Jin Tao’s acting skills still needed improvement; her expression turned somewhat unnatural upon seeing Lu Guizhou.
She had already done as the young lady instructed. The rest was now entirely up to her.
“Why has Second Brother Lu come?”
Su Wan used a handkerchief to wipe away the tear stains at the corner of her eye.
Glistening tears traced her eyelids, evoking pity, yet she stubbornly turned her head away, as if unwilling to let anyone see her weeping.
Recalling the words he had just overheard, Lu Guizhou frowned deeply.
“Did Lin Niang often bully you in the past?”
Su Wan sent Jin Tao and Can Yan out, giving her space to unleash her flawless acting skills.
“Not at all. Sister is the legitimate daughter, just a bit spoiled. Brother-in-law, did you come to bring me the Safflower Oil?”
Su Wan forcefully changed the subject.
Lu Guizhou placed the Safflower Oil on the table and glanced at her with concern.
“I never imagined your situation would be so difficult. So, regarding the matter of the substitute marriage, was there more to it?”
Of course there was more to it—she had been tricked by her sister into getting pregnant.
But that could not be spoken of.
Su Wan subtly tore off Su Lin’s mask of hypocrisy.
“After all, Sister is the legitimate daughter, so naturally, the best things belong to her.”
The implication was that this ideal husband of hers had indeed been snatched away.
As expected, Lu Guizhou flew into a rage upon hearing this.
“How could Lin Niang treat you like that? Not only did she steal your marriage, but she also suppressed you at every turn. With your character and beauty, how could you be married off to some impoverished scholar?”
“If I don’t marry a poor scholar, who else could I marry? With my status…” Su Wan’s tears flowed like a breached dam, softening Lu Guizhou’s heart.
“I don’t have grand ambitions. I only hope that my future husband could be as gentle as Second Brother Lu.”
Lu Guizhou’s heart was tantalized by her words, itching with desire.
He was almost certain: his sister-in-law harbored a secret crush on him.
A surge of wild joy rose from the depths of his heart.
He felt increasingly compelled to showcase his admirable qualities, for he possessed more than just gentleness.
He was also a Jinshi, an official of the court.
He wanted his sister-in-law to know that he had the ability to provide her with a superior life and protect her well.
His gaze then fell upon the paper on the table.
“Did you write this poem?”
He casually picked it up to read, initially assuming that a young woman like her could not compose anything remarkable. Yet, when he saw the lines of the poem, he was stunned.
Unable to help himself, he recited it aloud:
“Spring’s passion fades as pear blossoms thin,
Petals fall, scattered by the wind.
Why does the sunset draw near to dusk,
Unaware that souls in this world remain unsummoned yet?
On silver paper, dreams of parting lines,
Secretly woven into heart-shaped knots.
For you, I become a dreamer in the night,
Seeking your true self in painted scenes, calling out in the quiet.”
The poem brimmed with tender emotions, far surpassing the works of the so-called talented women in Shangjing City.
“What excellent poetry and lyrics.”
Lu Guizhou exclaimed excitedly, “Such fine work should not be kept to yourself. Wan Mei, compile a collection of your poems. I will take it to the Imperial College and deliver it to Zhang Jijiu. If Master Zhang takes a liking to it, he will publish your manuscripts.”
This poem was Su Wan’s plagiarism of Nalan Xingde’s work, so of course, it was exceptional.
She feigned shyness, “Master Zhang is swamped with affairs of state. Would he even glance at my humble poems?”
“Don’t worry, Wan Mei. Master Zhang was once my mentor, and I share some rapport with him.”
Su Wan reluctantly agreed.
After Lu Guizhou left, Jin Tao ground the ink while Can Yan laid out the paper.Three candles burned beside her.
Su Wan held a brush, swiftly writing down the fragments of poetry that lingered in her mind.
Most of them were works by Nalan Xingde.
Before her car accident and transmigration in her previous life, she had received a script for a Qing dynasty palace drama. She was about to play the role of Liang Fei, a consort who rose from humble origins as a servant in the Xin Zhe Ku.
This Liang Fei had once shared a youthful ambiguity with Nalan Xingde. The entire drama revolved around the love triangle between Liang Fei, Kangxi, and Nalan.
To better understand her character, Su Wan had studied materials related to Nalan Xingde in advance, which was how she remembered some of his poems.
“Young lady,” Jin Tao, who was illiterate, was startled by the ease with which her mistress wrote without hesitation. “I’ve heard that others rack their brains and struggle terribly when composing poetry, but you… you just pick up the brush and write. It’s too…”
“Don’t speak.” Su Wan paused her brush, dipped it in ink again, and added a few more poems.
