The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 63

Seeing that her young lady had finally figured things out, Cui Zhu’s face filled with relief. She called over the other maids, gave them a few instructions, and then personally moved a chair to sit by the courtyard gate to stand guard.

She couldn’t trust such an important task to anyone else. Her young lady was thin-skinned; if she were to be startled by some clumsy maid, who knew how embarrassed she would become.

“Did you find out?” Xiao Yu asked.

Song Luoning glanced at her and said calmly, “Let’s go inside first.”

The two exchanged a look and entered the study together. The eldest young lady was so cautious; it seemed her guess was very likely correct.

As soon as they entered the study, Xiao Yu couldn’t wait to close the door. She lowered her voice and asked, “Is it General Li?”

Song Luoning nodded, a hint of worry in her brows. “My father’s people saw him yesterday, claiming to be inspecting the military camps for the emperor, but he went to the Imperial Guard’s camp.”

“Then he must have made contact with General Li,” Xiao Yu touched her nose.

Song Luoning glanced at the untouched breakfast on the table, curled her fingers, and sat down in a round chair. “My husband, do you have a plan to deal with this?”

A plan? She had thought of one. Since, in the original plot, the male lead married General Li’s daughter and that’s why General Li sided with him, why would such a principled man suddenly switch sides? It must be because he doted on his daughter. She might be able to start with General Li’s daughter.

Xiao Yu raised her eyebrows, a smug look on her face. She leaned closer, her voice lowered mysteriously. “I’ve decided to start with General Li’s daughter.”

“Starting with General Li’s daughter?” Song Luoning’s expression tightened. She said coldly, “How do you plan to do that, husband?”

“First, I’ll find a way to befriend her. In any case, I can’t let Xiao Chengze get the upper hand,” Xiao Yu replied truthfully.

The female lead was already her own wife, so why would she be afraid of not being able to break up Xiao Chengze and Miss Li?

Xiao Yu was very confident about this.

“So, you’re going to go in person?” Song Luoning asked.

“Yes. I wouldn’t feel comfortable entrusting this to anyone else,” Xiao Yu replied.

“Very well. This lecherous rake.” Song Luoning clenched her palms. She looked up, her expression icy. “When do you plan to marry her?”

Marry her?

Xiao Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Song Luoning. She wanted to prevent the male lead from marrying General Li’s daughter, but that didn’t mean she was going to sacrifice herself.

After a moment, she blinked, and a bold guess popped into her head. Could it be that the eldest young lady was jealous?

Xiao Yu stared intently at Song Luoning, and then suddenly, she began to laugh.

Song Luoning frowned and remained silent.

“My dear wife, what are you thinking? How could I possibly marry her? I already have you, and with my status, it’s not even possible for me to marry her.”

“You mean, if she didn’t mind your status, you would marry her?”

?!

“No, what kind of logic is this, my lady? I was just giving an example, how did it turn into me marrying her?”

Although she loved it when her lady was jealous, she knew the saying, ‘a little jealousy is good, but too much is harmful.’

Xiao Yu scratched her head. Just as she was about to explain, a knock on the door interrupted her. “Young lady, the snacks have arrived. Should I bring them in now?” Cui Zhu’s voice sounded.

Song Luoning’s face was sullen, and she still didn’t say anything.

Xiao Yu blinked at her, held back a laugh, and cleared her throat. “Bring them in.”

The door opened, and Cui Zhu came in with a tray. On the tray were two plates of exquisite pastries and tea. Cui Zhu curtsied and placed the pastries on the small table next to the young lady. She glanced at Xiao Yu, feeling puzzled. Wasn’t her young lady here to make up with the young lord? Why did the atmosphere feel colder than before? Especially the young lady, who felt like she could freeze a person to death.

What was wrong with this young lord? Her young lady had come all the way to coax her, why couldn’t she just give in a little?

“You may go,” Song Luoning said.

Cui Zhu lowered her head, secretly glanced at Xiao Yu, and then at Song Luoning. She couldn’t help but feel anxious for the two of them. She sighed slightly, curtsied, and left the room.

