Chapter Five, The Powerful Minister, Ju

He is a significant figure. Su Sa said little, appearing confident and composed.

"It sounds like I still want to take advantage of you!" Bai Xiaoxiao snorted coldly and left in displeasure. Su Ying realized that her words were inappropriate, but annoyed by her overthinking, she was too lazy to explain.

Ju Hanyuan exchanged a few pleasantries with Su Sahuan before they bid each other farewell. He donned the dim cloak he had worn upon arrival, and his sharpness was instantly concealed within it, rendering any extraordinary qualities no longer visible

After everything was prepared, Master Su sent away the eunuch, still feeling perplexed. However, Su Ying had gained some confidence and went directly to find Su Sa

Su Ying wanted to say something else when she suddenly saw the young man who had been tying her horse walk out from a small room next door. His hands and face had already been washed, making him look even more radiant. She hurriedly lowered her head even further and took a step back behind Su Sa.

She was in a sorry state when she suddenly heard someone behind her laughing at her. Su Ying felt both embarrassed and angry, and she glared fiercely at that person.

Su Ying smiled lightly: "What if one day my adoptive father loses his power?"

Su Ying could only bow again

"That incense is gone today," Su Sa said lightly. "I don't know what that person was thinking, insisting on leaving the palace to gather spices. Unfortunately, she ran into robbers and had her nose cut off."

I know! I feel like a follower beside my brother, how could I dare to speak in front of him? Su Ying was unaware of whom her brother intended to take her to meet, and she was filled with curiosity.

It is fortunate that I listened to your brother's advice and kept you in the residence. If I had hurriedly sent you away, it would have been a miscalculation. " Master Su said while continuously clapping his hands: " How could Lord Ju take someone else's unwed daughter as an adopted daughter? "

Ju Hanxuan seemed to be aware of her previous unease and did not press further. Suddenly, she asked: "Do you know how to blend fragrances?"

Even without looking, Su Ying could feel Ju Huanxuan's gaze circling around her a few times—his eyes remained as indifferent as ever, showing no sign of being affected by Su Za's suggestion. Soon, he spoke again, not in response to Su Za, but gently asking Su Ying: "Can you ride a horse?"

"Change into this and accompany me outside." Su Sa's expression was calm, "Don't ask too much. When has your brother ever harmed you?"

The official rank of Su Sa, the Right Guard of the Eastern Palace, is quite high. When her aunt gave birth to the Eighth Prince and was promoted to Dan Pin, the Emperor bestowed great gifts upon the Su family twice, and the brothers of the Su family each had their official ranks elevated by one level. When her elder and second sisters were conferred the titles of Li Yuan and Rou Yuan as selected women, they were again promoted by one level. Taking advantage of her female relatives, Su Sa, at a young age, has already held an important position in the Eastern Palace's officialdom

First, a master perfumer from the south suddenly appeared at the door, claiming that an unusual fragrance was emanating from the Su residence, and that heaven had commanded him to take this person as his closed-door disciple. Lord Su, filled with uncertainty, called for his family members to present themselves one by one, and he immediately recognized Su Ying, promptly accepting her as his apprentice. From that day on, Su Ying devoted herself to the study of perfumery.

Your cleverness is far from sufficient in front of adults. If you want to understand what the court officials are doing, you still have a long way to go. With this remark, Su Sha chose not to say anything more to Su Ying. Su Ying had no choice but to stop asking, believing that she would naturally find out when the opportunity arose.

The young girl did not dare to walk in front of the young master. Su Ying lowered her head, mimicking the tone of the servants in the manor

The three characters "Danxi Palace" made Su Ying's heart flutter, causing her to pay closer attention to her adoptive father's words. She heard him snort with a nasal tone: "It just so happens that the incense offerings from Danxi Palace are ungrateful... I don't think she will stay in the palace for long. From today onwards, my daughter should start learning how to blend fragrances; it will surely come in handy someday"

Ju Hanxuan smiled and said, "We in the northern country originally did not pay much attention to these matters, but recently they have suddenly become popular in the palace. The Danxi Palace even specially appointed a female official to assist the Empress with fragrance blending"

The most displeased person, Bai Xiaoxiao, deliberately mocked Su Ying in front of her: "No wonder you look down on our Ximo; it turns out you are aiming for a higher branch, waiting for someone better!"

