When it was dawn.
Luo Qingzhou returned to Meixiang Garden with the message.
Just before leaving, he asked for two days off from the two of them and decided to have a good sleep for two nights to recharge his energy so that he could intensify his efforts to open a path and search for treasure at the bottom of the lake during the day.
If there is no treasure, just treat it as cultivation.
If there really is a treasure, that would be even better.
The soul returns to the body.
The little girl next to him was fair, tender, delicate and soft. She curled up in his arms like a kitten, with her two cute little feet placed on his thighs.
Luo Qingzhou touched her, then hugged her and fell asleep.
The sky soon brightened.
The sunlight shines in through the window.
The sound of birds singing was heard in the yard.
Not long after Luo Qingzhou fell asleep, he felt his nose itchy. After sneezing twice, he opened his eyes in a daze.
Only then did he realize that the person in his arms was holding a strand of hair in her hand and tickling his nose.
"Sir, get up quickly."
Xiaodie saw him wake up and whispered quickly.
Luo Qingzhou was really sleepy, so he stroked her delicate and smooth shoulders and said, "Sleep a little longer, you have nothing to do today anyway."
Just as he finished speaking, looking at the little girl's blushing face and troubled eyes, he suddenly came to his senses and sat up: "Are you going to the eldest lady?"
The little girl nodded shyly: "Yes."
Luo Qingzhou woke up instantly.
On the stool at the head of the bed, there was a soft white cloth with a striking bright red dye on it.
That was the innocence the little girl gave him last night.
"Can I not go?"
Luo Qingzhou begged.
The little girl pouted her lips and blinked her eyelashes, looking a little aggrieved.
"go!"
Luo Qingzhou did not dare to hesitate any longer, and immediately threw off the quilt and got out of bed, saying, "Hurry up and get dressed, and go early. Maybe you won't meet other people on the way, and maybe Bailing and Xia Chan won't be here."
This piece of cloth represents the little girl's innocence.
So she must want more people in the mansion to know, especially the eldest daughter who is the legal wife.
Only when the eldest daughter sees the cloth with her own eyes and acknowledges it, her future position beside him will be legitimate and recognized by other people in the mansion.
Otherwise, everyone might talk about her behind her back or doubt her.
Especially, if she gets pregnant in the future, it will avoid rumors.
Therefore, this rule and process is very important, necessary and indispensable to this little girl.
This is also a kind of respect and protection for her.
Although... a bit shameful.
Luo Qingzhou washed up with a sad face, put on his Confucian robe and shoes with Qiu'er's help, and then...he went out personally with the white cloth.
"Xiao Die, can you wrap the bloody thing inside? It's a bit... "
The little girl blushed and said nothing.
Qiu Er, who was standing by, said hurriedly, "Sir, this won't work. It must be exposed outside. I want the other maids in the mansion to see it on purpose. This way, everyone will acknowledge Xiao Die's identity and stop talking nonsense in private."
"Why… "
"Pfft... Uncle, why are you shy? Xiaodie should be the one who is shy."
Qiu'er couldn't help laughing.
Fortunately, Meixiang Garden is not far from Lingchan Moon Palace, and no one else was encountered on the way.
It's almost time.
Luo Qingzhou couldn't help but ask, "Qiu'er, what happened last night?"
Qiu Er pretended not to understand and asked with a puzzled look on her face: "Sir, what's going on?"
Luo Qingzhou glanced at Xiaodie beside him and said nothing more.
Forget it, since it's done, there's no need to think about it anymore.
Anyway, Xiaodie has been his for a long time. Given their relationship, this matter should have been accomplished long ago, otherwise the little girl would never feel at ease.
Arrived at the gate of Lingchan Moon Palace.
Luo Qingzhou suddenly became timid again, hesitating and not daring to go in.
Seeing this, Qiu'er went straight forward and knocked on the door.
"Squeak..."
The courtyard gate opened, and Bailing appeared in a pink dress. She just showed two shallow dimples on her face and was about to speak when her eyes suddenly caught a white cloth held in someone's hand.
The blood on the white cloth was particularly eye-catching under the morning sun.
"Who…whose?"
Bai Ling was stunned for a moment and asked.
Xiaodie's face turned even redder, her head lowered to her chest, her two little hands tightly grasping the hem of her skirt, she was nervous, afraid, shy and uneasy.
I don’t know if Sister Bailing, Sister Xiachan, and the eldest lady will be angry or will not acknowledge her.
Qiu'er quickly whispered, "Xiaodie's."
