The water here is still burning on the stove. More than half a bucket of water in the bathhouse has slowly rolled up the mist. The woody incense sprinkled a handful of flower petals into the bathtub, and with a slight stir, they originally gathered in one place.
The petals spread out in all directions.
Ruan Yuyi was served by Mu Xiang, taking off her hairpin-embellished clothes and sitting in the water. The temperature of the water was just right, and the heat spread to her shoulders.
She picked up a handful of water with her hands, and the petals spread out like petals clinging to the water. Her skin was stained with reddish blood, like fine suet jade.
Mu Xiang applied soap locust on her hands, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at Ruan Yuyi's body. Seeing that her body was as white as usual, she asked suspiciously, "Miss, why are there no red marks on your body? This is not what the storybook said.
identical."
As soon as these words came out, Ruan Yuyi's already rosy complexion became a little redder, and even the rouge looked a bit redundant. She said angrily, "Don't talk nonsense. You are a girl who has not yet left the court. You are not ashamed."
.”
After all, Mu Xiang was married once before. Even though she was usually smart and steady, she was still confused about some things. She was just curious and asked without thinking too much.
Mu Xiang pursed her lower lip and said hesitantly, "Then..."
She said nothing, just shook her head slightly, and absentmindedly fiddled with the petals on her hand.
The methods her mother had taught her did not seem to work on this prince. He was always like an independent and relegated immortal, looking at her with his cold peach blossom eyes, as if it had nothing to do with him.
His own attitude was to appreciate her playing tricks.
His eyes are always deep and aloof, seemingly unmoved by superficial things like appearance.
Ruan Yuyi dipped her fingertips into the water and put the petals back into the water. Maybe it was because they still owed something in their relationship that they seemed distant.
Seeing her shaking her head, Mu Xiang felt inexplicably relieved, and suddenly remembered the days when the Ruan Mansion was still prosperous.
The Ruan family was extremely wealthy at that time. Whatever the young lady wanted, the people around her would rush to deliver it to her. There was no need to lower her profile like this in exchange for the freedom that should belong to her.
It's a pity that Mr. Ruan was falsely accused of taking bribes and died in prison. I don't know who asked for mercy. When the house was ransacked, the government reluctantly left the mansion with three entrances and three exits, so that the family would not have nowhere to go.
How can her young lady be a lucky person? She will definitely get better in the future.
The tip of Mu Xiang's nose became sore thinking about it and she almost shed tears. She quickly wiped it away quietly, but she didn't dare to let the lady see it, otherwise she would have to comfort her in turn.
When the water in the barrel cooled down by an inch, Mu Xiang quickly added some hot water that had just been boiled. This was repeated three or four times before it was finally washed.
After she finished cleaning up for Ruan Yuyi, she went to the dining room to make a bowl of red date soup. Others in the Cheng family were not interested in these sweet treats, so the dining room rarely made these snacks, so she made most of the woody ones herself.
Although I have changed places now, I am still familiar with the road.
This red date soup is somewhat similar to the lotus root starch from Wuzhou. It is light brown in color, thick and mellow, and has the smell of red dates in the mouth. After eating more than half of the bowl, Ruan Yuyi felt that her stomach felt much better without breakfast.
Her appetite was not really big, and after she was seventy percent full, she held the spoon and drank from it.
Before the bowl of red date soup is finished, someone comes to report that the eldest son has something to say to you and is waiting for you under the laurel tree not far away.
Her hand holding the spoon paused, and she simply put it down. The white porcelain spoon collided with the rim of the bowl, making a crisp sound. She said coldly, "When you go back and report, just say that I am resting and it is inconvenient to go out to see him."
The maid glanced at her with some embarrassment and added, "The eldest son wants me to tell you that if you don't go, he will tell the lady what happened last night."
These were Cheng Xingqiu's original words. Although this maidservant didn't know what happened specifically yesterday, she was just recounting it. But she knew that the expression on the eldest son's face, who had always been as gentle as jade, became very scary when he said these words.
