My Lady Says She Wants to Marry Me - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

On the first day of the marriage, as dawn was just breaking, Lu Youming rolled over on the Luohan couch. Her eyes were misty as she surveyed the dim room. She let out a yawn and rubbed her face against the pillow with lingering attachment.

They had reached an agreement last night: from now on, Lu Youming would sleep on the Luohan couch in the bridal chamber. Fortunately, she had the foresight to have the carpenter make the couch a size larger; she fit on it perfectly. During the day, it could be used for resting and drinking tea; at night, once cleared, it became a perfect bed.

Lu Youming sat up slowly, the quilt sliding down her shoulders. She turned to look toward the bed. Through the red “hundred-children” mosquito netting, she could faintly see a still figure who hadn’t stirred yet.

She rose carefully and changed into her clothes quietly, making sure not to disturb Su Wanrou’s dreams. Last night had been peaceful. After their talk, they had exchanged goodnights and retired to their respective beds. Lu Youming had listened to the person on the bed tossing and turning for a while, but she had no idea when she herself finally drifted off.

As Lu Youming stepped out of the room, a maid promptly brought a basin of washing water. Lu Youming whispered her thanks and used a towel dipped in an ancient version of facial cleanser to wash her face. Having lived there for a month, the servants in the manor were well-acquainted with her habits; they knew she woke up at this time every day for exercise.

After stretching, she began running laps around the courtyard. She wove through the three-entry manor, running for a full hour.

Su Wanrou was awakened by Liu Qing. Her eyes met the festive red curtains embroidered with patterns of a hundred children and grandchildren. The exquisite auspicious cloud patterns made her mind go blank for a moment. Since when did I start using such bright red bed curtains?

She stared dazed at the canopy for a long while before it suddenly hit her: she had gotten married yesterday.

Su Wanrou pulled up the quilt and pouted, childishly nuzzling into the warmth of the covers. Rising so early makes me so sleepy.

The maid Liu Qing entered with hot water, her face beaming with joy. “Miss, the Master has been up for an hour already. He even told us not to disturb your sleep. The Master is truly a considerate man.”

Su Wanrou sat up with bleary eyes and began her morning toilette. She wore a bright red long dress; she would have to wear this color for three days until her first formal return visit to her family, after which she could wear her regular clothes.

Lu Youming was sitting at the dining table, smelling the fragrant breakfast. She was already starving. By the time Su Wanrou arrived slowly, Lu Youming’s stomach was rumbling like a drum.

“Are you hungry? You didn’t have to wait for me, Madam,” Lu Youming said, drying her hands and sitting at the table. Last night, they had already begun using their new titles; she called her “Madam,” and Su Wanrou called her “Husband.”

Lu Youming picked up a boiled egg and cracked it. These were true free-range eggs from the village, tasting fresh without a hint of fishiness. She peeled a smooth, white egg and placed it directly into Su Wanrou’s bowl.

Su Wanrou looked at the egg that suddenly appeared in her bowl. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Eat up. You’re wonderful in every way, you’re just too thin. Eat more eggs to nourish yourself.” The egg Lu Youming peeled for herself was lumpy and pitted, but she popped it into her mouth with a satisfied slurp.

Listening to Lu Youming’s naturally warm conversation, Su Wanrou felt the atmosphere become much more relaxed as they treated each other like friends. To outsiders, the vibe between them looked like a young couple deeply in love, sweet enough to make anyone envious.

After the meal, Lu Youming informed Su Wanrou that she needed to return to her village for a bit. She would return from the village in time for their formal family visit.

“Is the village fun?” Su Wanrou watched the person packing to leave. She looked at her with curious, star-bright eyes, causing Lu Youming to daze for a split second.

Su Wanrou was a very beautiful girl. She possessed the gentle, quiet grace of an ancient noble lady; every movement she made followed a refined order. Having never visited a village, Su Wanrou had only heard that such places were poor—locations where young ladies like her shouldn’t go.

Seeing Lu Youming deep in thought, she assumed she was embarrassed to describe it. She said considerately, “If it’s hard to say, then don’t worry about it.”

Lu Youming looked at the thoughtful Su Wanrou and shook her head. “There’s nothing hard to say. The village I live in is right below that apricot grove. Green mountains, clear water—the scenery is like a painting.”

