The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 57

What’s going on?

That stoic, ice-faced man just served food to Chen Yu. It’s impossible to believe there’s nothing between them. Looking back, Chen Yu was quite dependent on Liang Chengqiu when they were in Qingzhou, and as for Liang Chengqiu… it all seems to have been there all along.

Xiao Yu cleared her throat. “Oh, my dear Yu, has something good happened to you recently?”

It sounded like idle chatter, but Chen Yu was confused. She looked up at Xiao Yu, wondering why she was suddenly so concerned. She thought hard and answered truthfully, “No, what are you talking about?” Since they arrived in the capital, everything has been filled with peril. What good news could she possibly have?

“Nothing. It’s just that you seem so happy, and even Constable Liang has a much bigger smile on his face,” Xiao Yu said, as if casually.

Chen Yu and Liang Chengqiu’s hearts both skipped a beat. They exchanged a quick glance, seeing shock reflected in each other’s eyes.

With such a guilty reaction, Xiao Yu was now certain of their relationship. An idea immediately came to mind. There was no rush to expose them now. She turned to Song Luoning with a smile. “My dear wife, what would you like to eat?”

Song Luoning gave her a cool glance. “My husband should just serve himself. Cui Zhu is here to serve me.” Her clear voice was tinged with coolness.

Xiao Yu was rebuffed. She touched her nose, gave Song Luoning a playful wink, and then slowly withdrew her hand. Her gaze returned to Chen Yu. “I still don’t know what you’re so happy about.”

Not yet recovered from the shock of a moment ago, Chen Yu was caught off guard again. She froze for a moment, then lowered her head, feeling as though she was sitting on pins and needles. She secretly kicked Liang Chengqiu’s shin under the table. When he looked at her, she gave him a fierce glare, then lowered her head and continued to eat.

Finally, lunch was over. Chen Yu felt like she had been granted a pardon. Without daring to look at Xiao Yu, she took Jiang Wanrou’s arm and headed for their courtyard.

“What’s the rush, child?” Jiang Wanrou asked.

“Nothing, I’m just sleepy,” Chen Yu said vaguely.

Jiang Wanrou gave her a strange look.

Feeling awkward, Chen Yu pulled on Jiang Wanrou’s arm. “I just want to get back, that’s all.”

As they spoke, the two of them walked a few steps ahead of the others. Xiao Yu glanced at them calmly. The person she wanted wasn’t her cousin anyway. “Constable Liang, may I have a word with you privately?”

Chen Yu’s body went stiff. She bit her lip, knowing that what was coming would come eventually, but not expecting it so soon.

“Aunt, let’s hurry back. I’m so sleepy,” Chen Yu urged.

“You’re a strange one. Slow down…” This girl had never taken a nap since she was little. What was wrong with her today?

Before Jiang Wanrou could ask, Chen Yu let go of her arm, feigned a yawn, and scurried away toward the courtyard as if escaping.

On the other side, Song Luoning stood up with Cui Zhu’s help. Upon hearing Xiao Yu call out to Liang Chengqiu, she gave her a cool glance, then paused with a veiled expression before leaving the side hall without a word.

Only Xiao Yu and Liang Chengqiu remained in the hall.

Xiao Yu didn’t beat around the bush, especially knowing that this man seemed to have feelings for Chen Yu. She cleared her throat and smiled. “Constable Liang, I’m grateful for how you’ve looked after my mother and cousin these past few days.”

Liang Chengqiu looked up, waiting for her to continue.

Xiao Yu deliberated. “You’re not in a hurry to leave, are you?”

Liang Chengqiu nodded. He truly wasn’t in a hurry, especially since… He lowered his eyes to hide his emotions. “Young Master Xiao, please just speak your mind.”

That’s what she was waiting for. Xiao Yu smiled. “I’d like to hire you to protect me. Your fee will be… ahem, ten taels a month.” Phew, she almost said one tael a day. That was close.

She didn’t have much of a fortune herself. If she paid one tael a day, her small savings would be gone before the case was even solved. Besides, her father-in-law was keeping an eye on her source of income. What would she use to support her wife when they returned to Linyang County?

“You want to hire me?” Liang Chengqiu frowned. His face was expressionless, and his voice was calm. Xiao Yu felt a little uncertain.

Since she had already spoken, she wasn’t going to give up, especially not when the other party might become a member of her family. “Yes. Constable Liang, your martial arts skills are superb. How much is your monthly salary at the county office? Besides, you’re at the age to settle down and start a family. Haven’t you ever thought about earning a bit more money?”

Settle down and start a family?

Liang Chengqiu was taken aback. He stared at her, now completely certain that she knew something. He spoke calmly, “Twenty taels a month.”

A constable’s monthly salary was two taels. What Xiao Yu said had indeed struck a chord with him. If he wanted to marry Chen Yu in the future, his current salary would certainly not be enough. Since this opportunity had presented itself, he didn’t mind earning a little extra.

Xiao Yu’s mouth twitched. She never expected the seemingly upright Constable Liang to raise the price on the spot. But she had no one else she could trust right now. With a sigh, she gritted her teeth. “Fine. Twenty taels it is. My safety is in your hands for now.”

Liang Chengqiu nodded. “How do you want me to protect you?”

“You don’t need to at home, but when we go out, you must be my personal bodyguard. You have to follow me wherever I go,” Xiao Yu said.

The male protagonist had power and influence. For now, she couldn’t think of a better way to protect herself. With a trustworthy person by her side, she could feel a little more at ease.

