Chun Mei and Dong Shui received approval from the Lin Clan. The next morning, they dressed up carefully and left the sewing room with two small bags. On the way, they stopped to say goodbye to familiar maids.
"Master Hou doesn't have a single woman by his side. I heard that all the maids in the early years were all …" One of them made a gesture of cutting her throat and warned, "You have to be careful. Master Hou isn't that easy to serve. It's hard to say whether this job is a blessing or a curse."
The other person nodded in agreement, "Yes, everyone calls Master Hou the Living King of Hell. Every day, he goes out clean and always comes back with the smell of blood. The maids in the laundry room are most afraid of washing Master Hou's clothes. They often carry a basin full of blood and pour it out. It's scary. I heard that Master Hou's aura is so gloomy and terrifying because he has killed too many people. The vengeful spirits around him don't disperse all year round. You two should be more careful. "
The young maid who was very close to them sneered, "Enough, don't say the grapes are sour. It's because Master Hou doesn't have a woman by his side that Chun Mei and Dong Shui have a future. Which man isn't lustful? Master Hou didn't say anything before because Miss Three was the head of the family. He couldn't let his sister touch a woman, right? This time, it's Madam's turn to arrange it. He will naturally accept it. " After saying that, she took their arms and said in a flattering tone, "Sisters, don't forget to help your younger sister when you are rich in the future."
Chun Mei and Dong Shui pursed their lips and smiled. Their cheeks were flushed, looking very beautiful and pleasant. It wasn't that they hadn't heard the rumors outside the fu. What about killing people like flax, being cold-blooded and ruthless, and not recognizing his own family? In their eyes, Master Hou's unusually handsome face and monstrous power could not compare.
It was said that wealth came from danger. If they were lucky enough to become Master Hou's first woman, what else could they not have in the future?
The two of them were calculating and guarding against each other. They swayed their small waists and walked to the front yard with small steps. The group of maidservants sent them off with envious, worried, and mocking gazes.
Today was the day off. It was rare that Yu Pinyan didn't have to go to the yamen. He carried his sister to pay respects to the matriarch first, then brought her back to the study to practice calligraphy.
Yu Xiang sat in front of a slightly short desk and wrote a word. He glanced at his elder brother who was leaning against the window and studying the Go record. He wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Stop looking. No matter how much you look, you have to finish practicing the calligraphy. You should calculate how much homework you've missed. "Yu Pinyan sneered without looking up.
Yu Xiang put down the brush and complained, "Brother, I only know a few words. Are you going to teach me to be a great scholar? I don't have that talent. Look at Little Jiu 'er. She's only 12 years old and she doesn't need to study anymore. She eats, drinks, and plays all day long, living a happy life. It wasn't easy for me to take care of the family, so you should let me relax for a few days. Do you want me to play Go with you? "
Yu Pinyan's lips curved slightly, but his words were full of disdain, "The Ninth Princess can play shamelessly in front of the Emperor in order to play truant. You should also play shamelessly in front of your brother. Also, your Go skills are too bad. You don't count when I give you ten moves, but you take back three moves after two moves. How about I play with my left and right hands? "
Thinking of Little Jiu 'er playing shamelessly in front of the Emperor, Yu Xiang felt embarrassed. He facepalmed and sighed, "If you want to talk, just talk. Why do you have to expose my past? I'll just write."
The study quieted down again. Half an hour later, Yu Xiang knocked the brush against the inkstone and shouted, "Today's homework is finished. Brother, come take a look."
Yu Pinyan put down the Go record and walked over to take a look. He shook his head and sighed, "How come you haven't improved after four years of teaching? You have form but no spirit, and your strength is weak. Even writing a greeting card is embarrassing. "
Yu Xiang shook her sore wrists and angrily said, "I was born with this much strength. How can I reach the point where I can penetrate the back of the paper? Brother, you're forcing me too much. "
Yu Pinyan smiled. He took out a piece of white paper and spread it out. He hugged his sister on his knees and held her small hand that was holding the brush. He gently said, "Brother will teach you. You can figure out how to use your strength. The strength of the handwriting doesn't depend on the person, but the angle of the brush and the speed of the brush. "
The elegant scent of sandalwood surrounded her. Strong arms wrapped around her armpits. Her back leaned against a broad and warm chest. She could faintly feel a steady heartbeat through the cloth. It was an indescribable feeling of snuggling. Even if Yu Xiang had a bellyful of complaints, she couldn't voice them out. She obediently nodded and then secretly glanced at her brother's side face with the tips of her ears red.
Yu Pinyan pretended not to know. He held her small hand and wrote very slowly. A few lines of poetry spread out on the paper, telling a certain someone's indescribable feelings — The autumn wind is clear, the autumn moon is bright, the fallen leaves gather and scatter, the jackdaws are startled when they perch. Lovesickness knows when we will meet again. This night is embarrassing. Enter my lovesickness door, know my lovesickness bitterness. Long lovesickness brings back memories. Short lovesickness brings back endless …
After he finished writing, Yu Xiang murmured a few times. It was as if a small stone had been thrown into the lake of her heart, creating layers of ripples. There was also a subtle, indescribable feeling that quickly slipped through her mind. When she was about to grasp it, it dissipated like smoke. She blinked and her eyes were slightly absent-minded. She asked, "Why didn't you finish the last line?"
There was indeed a last line — If I had known it would trip people's hearts, I would have never met them.
Yu Pinyan carefully observed her expression. After a while, he sighed and said, "The last line is quite inauspicious, so I might as well not write it." How could they not know each other? Then where should she place her love in this life?
