Poor Lady

"Cough cough..."

After Qiantong left, Qi Surong immediately covered her mouth and coughed, her throat hurt.

Ping'er patted her back distressedly and handed her a glass of warm water.

"It's true, Miss, obviously she's ill, why are you talking to her so much?" Although she didn't understand most of them, she also knew that Miss was pushing hard.

"It's okay." Qi Surong said in a hoarse voice, "I'll be fine when I lie down."

This lay down until Yin Shi (3:00-5:00 in the morning).

When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black all around, with only a few shimmers of light coming in from the window.

Qi Surong felt that the body's heat seemed to have faded a lot, but because of sweating, her body was sticky and uncomfortable. But at this time, it is not convenient to ask someone to boil water for her to bathe.

I tossed and turned on the bed, unable to fall back asleep.

"Awake?" A low voice suddenly came from outside the house, which was particularly clear in this silent space.

"Gu... Jinyun?" Qi Surong called uncertainly.

"Well, morning exercise, passing by." Gu Jinyun said, "I heard that you are ill."

"Thank you for your concern, I've slept much better." Qi Surong sat up and leaned against the wall with the quilt.

"Your voice is hoarse, stop talking."

"Um."

There was silence outside, and there was no movement for a long time. Just when Qi Surong thought he had left, a melodious voice suddenly came from his ears, soft and tactful, like a lingering breeze, which was extremely moving.

Qi Surong closed his eyes and listened. The two of them were separated by a wall, quietly enjoying the peace.

Perhaps Qu Le was too gentle, tears fell from Qi Surong's eyes unconsciously, and her inner fragility was revealed at this moment. She buried her face in the quilt and cried silently.

It's not fear, it's not exhaustion, it's a kind of loneliness that no one can tell, a kind of heavy responsibility. When she came back, she didn't care about fame and status, or money and wealth. However, the Qi family is now like a boat against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. All have the heart to avoid the world.

Although she has the advantage of a prophet, she has no certainty of winning. The world is unpredictable, and the future that she originally knew will be changed at any time because of her actions. Whether it can grasp the current situation is still unknown. In any case, she didn't want to repeat the same mistakes. But can she do it?

"It's easy to think too much at a young age." Gu Jinyun put down his chords and said slowly, "Mo Tai is sad, I will protect you."

I will protect you. Just four simple words, like the morning light, dispelled the darkness in Qi Surong's heart. She raised her head, the sadness in her eyes gradually faded, and her vision became clear.

"Take a good rest, I'm back." Gu Jinyun didn't care for a long time without a response, and said goodbye to her calmly.

After sitting for a long time, and there was no sound outside, Qi Surong spit out two words softly: "Thank you."

I took it.

A faint smile flashed in Gu Jinyun's eyes, who was waiting outside the wall, and then he really left.

Gu Jinyun always has a strange feeling about her. When they met each other, they only talked a few words, but they seemed to have known each other for a long time.

Although Gu Jinyun looks handsome, his expression is cold and his eyes are sharp, not to mention women, even ordinary men rarely dare to look at him.

Qi Surong is different. When she talks to him, she will look straight at him, her expression is calm and not embarrassed, and she will not ridicule or fear some of his somewhat inappropriate behaviors.

Gu Jinyun felt that this woman was his life partner.

Three days later, Qi Surong gradually recovered and resumed taking over the affairs of Xiuzhuang.

At the same time, her prophecy to Qiantong was also fulfilled in the uncertain waiting.

A tragic case of a favored concubine killing his wife alarmed the government office, and the victim was Chen Hua's wife, Chen Wu. The case is not complicated. The reason is that Chen Wu's design killed the child in Chen Hua's concubine's belly. The concubine became angry and cut Chen Wu's throat with scissors, killing him on the spot.

At first, Chen Hua wanted to suppress the matter, so as not to spread the scandal, but Chen Wu's personal girl immediately told Wu's father about it.

After the concubine was arrested, she described her madness and confessed.

When the case was finalized, Father Wu was still not relieved. He rushed into Chen's house, broke Chen Hua's legs, and asked his servants to beat all Chen Hua's concubines.

Chen's father was the left-middle commander of the mansion, two steps higher than Chen Hua, and he was so beaten that he didn't dare to say a word.

This matter caused quite a stir in the capital, and soon after, even the emperor heard about it, and directly criticized "the family is not strict" and lowered him one level.

Chen Hua's face has been lost, and the official luck may end here.

After Qiantong heard it, she felt very lucky and no longer dared to doubt Qi Surong's words.

She asked, "Now that it's no longer a problem to be old, do you want me to get close to this person?"

"Of course." Qi Surong nodded and said, "This is the time when Chen Hua is in a state of desperation. If you take the opportunity to get close to him, you will definitely win his favor and trust. You don't need to deliberately make clichés, so as not to attract suspicion. Just serve him well and do your best. It might be enough to satisfy him."

Qi Surong didn't fully trust Qiantong, and rashly asking her to obtain information might backfire. It's better to keep this piece first and act accordingly.

"I understand." Qiantong nodded obediently.

"In a few days, you will use the excuse to go out and go to the Chen residence to see him." After speaking, Qi Surong handed her a bag of silver, "You take these first and buy some things for yourself."

"Thank you, Miss." Qiantong's eyes lit up, and she put away the silver taels. Although it is not as generous as when he was in Qi Mansion, it at least means that Qi Surong really has the intention to win over.

"Miss, can the concubine ask one more thing?" Qiantong asked cautiously.

"What do you want to ask?"

"When will our Qi residence repeat Roewe?"

Qi Surong glanced at her lightly, she lowered her head, and said hurriedly, "It's a cheap concubine who asks a lot, how can the secret be leaked at will? Miss, please don't blame me."

