PFC Chapter 381
Chapter 381
Silence returned to the study. A moment later, Protector Zhou placed all the papers on the table over the candlelight. The flames devoured the papers, and all the secret reports from tonight were reduced to ash. A gentle breeze blew through the window, scattering the ashes, and all traces vanished without a trace. No one knew what had happened today, nor the content of their discussion.
.........
In the next few days, Luo Shuiyao was busy arranging the necessary items and accompanying personnel for the trip to Qingshui Town. Apart from the fact that the Marquis's wife came every day as if to report for duty, there was nothing else to do. However, when she was out, she heard a rumor in a teahouse that the wife of the Protector General had suddenly died of a serious illness, and the second young lady was too sad to pray for her mother, and volunteered to go to a nunnery outside the city to practice. This matter was not a big deal in the capital, and if Luo Shuiyao had not met Protector General Zhou and Miss Zhou, she would not have paid any attention to it.
After arranging everything that day, Luo Shuiyao returned to the Luo residence. She was no longer surprised by the luxurious carriage parked in front of the door. Sure enough, when she entered the yard, the Marquis's wife was also there. Because she had come more frequently in the past few days, the Marquis's wife felt that the gap between her and Luo Shuiyao had been eliminated. Compared with the discomfort in the past few days, her demeanor was much more natural, and her attitude seemed to have returned to the past when she was in the Marquis's residence. Seeing Luo Shuiyao come back, she smiled and waved, "Yaoyao, you're back. My aunt sent someone to bring me a bowl of ice cream. It's a new dessert in the capital. It tastes great. Come and try it."
Luo Shuiyao paused imperceptibly before approaching and sitting down at the table. The weather was growing warmer, and the lush branches of the large tree blocked the sunlight, bringing a refreshing breeze. A bowl of red and white icy yogurt sat in a jar on the table, a delightful sight. She had grown accustomed to the Marquis's courtesy of recent days, so she naturally didn't refuse. After a quiet thank you, she sat down opposite.
The Marquis's wife waved the maid aside and personally brought out a dessert from the icy basin and pushed it towards her, her eyes filled with anticipation, like a child sharing something they loved. Seeing her like this, Luo Shuiyao found her rather endearing, and somewhat understood why the Loyal and Brave Marquis was so fond of her—she hadn't noticed, but she did have some naive qualities.
As for the icy yogurt bowl, she naturally knew about it. After all, it was a new product launched by Qingyu Tower, and it was launched after she had tasted it. How could she not understand it? However, facing the expectant eyes of the person opposite her, she couldn't refuse, so she scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth.
"How is it? Is it delicious?" The Marquis's wife couldn't help but ask when she saw him take a bite.
Luo Shuiyao nodded, and after swallowing the food in her mouth, she said, "It's delicious."
"Really? I thought it was delicious the first time I ate it, too." Seeing that Luo Shuiyao shared similar tastes, the Marquis's wife smiled faintly and said, "If you like it, I'll bring some more tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Luo Shuiyao put down the spoon in her hand and looked at the Marquis' wife with an apologetic look on her face: "Thank you for your kindness, auntie, but I will be leaving the capital tomorrow, so I am afraid I won't be able to enjoy this feast."
"what?"
The Marquis's wife's smile froze, and she raised her voice and asked, "Why are you leaving the capital?"
Nanny Sang had been waiting behind her. Seeing this, she hurried forward, gently stroking her back and soothing her softly, "Don't worry, Madam. Miss Luo has settled down in the capital, so I don't think she'll leave easily. Perhaps there's something urgent she needs to deal with. We'll know once we ask."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis's wife recalled how Luo Shuiyao had been toiling away in the capital city day and night to make a living, and how she had bought a house to settle down in. She thought it likely she wouldn't leave easily. Since she said she was leaving the capital, she must have something to attend to. She suppressed her worry and said, "Auntie was just anxious for a moment. Did I scare you?"
Luo Shuiyao shook her head, picked up the teapot on the table, brewed a cup of tea, and handed it to the Marquis' wife: "Aunt, don't worry, listen to me carefully."
The Marquis's wife took the teacup and sat down again, but her mood was no longer relaxed. She had thought that as long as Luo Shuiyao remained in the capital, once the estrangement between them had been overcome, they could bring up the matter of marriage. When she first heard that she was leaving the capital, she hadn't grasped the situation, thinking that the couple would never come to the capital again, hence her loss of composure. Although she now understood that she wouldn't leave easily, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.
After the Marquis's wife sat down, Luo Shuiyao continued, "Aunt, you should know that I have a dear relative in my hometown. My hometown is poor, and life for my relatives is not as easy as in the capital. My aunt has been taking care of my younger siblings alone, which is very hard. Previously, I was not capable enough to bring them to the capital to enjoy a comfortable life. Now that I have bought a house and my small business is making a stable income, I plan to go to Qingshui Town to bring them over."
After hearing her explanation, the Marquis' wife suddenly remembered that Luo Shuiyao did have an aunt in her hometown—she had never checked the details before because there was no need, and later, with so many trivial matters, she had forgotten about it. Hearing Luo Shuiyao mention this, she felt a little annoyed: if she had brought her here earlier and proposed marriage through her aunt, wouldn't it have saved a lot of trouble? But it was too late to talk about it now. Knowing that Luo Shuiyao was just picking someone up and not leaving the capital forever, she felt relieved and nodded in understanding, then asked, "Have you arranged for someone to go with you? It's a long journey, and we must be careful not to run into any bad people."
Luo Shuiyao nodded: "I have already made arrangements and brought some good people with me. Please rest assured, aunt."
The Marquis's wife nodded when she heard this, muttering to herself, "That's good, that's good." However, she had just put her mind at ease when she suddenly remembered something and felt a chill in her heart.
After today's interruption, her earlier plan to slowly but surely address the issue of marriage with her was somewhat shaken. While the trip to Qingshui Town wasn't too far, it involved Luo Shuiyao's aunt. While she didn't know much about her aunt's situation, she had heard that she had raised Luo Shuiyao since she was a child, and that they were like mother and daughter. As the saying goes, "Parents' orders, matchmaker's words." What if that aunt took advantage of this opportunity to find a husband for Luo Shuiyao? What would happen then?
What should her son do?
As soon as this thought came to her mind, she couldn't help herself. She looked at Luo Shuiyao, wanting to say something but stopping herself. The words came to her lips but she didn't know how to start.
Luo Shuiyao noticed her hesitation and didn't know what she wanted to ask, so she asked, "Aunt, if you have something to say, please speak directly."
"This..." After hearing her question, the Marquis' wife was speechless for a moment, and found it even more difficult to say what she wanted to say.
But thinking of her own cold and icy son, who was afraid of risking his life, she finally gritted her teeth and said, "Yaoyao, do you really forgive me for the mistakes I made earlier?"
"Of course it's true." Luo Shuiyao nodded.
She had never held a grudge against the Marquis' wife, and she understood her previous clear distinction between close and distant relatives. She had never blamed her, so how could she forgive her?
The Marquis's wife didn't know what she was thinking. She was delighted to hear her words, and the next words seemed less difficult to say. She reached out and held Luo Shuiyao's hand, saying earnestly, "Auntie knew you were a good child. It was my fault before, I didn't think it through. Now that I know you and Yuan Zheng are in love, I agree to this marriage today. After your aunt arrives in the capital, we will discuss a good date with the Right Prime Minister's Mansion and let you two choose a good day to get married, okay?"