After Rongyue followed her mother-in-law out of the guest room, they went directly out of the back courtyard and walked along the cloister. Passing the Hanging Flower Gate was the Main Courtyard, and Xu Hongchuan must be staying in the main room of the Main Courtyard.
The two arrived at the Hanging Flower Gate and found that the gate between the main room and the Back Room was locked.
They had to continue along the cloister, intending to pass through the Hanging Flower Gate of the courtyard in front of the main room.
As they reached the second Hanging Flower Gate, a wary voice sounded from behind: "Who is it?"
Rongyue turned her head and saw an Embroidered Uniform Guard in a Bullfight Uniform. His eyebrows and eyes were delicate, looking like a woman.
Madam Chen and Rongyue curtsied. Madam Chen said with a smile, "This…this commoner wants to see Lord Xu."
The person who came was Qi Yue. His three older brothers lived in the two courtyards in front of the main room.
Zhang Hu and Zhou Shishan lived in one courtyard, Wang Shiqi lived alone in another, and he himself lived in the side room of the Main Courtyard.
It turned out that Xu Hongchuan's adoptive father's older brother had many political enemies in the court. Xu Hongchuan's identity was special, and to avoid the intrusion of spies and traitors, he had no personal attendants or maids to serve him. All his affairs were handled by his fifth brother, Qi Yue.
Qi Yue knew that these two had come with Jiang Yuanfa, so he asked, "What business do you have with Lord Xu?"
Madam Chen replied with a face full of smiles, "This commoner is here to deliver some local snacks to the Lord."
Qi Yue glanced at Madam Chen's cunning triangular eyes, and then looked at Rongyue beside her, secretly thinking that these two were actually a family, it was a world of difference.
This young woman had a heavenly beauty, with bright eyes and white teeth, and graceful manners, and she smelled fragrant. Her mother-in-law, however, had a face full of sharpness and cunning.
Qi Yue said, "The Lord is busy with official affairs. You can give them to me, and I will deliver them to the Lord."
Rongyue was truly relieved. It was not appropriate for the two of them to go see a strange man so late at night, and that uncle-in-law clearly disliked their Jiang family, and she probably wouldn't get a good look from him.
Before Madam Chen could speak, a shout came from outside the courtyard: "Fifth, the second is looking for you, hurry!"
Qi Yue looked at the two of them and said, "You two go to Chief Liu and give him the things. He will deliver them to the Lord."
With that, he left. Rongyue and her mother-in-law arrived at Xu Hongchuan's courtyard. As soon as they entered the Main Courtyard, they happened to meet Chief Liu coming out of the main room.
Chief Liu was surprised and said, "Why are Madam Jiang and the young lady out alone?"
Madam Chen smiled ingratiatingly, "Chief Liu, I'm here to deliver snacks to Lord Xu. This is what my husband brought from Changle."
Chief Liu reached out his hand to take the food box and said, "Madam Jiang, you can give it to me, and I will give it to Lord Xu."
Rongyue also guessed that Xu Hongchuan, such a high-ranking official, was not someone ordinary people like them could easily meet. Her mother-in-law had probably made a wrong calculation and even asked her to go see him.
Madam Chen drooped her face, looking very frustrated but helpless. She couldn't force her way in, so she reluctantly handed over the food box.
Seeing her mother-in-law's sullen face, Rongyue knew that she was unhappy and quickly helped her out, saying, "My father said that this is what the Lord loved to eat most when he was young, and he specially had the family's chef make it early in the morning. It's not anything valuable, just wanting the Lord to taste the flavor of home."
Chief Liu nodded. He was about to take it when a deep male voice came from the main room: "Xubo, let them in."
Chief Liu, hearing the master's voice, deftly stepped aside and bent over, gesturing with his hand, "Please, come in, ladies."
Madam Chen's face, which had been long and drawn, was instantly filled with joy. She quickly stuffed the food box into Rongyue's hand and whispered with a frown, "Rongyue, my stomach suddenly hurts. You take it in for me."
Rongyue was startled and quickly said, "Mother, this…this is not appropriate…"
Madam Chen glared at her fiercely and tried to lower her voice, "Chenggo is counting on you, go quickly."
Madam Chen, clutching her stomach, turned and left. Rongyue, bewildered, took the food box and hesitated as she walked into the main room. Madam Chen, as she walked, secretly glanced back at Xu Hongchuan's courtyard.
She saw Rongyue go in, and Chief Liu also left, and then she stopped, leaning against the wall, staring intently at the door of the main room. After a long while, she smiled triumphantly and then turned and left.
Rongyue, trembling, stepped into the main room, still wondering which way to go when a young servant came forward: "Young Madam Jiang, please, this way."
Rongyue looked over and saw that it was the room on the left. She happened to catch a glimpse of Xu Hongchuan's tall figure walking into the room.
After entering with the servant, Rongyue quietly surveyed the surroundings. This was a study, and the tables, chairs, and cabinets were all made of Yellow Pear Wood, with exquisite carvings.
Xu Hongchuan sat down on the Taishi Chair behind the desk and said, "Go out."
The young servant responded with a "Yes" and closed the door and left.
Rongyue's palms were sweating with nervousness, and she didn't dare to look up. She knelt down first and said, "This commoner pays respects to Lord Xu."
Xu Hongchuan looked at the delicate little person, and really didn't know what had possessed him, to let her in.
He had originally wanted to go out for some air, but hearing the conversation at the door, he hadn't intended to pay any attention to Jiang Yuanfa's wife, and Chief Liu would have sent her away.
But after hearing her voice, he had, by some strange turn of events, let them in. Now Jiang Yuanfa's wife was nowhere to be seen, and he hadn't expected her to come alone.
Xu Hongchuan spoke slowly, "Why don't you raise your head?"
Rongyue trembled slightly and, steeling herself, raised her delicate head, meeting Xu Hongchuan's sharp and playful gaze. Today, this was the second time she had seen this man so close.
Her uncle-in-law was well-featured, his face as if carved by a knife and axe, his eyebrows and eyes were sharp and handsome, and he was strong and resolute.
In the daytime, when he was wearing casual clothes, he already exuded a sense of martial prowess, his figure tall and burly, standing in the crowd like a towering mountain.
Now, wearing the Commander's scarlet official uniform, he appeared even more imposing, with an extraordinary bearing and a dignified presence!
But Rongyue didn't like the way Xu Hongchuan looked at her. His eyes were as deep as a dark pool, and they were also very sharp, as if they could strip her clothes off, making her uncomfortable.
This time, up close, Xu Hongchuan carefully examined Rongyue—the beauty before him had willow-leaf eyebrows, eyes like apricot blossoms, skin like snow, and lips like cherry blossoms. She was like a blooming hibiscus flower, a beauty of immortal elegance, purple and crimson!
The man's aggressive gaze stared straight at her. Rongyue immediately blushed. She was already a woman of closed-moon shame and flower-like beauty, and such a shy and charming demeanor added to her boundless charm…