After sending Qiantong away, Qi Surong sighed slightly.

When will Qi Mansion repeat Roewe? She also wanted to know.

The next day, the Qi family received an invitation from Xu Chen, inviting Qi's father and Subao to go to Yingshu Pavilion for a chat.

Yingshu Pavilion is Xu Chen's current residence. Qi Surong did not expect that he would take the initiative to invite him, and was thinking that he would bring Subao to visit in the next few days.

Qi's father was a little confused when he received the invitation, but he was not relieved until he heard that Su Bao met Xu Chen at the temple.

He asked, "Su Bao, do you really want to go to this Mr. Xu's door?"

Su Bao nodded seriously: "Yes."

"That's good. I'll take you to Yingshu Pavilion to meet him tomorrow as my father." Although Father Qi didn't like dancing and writing, he was still respected by the literati, and he didn't have the concept of disparity between civil and military. It's just that he is born aloof and looks difficult to get close to.

On the second day, Qi's father ended his disciple's training ahead of schedule and took Su Bao to Yingshu Pavilion.

Qi Surong was busy with Xiuzhuang's affairs while waiting patiently at home. It was expected that they would be here at dinner time, but who would have disappeared after You Shi.

She couldn't help but be a little worried, and immediately asked the steward to go out to find out the news.

At this moment, Gu Yufeng seemed to pass by unintentionally, standing at the gate of the courtyard and said with a smile: "Miss, don't worry, the master and the young master were left by Mr. Xu to eat at Yingshu Pavilion."

Qi Surong was stunned for a moment, and felt relieved. She still believed Gu Yufeng's words.

So she didn't ask any more questions, and said hello, "Erlang, will you stay for dinner tonight?"

"This... is not good?" Gu Yufeng hesitated.

"There's nothing wrong with you, you are my father's disciple, and you pay so much attention to a meal."

"If that's the case, then it's annoying." Gu Yufeng saluted.

Qi Surong smiled and let him into the room and told Ping'er to prepare dinner.

After Gu Yufeng waited for Qi's mother to take the seat, he slowly sat down.

After sitting down, he suddenly remembered that Qi Surong seemed to call him "Erlang" just now? Does she know who she is? Can't it? He came here to study art, even his father didn't know, how did Qi Surong know?

Big brother told her? Are they already familiar with this?

After a while, Qi Surong peacefully brought the dishes, arranged them one by one, and arranged the dishes. The movements are neat, and there is no twisting at all.

Gu Yufeng couldn't help but have a good impression of this prospective sister-in-law. He has been studying art here for many days, but this is the first time he has come into close contact with Qi Surong. From a distance, I only feel that she is indeed as cold and arrogant as the rumors say, but when I get closer, I find that she has a temperament like an orchid, and she has a bit of wisdom and stability in her elegance.

"Dongya, you don't have to be cautious when you eat vegetables." Mother Qi liked this cheerful young man very much. He was only thirteen or fourteen years old. He was modest and courteous, unlike ordinary children from ordinary families.

(Dongya is Gu Yufeng's word, he always used Dongya to call himself in Qi's family.)

"Thank you, Mistress." Gu Yufeng's eyes fell on the dining table. The simple five dishes and one soup, three meat and two vegetarian dishes, were just some home-cooked dishes, but they were cooked very delicately and looked very appetizing.

Um? He found that the three dishes in front of him were his usual favorites, while the other two dishes that he didn't like were placed farther away.

Is it a coincidence?

Gu Yufeng felt that he might be over-hearted. How could the Qi family know his preferences?

At this time, Qi Surong put another plate of spicy beans in front of Gu Yufeng.

Mother Qi said strangely, "Rong'er, why did you bring this kind of thing out to entertain guests?"

People in Beijing don't like spicy food, so spicy beans are only for leisure and never on the table.

Qi Surong paused for a moment, realizing that she was wrong. It was only natural to bring out the spicy beans just now, because she remembered that the Gu family loves spicy food, especially Gu Yufeng, who has a soft spot for this kind of bean paste mixed with spicy sauce.

"No, Mistress, Dongya likes spicy beans very much." Gu Yufeng smiled, "Thank you Miss Qi."

"You're welcome." Qi Surong ate the meal calmly.

Seeing that Gu Yufeng really likes to eat, Mother Qi stopped talking.

If the previous placement of the dishes is a coincidence, what is the explanation for this plate of bean drums?

Gu Yufeng took a peek at Qi Surong and wondered to himself, could it be that this prospective sister-in-law has been paying attention to him for a long time and is interested in him? Oh, no, he doesn't want to be dismembered by his brother.

Alas, the natural beauty is hard to give up, tangled! Sister-in-law, don't fall in love with your younger brother.

Gu Yufeng really thinks too much...

After eating, Gu Yufeng returned to Gu's house, and immediately and cautiously told Gu Jinyun what happened today.

"Sister-in-law-in-law seems to know my preferences very well, didn't the elder brother tell her?"

"No." Gu Jinyun stared at Gu Yufeng with a sullen face.

"Don't look at me like that!" Gu Yufeng hugged his chest and made a serious statement, "I only talked to my prospective sister-in-law today, and I don't even see you face to face. Brother, you have to believe me, I am absolutely innocent!"

Gu Jinyun's entire face had the words "unhappy" written on it, which made Gu Yufeng feel frightened. He didn't doubt that there was anything wrong with his brother and Miss Qi's family, but he was very unhappy that he could eat at the same table with Miss Qi.

Gu Jinyun got up and instructed: "The accounts of the study should be sorted out."

"Oh no, brother, don't do this!"

A mournful wailing, but also can not replace the big brother's decisive back.