The next day, a fresh manuscript of poetry was completed.
Eager for fame, Su Wan had Jin Tao deliver it to Lu Guizhou as soon as she finished writing.
As for herself, she went to find Lu Jiayu.
If she wanted to encounter that Chen San, she would have to rely on Lu Jiayu.
Lu Jiayu was practicing embroidery when Su Wan arrived. She immediately set aside the half-finished handkerchief, took Su Wan’s hand, and wanted to go outside to play.
Just then, Nanny Wu from Heyun Hall arrived with orders from Madam Zhou, summoning Jiayu to Heyun Hall for a talk. Thus, Su Wan was also dragged along by Lu Jiayu to Heyun Hall.
Madam Zhou looked in good spirits, her nails painted peach-red. She held a small piece of honeydew melon and invited Su Wan and Jiayu to share it.
Su Wan obediently curtsied, took a piece of melon, and ate it in small, delicate bites.
In contrast, Lu Jiayu devoured a small piece in just two bites and had already eaten three pieces before Madam Zhou warned her, “Don’t eat too much; it’s easy to overindulge.”
Only then did Lu Jiayu reluctantly set down the melon in her hand and asked curiously, “Mother, where did this melon come from? I once had some at Madam Wei’s place. I heard it’s called Western Region honeydew melon, which isn’t common in the Central Plains.”
Madam Zhou smiled and said, “When your mother was young, she had a close friend who married far away to Jiangnan. Her husband was originally a somewhat wealthy pawnshop owner surnamed Liang. Later, his business expanded, and I heard he’s now one of the top merchants in Jiangnan.
She gave birth to a daughter, who caught the eye of Lord Liu from the Court of Imperial Entertainments and was chosen as his third daughter-in-law.”
“Just yesterday, the Liang family’s wedding procession arrived in Shangjing City. These honeydew melons were sent by the Liang family.”
Madam Zhou hugged Jiayu tightly, lovingly stroking her daughter’s beautiful hair. “Your second brother is already married. Your mother is only worried about you now. You’re a young lady, and the choice of your future husband must be made carefully. Marriage is like a second birth—it cannot be taken lightly.”
“Your mother has arranged it for you. Tomorrow, dress festively and go to the Liang residence to join their wedding procession as a relative, escorting the Liang family’s young lady to Lord Liu’s residence for the wedding.
Along the way, you’ll also meet and chat with the eldest young master of the Liang family, who is leading the procession.”
When Lu Jiayu heard this, she immediately refused.
“Mother, are you trying to set me up with the eldest young master of the Liang family?”
“I won’t go.”
Madam Zhou angrily replied, “Why won’t you go? Do you know that your mother had to swallow her pride and write several letters to my close friend to beg for this opportunity?”The Liang family was no ordinary wealthy merchant; they didn’t just run a pawnshop but also owned a money house! Such immense wealth, and you don’t want it?”
Upon hearing the words “money house,” Su Wan took a fierce bite of the honeydew melon.
This Lu Jiayu was truly fortunate—her matchmaking prospects were all of high caliber.
If it were her, she would have agreed long ago. After all, going to meet someone for a matchmaking session wouldn’t hurt. What if the other party was young and handsome? Why hesitate then? Being the wife of a banker sounded pretty great too.
But Lu Jiayu was stubborn: “I won’t go.”
Su Wan knew this was the little girl’s first crush, her heart entirely set on Chen Qiansheng. How childish—she would surely regret it one day.
Madam Zhou tried to persuade her several times but couldn’t sway her, growing so angry she wanted to hit someone.
Su Wan quickly stepped in: “Sister Jiayu, don’t defy Madam Zhou’s wishes. Go, just treat it as a chance to relax.”
She quietly pulled Lu Jiayu aside and advised her: “Besides, Lord Liu’s family is hosting a wedding, and many dignitaries from Shangjing City will be there. You might even run into Chen Qiansheng. Just go, enjoy some fruits and flower tea, broaden your horizons. When you get married yourself someday, you’ll know the rules and procedures, so you won’t be afraid. Isn’t that right?”
Lu Jiayu responded better to gentle persuasion than force, and Su Wan’s tactful approach proved effective.
Lu Jiayu nodded and agreed to go, but insisted on bringing Su Wan along.
Madam Zhou had no choice but to agree.
Su Wan returned to Xiangfei Courtyard and began preparing.
That young master Liang, whose family owned a money house, had already made it onto her hunting list. If he was good, she would give it a try. If they clicked, she’d take him; if not, well, he could step aside—the next one would bring even more joy.