Chapter Nine, The Thoughts of a Beautiful Woman

Luo Mingxiu was taken aback when Lin Mei embraced her, her body stiffening for a moment, but soon she smiled sweetly, saying, "Sister, you are truly timid."

Mo Shuangqi's heart sank suddenly. She is sixteen years old this year; how can she still be considered a child? Liu Yong, is this a refusal to acknowledge what was said in the past? Or does he want to evade responsibility, claiming that the words spoken in the past were merely to tease a child, said in jest? No, she must find an opportunity to be alone with him and ask him clearly.

Luo Mingxiu fiddled with the sachet for a while, then handed it over, saying: "It still does not take away what my sister loves, so my sister, please hang it up!"

The lord over there ... ...

Su Zhongxing noticed that Lin Mei's cheeks were slightly flushed. She raised her sleeve to partially cover her face and stepped back. In a moment of distraction, he unexpectedly recalled the white lamb that he had pressed beneath him in a dream that night, causing him to pause momentarily.

When you were a child, you lived in the countryside with your grandmother, didn't you secretly learn how to swim? Why would you need someone to save you?" Qiao Jiaru said casually, only thinking about how to take the opportunity to slip away, planning to go around the back of the fragrant flower grove and wait for a chance to speak with Liu Yong alone.

What does she mean? Luo Mingxiu felt a stir in her heart and ran quickly, noticing that she was about to catch up with Su Zhongxing. Unexpectedly, someone here was even faster than her, whoosh, in an instant, passed by her and moved ahead. She focused her gaze and saw it was Lin Mei. At this moment, she called out behind Su Zhongxing, and as Su Zhongxing paused for a moment, she caught up just in time, urgently saying in a voice that Su Zhongxing could just hear: "Lin Mei is a good swimmer, let her go save. You don't go over." She focused her gaze and saw it was Lin Mei. At this moment, she called out behind Su Zhongxing, and as Su Zhongxing paused for a moment, she caught up just in time, urgently saying in a voice that Su Zhongxing could just hear: "Lin Mei is a good swimmer, let her go save. You don't go over."

"Do you know each other?" Zhou Minmin smiled as she glanced at Liu Yong, "Indeed, Brother Liu is from Liuzhou, and Miss Mo is also from Liuzhou, so it is not surprising that they know each other."

As Qiao Jiaru spoke with Wu Yuyi, leaning on the railing and peering out to observe the koi, she could not help but remind her, "Yuyi, this railing is low, be careful not to fall down."

On the other side, several young ladies admiring the koi had dispersed into different areas. Qiao Jiaru and Wu Yuyi stood together watching the koi, and faintly, they saw Liu Yong and Su Zhongxing approaching the Xianghua Forest, conversing with Zhou Minmin and others

Mo Shuangqi was startled and grabbed Lin Mei's hand, exclaiming repeatedly: "Someone has fallen into the water, how terrifying!"

They haven't gone far, they are all over there!" Qiao Jiaru said while straining her ears to listen to the sounds coming from the Xianghua Forest, but the distance was too great to hear anything clearly

Cousin, I truly did not expect that Liu Zhuangyuan and Young Master Su are even more handsome than the rumors suggest. Wu Yuyi whispered to Qiao Jiaru, My father has already decided to agree to Lord Xu's marriage proposal. If Lord Xu possesses even a third of the talents of Liu Zhuangyuan and Young Master Su, I would willingly accept being a concubine, let alone a secondary wife.

"So, if I were to fall into the water, by the time they arrive, I would have already sunk to the bottom?" Wu Yuyi looked up towards the direction of the fragrant flower grove, a smile playing on her lips

"My cousin is just like that, don't mind him, he'll be fine in a while." Luo Mingxiu helped Lin Mei stand straight, her hand brushed against Lin Mei's waist, accidentally knocking off the sachet she was carrying. She quickly picked it up for her and smiled, saying: "Sister, your needlework is excellent, and this sachet is quite unique, let me take a closer look!"

How could Luo Mingxiu not have this thought? However, at this moment, she could not stop Su Zhongxing from going to save someone. Running alongside Lin Mei, she sighed and said, "Liu Zhuangyuan has yet to get engaged, he should be the one to save people, yet Zhongxing is running so fast. It's reckless!"

As Su Zhongxing walked away, Lin Mei straightened her back, her body no longer feeling weak. She quietly let out a sigh and smiled at Luo Mingxiu, saying, "If sister likes this sachet, feel free to take it."

Only after Wu Yuyi met with Lord Xu did she feel nauseous for several days and could not eat. The mere thought of marrying that pockmarked old man as a secondary wife made her feel utterly uncomfortable. This time, she implored Qiao Jiaru to take her into the Yongping Marquis's residence, but she had already thought through many possibilities with a fierce determination.

"The younger sister is truly generous." Luo Mingxiu's smile carried a somewhat inexplicable meaning, "If only the younger sister could be this insightful in other matters as well."

On the other side, Mo Shuangqi gazed at Liu Yong with a dazed expression. Liu Yong merely smiled and said, "Isn't this Miss Mo from the Mo family? I heard from your brother that you all came to the capital, but I didn't expect to run into you here"

If Luo Mingxiu and Lin Mei were to glare at each other or even come to blows, Su Zhongxing would not find it surprising. Yet, they were embracing each other, laughing like a pair of sisters, which gave Su Zhongxing a strange feeling, causing a chill to run down his spine. When Luo Mingxiu took out a handkerchief from Lin Mei and was about to hand it over, he realized that the saliva on his face had dried up in the wind, leaving only a sticky sensation. With a sullen expression, he took a few steps back and said, "No need!" Saying this, he went to admire the few flowers that Zhou Minmin highly praised.

