Su Wan raised her eyes, her gaze clear and sincere.
“Third Young Miss’s complexion isn’t dark at all. In fact, with just a little touch-up, Third Young Miss’s only flaw could become her advantage.”
Lu Jiayu, who had been crying vigorously, quickly looked at the beautiful elder sister, pouting, “What do you know? My face isn’t too dark, but they’re all so fair. Standing next to them makes me look like a lump of coal. Every time I go out, I apply powder too, but it doesn’t stay fair for long and ends up making me look like a big calico cat.”
Su Wan smiled gently. “I actually have a way to make you look fair and rosy without being too flashy.”
Lu Jiayu cheerfully ran up to Su Wan and asked eagerly, “Really?”
Su Wan took out a small box of rose-scented ointment from her sleeve. “This is a handmade ointment. Apply it to your face and massage it in every morning and evening after washing. It will make your skin more moisturized.”
“Will I become fair just by using this?”
“Of course not. To become fair, you still need to dress up and apply makeup.”
“Ah.” Lu Jiayu looked somewhat dejected. “Every time I put on makeup, people secretly mock me for looking too gaudy.”
Su Wan seized the opportunity to hold Lu Jiayu’s hand. “That’s because the technique is wrong. The makeup I apply is sure to make people happy when they see it.”
Perhaps such words were more convincing coming from a beauty.
Lu Jiayu and Su Wan chatted quite happily.
Madam Zhou took the opportunity to invite Su Wan to stay for dinner.
That evening, everyone in the Lu Mansion except Lu Father gathered in the Heyun Hall for the meal.
Madam Zhou was highly skilled at managing the household. The two concubines in the Lu Mansion were kept obediently under her control.
The Lu Family had few descendants. Among the younger generation, there was only the illegitimate daughter Lu Changyu, who had already married off, the second son Lu Guizhou, the third daughter Lu Jiayu, and the fourth daughter Lu Zhiyu.
Su Wan swept a casual glance and concluded that the Lu Family had few members. Observing the expressions of the two concubines, she was secretly amazed by Madam Zhou’s household management skills.
Then she couldn’t help but think further.
With Lu Guizhou as the only precious legitimate son in the entire Lu Mansion, Madam Zhou’s expectations for his descendants must be extremely high.
Su Lin had only been infertile for two years and was already driven to anxiety. It seemed Madam Zhou had put considerable pressure on Su Lin.
In this Lu Mansion, the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was significant.
As Lu Guizhou’s other concubine arrived, Su Wan keenly noticed Su Lin’s smile stiffen for a moment before she forced a smile and personally went to support the concubine named Chen Jing’an.
“Sister Jing’an, weren’t you feeling dizzy and weak? Why have you come out now? Be careful not to catch a chill.”
Chen Jing’an calmly took a seat to Madam Zhou’s right, ignoring Su Lin. Instead, she smiled at Madam Zhou and said, “Aunt, I heard a younger sister has come to the mansion and wanted to take a look.”
After saying this, she glanced sideways at Su Wan, her eyes filled with hostility.
No wonder Grandmother couldn’t hold back and forced her into the Lu Mansion through coercion and temptation. It turned out Madam Zhou, Lu Guizhou’s birth mother, had given her son such a concubine.
With Madam Zhou as her backing and the childhood friendship she shared with Lu Guizhou, Concubine Chen showed no regard for Su Lin.
Similarly, she also harbored strong hostility toward Su Wan.
Su Wan pretended not to notice and smiled at Concubine Chen, showing a friendly demeanor.
Madam Zhou reassured Chen Jing’an, “Wan Niang is only here as a guest.”Lu Jiayu nodded and said, “Sister Wan is really nice. The things she makes are delicious, and she even personally blends fragrant ointments and some kind of essential oils. She’s so good, Sister An. Later, I’ll swallow my pride and go ask Sister Wan for a jar of ointment to give to you.”
“No need, she’s already sent some.”
Chen Jing’an smiled. “Wan Niang is thoughtful and good at winning people over. She’s sent ointments to all the women in the household.”
Even to Madam Zhou, Su Wan had actually sent some. It was just that she had been talking with Madam Zhou the whole time, and the head mammy by Madam Zhou’s side had received the ointment but hadn’t found a chance to report it to her.
Su Wan was always skilled at handling people. After all, she was a guest in someone else’s household, so it was only natural to be polite.
When you treat others politely, they, for the sake of face, at least won’t openly show you disrespect.
Sure enough, Madam Zhou’s smile held a touch more sincerity. “It’s rare for Jiayu and Wan Niang to get along so well. Jiayu, you should visit Sister Wan more often. Isn’t she also going to help you with your makeup? Don’t just take her things—you have so many jars and bottles in your room. Pick out some good ones and give them to your Sister Wan as a gift in return.”
Now that the legitimate son already had a proper wife, Madam Zhou’s only worry was her daughter, Jiayu.