On the way home, Su Ying continued to follow behind her brother's horse. After walking in silence for a while, she could no longer hold back and asked: "Young Master, that gentleman... why did he say he understood your intentions? Why did he say he admired your schemes?"

Thus, it can be said that Young Master Su has already arrived. That young master brushed off the dust from his clothes and asked, "Why haven't you gone in yet?"

He seems to have no worries at all. She mustered her courage to glance at him, but unfortunately, Young Master Bai had already walked away without looking back

This thought certainly cannot be expressed. She sighed and said softly, "I would rather marry into a good family than this—like being on the crest of a wave, suddenly elevated. I fear that one day I might fall and shatter into pieces"

Suddenly, they all fell silent and respectfully stepped aside. Su Ying also took a few steps back, peeking from behind her brother, and discovered that another person had entered the small shop. This person wore a dull-colored cloak that covered both their head and face, and there were no attendants by their side, arriving silently. If it weren't for Su Sa and the others reacting, Su Ying would not have noticed the presence of this additional person in the shop.

A trace of uncommon desolation passed over Su Sa's face. He forced a smile and comforted her, saying: "Silly girl, how many people in this world can live freely and comfortably? Although we are not at ease, at least we can enjoy luxurious clothing and food, and command servants—what more can we ask for in our position?"

Lord Ju silently gazed at her for a moment, then laughed heartily and said: "The younger sister of the Right Guard Commander is indeed extraordinary, what a graceful young lady! When I first caught sight of you, I was puzzled: why would the Commander of the Su Guard bring such a handsome attendant? Now I can speak frankly, right?"

A few days later, a eunuch suddenly arrived at the palace to see Su Ying. Upon seeing this extraordinary man, Master Su felt even more anxious and fearful. Su Sa, however, remained calm and composed, but Su Ying noticed a hint of excitement and eagerness in her brother's eyes—based on her understanding of her brother, she could tell that he had anticipated this matter for some time.

Young Master Bai and Su Sa exchanged a few casual words, their conversation ambiguous and elusive, resembling a secret code. Su Ying listened, only partially understanding, finding it rather dull.

Aying, just focus on your perfumery and don't ask too many questions about other matters. Do not waste your adoptive father's repeated praises of your abilities in front of the Empress.

Su Sa, seeing that her younger sister had no response, interjected, "I wonder why the adult is so concerned about the spices"

"Oh?" Su Ying had never heard of such a thing as perfumery and did not dare to agree hastily. She raised her eyes to look at Ju Huanxuan and said softly, "Su Ying is dull-witted and has not studied it."

Master Su showed no signs of refusal—while it is indeed something to boast about to establish connections with the Xiang residence, there are likely even more individuals in the court who harbor jealousy, envy, and suspicion. Moreover, the factions among the court officials have always been unstable; those who align themselves with the Chancellor may find themselves in misfortune at any moment. Nevertheless, at present, there are no such indications, and Master Su is still more pleased than worried.

Su Ying pouted—daughters of the northern regions are not as constrained as those from the south, and they are not subject to many restrictions when going out. Su Ying has always been afraid of attracting gossip, so she rarely goes out. If she truly wants to visit the market for leisure, there is no harm in going as she is. Why must she wear a complete set of men's clothing? She wanted to ask, but Su Sa clearly would not tell her.

Can you play the piano

That esteemed guest must have entered the elegant room through another door from the side chamber. Su Ying did not see him again, but she heard the young gentlemen in the elegant room speaking quietly, with only one slightly older voice murmuring something.

They soon arrived in front of the largest restaurant in the capital, Fuhua Tower. Su Ying knew that many powerful and influential people liked to hold banquets and gatherings here. To her surprise, Su Sa calmly walked past Fuhua Tower, but dismounted in front of an inconspicuous small tavern. Standing behind the tall steed, she quietly said to Su Ying: "I will go in first. After you tie up the horse, feel free to look around. If you notice anyone with a suspicious appearance, go inside and give me a signal."

Su Ying remembered that her brother had told her to speak positively about everything, so she gently nodded and said, "I have learned."

Su Sa hurriedly replied: "Your Excellency has this intention, and Su Sa is deeply grateful. As for Your Excellency's matters, others would not dare to spread rumors or gossip."

Su Ying was surprised to unwrap the package and found a set of clean men's clothing inside. "Brother, what is this for?"

