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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  As soon as they entered the house, Chu Ke and Liu Niang sat down. Seeing the dozen or so people standing around them, Chu Ke smiled at Men Shi and said, "Mother doesn't have to be polite. We came here to rest quietly, Mother doesn't need to follow us all the time, it's even more tiring than being in the mansion. From now on, when we eat, you mothers can just go and eat too, there's no need for so many attendants around here."

  Men's family was also polite, and when she really called her to serve, she felt that the third girl and Liu Yiniang were not enough. So she politely said a few words and took the women down. She also heard what San Gu Niang said, don't always follow her, to be honest, she didn't want to always follow San Gu Niang either. Today I saw it, San Gu Niang was indeed lazy, that's fine, isn't there still a Jing Er watching by her side?

  After finishing the vegetarian meal, the maidservants cleared the bowls and chopsticks, brought in two cups of tea, and the two slowly sipped their tea. It was then that Madam Liu asked, "Third Young Mistress, have you seen your elder male cousin?"

  Chu Ke nodded slightly and saw it.

  Liu Yiniang smiled foolishly and nodded "Really is fate, this is destiny..."

  Chu Ke's heart was secretly annoyed, Liu Niang indeed had too much wishful thinking...

  The two of them sat and chatted for a while, then each returned to their room to rest. The next day, Chu Kei stayed in the house all day, being very honest and virtuous. Liu Niangniang became even more devout, not missing any of the three daily prayers. Seeing this, Men Shi felt even more at ease, thinking to herself that it was a good thing she had come along, as they were earning money without having to exert themselves arranging people.

  Men's slightly relaxed.

  On the third day, Zhu Yuhuan arrived.

  They soon found Zhu Yichen, who had already made arrangements for them to stay. The quarters for male and female pilgrims were separated by a large hall where people went to worship Buddha, and the buildings themselves were also separate. Male and female pilgrims had very little chance of running into each other unless they specifically wanted to find someone, in which case they would have to go through the main hall under everyone's watchful eyes.

  When Zhu Yuhuan arrived, it was already dark, so it was inconvenient and he could only stay overnight first.

  "They came but didn't leave, did they? Not a few words"

  "No, the one who followed was a capable woman beside the old lady. Qiao Xi thought that she would let her guard down for a few days and not go out. Xiao Yi was devoted to Buddhism and listened to scriptures every day."

  Zhu Yuhuan nodded slightly, still a bit tense.

  Zhu Yichan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've seen it. They'll be staying here for over a dozen days."

  "Have you just lived here for over ten days?"

  Zhu Yichan also smiled and said: "It's not necessarily so, let's see how things develop in their household..."

  "Something happened at their place?" Zhu Yuhuan asked anxiously.

  "Zhu Yichen's strange way? Chu Yunqing was..."

  "Oh, that's me." Zhu Yuhuan nodded.

  "Who did it? Was it just Chuyuntin? Would she have such a big skill?" Zhu Yichen said, but the people from Chu Mansion seemed to be certain that it was Chuyuntin who did it.

  Zhu Yuhuan sneered, "It's possible that it was Chu Yun Ting, or maybe Chu Yun Ting had joined forces with Zhu Yuhao."

  Zhu Yichen's eyes widened. "Can Chu Yun Ting still join forces with Zhu Yichen? Doesn't she... hate him?"

  "Would you rather hate Chu Yunqing more? Not to mention that there are not many people who can do such a thing, and even if it's just Chu Yunting alone, she may not be able to do it." Zhu Yuhuan paused for a moment, looking at Zhu Yuchen, "Zhu Yuzhao's methods of dealing with things aren't bad either. Those people, even if they hate him to the bone, would still help him as soon as he speaks a few clever words... everything is like that..."

  The last sentence seemed to have slipped out of his mouth, and as soon as it was spoken, a look of regret appeared on his face.

  Zhu Yichen's face suddenly sank, his eyebrows furrowed and he turned away, Zhu Yuhuan felt a little regretful, just as he was about to speak, Zhu Yichen turned back and said softly "Qie Xi is not like that... it will never be like that again"

  Zhu Yuhuan hastily nodded heavily and affirmatively, "It seems like he's in a hurry to change the subject, and asked again about this matter. Isn't it almost two months now?"

  Zhu Yichen lifted his spirits and said, "There are still many things, one of which is that if it's settled, I'll definitely be happy."

  "What's going on?" Zhu Yuhuan asked with sparkling eyes, already somewhat excited at this point.

  Zhu Yichen smiled and said, "Ke'er... I really admire this girl a bit. She's quick and efficient with her hands, never dragging things out or making a mess. And in one go, she took down the person without giving them any chance to turn over. It's like she's become a completely different person..."

