Chapter 021

Chapter 021

Tong Sui was sitting on a small stool soaking her feet when she could still hear He's veiled insults from the West Court—she criticized Ah Zhen but every word was aimed at Lin Ningfang. This way, neither the old man nor Xiao Shouyi could easily intervene.

To be fair, Tong Sui understood Lin Ningfang's sense of alienation and He's frustration and anger, even Ah Zhen's position as a guest in someone else's home.

Whether a noble lady or a commoner, everyone has feelings, each with their own joys and sorrows.

After wiping her feet, Tong Sui put on her shoes and poured the water outside the back door of the east wing. She then scooped some more water to rinse the foot basin clean and set it aside for Xiao Zhen to use when he returned.

He's shouting continued, but Tong Sui climbed into bed and silently recalled the book she had read today.

As drowsiness overtook her, there was a change in the West Court. Xiao Yan must have come back because He started berating her son, changing her insults.

Tong Sui actually laughed. Such commotion was unheard of in her own home.

Actually, it was quite good. The fact that they could fuss over these things meant everyone was doing well. If they were truly struggling with lack of food and shelter, they wouldn't have the energy to quarrel.

With the sound of footsteps, Xiao Ye's voice echoed outside: "Second Brother, where did you find Third Brother?"

"By the river."

"Huh? Did Third Brother want to jump into the river?"

"Go to sleep."

Tong Sui bit her lip to stifle her laughter. Xiao Ye was also a joker. Despite the chaos in the West Court, he was still making jokes. The Lingshui River was far from flood season; the water was shallow.

Xiao Zhen secured the front door and saw the neatly arranged washbasin and foot basin beside the stove, knowing she had finished washing up.

In this weather, Xiao Zhen preferred to use cold water directly. After tidying up, he entered the room.

Curious, Tong Sui asked him, "Does Third Younger Brother often not come home?"

Xiao Zhen, while climbing onto the kang, replied, "Since last year, he's done this three or four times."

Tong Sui didn't ask any further.

Xiao Zhen lay on his side, reaching out a hand.

Tong Sui: ...

She knew he was strong, but wouldn't he get tired?

---

The next day, Xiao Yan and his brothers went hunting again. Xiao Yan and Xiao She shared a mule, while Xiao Ye rode alone.

Tong Sui stood in the backyard, watching the two black mules gallop away.

Liu Chu teased her, "Didn't you learn yesterday?"

Tong Sui: "I learned, but I'm still not skilled." Even jogging around the backyard made her nervous.

Liu Chu: "Maybe they'll return early in the afternoon, and you can practice more then."

Tong Sui indeed had time, but she felt sorry for the mules, worried about tiring them.

Considering the mules were great contributors, Tong Sui decided to gather more grass for them today.

The sisters-in-law carried baskets to the riverside.

Few families in the village raised large grazing animals like mules, horses, cows, or sheep, so wild vegetables were always in demand, but no one bothered with grass. The sisters-in-law easily filled their baskets by digging here and there.

While washing their hands by the river, Tong Sui also rinsed the muddy hoe.

Liu Chu sat on clean pebbles, enjoying the warm breeze, looking up at the sky, and taking a deep breath. "It would be wonderful if we could always live in such peace."

Tong Sui looked around. The scenery by the Lingshui River was indeed beautiful. The clear water reflected the sun, illuminating the white pebble beach, and the gentle slopes on both banks were covered with grass and dotted with common wildflowers.

Tong Sui felt a slight stirring in her heart.

She had never seen the peonies, carnations, lotus, or magnolias mentioned in books, and neither had Lin Ningfang likely seen these tiny wildflowers.

Such a graceful beauty, confined to her room all day, was indeed pitiful.

Tong Sui wouldn't intrude recklessly, but she wanted to give this sister-in-law a small gift.

Liu Chu watched as her sister-in-law suddenly began picking wildflowers.

She smiled, thinking Tong Sui just liked them. After all, she was only eighteen, still a young girl.

As the sun rose higher, the sisters-in-law walked back with A Fu and Ah Zhen.

A Fu admired the cluster of wildflowers in the second lady's hand and exclaimed, "I see these flowers all the time, but why do they look so beautiful today?"

Ah Zhen examined them closely and said with a smile, "It's because the second lady is skillful and has paired them beautifully."

Tong Sui: "I just mixed them randomly; they're naturally fresh."

Upon returning to the Xiao residence, Tong Sui handed the flowers to Ah Zhen and whispered, "Take these to the third lady to cheer her up."

Ah Zhen, touched by the gesture, looked at the flowers and the smiling face of the second lady in the warm sunlight, tears welling up in her eyes. She bowed her head and said, "I thank the second lady on behalf of the third lady."

Fairly speaking, everyone in the Xiao family was kind, including He, who only used harsh words but never physically harmed anyone. In some truly cruel households, regardless of whether you were a noble lady, if you didn't work, you'd be beaten until you did, and if you didn't smile, you'd be forced to do so. There were always ways to turn a lady into a true peasant wife.

If it were Ah Zhen, she would have happily followed Third Master.

But the lady was different. She had lost her parents, siblings, and nephews, and her heart was still wounded when Third Master carried her into the woods.

Upon arriving at the Xiao residence, the young lady was trapped in her own emotions. The Xiao family members were busy with their own lives and never truly cared for the young lady. Perhaps they wanted to be kind to her but didn't know how to take care of a prime minister's daughter, fearing that any attempt might backfire and be met with disdain.

Apart from Third Master, Second Lady was the first one to try to cheer the young lady up.

Tong Sui felt uncomfortable with her use of "servant": "Why are you suddenly speaking like this?" Ah Zhen had previously addressed them as "First Lady" and "Second Lady," always referring to herself as "I."

