Chapter 2, Pink Tongue

Lin Mei made an effort to turn her face away, trying to avoid the finger that Su Zhongxing was extending towards her. However, almost as if compelled by some unseen force, she unexpectedly stuck out her pink tongue to lick her lips, the tip of her tongue playfully curling up, rolling slightly before retreating in a manner that suggested lingering desire.

Su Zhongxing glared at Lin Mei, who was still clinging to the pillar, pointed at her, and shouted angrily: "It's all your fault!"

After having a few cups of tea and commenting on the newly acquired purple clay teapot, Old Madam Su finally got to the point and said with a smile: "Xiao Mei, I heard that you saw Zhong Xing early in the morning at the pavilion, and that Zhong Xing chased after Ming Xiu right in front of you. Is that true?"

From Luo Mingxiu's perspective, she saw Lin Mei in a light red shirt that clung to her body, her figure alluring. At this moment, her cheeks were flushed pink, her charming eyes like silk, softly leaning against the pillar, presenting a captivating sight. Meanwhile, Su Zhongxing was slightly out of breath, his chest rising and falling, as if he wanted to step forward, clearly entranced. Even though she usually maintained her composure and rarely showed anger in front of others, she could not hide her fury, biting her lip and saying: "This place is bustling with people; if others see this, what will happen to your reputation, cousin?"

Old Madam Su set down her teacup and gently patted Lin Mei's hand, smiling with a hint of apology. "If you agree, I will ensure that Zhongxing treats you well. In any case, you do not need to observe the formalities of being Mingxiu's legitimate wife in the residence." After a pause, as if making a significant concession, she added, "How about this? On the surface, you and Mingxiu will be equals!"

Since Master Su and Master Lin have already arranged the marriage and you dare not deny it, then I am indeed Su Zhongxing's legitimate fiancée. Su Zhongxing speaks in such a manner, forcing a weak woman like me to break off the engagement. When he pursues another woman in front of his fiancée, it is naturally he who is in the wrong. I wonder what plans Old Madam Su has in mind

The words of the wet nurse still linger in my ears. In response to the inquiry from the old lady Su, Lin Mei naturally had to ponder for a moment before raising her head and saying: "I dare not conceal anything from you, old lady. Brother Zhongxing came to speak with me, saying that even if I were to marry him, I might not necessarily be happy. I just do not understand how the marriage arranged by my grandfather could lead to unhappiness. Later, my cousin came running, and Brother Zhongxing chased after her, which made me understand a bit more."

Seeing Lin Mei with her head down and not responding, Old Madam Su had no choice but to speak again: "Currently, there is a proper solution, but I do not know what Xiao Mei thinks about it"

Thinking that Su Zhongxing was actually so weak, easily lured by someone, Luo Mingxiu's anger turned into grievance, tears welling up in her eyes, and she turned and ran away

"Madam, please speak!" Lin Mei raised her eyes to look at the purple clay teapot, while Dai Luo Mingxiu expressed her regret, "Oh, for the sake of love, are you willing to become a concubine? Forget it, after all, in the future there will always be mistresses and more. If you are willing, I will agree to it!"

Previously, while hurrying to the capital, it was inevitable to be close to men, and I only felt a bit weak and lacking in strength, not as severely soft as today! Could it be that my condition has worsened? Or is it because Su Zhongxing has a particularly pleasant scent? Lin Mei gritted her teeth and pondered, deciding to quietly seek out a renowned physician later to see if she could cure her weakness.

Regarding the affair between Su Zhongxing and Luo Mingxiu, Lin Mei heard about it on the second day of her arrival at the Su residence. At that time, she was even discussing it with Nurse Gu.

"Mingxiu, things are not as you think." Su Zhongxing then realized that he did not know whether he was angry or for some other reason; he was actually dry-mouthed and his heart was racing. He hurriedly took two steps back and explained, "We are discussing serious matters."