Silence returned to the room. Xiao Yu glanced at the pastries, rubbed her hands together, and sat down on the chair, continuing to explain. “My dear wife, that’s not what I meant just now. I meant to befriend Miss Li, not marry her. It’s not because my status prevents me from marrying her; I…”

She carefully observed the eldest young lady, and seeing her expression soften a little, she continued, “I believe in one husband, one wife, for a lifetime. Since I have chosen you, I won’t get involved with anyone else. I am meeting Miss Li purely because I don’t want Xiao Chengze to get what he wants. And there are many ways to prevent her from marrying Xiao Chengze. I don’t have to marry her. I can show her that Xiao Chengze isn’t a good person, or I can befriend her and find a chance to sabotage it, or many, many other things…”

Song Luoning pursed her lips, looked away, and pinched the skin on her fingers. She couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart. ‘One husband, one wife, for a lifetime’—how many ordinary people could truly achieve this? Let alone the emotions of an emperor. A strange feeling of melancholy came over her.

At this moment, being stared at by Xiao Yu, Song Luoning pulled herself back to her senses. She adjusted the stray hair by her ear to hide her thoughts.

The person in front of her had a clear and burning gaze, filled with a young person’s sincerity. Song Luoning sighed. The tips of her ears hidden by her black hair felt warm. After a long time, Xiao Yu’s gaze still hadn’t moved. Song Luoning was secretly annoyed. How long was this rake going to stare at her? It was so embarrassing. Song Luoning picked up a pastry, stuffed it towards her, and changed the subject. “When do you plan to go, husband? Luoning will go with you.”

Xiao Yu quickly caught the pastry with her mouth, chewed on it, and said with a muffled voice, “Let’s have a servant find out Miss Li’s whereabouts first, and then we’ll go. Otherwise, if we just show up like this, we’ll scare her.”

The corners of Song Luoning’s lips quietly curved upwards. She didn’t hesitate to praise her. “My husband is very thoughtful.” With that, she stood up and opened the door. Although it was already summer, the courtyard, just like the one at the Prime Minister’s residence, had only greenery and no flowers, making it look a bit plain.

Xiao Yu swallowed the pastry in her mouth. Her gaze fell on the woman. The woman’s slender waist looked even more delicate and fragile in the thin gauze robe, making one want to bully her. With that thought, Xiao Yu walked over, hugged her from behind, and closed the door again.

“Stop messing around~” Song Luoning’s body stiffened. In her fluster, she pressed down on the hand that was misbehaving on her abdomen.

This lecherous rake!

It was still broad daylight. Song Luoning’s ears were flushed with embarrassment. She bit her lip, turned around, and faced her, enduring the unbearable feeling. “You shouldn’t indulge in lewdness during the day.”

“…” Xiao Yu was stunned. She had only hugged her wife once and hadn’t done anything else. How did it become ‘lewdness during the day’?

“Didn’t you want me to send someone to find out the information?”

Xiao Yu knew she was easily shy. She reached out and tucked the stray hair from her face behind her ear, her voice sticky. “I’ll go arrange it now.”

“Okay, go ahead, husband.”

“Wait for me to come back.” Xiao Yu sighed slightly, resisted the urge to kiss her, let go, reopened the door, and went to Liang Chengqiu’s courtyard.

Not long after, Liang Chengqiu hurriedly left the house. Xiao Yu didn’t go anywhere; she stayed in the courtyard and talked with Jiang Wan. The summer breeze was refreshing. She had a maid set up a small table and chairs in the courtyard. They chatted and laughed for about half an hour before Liang Chengqiu returned.

Jiang Wan smiled softly. “You’re out in this kind of weather. Come and have some cool tea to get rid of the heat.”

“I was out doing something,” Liang Chengqiu took the tea that Chen Yu handed her and drank it in one gulp.

Jiang Wan waved her hand and continued to fan herself with a silk fan. “You people who work are always so busy. Why do you still have to deal with official business even when you’re out?”

Liang Chengqiu: “…”

Xiao Yu: “…”

Seeing everyone looking at her, Jiang Wan gave Xiao Yu a playful glare. “What are you all staring at me for? Hurry up and sit down. Where’s the maid? Don’t just stand there; go get a fan for Constable Liang.”

“No need. I have a few more things to say to Young Master Xiao,” Liang Chengqiu said.

“Why call him Young Master Xiao? Just call him A Yu like we do,” Jiang Wan said with a smile. This child was too polite. He had helped them so much since they came to the capital. The more she looked at him, the more pleased she was. She only regretted not having a son.

Liang Chengqiu paused, then replied, “Okay.”

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