, as if he was a different person.
Hearing this, Ruan Yuyi's heart skipped a beat. She didn't see Cheng Xingqiu last night, and it was impossible for anything worthy of threatening her to happen. Could it be that he saw that she was not in the house last night and discovered some clues.
She lowered her eyes and said, "I will go, you go and report back."
By this time, there was only one soup left at the bottom of the bowl, which was also cold. She picked a little and put it in her mouth. She felt that the flavor of red dates was no longer as fragrant as before, and she had no intention of eating any more, so she asked Mu Xiang to take it away.
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She casually put on a snow-grey vine-patterned cloak and went out without asking Mu Xiang to follow her.
The osmanthus tree that Cheng Xingqiu was talking about is just two corners away from the courtyard gate. This place is close to the edge of Shenghe Temple and is relatively remote.
Along the way, her heart was beating wildly. She couldn't help but think about what would happen to her if her deeds were discovered. Although such cruel punishments as pig pen immersion have been abolished, Cheng Zhu's
Temper, will she let herself go?
All worries suddenly disappeared after seeing Cheng Xingqiu standing under the laurel tree with his hands behind his back.
Although what she did was extreme, it was also a last resort. Cheng Xingqiu refused to take revenge for his life and death, and left his newlywed wife to fall in love with someone else. Could it be that his feelings were justified?
There is no such logic.
Ruan Yuyi calmed down and walked slowly over. The fallen leaves on the ground rustled under their feet. Cheng Xingqiu noticed someone approaching and looked sideways.
His wife has really changed too much. In the past, she was like a dodder plant, very beautiful, but she was always close and attached to others and never resisted.
I wonder if it was more than a year of observing the festival that had worn away all her energy for coquettishness, and the little lady she had developed was so charming that she was distant, well-behaved and yet arrogant.
Cheng Xingqiu met her eyes with a deep look, "Where were you last night? Why are you nowhere to be seen?"
When he went to look for her, Mu Xiang happened to be away for a while for a cup of tea. Initially, he didn't think much about it and just thought that they, master and servant, were wandering around together.
But when it was almost early in the morning, he sent someone to check again. Mu Xiang had already fallen asleep, but she was still missing.
The night was deep, where could a girl who was temporarily staying in the temple go? He naturally thought of the man in mysterious clothes he had met when he was looking for the missing Cheng Rui.
The more he thought about it, the more he was holding back his anger. He simply asked clearly, "Did you go to find the man from that day?" He felt very strange at the time. She rarely moved around on weekdays, so how could she happen to meet her friend here?
.
"What does it have to do with the eldest son?" Ruan Yuyi's expression remained as usual, without the slightest hint of panic. Although he had already thought of his words in his mind, it could be seen that he asked this question, but suddenly felt that there was no need to explain.
"How come it has nothing to do with me, I-" He paused and was suddenly speechless.
Yes, although my mother's attitude has softened, in the final analysis, she still wants to marry her to Ruier. If this happens, he will indeed lose the most legitimate position to regulate her.
She stood upright with a slender figure, "My lord, it's up to you whether you believe it or not. If you have to put some unreasonable things on me, I won't be able to explain it."
"I just want to know where you were last night." He lowered his voice, sounding as if he was simply worried about her safety.
Ruan Yuyi lowered her eyes, and her voice was clear and cold, as if floating from the clouds:
"My eldest son, after you return to the mansion, just write a divorce letter to me. From now on, we will ignore our grudges, part ways with each other, and live happily together."
Now that the matter has come to this, there is no need for them to continue to be entangled, and they will forget all about their past admiration.
She knew that with his temper, it would be more difficult for him to agree to the separation. But she just wanted to give herself a result that she had been waiting for in the past. As for the form, it was secondary.
Cheng Xingqiu's mind exploded. He opened his mouth several times, but no sound came out.
He thought about bringing the eldest princess back, and she might be angry and sad, but he never thought that this "letter of divorce" would come from the mouth of that obedient little lady who couldn't even speak loudly.