. Let's go and take a rest."
Grandma Fang was really tired after being out for most of the day, so she listened to Xin You and went to rest.
"You are so smart." Xiaolian squeezed Xinyou's shoulders and said what Nanny Fang had been holding back, "It would be great if my girl could be like you..."
Then the girl might be able to live well.
Xin You looked at Xiaolian and patted her hand gently: "It's not that I'm smarter than Miss Kou. Miss Kou is blinded by family affection, and I am a bystander."
She wanted to open her eyes for Miss Kou, see these dirty things clearly, and avenge Miss Kou.
At this time, on the street, He Qingxiao was hurriedly walking forward in red clothes, followed by two men.
A familiar sense of crisis arose, and his body stepped aside faster than his mind could react. An object hit the ground heavily, making a big noise.
He Qingxiao took a closer look and saw that it was a flowerpot that had been smashed to pieces.
