Chapter Thirty-Four: Night Talks (I)

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and also burst out laughing: "If I had to say, being kind is always better than being overly strict!"

  "Of course!" Luo nodded and said. She suddenly thought of Mrs. Du, so she added: "I originally said that after settling down, I would go to your house to see your mother. It turns out that I haven't seen her for several years either!"

  Xiao Chengxian had heard Madame Du mention Luo's name when she was at home, and knew that the two of them had a bit of a relationship. Hearing this now, she smiled and said: "My mother also often mentions Third Aunt in front of me! She always says that Third Aunt has an extremely good temperament, if I can learn a little from her, it will be beneficial for my whole life!" This was not something Xiao Chengxian had made up, but indeed what Madame Du had said.

  Luoshi heard this and couldn't help but laugh and shake his head: "This is truly a misguided compliment! To think that after seeing you today, I took another look at my daughter and now I'm really envying your mother!"

  Ling Yuexuan suddenly heard this and pouted her mouth, saying discontentedly: "Mother is talking about me again! I don't agree!"

  Luoshi smiled and turned back, gently patting Ling Yuexuan's face: "You!" The words were full of doting. Ling Yuexuan took the opportunity to hug Luoshi's arm, swaying gently, her charming demeanor momentarily overflowing with expression.

  Xiao Chengxian and Ling Yuexuan had only met for a short time, but he already had some understanding of her. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but smile: "I think tenth sister looks great, what does ninth sister think?" He didn't want to leave Yuexuan out in the cold, so he asked another question in passing.

  Yan Dai heard this and also smiled, saying: "Tenth sister's personality is spoiled and straightforward, I think it's good too! Third Aunt's concerns, I can guess some of them. However, I think that Tenth sister is after all Third Aunt's daughter, influenced by her surroundings, how could she be bad? Third Aunt is so worried about her, isn't it just a mother's loving heart? No matter how big the daughter gets, in her mother's eyes, she's still a child!"

  Luoshi underestimated that she could say such a thing, staring at her with a surprised expression for a long time before laughing and saying: "Good job, Ninth Sister, I really didn't misjudge you!" Then, holding Ling Yuanshan's hand again, he sighed: "You, if only you were like your ninth sister Wanyi, Mother would be at ease!" His words carried a hint of regret.

  Ling Yuexuan hastily said: "Then mother will stay with daughter for a few more days, so that daughter can slowly learn from Ninth Sister!" As she spoke, she raised her small face, and her expression was full of yearning. Luo Shi saw this and could only smile wryly, patting Ling Yuexuan's hand. When Ling Yuexuan saw this, a hint of disappointment suddenly appeared on her face, and she lowered her head in silence, no longer speaking.

  Yuan Dai and Xiao Cheng exchanged a glance, but both remained silent, without asking further questions.

  At this moment, Bi Tao had already brought in the tea. She was a clever girl and as soon as she entered the door, she felt that something was wrong. Without saying much, after serving the tea, she quietly retreated. Madame Luo forced herself to calm down, picked up her teacup and took a sip. In an instant, with a hint of surprise, she asked: "Is this flower tea?"

  Xiao Chengxian clapped her hands and laughed, saying: "Still, Third Aunt is knowledgeable!" Then she told them one by one about the experience of tasting "Sui Han San You" for the first time in the detached house of Miaofeng Mountain. Later, she talked about how Far Di sent Fangzi to her, and how she worked hard to make tea, but ultimately only made this inferior product.

  Luoshi couldn't help but laugh, and even Ling Yuexuan couldn't resist covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. After a moment, she grabbed Yuedai's hand and laughed: "Ninth sister can't be so biased, I want a copy of this tea recipe too!"

  Yuandai smiled and agreed, and the four of them chatted for a while longer. But before they knew it, the sky outside had already darkened, and Old Lady Xiao's servant had come to summon them to dinner. After eating, Yuandai claimed she was tired and retired early to the west wing of the Qinfang Pavilion. As soon as she reached the door, Wenshu was waiting outside, and seeing her return, he hurried over to support her, smiling and saying: "Miss, I've already sent your flowers!"

  Yuan Dai nodded slightly, but didn't say anything. Until they entered the house, she instructed: "I think Old Lady's intention is that I won't be allowed to move back to Huan Cui Ge again. But since Old Lady hasn't explicitly said so, we'll just pretend we don't know. The boxes and things in my room, still have someone move them to Huan Cui Ge, don't let anyone pick out any problems!"

  Wenjing also knew that Yuandai's words were sarcastic, referring to the people in front of Mrs. Lu, and they all responded in unison.

  Yuandai fell silent for a moment, then said: "Since someone has to take care of things at the Ringui Pavilion, let's just have Cailian go over there!"

  Wen Ping nodded, poured her a cup of tea and smiled: "I understand all these, Miss. Just rest assured! You've come down today, you must be tired enough, just drink some tea and get some rest early!"

