Chapter two
She didn't have to marry Sanlang of the Li family, but she just came to see her because her elders asked her to. Furthermore, she didn't know about this before coming here.
How did you become a garbage picker?
Su Yining clasped her little hands and was about to raise her head to retort, but Xie Yu had already walked away. That's what he thought in his heart, and he didn't give her a chance to argue. It was like a punch on cotton, leaving Su Yining with nothing to do.
She stared blankly at Xie Yu's leaving figure, feeling indescribably awkward in her heart.
Xie Yu was wearing a green gown, unruly, and his tall and thin back looked endlessly desolate. He just stood there saying nothing and doing nothing, which gave people a feeling of melancholy and sadness.
From a distance, he seemed to be taller and thinner than before. He traveled north to northern Xinjiang alone, using the hand that used to hold pens to hold knives and guns to fight for the lives of others. A scholar, but he had no choice but to join the army and use his military exploits to support the lintel of the Yong'an Marquis Mansion. I don't know how much hardship he endured before he earned his current glory.
Even his voice when he spoke to her just now was no longer as clear and smooth as before, but had a hint of dullness and dullness. Su Yining's heart felt a little clogged. She didn't know whether it was because of his words of 'trash picker' or because of the boredom in the spring.
"Girl, Prince Xie has gone far." Wen Yuan calmly pulled Su Yining's sleeve and said in a very low voice.
Su Yining bit her lower lip unconsciously and nodded, but did not look away.
That cold and lonely figure completely disappeared around the corner.
In the past, when talking about him, everyone in Jinling City was full of praise. He was a Jinshi at the age of fifteen, and his character was noble and noble.
At that time, the young man was full of energy, and his face was full of spring breeze, with a silver saddle and a white horse.
But now, when people talk about him again, they can't help but lament that he was born at the wrong time. The boy is still the same boy, but it is no longer possible to see the willful, free and easy smile of the past.
Su Yining felt depressed and didn't go out for several days after returning home. If it hadn't been for the wedding of her second wife today, she probably wouldn't have stepped out of the yard.
She has been like this all these years, reclusive and living like a transparent person in Earl Zhongqin's Mansion.
But she wants to be transparent, but there are always people who insist on turning her over and exposing her to the sun.
Early the next morning, before Su Yining woke up, she was summoned to the front hall by Su Che's personal servant.
Su Che obviously just woke up from a hangover, and his face looked very bad while sitting in the main seat. Mrs. Zheng handed him a cup of tea and sat next to him. When she saw Su Yining coming, she said with a smile: "The second lady is here? By coincidence, the master has not had breakfast yet, so the second lady is accompanying him." Want to eat something?"
Su Yining raised her eyes and glanced at her. She didn't reply to her words, but just saluted the two of them according to etiquette.
"It's not a coincidence, I personally sent someone to bring her here." Su Che put the teacup down on the table and made a muffled sound.
His expression was extremely ugly, and when he looked at Su Yining, he felt that he hated the iron.
"I heard that yesterday my cousin wanted to introduce you to the seventh son of the Chen family, but you didn't even see him or show your face?"
Mrs. Zheng was adding jealousy next to her: "Master, please don't do this. It scares the second girl. Maybe the second girl has an idea in mind? According to me, the seventh son of the Chen family has neither fame nor the possibility of inheriting the title. He is different from the two of us. Girl, you really don’t deserve it.”
It was okay if she didn't say it. When she said that, Su Che became even more angry. He slapped the table and shouted loudly: "Why don't you deserve it! What is the status of the Chen family? They are civil servants and a scholarly family. Do you still look down on them?" What, do you want to marry the prince?"
Su Yining knelt in front of the hall and straightened up: "Father, I went there yesterday, but when I arrived at Chaohui Courtyard, my grandmother had already gone to bed, and my aunt and mother had already left."
As for the seventh man of the Chen family, it was even less likely that he would enter the residence of the female family members in the backyard. Where could she go? Isn't this an inexplicable way of labeling her?
"Yes, yes." Mrs. Zheng answered quickly, "The old lady was feeling unwell yesterday, so she asked my sister and I to leave first."
Su Che glanced at me and said with a gloomy face, "Then why didn't you say anything just now? Second girl, get up."
Mrs. Zheng's face instantly became a little embarrassed, and she said hesitantly: "I just forgot about my identity."
Fortunately, Su Che ignored what she said and just turned his attention to Su Yining: "Yining, let's go see the seventh man of the Chen family another day. Although he has no fame, he is a civil servant of the Chen family. Qingliu has been studying for generations, and it is only a matter of time before Shichiro becomes famous. Don't be too strong and daydream about reaching the sky in one step."
Su Yining pursed her lips and said nothing. She naturally knew what Su Che had in mind.
The surname of the Duke of Zhen Guo in Daliang is Chen, but several sons and daughters of the same age as her in the Duke of Zhen are already engaged. The seventh son of the Chen family who wants to meet her this time is a branch of the Chen family of the Duke of Zhen. , five servers have already been released.
Su Che just wanted her to marry and join the Chen family in Zhenguo Duke's mansion, so as to pave the way for her third sister.