Bai Ling was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise: "Ah, you are sleeping with your son-in-law now? I thought you had already done it before entering the mansion..."
Then he stared at someone with a strange look on his face and said, "Son-in-law, this is not like you. You are so timid, you shouldn't take action now."
Luo Qingzhou was originally feeling ashamed and embarrassed, but after hearing her say this, he immediately raised his head and said unhappily: "Don't slander my son-in-law!"
"snort!"
Bai Ling pouted, walked into the house, and began to shout loudly: "Chanchan, come and see, the son-in-law came early in the morning to give a gift to... the eldest lady!"
Luo Qingzhou had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the two little girls into the courtyard.
Xia Chan was wearing a light green dress and was practicing sword in the yard. When she heard Bai Ling's words, she had just put away her sword, and her black hair and soft skirt were still swaying behind her.
In front of the stone table in the courtyard, Miss Qin, dressed in a snow-white dress, was sitting there quietly reading a book.
Luo Qingzhou held the white cloth in his hand and walked over with his head lowered. For a moment, his cheeks turned hot and he didn't know how to start the conversation.
In theory, this white cloth should just be shown to Qiu'er and there is no need to show it specifically to this young lady.
But after all, they are still husband and wife in name only.
According to the rules, she should be allowed to check it herself.
"Miss, this is Xiaodie's innocent cloth. Xiaodie slept with her husband last night. Please take a look."
Seeing that her son-in-law was unreliable, Qiu'er had no choice but to step forward herself and bow her head respectfully.
At the same time, I secretly sighed in my heart: The son-in-law and the eldest daughter have been married for so long, but they are still so unfamiliar and cold when they meet. No wonder...
Qin Jianjia raised her head, glanced at the blood-stained red cloth, and nodded slightly.
When Xiaodie saw this, she felt relieved.
Luo Qingzhou also breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to leave, Bailing hurriedly said, "Son-in-law, Chanchan hasn't seen it yet!"
Xia Chan stood under the eaves holding a sword, looking at the place with a cold face.
Luo Qingzhou had no choice but to raise the white cloth in his hand.
Xia Chan looked at him coldly, then looked at the girl beside him, said nothing, and continued to practice sword.
Luo Qingzhou didn't dare to stay any longer and hurried to leave.
Bai Ling suddenly said, "Sir, you have to show it to Madam."
As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Qingzhou's expression suddenly changed.
Qiu Er also whispered beside him, "Sir, you really need to show it to Madam. Madam is very important. It will affect Xiaodie's status and salary in the future."
"Haha, uncle, I'll go with you."
When Bailing saw that he looked unhappy, she suddenly became excited and wanted to go and watch the fun.
Luo Qingzhou held the white cloth and walked out of the courtyard awkwardly. Seeing that she really followed him out, his face suddenly darkened and he threatened her, "Don't even think about coming back later. Come with me to Meixiang Garden!"
Bailing giggled, not afraid at all, and hugged Xiaodie's arm and said, "Sir, don't bluff. With Xiaodie and Qiu'er here, we are not afraid of you."
Luo Qingzhou was too lazy to argue with her anymore and was secretly thinking about how to face the scary mother-in-law later.
After a few people left.
The sound of sword dancing in the courtyard continued for a while before stopping.
Xia Chan stood there for a while, then went into the house alone and went to her room.
After standing in the dim light for a while, she walked to the bed and took out a locked brocade box from the innermost quilt.
Then he opened the brocade box and carefully took out a piece of white cloth from it.
After the white cloth was unfolded for three layers, another piece of white cloth stained with blood appeared inside...
This was what Bailing had forcibly taken back from that nanny.
She took it out tremblingly, slowly unfolded it, stared at the blood on it, and couldn't help but recall that painful and warm night...
…
The Qin residence became lively.
Luo Qingzhou was holding a blood-stained white cloth in his hand and walking in the mansion with his head lowered.
Qiu'er walked quickly to the front.
When she saw the maids and nannies, she would turn around and say, "Sir, hold it up higher."
Then he said to the maids and nannies, "It's Xiaodie's. Xiaodie was already your son-in-law's last night."
When he saw the male servants, he immediately said, "Sir, hide quickly."
After all, it is a girl's thing and must not be seen by any other man except the son-in-law.
Whenever the maids and nannies stopped by and cast gossipy glances at him, Luo Qingzhou felt his cheeks burning.
The rules of this era are so weird.
How can they take the initiative to show this kind of thing to everyone? It's like two adulterers parading through the streets.
