Su Wan took the gold hairpin in her hand and examined it carefully before nodding in agreement.
After crouching down to put on her silk socks and shoes, she moved closer to Chen Luosheng.
“This hairpin is carved with orchids, crafted by a renowned artisan from Jiangnan.”
Chen Luosheng glanced at it. Having seen countless antiques and treasures, he immediately curled his lips dismissively.
“It’s just ordinary craftsmanship, and besides, this hairpin is already a bit damaged.”
“I remember you said your sister and brother-in-law dote on you. How could your sister, who supposedly cares for you so much, give you such a hairpin?”
Upon closer thought, she was a concubine-born daughter, while her sister was the legitimate daughter. How could she possibly be cherished by her?
Su Wan appropriately forced a stiff smile and changed the subject.
The rest, she left for Chen Luosheng to figure out on his own.
Outside, the wind had ceased and the rain had stopped. The ground had been swept clean, and as they walked, their shoes remained spotless.
Seeing his master emerge, the Chen family’s coachman drove the carriage forward.
Chen Luosheng proactively reached out to lift the carriage curtain and said to Su Wan, “You go in first.”
Su Wan bent down, about to enter, when she heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching from afar before coming to a halt.
Then, she heard a particularly distinctive voice.
Elegant, deep, and magnetic, it carried a unique charm with a soul-penetrating resonance.
“Chen San, have you changed women again?”
Su Wan wanted to turn around to see who the man with such a voice was, but Chen Luosheng pushed her forcefully into the carriage.
The curtain fell, blocking Su Wan’s view.
Through a tiny gap, she could only glimpse the man riding a brown horse, the hem of his green robe embroidered with gold fluttering in the wind.
“Feng Chi,” Chen Luosheng looked up at Xu Fengchi.
“Weren’t you supposed to be hunting in the western suburbs? Why are you back now?”
Xu Fengchi raised his horsewhip and chuckled softly. “Don’t even mention it. The group said they were going hunting, but I was the only one seriously chasing prey. The rest were either cuddling with their lovers or watching dancers. So boring.”
“I caught two deer, roasted them over a fire last night. I passed by your Chen residence just now, intending to give you some to try, but your servants said you had come to Snowflake Retreat. That’s why I rode here.”
He took the roasted venison from his horse, tied with a rope, and handed it to Chen Luosheng.
“When do you have time to go hunting with me? Let’s have a competition.”
Chen Luosheng accepted the venison and teased him, “Look at you, all dusty like a cook. Go wash up at Snowflake Retreat. I have something to attend to, so I won’t keep you company.”
Xu Fengchi glanced at the carriage from a distance and lowered his voice. “Which young lady is it this time?”
Chen Luosheng smiled. “Next time there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you.”
Xu Fengchi hummed in acknowledgment, flicked his horsewhip, and the brown horse’s hooves thundered as he left Chen Luosheng with a parting remark: “I’ll be at the hot spring villa in the eastern suburbs these few days. If you need anything, come find me there.”
Once the hoofbeats faded into the distance, Chen Luosheng lifted the curtain and sat inside. He wrapped the venison in oiled paper and handed a small piece to Su Wan.
“I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but if you do, I’ll personally hunt a wild deer for you in the western suburbs next time.”
The venison was secondary, but Chen Luosheng’s mention of “next time” sent a warm surge through Su Wan’s heart.
With her beauty and cunning, she had finally hooked this golden catch.After returning to Xiangfei Courtyard, Su Wan handed the venison to Jin Tao and told her to take it to the kitchen to reheat it.
Once Jin Tao finished reheating the venison, she immediately came back to share some gossip with her mistress.
This silly girl didn’t even notice where the venison had come from.
It was Can Yan who couldn’t help asking, “Miss, it was raining outside earlier. Did you get wet? I remember you took an umbrella when you went out. Where is it?”
Su Wan had no choice but to lie, “I went out to buy my own poetry collection. When it started raining, I took shelter in a teahouse and left the umbrella at the bookshop.”
Can Yan stretched out her hand, “Where’s the poetry collection?”
Su Wan pouted, “I lost that too.”