  Zhu Yuhuan has already smiled and given him a punch. Hurry up and say what you want to say, I'm in a hurry, why are you talking nonsense?

  Zhu Yichan smiled, and only then did he recount the events that had occurred at the Chu residence in detail. Finally, he laughed and said, "The old lady of the Chu family prides herself on being intelligent and profound, but these things were all stirred up by Keqiao alone?"

  Zhu Yuhuan's eyes shone brighter after hearing that the rich family's son had been beaten to death, and he just stared with his shining eyes.

  "Are you satisfied now? Have you avenged your grievances and are you happy about it?"

  "Zhu Yuhuan paused for a long time before saying, 'It's too dangerous. From now on, don't let Ke'er take action, I'll handle it myself... and also follow along with the chaos.'"

  "What's the use of having her skillful hands? It's been years since we parted, who knows if she's still alive or not, and yet you're still thinking of ways to get her back?"

  "The little one now only has eyes for that one person... Don't forget, from now on I'm the big uncle"

  "Cough...cough..." Zhu Yichen was choked into a fit of violent coughing, and it took him a while to laugh it off, but he couldn't stop.

  Zhu Yuhuan ignored him and got up to pack his luggage, this time he brought some for Liu Niang, not the token from childhood, he didn't have a token, he still couldn't recognize Liu Niang, he just wanted to give her something.

  A night without words.

  The next day, Zhu Yichen and Zhu Yihuan arrived at the gate of their residence before the start of early classes. Because of Zhu Yichen's relationship with Liu Niangniang and Chu Keqi, Men Shi did not suspect anything, but when she saw Liu Niangniang inviting this Second Master into the house, she also followed to listen in.

  After entering the house, Zhu Yuhuan almost held his breath, looking at the woman in her thirties in front of him. She was wearing a simple green dress with only one jade hairpin on her head. Her face had six or seven points of resemblance to that of a noblewoman, with a faint smile and an air of elegance around her. Although she had been a concubine for over ten years, the noble aura still lingered around her, giving others a very comfortable feeling, like a gentle spring breeze.

  He suddenly felt a little sour in his nose and hastily lowered his head to cover it up.

  Chu Ke and Zhu Yi Zhen exchanged greetings, and then Zhu Yi Zhen also paid his respects to Mrs. Liu. In front of everyone, Mrs. Liu didn't dare accept it and hastily stepped aside to avoid him. Chu Ke smiled and said, "Brother-in-law is showing family courtesy, Auntie is Brother-in-law's younger aunt, that's right."

  "Fourth Master, don't be like this, I really can't bear it."

  Men Sheng came in, Chu Ke and Zhu Yuxuan were still there talking to Liu Niang about the etiquette of courtesy, after a stir, Zhu Yuhuan calmed down, and Zhu Yuxuan formally introduced this as the fifth master of De Xing Junwangfu.

  Liu Yiniang had heard of it and hastily nodded with a smile, "Is he the cousin of San Guniang? He's really handsome."

  "Zhu Yi Huan smiled and said, 'I heard that Aunt Liu likes calligraphy and painting. I have a piece of artwork here, consider it a small token from me.'"

  Yulan was stunned, a woman of her status, would the master of the Duke's mansion give her a painting? She stood up in surprise and shook her head, saying "How dare I accept this... it's absolutely impossible..."

  Men's eyes shone brightly as he gazed at everything in front of him.

  Chu Ke'er sat down quietly after Men Shi came in, and didn't say another word. Zhu Yi Zhen also stopped looking at her, but smiled at Liu Niang and said: "Fifth Master has always been polite... You don't know? Fifth Master was born to Qin Niang and is a member of the Chu family who went out."

  Liu Yiniang was taken aback for a moment, but she felt that this reason couldn't explain why Wu Ye had sent such a gift, it seemed too... important.

  Zhu Yichan also stood up, took over Zhu Yihuan's painting and said "Cousin, take a look?"

  Chu Keqian finally stood up, taking one end of the painting, while Zhu Yuxuan held the other. They gently pulled it out, revealing a distant mountain and a pine tree on the canvas.

  "Yue Huan, is this a painting?" Zhu Yue Chen asked with a smile.

  Zhu Yuhuan nodded and said, "Yes, I also hope that Auntie won't look down on me."

  She stretched her neck to take a look, just a painting, not a masterpiece by a famous artist, but something this gentleman had painted in his spare time. She also thought that these brothers often took the paintings they did and the poems they wrote as gifts for others, thinking it was quite presentable.

  As expected, when Madam Liu heard that it was Zhu Yuhuan's handwriting, her expression relaxed a bit. Chu Keji also spoke up at the right moment, "Auntie, since Big Brother is kind enough to give it to you, why don't you just accept it?"

