Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Perfect Match Made in Heaven

  Xin Yun'er did not respond with a pleased expression, her beautiful eyes still filled with anxiety. If a woman is liked by her mother-in-law but disliked by her husband, how much happiness can she have? She would rather they swap their attitudes towards her.

  "Madam, you don't have to worry, the young master previously thought you were a bit too fierce, but after I explained things to him, he no longer dislikes you." Little Cloud, who was standing beside Xin Yuner, spoke up at the right moment.

  "Xiao Yun, what did you say? How do you explain that?" Xiao Yun's words caused Xin Yuner and Xin Niang to pause for a moment, and then Xin Yuner asked softly.

  Seeing the expectation in Xinyuner's eyes, Xiaoyun said with some pride about her own heroic defense. After listening, Xinyuner's face turned rosy and she immediately thanked her softly: "Xiaoyun, thank you."

  Xiao Yun humbly said: "It is a servant's duty to defend her mistress."

  Xin Yun'er's heart was filled with joy, and Aunt Xin smiled gently beside her: "Little Cloud, this time you really did a great thing. This kindness I, Aunt Xin, will remember. In two years, I'll find you a good husband from a wealthy family."

  Xiaoyun's face changed, she lowered her head and hesitated for a moment before speaking in a soft voice: "Madam Xin, I only want to serve my mistress for the rest of my life."

  Xin Yiniang was taken aback, and with an unusual gaze at Xiaoyun, she smiled softly: "That's even better. In the future when Yun'er formally becomes a daughter-in-law, you and Dongqing will both be senior maidservants accompanying her. At that time, Yun'er will give you the status of concubines."

  Xiao Yun lowered her head, her body slightly trembling. Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and pulled over Ting Qing, who was still in a daze from listening to the sound. Together, they knelt on the ground. Xiao Yun spoke respectfully: "Slave sisters thank Madam Xin, we will forever be loyal to Master Rong's mother."

  Xin Yun'er hastily reached out to help them up, and softly said: "From now on, I will treat you as my younger sisters, so don't use the formal kneeling bow again."

  Xiao Yun nodded happily and said in a soft voice: "I'll go take a look." After finishing speaking, she pulled Dong Qing, who was at a loss, back to the medicine shop.

  Aunt Xin shook her head and smiled: "People are small, ghosts are big. This little cloud has a clever mind, is resourceful and daring to think and do things. Dong Qing is simple and kind, knows how to respect herself, but also has a strong sense of inferiority. Little Cloud wants to be Lu Qi's concubine, while Dong Qing doesn't even dare to think about it."

  Xin Yun'er smiled softly: "Yun'er also likes these two sisters, one is clever and the other is steady. Being able to follow Yun'er is Yun'er's good fortune, in the future Yun'er will help them achieve their goals."

  Aunt Xin smiled and said: "Yuner, you don't have to worry this time."

  Xin Yun'er nodded with a hint of red on her cheeks, and Xin Niang's mood also improved greatly. Suddenly remembering something, she spoke seriously: "Yun'er, you must remember one thing, in the future do not tell anyone from the Zhou household that the person you are engaged to is the Protector General County Lieutenant, because Lu Qi's position as Protector General County Lieutenant may not last long, and letting the Zhou household know now would be harmful without any benefit. You should keep a low profile and guard your words."

  Xin Yun'er nodded and said: "Yun'er won't say it, Mother has already instructed Yun'er about this matter."

  Aunt Xin spoke in a soft voice again: "Also, Xiaoyun's words contain a warning. In the future, after you get married, don't behave excessively towards that Ning'er. You can properly order her around and teach her to make it clear that she is a concubine and you are the main wife. If she relies on being favored and doesn't respect you, you can scold her, but don't hit her."

  Xin Yun'er said softly: "Auntie, don't worry, that Ning'er is a gentle woman, and in the future, I have confidence to get along with her harmoniously."

  Aunt Xīn heard this and hesitated, wanting to advise Xīn Yùnèr not to be too lenient, but then she thought of the different family styles of the Lǔ and Zhōu families, and how her own methods of intimidation might not be suitable for the Lǔ family, and if things went wrong, it could lead to the Lǔ family members becoming resentful, causing Xīn Yùnèr to become isolated.

  The aunt and niece changed the subject and chatted for a while. Just as Aunt Xīn was about to return to the Zhōu Mansion, the sound of horseshoes echoed clearly in their ears. They involuntarily turned their heads to look, only to see Lù Qī riding his horse back.

  Lu Qi arrived at the pharmacy, and under the surprised gaze of the two women, he dismounted his horse. He first nodded to Xin Niang, then turned to Xin Yun'er with a serious expression: "Yun'er, there are bandits between Wangjiangbao and the county town, from now on I won't come to pick you up, and you're not allowed to go to the county town to visit your mother alone. You must remember this."

  Xin Yun'er nodded blankly, Lu Qi's sudden return and words made her wonder if she was dreaming. Lu Qi smiled and mounted his horse, Xin Yun'er suddenly came back to her senses, her face flushed with redness, and she looked up shyly at Lu Qi on the horseback.