Su Ying heard that the man's surname was Bai, and couldn't help but raise her eyes to take a closer look: this Young Master Bai had an elegant appearance and a cheerful demeanor, suggesting he was a very likable young man. Having previously considered a marriage alliance with the Bai family, Su Ying felt somewhat sensitive about the surname "Bai" and was curious if he was the nephew of the seventh aunt.

Ju Hanxuan smiled at Su Sa and said: "A wise person does not speak in riddles: I understand your meaning. If others had such thoughts, I would certainly mock them for not knowing what is good for them. However, I quite admire your cleverness and courage at such a young age. Unfortunately, you are from the Eastern Palace, and it is not convenient for me to acknowledge you as my adopted son—having taken in your sister, I am still afraid of what others might say."

In fact, Su Ying secretly thought: What if one day my brother is worth nothing in the eyes of our adoptive father

Su Ying could not hold back her brother's horse, her hands feeling sore and fatigued. "Young Master! Please, Young Master, help me..." Her gaze was filled with pleading, and the young master, unable to refuse upon seeing it, walked to her side, took the reins, and steadily led the horse into the stable, calmly tying the reins to the hitching post.

Su Sa did not express any opinion, while Su Ying remarked: "The person who came said that those who desire incense hold a noble status. Although I have not studied the system of the imperial harem, I am aware that each concubine is assigned a small blue dragon incense burner, each imperial consort is provided with one large and one small green dragon incense burner, and the noble consort's palace is equipped with two large and two small yellow dragon incense burners... As for the colorful red dragon, that is a configuration exclusive to the Danxi Palace—that is the messenger of the Empress!"

Can you shoot arrows

Su Ying, lacking in spirit, admonished her, saying at bedtime: "Xuan Ye, one must not forget oneself in moments of pride, otherwise the consequences will be dire."

As Su Ying entered the elegant room, she happened to meet the sharp gaze of the person seated in the main position

"How could that be possible!" Xuan Ye spat a few times and said, "Miss, please do not speak such ominous words."

Young Master Bai was the last to emerge. As he passed by Su Ying, he glanced at her and let out a soft laugh. That laughter seemed to carry a hidden meaning, which made Su Ying feel quite uncomfortable

This good deed immediately became big news in the Su family, with the concubines and younger sisters coming to offer their congratulations. Su Ying, fully aware of their insincerity, had no choice but to deal with them, and it took her an entire day to send all the comers and goers away

His tone was ordinary, yet Su Ying felt a chill run down her spine: "What?"

Su Ying let out a slow sigh of relief, and only then did she muster the courage to carefully look around: one or two passersby were chatting absentmindedly, lingering in front of the luxurious Huahua Building not far away, occasionally glancing inside, yet they did not notice this inconspicuous little shop. Su Ying's anxious heart eased a bit as she tidied her hair and clothes before finally stepping inside.

Su Ying looked at her brother in confusion and asked, "Isn't there a fragrant attendant from the Southern Kingdom by the Empress's side? Why does she still need someone from outside to prepare the fragrance for her? Moreover, how does she know that I can blend fragrances?"

Su Ying readily agreed, but inwardly she was pondering: from his words, it seemed he could easily send her into the palace to replace that female official. However, could the Prime Minister's influence reach into the inner palace? Such matters were not something Su Ying had heard of.

On a day in mid-spring, Su Sa suddenly came to find Su Ying with a bundle in hand. Upon entering, the first thing she did was to send Xuan Ye away and said to her sister: "Change into this."

Su Ying stamped her foot and said: "I just don't understand what you are all up to!"

Ju Huanxuan lifted Su Ying's chin and looked at her, praising, "Indeed, she is of the same lineage as Consort Dan. Consort Dan has always been one to recognize merit, and it is only a matter of time before she is promoted to a consort. " Su Ying felt her face flush under his gaze and was at a loss for words. Suddenly, she heard her adoptive father ask, "How much do you know about spices?"

Miss, now you are the adopted daughter of the Prime Minister, what hardships could you possibly face

The young lady exclaimed, "This should be called the turning of misfortune into fortune! There are many good things to come!"

Su Ying was even more astonished and blurted out, "Who exactly are you taking me to see, brother?"

