Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Good Night

Chun Yue came to report what Madam had sent someone to say.

Since he had been out and about all day, Zhou Jingyun was to eat dinner and rest early, and did not need to come to pay his respects.

“The more I think about it, the more I feel my son is being taken advantage of.”

Madam of Dongyang said to Mama Xu as she looked through the account books.

“She doesn’t have to pay her respects in the morning and evening, she’s idle at home every day, and Jingyun is running around inside and out, it’s too hard on him.”

Mama Xu sat beside her, helping to arrange the counting rods, and said with a smile, “The Marquis’s Heir won’t feel hard done by, to be able to fulfill filial piety in front of his parents is a blessing.”

As the master and servant were talking, Hongxing’s voice came from outside the door, “Madam, the Marquis’s Heir is here.”

Mama Xu exclaimed “Oh dear!” and hurriedly got up, smiling at Madam, “What did I say?”

Although she had said her son didn’t need to come to pay his respects, when he actually came, Madam of Dongyang couldn’t hide the smile on her face.

Zhou Jingyun had already walked in.

Madam of Dongyang glanced behind him and, as expected, didn’t see Zhuang following.

“You really didn’t have to come.” She said, “You should learn from your wife and enjoy some leisure.”

“She would like to come.” Zhou Jingyun said with a smile, “But whether she sees Mother or not is up to you, I’ll ask first.”

Madam of Dongyang snorted, “No need to defend your wife, she doesn’t need to come, I really don’t want to see her.”

What would she want her to come here for? Either she’d stand there motionless, or she’d talk back three times for every sentence.

Mama Xu smiled and invited Zhou Jingyun to sit down, and Hongxing brought tea.

Zhou Jingyun took a sip.

“Li Niang said the silk flowers were a gift from Aunt, so she wanted to share the colored silk bestowed by the Empress with Aunt.” He said, “Please trouble Mother to send an invitation to Aunt, we’ll go over in the next two days.”

Madam of Dongyang beamed with joy and repeatedly said yes, immediately asking Mama Xu to write the invitation and send it over first thing tomorrow morning.

“Your aunt didn’t dote on you for nothing.” She said with satisfaction.

Zhou Jingyun smiled and said, “Aunt didn’t dote on Zhuang for nothing either.”

Madam of Dongyang glared at him, “No need to constantly tell me how good your wife is in front of me, as long as you like her.”

Does he like her?

Zhou Jingyun looked at the tea in his hand and thought, he likes this matter, as for the person…

This matter actually has nothing to do with her.

Zhou Jingyun sighed inwardly, “Jingyun has disappointed Mother.”

Madam of Dongyang was startled and hurriedly said, “What are you talking about, you’re perfectly fine.”

Although she was indeed dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law, seeing her son coming and going with a smile on his face also made her happy.

At this moment, her son’s mood suddenly became gloomy, and Madam of Dongyang felt a little regretful.

“It has nothing to do with you, it’s between me and her.”

But saying that didn’t seem right either, if her son hadn’t married someone back, she and Zhuang wouldn’t have met, and there wouldn’t even be talk of liking or disliking.

Thinking about it this way, it did seem to be Zhou Jingyun’s fault.

Madam of Dongyang waved her hand in annoyance.

“Alright, alright, I won’t talk about her anymore.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled again, “Mother should say what needs to be said, she and I are both juniors.”

Madam of Dongyang snorted inwardly, say who? Say her own son, whom she couldn’t bear to criticize, or say that Zhuang, who knows who would end up criticizing whom.

Forget it, she’s just seeking peace of mind.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Zhou Jingyun walked out after washing up, the maids had all retreated, and there were two lamps left in the inner room, casting a soft, dim light.

Zhuang Li was bending over, tidying up the pillows, she patted her own pillow first, then patted Zhou Jingyun’s pillow on the outside.

Hearing footsteps, she said without turning her head, “Marquis’s Heir, the tea is warm on the table.”

They really are like an old married couple, Zhou Jingyun pursed his lips, walked over, poured himself a cup of tea and drank it, thought for a moment, then poured another cup of tea, took it and handed it to Zhuang Li who was sitting by the bed.

Zhuang Li looked at the tea that was handed to her, got up and took it, “Thank you.”

Her voice was actually still distant and polite, Zhou Jingyun thought.

Zhuang Li took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the table.

The two were silent for a while, they had basically said everything that needed to be said.

