In the evening, when Xue Rui came back, he didn't see Yu Shu in the building. He asked someone and learned that Yu Xiaoxiu came in the afternoon. At that time, Madame Bai, who was playing the pipa, was there. When she heard that the siblings said that their mother disappeared and went out to look for her, she told Xue Rui the truth.
Xue Rui knew what kind of person Concubine Cui was. Of course, he also knew that Yu Shu did not really like this biological mother who had remarried into the Ji Family as a concubine. Saying that she did not like Concubine Cui was just a nice thing to say. Compared to that Concubine Cui, she treated Zhao Hui more like a real mother and daughter.
Yu Shu went out. Since Xue Rui had nowhere to look for her, he got busy with his business first. He pondered over the few testimonies he had obtained today. Just like that, he waited until it was past dinner time before he saw Yu Shu return.
When Yu Shu came back from the backyard, she saw the light in Xue Rui's room on the first floor, so she directly pushed the door and went in. She found a chair to sit down and drink water while calling Xue Rui in the small study room.
"Eldest Brother, I'm back."
When Xue Rui heard the sound of the door, he put down what he was doing and came out to have a look. She was sitting there rubbing her legs with her shoulders down. She looked tired. He guessed that she didn't find her, so he asked, "How come I heard that your mother disappeared?"
"Well, she ran out a few days ago and disappeared. When Xiaoxiu went to see her today, he found that she was missing. Xiaoxiu and I looked for her in the east of the city for the whole afternoon. Someone saw her leaving home with a maid, but we didn't know where she went. I saw that it was late, so I sent Xiaoxiu back and then came back. " Yu Shu was depressed. This time, she was negligent. She didn't think that Aunt Cui forgot the pain after the scar was healed. She was so bold to run out. If she knew this, she would have asked the old maid to keep an eye on her.
Xue Rui said, "Shall I send someone to help you look for it?"
Yu Shu casually said, "There's no need. She doesn't have much money on her, and she can't go far with a maid. She might come back tomorrow."
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Xue Rui's slightly disapproving expression, and only now did she feel that her words were slightly cold. After all, as far as Xue Rui was concerned, no matter how bad Concubine Cui was, she was her birth mother in the end, and he didn't know that she'd never taken that woman to be her mother.
So he rubbed his eyebrows and said, "I did a divination. She's fine now. She'll be safe for the next few days."
In fact, she was thinking too much. Xue Rui had long understood her temperament. He knew that she was a person who put herself in others' shoes. Others had to treat her well first before she would treat them well. She was not willing to suffer losses, but she was also a person who valued friendship and righteousness. How could she be cold?
However, this person was missing, not something lost. How could he sit back and do nothing?
Xue Rui sat down beside her, poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her. He patiently said, "Let's see tomorrow. If she doesn't come back, I will help you look for her. Even if nothing happens, it's not good to let your mother stay outside."
"Oh." Yu Shu considered Yu Xiaoxiu's mood, so she agreed to his words. She didn't want to talk about Aunt Cui anymore. She touched her empty belly and said, "I'm hungry. Let's eat first."
Needless to say, she knew that Xue Rui hadn't eaten dinner yet. He was waiting for her.
Sure enough, Xue Rui had already asked people to prepare the meal. When she came back, they could start eating.
At the dining table, Xue Rui talked to Yu Shu about an upcoming event. "Next month is the Saint Ancestor's Sacrifice Day. Every year, the Taishi Library will choose a few people to accompany the emperor. This is a rare event. When you go to the library these days, remember to pay attention. It's best to ask Academician Fang. According to your ranking in this year's Da Yan Examination, you will most likely be selected. I'm afraid that you will be secretly replaced by those aristocratic children. So, you have to plan early."
Yu Shu asked in confusion, "Saint Ancestor's Sacrifice Day? Which day is it? "
Seeing her expression, Xue Rui realized that she still didn't know about it. Although it was strange, he still told her, "The ninth day of the fifth month is the death anniversary of Emperor Anwu. Since two hundred years ago, the emperor has been holding the memorial day. Every year on this day, the emperor will go to the imperial mausoleum to worship heaven, to comfort the holy spirits of the past generations, and to pray for the people of the world. All the officials with important positions in the court have to follow. The Saint Ancestor's Sacrifice Day is organized by the Celestial Commissioner. Of course, the Taishi Library is also a part of it."
Yu Shu nodded and said, "I know. There is Academician Fang's morning class the day after tomorrow. I will ask him."
Accompanying the emperor was not a small matter. She didn't expect that she would have the opportunity to see the emperor's true appearance so soon. She didn't know what the emperor looked like and what his temperament was like.
.....
After the meal, Yu Shu found a chance to remind Xue Rui, "Big Brother, I think you will see blood tomorrow. Stay away from those sharp corners. Swords don't have eyes. You should avoid them …"
"Okay." Xue Rui didn't ask how she calculated it in detail. He made a mental note to be careful tomorrow. Seeing that she was going to go upstairs to rest, he hesitated and stopped her at the door.
"Shu."
"Hmm? Is there anything else? "Yu Shu turned around and casually rested one hand on the door frame. She was wearing a bamboo colored gown that accentuated her long legs and slender waist. It was rare to see such a tall girl at the age of sixteen. People with slender figures often made people feel that they were delicate, but she had a strong backbone. Just by looking at her, he couldn't help but like her and couldn't help but look forward to her.
Xue Rui smiled warmly and changed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. "Nothing. Go to bed early. Remember to let them apply medicine for you."
