Las viudas de la dinastía Song eran fáciles de casar

Capítulo 140

"Wait, wait, wait..." Qing Jianyue's face turned bright red. She wanted to explain, but didn't know how to start. She was so anxious.

Madam Lu looked at Madam Cai and said, "Sister, what do you think?"

"That's wonderful! That's truly wonderful! Fengxian, I'm genuinely happy for you. It's a wonderful thing that you've let go of your resentment and accepted Jianyue." Madam Cai said with a smile, "Congratulations! Congratulations on having such a clever and wise daughter-in-law. With a virtuous wife like Jianyue, how can Qingcheng not prosper?"

Madam Lu smiled faintly.

Lu Qingcheng's heart was pounding with joy, and she kept smiling happily as she looked at Qing Jianyue. Xu Yun's eyes glistened with tears, and pain gnawed at her heart like a ferocious beast. Xu Lan observed Madam Lu with a thoughtful, analytical gaze.

"Oh dear, Fengxian is already an old lady, it seems I should also be promoted. Old Madam Lu, Old Madam Cai, how nice it sounds to call them that!" Madam Cai laughed humorously.

Lu Qingcheng smiled and said, "Yes, Auntie, from today onwards, everyone must respectfully address Mother and you as Madam."

Madam Lu picked up the fragrant tea and sipped it expressionlessly. Seeing this, Madam Cai felt a shiver run down her spine and glanced at Qing Jianyue with slight worry.

Outside the hall, everyone was all smiles.

Wang Jie and the little crow held hands, swaying and rocking happily. The little sparrow was also overjoyed, laughing and chirping, its lively and adorable appearance truly resembling that of a chattering little sparrow. Xiaoqian laughed so hard her eyes and mouth turned into crescent moons, but in a fleeting glance, she noticed Cai Zhonghe quietly leaving, his lonely figure causing her smile to vanish instantly.

Du Ping suddenly appeared in front of her with a big smile, blocking her gaze from Cai Zhonghe. Xiaoqian was startled, clutching her wildly beating chest, and cautiously took a few steps back.

Inside the painted hall, Qing Jianyue gradually calmed down from his initial shock. A strange feeling filled him; everything had changed so suddenly. Even if Madam Lu had a change of heart, she couldn't possibly agree to Lu Qingcheng marrying her so immediately, could she? Was there some kind of conspiracy? The more Qing Jianyue thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

After they left, only Madam Lu and Xu Yun remained in the painting hall. Madam Lu met Xu Yun's gaze and said, "You must be very puzzled, right?"

"Why? Madam, why did you do that?" Xu Yun cried, tears streaming down her face. "How could you? How could you do this to me?"

"Because I want to prove that everything he said was a lie," Mrs. Lu suddenly said loudly.

Xu Yun was taken aback.

Madam Lu sneered, "What do you mean by life being like vegetables? What do you mean by tasting pain, sorrow, and betrayal in your past life and then tasting happiness and laughter in the next? That's utter nonsense."

"Since Madam knew he was talking nonsense, why did she allow him to stay?" Xu Yun said angrily, "Why didn't you expel him? Why did you agree to let the Lord of the Fortress marry him?"

Madam Lu scolded, "Are you deaf? His lies are so perfectly crafted and so convincing. What are your beautiful eyes for? Qingcheng is so infatuated with him, and Qingfeng and all those people outside support him. If I forcefully use my power to drive him away, it will only make my son hate me more and make those people resentful."

Xu Yun cried, "Then what should we do? Should we just let him run rampant? Should we just let him get away with it?"

“Since I was able to find out his background, the Sky Eagle Sect will naturally find out as well, and very quickly.” Madam Lu said with a sinister smile, “Then, the Sky Eagle Sect will definitely take action. At that time, I want to see Qing Jianyue and see what kind of wonderful performance he will put on.”

Xu Yun forgot to cry, staring blankly at Madam Lu's cunning and smug smile...

Night deepened, and the snow fell softly and steadily. In the courtyard, the newly opened plum blossoms emitted a delicate fragrance. Cai Zhonghe sat by the south-facing window in the house, unrolling a scroll. It wasn't a famous painting by an ancient artist, just a casual ink wash painting, nothing particularly remarkable. Yet, Cai Zhonghe gazed at it with great interest, a gentle smile blooming on his face.

Meixiang brought the brewed fragrant tea to the table, and with a graceful, almost dancing, poured the tea into the teacup, saying with a charming smile, "Master, please try it. This tea is brewed with snow water, so the taste is even more refreshing."

Without looking up, Cai Zhonghe said, "Just put it there."