✿✿✿

“Did you practice your calligraphy today?” Zhou Jingyun suddenly asked, thinking of something.

Zhuang Li was slightly stunned, not quite understanding why he was asking this.

“Yes.” She still answered, “Wrote half a page.”

“Let me see.” Zhou Jingyun said, and walked towards the outer room.

The east room was where Zhuang Li usually stayed, with a writing desk and added bookshelves, like a small study.

Zhuang Li frowned slightly, not understanding why he suddenly wanted to see her calligraphy, could it be that he had noticed something?

Although slightly nervous, Zhuang Li followed him over, the lamp that had been extinguished there was lit again.

Zhou Jingyun stood in front of the desk, looking at the half-page of calligraphy, scrutinizing it seriously and intently.

“I like ‘Xiaoyaoyou,’ so I often write it.” Zhuang Li said beside him, and couldn’t help but add, “Madam Zhuang also likes it.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled and looked at her, “Your calligraphy is like floating clouds, free and elegant, it’s really good.”

Zhuang Li was even more stunned, so, he was praising her calligraphy?

“Although I didn’t look carefully at what you wrote yesterday, it should be even better.”

Zhou Jingyun’s voice followed.

Zhuang Li was dumbfounded, suddenly remembering how this morning she had held the faded and blurred remnants of the calligraphy, explaining that it had been soaked by tea, Zhou Jingyun had casually comforted her to write another one, and she had casually said that she would write better and better…

So Zhou Jingyun was here to affirm that she was writing better and better?

Whether it was Zhuang Li’s shocked and puzzled expression, or Zhou Jingyun feeling that his late-night calligraphy viewing was a bit strange, he coughed lightly and extinguished the lamp on the desk.

“It’s late, let’s sleep.” He said.

The dim night concealed the slightly strange expressions on both of their faces.

Zhuang Li inexplicably felt like laughing, she hummed in agreement and followed Zhou Jingyun towards the bedroom.

The two lay down as before, one inside and one outside, extinguishing the last night lamp, letting down the bed curtains, and the world was plunged into darkness.

“Thank you, Marquis’s Heir.”

Zhuang Li’s voice was soft in the darkness.

“Since coming to your home, I’ve felt very at ease.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in response, paused for a moment, “Then Master Zhuang and Madam can also be at ease.”

The person beside him stopped talking and gently turned over to face inwards.

Zhou Jingyun also turned over to face outwards.

No matter how big the bed was, it became crowded with two people lying on it, they lay on their sides, leaving a gap in the middle, lest their skin truly touch.

The night was peaceful and quiet.

Another night passed.

Upon receiving the message from Madam of Dongyang, Madam Xue immediately sent her personal servant to come over with an invitation, asking them to come over for lunch.

“You’re not outsiders, there’s no need to choose a date or auspicious time, no need to rush early, just come over at noon, as soon as you enter the door, the banquet will begin, this time I’ll definitely let you eat your aunt’s cooking.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled and agreed, and as expected, it wasn’t until almost noon that he took Zhuang Li by carriage to the Xue residence.

“Aunt’s house has a flower garden, she grows chrysanthemums, they should be blooming soon, go have a look after lunch.” Zhou Jingyun explained to Zhuang Li.

Zhuang Li nodded and said okay.

“Besides visiting Aunt’s house, we also need to enter the palace once in the next few days.” Zhou Jingyun said, “The request for the title of Marchioness needs to be acknowledged with gratitude, but I’ll choose a time when the Emperor and Empress are not available, you only need to express your gratitude outside the palace gates.”

Zhuang Li nodded, once again agreeing.

Zhou Jingyun looked at the woman sitting opposite him in the carriage, her face was delicate, her almond eyes held a smile.

She had been just as calm after Xueliu’s secret report, and even smiled as she said to use her as an excuse to deal with the Duke of Ding’an’s residence.

This woman should not be as… tranquil and gentle as she appears…

Sensing Zhou Jingyun’s scrutinizing gaze, Zhuang Li smiled at him, her eyes asking what he wanted to say, when a clear male voice sounded from outside the carriage.

“Hey! Isn’t this the Marquis of Dongyang’s carriage?”

“Could it be the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir?”

“Oh, what a coincidence, we’ve run into the Marquis’s Heir.”

“Marquis’s Heir, I am Shangguan Yue.”

The sound from outside was like spring water, leaping and crashing against the carriage curtains.

Shangguan Yue? Him again, Zhou Jingyun frowned.