Chapter 40: Before Returning to Beijing (1)

  Yan Dai took out the letter that Zhen had sent through someone from her sleeve, lightly stroking it with a faint frown, yet remained silent for a long time. Apart from mentioning the matter of Dong and others, this letter also mentioned that someone had secretly entered the study.

  And this is also the reason why Yuandai did not hand over this letter to Xiao Chengyan for personal inspection.

  It's not necessary to think much, Yuan Dai knew that the person who sneaked into the study must be Yue Yao beside Baili Zhao. Although she didn't mind people knowing about those shops, Yue Yao's way of spying on her still made her feel resentful.

  One hand supported her chin, leaning on the table, lost in thought for a long time, until Wenping quietly approached and placed a cup of tea on the table, startling her awake. Putting down the letter in her hand, Yuandai took a sip of tea and let out a long sigh.

  Wen Ping's eyes were sharp and she saw the familiar words on the envelope, couldn't help but smile and said: "Sister Zhen's letter has arrived here?"

  She nodded slightly and said calmly, "Isn't it?" Wenping saw that she didn't intend to elaborate, so he didn't ask further. Instead, it was Yuandai who, after putting down her teacup, suddenly asked, "Have you returned Du Ruo's flute yet?"

  She suddenly mentioned this, which reminded Wenping, "Ah" after a moment, Wenping said in a low voice: "If Miss didn't mention it, I would have really forgotten about it!" As she spoke, she looked at Yuandai with some hesitation: "Miss..." She had been serving Yuandai for some time now, and recently Yuandai had been treating her like a confidante, so she knew that Yuandai wouldn't ask about this without a reason.

  She smiled at him and shook her head, "Nothing! I just reminded you to return that flute to Du Ye tomorrow!" Just for a moment. She really wanted to use the flute sound to summon Bai Li Zhao and reason with him, but after careful consideration, she still suppressed this impulse. After all, her relationship with Bai Li Zhao had not yet reached the point where they could openly criticize each other.

  At this thought, Yuandai couldn't help but lose her composure for a moment. When she came back to herself, she felt a wave of exhaustion in her heart.

  No thoughts, no worries, no anxiety, no fear. I seem to be getting further and further away from these eight words myself.

  …………

  It has been decided that they will set off for Beijing the day after tomorrow, and on the second day, everyone must go to Pusuoying Mountain Villa to bid farewell to Baili Zhao. However, these things have nothing to do with Yuandai and others. They were originally pampered girls in the boudoir, and such etiquette of coming and going was not their turn to take charge.

  Lu Weiyin's condition has improved a lot, and he can move around without any major problems, but the scars on his face have not yet faded. However, this makes him unwilling to leave Lü Yueling. His illness is also related to Xiao Chengyan, so although Xiao Chengyan thinks that Lu Weiyin brought it upon himself, he still doesn't want to be too harsh and has decided to let him stay in a separate courtyard for the time being. Since Lu Weiyin won't leave, Lu Weijie can only stay behind with him.

  While Yan Dai knew all this, it was because of Ling Yu Xuan. Ling Yu Xuan was clearly very dissatisfied with Lu Wei Jie's decision, and this dissatisfaction, apart from Yan Dai and the two of them, seemed to have no place to vent. Yan Dai and Xiao Cheng Yan saw her puffed up appearance, but couldn't help but laugh. What Xiao Cheng Yan thought in her heart, Yan Dai wasn't clear, however at this moment, Yan Dai truly envied Ling Yu Xuan a bit.

  Not for anything else, but for her straightforward and simple nature.

  Yan Dai sisters arrived. Originally said that at most, they would stay for no more than ten days to half a month, so naturally they wouldn't bring too many things with them. After packing up, it wasn't difficult after all. After tidying up briefly in the morning, everything was already settled.

  On the other side, Yu Rao also went to see her. She originally only had a cold, and after taking medicine, she was better. Although she still needs to rest for a few days, it's still okay to support herself from Lü'e Ridge back to Pingjing.

  Xiao Chengye and others went to Shu Ying Mountain Villa to bid farewell, and Bai Li Zhao couldn't keep them for lunch. Yuan Dai and the other two had lunch in the inner courtyard. After lunch, Xiao Chengye invited the two to go to the ridge again to admire the plum blossoms. Yuan Dai agreed readily, but Ling Yuanxuan hesitated for half a day, after all, making an excuse to take a nap, she went back to her room.

  Yuandai and the other person understood her intention, and didn't force her. Seeing that she had left, they also got up and went out of the backyard.

  Because the Shui Lin Temple is close to the backyard and there is no one around at this time, the two of them continue on their way to the Shui Lin Temple.

  By the water's edge, the scenery is as before. The two sat by the rock, gazing at the pool of water, for quite a while, until Xiao Xian let out a sigh. Yuan Dai heard her sigh and turned to look at her: "Sister, what's wrong today? You suddenly sighed!"

  After a moment of silence, Xiao Chengyan forced a smile and said: "I just thought that next year at this time, I don't know where I'll be."

  Yan Dai smiled and said: "Sister is thinking too much! Even if you get married in the future, you are still a daughter of the Xiao family!"

  Xiao Chengyan shook her head and said: "Your Ling family's old lady was also a daughter of the Xiao family in the past, wasn't she?"

  A daughter who has been married off is like water that has been splashed out, no matter how precious she was at home, once she's married, she'll always be someone else's family member. Far understood this in her heart, but still couldn't help saying comforting words: "Sister, you're thinking too much!"

  Xiao Chengxian smiled and suddenly said: "Sister, did you know that I'm actually jealous!"

  In the past, when they first met, Ling Yuexuan had a fiancé who had been engaged to her since childhood, but she had never seen him before and didn't understand him at all. However, she was as nervous as the other two. Far Di's situation was even more unfavorable than hers. Now, it has only been over a month, and Ling Yuexuan and Lu Weijie are already inseparable like honey and oil. Far Di and Baili Zhao have also said words like "worth marrying", although they can't be said to have deep feelings yet. Only Xiaoxian is still alone, no different from before.

  And yet, this did not make Xiao Cheng's heart feel a slight sense of loss.

  Yan Dai herself understood her intentions, smiled slightly and said: "These things, what's being sought is just a 'fate' character. When fate arrives, everything naturally goes smoothly, why must sister think too much?" As she spoke, she suddenly thought of something and laughed, saying: "Speaking of which, this time sister came down the mountain, was originally to choose a son-in-law, but in the end, except for that house slave, there were no gains!"

  At her mention, Xiao Chengyan suddenly remembered Qi Dong and smiled: "If that house slave had made an effort, I would have truly gained nothing on this trip!" If Qi Dong really passed the imperial examination, whether he was a scholar or a warrior, he would be considered a student of the emperor. Even if the Xiao family had more power, they wouldn't dare to take the emperor's student back home to be a house slave. That's why Xiao Chengyan said this.

  Yan Dai smiled leisurely and said, "But I think differently from my sister! My sister's household has hundreds of slaves, so it wouldn't make a difference if he were one less. If he really could become a successful candidate in the imperial examination, since he had received favors from the Xiao family, with his strong sense of loyalty and righteousness, when the opportunity arises, how could he not repay them?"

  Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow and asked, "Sister met him only once, how did you know he's a man of great loyalty and righteousness?" (Thank you for your support, it's my greatest motivation.)