Zi Xia was feeling quite pitiful, thinking to herself, Miss, between the two of us, who is really stingy? A few days ago, you used the Prince’s na to swindle five hundred thousand taels of silver, kept every single tael for your own little treasury, and didn’t give any to the Prince, yet on the sa night you shalessly asked the Prince for living expenses. Zi Xia herself felt embarrassed for the Miss.
However, these thoughts she dared not express; she feared that if Miss got angry, she would deduct her monthly stipend, which would be a loss for her.
Zi Xia obediently replied, "Yes, Miss."
At this mont the steward ca over, bowed to Xuexue, and said, "Madam Situ, the Prince invites you to join him for a al."
Xuexue nodded, "Okay."
.........
Xuexue, accompanied by Zi Xia, walked through pavilions and terraces, stopping in front of a luxurious courtyard. This house was quite distinctive, with a large green-glazed tiled roof, the eaves thrusting out supported by corbel brackets, and the windows adorned with exquisitely carved patterns—grand yet elegant, a masterpiece. Inside, huge wooden columns held up the expansive roof.
This was Long Rui’s bedroom. Long Yi had been waiting at the door for a while; upon seeing them approach, he greeted Xuexue with a bow, "Madam."
"Hmm!" Xuexue nodded and turned to Zi Xia behind her and said, "Go get yourself sothing to eat first, no need to wait here. We’ll be heading out later!"
Zi Xia: "Yes, Miss."
Xuexue stepped inside. After spending considerable ti with Long Rui, she knew he disliked being disturbed during his alone ti. Unconsciously, she adapted to Long Rui’s preferences.
Long Rui wore a pure white straight-collared long robe with excellent drape, cinched at the waist with a wide belt featuring moon-white cloud patterns, from which hung only a high-quality ink jade, rough yet ancient in its simplicity.
He wore a mask, lounging lazily at the table. Seeing Xuexue enter, he said with a hint of irony, "Wife, what good deed have you done today?"
The more Long Rui spent ti with Xuexue, the more he felt this woman dared to take bold actions. Just a few days ago, she had secretly sent Zi Xia to the Celestial Master’s Mansion to swindle fifty thousand taels, leaving him both amazed and amused.
That day, he saw how kindly Xuexue treated Celestial Master Zhang and felt incredibly jealous. However, a few Shichen Chinese Ti later, after Celestial Master Zhang had left, Zi Xia had carted back a big box of silver from outside, claiming it was compensation from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, leaving him utterly puzzled.
Later, Xuexue confessed honestly, revealing she had used his na to extort a large sum from the Celestial Master’s Mansion. Upon finding out, Long Rui was not only unbothered, but overjoyed.
This revelation resolved all his concerns, realizing that Xuexue’s warmth to Celestial Master Zhang and coldness to him wasn’t out of disdain but rely to mislead Celestial Master Zhang.
Xuexue innocently replied, "I haven’t done anything; it’s early morning, just after dawn. What could I possibly have done?"
Long Rui hinted, "You just got up, but so people couldn’t resist and delivered the goods."
"Oh! So the Prince was referring to Lady Zhang!" Xuexue showed a sudden realization and added, "This woman truly is inexplicable; her husband is missing, yet she cos to —she doesn’t understand at all. Others might think I’m trying to seduce her husband!"
Long Rui scoffed, "That old codger, who’s interested? With a husband as handso as , let that old man cool his heels wherever he pleases."
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