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: The Way of Favors Chapter 18\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 20\n
The morning light was faint, and Mei Xiang and Lan Xiang got up early, directing the other maids to tidy up the courtyard in an orderly manner.\n
There was a shower of rain last night, and the dark green leaves of the rose plant were splashed with yellow mud. There were many spots and needed to be wiped carefully.\n
âLook at these buds. Theyâre so close together and will look very pretty when they bloom in a few days. It would be better if they were in different colors.â Outside the window, a maid of only about ten said with excitement.\n
âBe quiet, our lady hasnât woken up yet.â The one who was picking leaves with her immediately reminded her.\n
The gentle voices of the little girls floated into the room with the nice fragrance of flowers, as pleasant as the chirping of the birds on the branches.\n
Fu Rong listened with her eyes closed, and in the originally ordinary morning, she felt that it was more calming and beautiful after experiencing it again.\n
How is it not calming and beautiful?\n
This was her teenage years, the happiest part of a girlâs life. Almost all girls have heard of this saying, that there will be a lot more rules when they become the daughter-in-law of another family, but only when one has married can she experience the difference between the two lifestyles.\n
Beauties are like flowers. They bloom, then wither, then die.\n
But the heavens liked her and gave her another springtime to carefully experience it again and bloom the most beautifully.\n
Mei Xiang lifted the curtains and walked in to see her lady lying on a cushion that was specially made for her by the embroidery room and was over a person long. Her legs were raised high, moving in a slow rhythm. The loose light green gauze trousers fell to her large thighs, revealing slender and well-proportioned legs that were as white as jade. Her cute little feet seemed to be the size of a palm, her pale pink fingernails shiny and clean, more attractive than anything.\n
The scene was too beautiful, and even though she had continued to watch this for almost two months, Mei Xiang couldnât help but stop walking, forgetting to reply, and watched her lady silently.\n
If one said that the two legs were the most beautiful in the world, the only thing that could stand beside it was the girlâs face. Because of this special morning exercise, the little girlâs face was quite red, like the soft sunset at the horizon and the first pink tint of a blooming peony. Her eyes, which were moistened by autumn water, were closed, her rosy lips slightly open, letting out light breathing.\n
In the quiet boudoir of the girl, the breathing that was slowly increasing inexplicably made the heart beat faster.\n
Why would this be?\n
Mei Xiang suddenly remembered that once, her lady had ordered her to go get something from Madam, and she had heard this kind of breathing when she walked into the room. It was the breathing of Madam, soft and tender. There was also a heavier breathing, slow but domineering. She was wondering when Older Sister Qiao Xing came over from the other side, hurrying her to leaveâŠ\n
Later, Mei Xiang realized what was going on. Madam was beautiful and charming, and it was no wonder that Master doted on her. But now, Mei Xiang thought that her ladyâs panting was fiercer than Madamâs when she was being spoiled, so when she had her next Master in the futureâŠ(meaning her ladyâs husband)\n
âWhat are you thinking about standing there? Your face is red.â After finishing the last round, Fu Rong stood up. Both of her legs were sore, and her waist was bent. There was nowhere to hide the two small lotuses.\n
Mei Xiang blushed as she kept her eyes closed. She walked around Fu Rong, complementing while she tidied up the cushions, âI didnât notice anything when my lady was lying down, but now that you have stood up, you seem a little taller.â She would say some things that her lady liked to hear so that her lady would forget about her gaffe.\n
Fu Rong was delighted, âReally?â\n
She had already run over to the mirror.\n
Mei Xiang hugged the cushion and walked to her side, smiling as she nodded her head, âMy lady is indeed a little bit taller. At my ladyâs age, it is the time to grow, so I canât conclude that it is the doing of the morning exercises. But my ladyâs complexion is better. You are as beautiful as blooming flowers every day, so they are still useful.â\n
Fu Rong heard this, and she knew this inside but said nothing.\n
How could her complexion not be good?\n