As Su Zhongxing left, Lin Mei's breathing gradually stabilized, her spine straightened, and her body was no longer limp. She let out a sigh, quietly wiped away a bead of sweat, and reflected on the recent meeting. Aside from hating herself for being so weak, she still hated herself for being so weak. Why is it that when a man approaches, one becomes so weak and feeble? Su Zhongxing does not regard her as a wanton woman, does he? Ah, this time she is utterly embarrassed! Why is it that when a man approaches, one becomes so weak and feeble? Su Zhongxing does not regard her as a wanton woman, does he? Ah, this time she is utterly embarrassed!

No, has it become so shameless? Su Zhongxing dared not stay any longer and fled in a panic, jumping to chase after Luo Mingxiu. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared without a trace

Upon witnessing Lin Mei's actions, Su Zhongxing was so frightened that he retracted his finger, yet he still felt a tingling sensation in his finger, which quickly extended upwards, rapidly spreading to the area behind his ears, where it soon began to feel warm.

Nurse Gu chuckled and said, "No matter how many mistresses appear, just make sure to hold onto the position of the eldest. Never follow your mother’s example and think too much, causing yourself unnecessary distress."

This is how serious matters are discussed? What a deception! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined that my cousin would behave this way. No, it must be that Lin Mei seduced my cousin; I don't know what kind of drug she gave him to make him lose his composure like this. It's utterly shameless. This matter must be reported to my grandmother.

There will be no regret in the marriage, but Su Zhongxing and his mistress cousin are stubborn, what should be done about this? Lin Mei is entangled in her thoughts on behalf of the old lady Su

"Or perhaps there are, but at my age, I have never seen it," Gu Nai Niang said as an example: "To speak of recent times, your grandfather, your maternal grandfather, and Lord Su, among others, can be considered upright men. After marrying virtuous wives, they would also take in a couple of beautiful concubines. As for drinking and socializing outside, or looking at beautiful women, that is even more normal. Even a poor man, after earning three extra coins, would find his old wife unattractive and would wish to take a concubine like others. Therefore, although Young Master Su has a third cousin entangled with him, overall, he is still a decent man. Do not agree to break off the engagement out of spite!"

Hmm! Lin Mei pondered and said: "Is there really no man who is wholeheartedly devoted to his wife and would never take a concubine no matter what?"

But if he despises me and is indifferent to me after marriage, I would also feel miserable! Lin Mei, a young girl coming of age, often dreams of a devoted love from her beloved, filled with tender affection. Knowing about the affair between Su Zhongxing and Luo Mingxiu, she still feels uneasy. With her head lowered, she said: "If we marry like this, I am also afraid he will look down on me."

Old Madam Su did not expect Lin Mei to speak so crisply, and was momentarily taken aback. Since only a wet nurse accompanied Lin Mei, who was not a proper elder, some matters could only be discussed directly with Lin Mei herself. After a while, she smiled and said: "A marriage contract set by the elders naturally cannot be revoked. However, this engagement was arranged when you were young, and since the Lin family has had no news for many years, the Su family assumed that you had your own thoughts and did not wish to bring up this marriage again. As Zhongxing and Mingxiu grew up together, the two families began to discuss marriage. Unexpectedly, at this moment, you have come. Both Zhongxing and Mingxiu are quite stubborn, and now, this situation has put them in a difficult position."

What does it mean when Old Madam Su brings this up? She is the fiancée of Su Zhongxing, yet Su Zhongxing is chasing after Luo Mingxiu. No matter how one looks at it, it should be herself who feels wronged, right? Old Madam Su is Luo Mingxiu's maternal grandmother, and she can only favor Luo Mingxiu; it is impossible for her to advocate for herself. Therefore, by bringing this up, is it to make her understand that Su Zhongxing only likes Luo Mingxiu, and that she is an outsider who should voluntarily propose to break off the engagement?

When a couple is doing well, an outsider appears to disrupt their harmony, and this third person is commonly referred to as a "mistress." Gu Nainiang lamented, "Your mother was driven to her death by a mistress back in the day."