Su Ying had always found it strange: other young masters came from unusual backgrounds, yet they all arrived alone, while her brother was the only one who brought her along. She gently turned her eyes and quietly watched her brother, waiting for him to explain the reasons behind it all

With a faint smile, she said, "I am grateful for the favor shown by that esteemed person. It is quite unexpected that Young Master Bai is also among the invitees"

Su Ying was filled with confusion and couldn't help but want to follow her brother inside, but was stopped by Su Sa's subtle gesture. Although Su Sa's movement was slight, Su Ying immediately understood his intention and obediently stood at the door without looking away.

Su Ying let out a sigh of relief this time and replied comfortably: "I will."

Su Ying retorted, "If you don't want me to know, then don't send me to be someone else's goddaughter! Why don't you acknowledge him as your adoptive father yourself?"

Good things truly come one after another, just as Xuan Ye said, continuously arriving before Su Ying

Su Ying looked at her brother with unease, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Su Ying nodded with a flushed face, not daring to say much

Even in his youth and exuberance, Su Sa still showed utmost respect in front of Prime Minister Ju, without the slightest hint of negligence

Dressed in men's clothing, Su Ying lowered her head and followed behind Su Sa's horse, constantly feeling as if others were watching her. Throughout the journey, she remained blushing and was teased by Su Sa several times.

I fear that if my brother gets trapped, he will lose his autonomy. As her worries increased, her tone became heavier.

That young gentleman smiled silently for a moment, glanced at her again, and said nothing more, proceeding directly to the front of Su Ying.

Little did she know that the horse would not heed Su Ying's commands, persistently shaking its head and tail, while snorting hot, humid breaths through its nostrils, splattering Su Ying's head and face. Su Ying, being small in stature, desperately tugged at the reins, afraid to let go, and several times nearly got pulled to the ground by the stubborn horse.

Knowing it so well, how can you still say you haven't studied the court system? You must have secretly looked at the books that the sisters discarded at some point, right? Su Sha looked at her younger sister and smiled slightly: Perhaps the Empress does not wish to make this matter public, and not wanting to borrow someone else's incense burner, she has no choice but to take the risk of using her own—today, the harem is competing with incense.

The person passed by Bai Gongzi and Su Sa, merely nodding slightly and saying, "Go in and sit!" before walking to the side room next to the private chamber, presumably to wash up

His tone was calm and unperturbed, as if he did not care about the outcome. Su Ying was immensely shocked upon hearing this: she had never heard of Madam Ju wanting her daughter, and she was even more unaware of how her brother dared to openly recommend his sister to become the goddaughter of someone else's wife in front of the Prime Minister.

Su Ying smiled faintly and said, "I understand a little."

He was a young gentleman of about eighteen or nineteen years old. His attire and horse gear were not extravagant, yet it was evident that they were of fine craftsmanship. This young man had a dignified appearance, clearly not an ordinary person, yet he had no attendants by his side, standing alone beside his horse while gazing at Su Ying with a smile.

Su Sa did not come out. Su Ying looked around the elegant room in confusion and saw her brother walk to the door, softly saying in a low voice: "A Ying, come in to pay your respects to Lord Ju"

This adoptive father wants your future to be better than the past fourteen years—I hope for this. Su Sa looked deeply at his sister, his eyes filled with tenderness. He reached out and touched Su Ying's thin face, saying: "He will protect you, and no one will dare to bully you or look down on us—I hope for this. Everything is proceeding as I wish, you just need to believe in me."

Su Ying replied quietly: "Auntie can be considered half a mother to me, and I, A Ying, occasionally have a bit of good fortune. What is wrong with that?"

The messenger said: "I have heard that the sixth young lady of your esteemed household is a master perfumer. There is a noble person in the palace who wishes to request the young lady to create a fragrance, the name of which is in this brocade pouch. The palace is in urgent need of it, so I trouble the young lady to prepare it immediately. There will be generous rewards upon completion." He did not reveal who this noble person was, and after several attempts to probe by Master Su yielded no results, he wisely chose not to inquire further. He only repeatedly instructed Su Ying to ensure that she remained fully focused.

The small shop was bustling with activity, and his voice was difficult to discern amidst the noise. Su Ying decided to stop listening and focused entirely on observing the people coming and going inside the shop. After standing for so long that her legs became numb, she finally grew impatient, lightly tapping her foot and shrugging at the door, careful not to disturb those inside. Just then, the door suddenly opened, and a young gentleman stepped out. Su Ying was startled and shrank to the side, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"Young Master Su!" The person greeted Su Sa and cast a glance at Su Ying, saying to Su Sa, "So Young Master Su is also among those invited."