Her father and mother were both smart people. After her older sister had explained the reason for punishing Bai Zhi, they moved their suspicion to Qi Ce. After the Dragon Boat Festival, the two invitations that the Qi family had sent over were both refused by her mother. With this attitude, if the Qi family came to propose, her parents would not agree. Even if the Qi family could use kindness to shake them, her older sister, who already dislikes Qi Ce, would not agree. Her older sister was sensible and never made her seniors worry about her, but if it was something that she did not like, then she would naturally reason it out with their parents.\n
This was why she was in a good mood. Her sister was destined to not marry that hypocrite again, and it ushered in another spring for her sister. (more days of youth)\n
Happily taking a shower and dressing, Fu Rong chose a light green pleated skirt embroidered with scattered flowers, then went to the front yard. Everyone was there, and Fu Rong said proudly to her mother, âMother, when you were making new clothing for us, you can have the embroidery house measure me, Iâm taller.â\n
Qiao Shi knew that her daughter had learned some weird beautiful leg moves from Liang Yingfang, and she was practicing them like crazy. In the first few days, she had asked them if they had noticed any change in her, and her eldest son had avoided her for three consecutive days before she had stopped, so they didnât take this matter seriously.\n
But Fu Chen looked at Fu Rong and nodded his head. When Fu Rong thought that he had also noticed that she had grown taller, he said with fake dislike plastered on his face, âYouâre eating so much every day, so your waist is probably fatter. You indeed shouldâŠâ\n
He couldnât finish his words. Seeing his younger sister flinging herself towards him with her teeth bared, Fu Chen quickly stood up and ran outside.\n
âFreeze if you are brave enough!â\n
âCatch up to me if you are brave enough!â\n
The brother and sister ran around the laurel trees in the courtyard. Little Guan liked to watch his older brother and sisters making trouble, and he stretched his neck to look, giggling.\n
After Fu Rong had caught Fu Chen and punched him hardly two times, Fu Pinyan said with a stern father face, âAlright, come on, get seated. You guys are not that young. You should be more aware of being laughed at by the servants.â\n
âOlder brother bullied me first.â Fu Rong glared at Fu Chen fiercely, although her hand under the table secretly went to pinch his waist, and she couldnât conclude whether her older brother was joking or not for a while.\n
Fu Wan caught a glimpse of her younger sisterâs small action, and afraid that her sister had believed the words and wouldnât eat her food properly, she smiled and said, âDonât listen to older brotherâs nonsense. Nong Nong, you have indeed grown taller. Your waist is also much slimmer.â The last sentence was said in Fu Rongâs ear.\n
Fu Rong was much more relieved, but she still purposely ate less. She was discovered by Fu Pinyan, and he forced her to eat another red bean paste bun. Fu Chen laughed secretly. After a cold grunt from Fu Pinyan, he was punished to write an essay on the debate over war tactics. It could barely be considered impartialâŠ\n
After they finished, Fu Xuan went to read books. Qiao Shi needed to supervise the nannies, so Fu Rong and her older sister took Little Guan to the lakeside to enjoy the cool temperature.\n
âOlder sister, look at how quick younger brother is walking.â By the water, Fu Rong held on to her younger brotherâs arms as she taught him to walk. Little Guanâs two little legs were walking very quickly, and it took him only a bit of energy to walk from here to there. Fu Rong was so exhausted that there was sweat on her forehead. Little Guan was short, so she needed to bend over, and it was not easy at all.\n
âCome over and sit.â Fu Wan stopped the needle and thread in her hands and looked at them with a smile. Her eyes were as gentle as water, more touching than the water hibiscus behind her.\n
Fu Rong indeed had no more energy. She hugged her little brother and kissed him, then purposely sat somewhere farther away from Fu Wan to avoid her younger brother being naughty and messing around with the needle and thread.\n
Fu Wan lowered her head and continued. Her younger brotherâs dudou (1) was almost finished.\n
Fu Rong grabbed her brotherâs hand that was reaching for her forehead. She persuaded her older sister helplessly, âYou said weâre coming out to play, but why are you still sewing? Look at how well our lotuses are blooming. It would be better if older brother and father were here. Then we could go on the boat. I want to pick the flowers myself and put them inside the house.\n
Fu Wan stabbed her without raising her head, âWhen youâve recovered, you forget how much your injury hurt. Who was the person that fell into the water? You have grown your courage when you learned how to swim, am I right?â\n
Fu Rong smiled disappointedly, âForget it, itâs alright if we canât. Iâll have Yingfang take me on a boat ride tomorrow. Calming Lake of Bamboo Forest Temple is the number one lake of Xindu. There are many lotus leaves, and itâs much more fun than our house.â\n