I used to be classmates with Mo Shuangbai and often visited the Mo family, so I naturally got to know Mo's younger sister. At that time, she was still young, full of childlike innocence, and I even played with her. I haven't seen her in years, and she has grown into a young lady now. Liu Yong spoke of the past in front of Zhou Minmin, still regarding Mo Shuangqi as a little girl.

Yuyi!" Qiao Jiaru shouted in surprise. In the blink of an eye, she understood the situation and could only shout, "My cousin has fallen into the water, help!"

"How did my sister spray cousin with saliva all over his face?" Luo Mingxiu emerged from behind the flowers, reached out, and firmly grasped Lin Mei's wrist, smiling brightly, "Hurry up and take out a handkerchief to wipe cousin's face."

This is terrible! In a moment of panic, Lin Meixin quickly raised her hand to cover her nose, held her breath, and hurriedly stepped back. In front of such a large crowd, if she were to collapse into a puddle of mud and reveal an embarrassing scene, it would be utterly impossible for her to face anyone again in the future

Zhou Minmin had already noticed Mo Shuangqi's gaze towards Liu Yong during the gathering. Initially puzzled, she felt relieved after hearing Liu Yong speak. She thought to herself that a person like Liu Yong could naturally not be interested in Mo Shuangqi; it was her own suspicion that had led her astray. However, although Liu Yong was close to her brother and often visited the Yongping Marquis's residence, his attitude towards her had always been ambiguous. At first, she believed he had someone else in his heart, but upon further inquiry, it turned out that was not the case. So, what exactly was he seeking? Given that she had made her feelings so clear, why had he not come to propose?

"This is terrible, someone has fallen into the water," exclaimed the young ladies watching the koi, suddenly screaming, with several of them crying out loudly, "Help!"

A young lady has fallen into the water, and it could lead to a fatal outcome if not handled properly. The immediate priority is to rescue her. However, after a woman is rescued from the water, drenched and soaked, what should be done next? Lin Mei furrowed her brows and hurriedly followed Su Zhongxing and Liu Yong as they rushed forward. After running a few steps, her spine surprisingly remained perfectly straight.

What?" Qiao Jiaru was somewhat confused. When she turned around, she saw Wu Yuyi leaning forward over the railing, and her entire body fell straight into the koi pond.

Lin Mei took the sachet and tied it around her waist, feeling an inexplicable sense of melancholy. If possible, she truly did not want to hurt Luo Mingxiu. ... But ...

Hearing that both Liu Zhuangyuan and Young Master Su are proficient in swimming, Wu Yuyi's eyes sparkled with determination. Without waiting for Qiao Jiaru to respond, she declared, "Cousin, you think I cannot swim, which is just a way of helping me."

Liu Yong took a few steps but stumbled over the flower vines on the ground, hesitating for a moment. Because of this delay, Su Zhongxing had already run ahead.

If only I could swim!" Lin Mei replied, glancing at Luo Mingxiu.

Hmm! Wu Yuyi straightened up and looked around, smiling as she said: "Miss Zhou does not like a group of girls following her, so she sent them all away?"

Mo Shuangqi was very slow to realize, and only now did she notice that there seemed to be a mutual affection between Liu Yong and Zhou Minmin. Her delicate fists unconsciously clenched, slowly raised, and then gradually lowered.

The Wu family, seeing that Wu Yuyi possessed some beauty, naturally wished to use her to climb the social ladder. However, the Wu family was merely a small household in the capital, unable to reach the heights of prominent families. It was not until Wu's father learned that the forty-year-old Lord Xu had lost his first wife and was seeking a daughter from a respectable family to take as a second wife that they eagerly approached him.

Well, are you saying that I did not actively give up Su Zhongxing, did not actively break off the engagement, and did not actively facilitate this matter? Lin Mei pressed her lips together and sighed softly: If I were to fulfill you, who would fulfill me? For someone like me who suffers from osteomalacia, breaking off this engagement would plunge me into an irretrievable situation.

They were conversing when a maid hurriedly arrived, saying, "Madam, a young lady has fallen into the water in the garden"

As the young ladies came over to admire the flowers, they instructed the servants not to run about. Only a few young maids stood at a distance, waiting to be summoned. Upon hearing the call, they all turned pale, becoming flustered.

"As for these matters within the household, the marquis has allowed me to take charge." The Lady of Yongping Marquis smiled faintly, "Not only are you thinking of Ke'er’s feelings from years ago, but I am as well"

Liu Yong and Su Zhongxing, upon hearing the shouts, naturally ran forward while instructing the maid to quickly summon others

Do not harbor any delusions; just obediently wait to enter the Xu family door! Qiao Jiaru, along with Wu Yuyi, has grown somewhat impatient with today's numerous outrageous words and actions. She turned her head and said: "With the backgrounds and talents of Liu Zhuangyuan and Young Master Su, even if you wish to become a concubine, you are not worthy of them."

No matter what, if I am going to weaken, I might as well lean on Luo Mingxiu. Lin Mei was pulled by Luo Mingxiu and naturally leaned against her, feeling her knees go weak and her spine go soft. Realizing that something was amiss, she no longer cared about anything else, turned around, and hugged Luo Mingxiu tightly, resting her head on Luo Mingxiu's shoulder, and said in a delicate voice: "Brother Zhongxing just likes to scare me; my legs have gone weak from fright. Sister, please help me get a handkerchief."

Cousin, do you look down on me like this?

In the hall, Lady Yongping was conversing with Madam Su. Today, Madam Su brought Lin Mei along, and after a few exchanges, Lady Yongping understood the situation. She said, "Before the marriage, let little Mei stay at the marquis's residence for a few days, so that when the time comes for her to marry here, it will be more presentable."