Marriages for women usually involved marrying upward. To help Jiayu find a suitable husband, Madam Zhou had exhausted all her efforts.
Su Wan’s efforts to please Jiayu and genuinely help improve her appearance, thereby increasing Jiayu’s chances when choosing a husband, were the main reasons Madam Zhou treated Su Wan kindly.
Su Lin, however, was unaware of this. She thought it was her lowly half-sister shamelessly flattering Madam Zhou that earned her such amiable treatment.
Truly the child of a prostitute—shameless and without dignity.
Su Lin trembled with anger, but in front of everyone, she couldn’t lash out and had to endure it.
As the meal was nearly finished, Su Wan leaned close to Jin Tao’s ear and whispered a few words. Jin Tao’s face flushed slightly, but she nodded in agreement. She glanced discreetly at Can Yan, signaling her to watch over the young lady, then went off to handle the task Su Wan had assigned.
Jin Tao went to a corner and deliberately dropped an inconspicuous pair of earrings into the grass. When the people from He Yun Hall finished their dinner and began to disperse, she purposely teared up in front of Lu Guizhou.
Everyone else overlooked this little maid, but Lu Guizhou noticed and took it to heart.
Lu Guizhou turned back and asked Jin Tao, “Why are you crying for no reason?”
Stammering as instructed by her lady, Jin Tao replied, “This maid accidentally lost a pair of the young lady’s earrings. They’re somewhere nearby, but I’ve searched for a long time and can’t find them. I’m worried.”
Lu Guizhou fell for the ruse and immediately began searching the area with Jin Tao.
After accompanying Madam Zhou and Lu Jiayu in conversation for a while, Su Wan took her leave.
Can Yan carried a lantern as the two walked slowly. Can Yan pointed ahead and exclaimed softly, “Isn’t that Jin Tao? And the person beside her—is that Second Young Master Lu?”
“Can Yan, give me the lantern. You go back to Xiang Fei Courtyard first.”
Under the shimmering moonlight, Su Wan held a softly glowing lantern in one hand and lifted the hem of her skirt with the other. Her graceful movements as she walked were so captivating that even Jin Tao felt her heart stir, let alone Lu Guizhou, who was a man.
“Young lady, Second Young Master Lu is helping this maid search for your pair of earrings.”
As Jin Tao spoke, she pointed toward the grass. “They’re right there.”
Lu Guizhou took a long stride and picked up the white jade earrings from the grass.
Su Wan extended her small hand, asking him to return them.Lu Guizhou placed the earring in her palm. Su Wan curled her fingers, deliberately brushing her fingertips across his palm, sending a shiver through his entire body.
“…Lu Lang.”
Soft, ambiguous, alluring.
Gazing at the beauty so close at hand, a terrifying thought surged in Lu Guizhou’s heart: Why hadn’t he insisted on marrying Su Wan back then?
Perhaps he still had a chance. If the fortune of having both sisters had fallen to him, how wonderful that would have been. His mind exploded with the thought.
Su Wan spoke softly, “Thank you, Lu Lang, for your repeated kindness.”
Lu Guizhou didn’t know what to say. His lips moved for a long while before he finally uttered, “It’s nothing. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to come to me.”
Su Wan gave a light laugh. “Lu Lang, you’re so kind. I truly envy my sister’s good fortune.”
Jin Tao, having caught her mistress’s meaningful glance, had quietly withdrawn.
In the not-so-long corridor, only the two of them remained.
The beauty held the lantern, her face lifted, gazing at him with admiration, sincerely expressing her envy for her sister.
The ripples in Lu Guizhou’s heart grew larger and larger. His heart, uncontrollably, plunged over a cliff. In his eyes and mind, there was only Su Wan’s exquisitely beautiful face and her soft, sweet voice.
Even when lying on the bed holding Su Lin, as soon as he closed his eyes, what appeared before him was Su Wan’s crimson lips, adorable chin, and snow-white neck.
Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, he finally shook Su Lin awake and voiced the doubt in his heart.
“Why did the Su family have you marry me in Wan Niang’s place back then?”
Su Lin, drowsy and shaken awake, was met head-on with her husband’s questioning.
A sudden fear rose from the depths of her heart.
Had Su Wan, having been here for less than half a day, already stolen Lu Lang’s heart?
“Didn’t Wan Niang write to you explaining it back then? First, your birth characters were incompatible. The ones given earlier were inaccurate, and later a master was consulted again. If she married you, the household would be unsettled.
Second, she suddenly fell ill at that time. How could she, in such a serious condition, marry you?”
A sliver of suspicion still stirred in Lu Guizhou’s heart.
“Is that so?”
Su Lin leaned her body over, nestling softly in his arms, her voice deliberately affected and coquettish.
“If Lu Lang can’t sleep, why not let Lin Niang attend to you…”
Her small hand slipped into Lu Guizhou’s trouser leg.
Lu Guizhou pushed her away, saying, “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”
Because of that push, Su Lin did not close her eyes the entire night.