The square-shaped gate of the Zhenguo Mansion is tall and majestic, with new red paint on it. The round door nails are glowing with a faint halo under the warm afternoon sun.
There was an old man in his fifties standing in front of the gate, seemingly waiting for someone anxiously.
Shen Yuan recognized the old man's identity. He was Manager Hu of the Duke's Mansion. He had served three generations of the Lu family's patriarch and was the most experienced servant in the mansion.
Manager Hu should also recognize her identity. She had met him last time when she went to Shaoyuan for a banquet with her two sisters.
After Shen Yuan helped Lu Liaoji get off the carriage, the boy ran straight to the amiable manager Hu.
Since Shen Yuan successfully sent Lu Zhiyun's nephew back home, it should be time for her to return home.
But Shen Yuan did not see Lu Zhiyun outside the gate, and she didn't want to leave now.
On an early summer afternoon, the sun is shining brightly.
Therefore, Shen Yuan had a plan in mind.
It would be better for her to pretend that she was suffering from the heat and act as if she was about to faint. After Bi Wu supported her, Manager Hu might be able to let her stay in the mansion for a while.
Thinking of this, Shen Yuan was about to pretend to be weak and sick with his hand on his forehead, but he felt someone pulling the corner of his sleeve.
When she turned around, she saw Lu Liaoji running behind her again.
The boy's dark pupils were very clear. He looked up at Shen Yuan and called softly, "Sister Shen."
Manager Hu also came over. After bowing to Shen Yuan, he said respectfully, "The young master has just told this old servant everything. Thank you, Miss Shen, for sending him back to the Duke's Mansion."
Shen Yuan replied softly, "You're welcome, manager."
When Manager Hu saw Shen Yuan looked a little depressed, he said with concern, "I think the young lady looks a little unwell. I think she must have been suffering from the heat. Why don't you go into the mansion and rest before leaving?"
Shen Yuan didn't show any expression, but he was secretly happy in his heart.
Manager Hu's initiative saved her the trouble of pretending to be sick.
Shen Yuan's current identity is that of an unmarried lady. Although she really wants to stay in the Duke's Mansion for a while, she still has to act reserved.
So she pretended to be hesitant: "This..."
Manager Hu also deliberately put on a sad face and advised her: "Miss, I have already sent someone to report Liao Ge'er's disappearance to the master in the palace... If you leave early, I will not be able to explain to the master."
Shen Yuan didn't expect this kind of relationship.
Then she nodded slightly and did this favor.
When Manager Hu saw that Shen Yuan finally agreed to his request, the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
He was quite successful in inviting the eldest daughter of the Shen family into his mansion.
Jiang Zhuo and Jiang Feng probably breathed a sigh of relief. They no longer had to worry about keeping this beauty.
——
Rongyan Hall.
Shen Yuan secretly felt that the hall of the Duke's Mansion was much higher than that of the Marquis of Yong'an Mansion, so when he sat in it, he felt that this place was more spacious and grand.
She sat upright in the armchair on the east side of the hall, while Lu Liaoji sat obediently and quietly beside her.
After Manager Hu prepared tea and snacks for the two of them, he stood respectfully on the west side of Rongyan Hall.
In order to avoid suspicion, he deliberately lowered his head.
But I always unconsciously want to secretly glance at that beautiful woman with a rosy face and fair skin.
Shen Yuan just sat there quietly, and the atmosphere in the entire lobby seemed to become a lot gentler and softer.
She has a graceful demeanor, and her beautiful eyes and eyebrows are also slightly reserved, which makes people unconsciously think of the poem that is used to describe delicate beauties:
Across the water, we are filled with love but cannot express it in words.
Manager Hu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering why the Duke of Zhenguo, who had never been interested in women, suddenly became interested in the eldest daughter of the Shen family.
Shen Yuan, who was sitting in another place, got along well with Liao Ge'er from the Lu family.
After her aunt Luo passed away, she worked as a teacher at the Meihua Academy in Yangzhou for three years. The students she taught were all children who had just started to learn.
So when Shen Yuan dealt with a boy as old as Liao Ge'er, he naturally had his own way.
After Manager Hu ordered the maid to add more tea for Shen Yuan, he was afraid that she would get anxious waiting, so he said respectfully: "Miss Shen, the master should be back home soon."
Shen Yuan nodded, but her slender white hands clenched the soft handkerchief again.
Liao Ge'er saw Shen Yuan's actions and asked curiously, "Sister Shen, why do you keep holding this handkerchief?"
Shen Yuan looked at him tenderly, then smiled at the boy and showed him the handkerchief embroidered with a butterfly pattern.
Her embroidery skills are superb, and the stitches on the butterflies are dense and exquisite, making them look lifelike.
Shen Yuan replied: "Because this handkerchief is very important to my sister."
Liao Ge'er nodded his head in confusion, but silently memorized the pattern of the handkerchief in his heart.
——"Miss Shen, the master is back."
As soon as Manager Hu finished speaking, Shen Yuan's heartbeat suddenly stopped.
When she turned her head slightly, she saw the tall Lu Zhiyun, dressed in court robes, walking into the hall.
As soon as he entered the room, the atmosphere in the entire Rongyan Hall suddenly became much more solemn and dignified.
Shen Yuan and Liao Ge'er both stood up from their armchairs.
Liao Ge'er was obviously a little afraid of Lu Zhiyun. After standing up, he didn't dare to speak.
Shen Yuan said calmly, "Lord Lu."
The man looked at her with his deep phoenix eyes and asked calmly, "Who are you?"