On the other side of the residence, Song Luoning had returned to her room and sat down on a soft couch. A young maid lifted the curtain and entered the inner room, bringing out a thin blanket. The maid’s face was full of complaint. “The young master is so unreasonable. He didn’t even give you a single word of explanation.” As she spoke, she placed the blanket over her mistress’s legs.

“Stop complaining and go brew a pot of tea,” Song Luoning said.

“Miss, aren’t you going to take a nap?” Cui Zhu asked, confused.

Song Luoning shook her head. “I’m not tired. Just go and brew the tea.”

It must be because the young master has upset the mistress. Otherwise, why would she suddenly change a habit she’s had for so many years? The young maid huffed and left the room.

When the sound of footsteps faded, Song Luoning lowered her eyes, unable to hide the sadness within them. She sighed softly. In the end, it was her own fault for not guarding her heart. Who could she blame? Besides, she had been prepared for this, hadn’t she? But what good was being prepared if her heart still ached? Song Luoning tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and a single crystalline tear slowly disappeared into her hair.

After a long time, the sadness in her eyes slowly gave way to a sense of resignation. Song Luoning collected herself and opened the book in her hand. The sound of voices could be heard from outside the room. A moment later, the door was pushed open. Without lifting her head, she said calmly, “Cui Zhu, you don’t need to wait on me here. You can leave now.”

After a long moment, the person who had entered still hadn’t spoken. Song Luoning finally looked up. When she saw who it was, her eyes flickered slightly.

“My wife.” Xiao Yu blinked.

She had just happened to run into Cui Zhu and had taken on the task of bringing the tea herself. “Do you want to rest for a bit?” Xiao Yu set the tray down, crouched by Song Luoning’s feet, gently took the book from her hand, and looked up at her, her eyes bright and sincere.

Could eyes like that lie?

Seeing that her wife didn’t respond, Xiao Yu wasn’t angry. She scooted closer with a grin, resting her face on her wife’s leg. “My wife, did you miss me today?”

This seemed like a perfectly normal gesture of intimacy to her, but Song Luoning’s body stiffened. She slowly curled her fingers, opened her mouth, but in the end, she only said, “If my husband is tired, you should go rest. I want to read a little longer.”

Xiao Yu murmured her agreement, then she leaned into her wife’s leg again. The warmth of her skin against the soft, thin fabric made Song Luoning feel something strange. She quickly suppressed the feeling and said sternly, “In broad daylight, my husband should pay attention to his conduct. What a disgrace it would be if someone saw you?”

“Oh,” Xiao Yu said unwillingly, lifting her head. Her face was wrinkled, and her expression was one of grievance. “There’s no one here.”

“Even if there is no one here, does that mean you don’t need to restrain your behavior?”

Xiao Yu was left speechless.

Her wife didn’t seem to fall for this act. Normally, if she acted a little cute, her wife would give in to her, even if she was shy. Xiao Yu blinked, sat up straight beside her wife, and didn’t dare to move. She stared at her wife with a serious expression, thinking that no matter how she looked at her, she was beautiful.

Her gaze was fond, lingering, and full of a young man’s ardor.

Song Luoning pursed her lips and picked up her book again. Feeling his burning gaze, she curled her fingers, unable to focus on the text. After a moment, she slowly turned her body away, but her exposed earlobe had quietly turned red.

Because she was so close, Xiao Yu saw it immediately. Her heart filled with joy, and her mind was filled only with her wife. She instinctively licked her lips, remembering the feel of them in her mouth just last night. I really want to kiss her again.

Even with Xiao Yu’s thick skin, she couldn’t help but feel her heart race and her cheeks flush.

“I want to go for a walk in the courtyard. My husband, please do as you wish.” Song Luoning suddenly stood up, her expression abruptly turning somber.

Xiao Yu was stunned and stood up with her. What was wrong? Her wife seemed even angrier. “I’ll go with you…”

“No need. Cui Zhu can accompany me.” Song Luoning refused coldly.

“Ah? Oh…” Xiao Yu watched her in a daze as she walked out of the room and disappeared from sight.

What’s going on? I didn’t do anything just now. Why does my wife seem even angrier? Xiao Yu was baffled.

Her wife wasn’t even giving her a chance to talk. Xiao Yu quickly followed her, but just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Cui Zhu whispering in Song Luoning’s ear. Her wife’s expression became solemn. She turned back and glanced at Xiao Yu, then without a word, she walked through the floral hall.

“My wife…” Xiao Yu hesitated, then quickly followed.

After leaving the residence, Song Luoning was helped into a carriage by Cui Zhu. Just as Xiao Yu was about to get in, an arm blocked her. Cui Zhu pouted unhappily. “Young master, you should go back and keep Miss Yuan Niang company. My mistress has urgent business and must return to the Prime Minister’s residence.”

Xiao Yu was stunned.

Not this tactless maid again! She always brings up whatever is causing her wife to be angry. Wasn’t she already upset enough?

“Cui Zhu, let’s go.” A clear female voice came from inside the carriage.

“Coming,” Cui Zhu said. She glared at Xiao Yu and then got into the carriage.

Hmph! This impudent maid! I should have my wife replace her long ago.

The carriage rumbled away. Xiao Yu didn’t have time to dwell on it. She rushed back into the residence, asked the steward for a horse, and leaped onto it nimbly.

“Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Yu turned to see Liang Chengqiu. Without a word, she said, “You’ve come at a good time. I need to leave the residence now.”

Liang Chengqiu nodded. A moment later, he led a horse out. “Let’s go.”

“Do you know the way to the Prime Minister’s residence?” Xiao Yu asked.

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