Two boats, one large and one small, departed from Liuzhou, traveling by waterway to reach the Upper Capital.
The water shimmered with rippling light. By sunset, one could still admire the beautiful scenery of “the sunset glow and a lone wild duck flying together, the autumn water merging with the sky in one hue.” Thus, Su Wan was quite happy throughout the journey.
“Young Lady, we’re almost there.”
Jin Tao came over holding a cloak. “Don’t always stand by the ship’s railing. The wind here is strong, and you might catch a chill.”
Su Wan gazed reluctantly at the lake and sky merging on the water’s surface, pointing at the sunset touching the water as she smiled and said, “So beautiful.”
Jin Tao glanced at the sunset, then turned to stare at her young lady’s face, giggling as she said, “But Young Lady is even more beautiful.”
Su Wan pursed her lips and glared at Jin Tao. “You’re always so glib. I don’t know who you learned that from.”
Jin Tao chuckled again. “It’s absolutely from the heart, not flattery.”
Helping her young lady into the cabin, Can Yan happened to be serving a bowl of plain porridge.
After seven days on the boat, both Jin Tao and Can Yan suffered from seasickness and vomited severely.
Their stomachs couldn’t handle much, so they could only eat simple plain porridge.
Su Wan took the bowl and began to eat.
Jin Tao blinked her eyes. “Young Lady, this is your first time on a boat too. How come you’re not seasick at all?”
Su Wan smiled inwardly. She had been a frequent cruise ship passenger in her past life. After many trips, she no longer got seasick.
She looked up at Jin Tao’s pale face. “If you still feel unwell, go drink some vinegar. It’ll make you feel much better.”
After tonight, they would arrive at the Upper Capital tomorrow. She wondered if her sister, having received Grandmother’s letter, would come to pick her up. How exciting.
The next day was sunny and clear. Peeking out of the cabin to check the sky, it was azure and cloudless—a rare fine day.
Su Wan withdrew into the cabin, changed into a brand-new ruqun, and took out an eyebrow pencil to carefully draw faint eyeliner.
She did not apply makeup, only using rose cream for skincare. Additionally, she ingeniously applied a thin layer of purple rouge on her cheeks and the tip of her nose.
Her complexion was pure snow-white, and the faint layer of purple added a shy charm to her lotus-like, natural face.
Can Yan had already asked the boatman to carry the luggage ashore. She turned to help her young lady out of the cabin.
Su Wan bent slightly, poking half her head out, and asked, “Has my sister come to pick me up?”
Can Yan was momentarily stunned. Why did she feel her young lady’s beauty had risen another level?
“Oh, the Eldest Young Lady has already arrived.”
“Is that so.” Su Wan tightened her abdomen, smiled gracefully, and holding Can Yan’s hand, slowly stepped out of the cabin.
A thousand meters away from the dock, a simple yet elegant carriage was parked.
Su Lin sat inside the carriage, unwilling to get out. Nanny Liu beside her exhausted her efforts trying to persuade her.
“Eldest Young Lady, Miss Wan has already arrived at the dock. No matter how much you dislike her, you should at least put on an act.”
This Nanny Liu was the same mammy who had brought Su Wan back to the Su residence from the countryside. She returned ahead of time, first meeting Su Wan, then seeing Madam Su. After returning to Su Lin’s side, she relayed every word Old Madam had instructed to Su Lin.
But Su Lin, accustomed to being spoiled and willful, became furious upon hearing that Su Wan now possessed “skin like ice and jade, a natural seductive charm” and could certainly help her win Lu Erlang’s heart. She threw tantrums, smashing and hitting things.
She was Lu Guizhou’s properly wedded wife! Why should she have to share her husband with that half-sister!”Her birth mother was a prostitute who sang in brothels. Su Wan is the child of a prostitute! She is inherently lower and baser than me. What right does she have!”
“Eldest Young Lady,” Nanny Liu said anxiously, “why must you bother with that lowly creature? You are right—she is the child of a prostitute, born lower and baser than you, young lady. She is merely a plaything, a tool to help you win over your husband.”
“Young lady, you truly need not be angered by such a lowly servant. Even if she enters the Lu Family’s inner residence in the future, she will only be a concubine, while you are the principal wife. There are countless ways for a principal wife to control a concubine.”