Shen Yuan opened her soft lips slightly, but didn't utter a single word.
Her mood grew increasingly depressed.
Lu Zhiyun actually didn't remember her? !
Upon seeing this, Manager Hu told Lu Zhiyun everything that had happened during the day and Shen Yuan's identity.
When Shen Yuan lowered her eyes in bewilderment, Lu Zhiyun whispered to her again, "Miss Shen, please sit down."
After he finished speaking, Lu Zhiyun also sat upright in the main seat of Rongyan Hall.
Shen Yuan quickly suppressed his surprise and depression, and sat back in his original position with a gentle look on his face.
Lu Zhiyun ordered Manager Hu again: "Take Brother Liao away."
Liao Ge'er finally spoke at this time. He pleaded with Lu Zhiyun in a baby voice, "Fifth Uncle, I want to stay with Sister Shen."
Lu Zhiyun's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and he rebuked in a deep voice: "Don't be naughty."
Liao Ge'er's face immediately showed some fear, and he was about to cry.
Shen Yuan looked at Liao Ge'er like this, but did not dare to speak rashly in front of Lu Zhiyun.
Manager Hu said at this time: "Master, Brother Liao and Miss Shen get along well, please let him stay in Rongyan Hall for a while."
After hearing this, Lu Zhiyun just looked at Manager Hu steadily.
Manager Hu would come out, and the master agreed with his proposal, so he winked at Liao Ge'er.
The little boy immediately held back his tears and sat down obediently next to Shen Yuan again.
After the servants served tea to Lu Zhiyun, the man finally spoke again: "Thank you Miss Shen for finding this naughty nephew for me today."
Shen Yuan replied softly, "I just happened to see him lost, so of course I wanted to send him back. Your Excellency, there is no need to thank me."
Her voice became lower and lower, and she suddenly lost the calmness she had when she first arrived.
Lu Zhiyun didn't recognize who she was at first.
There was nothing special about his attitude towards her today.
She couldn't find out anything just by talking to him like this.
——"The eldest daughter of the Shen family...are you engaged to Lu Chen?"
Lu Zhiyun seemed to suddenly remember something and took the initiative to talk about her marriage.
Shen Yuan raised his eyes, looked at him, and nodded.
Bi Wu behind her suddenly remembered the instructions her master had given her before she entered the mansion.
Seeing Shen Yuan covering his lips with a handkerchief, he immediately understood.
Bi Wu seemed to be indignant and said on her behalf, "But this marriage is not what our girl wants. The person Kang Ping Bo likes is the second girl of the Marquis's Mansion. Our girl..."
Before she could finish her words, Shen Yuan pretended to stop her and did not let Bi Wu continue.
But she told Biwu all the information that she should have told Lu Zhiyun.
Lu Zhiyun did not comment on Bi Wu's words, but just turned his gaze to Shen Yuan again.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable, with a hint of scrutiny.
Shen Yuan's heart suddenly trembled when he saw his gaze.
In fact, every word Lu Zhiyun said to her today was very calm and polite, and his tone was not harsh, and he did not put on any airs of an official at all.
But he is a superior who holds power.
Just a casual glance like this can make people feel a little fear for no reason.
Seeing that it was almost dusk, Shen Yuan was afraid that if she returned home too late, her stepmother would find trouble with her, so she said timidly: "My lord, I should go home now."
Lu Zhiyun ordered Manager Hu, "Send Miss Shen back home."
He did not look at her again when he said this.
At this time, Shen Yuan quietly placed the handkerchief embroidered with butterflies on the armchair, pretending that he had dropped it there.
After Shen Yuan stood up, Liao Ge'er saw that she was about to leave, and hurriedly grabbed her sleeve with his chubby little hand: "Sister Shen, don't leave, can you stay and accompany me?"
"Ding-clang".
Lu Zhiyun put the teacup in his hand on the high table at the right time, and then ordered Liao Ge'er in a cold voice: "Let her go."
Liao Ge'er was obviously frightened by his fifth uncle's strong aura, but he was reluctant to let go of Shen Yuan, so he hid behind Shen Yuan with tears in his eyes, his chubby little hand still not letting go of Shen Yuan's sleeve.
Seeing Lu Zhiyun standing up from the main seat and his tall pine-like body walking towards the two of them, Shen Yuan suddenly had an idea.
When she was still in Yangzhou, an old friend taught her something.
The old friend was a skinny girl who was pampered by a salt merchant. She had taught her how to charm men with her eyes.
Shen Yuan had no interest in learning these before.
But at this moment, I suddenly remembered those tricks.
When she was hesitating whether to use this trick on Lu Zhiyun, when she raised her head, she suddenly met Lu Zhiyun's deep eyes.
The man's eyebrows and forehead were very high, and the pair of phoenix eyes under his sharp eyebrows were also exceptionally deep.
The cool scent of pine wood on his body also brushed across her hair at this moment.
Shen Yuan timidly avoided his gaze and immediately put away those thoughts.
But she suddenly realized that one of the tricks the skinny horse taught her was to pretend to be burned by the man's gaze, then feign panic and timidly avoid his eyes.
Shen Yuan comforted herself in her heart that this was an accident and she didn't do it on purpose.
Liao Ge'er was still hiding behind her, with only half of his face showing.
Lu Zhiyun's eyes fell on his nephew again, and his voice became deeper: "Let her go, don't make me say it for the third time."
After hearing this, Brother Liao sniffed pitifully several times.
Shen Yuan thought he could finally let go of her sleeves at this time.
Unexpectedly, Liao Ge'er suddenly let out a "wow" and started to cry.