Although she knew this woman had ulterior motives, Shen Yueyi's gaze upon her husband, who had just returned, was still displeasing.
Even if they eventually divorce, she is still the young mistress of Nanlou at this moment.
Shen Yueyi is so blatant, what does she take her for?
You Tong had a poor impression of the Shen family mother and daughter, and usually treated them only as guests. Now that she had seen through their thoughts, she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Since there were female guests in the house, Fu Yu didn't stay long. After his grandmother finished her concern, he sat for a while and then said that the troops that had quelled the rebellion were about to return to the city, and he had to go out of the city to reward them.
Madam Fu naturally wouldn't stop her, saying, "Since you have something to do, go ahead."
Seeing Fu Yu glance at You Tong, he casually said, "You go too, don't be late."
“Then the granddaughter-in-law will return to the South Building first.” You Tong readily agreed.
...
Stepping out of Shou'an Hall, it was slightly stuffy outside.
Holding the heavy inkstone in her hands, You Tong felt somewhat uncomfortable, but she said in a businesslike manner, "Since my husband is going out, I suppose General Du is not in the Two Books Pavilion. I will take this back to the South Tower first and have someone deliver it to him later."
"No need. Keep it and give it away."
This attitude surprised You Tong slightly. "You don't want it anymore?"
"I have an inkstone."
“I just saw it. This is a rare She inkstone, made from She stone from Longwei Mountain. It’s the work of a master craftsman, and there are only a handful in the imperial palace.” You Tong, having spent a long time at Xieyangzhai, had grown more confident and spoke with a hint of teasing. “Lord Shen must have put in a lot of effort for this inkstone, having his wife and daughter deliver it personally. He’s very serious about it. Just now, someone kept looking this way. They must be very reluctant to part with this inkstone.”
"Is that so?" Fu Yu slowed his pace and turned to look at her.
With delicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, red lips, and white teeth, she slightly raised the corners of her eyes, teasing and smiling, and her eyes shone with more light than usual.
Like ripples on a spring, the surface shimmers with golden light, vibrant and captivating.
Fu Yu's gaze paused for a moment, then he suddenly turned to her and whispered in her ear, "That's a bit sour."
"No way!" You Tong immediately denied with a light snort, "Grandmother said to put it in the Two Books Pavilion, I dare not accept it, I'll take it over now."
Fu Yu smiled without saying a word, reached to his waist, took out the key, and handed it to her, saying, "Whatever you like."
Seeing her like that, he was in a great mood. Since he had reached the fork in the road, he waved and walked away briskly with a smile on his lips.
You Tong stood there for a moment, guessing that it was the key to the Two Books Pavilion. After hesitating for a moment, she went to the study. Although it was just a joke, she didn't really want the things the Shen family had given her. They were an eyesore in the South Building, but if they were placed in the Two Books Pavilion, even if they were left to gather dust, it was none of her business.
However, Fu Yu's study was not usually open to the public, and although she had a key, she did not want to go in alone and arouse suspicion.
So she called the maid who served Fu Yu to accompany her, and placed the inkstone in an empty corner of the antique shelf in the study. Out of curiosity, she went to look at Fu Yu's desk to see what treasures he had that made him disdain even a fine She inkstone. But when she saw the inkstone on the desk, she was stunned.
The inkstone that Fu Yu is using now is plain and unremarkable, yet it looks quite familiar.
It's like... the medicine she bought for him as an emergency when she was staying in the capital.
Chapter 59 Kiss
You Tong stood by the desk, staring at the inkstone for quite a long time.
There are countless inkstones in the world. Apart from the extremely cheap ones which are all very similar, those with any value are all different due to their material, texture, craftsmanship, carving, and shape. The one she bought for Fu Yu was not a famous brand, but its material was not bad either. It had a pine and crane design with gold foil stamping and also bore the emblem of the Yan family inkstone, which was quite famous in the capital. It was placed in an inconspicuous corner.
The one in front of her, with its emblems, carvings, and texture, was exactly the same as the one she had bought.
Yan Jiayan only has a shop in the capital, so this item must have come from the capital and could not have been a gift from someone else. Regardless of the lifelike pine and crane design and the emblem, as well as the quality, the material alone is only of superior quality. Given Fu Yu's status, if someone wanted to give him a gift, they would definitely choose a precious and famous item. To buy him a mediocre and vulgar item from afar would be suicidal.
You Tong examined it carefully several times, and was now certain that this was the one she had bought!
Fu Yu showed no sign of it on his face, yet he brought this vulgar item all the way back to Qizhou to use in his study. He even disdained the precious items that Shen Feiqing had painstakingly sought out. The meaning behind this was self-evident.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved.
How could one not be happy when one's own things are valued by someone, and in such a subtle and hidden way, and she discovers them unintentionally?
It's like strolling slowly in the countryside, turning around to see a tiger sniffing a rose behind thorns, touching the softest part of your heart.
You Tong stood there blankly, stroking the inkstone with her fingertips. After a moment, she looked around.