Fu Wan frowned.\n
The day before yesterday, Liang Yingfang had suddenly run over, asking the three sisters over to Bamboo Forest Temple to burn incense. Fu Wan was avoiding Liang Tong and didnât want to go, but she couldnât endure Liang Yingfangâs pestering. That girl who lost her mother when she was very young had red eyes when burning incense for her mother was mentioned. The expression she was looking at her with was as if she was looking at her own older sister, so how could she refuse coldly?\n
It would be fine if she wore her weimao. Then she wouldnât be afraid to bump into anyone.\n
On the morning of the second day, Qiao Shi personally led her three daughters onto the horse-drawn carriage, and Fu Chen would accompany them on a horse.\n
Outside the city, Liang Tong and his sister had already been waiting for them for a while. When he saw the Fu family carriage leave the city gates in the far distance, Liang Tong immediately got off his horse. After the carriage stopped, he walked over with wide steps to greet them, âI havenât visited in a while. Is aunt doing okay?â (not blood-related aunt)\n
Fu Rong looked towards her mother. Seeing her mother nod her head, she raised the curtains, smiling, then blinked her eyes at Liang Yingfang, who was standing next to Liang Tong. She then retracted her gaze and went to ask her mother some questions.\n
Qiao Shi quickly analyzed, and only saw that the young man outside was wearing a long gray robe. His eyebrows were like swords and his eyes like stars. His eyes were looking down respectfully, and he appeared prudent and polite.\n
Liang Tong had come to their house a few times, and Qiao Shi also liked this hearty boy who took good care of her son. She smiled and said, âIâm doing good, thank you for asking. Itâs hot out here, get on your horse first. It wonât be late to talk when we arrive at Bamboo Forest Temple. Yingfang, do you want to come to sit with us?â\n
Just as Liang Yingfang was about to reply, Fu Rong had already stood up, âI should go to Yingfangâs carriage. We have a lot of family members, so itâll be very crowded to sit together.â\n
Qiao Shi scolded her, âDid Yingfang invite you? Youâre so impolite.â\n
Liang Yingfang stretched out her arm to help Fu Rong, smiling and saying, âAunt, thereâs no need to say this. Nong Nong and I do not care about this.â\n
Liang Tong used the opportunity to secretly peek at Fu Wan, who was sitting next to Qiao Shi.\n
Fu Wan had always been looking down and sitting still.\n
Liang Tong only took a glance before retracting his gaze. Although the one he liked did not look at him, the two months of longing did not go to waste because he was able to see her again.\n
He would find an opportunity today to explain his impoliteness to her, then express his feelings. As long as Fu Wan doesnât refuse him immediately, he would go to the Fu family to propose. He would get his horse ready to pick up his wife. If it doesnât work out, he would just forget about it to avoid tossing and turning at night. With whatever love, they canât meet when they want to. Even if they wanted to, they wouldnât be able to start a conversation. It was a torturing process, and he didnât have that kind of patience.\n
In the other carriage, Liang Yingfang and Fu Rong were whispering privately, âWhy is aunt here? Then can we still secretly play?â\n
Fu Rong said indifferently, âYou donât need to be worried. My older brother is also here. With him here, my mother will not care.â\n
Liang Yingfang barely put on a smile.\n
She was familiar with the three sisters of the Fu family. She originally thought that only Fu Wan and Fu Rong would come. That way, she only needed to pull Fu Rong away so that her silly older brother could talk with Fu Wan. Liang Yingfang knew that this wasnât good, but this was the first time that her older brother had fallen in love. He had repeatedly asked her and promised that he would not offend Older Sister Wan, and Liang Yingfang couldnât help but help her brother. She also liked Older Sister Wan, and if Older Sister Wan fell in love with her older brother, she would be even happier than her brother. If Older Sister Wan got annoyed, she would sincerely admit her mistake and never do such things again.\n
But today, so many people from the Fu family came. Could her silly brother find an opportunity? Why not just give up that bad plan that might offend Fu Rong and her sisters, and sheâll go to talk in her brotherâs place?\n
Liang Yingfang couldnât make a decision. She raised the curtains to see her older brother on horseback, his body straight, but his neck was tilted towards the Fu familyâs carriage.\n
Forget it, let the heavens decide.\n
(1) dudouâ A Chinese undershirt. In this context, Fu Wan is sewing a dudou for her younger brother that will keep him cool during the hot summer.\n