Chapter 784: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 784: A Troubled Marriage (1)
The next day was bright and sunny, with fluffy white clouds adorning the sky. By midday, most of the snow on the ground had melted.
Last night, Xiao Ruiyuan finally found an opportunity to be alone with Mo Yan, but before they could say much, they were interrupted by Mo Qingze. Today, no matter how hard he tried to speak with her, Mo Qingze subtly but firmly thwarted every attempt. Other than Chu Heng, who was aware of the situation, no one else noticed anything unusual.
Watching his cousin repeatedly hit a wall, Chu Heng couldn’t stand it any longer. While Mo Yan and the others were busy cooking in the kitchen, Chu Heng insisted on going to the fields to check on the greenhouse vegetables. Under the pretext of inspecting the carriage, he managed to leave Xiao Ruiyuan behind.
Inspecting a carriage was something the accompanying guards could easily handle. Why would Xiao Ruiyuan need to do it himself?
Mo Qingze grew suspicious of Chu Heng’s real motives, but as the host, he had no choice but to accompany him. The others, intrigued by the greenhouse vegetables, decided to join as well. Finding nothing better to do at home, they donned wooden clogs and prepared to visit the fields.
“Yunjin, aren’t you coming?” asked Master Liu, noticing that Shen Ji hadn’t moved. Seeing his tired expression and the dark circles under his eyes, Master Liu guessed that Shen Ji hadn’t slept well on his first night at the Mo residence.
Shen Ji had indeed struggled with insomnia the previous night. At Master Liu’s question, he couldn’t help but recall the woman in his heart, who was now engaged to someone else. His expression darkened even further. Forcing a smile, he replied, “I didn’t sleep well last night and feel quite drained. I might fall asleep while walking, so I’ll stay behind.”
“You do look unwell. It’s better to rest in your room,” Master Liu agreed, refraining from insisting further. After giving a few words of advice, he and his wife joined Han Zhiyun’s family, who had already gone ahead.
With most of the group now gone, only Mo Yan, Li Xiu, Xiao Ruiyuan, and Shen Ji remained at the residence, along with Liu Tinglan, who had already seen the fields and decided not to go again.
Liu Tinglan stayed in the kitchen, helping Mo Yan stoke the fire while sneaking bites of freshly cooked dishes. Laughter occasionally drifted from the kitchen, cheerful and infectious.
After lunch, they would head back to the city. Xiao Ruiyuan checked the carriage in the backyard to ensure everything was in order. When he finished, he went to the kitchen, only to find Shen Ji standing outside, seemingly listening to the laughter within.
“What are you doing here?” Xiao Ruiyuan asked sharply, startling Shen Ji, who hadn’t noticed his approach.
Caught off guard, Shen Ji turned to see Xiao Ruiyuan and hastily stammered, “N-nothing!”
To Xiao Ruiyuan, Shen Ji’s flustered demeanor looked undeniably suspicious, as if he had been caught in the act of wrongdoing. Coldly, he warned, “Some people aren’t meant for you to covet. Otherwise, you’ll only harm yourself and others!”
Though the comment arose from a misunderstanding, it struck a nerve with Shen Ji. His face darkened further as the words resonated painfully with his own feelings. Who was Xiao Ruiyuan to lecture him about someone he had no right to desire?
Too consumed by his own emotions to dwell on Xiao Ruiyuan’s intentions, Shen Ji left in a huff, his retreating figure looking utterly defeated. Watching him leave, Xiao Ruiyuan frowned. Could it be that, in Mo Qingze’s eyes, he was losing to someone so weak and ineffectual?
Still, with Shen Ji out of the way, Xiao Ruiyuan felt a sense of relief. He entered the kitchen, ignoring the curious gazes from Li Xiu and the others, his eyes fixed solely on Mo Yan, who was busy stirring a pot.
Mo Yan was entirely focused on her cooking and didn’t notice the new presence in the room.
Xiao Ruiyuan’s gaze was so intense and tender that even Li Yan and Tang Xin, both unfamiliar with matters of the heart, couldn’t help but notice something unusual.
Putting down her knife, Li Yan tiptoed to her aunt’s side and whispered, “Auntie, don’t you think Lord Xiao’s way of looking at Sister Yan is a bit... strange? It’s nothing like his usual cold demeanor.”
(End of Chapter)
TRANSLATION COMPLETED To Read advance Chapters, Please read it on Patreon or Ko-fi. Your support helps us continue bringing you great content!
►►CLICK HERE FOR LISTS OF CHAPTERS◄◄
No comments: