Chapter 34: The Round House

  He can't wait for night to fall.

  After a long wait, the sun finally set behind the mountains, dusk fell, and the sky gradually darkened.

  The lanterns had just been lit, and the eastern courtyard, which was as cloudy as a cloud, had already been thoroughly cleaned. Qinglian and Mulan, two little maids, knew that their mistress would be coming over for dinner today, so they directed the women of the eastern courtyard to give it a good cleaning. By the time Shanshu arrived, the place was spotless, and even the rooms were filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, which wafted through the air like a heavenly court. If they couldn't find any singing girls or dancing girls, the two maids might have even found a pipa player and a dancer to play music and dance to add to the excitement.

  However, when Lingyun saw Gao Mingyue following behind Gao Qiansheng, his excited face suddenly froze. "Hey, what about the private dinner we agreed on? Why did you bring a tail?" With this annoying little aunt around, how can they still have a romantic night?

  When Gao Shanshan walked past him, she gave him an apologetic look, and he immediately forgave her. It seemed that it wasn't intentional on her part, but rather Gao Mingyue didn't understand the situation and followed along. No, looking at Gao Mingyue's sly smile, this was definitely not a case of not understanding the situation, but rather she had come to stir up trouble. It was probably to take revenge for losing to his divine calculation earlier and to get back at him with a single arrow.

  "Hubby, you're really getting more and more impressive, this east courtyard is indeed well-organized under your management." Gao Qianxue said slowly as she approached Ling Yun, who had a gloomy face.

  Gao Mingyue didn't consider herself an outsider, and with a self-satisfied smile, she walked into the hall. As soon as she sat down, she shouted like a hostess, "Mulan, quickly bring me tea, I want Longtong, the one that's been sent all the way from the capital."

  Wow, this girl is really not polite. This 18,000 yuan tea, although the cost isn't that outrageous, but this tea is indeed carefully roasted. It's all made from top-grade one-bud-one-leaf tea leaves, and they can only roast a limited amount every day, yet this lady insists on drinking it.

  "What's wrong, can't bear to part with it? You're in charge of so many tea gardens and workshops now, how much tea leaves are useless, yet you only sent me and my sister one catty each. You really treat the tea leaves as your own. Don't forget, these tea gardens and workshops belong to the Gao family." This girl is really here for revenge today, purely for revenge.

  "It's not as you imagined, this dragon tongue stir-fry is not much, the first batch has already been distributed, and I only kept one catty for myself. If you want more, you'll have to wait for the second batch to be stir-fried. However, the second batch won't be able to stir-fry much either, as it's about to rain soon, and the best tea-picking season is from before Qingming Festival to before Grain Rain, after that time, the tea leaves are not as good."

  Lingyun explained, he wasn't afraid of this girl, but didn't want to continue arguing with her, there was no need, a good man doesn't fight with a woman, after all, she's his younger aunt, and it would be difficult for Shanshuo to intervene.

  "Who are you kidding? Mulan and Qinglian, the two girls, aren't even one catty. " Mingyue pouted, then turned her eyes around and carefully sized up Mulan and Qinglian from head to toe. Suddenly, she said in a strange tone: "Don't mention it, Mulan and Qinglian are also fourteen this year, they're not young anymore, they've been serving sister for many years, sister, don't you think it's time to find them a husband? I see that there are several young men in Xiao Yige's team who are quite honest, how about..."

  Qinglian and Mulan were both taken aback by his words, then simultaneously exclaimed, "Second Miss, we don't want to get married."

  "Where can a woman not marry? What nonsense are you talking about? Don't worry, I will definitely find a reliable and honest man for you, and I won't let you suffer. After getting married, it's definitely not worse than living here."

  "We just want to follow Miss and serve Miss for a lifetime." Qinglian's face was so anxious that it almost turned red.

  "Look at your red and white face, are you going to serve my sister for a lifetime or serve my sister's husband for a lifetime?" She said to Shanshuo, "Sister, look, it's only been a few days, and these two girls have already gone to one side. Could it be that in just a few days, brother-in-law has already taken the two girls as concubines?"