  "Yes, it's not worth much money, just a token of goodwill." Zhu Yuhuan smiled and looked at Liu Niang.

  Liu Yiniang didn't think much of it, smiled and nodded, "Alright then, thank you, Fifth Master." She respectfully handed over the half fortune.

  Zhu Yuhuan's face changed slightly, and Zhu Yu Chen hastily laughed and pulled him down to sit, which was considered as accepting the half courtesy.

  They exchanged some pleasantries about their stay, and then Zhu Yuying and Zhu Yuhe didn't say much more, not wanting to disturb Madame Liu and her niece from listening to the scriptures, so they took their leave.

  Grandma Liu didn't think much of it either, and after they left, she hurriedly went to attend the early mass.

  Men also came out with his hands in his sleeves and heard Qingguo and Baiguo whispering to each other, "Is this gentleman giving away that painting? How strange!"

  "Is there something strange? I haven't heard that it's Second Master who went out for a spring outing? It's probably something he drew casually while on the outing and is now sending casually."

  "Also... Ah yes, who is Qinyi?"

  "No, is it also our family going out? Could it be..."

  Men warned in a low voice, "Don't say that, a group of little hooves will gossip for no reason."

  Qing Guo and Bai Guo walked away with their tongues out, and Men Shi also didn't suspect anything.

  Chu Ke'er took the painting and looked at it, seeing two sentences written next to it: Good fortune is like the East Sea's endless flowing water, longevity is like the southern mountain's evergreen pine.

  She sighed and put it down. The brother sent this painting, just to give a blessing to Liu Niang, a happy and long-lasting blessing.

  Unfortunately, happiness seems to be non-existent at this point...

  Another thing that came to mind was that this time, it was originally intended to be discussed with them, the old lady's idea, but there has been no opportunity in recent days, and a few days ago, my brother had not arrived yet, she didn't dare to mention this matter to Zhu Yuxuan...

  Now that Gege has arrived, Men Shi is still staring at him tightly, but fortunately, living here for a long time, there will always be opportunities.

  Zhu Yuhuan and Zhu Yuanchen did not return to the courtyard, but instead went straight out of the nunnery and up into the mountains. Zhu Yuhuan walked with his head down, while Zhu Yuanchen didn't disturb him, picking up a wooden stick and swinging it to knock against the branches of the trees along the road as he walked ahead.

  As they continued to walk into the mountains, they heard the sound of water up ahead. Zhu Yuhuan, who had been lost in thought, was suddenly brought back to reality and couldn't help but smile as he looked at Zhu Yuchen waving a small stick in front of him. It seemed that Zhu Yuchen's mood was quite good, and upon seeing him, his own mood also improved. As for Liu Niangniang's situation, it wasn't like he didn't care - after all, she had been his niangniang for over a decade now, and this was an unchangeable fact. Being able to see her now was already quite good.

  Zhu Yuhuan has always been open-minded. Once he understood, his mood improved and he ran up two steps to ask if there was a waterfall ahead.

  Zhu Yichen nodded, "Not been here before?" He smiled and pointed forward, just about to speak, when he suddenly stopped. This was the mountaintop, the highest point, and in front of him was the source of the waterfall. To call it a waterfall was actually an exaggeration - it was just a small stream and rainwater that had merged into a not-very-large river, flowing downward along the mountain slope. Along the way, there were also several large drop points, forming small waterfalls.

  As he turned his head to look forward, his eyes scanned down the mountain and happened to see the parking area below. At this moment, there were several cars parked below, with people getting off. From a distance, they seemed to be women.

  Zhu Yuhuan also saw it and walked up to take a closer look. Another family came?

  "There are still quite a few." Zhu Yichen nodded.

  They watched for a while, and those people had already sat on the sedan chair to go up the mountain. From afar, except for the bright colors of their clothes, nothing else could be seen clearly. The two didn't think much of it and continued to head forward to play.

  Chu Ke looked at the banana tree in the courtyard, ordered the maid to set up a small table and reclining chair beside it, brew some good tea, she sat on the reclining chair, leisurely and carefree, tasting tea and admiring the banana tree.

  Men stretched his head into the house, saw that the girl was very comfortable, so he also lay down to sleep. He sighed and thought, although it's nice, but day after day, it's really too idle to be unbearable.

  Chu Keqiang had just sat for a while when she heard the noise and footsteps from the neighboring yard. She turned her head to look towards the gate, and in that one glance, she saw a familiar face. Her whole body felt a chill, with an eerie feeling that lingered - Lan Qishuang.

  It is by.

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