Chapter 102
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Tang Li and Yue Lin were too cautious and attentive, which caused them to take a little longer than expected.
Sitting gracefully before the dressing table, letting the two men comb her hair, Mingwei looked up at herself in the mirror. The ornate hairpins added a touch of elegance, and the light makeup on her face only accentuated her youthful beauty.
Mingwei was in a state of utter confusion.
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on a spot in the mirror. The curtain to the inner room was half-drawn to make it easier for the maids to come and go. The figure of the maid who had come to deliver a message from the Second Madam's courtyard was also reflected in the mirror.
She was supposed to be waiting outside, but instead she kept anxiously peering inside.
She seemed a little nervous and uneasy?
Mingwei immediately sensed something was off. Why was she in such a hurry?
"Seventh Miss." The little maid finally couldn't contain herself any longer and called out loudly, disregarding all decorum, "Second Madam and Aunt are waiting for you. Please come with me quickly!"
Such words would be considered extremely rude in front of the master. She may have just arrived in the Second Madam's courtyard, but she certainly knew the most basic etiquette! Tang Li and Yue Lin both frowned, but because Hong Yu was from the Second Madam's courtyard, they refrained from speaking up.
Mingwei felt that she was being too eager.
"Yuelin, go tell the old lady that I'm going to my mother's room and can't copy the Buddhist scriptures for her anymore." Mingwei winked at Yuelin, deliberately ordering her out. "Go and tell her first, I'll wait for you to come back before I go."
Yue Lin understood Ming Wei's implication. Although she was puzzled, she obediently replied, "Yes, Miss." Then she made a move to leave.
Hongyu panicked and rashly reached out to stop Yuelin.
"Aunt, Miss—" Hongyu also felt that her behavior was not quite appropriate. She stammered, "I'm afraid it's not good to keep Second Madam and Aunt waiting! Aunt is a guest and also your elder. You should go there as soon as possible. Even if the old lady finds out, she will praise you for being sensible!"
Before she could finish speaking, even Tang Li felt something was amiss.
Hongyu spoke so fluently, it was clear someone had instructed her beforehand. However, the person who instructed her was obviously not very skilled; for a mere maid to say such things was a bit much.
The more unusual this was, the more suspicious Mingwei became. She pretended to accept Hongyu's suggestion, nodded, and didn't let Yuelin go over again.
"Let's go." Mingwei wore a light pink silk jacket and a lotus-root-colored outer garment. Although not extravagant, it exuded a delicate and elegant charm. This was the result of Yue Lin and Tang Li's careful selection. The second wife of the Duke's mansion had been widowed for more than ten years and came from a scholarly family. She probably didn't want a vulgar daughter-in-law.
Seeing that Mingwei was willing to go out with her, Hongyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Miss, unfortunately, the Second Madam’s carriage is in a strait today. You’ll have to go through the trouble of walking with me!” After leaving the west courtyard, Hongyu seemed to suddenly remember something and told Mingwei that she could only walk there.
Mingwei originally didn't mind, as the two places weren't far apart, and she rarely used a car when going there. However, Hongyu's special mention of it made people think more about it.
As if afraid that Mingwei would need to call another carriage, Hongyu quickly took two steps ahead to lead the way. "Miss, please!" She added, fearing that Mingwei might be reluctant, "Second Madam instructed me to take you there as soon as possible."
Why was the second wife so eager to let him meet her sister-in-law from her maternal family?
To be fair, even if Mingwei wanted to be picky, she had to admit that, given her current status, Liu Jun was the best choice for her. If it were a more open-minded and magnanimous matriarch, Mingwei would have thought it was normal. But it was the usually petty and narrow-minded second wife who made this decision, which made it impossible not to be suspicious.
However, none of this was out in the open, and Mingwei couldn't bring herself to expose it. Besides, by this point, Mingwei had already guessed that the old lady probably tacitly approved.
Perhaps in the old lady's eyes, marrying Liu Jun was the best option for her! If the old lady also supports the second wife's decision, then how can she get rid of this marriage?
Thinking of this, Mingwei nodded silently and walked towards Rongze Hall while pondering.
"Miss, please follow me this way!" Hongyu walked ahead solicitously, leading the way for Mingwei at the crossroads, saying, "This shortcut will be faster!"
Mingwei stopped in her tracks.
There was indeed more than one way to get from Rongshan Hall to the Second Madam's Rongze Hall. One was a small path that went through the large garden of the Chengping Marquis's mansion, and the other was a main road that followed the narrow lanes. But Hongyu pointed to a small path.
If one were to pass through the grand garden, one couldn't simply walk along the covered walkways; one would have to traverse several narrow paths, cross two artificial lakes, and meander through a bamboo grove before reaching the Second Madam's Rongze Hall. Mingwei glanced down at her brand-new clothes and clean embroidered shoes, and gently frowned.
After walking like this, my clothes will probably get dirty.
Even if the second wife didn't intend to marry Mingwei off to Liu Jun, and now she was going to see Liu Jun's mother, or even just ordinary relatives, that wasn't the right way to go.
Was this at the behest of the second wife or Hongyu's own idea?
Seeing that Mingwei hesitated and refused to leave, Hongyu, being younger, became even more anxious and even urged Mingwei to hurry up.
So many strange things happened today!
But at this point, she only had suspicions and no evidence. If the Second Madam was plotting against her, she couldn't afford to give anyone cause for gossip! So, after hesitating for a moment, Mingwei followed Hongyu away.
Tang Li and Yue Lin, both feeling bewildered, followed Ming Wei into the large garden.
After walking down the covered walkway, Mingwei stepped onto a narrow path paved with various cobblestones. Her eyes lit up when she saw the thriving scene in the courtyard.
It was late spring, and the large garden was naturally a scene of vibrant blooms. A gentle spring breeze blew by, its slight coolness not making one feel cold, but rather quite comfortable. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers, earth, and grass, creating a truly refreshing and invigorating atmosphere.
Mingwei's tense nerves relaxed considerably.
Could it be that she's really overthinking things?
The second wife really had no reason to scheme against her, and how exactly she could get rid of her was still up for debate.
As she pondered, Mingwei's mind drifted away.
"Ouch—" Hongyu, who had been walking steadily ahead, suddenly slipped and fell to the ground.
The path was only wide enough for one person to pass at a time. Hongyu led the way, followed by Mingwei. Because Mingwei was closest to her and had been lost in thought, she didn't even have time to react when Hongyu slipped. She let out a muffled groan and tripped, falling to the ground as well.
Tang Li and Yue Lin had been reminding Ming Wei to watch her step, but Ming Wei hadn't been paying attention. However, they were extremely careful, which is why they escaped unharmed.