The study was exactly the same as when she first came. Tall bookshelves against the wall held military books, and a long, black lacquered table was piled high with documents, weighed down by a bronze tiger paperweight. The brush holder stood like a steep mountain peak, and the brush washer, made of pottery, was not exquisite but rather rustic. Beside the table was a bronze tripod, and the Boshan incense burner had never been lit. The blood-stained, rusted, and broken sword hung prominently at the entrance, adding to its imposing and cold aura.
When she first arrived, she didn't dare to look at the broken sword, feeling only a chilling and murderous aura emanating from it.
Looking at it again now, it's as if you can see the unwavering loyalty and camaraderie behind the battles.
Just like Fu Yu.
You Tong stood by the door, as if she could still recall that day when he stood by the window, the sunlight streaming in, casting a shadow on his chiseled profile, his outstanding appearance as majestic as a jade mountain.
To be fair, Fu Yu was actually quite outstanding; his physique, appearance, and skills were all exceptional. According to Zhou Gu's casual remarks, almost every girl in Qizhou admired him. If it weren't for Fu Yu's cold and imposing demeanor, inspiring awe, he would probably be showered with fruit whenever he went out. Not to mention, beneath his broad shoulders and slender waist lay such a powerful and muscular chest and abdomen.
It's just a pity...
You Tong shook her head inwardly, feeling inexplicably disappointed. She stood at Wangyun Tower for a while before returning to the South Tower.
The medicinal meal for Xieyangzhai was ready, and You Tong delivered it as usual. After Fu Deqing finished eating, he returned to take a nap. When he woke up, he heard faint thunder outside the window, and the wind made the windowpanes shake wildly. Soon after, rain began to lash the eaves, and a sudden downpour started. As the sky gradually darkened, it was impossible to go for a walk on the north slope in this weather, so You Tong simply sat down at the desk in the side room and looked through the recipes she had written in her spare time a few days ago.
Chuncao brought in a plate of freshly cut fruit. Not daring to disturb her, she gently placed it on the table and then left.
The rain outside was noisy. You Tong calmed herself, ground the ink, and laid out the paper. Then, from the bottom drawer of her desk, she took out a notebook bound with thread. The notebook was made of Xuan paper cut into two-foot squares, containing about forty sheets, and the inner pages began with beautiful small regular script in the shape of flowers.
Kyoto Shabu Shabu.
Opening a hot pot restaurant is not something that can be done overnight. From choosing a location, hiring staff, preparing ingredients, to what troubles might be encountered, there are many things that need to be considered in advance. Otherwise, it will be too late to fix things after a mistake is made. You Tong was confined to the mansion and there wasn't much she could do. She had been planning for a long time and found that there were too many trivial matters, so she simply wrote down everything that needed to be prepared and considered in this plan and prepared for it one by one.
It's already more than ten pages long, and many things on it are gradually becoming clearer.
You Tong just kept biting the pen tip, serious and focused.
...
Inside Shou'an Hall, Shen Yueyi was quite unsettled.
Earlier that morning, during the women's casual conversation, Mei's probing remark had left her heart pounding with anxiety. Then, Fu Yu's sudden visit brought her even greater joy.
They met by chance in Taocheng during the first month of the lunar calendar. At the beginning of their meeting, she only felt that Fu Yu was heroic and handsome, but unfortunately, the meeting was brief and she didn't get to look at him more. When she first arrived in Qizhou, she was staying at the Fu family's residence, and her opportunities to meet Fu Yu were even more limited. She finally managed to please the old lady and move into Shou'an Hall, but who knew that Fu Yu would go south to quell the rebellion that very day.
Several months later, after a long separation, Shen Yueyi could not contain herself even though she tried her best to be dignified and restrained.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to look up at the old lady, Shen Yueyi repeatedly glanced at Fu Yu, admiring his tall and proud back and his calm and robust demeanor. Lost in thought, she didn't even carefully consider what the old lady had said. After Fu Yu left, she looked earnestly at her mother, as if asking her to sound out his intentions again.
To everyone's surprise, Madam Mei suddenly fell silent and didn't ask another question.
When Shen Yueyi cast a questioning glance at him for the third time, he shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Shen Yueyi was slightly surprised at the time, but because the old lady was present, she could not ask further and could only hold back.
She endured this for several hours, and even after Mei returned to the East Courtyard after lunch, Shen Yueyi still didn't find an opportunity to ask her in detail alone.
After lunch, the old lady went to take a nap, and Shen Yueyi, having nothing to do, went to the side hall to ponder her thoughts.
The rain outside was sometimes heavy, sometimes light, and the water from the eaves was splashing on the bluestone slabs, making quite a noise. She thought about Madam Mei's expression this morning, and Fu Yu's nonchalant attitude when he was talking to You Tong. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed and irritable she became. So she simply got up and decided to go to the east courtyard in the rain.
Before they even stepped outside, the beaded curtain outside swayed, and the old lady woke up and came in, leaning on her cane.