  "Thank you, Mother-in-law has reminded me." Xinyuner said bravely and softly.

  Lu Qi Mu smiled at her and said in a gentle voice, "I have one more thing to do when I get back. After I've finished my official business, I'll go with Xiao Yun to San Yuan County to sell medicine. You can come too."

  Xinyuner's eyes brightened, and she nodded shyly: "I remember."

  Aunt Xīn suddenly smiled and said: "Xiao Qi, was it Mrs. Lù who let you come back?"

  Lu Qi's eyes shifted to focus on Xin Niang, and he said in a gentle tone: "Aunt Xin, Lu Qi is not a child, she knows what responsibilities she should take on herself. My mother doesn't know why Lu Qi came back."

  Aunt Xin nodded happily, if Lu Qi's return was ordered by Madam Lu, then Aunt Xin and Xin Yun'er would have swallowed a bitter pill. But if Lu Qi returned on his own initiative, that would be bringing two big sweet fruits.

  "What? You're not blaming Ruyu for being too harsh?" asked Xin Niang with a smile.

  Lu Qi glanced at Xin Yuner, who was blushing, and felt a surge of warmth and sweetness in his heart. Being liked by someone is a happiness that should be cherished.

  He said in a low voice: "Xin Auntie, I'm not blaming Yun'er, but I have some worries. A good husband and wife should respect each other mutually. I'm afraid that Yun'er will be unreasonable in the future."

  "Don't worry, I won't." Xinyuner immediately expressed her attitude in a soft and gentle manner, her bright eyes looking clearly at Lu Qi.

  Lu Qi looked at Xin Yun'er's gentle nod, he returned after a struggle of thought, finally understanding that Xin Yun'er was his fiancée, and it was reasonable for him not to be indifferent to her. When they parted ways, Xin Yun'er's anxiety and unhappiness made him realize that she had truly fallen in love with him, and his heart was softened by Xin Yun'er's anxious and tender expression. He resolutely returned to communicate with Xin Yun'er on a spiritual level, using respect to gain Xin Yun'er's gentleness and tolerance, and in fact, he saw the correctness of his return.

  "Aunt Xin, Yun'er, I'm leaving." Lu Qi said, and after a deep glance at Xin Yun'er, he spurred his horse and galloped away.

  Xin Yun'er had been gazing longingly without seeing Lu Qi's figure, and only then did she blush with joy and fling herself into Xin Niang's arms, sobbing quietly with tears streaming down her face.

  Aunt Xīn patted her hand and shook her head with a gentle smile: "You, you're really a silly girl who's lost her heart."

  Lu Qi's joyful mood rushed to the outside of the castle, and after meeting with the carriage that was parked outside the castle, they returned to the old mansion in the county town. The five members of the family entered the courtyard, and Ning Er gently supported the newly bought concubine as she slowly walked, her buttocks were definitely bruised from being beaten dozens of times with a bamboo ruler.

  As she entered the old Lu residence, the new concubine looked up and sized up the building in front of her. The old mansion, which was worn out and damaged in many places, gave people a feeling of decline. Compared to the Lu family's house in Wangjiang Pavilion, this place was much worse. How could such a poor household afford to spend 300 taels of silver to buy her as a concubine? A big question mark appeared in the new concubine's mind.

  Lu Qi gave the carriage money and was the last to enter, just as he entered, he saw Ning Er's new concubine turning her head to look at him, facing each other, Lu Qi's heart suddenly skipped a beat, his pupils fixed. From the pharmacy ritual to getting on and off the carriage returning to the city, the new concubine kept her head down, Lu Qi also held the principle of not looking at women who were not his own, and deliberately avoided eye contact.

  He had just returned home and unexpectedly ran into her, allowing Lu Qi to clearly see that the new concubine was a beautiful woman, with an oval face, painted eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose and cherry lips, a slightly pale complexion as flawless as jade, especially a pair of beautiful eyes fluttering with sorrowful and gentle emotions, making one feel a kind of tender sadness at first sight.

  Lu Qi was drawn in by the beauty and stared at the new maid for a few seconds, then quickly came back to himself and continued walking with a wooden expression. Unconsciously, he compared her to the women he had seen before, and the result of the comparison was that the new maid was the most beautiful, even surpassing Ning Er and Xin Yun Er by a notch or two.

  "This time, brother is indeed blessed with good fortune." Lu Qi's heart was filled with blessings for his elder brother, without a hint of jealousy.

  "Master, don't lend me out, okay?" A mournful and delicate voice entered Lu Qi's ears. As Lu Qi moved forward, the new maid suddenly turned around, knelt down, and wrapped her arms around Lu Qi's left leg.

  Lu Qi stopped in his tracks, looking down at the concubine who was holding onto his leg with a mixture of shock and confusion on her face. The suddenness of the situation caused Lu's mother and Zhou Yue'er, who was supporting Lu's mother, to stop in their tracks and turn around, their faces filled with astonishment as they stared at the scene of the concubine kneeling and embracing Lu Qi.