Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 508

It was not until the end of the first month that Xu Qingchuan received another letter from Miss Xie.

In the letter, Miss Xie first apologized for her loss of contact during the past period and explained that she had encountered some changes at home, forcing her to hide for a while. Now that the limelight had passed, she returned to the capital. She also mentioned that the home situation was not yet resolved, and she might not be able to reply to the letter for a while, indicating that she had to go into hiding again.

Xu Qingchuan noticed that she didn’t want to delve into the details, and he respected her privacy. He simply wished her well, advising her to take care of herself and reassuring her that she could find him if she encountered any difficulties.

The two continued their discussions on poetry and food as before.

In March, with the bright spring, Xu Qingchuan and Wen Lang, young talents working in the Hanlin Academy, were invited to a banquet.

The party where the banquet was held was in Marquis Yun Yang’s Mansion for the intention of finding good husbands for the young girls in the mansion.

The two of them were reluctant to go there, but unfortunately, the head of the Hanlin Academy was once a disciple of Marquis Yun Yang. When the Marquis came forward, they naturally had to show respect.

They attended the banquet with modesty, trying to avoid the limelight. Both of them wore their everyday scholar’s robes without any special arrangements.

However, their talent and handsomeness shone through, and even in their casual attire, they did not appear any less impressive.

At the banquet, Marquis Yun Yang took the initiative to approach the two who were huddled in the corner.

Especially Wen Lang, the best seedling in the third generation of the Wen family, though his family was dismissed in the previous dynasty – it was already an old matter. During that time, the old man was released by the deposed Emperor, and the Wen family, to avoid implication, took the initiative to let the other party propose retirement.

Marquis Yun Yang didn’t care about those matters; he genuinely liked Wen Lang.

In the end, Wen Lang had no choice but to pretend to be drunk, leaning on Xu Qingchuan and asking him to help go outside for some fresh air.

Following this request, Xu Qingchuan assisted him out of the hall where the guests were entertained.

Marquis Yun Yang’s Mansion was bustling with people. Wen Lang continued his act, still appearing drunk even after coming outside. Xu Qingchuan and others inquired about the location of the thatched hut and assisted him there.

Upon reaching the thatched hut, the two halted, and since there was no one around, Wen Lang stopped pretending and walked steadily into the toilet.

Not having consumed much alcohol himself, Xu Qingchuan walked away and waited nearby.

As he reached a secluded spot, Xu Qingchuan noticed a figure dressed as a maid sneaking up against the wall.

Observing the sneaky figure about to step on the rock with hands and feet to climb the wall, Xu Qingchuan could only cough lightly.

The figure froze for a moment, got down from the rockery in a dazed manner, and then turned around, but she laughed, “Brother Xu, why are you here?”

Upon closer inspection, Xu Qingchuan observed the girl. She wore peach-pink matching shoes, had a pair of buns, and was dressed similarly to the other maids in Marquis Yun Yang’s Mansion. However, her peach blossom eyes sparkled, her smile was akin to a flower, and her radiance was enchanting.

Recognizing her, Xu Qingchuan lowered his eyes, curved his lips, and said, “Why is Brother Xie Xian here?”

Miss Xie waved her hand dismissively, “What Brother Xie Xian? Brother Xu should have known I was a woman long ago, right?”

Xu Qingchuan nodded slightly.

Although the two had become increasingly familiar through their correspondence, freely discussing various topics, when they finally met in person, Xu Qingchuan still appeared somewhat reserved and spoke little.

Miss Xie, on the other hand, was more open-minded and straightforward, saying, “Rather than a planned meeting, it’s better to have a chance encounter. Could you please help me keep watch, Brother Xu? I’ll climb over the wall and leave.”

Xu Qingchuan couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly, about to let her go, when suddenly footsteps and voices were heard from nearby.

Miss Xie’s expression changed, and she quickly stepped behind a rock, gesturing for Xu Qingchuan to follow.

Instinctively, Xu Qingchuan followed, realizing that, as an esteemed guest, he had no need to hide. He stood firm behind the rock, understanding that it would be too late to leave now.

Two young girls and a few maids approached from outside, their voices soft and timid.

“The weather is so good; we should spend more time wandering around the mansion.”

The other girl’s gentle voice agreed, “Sister is right.”

Their words seemed innocent, but it was unheard of for young ladies to wander near the outhouses. It was clear that these two had other intentions, likely directed at the disguised Wen Lang.

As expected, as the group stood in front of the rock, Wen Lang approached to find Xu Qingchuan.

The two young ladies and their “chance encounter” with him naturally required some polite exchanges.

Xu Qingchuan and Miss Xie understood the intentions behind the conversation outside and exchanged a knowing glance.

They maintained a certain distance, with Miss Xie wearing a sly smile, and Xu Qingchuan subtly curved lips.

Wen Lang was well aware of the situation. After a brief chat, he claimed discomfort from drinking too much and expressed the desire to find a quiet place to sober up.