Su Sa laughed lightly and said, "I know you are clever." He thought for a moment and added, "If there is an opportunity to be alone with that person, I will naturally introduce you. At that time, no matter what he asks you, just speak positively about it."

The first is the surname of that person: the Ju family is relatively rare in the northern regions. In the court, there is a Chancellor Ju who holds great power, yet he absolutely forbids his relatives from holding official positions. Thus, among the officials in the capital, there is only one Lord Ju, which is Chancellor Ju Huanxuan

She always felt that something was amiss: a person like Ju Huanxuan, who could rise from a mere warrior to the position of prime minister, how could he simply allow Su Sa to fulfill her wish without expecting anything in return? For someone like him, the demands for reciprocity could not be trivial. Her brother had mentioned before that he only hoped Ju Huanxuan's wife would accept Su Ying as an adopted daughter, yet unexpectedly, he himself readily acknowledged Su Ying—compromising to such an extent, it was likely that what he sought in his heart had already surpassed the imagination of the Su siblings. Her brother had mentioned before that he only hoped Ju Huanxuan's wife would accept Su Ying as an adopted daughter, yet unexpectedly, he himself readily acknowledged Su Ying—compromising to such an extent, it was likely that what he sought in his heart had already surpassed the imagination of the Su siblings.

Su Ying had never heard of the method for preparing "Lingxiao Luoying," but she was quite knowledgeable about another recipe. She immediately made up her mind to carefully select the spices, grinding and crushing them as needed, and then meticulously layering each spice into the incense burner brought by the eunuch. After that, she carefully tied the incense burner with colorful silk and finally wrote a note, detailing what kind of fragrance would emerge at what time during the burning process.

Su Yingxin thought: Her brother did not know what kind of scheme he was up to; as long as she was his sister, even if she were someone else's wife or a widow, perhaps the prime minister would still acknowledge her. However, when their father mentioned it, it reminded Su Ying that her brother did not want her to marry, which surely indicated some other intrigue. Upon further reflection, she realized that her brother had always acted for her own good; he was meticulous in his work and would not make any mistakes.

"I dare not speak carelessly in front of adults, so I will speak frankly. My sister and I have been without a mother since childhood. My sister is sensitive and often feels regret for not being able to serve a kind mother. I have heard that Madam Ju has long desired a daughter, so I take the liberty to request that she accept my sister as her adopted daughter"

Su Sa casually remarked, and Su Ying had already guessed eight parts of the truth: the Chancellor's hand can indeed reach into the harem, toppling those he is dissatisfied with and elevating those he favors

The happiest person must mention Xuan Ye—first, she thanks the heavens for their insight, then she expresses gratitude for the protection of the late Lady Jiu, and finally, she takes the opportunity to criticize each and every one of those snobbish individuals.

Su Sa said calmly and without any change in expression: "You do not need to know about these matters"

After she returned home, she never mentioned the gathering at the small restaurant. Three days later, the Ju family indeed sent a group of people with gifts to the Su family. Although the visitors were not ostentatious, Master Su still received them with great ceremony, learning that the Prime Minister wished to adopt his sixth daughter as a goddaughter. Such a fortunate event could hardly be refused. Master Su hurriedly summoned Su Ying, accepted the gifts from the Ju family, and awaited an auspicious day for Su Ying to visit the Ju family to express her gratitude. However, the Ju family's representatives said it was unnecessary and discreetly advised Master Su that it would be best not to make a big fuss about this matter.

I know you haven't studied. All you need to say is 'I can', and then when I want to see you blend the fragrance, just don't give yourself away. " Ju Huanxuan said without any concealment: "To be my goddaughter, you must at least have this little bit of courage.

