Luo Manor
Inside Luoxin Courtyard, Luo Chaoyan was playing with a Rubik’s Cube while painting it with pigments. There was no other choice—she was utterly bored. Ever since returning from Pu Guang Temple, she had been placed under house arrest. On one hand, it was to prevent her from encountering any further danger; on the other, it was to ensure she behaved like a proper bride-to-be, cultivating her character and temperament.
“Young Miss, the Fifth Young Miss is here,” Shulan announced as she entered.
Luo Chaoyan raised an eyebrow. “What is she doing here?” Her foot injury had already healed—wasn’t it a bit late for her to come and gloat now?
Shulan said, “I noticed she seemed to have brought a wooden box. Could she be here to give you a gift?”
Luo Chaoyan blinked. Had the sun risen from the west? She distinctly remembered her cousin being the stingiest among all the younger generation. Any good items she had were always kept for herself first; trying to get anything from her hands was simply out of the question.
“Let’s go! Let’s see what she’s up to.”
In the main hall, Luo Zhao Ning looked around at the room’s furnishings. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy—just look at the precious vases and ornaments, and the exquisite set of crystal cups on the table. Even the silk drapes adorning the hall were of immense value.
She glanced at the gift box held by her maid, and her heart ached with every beat. Inside was her most treasured ruyi ornament, worth several hundred taels of silver. Now it was going to fall into Luo Chaoyan’s hands for cheap—of course, it pained her.
But then she remembered her mother’s words: she needed to build a good relationship with her cousin. Once her cousin married into the Huo Family and became the Young Mistress of the Huo Family, she, as the cousin of Young Madam Huo, would also gain more respect when she went out. She had also heard that Lord Huo was on good terms with the eldest son of the Su family. If her cousin could put in a good word for her, perhaps she might even have a chance with the eldest Su son.
Thinking of the Su eldest son’s family background, his handsome appearance, and his remarkable talents, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Luo Chaoyan walked over with a smile. “Cousin, what a rare guest!”
Luo Zhao Ning’s smile faltered at the words, but remembering her mother’s instructions, she forced what she thought was a perfectly gracious smile and said, “Cousin, it’s my fault. You’ve been back in the capital for so many days, and this is the first time I’ve stepped into your courtyard. I apologize to you, cousin.”
As she spoke, she even performed a slight bow.
It was so “heartfelt” that it gave Luo Chaoyan goosebumps. Her cousin usually looked down on her with disdain—when had she ever given her a smile? And now she was apologizing? It all felt utterly unsettling.
She waved her hand, her expression sincere. “Cousin, let’s just speak plainly.” Putting on airs really isn’t your style!
“You…” Luo Zhao Ning nearly lost her composure at that. She took a deep breath, softened her voice, and cooed, “Cousin, we’re all sisters of the same family. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold past matters against me, alright?”
“Fine, I accept your heartfelt apology.” Since you want to put on a show, let’s see how far you can take it! Suppressing another wave of goosebumps, Luo Chaoyan noticed the gift box in her maid’s hands and her eyes gleamed. “Cousin, are you here to give me a wedding gift?”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned to Shulan. “Shulan, quickly take it. That box looks quite heavy—it must have been hard for little Lian to carry it all the way here.”
Shulan immediately stepped forward and took the box.
Seeing the look of pain on her cousin’s face, Luo Chaoyan secretly found it amusing. Now this was more like her usual self.
“Cousin, I heard Lord Huo is close friends with Young Master Su. Have you heard whether he has a woman he favors?” Luo Zhao Ning asked.
Luo Chaoyan was taken aback. So she was buttering her up because of Su Peacock? Indeed, one doesn’t visit a temple without a cause! Seeing her cousin’s lovesick expression, she couldn’t help but click her tongue.
“Cousin, are you asking the wrong person?” How would she know if Su Peacock had someone he liked? In her view, Su Peacock only enjoyed preening and displaying his own beauty.