It wasn’t lost—she had seized the opportunity while retrieving the venison to leave the poetry collection in Chen Luosheng’s carriage.
When the Chen family’s coachman discovered the poetry collection, he would surely inform his master. This way, her poetry collection could openly find its way into Chen Luosheng’s hands.
Can Yan sighed, “Being careless and forgetful isn’t like you, Miss.”
“Oh, Can Yan, can’t you see I want to talk? You keep interrupting me.”
Disturbed from sharing her gossip, Jin Tao felt unbearably restless.
“Two maids in Heyun Hall were sold off by Madam Zhou. On the surface, it was because they broke Madam Zhou’s cherished vase, but in reality, it was because of Miss Jiayu.”
Jin Tao chattered on.
“A mother and son from who-knows-where showed up, claiming they wanted to marry Miss Jiayu. They even had a marriage contract signed by their ancestors.”
“Now Heyun Hall is in complete chaos. Miss, it’s best if you pretend to be sick and stay out of this matter.”
How could Su Wan sit idly by when it concerned Jiayu?
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”
Su Wan asked Can Yan to slice a few pieces of venison and brought them to Heyun Hall.
The Lu family was unusually gathered together. Upon arriving, Su Wan noticed that even the eldest daughter, Lu Changyu, who had long been married off, had returned.
The Lu family master sat in the center, while Madam Zhou wept into her handkerchief.
This scheming Madam Zhou would never allow her daughter to marry into a farming family.
“Master, you must think of a perfect solution for this matter. I absolutely forbid Jiayu from marrying into that family.”
“You didn’t see how shabby that mother and son were. Their straw sandals were tattered, and when they were invited to the table, they immediately scooped meat into their bowls as soon as they saw it, as if they hadn’t eaten meat in eight hundred years. Marrying Jiayu into such a family would be like sending her to her death.”
Master Lu looked troubled, “I’ve verified the marriage contract. It was indeed written by my father back then, and the half-piece of jade pendant is also a family heirloom left by my father.”
“Now that they’ve come knocking, it’s a problem.”
“If we don’t honor the agreement, the Lu family’s reputation will be in grave danger.”
Before Madam Zhou could respond, Su Lin, eager to show off, spoke first.
“They’re farmers, and we’re an official family. As for the marriage contract, we just need to find a way to get it back. If they dare make trouble, we can silence them forever.”
The eldest daughter, Lu Changyu, said quietly, “But that mother and son are cunning. They entrusted the marriage contract to a friend for safekeeping. Back in the countryside, they spread the word everywhere that they were going to marry a daughter of the Lu family in Shangjing City and would soon live a life of luxury and rise to prominence. If something were to happen to them now, how could our Lu Mansion silence the public?”Upon hearing her elder sister’s words, Lu Jiayu burst into tears and threw herself into Su Wan’s arms.
“Wan Sister, I’d rather hang myself than marry into that family.”
Lu Guizhou scolded Su Lin sharply, “If you have no brains, don’t offer foolish suggestions.”
Su Lin retorted, “I was only trying to help our sister avoid this marriage arrangement.”
Lu Changyu said, “That family is utterly unreasonable. We offered them a hefty sum of money and fertile land in exchange for canceling the marriage contract, but they refused. It’s clear they’re determined to take advantage of our Lu Family.”
Just then, another maidservant pushed the door open, sweating profusely, and cried out, “Terrible news! That Tu mother and son are drinking tea at the teahouse, telling everyone they’re going to marry a daughter of the Lu Family.”
“Even from the Liu household in West Sixth Alley, a servant has already come to inquire whether this is true or not.”
Bad news truly travels fast. Madam Zhou’s face turned livid with anger. “Hurry and send some servants to drag that shameless mother and son back here! Gag their mouths—let’s see how they keep spreading this nonsense.”
Su Wan supported the trembling Lu Jiayu, comforting her continuously. “Jiayu, don’t cry. Stay strong. There might still be a way out of this.”
Lu Jiayu was her most steadfast ally. Both emotionally and logically, Su Wan did not want Jiayu to marry into such a family. She had thought of a solution, but it was too underhanded to voice aloud.