It's so embarrassing.
Although the little girl next to her looked shy, she looked very proud every time the maids and nannies looked at her.
Some of the maids who were close to her even laughed and teased: "Xiao Die, congratulations on getting what you wished for."
Luo Qingzhou secretly thought: It turns out that the little girl's desire for his body is already known to everyone...
Well, as long as the little girl is happy and satisfied, it doesn’t matter.
In fact, strictly speaking, this little girl is his first woman, so of course he has to respect her and pamper her.
I was thinking about all sorts of things along the way and soon arrived at the yard where my mother-in-law lived.
Qiu'er went in first to report.
Soon, Mei'er came out to greet them. She looked at him and Xiaodie with complicated eyes and said, "Sir, Madam wants you to come in."
Luo Qingzhou held the white cloth in his hand and walked to her side and asked in a low voice: "Miss Mei'er, how is mother-in-law feeling today?"
Mei'er said coldly: "I don't know."
Song Ruyue was wearing a plain white dress and was twisting her waist and arms in the yard to exercise. After hearing Qiu'er's report, she immediately sat down on a chair in the yard with a cold face.
When Luo Qingzhou came to her holding the white cloth and bringing Xiaodie, her eyes looked at the white cloth stained with blood.
Qiu Er reported respectfully, "Madam, I was outside the door last night and Xiao Die did sleep with the son-in-law."
Xiaodie blushed and knelt down, kowtowed and worshipped.
Song Ruyue glanced at her, paused, and then said in a gentle voice: "Get up, since we have already had sex, from today on, you are a member of my Qin family. In the future, the salary will be paid according to the standard concubine, and the clothes and jewelry can be worn as concubines. However... you are still just a maid for the time being. I have no objection to him taking you as a concubine. After all, your relationship is deep, and you are loyal to him and the Qin family. But... you have to wait a little longer, until you go to Kyoto and wait for Wei Mo... Xiaodie, you are not in a hurry, right?"
Xiaodie was so moved and happy that tears welled up in her eyes. She kowtowed and said, "Madam, I... I am not in a hurry... It is enough for me to be your maidservant..."
Song Ruyue said, "Get up. We'll talk about this matter when we get to Kyoto."
Xiaodie wiped her tears and stood up.
Luo Qingzhou didn't dare to stay and bowed and took his leave immediately.
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? You're in such a hurry to leave right after you got here? Are you afraid that I'll eat you?"
Luo Qingzhou bowed his head, stayed where he was, and dared not say another word.
Song Ruyue said coldly: "What did Weimo write to you in the letter? Is it convenient for you to read it out?"
Luo Qingzhou glanced at her, took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to her respectfully.
Song Ruyue snorted coldly, "You don't need to show it to me. I don't want to see it either. Weimo wrote you a letter, do you want to reply as well? Just reply here before you leave. I'll add a few words later. After all, she is my daughter, and I miss her too."
Luo Qingzhou: “…”
"Why, you don't want to?"
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and looked at him.
Luo Qingzhou glanced at her and suddenly heard her say in her heart: This kid wants to take a concubine, he must get my consent. I have a handle on him now, he needs me, I am not afraid of him! And Xiao Bailing is here, I don't think he dares to do anything to me!
Luo Qingzhou replied respectfully: "Mother-in-law, I haven't decided what to return yet. I'll tell you when I have thought it through."
Song Ruyue endured it and said coldly: “It’s better to hurry up, Wei Mo is still waiting eagerly.”
Are you still eagerly waiting to see my reply
Luo Qingzhou secretly complained in his heart, and said respectfully: "Yes, I will think about it seriously when I go back later."
Song Ruyue snorted and had to wave her hand and said, "Okay, go ahead, go back quickly."
When Luo Qingzhou was about to leave with the white cloth in her hand, a maid suddenly came in from the door in a hurry and reported: "Madam, the eldest princess sent a message to ask the son-in-law to come over."
As soon as these words came out, Song Ruyue's eyebrows twitched and she looked at someone, wanting to scold him for being so shameless and always being summoned by the princess, but she didn't dare to, so she could only say coldly: "Go and come back quickly, today is the first day of the new year, and your second uncle and fourth uncle will come to pay New Year's greetings later. Normally, you should come with Jianjia to offer tea to your father-in-law and me."
"Yes, mother-in-law!"
Luo Qingzhou was confused and retreated.
After going out, he folded the white cloth in his hand and handed it to Xiaodie.
Then, he walked towards the living room.
Why did the princess come to summon him at this time