Not even a glance could attract her attention. Slightly annoyed, Meixiang pouted and said, "What are you looking at, Master?" She shifted her body slightly, standing beside Cai Zhonghe, and stared intently. The painting depicted a little fox perched on a table, grinning from ear to ear at a large, fat fish hanging from a pillar, drool dripping from its mouth. The technique was extremely simple, yet it vividly portrayed the little fox's joy at about to steal the fish. Meixiang laughed, "A little fox stealing fish, how amusing! Master, did you paint this?"

Cai Zhonghe's hand trembled slightly, and he said calmly, "It was drawn by a friend. If there's nothing else, you may leave."

“But, but…” Meixiang clutched her clothes, and said shyly, “Ever since Master favored Lanxiang last time, he hasn’t, hasn’t favored me at all.”

She hesitated for a long time before finally managing to finish her sentence. However, after waiting with her head down for a while, she received no response. Looking up cautiously, she saw Cai Zhonghe still staring blankly at the painting of a little fox stealing fish. This made her suspicious. Even if a painting was interesting, it shouldn't be enough to make someone lose their mind. So, she became more cautious and looked at the signature on the painting. It was easy to recognize: three large, crooked characters: Qing Jian Yue.

Meixiang, once she looked at it, was furious. Last time she fainted in the snow and came back with a high fever, all thanks to Qing Jianyue. What was so charming about that androgynous Qing Jianyue? Lu Qingcheng was infatuated with her, and now even Cai Zhonghe was. The more Meixiang thought about it, the more resentful she became. She snatched the painting away and said coquettishly, "Master, don't look anymore. Let me help you rest."

Cai Zhonghe flew into a rage, "Damn it! Didn't I tell you to step back?"

Meixiang was horrified and paled, her voice trembling as she said, "This servant knows her mistake, please don't be angry, Master." Tears instantly filled her beautiful eyes, and she was about to cry in the next instant.

Cai Zhonghe was, after all, a well-educated man, and he always treated women with tenderness and compassion, especially beautiful women. Seeing this, his expression immediately softened, and he coaxed, "Don't cry. I didn't mean to yell at you. It's late, and you must be tired. Go back and rest." As he spoke, he didn't forget to retrieve the painting.

"Master, do you really not want me to serve you?" Meixiang persisted. "You took Lanxiang but don't want me. You're so wicked."

These words finally managed to get Cai Zhonghe's attention to her. Mei Xiang's cheeks were flushed, and her beautiful eyes were watery and seemed to bewitch people.

"The old lady has arrived," a voice suddenly announced from outside. Cai Zhonghe quickly got off the couch, not even having time to put on his shoes, when the door opened and the old lady entered the room. Meixiang hurriedly bowed in greeting. Cai Zhonghe exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, what brings you here?"

Madam Cai said sternly, "You may leave."

Meixiang inwardly groaned; success was just around the corner, but the old lady had to come over now. She dared not say a word and bowed as she left the room.

Cai Zhonghe helped his mother sit down, then personally poured her a cup of fragrant tea and handed it to her. "Mother, it's so late, why did you come all this way in person? If there's anything you need, you could have just told someone to call me."

“I have something important to ask you, and it’s something I absolutely must ask,” said Madam Cai. “Please sit down.” Cai Zhonghe reached out and picked up the scroll, then sat down and carefully rolled it up. Madam Cai frowned. “You like seeing the moon, don’t you?”

Cai Zhonghe abruptly stopped rolling up the painting.

Madam Cai looked at her youngest son with a worried expression, "You like seeing the moon, just like the lord of the fortress likes seeing the moon."

Cai Zhonghe's breathing suddenly quickened. "Mother, you must have misunderstood. Who have you been listening to talking nonsense about?"

"Do you think I'm too old and blind to see anything?" Madam Cai said angrily. "Not only did I see it, but your elder brother saw it too, and your sister-in-law saw it too."

Cai Zhonghe's hand holding the painting trembled.

"If it weren't for Lu Qingcheng, I, as your mother, would have supported your pursuit of Jianyue and your marriage to him. But because of Lu Qingcheng, I, as your mother, have to dissuade you. I know how cruel these words are to you, but if you truly love Jianyue, you must give up. If your love causes Jianyue harm, it will only intensify your pain." Madam Cai advised meaningfully, "So, give up."

Cai Zhonghe said painfully, "I just like him, is that not even allowed?"

"No," Madam Cai said in a deep voice. "If you don't want to regret it, you must resolutely cut off your desires from the very beginning. This is not only for your own good, but also for Jianyue's. Jianyue has suffered too much. No matter how strong he is, he is still a person. Don't add any more burdens to him. Love brings not only happiness, but also misfortune."

Cai Zhonghe felt as if a huge hole had been punched in his heart, bleeding painfully. All he could see was darkness, and he could no longer see any light or hope.

Madam Cai continued, "Zhonghe, you and your elder brother are both my pride. I would never want to see you turn from love to hate one day."