"Even if my elder sister were here, she would agree with me," Fu Shinian said emphatically, "Both my aunt and elder sister are people who know and follow etiquette. Today, when coming to the Marquis's residence, it was my mother who brought my elder sister here. But I haven't seen anyone as unconventional as you, Miss Lin, coming to the Marquis's residence not with your mother, but with an aunt to show the way."
"Second Lady!" Aunt Liu said viciously, "Are you meddling in the affairs of the Marquis's estate now?"
"Can I not meddle?" A cold voice sounded faintly from behind Fu Shinian.
"My lord!" Aunt Liu and Lin Qingqing first saw Xiao Chengyu and hurriedly saluted.
"Elder brother!" Xiao Yingyue saw her savior, quickly walked to Xiao Chengyu's side, but carefully did not get too close.
Her elder brother did not like to be too close to others.
Although her brother's health was poor, she had always respected and feared him since she was a child.
"My lord." Fu Shinian also saluted Xiao Chengyu.
Xiao Chengyu walked indifferently to Fu Shinian's side, bringing with him a slight scent of ink, and even the dazzling sunlight was mostly blocked out.
Fu Shinian had long been bothered by the sun, which made her feel hot and unable to open her eyes, but now with Xiao Chengyu blocking it, she felt much more comfortable.
A faint coolness emanated from Xiao Chengyu's body, and Fu Shinian couldn't resist moving a few steps closer to Xiao Chengyu, letting him block the sunlight even more thoroughly for her.
Xiao Chengyu looked down at her. Unexpectedly, the young lady noticed his gaze and even looked up to give him a smile.
That smile was even more dazzling than the sunlight.
Xiao Chengyu somewhat uneasily withdrew his gaze and said to Aunt Liu, "Aunt Liu broke the rules, send Aunt Liu back, and confine her for ten days."
Xiao Chengyu's words, Aunt Liu dared not contradict.
She could only salute and leave with someone, but her heart was thinking that Xiao Chengyu, a sickly person, wouldn't live for more than a few years, and by then, she'd be the one in charge of the Marquis's estate!
This was Lin Qingqing's first time seeing Xiao Chengyu up close. Indeed, he was like a jade gentleman.
Everyone in the capital knew that Marquis Changping was not healthy, but his icy demeanor made it impossible for anyone to associate him with frailty.
It must be said that Xiao Chengyu was superior to Xiao Fengxing in every aspect.
Sadly, he's just a sickly person, nearly at death's door.
Solely for this reason, he couldn't compare to Xiao Fengxing.
"Escort Miss Lin out of the residence," Xiao Chengyu said indifferently.
"My lord!" Lin Qingqing couldn't help but call out.
Fu Shinian watched Lin Qingqing once again putting on that aloof yet aggrieved forbearing look that in the original book had captivated many men to fall for her. "It was Qingqing who broke etiquette."
Xiao Chengyu did not reply to her, instead looking coldly at the steward.
The steward hurriedly said, "Miss Lin, this way please."
Xiao Chengyu turned to ask Xiao Yingyue, "I am going to mother's place, will you come together, or keep visiting?"
Xiao Yingyue asked Fu Shinian's opinion, as she was originally accompanying Fu Shinian to visit the Marquis's estate.
"Then let's go back together." It was really too hot outside, Fu Shinian was having a hard time enduring it.
As they walked out of the corridor, Xiao Yingyue disliked how slowly they were moving. With Xiao Chengyu accompanying Fu Shinian, Xiao Yingyue, like a bird freed, quickly ran far ahead.
Xiao Chengyu noticed Fu Shinian raising her hand to shield herself from the sun, with beads of sweat the size of millet grains forming on her forehead, so he reached out towards Jing Lai.
Jing Lai promptly handed over an umbrella.
Xiao Chengyu held the umbrella over Fu Shinian's head, blocking the sunlight. Now in the shade, Fu Shinian let out a big sigh of relief and smiled, saying, "Thank you, my lord."