Yu Xiang nodded blankly. Just as she was about to change the topic, two graceful maidservants came in from outside the door. They had exquisite makeup on their faces and were carrying parcels in their hands. They were twisting their small waists and squatting to salute. Their voices were as mellow as trickling spring water. "Reporting to Master Hou, Madam ordered us to come and serve you."
The maidservant in the aqua blue robe smiled charmingly. "My name is Chunmei."
The maidservant in the emerald green robe quickly glanced at Yu Pinyan and said shyly, "My name is Dongshui."
Soon after, they said in unison, "Madam ordered us to help you wash up in the morning and evening, and to serve you brush and ink during the day. Master Hou, if you need anything in the future, please instruct us."
Yu Pinyan raised his eyebrows and didn't say anything. The blush on Yu Xiang's face quickly faded. She said coldly, "You two don't need to serve me here. Go back where you came from."
Chunmei and Dongshui had the Lin Clan's support and wanted to take a gamble. Unexpectedly, they squatted in place and didn't move. As they replied, they looked at Master Hou with pitiful eyes. "Reporting to Miss Three, this is Madam's order. We don't dare to disobey. Moreover, Master Hou doesn't have any maidservants to serve him. It's inconvenient … "
Yu Xiang coldly interrupted the two, "You call it inconvenient because he doesn't have any maidservants to serve him? Do you think all the guards and manservants in the courtyard are dead? Didn't you hear me tell you to scram? Do you want me to order people to drag you out? "
Yu Pinyan, who had been silent for a while, slowly opened his mouth. "Xiang'er, why are you chasing them away?"
The two maidservants were pleasantly surprised, but Yu Xiang looked at him with a stunned expression. After a moment of silence, she suddenly threw the brush in her hand to the ground. Thick black ink stained her hand, and she tore the rice paper on the table into pieces. She angrily said, "I'm not writing anymore. You can stay if you want. I'm going back. Let go of me." As she spoke, she kept struggling, and her eyes gradually turned red.
Yu Pinyan hurriedly held her body and waved his hand at the two guards standing at the door. The guards stepped forward and dragged the two maidservants, who didn't have time to hide their surprised expressions, away.
Yu Pinyan forcefully held the crazy tigress in his arms and asked in a low voice, "Why are you throwing a tantrum? Even if you want to chase them away, you should at least give Big Brother a reason. " Tell me that your attachment to me isn't a childish possessiveness, but a clear love between a man and a woman.
A reason? What kind of reason could Yu Xiang give? Say that my world only has you, and your world will have concubines and children, and then you will naturally forget about me? In order to monopolize you, in order to avoid the foreseeable future, I don't dare to let anyone near you? She knew that her thoughts were morbid, and she couldn't resort to words, but she would rather kill herself than turn back.
She desperately blinked, trying to hold back the rapidly secreting tears, but she didn't succeed. She could only use the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. She angrily said, "There's no reason, I'm just this unreasonable! Let go, I don't want to see you. You always lie to me. "
Yu Pinyan was hesitating whether to directly expose her identity or to deepen her attachment to him. He was in a dilemma, and when he looked down, he couldn't help but laugh. He saw that the little girl's face was not only covered with tears, but also smeared with ink from her fingers. She looked very pitiful and very funny.
"Laugh, laugh, laugh," Yu Xiang became more and more indignant. She accused, "I only hear the laughter of the newcomers, but I don't hear the tears of the old. You heartless man. "
What did this have to do with? Yu Pinyan couldn't hold back anymore. He wiped his sister's tears and blew her nose while laughing loudly, "Silly girl, where did the newcomers and old come from? Older brother's newcomers and old friends are all you, only you. Quickly look, I've already sent those two girls away. In the future, I won't let them step into the front courtyard. " He pinched his sister's chin and made her look at the door. He continued to coax her, "Don't cry, you're breaking older brother's heart. Older brother only likes you. "
Tears hung on her eyelashes, blurring her vision. Yu Xiang tried hard to open her eyes. Sure enough, when she saw that there was no one at the door, she slowly stopped sobbing. She wanted to laugh through her tears, but she felt that it was too embarrassing. She only pursed her lips and glared at her older brother.
Yu Pinyan held his sister's cat-like face and laughed for a long time before he ordered Liu Lu to bring in a basin of water. He carefully wiped the ink off her face and hands. He sighed helplessly in his heart: Forget it, if I can't get an answer, I won't ask. I really can't stand her tearful appearance.
"Little vinegar jar, why are you so jealous?" Yu Pin pinched his sister's fair and clear cheeks and scolded her in a low voice, but his tone was full of satisfaction.
Yu Xiang originally didn't want to pay attention to him, but when she met his deep and tender eyes, the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up, and she softly snorted like a cat.
Yu Pinyan loved her coquettish look so much that he would never get tired of it. He held her in his arms and rubbed her for a long time. Then, he kissed her on the top of her head, which was filled with fragrance, like the wings of a butterfly.
Liu Lu poured some water and stood in the corridor, scratching his heart and lungs. He was about to clench his teeth and urge Miss to go back when Mama Ma hurriedly ran over and said, "The Old Lady asked Master Hou to hurry over. Eldest Miss is making a scene."
"What's the matter?" Liu Lu hurriedly asked.
"Hey, what else could it be? Marriage!"
Marriage? With the Fang family? No wonder Eldest Miss is making a scene. The Fang family is already ruined. How can she get married? Liu Lu put down the basin and hurriedly ran in to report.