Forget it. He didn't want to be too hasty and ruin this unspoken closeness in front of him.
The next day, Yu Shu prepared to go home. Yesterday, she sent Yu Xiaoxiu back. Because it was dark, she didn't enter the house. She also missed Zhao Hui and the little baby.
Lin Fu knew that she was going back to the fu, so he had already informed the kitchen maid to prepare a four-layer high food box. Inside were the soups and pastries that were unique to Wang Ji Lou. He also prepared a basket of pumpkins and fruits that he had purchased a few days ago and carried them to the hidden box at the back of the carriage for her to bring back.
Yu Shu greeted Xue Rui in the morning. Xue Rui knew that she would stay in Wang Ji Lou until she finished sorting out the big box of files, so he wasn't worried that she would run away. He was also secretly glad that he found such a job for her to do and kept her. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to see each other every day.
As soon as the sun rose, Yu Shu returned home. Zhao Hui was very happy to see her. She sent her to greet Old Madam He and called her over. She hadn't finished her confinement yet. She sat on the bed with a silk quilt covering her stomach. She ordered the servant girl to bring the tea table. Soon, the table was filled with food.
The two of them talked. Yu Shu didn't mention Aunt Cui running away from home.
He Fangzhi went to the medical center. Yu Xiaoxiu was coaxed by Yu Shu last night, so he went to school as usual today.
Yu Shu ate half a plate of melon seeds and finished telling Zhao Hui about the inside of Taishi Shu Garden. Coincidentally, He Xiaochuan woke up. After the wet nurse fed him, she brought the child over for her to see.
Zhao Hui said, "The last time you came home, the string of bells you gave me was really useful. In the middle of the night, when this brat cried and made a fuss, you shook it. When he heard the sound, he became obedient. It's very worrisome."
As she said that, she let the wet nurse pass the child to Yu Shu. This time, Yu Shu was not so reserved when she hugged He Xiaochuan. She touched his soft little hands and felt that it was fun. He Xiaochuan ignored her touching and yawned twice. After a while, he fell asleep again.
At this time, there was some movement outside the door. Shen Nanny went out to help, but after a while, she ran back in and said to Zhao Hui and Yu Shu with a strange expression, "Madam, Miss, there's a matchmaker in the front yard."
Zhao Hui was stunned and didn't react. Yu Shu turned around and asked, "What matchmaker?"
Shen Nanny stomped her feet. "He said he's here to propose marriage to Miss!"
"Ah?" Zhao Hui hurriedly sat up straight and asked in detail, "Where did this person come from? He came to propose marriage. What's going on?"
Although she, as a mother, had long been concerned about Yu Shu's marriage, without Yu Shu's approval, she had only been thinking about the dowry list in private. How could she not be surprised when a matchmaker suddenly came to visit without any preparation?
"This servant will go and ask!" Shen Nanny couldn't explain clearly, so she walked out again.
"Wait!" Yu Shu carried He Xiaochuan to the wet nurse and said to Zhao Hui, "Mother, I'll go to the front to take a look."
Zhao Hui wanted to say that this matter wasn't suitable for a girl like her, but her body wasn't well, so she couldn't send Old Madam He out, so she could only let her go.
.....
When she arrived at the front courtyard, just as Yu Shu walked through the door of the living room, she saw a woman in red and green sitting on a chair on the east side. She looked to be in her forties, and behind her was an eight or nine year old girl. This woman had smile lines on her face and was looking around. When she saw Yu Shu, she hesitated for a moment before standing up. She looked Yu Shu up and down and asked tentatively, "Is this the eldest miss of the Yu Family?"
Yu Shu glanced at her, walked over, and sat down on the main seat. She said, "Who invited you here?"
The matchmaker had good eyesight. Seeing Yu Shu's manner, he guessed that she was the one in question. He didn't get angry at her for neglecting him. He smiled and smoothed the collar of his clothes. He said eloquently, "Eldest Miss Yu is truly a handsome person. Just by looking at you, you can tell that you're a dragon among men. No wonder you were able to pass the imperial court's Dayan Examination. You've done well. However, a girl will always be a girl. At your age, you're not young anymore. You should find a good family as soon as possible. A commoner isn't worthy of an intelligent person like you. Only someone born into an official's family can be a match. Assistant Minister Yin's Third Young Master is talented and good-looking. He's just two years older than you, and he's a good poet. He's skilled in both literature and martial arts. Who knows how many people want to curry favor with him. It's rare that his wife has taken a liking to you. You're lucky. You need to know that an ordinary family can't enter an official's family … "
Yu Shu listened to the matchmaker's rambling for a long time. She only understood one thing — this person was sent by the Assistant Minister Yin's residence to propose marriage. He wanted to be her matchmaker.
"That's enough." Yu Shu interrupted the matchmaker's endless flattery of the Third Young Master of the Yin Family. She frowned and said, "I don't agree to this marriage. Go back and report it."
This was the first time Yu Shu had encountered a matchmaker. She wasn't angry, but she was impatient.
The matchmaker abruptly stopped talking and looked suspiciously at Yu Shu. He said, "You can't say it like that. This is the matchmaker's suggestion and the order of your parents. Your wife has readily agreed to it. That's why the Lady of the Assistant Minister sent me here to say this. Why is Eldest Miss unwilling?"
Hearing this, Yu Shu was confused. Her expression changed slightly. "My wife? Which one are you talking about?"
The matchmaker unhappily said, "Who else? Of course it's Eldest Miss' mother."
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