Xiao Chengyu gave a slight nod. Fu Shinian didn't mind his indifference and asked, "Would Miss Xiao like an umbrella?"
"Pay her no mind, she's as tough as a monkey," Xiao Chengyu replied.
Xiao Yingyue, hearing this ahead, also waved and said, "Don't worry about me; I enjoy the sun."
The old madam in the hall, after hearing Lu Luo's account, smiled to Nanny Wang and said, "Look, didn't I say so? That Second Lady Fu should be the mistress of a household, she can definitely handle it. If it had only been Ying Yue encountering that Aunt Liu, she'd have been easily fooled by a few words."
Nanny Wang perceived the old madam's intentions and whispered in surprise, "Old Madam, are you perhaps thinking…"
"I know Chengyu's thoughts, he doesn't want to burden the young lady into becoming an early widow," the old madam said, "He also believes that after he goes, leaving behind a widow, even if she inherits the Marquis's estate, she may not be able to hold on to it, and might be bullied and have it taken away, which would end up being more miserable. So perhaps it's better to be alone and not burden anyone else."
"But I can't accept it! Why should my perfectly fine Marquis estate be taken over by that Mrs. Liu and her son?" The old madam gripped the armrest of her chair with force. "If we find someone who can hold on, won't that do?"
"Besides, it's only the Imperial Physician's guess that my son won't live past 25, but in reality, who can really say for certain?" The old madam was unwilling to accept fate. "I see Chengyu's current health is decent; how does he look like someone who can only live two more years?"
"If he had a wife and children, perhaps he could persevere for their sake." The old madam sighed, "I know it's unfair to someone else, but..."
But is heaven fair to her?
When the old marquis was alive, he favored Mrs. Liu.
How much grievance did Mrs. Liu give her!
Later, when Xiao Chengyu grew up, things improved somewhat.
But unfortunately, Xiao Chengyu's health wasn't good.
All across the capital, they're waiting for Xiao Chengyu to die so Xiao Fengxing can inherit the title.
"As if I don't know? Those people already treat Xiao Fengxing with the respect due to a marquis." The old madam was so angry she almost ground her teeth to powder. "Let's see; perhaps..."
"It's just that Miss Fu is already betrothed to the second young master, so the Second Lady..." Swapping sisters, with the younger becoming the sister-in-law, it doesn't seem right, does it?
"Isn't there still Lin Qingqing?" The old madam chuckled, "Nothing's certain yet."
The old madam was speaking when she noticed Xiao Yingyue running in like a monkey.
Behind her, Xiao Chengyu and Fu Shinian walked side-by-side, with Xiao Chengyu holding an umbrella for Fu Shinian.
What a pair of jade-like figures they made.
The old madam's eyes lit up, and she said to Nanny Wang, "Look at that!"
Nanny Wang took a look, and indeed, they were a perfect match.
But when Xiao Chengyu and Fu Shinian entered, the old madam and Nanny Wang concealed their thoughts as if nothing was amiss.
"What a coincidence, you returned together," the old madam said with a cheerful smile.
"I just happened to meet my brother, it was too hot outside, so we returned together." Xiao Yingyue briefly explained.
The old lady promptly had iced desserts prepared for Xiao Yingyue and Fu Shinian to cool down.
Due to his health, Xiao Chengyu could not consume anything cold.
After sitting for a short while, Madam Fu returned with Fu Mingzhu.
Madam Fu mentioned taking her leave, and the old madam smiled, "Madam Fu, I have an unreasonable request."
"Please do say, Old Madam, there is no need for courtesy," Madam Fu replied.
"I would like to ask the Second Lady to stay a while longer—I've had someone try to make incense according to her recipe, but I'm afraid it won't match her skill. Once it's done, I'd like the Second Lady to take a look." The old madam said, "I'll have someone take the Second Lady back later, is that alright?"