Ah Zhen did not explain. She first placed the large basin full of clothes by the clothesline, then carefully took the flower from Tong Sui and headed for the West Court.

Tong Sui shook her head and went to put the grass in the mule shed.

In the West Court, Ah Zhen avoided Madam He and her daughter, carrying the flower as if it were a precious treasure to the eastern wing.

She hid her hand behind her back and smiled at Lin Ningfang on the kang: "Guess what I brought back for you."

Lin Ningfang rarely saw her so happy, as if they were still living in the Lin family mansion, where Ah Zhen would bring back rare treasures.

Lin Ningfang smiled: "What is it?"

Ah Zhen took out the flower and presented it to the young lady.

Lin Ningfang's eyes lit up with the vibrant colors—fresh green leaves, tender white, pale yellow, bright red, and deep purple flowers.

She took it, her eyes filled with joy: "It's very beautiful."

Ah Zhen: "After spring warms up, there are many such wildflowers by the roadside and riverside. I see them every day but never thought to bring some back for you."

Lin Ningfang looked up, her smile fading: "Did Third Master ask you to pick them?"

Ah Zhen: "Not at all; he left early to go hunting. These were picked by Second Lady after she finished cutting grass by the river. She specifically asked me to bring them back for you to enjoy."

In Lin Ningfang's mind appeared a gentle and quiet face, a girl who seemed easy to bully yet could handle Madam He and her daughter, a girl who asked a man to teach her how to ride a mule.

Lin Ningfang looked at the flower again, feeling troubled: "Since she gave me these flowers, what should I give in return?"

All their jewelry had been stolen by bandits. At the time, the Xiao brothers were few and prioritized saving their lives over intercepting the loot, leaving Lin Ningfang with only a silk dress, a few pieces of jewelry she was wearing, and a box of books that the bandits deemed worthless.

To those who don't read, books are no different from waste paper. So, would Miss Tong appreciate jewelry as a return gift?

Madam He and her daughter would definitely like it, but flowers are elegant items, and Lin Ningfang didn't want to insult a pure-hearted girl with vulgar gifts.

Ah Zhen blinked, hesitating: "Do we need to? I don't think Second Lady expected anything in return."

Lin Ningfang: "I know, but I can't neglect etiquette."

Ah Zhen also thought of the few pieces of jewelry that Third Master had locked away for the young lady. Honestly, even if a mountain of gold were placed before the young lady, she wouldn't smile. But any piece of those jewels could make the villagers ecstatic.

Lin Ningfang: "Forget it. I'll go thank her in person."

Just this sentence made Ah Zhen extremely happy, smiling as she helped the young lady put on her shoes.

The master and servant walked out of the eastern wing, and Madam He happened to come out of the main room, raising an eyebrow: "Going to the toilet? Even a noble lady has to eat, drink, and relieve herself."

Ah Zhen disliked this crude remark but endured it silently.

Lin Ningfang paid no attention and led her servant directly to the backyard.

Tong Sui had already returned to the eastern courtyard.

The master and servant walked from the backyard to the back door of the main room in the eastern courtyard, finding Liu Chu wiping the kitchen stove in the hall.

Seeing Lin Ningfang, Liu Chu froze, forgetting both to move and to speak.

Lin Ningfang nodded at her: "Elder Sister-in-law, I'm here to see Second Sister-in-law."

Liu Chu pointed towards the eastern wing unconsciously: "She's in her room..."

Lin Ningfang thanked her and walked through the hall to the eastern wing.

Tong Sui was hiding inside reading, both doors bolted shut. Suddenly hearing Ah Zhen call her and mention that Lin Ningfang had come, Tong Sui hurriedly hid the book, putting on her shoes while hopping out.

Opening the outer door, she indeed saw Lin Ningfang standing under the eaves, her snow-white face glowing even whiter in the sunlight, almost unreal.

"Third Sister-in-law, please come in." Tong Sui greeted her awkwardly.

Lin Ningfang followed her into the northern room, her gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged furnishings, realizing that Tong Sui was diligent.

"Thank you for the flowers, Second Sister. I really like them." Lin Ningfang turned around, addressing the somewhat restrained young lady.

Tong Sui was surprised to hear her speak so many words. Her voice was pleasant, and the rhythm of her speech was soothing!

"I just picked them randomly; you didn't have to come specially." Tong Sui was taken aback by the formality of this master and servant duo, feeling quite unaccustomed to it.

Lin Ningfang smiled. Then, she noticed the pen holder and inkstone on one end of the counter.

She asked in surprise: "Does Second Sister practice calligraphy?"

Tong Sui: "No, no. That was a gift from my cousin for the wedding, just for decoration."

Lin Ningfang guessed: "Are the papers stored away?"

Tong Sui: "Yes, since I don't use them often, I keep them inside to avoid damage."

Lin Ningfang paused for a moment, then said: "I really like the flowers Second Sister gave me. I'd like to return the favor, but I don't know what Second Sister likes."

Tong Sui quickly said it wasn't necessary to be so formal.

Lin Ningfang studied her for a moment and suggested: "I'm decent at painting. How about I give Second Sister a painting?"

Tong Sui: "..."

Painting? She had never seen a real painting in her life, only some blurry illustrations in the books at the private school.

Ah Zhen encouraged from the side, "Madam, please agree. Even the Prime Minister praised our young lady's painting skills."

Lin Ningfang glanced at her, and Ah Zhen covered her mouth and stepped back.

Tong Sui could tell that if she didn't agree, Lin Ningfang would likely continue to think of other gifts!

"Then, I'll trouble you, Third Younger Sister."