The two met face to face, and Shen Yueyi immediately smiled and helped her up, saying, "The old lady is sleeping lightly today. I thought she would sleep a little longer."
“It’s rare to encounter such heavy rain, come and listen for a while. There are a few banana trees outside this annex, the best place to listen to the rain.” The old lady looked at her expression, a hint of concern appearing in her cloudy eyes. “Are you listening to the rain, or are you lost in thought?” Having spent a long time in the inner quarters, she had dealt with countless high-ranking women in her life, and she could see through people like Shen Yueyi and Madam Mei at a glance, her eyes also carrying a certain insight.
Shen Yueyi simply lowered her head and smiled faintly, "I... am listening to the rain."
This was obviously a lie, and a lie that was deliberately made so that she would see through it.
The old lady let her help her inside, then asked her to open the window. Amidst the patter of the rain, she slowly said, "This morning your aunt mentioned Lanyin's marriage, and it reminded me that you and Lanyin are about the same age. This matter can't be delayed any longer. It's kind of you to keep this old woman company and relieve my worries so much; naturally, I'll take care of your affairs. Yueyi—tell your grandmother, what kind of man do you prefer?"
These words surprised Shen Yueyi. Her heart began to race, and a blush rose to her face.
"I'm already very happy that Yueyi can stay with Grandmother," she replied, seemingly unrelated to the question, her face flushed with shyness.
The old lady said, "Men should marry when they come of age and women should marry when they come of age. There's no need to be shy about this. There are many talented men in Qizhou City. Whether they are well-read and full of talent or outstanding in martial arts and fighting, as long as you like them, I will definitely help you get together. For example, the young masters of the Qin family, as well as Wei Tianze, who I often visit, are all very outstanding. Even if their family background is not high, with your uncle's help, they will surely become successful in the future."
His tone was kind and full of care.
To Shen Yueyi, it sounded like a cool, refreshing rain.
She firmly believed that the old lady kept her at Shou'an Hall because she wanted to keep her in the Fu family.
But these words sound like...
Shen Yueyi's heart skipped a beat, but she dared not show it at all.
Her expectations were dashed, and her heart was in turmoil. Of course, she dared not say what kind of man she preferred, lest the old lady misunderstand and play matchmaker. But in the current situation, she dared not reveal her feelings and say that she liked Fu Yu—it was one thing for the old lady to take a liking to her and help her plan things, but it was another matter for her to foolishly run into it. The old lady valued virtue and gentleness in young ladies, and she knew this very well.
Even if such a matter were to be brought up directly, it could only be hinted at indirectly by Madam Shen; neither she nor Madam Mei could be too blunt.
Shen Yueyi hesitated for a long time, then lowered her head and whispered, "I...haven't decided yet."
"Then take your time to think it over." Madam Fu patted her shoulder. "There are so many talented men outside the manor. I'll grant you your wish if you take a fancy to one."
...
The rain poured down from the afternoon until evening, washing away all the dust from the eaves and treetops.
You Tong was engrossed in the pile of papers. Feeling that it was getting dark, she asked Chuncao to light a lamp and continued writing. After grinding the ink in the inkstone several times and revising the draft on the paper a few times, she finally copied it onto the proposal. Then, she tore up the scraps of paper, crumpled them into balls, and casually threw them into the wastebasket next to her before putting the notebook into the drawer.
Your wrists were sore from holding the pen for too long. You Tong rubbed them and was about to move your neck when your gaze suddenly stopped.
Beside the curtain hanging at the side room entrance, about five or six steps away from her, Fu Yu, who had returned at some point, was looking at her.
He seemed to have been standing there for a long time, his lake-blue robe motionless, only his eyes deep as the night.
You Tong had been preoccupied with what was happening outside and hadn't noticed anything until she suddenly saw it, which startled her. Her wandering thoughts snapped back to reality, and her eyes narrowed. As she stood up, her legs felt a little stiff, and she instinctively leaned on the desk for support. She smiled slightly and said, "When did my husband return? He didn't even say a word."
"Just got back." Fu Yu said calmly, pacing closer, his gaze lingering on her face.
You Tong had just discovered his hidden thoughts earlier that morning, and being stared at like that by him made her heart beat a little faster for some reason.
She lowered her head to avoid his gaze. Seeing that it was getting late, she thought about going around to call someone to set out dinner, but suddenly she smelled the scent of alcohol on him as he drew closer. He stopped in front of her, and the smell of alcohol enveloped her, making him seem like he had drunk quite a bit.
You Tong was slightly surprised, then remembered that he had gone out today to reward the troops, and must have had a rare chance to drink in the camp.
He then raised his eyebrows and said, "Shall I ask Aunt Xia to make a hangover soup?"
“No need.” Fu Yu stood beside the desk, almost as if he were leading her away, and glanced at the clean desk. “What are you writing? You’re so focused, I can’t even hear your footsteps.”
“The recipe? My husband has seen it.”