The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing Su Lin’s flushed, angry face.
Su Lin was also a beauty, but due to her scheming nature, her features appeared somewhat sharp and unkind.
She had a slender figure and a somewhat pallid complexion, with heavy pure gold bracelets adorning her wrists.
“Once she gives birth to a child, we’ll just give her a bowl of medicine and end her life.”
Suppressing her displeasure, Su Lin stepped out of the carriage and walked toward the ferry.
Just then, she heard the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats.
A horse galloped past, brushing by her side.
The head maid, Xiulian, recognized the man on horseback and exclaimed, “Second Madam, that was the Second Young Master just now.”
“What? My husband is here too?”
Su Lin focused her gaze and saw the horse slow down as it reached the ferry. The man riding it leaped down gracefully—it was indeed her husband.
Su Wan’s hair was loosely tied, with a few stray strands escaping. The wind at the ferry was strong, and those strands fluttered in the breeze.
Standing at the riverside ferry, her figure was graceful, and the tightly tied sash at her waist accentuated her slender, willow-like waist, making her appear almost ethereal.
Lu Guizhou leaped down from his horse and fixed his gaze on Su Wan from afar. The closer he got, the more he could appreciate her astonishing beauty.
A ripple of indescribable emotion stirred within him.
Su Wan had once been his fiancée. Two years ago, he had visited Liuzhou and met her a few times.
Back then, she had not yet fully blossomed, but she possessed an innate aura of spirit, as beautiful as the tender buds of early spring. Now, those buds had grown, blossomed, and ripened into the sweet, juicy red peach she had become.
Every gesture, every smile in her eyes, carried an indescribable charm and allure.
Su Wan gave a slight curtsy to Lu Guizhou, her voice soft and clear.
“Brother-in-law, it has been a long time.”
A simple address, just two words, jolted Lu Guizhou out of his reverie.
His relationship with Su Wan had changed completely—he had married her elder sister, Su Lin.
He quickly reined in the admiration that was about to overflow from his eyes and smiled. “Wanmei, I heard you were coming and immediately rode over to fetch you. Was your journey smooth? After such a long boat ride, do you feel unwell?”
Su Wan shook her head gently. “I don’t feel unwell. I quite enjoy boating on the lake.”
Hearing this, Lu Guizhou’s eyes lit up. “Then, Wanmei, you should stay at my residence first. Rest for a few days to regain your energy, and I can take you around Shangjing City.”
Su Wan did not reply, only pursed her lips shyly, her eyelashes lowered slightly. Yet, from the corner of her eye, she observed Lu Guizhou carefully, taking in every detail.
To be frank, Lu Guizhou was a handsome young master.
Today, he wore a sky-blue round-collared brocade robe, standing tall and straight like a verdant bamboo in the mountains. Coupled with his gentle and refined appearance and his calm, unhurried voice, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance.At a glance, it was clear that he was a gentleman of good family background, well-read, and his life had been smooth sailing so far, without any hardships.
Such a young master was truly wasted on that malicious sister of Su Lin’s.
Su Wan’s gaze drifted over Lu Guizhou’s shoulder, catching sight of Su Lin hurrying toward them from a distance. Her foot slipped, and she stumbled forward, leaning toward Lu Guizhou.
Lu Guizhou reacted swiftly, immediately releasing the horse’s reins and wrapping his arms around her waist.
Though layers of clothing separated them, her slender, willow-like waist felt soft and delicate, stirring his heart.
Su Wan, however, tilted her elegant lotus-like face upward, her expression a mix of shyness and timidity as she said, “Brother-in-law, please let go quickly. I’m fine. We wouldn’t want my sister to misunderstand.”
Her address was soft and lingering, like a sweet, lingering melody, laced with a hook that left Lu Guizhou’s heart itching with desire.
This form of address felt even more like a forbidden temptation.
It left Lu Guizhou, who had grown up reading the classics of sages, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
He reluctantly released Su Wan, though with some lingering reluctance.
Su Wan immediately took two steps back and lowered her head.
Su Lin had already arrived at the dock with her mammy and maids in tow.
“Su Wan! You’re at it again, seducing others with your charms. Have you forgotten that Young Master Lu is now my husband?”
“Have you no shame at all?”