  This girl, not even married yet, and her mouth is already so vicious. Lingyun couldn't help but feel a headache. Qinglian and Mulan, although only two years younger than Mingyue, were no match for her in a fight. A few words and they were completely at a disadvantage. In fact, after just a few words, Gaomingyue had even dragged herself into the mess.

  Lingyun involuntarily smiled at Shallow Snow and said, "Nothing happened, really." The last sentence was somewhat superfluous, as if he had a guilty conscience. In fact, he did feel a bit uneasy, after all, he couldn't say that he was completely innocent with the two maids after what happened in the bath that day. Qinglian seemed to have thought of the same thing and her face suddenly turned red, like a large white cloth. This reaction made it hard for people not to suspect anything. Shallow Snow had been smiling slightly, but now her expression also changed slightly, staring at Qinglian for several seconds. Even though Qinglian was one of her maids, she didn't want to see Lingyun messing around with the two maids behind her back before they even consummated their marriage.

  She chuckled twice, "These two girls have been following me for many years, and they are actually the most obedient and considerate. If you don't like them, just take them in as concubines, and they can also help me take care of your daily life."

  Lingyun felt the atmosphere suddenly change, and her back was sweating coldly. This sentence seemed to carry a few points of murderous intent. Would she be so angry that she would beat the two girls to death? It's said that in the Sui and Tang dynasties, slaves were actually just slaves, and even if their masters killed them, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

  "The young lady smiled and said, 'These two little girls are still just small children. They're only this old! Why don't you take them back to serve the mistress instead? I'll call over two older ones to come here.' At a critical moment, Lingyun couldn't care about the resentment in the eyes of the two little girls and had to take the initiative to express his stance. Otherwise, this vinegar jar would be overturned, and life would not be easy to get by, let alone complete the wedding."

  "Sir, isn't it that you've already set your eyes on some other maid? Just say so and I'll have her brought to your quarters immediately. Even if she's just a concubine, there won't be any complaints."

  "My goodness! This vinegar bottle has already been knocked over. Lingyun said helplessly, 'You're thinking too much, my daughter. What I meant was that it would be better to choose two older women.'"

  It's all because of that little demon Gao Mingyue, Lingyun glared at this proud and complacent lass. You're pleased with yourself, aren't you, young lady?

  "In fact, I've been neglecting you these days with all the busy things. I've been cold to my husband." Gao Shanshu suddenly changed into a different person, and in an instant, she turned from cloudy to sunny, speaking softly to him, "Husband, let's consummate our marriage tonight!"

  What?

  This happiness came too suddenly, he even doubted whether he had misheard. Qian Xue took the initiative to propose a wedding, didn't he hear it wrong?

  Gao Shanshan has already taken the initiative, how can Lingyun retreat now? Moreover, after this period of getting along, he has changed from his initial evasion and resistance to today's expectation and longing. It can even be said that he has been waiting for this day to come. One day without a wedding night, this young master will not be able to rest easy. By today, he absolutely does not want to lose this woman again.

  "Good!" Lingyun was so excited that he couldn't say more words, one word was enough.

  However, it seems that there is always someone who cannot bear to see Ling Yun happy.

  "No way!" shouted Gao Mingyue from the side.

  Gao Qianxue glared at Gao Mingyue, and this lady was also intimidated by her sister's gaze, hastily saying in a low voice: "I'm not opposing it, but the wedding is a big deal. Last time, the ceremony was interrupted before you two could even finish paying respects to the ancestors. Even if sister wants to get married now, the ancestral worship ritual can't be skipped. You have to formally pay respects again before entering the bridal chamber, or else it would be too rude."

  Gao Qianxue nodded and said to Ling Yun: "It's this servant who didn't think it through, how about we get married tomorrow instead? What do you think?"

  Lingyun Ba couldn't wait to hold the wedding ceremony immediately, and naturally had no objections. The matter was settled like this, although Gaoming Yue still wanted to object, she was forced by Gaoshan Xue's pressure and didn't dare speak up for the time being. At the dinner that followed, it was neither romantic nor unique, and everyone ate with their minds elsewhere, finishing quickly. After dinner, Gaoshan Xue also left early, saying she still had to discuss arrangements for tomorrow's wedding ceremony with Gao Bo and others.

  Lingyun saw her off all the way to the gate and stood there until Gao Qisheng's slender figure disappeared into the depths of the courtyard.