novelaction Chapter 218 Intimacy
Chapter 218 Intimacy
Chapter 218
Seeing the two of them walking ahead, Lu Zhaozhao couldn't bear to fall behind. In just a moment, she quickly composed herself, then, beaming, hurried forward, wrapping her arm affectionately around the Marquis's. Her demeanor betrayed the deepest mother-daughter bond they possessed. In stark contrast, Luo Shuiyao, who had simply accompanied the Marquis quietly, felt a significant distance from them, appearing quite alienated.
Luo Shuiyao naturally sensed her stealthy glances, but she didn't react. The Marquis and Lu Zhaozhao had a foundation of affection, and if Lu Zhaozhao were to do these things, it would appear intimate. But if Luo Shuiyao were to do them, it would seem like flattery. Besides, she felt perfectly comfortable with the way things were, and had no intention of changing.
At the doorway, the Marquis' wife had once again inadvertently ignored Luo Shuiyao. Recalling the many incidents that had occurred before, she felt a growing sense of guilt. Because of this, she was now paying a bit more attention, determined not to let Luo Shuiyao be ignored again. So, even while chatting and laughing intimately with Lu Zhaozhao, she still managed to address Luo Shuiyao with concern.
"Yaoyao, how are you having fun in the villa? Look, you seem to have lost a lot of weight. And your clothes are too plain. It's all your aunt's fault for not preparing more colorful clothes for you. After you rest for a day or two, I will ask the embroiderer to come and make you some new clothes. Girls should dress up beautifully, not always wear such plain colors."
Luo Shuiyao naturally wouldn't refuse Madam Hou's kindness when she heard it. She immediately smiled and thanked Madam Hou: "Thank you for your concern, aunt. I don't usually like to go out, so these clothes are suitable for me."
The Marquis's wife was extremely pleased with Luo Shuiyao's response. The cleverness of her words lay in not rejecting the offer of new clothes, but also subtly hinting that it was her fault that the clothes hadn't been purchased. With Luo Shuiyao being so understanding, how could the Marquis' wife be dissatisfied?
In this way, the group chatted along the way and soon arrived at the dining hall. Lu Zhaozhao occasionally chatted with everyone along the way, and Luo Shuiyao responded politely. As a result, the atmosphere between the two seemed to grow closer. The Marquis's wife observed all this and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It would be wonderful if the two children could get along harmoniously. The Marquis's wife paid no attention to the undercurrents of turmoil between them. Even among sisters from the same family, there are bound to be some overt and covert rivalries, but as long as they don't overdo it, it's not a big deal. As time passes, as they grow older and marry into good families, their relationship will naturally improve as they move further away from each other, just like she and her cousin. They had a lot of unpleasantness back then, but now they're still in constant contact, aren't they? Close friends are rare for girls, and having one or two people with whom they can confide their innermost thoughts is already a rare opportunity.
Thinking of her cousin, the Marquis' wife couldn't help but sigh. Her cousin had always been strong, but she had never expected that in her final years, she would still be worrying so much about her children. Thinking of this, the Marquis' wife secretly felt fortunate, thankful that her two sons had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, not giving her much to worry about. But the Marquis' wife could never have imagined that soon, she, too, would become the one to be consumed by worry over her sons' affairs.
"Madam, my two cousins," the servants in the dining hall had already prepared the food. When they saw them come in, they all bowed.
The Marquis's wife waved her hand, signaling everyone to disperse. She then turned and called to Madam Sang beside her: "Madam, is the hot water ready?"
"Madam, it's ready." Nanny Zhang had been with the Marquis' wife for many years and was known for her tact and tact. Naturally, the hot water was already prepared. After everyone finished washing up, they took their seats at the table.
"Aunt, please try this. I specifically asked the kitchen to simmer it over low heat for a long time. It tastes soft and delicious, and it's especially nourishing for the body." Lu Zhaozhao, as usual, played the role of a caring daughter. As she spoke, she served the dishes to the marquis's wife.
The Marquis's wife always enjoyed her approach, so she smiled and took the bowl of soup from Lu Zhaozhao. At the same time, she also greeted Luo Shuiyao: "Yaoyao, you should try it too. It will nourish you and make up for the weight you have lost recently."
Luo Shuiyao smiled and thanked him, then filled herself a bowl as the Marquis had instructed. She'd actually been eating quite well at the villa. If she'd lost weight, it was probably because her body had gotten slimmer. The baby fat on her face had gradually faded, and her chin had become much sharper, making her look thinner. But in reality, she felt much better than she had been a month ago. At least now, she could walk for a while without blushing or getting out of breath. Her overall physical fitness had improved significantly.
Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Luo Shuiyao, and in her heart she looked down upon her behavior. She was already living in the Marquis's mansion, but she was not as favored by the Marquis's wife as she was. She didn't even know how to get closer to the Marquis's wife. She was really a fool from the countryside. But now she was not like before, and would not quarrel with Luo Shuiyao at the dinner table. She even hoped that Luo Shuiyao would always keep this unpleasant look, so naturally she would not remind Luo Shuiyao what to do. After that, no one spoke much, and there was no other sound in the dining hall except for the light chewing sound.
In this quiet atmosphere, a notification broke the stillness. From outside the dining hall came Madam Sang's voice: "Madam, the prince is back."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis's wife's face immediately lit up with joy. She quickly put down the silver chopsticks in her hand and called for the servant beside her to bring something to rinse her mouth. After rinsing her mouth, she stood up and walked out to greet him with a smile on her face, saying, "Yuan Zheng is back! The boy has been busy and hasn't been home for a few days. How come he is free today at noon?"
Lu Zhaozhao naturally didn't want to be left behind, so she followed the Marquis out early. Only Luo Shuiyao calmly finished rinsing her mouth, carefully wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and straightened her clothes before walking out slowly.
Outside the courtyard, Ye Yunzhou was wearing the Hidden Dragon Guard's signature dark brocade robe and a jade crown. Judging from his appearance, he had clearly just returned from the Hidden Dragon Division. Upon seeing the Marquis' wife, he took two steps forward, saluted politely, and called out, "Mother."