“Would you like to come and see it with me?” Lu Youming invited.

“I’d love to.” Su Wanrou wanted a change of scenery, treating it like a revisit to a significant place. She called Liu Qing to pack a few changes of clothes and personal items.

Then, Lu Youming sat in a chair with a wooden expression, watching Liu Qing busily pack a mountain of things to be loaded onto a carriage.

“My house is small and can’t accommodate so many servants. Just you and I should go,” Lu Youming said helplessly as she sat on her horse, looking at the entourage. Su Wanrou hesitated.

She looked seriously at her “limp” husband, seemingly judging if she was telling the truth. After a moment of thought, she waved her hand. “Then let them follow us there and come back afterward. Otherwise, with so many things, who would carry them all down?”

What could Lu Youming do? She had to listen to her, of course. The group set off grandly toward Apricot Blossom Village.

Su Wanrou arrived once again at the apricot grove where she had fallen into the water. The blossoms had scattered, and the trees were now heavy with fruit, their branches bent by the weight of yellowing apricots.

Along the way, Su Wanrou saw many villagers picking apricots. Most of these would be taken back to be made into jam or fruit wine to be sold elsewhere. Everyone she saw was smiling; their hands were full of fruit that represented silver. Who wouldn’t smile while holding silver?

Su Wanrou’s gaze shifted to the wooden bridge. She had sent someone back to check it; there were signs of long-term disrepair, and she had indeed simply stepped into a gap. She glanced sideways at Lu Youming, who was humming a song softly, looking comfortable and free. She couldn’t help but smile; it seemed like there were no unhappy things in this person’s world.

She liked this attitude toward life. Su Wanrou rested her hand on the carriage window, a smile she didn’t even notice playing on her lips as she listened to Lu Youming’s humming.

Being the object of such a gaze, Lu Youming naturally felt it. She turned and saw Su Wanrou’s eyes full of tenderness, making her heart skip several beats. Her ears turned red as she sat up straight and stopped looking around, staring strictly ahead while her song lost its tune.

You have to remember, I like girls! Lu Youming thought. Back in her original home, she had wanted to find a cute, soft, fragrant girlfriend. Who would have thought she’d travel through time just by saving someone?

“Are these apricots delicious?” Su Wanrou looked at the golden fruit. The sweet fragrance was tempting her to try some.

“They’re good, but they’re a bit sour right now. They’ll be much better in a few days. You should wait,” Lu Youming pointed to a child by the road eating an apricot; the kid’s face was puckered up like a little old man from the sourness.

Seeing that, Su Wanrou felt her own mouth water from the imagined sourness and immediately dropped the idea.

“Does every household in Apricot Blossom Village grow apricots?” Su Wanrou asked curiously.

“Yes, most families do. That’s why the scenery looks like a forest. All the apricot trees here belong to the village.”

“Then what does the other part of the population grow?” Su Wanrou had assumed everyone grew the same thing.

“Peaches,” Lu Youming answered casually from her horse.

“Are there many people who grow peaches?” Su Wanrou was curious. Peach blossoms were also beautiful, but she hadn’t heard of peach trees in this village.

“Not many. Just one,” Lu Youming said with a mysterious smile, her eyes sparkling as she waited for Su Wanrou to ask.

“Oh? Who?” Su Wanrou was puzzled, yet understanding—not everyone likes apricots, after all.

“Me! Hahahaha!” Lu Youming laughed triumphantly. Su Wanrou was amused by her proud expression. Her laughter carried far, and many passersby couldn’t help but turn to see which “young lad” was laughing so happily.

“Do you not like apricots?” Su Wanrou asked softly, flicking her handkerchief.

“They’re alright. I prefer crunchy pears.”

Leaning on the carriage window, Su Wanrou smelled the sweet apricot scent and truly felt a craving. Lu Youming reached out from her horse, picked an apricot that looked relatively sweet, and handed it to her. Su Wanrou’s eyes lit up. She accepted it happily and popped it into her mouth—only for a surge of sharp sourness to rush straight to her brain.

Tears sprang to her eyes instantly. Seeing her paralyzed by the sourness, Lu Youming couldn’t stop herself from looking down and laughing. She didn’t dare laugh out loud, fearing Su Wanrou might actually hit her.