Luo Zhao Ning said, “Then in the future, if there’s an opportunity, could you…”
“Cousin, I think you might be directing your affection toward the wrong person!” Luo Chaoyan said hesitantly.
Luo Zhao Ning said angrily, “What do you mean!”
“Think about it. Young Master Su is always warm, gentle, and elegant to everyone, but he always maintains a certain distance. Rumor has it he’s only friendly with Lord Huo. Don’t you find that a bit strange?”
“You… are you saying he… he has feelings for Lord Huo… Are you saying he’s a cut-sleeve?” Luo Zhao Ning said in shock.
“That’s hard to say!” Luo Chaoyan wore an expression that suggested this was something that could only be understood, not explained.
“Impossible!” This news was too shocking for Luo Zhao Ning to accept all at once.
Luo Chaoyan said, “Cousin, I’m just guessing blindly. As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why be fixated on one flower? Look at you—talented and beautiful. Are you afraid you won’t find a good Lang Jun?”
Hearing this, Luo Zhao Ning felt somewhat comforted, but still harbored doubts. “You… Luo Chaoyan, are you spouting nonsense because you’re jealous that I might marry Young Master Su?”
Luo Chaoyan put on an expression of having her best interests at heart. “Cousin, you’re wronging me. I already have Lord Huo. Why would I be jealous of you?”
“Lord Huo is good, but he has a son. If you marry him, you’ll just be a stepmother. But Young Master Su is different—he’s not yet married, and his family background is no worse than the Huo Family’s!” Luo Zhao Ning said.
Luo Chaoyan was speechless. Although she wasn’t happy about being a stepmother to the little devil, she was actually quite satisfied with Huo Jin as her future husband. At the very least, she felt they could coexist peacefully.
She shook her head and sighed, appearing magnanimous and selfless. “Even so, cousin, I won’t stop you from pursuing your happiness.”
Seeing her like this, Luo Zhao Ning began to hesitate again. Could Young Master Su really be a cut-sleeve? No, she had to have someone investigate further.
After bidding farewell to Luo Zhao Ning, she hurriedly left with her maid.
This left Luo Chaoyan and Shulan looking at each other in bewilderment.
“What’s so good about that Su Peacock?” Luo Chaoyan wondered.
Shulan asked, “Miss, is Young Master Su really a cut-sleeve?”
“I don’t know!”
Shulan was stunned. “Then why did you say that to Fifth Miss?”
“I don’t want her to be so fixated on Su Yi,” Luo Chaoyan said. With her cousin’s straightforward and guileless nature, she wouldn’t be able to handle the intricate power struggles of a noble household.
Thinking of this, she sighed. It seemed she was marrying into a noble household too! Noble households had far too many rules.
Seeing her like this, Shulan asked in confusion, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Luo Chaoyan gently shook her head. “In a few days, I’ll be leaving home. I’m thinking about what kind of life I’ll lead after marrying into Huo Manor.”
“Well… Miss, since ancient times, haven’t women after marriage always managed the household, supported their husbands, raised children, and respected their elders?”
“Ah!”
Luo Chaoyan sighed softly. She was still so young—at least this body was young. Was she really about to join the ranks of housewives? If that didn’t exhaust her to death, it would surely bore her to death.
“Miss, once you’re married, we must act more dignified. We can’t be as free-spirited as before, or we’ll not only invite ridicule but also worry Madam,” Shulan felt it necessary to remind her young mistress.
Luo Chaoyan wore an expression of utter despair.
“Miss! Miss!”
Fengli rushed in excitedly, barely catching her breath before exclaiming, “Miss, your granduncle has arrived! And the second young master and young miss from his family are here too. They’re all in Madam’s courtyard now.”
Luo Chaoyan, who had been as listless as a frost-bitten eggplant moments before, suddenly perked up. “Let’s go! Let’s go to Mother’s courtyard and see!”
With that, the three of them hurried eagerly toward Yin Shi’s courtyard.