Seeing that she didn't speak or responded, Su Che was furious: "Could it be that you really want to enter the palace and marry the prince? Just put away those thoughts and marry a scholar. Don't even think about it if you belong to a high-ranking family."
Su Yining raised her head, met Su Che's eyes, and said firmly: "My daughter will go see the seventh man of the Chen family, but you can't force me to marry or not. Even if you don't marry for the rest of your life, It’s okay, you don’t have to rush to arrange a marriage for me.”
Su Che was so angry with her that she was speechless for a long time.
"Second girl, don't be angry. Now that the Yong'an Marquis Mansion is back, seeing His Majesty appreciating him, the Yongan Marquis Mansion favors him even more than before. After all, we have had conflicts with them. If they are waiting for an opportunity to retaliate, you will be the one to do it. I'm afraid it will be difficult to marry a common man in the future."
"Why don't we take advantage of this while the other side hasn't recovered yet? Let's make an engagement quickly and get married early so that we can save worry."
Mrs. Zheng was afraid that the two of them would continue to quarrel, and because of Su Yining's temperament, she really refused to marry. Wasn't that the third girl who was dragging her down?
When the Yong'an Marquis Mansion was mentioned, the room became quiet, and Su Che's tone softened a bit: "Let's go have breakfast and meet Chen Qilang another day."
Su Yining nodded and agreed.
Her father was always like this, timid and fearful, picking up things high and putting them down gently.
If she had known this, why did she have to be so embarrassed and force Xie Yu to sign the divorce form when she and her grandmother left Beijing?
Su Yining ate breakfast absentmindedly and left early.
After she left, Mrs. Zheng began to apply eye drops to Su Che again.
"My lord, I seem to have a crush on the second girl. I have seen each other a lot over the years, but she refuses to nod and agree. Could it be that she is still thinking about the Xie family member?"
"Otherwise? Let's go talk to the Xie family again?"
Su Che dropped the bowl and chopsticks on the table with a bang, and said with a solemn expression: "What nonsense are you talking about! Even if my uncle Zhongqin's mansion makes me look bad, his Yong'an Marquis mansion will not pay attention to us!"
Ms. Zheng cautiously tried to test: "If you make it small, it may not be impossible."
Su Che raised his head in surprise and glanced at her.
*
A few days later, Su Yining and Chen Qilang made an appointment to see each other at the teahouse. Before going to the teahouse, she was taken to Ruyi Zhai by the second room's aunt, saying that she was buying noodles for the second room's newly married cousin-in-law, and invited her to join her.
Also going were the third girl from the first bedroom and the fourth and fifth girls from the second bedroom.
In the early years, Uncle Zhongqin's mansion was prosperous and lived a comfortable life. However, it has declined in recent years, and the women's family members like them are not so well-off.
Money is tight, so it is naturally very difficult to buy clothes and jewelry. The girls are still young and they can't put it down when they see beautiful jewelry.
"Sister, does this look good?" The third girl, Su Yiru, picked up a red jade hairpin, inserted it into her bun, stretched her head next to Su Yining, and asked her.
Su Yining nodded: "It looks good."
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yiru took off the hairpin, pursed her lips, reluctantly put the hairpin back to its original place, and said as if she was telling Su Yining deliberately: "What a pity. , I don’t have enough money to buy something nice.”
At this time, Su Yiyan, the fourth girl next to her, came over and pulled Su Yining with a smile: "Sister, you have never liked these cumbersome things. You are already very beautiful without any unnecessary decoration."
"No, please buy the second sister's adult beauty for the third sister."
As soon as she finished speaking, the fifth girl Su Yiying also jumped out: "No, the second sister's money belongs to the second sister, why should it be given to the third sister? In the past, the third sister was used to robbing the second sister's things, but now she is pocketing them Do you want to openly ask for the money in the house?"
Su Yiru rolled her eyes at the fifth girl impatiently and said coldly: "I didn't say I wanted my sister to buy it for me." After saying that, she looked like she was about to cry: "But how could you say that to me? "
"Well, it's good that my sister didn't think so. I just happened to be interested in this hosta." Su Yining, who had been standing aside quietly watching the three of them perform, said lightly, crossed Su Yiru, and turned to the hosta. He took out the hairpin and played with it in his hand.
It is said that three women make a drama. She knew very well how sincere her three sisters were to her, and whether they really regarded her as a sister.
This is usually the case at home. One person who is a good person and another person who is a bad person gets into trouble. In the end, everyone is so aggrieved that they can no longer cry and make a fuss. Su Yining has to take a step back to settle the matter.
Originally, she was upset because of her grandmother's old age, and she didn't want to argue with them. She would just suffer some losses if she suffered.
Now that she thinks about the methods Zheng used behind her back, she doesn't want to endure it at all.
"Store, please send someone to send this red jade hairpin, the set of pearl hairpins over there, and the set of white jade hairpins on the second floor shelf to the compartment on the second floor. I will try them out one by one." Su Yi With a gentle finger like a green onion, he pointed at all the jewelry that the other people had just noticed.