Seeing Old Madam Su's kind and gentle demeanor, and her tone filled with compassion, Lin Mei gradually lowered her guard and began to relax, engaging in frequent laughter and conversation

"Silly girl, all the men in this world are unreliable. If you entrust your heart to him, in the end, you might end up like your mother! Listen to the wet nurse, compared to other men, Young Master Su is actually quite decent. Even if he does not dote on you, at least he won't let you go hungry or thirsty, nor will he humiliate you for no reason. What you need to strive for is the favor of your mother-in-law. In the future, when you give birth to a son, you will rely on him. This life will then be complete." Gu Nai-Niang embraced Lin Mei and sighed, saying: "If your parents were still around, breaking off the engagement would be nothing significant. But now, it is absolutely impossible to withdraw. If you do, there will be no way forward. Currently, the only one in this household who can help you is Madam Su. As for Old Madam Su, she will naturally prioritize her granddaughter Luo Mingxiu. You must be cautious in how you respond to whatever she says."

Lin Mei lifted the teapot and examined it, noticing that the body of the pot was a light yellow color, rich in texture, with more bone than flesh. The pot had a pear shape, the lid fit perfectly, and the lid's knob was shaped like a pear stem. The entire pot appeared as a cohesive whole, and at a glance, one might almost mistake it for a pear, prompting her to exclaim in admiration. She then smiled and said, "This is made from original mineral clay. Due to some people's mispronunciation, it is mistakenly called 'Duan clay.' The surface of the purple clay teapot made from this type of clay resembles pear skin, hence it is also known as 'pear skin clay.' It is not easy to fire pear skin clay, so we often make small teapots and do not dare to make large ones. People from our side of Yizhou say that using this type of purple clay teapot to brew tea is very good for one's health!"

Speaking of her parents, Lin Mei felt a bit sad, yet she smiled and said: "Men have three wives and four concubines; it's not just the third mistress, but also the fourth and fifth, among others!"

Seeing Lin Mei arrive, Old Madam Su said with a smile, "Come, come, sit beside me, and take a look at this pot. Can you tell what kind of clay it is made from?"

Due to Emperor Yuan Zong of the Great Zhou Dynasty's fondness for drinking tea and his love for various small purple clay teapots, noble families and dignitaries all emulated him. Consequently, it became a refined pastime for various households to appreciate tea and admire teapots.

Nurse Gu shook her head and said: "You have been engaged to Young Master Su since early on, and this matter is backed by tokens and the testimony of both families, making it a settled issue. If Miss Luo were to cry and make a scene, she would be forcing Young Master Su to become the ungrateful person who breaks off the engagement. Now, Madam Su has also publicly acknowledged the events of the past and has personally arranged for you to move in; this matter cannot be changed. If Miss Luo continues to cling to Young Master Su, she is merely seeking to become a mistress."

"Look, look, as expected of someone from Yizhou, when it comes to teapots, you really know your stuff." Old Madam Su, after Lin Mei set down the teapot, took her hand to examine it and said with a smile, "Your father and mother have passed away, you must take care of yourself, which is quite difficult. Just look at your hands, they are like this because you have done too much needlework."

Seeing that no one was around, Lin Mei straightened her back and walked back to her room with small, dignified steps. Once she returned to her room, a maid named Gui Mei from the old lady Su's room came in and said, "Miss Lin, our old lady invites you to come over for tea."

Nurse Gu is a clever person, often coming up with new words. Lin Mei heard her say another new term and naturally asked with a smile, "Nurse, what does 'little third' mean?"

Yizhou has rich soil and famous mines. The purple clay teapots made from the soil of these mines brew the most fragrant tea. Lin Mei is a native of Yizhou and is naturally skilled in the appreciation of teapots and tea tasting. She accompanied Gui Mei to the room of Old Madam Su, where indeed, Old Madam Su had recently acquired a pear-shaped purple clay teapot. She was having the maid brew good tea leaves for half an hour to extract the sediment before using it to make tea.