  Yuandai sighed and stopped talking, took the tea and drank it slowly. On the other side, Wenshu had already called in Cuiyi to serve Yuandai with washing. After washing, Yuandai got on the bed but didn't lie down, just leaned against the bed wall of the step-bed quietly lost in thought.

  But at this moment, a light knock came from outside. Wen Ping was slightly startled and turned his head to look at Yuan Dai, after all asking: "Who is it?"

  Just then a soft voice said: "I am Xiao Fu's Cui Lan, our young lady sent me to ask if Ninth Miss has fallen asleep or not?"

  Wen Ping hurriedly turned his head to glance at Yuan Dai, who furrowed her brow slightly, looking puzzled. She thought that since it was already this late, why would someone still come over to ask if she had slept yet? Thinking that neither of them could sleep anyway, she responded that it didn't matter, and then nodded slightly towards Wen Ping.

  Wen Ping smiled and replied: "Although I've already gone to bed, my spirit is still good. Do you ladies have any business?"

  Cui Lan responded, "Our young lady has just arrived in a new place and can't help but feel a bit apprehensive. She thought of coming to keep you company, Ninth Miss. Would you be willing?" As she said the words "feel apprehensive", she herself couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Not to mention Qiaolan, who had been serving beside Xiao Xian since childhood, even Yuandai, who had not known her for long, couldn't help but laugh when she heard the phrase "heartfelt fear". After all, she said loudly: "If that's the case, then please ask your young lady to come over!"

  Qiao Lan smiled and responded, then left. After a short while, she brought Xiang Xian over. Xiang Xian had also washed up, her black hair casually tied in a bun, wearing a bright red fox fur cloak, white clothes and stockings, and water-red long pants. Her pretty face was bare, without any makeup, and the flickering candlelight made her eyebrows and eyes look like a painting, elegant and refined.

  Yuan Dai immediately sat up straight in bed and smiled: "Sister is here!"

  Xiao Chengyan responded, "I didn't disturb you, did I?" As she spoke, she couldn't help but glare at Qiaolan, who was covering her mouth and secretly laughing beside her. Qiaolan wasn't afraid of being glared at; instead, she laughed even harder.

  Yuandai looked at Qiaolan like this, but couldn't help thinking of Yuanzhen who had left her. She smiled slightly and moved her body: "Although the warm dragon is burning in the house, it's still cold, sister should come up quickly!"

  Xiao Chengxian gave Cui Lan a white look, then got on the bed. Yuan Dai felt that her hands and feet were icy cold, and she was startled in her heart, hastily handing over the hand warmer to her, frowning and asking: "It's so cold outside, why didn't you wear more clothes when you came over?"

  Xiao Chengxian took the hand warmer, warming her hands while smiling: "It doesn't feel cold inside the house, and thinking that the east wing and west wing are close together, it's just a few steps away. It's troublesome to put on and take off clothes, but I didn't expect that people really can't be lazy!"

  Yuan Dai heard it and laughed too, then called Wen Ping: "Can you bring the ginger date paste I made before? If there is, hurry up and mix a bowl!"

  Miss Wen smiled and said, "If you asked for something else, maybe I wouldn't have it, but this one just happens to be here!" She turned around, took out a wide-mouthed celadon vase from a small cabinet on the side, and went out. Xiaolan saw her and followed to help.

  Before long, the maid brought over a small cup. Yuandai saw that she had poured two cups and shook her head saying: "Why did you also pour one for me? You're such a troublesome little girl!"

  Wen Ping smiled and first handed a cup to Xiao Chengyan, then handed the remaining cup to Yuan Dai: "Miss fears cold, drinking some ginger tea on winter days is always beneficial and harmless!"

  Yan Dai smiled and shook her head, but still accepted the tea and sipped it slowly. Xiao Chengyan had drunk some ginger tea and felt a warmth spreading through his body, so he laughed and said: "They say that eating ginger in the morning is like taking ginseng, but eating it at night is like taking arsenic! I must have caught a chill, so I drank some ginger tea to warm up. Your young lady is fine, aren't you trying to poison her with arsenic?"

  Wen Ping was startled by these words and hastily looked at Yuan Dai. Yuan Dai smiled and waved her hand, saying: "Although it's not suitable to eat ginger in the evening, it's not that exaggerated. I've always been afraid of the cold, so drinking some is actually beneficial and harmless!"

  Wen Ping felt relieved after hearing this. Hou and the others drank ginger tea, then took some tea water to serve the two of them to rinse their mouths, before retreating with Chao Lan. Xiao Cheng stretched out her already warmed up body, smiling: "Sister, your ginger date paste is really good! Indeed, it's true what Old Lady said, that a long illness makes one a doctor!"

  Yuan Dai smiled lightly and said, "Remember I told you before, sister, that this body of mine is not as weak as you think!"

  Xiao Chengxian only said that she was explaining the reason for her pretending to be ill today, and didn't take it seriously, saying: "You seemed to have said this before!"