The man was merely around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, and his appearance was not as gentle and handsome as Su Sha and Young Master Bai, yet he was quite striking. Su Ying locked eyes with him and was momentarily taken aback—having met few people, she had never encountered someone so composed and aloof. He simply sat there casually, casting a glance at Su Ying, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, causing her body to tremble slightly. She hurriedly inclined her body to pay her respects, attempting to conceal her moment of awkwardness. He simply sat there casually, casting a glance at Su Ying, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, causing her body to tremble slightly. She hurriedly inclined her body to pay her respects, attempting to conceal her moment of awkwardness

Su Ying obediently changed into the outfit. Su Sa looked at her and said with satisfaction: "Not bad. I will take you to meet someone, but once we get there, you must not speak casually"

Although Su Ying did not understand why her brother was so anxious, she still nodded and followed his instructions. Su Sa entered the tavern nonchalantly, while Su Ying firmly led his horse to the nearby stable.

Su Ying would certainly not be careless. She dismissed everyone from her room, opened the brocade pouch, and looked inside. There was a small note, which bore the titles "Lingxiao Luoying" or "Chunlai Fangmanting," allowing her to choose one. The handwriting on the note was elegant and beautiful, but the last stroke was smudged, suggesting that the writer had hastily sealed it before the ink had dried, indicating an urgent need.

His voice was low, yet it astonished Su Ying amidst the surrounding noise.

"Brother, the pattern on that incense burner is the colorful red dragon." As she spoke, she observed Su Sa's expression.

She took a deep breath and said, "Brother, what kind of adoptive father have you found for your sister?"

What is rare is that she has a great understanding, and the master is very satisfied. Once, he inadvertently let slip: "Originally, I was forced to take on a disciple, and I was not very willing. It seems that heaven has indeed arranged everything..." Su Ying pretended not to hear, but in her heart, she understood: her adoptive father wanted her to learn perfumery, and coincidentally, a teacher came to the door; the underlying circumstances were self-evident.

Su Ying was so embarrassed that her face turned red, while Su Sa was overjoyed. She pushed Su Ying and said: "Why don't you hurry up and greet your adoptive father"

Several young gentlemen left one after another, and Su Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief, stealing glances at their retreating figures: these young men were all around seventeen or eighteen years old, the oldest barely in their early twenties. Being able to gather together with her brother, they must not have vastly different statuses. However, Su Ying keenly sensed that when they exchanged glances, they appeared quite troubled, as if there was a significant matter that was difficult to decide.

"Your eyesight is quite good!" Su Sa chuckled softly, "I also saw those two people; they are most likely specifically watching the powerful officials."

I recognize this horse; it belongs to Young Master Su San. Are you a servant of the Su family?" He looked at Su Ying with great interest, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Secondly, she did not understand why her brother wanted her to meet that nobleman. She was merely a girl raised in a secluded environment; although she bore an extraordinary surname, there were countless daughters of the Su family in the capital. It was still exceedingly difficult to leverage this to elevate herself to the status of a minister, who was only one rank above her.

Although the shop is small, it is quite spacious inside. The lighting is not very good, and Su Ying struggles to open her eyes, seeing her brother standing at the entrance of a dimly lit private room on the second floor, waving at her. Su Ying hurriedly lowers her head and quickly walks to his side, whispering, "There are two people who seem suspicious, loitering at the entrance of Fuhua Building; they haven't come this way." She takes a glance through the crack of the door: there are several young gentlemen in the private room, none of whom Su Ying recognizes. They are all dressed very simply, yet each possesses an extraordinary demeanor, as if they are deliberately dressing down to avoid drawing attention. Su Ying hurriedly lowers her head and quickly walks to his side, whispering, "There are two people who seem suspicious, loitering at the entrance of Fuhua Building; they haven't come this way." She takes a glance through the crack of the door: there are several young gentlemen in the private room, none of whom Su Ying recognizes. They are all dressed very simply, yet each possesses an extraordinary demeanor, as if they are deliberately dressing down to avoid drawing attention. The young nobles have been influenced by their surroundings from a young age; their caution is different from that of the scholars who cautiously step into officialdom, and their boldness is also distinct from that of seasoned generals or extravagant wealthy individuals—Su Ying has not encountered many outsiders, but she can still perceive such differences.

The gentleman also mentioned that it is inconvenient for him to acknowledge me. His willingness to recognize you has greatly exceeded my expectations. I originally hoped he would agree to let his wife accept you, even if it was just a promise. I did not expect him to be so straightforward—indeed, that gentleman is quite decisive in his actions. Su Sa sighed a few times, then changed the subject and said to Su Ying, "This matter should not be made public at home. In a few days, the gentleman will naturally make some indication."