The second young master went out for a stroll and saw that the manor was in a dilapidated state. His originally cheerful mood began to sour again.
"Didn't you say there are a lot of pheasants and birds in the back mountain? Why don't we go catch some birds?" he said to Xie Nanjia.
Xie Nanjia was also looking for an opportunity to ask him to take her back to Beijing, so she went to the back mountain with him.
In early summer, the mountains are covered with lush vegetation, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the leaves are so green that they are dazzling.
Zhao Jingyu likes all beautiful things. Seeing the picturesque scenery here, his mood improved and he became more talkative. He told Wei Jun about the interesting things he experienced here a few years ago.
"Remember, we caught birds and robbed their nests here, and we went to the stream over there to catch fish..." He pointed at Xie Nanjia and laughed, "This idiot, I asked her to put her finger in the fish's mouth, and she really did, and she got bit by the fish, and she cried so hard that her nose was full of snot."
Wei Jun also laughed: "I will remember it."
Xie Nanjia: “…”
"Another time, I asked her to pick some wild fruits to eat. She fell from the tree, but she was still protecting the fruits tightly. As a result, the fruits were crushed by her and her clothes were stained. I couldn't wash it off no matter how hard I tried."
Xie Nanjia: “…”
"Another time, we were guarding rabbits in the bushes, and a snake jumped over. She foolishly jumped over to help you block it, and she was almost poisoned to death. Later, we chewed herbs to cure her poison."
Wei Jun stopped smiling and looked at Xie Nanjia with gratitude.
Only then did Xie Nanjia understand what Wei Jun meant when he said Xiu'er had saved his life.
Zhao Jingyu said he was tired, so he leaned forward and sat on a short tree branch, leaning back and squinting his eyes to bask in the sun: "Xiu'er, are you willing to go to the capital with me?"
Xie Nanjia was shocked and his heart was pounding.
She was worrying about how to get Zhao Jingyu to take her back to Beijing, but she didn't expect Zhao Jingyu to ask for it so easily.
She tried her best to conceal her inner excitement, and hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Why, you don't want to do it again?" Zhao Jingyu said unhappily, "If you follow me, you are mine, and you don't have to worry about getting married anymore. So what are you not willing to do?"
Xie Nanjia said: "I can't bear to leave my mother."
"So you agree in your heart, right?" Zhao Jingyu smiled brightly, "I told you, there is no woman in this world who doesn't admire me, young master."
Xie Nanjia: “…”
Most men are self-righteous, but there is probably no one else in the Zhou Dynasty as narcissistic as him.
Zhao Jingyu added, "I don't really like you, but I think you have a kind heart and are a good cook, so I can't bear to see you buried in the countryside. If you're willing to go with me, just bring your mother along. It'll just be one more mouth to feed, and I can afford it."
Xie Nanjia said: "I can't make the decision on my own. I have to ask my mother's opinion."
"Then go and ask." Zhao Jingyu said, "I'll wait for you at the mansion."
Xie Nanjia bowed and saluted, then turned and walked down the mountain.
Zhao Jingyu watched her slender figure go away, and said to Wei Jun proudly: "Women really say one thing and mean another. She clearly loves me, but she refuses to admit it. Look how fast she walked!"
Wei Jun: “…”
Xie Nanjia walked until she could no longer see Zhao Jingyu, then she slowed down her pace and calmed her heartbeat.
At this moment, she couldn't find any words to describe her feelings. She wished she could follow Zhao Jingyu back home immediately to see her poor child.
Even if I can't see her, being able to be closer to her child is a comfort to her.
When he got home, Xiu'er's mother was still in the fields. Xie Nanjia didn't have the key, so she couldn't get into the house. He also didn't know which field Xiu'er's mother was working in, so he had to wait at the door.
Zhao Jingyu went back to the mansion with Wei Jun in a happy mood. All the way, she was thinking about where to arrange a better place for Xiu'er after she entered the mansion.
Wei Jun hasn't seen the Second Young Master so happy for many years. Although he spends every day in the capital city calling friends and having fun, that is not real happiness. Only when he is away from the gossips of the capital city can he truly relax and enjoy simple and pure happiness.
Although this happiness was short-lived.
Back at the mansion, Zhao Jingyu sat leisurely in the living room, sipping the finest tea, waiting for Xie Nanjia to return.
After waiting for a long time, Xie Nanjia still didn't come back. He became impatient and went to stroll in the yard.
Although the courtyard here is not as exquisite as the marquis's mansion garden with winding paths and flowing water, it is also lush with flowers and plants and has a canopy of green shade. Zhao Jingyu walked leisurely and came to a pavilion, when he suddenly heard someone whispering there.
Although they were whispering, the voices could be heard by others. One of them said, "Xiu'er slept with you last night. Didn't the Second Young Master realize that she was a slut? Why did he still dote on her so much?"
"Who knows, maybe the Second Young Master doesn't care. After all, it's just a temporary fun."
"But she just had a miscarriage a few days ago. Aren't you afraid of defiling the Second Young Master with such an unclean body?"
"What is there to be afraid of? The Second Young Master doesn't know about it anyway. As long as she serves him well, she will be rewarded with gold and silver, and may even be made his concubine. Then she will be able to ascend to heaven in one step."
(End of this chapter)