The Su Mansion's accounts are currently in deficit, and everyone is in a tight situation. However, Su Yining holds half of the dowry left by her biological mother, and is quite wealthy.
Several other people were filled with hatred, but they had nothing to say.
But when Su Yining came out after trying it on, Su Mansion's carriage had already left.
"Ah, what should I do, miss? Third Miss and the others didn't wait for us. We have to take a carriage to the teahouse on the West Street later. What should we do now?" Wenxiu was very anxious.
Su Yining stood at the door of Ruyizhai, frowning slightly, but she didn't panic: "What are you afraid of? Just rent an ordinary carriage now. It doesn't need to be big, just clean."
When she went out, she only took Wenxiu with her. At this moment, Wenxiu went to rent a carriage, and Su Yining waited at the door of Ruyizhai with an oil-paper umbrella.
The spring breeze fluttered the hem of her elegant skirt, and the white gauze hat worn on Su Yining's head moved with the wind, and occasionally floated gently, revealing half of her fair face.
She lowered her eyes and looked at her toes, waiting for Wenxiu.
Suddenly, her vision went dark, and a tall figure stood in front of her.
Su Yining raised her head, and as soon as she raised her eyes, her eyes collided with Xie Yu's peach blossom eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Su Yining spoke softly and subconsciously took a step back.
It was already noon, and it was time to have lunch. There was no one on the street, and Xie Yu was also alone. For some reason, he came to Ruyizhai.
Seeing that she took a step back, Xie Yu did not stay away from her as politely as she did. Instead, he took two steps forward and got closer to her.
Su Yining took another step back, pressing her back tightly against the wall.
"Afraid?" Xie Yu did not move forward. Instead, he bowed his body and approached Su Yining with a handsome face. He tilted his head and spoke in her ear. His warm breath sprayed on Su Yining's face. At the neck.
Her neck felt itchy.
My heart felt like it was scratched by a cat.
"Recently there are rumors in Jinling City about how this prince will take revenge on the second girl of the Su family who started the chaos and finally gave up."
"What do you think?"
Su Yining had no choice but to retreat. Her body, tense due to his approach, became a little weak due to his words. She tilted her head and said softly, "You won't."
He won't, even if they haven't seen each other for many years, even if things have changed. She still knew that Xie Yu was still the high-spirited young man before.
Otherwise, it would not have been so easy to break off the engagement back then.
Xie Yu straightened up but didn't leave. He didn't know whether he was laughing at himself or at her. He snorted coldly: "You do understand me."
"It's a pity that I have changed. I know how to do it." Suddenly, he grabbed Su Yining's wrist and held on tightly.
Su Yining's heart clenched together for no reason, and pain hit her wrist. She couldn't struggle away, her bright eyes filled with grievances.
"Tell me, tell me that you have been forced to do this, that you have something to hide, that you have an incurable disease and have to do this, and that you are actually a man."
"It's okay to lie to me."
Xie Yu's grip tightened, and Su Yining couldn't help but groan in pain. Xie Yu suddenly let go of her, closed his eyes, and turned his back to her.
His chest heaved violently due to emotional fluctuations. After a while, he opened his eyes, and his eyes were as cold and distant as before.
"Go away and stop showing up in front of me."
Su Yining said nothing, picked up the oil-paper umbrella that fell aside, and ran to the other side as if running away.
After a while, Wen Xiu came back, and Su Yining got into the carriage with deep thoughts. When they were approaching the West Street Tea House, she realized that something was wrong with the carriage they were sitting in.
"Did you rent this car?"
Wenxiu nodded, not feeling anything was wrong: "Yes, one tael of silver, together with the driver."
Su Yining said nothing more, thinking that she was overthinking. Perhaps the carriages in the market today are so luxurious.
After the master and servant left, Xie Yu walked out of Ruyizhai again, holding a wooden box containing pen and ink in his hand, and handed it to his entourage.
"Your Majesty, you gave the carriage to Miss Su Er, so what should we take to the Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense for the eldest son?"
Xie Yu said nothing, only looked up at the scorching sun.
After a while, he said calmly: "I thought she would live a better life without me as a burden, but it turned out to be nothing more than that."
The attendant nodded. Isn't it? There isn't even a carriage. Two young women dared to rent a carriage on their own. I'm afraid they didn't even know they were sold.
*
At night, the lights around Linshui Courtyard were turned off, except for an oil lamp still burning in Su Yining's room.
She was not sleepy at all. As soon as she closed her eyes, Xie Yu's face filled with hatred but not aggressive would flash in her mind.
"Wen Yuan, what day is today?"
Wen Yuan took off the hair accessories on Su Yining's head, lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then replied: "It's March 17th."
After a while, she added: "Today should be the death anniversary of the eldest son of the Yong'an Marquis Mansion."
"Tomorrow is the death anniversary of our young master."
Su Yining's hand hanging by her side clenched suddenly, her heart felt like it was being pinched by Wen Yuan's words, and there was a faint pain.
Yes, their two eldest brothers have been dead for three years.
No wonder Xie Yu is like this today.
