World 8 Chapter 114

Chapter 114.

Several people in the main hall had their own thoughts, and Tang Yuan inadvertently made eye contact with Mrs. Qiao. She was blessed with a smile, her almond shaped eyes were smiling, and her red lips were upturned. She was smart and beautiful, and she was a born girl. No one would think that she was a person with evil intentions. But Mrs. Qiao was so frightened by her smile that her heart trembled. Her face remained calm, but in fact she was panicking down inside.

Everyone in Yuzhou knows that the second miss of the Qiao family is outstandingly beautiful. Even Mrs. Qiao would sigh in her heart every time she saw Tang Li, feeling that her family was really lucky to have raised such a charming girl. Mrs. Qiao always believed that her second son was a fool with good fortune. His career was smooth and his marriage was happy. He gave birth to a son and a daughter. He really had a son and a daughter. Now his daughter is like this, but it's not true. Are stupid people blessed?

Mrs. Zheng gave birth to her daughter when Qiao Zhenshan was on his way to take office. A few years later, he was transferred to Mobei. Mrs. Zheng was worried that her daughter was too fragile to bear the climate and environment in Mobei, so she left her with Mrs. Qiao. Years later, Qiao Zhenshan was promoted in Mobei but had no intention of transferring. It seemed that no one wanted to live such a hard life in Mobei, so Qiao Zhenshan got this carrot pit.

Mrs. Qiao loves Tangli dearly. After all, she raised the child by herself. No matter how she looks at her, she thinks Tangli is the best girl in the world.

Mrs. Qiao was like this. When she saw Tangyuan, she couldn't help but murmur in her heart. This shows how much impact Tangyuan's appearance had on Mrs. Qiao.

Sitting in a high position, she could easily see Tang Yuan's appearance. When she saw Tang Yuan's beautiful smile, Mrs. Qiao felt more and more that she was very similar to the young Mrs. Zheng.

To be fair, Tang Yuan's appearance is much more refined than Zheng's. Maybe because she is still young, the similarity is not strong, but it is not difficult for Mrs. Qiao and Mrs. Meng. They get along with Zheng. After many years, the Qiao and Zheng families were family friends, so Mrs. Qiao knew very well what Zheng looked like when she was young. If the Zheng family saw Tang Yuan, they would probably blurt out Zheng's nickname.

Tangli, who was having tea, was not surprised by Mrs. Qiao's surprise. She picked up two pieces of pastry and fed them to Tangyuan and Liu Zhu, who were standing beside her. However, there were differences in feeding them. Liu Zhu's piece was put it in her hand, and put the round one to your lips. Anyone with a discerning eye can immediately tell who Tang Li prefers. If it weren't for the fear that Tang Yuan would be too conspicuous, Tang Li would not give food to Liu Zhu.

Although Tang Li understood that Liu Zhu was not a narrow minded character, she could not be too partial, otherwise it would be difficult for Tang Yuan, a real daughter who had not yet recovered her identity, to get along with Liu Zhu.

Tangli worries about everything for her, which shows that she is someone who cares deeply about her.

"Is it delicious?"

Tangyuan covered her lips with her hand, her eyes full of tenderness. Her irritability due to Lu Mingzhi's coming was soothed by Tangli. She spoke softly in a soft voice, as sweet as honey, "It's delicious, thank you miss."

Liu Zhu couldn't help but look sideways. When she heard Tang Yuan's voice, she thought of the red bean cake inexplicably. For no other reason than the red bean cake tasted so sweet, just like the feeling brought by Tang Yuan now.

Liu Zhu ate the pastry silently, with a confused look on her face. It was just an ordinary pastry. Does she need to be so happy?

In her mind, this was just a reward from her master, but Tang Yuan didn't think so, so this cake was enough to make her smile.

"As long as you like it." Tangli likes to see her smiling face, which makes her feel happy both physically and mentally.

[Look at your greedy appearance, you are really worthless. ]

Tang Yuan stopped chewing, stared at her without any trace, and then continued to eat.

I'm just greedy. The meat grows on my body anyway, so whoever wants to talk can talk about it, huh.

At this time, the housekeeper hurried in from outside and said, "Old Madam, Mr. Lu's carriage has arrived."

Tangyuan's eyelids twitched when she saw Mrs. Qiao and Mrs. Meng going out to greet him. Tangli went to the outer room blocked by a screen. When she paid full attention to Lu Mingzhi, Qiao Ying, who was trotting along, was urged by the maid. With a loud voice, she opened the door curtain and walked in. Qiao Ying winked and smiled at Tang Li, causing Tang Li to roll her eyes in annoyance.

Tangli said, "If you smile happily today, don't ask me to accompany you to Wen Xiu's birthday party another day."

"Don't bother me, my dear sister, I can't help but smile."

Qiao Ying's life was pinched tightly by Tang Li. With a single word, Qiao Ying shut her mouth and did not dare to say anything about Lu Mingzhi

Tang Yuan stood there so handsomely that it was difficult for Qiao Ying to ignore her.

She asked back, "This maid looks angry, how come I've never seen her before?"

"Have you forgotten? After Qiu Xue got married, I lost one maid, so she stayed when I saw her from the housekeeper."

Qiao Ying frowned and said doubtfully, "Why don't you choose a family who have children? I remember that there are several second-class maids in your yard who have children."

Tang Li smiled meaningfully, with charming eyebrows and flowing eyes, and said, "She is the one I want, and no one else can do."

Qiao Ying didn't appreciate what she said. She just thought that Tang Li was trying to protect her shortcomings again. She curled her lips in dissatisfaction, "Okay, okay, she's your maid anyway. Just do what you like."

Tang Yuan secretly glanced at Tang Li and saw her staring at her tenderly. Her face couldn't help but feel hot. She no longer had time to care about Lu Mingzhi. She was thinking about Tang Li's words, savoring them carefully, wanting to chew up every word of those words.

"Come, come, he's here." Qiao Ying turned to the side and gently opened the curtain, and boldly looked at the foreign man. She hadn't seen Lu Mingzhi for a few days, and this time when she saw him again, Qiao Ying found that Lu Mingzhi seemed to have become more... He was so weak that the clothes seemed empty on him. It wasn't that they didn't fit him, but that he was too tall and thin to hold them up. He lost his former beauty and became ugly.

Qiao Ying bit her lip. How could such a man be worthy of her beautiful sister?

Tang Li couldn't help laughing. She laughed because Qiao Ying's expression changed from expectation to disappointment. She didn't know what Lu Mingzhi looked like, which made Qiao Ying feel so sorry.

Tang Yuan tried to take a step forward, but found that no one was paying attention to her, so she simply walked behind Qiao Ying and stood on tiptoes to see Lu Mingzhi through the crack in the door curtain.

Tangli stopped laughing immediately. Qiao Ying wanted to watch it because this girl was restless. Tang Yuan wanted to watch it, but she firmly disagreed.

She came to Tang Yuan's side, held Tang Yuan's wrist, and said softly, "I'm not beautiful? Why did you go to see him."

Before Tang Yuan could see clearly, she was pulled aside.

Tang Yuan said without hesitation, "Of course miss is more beautiful."

No one can compare with you.

"Then if you go to see him, your eyes will almost fall off."

Tang Yuan stomped her feet and retorted, "No way, I didn't see him at all. It's not like you don't know that I'm short. The eldest miss blocked me so tightly that I didn't even see a hair on his head."

Tangli stroked the broken hair around her ears, and fiddled with the silver moon pearl earrings with her fingers, "Don't let me see you like this again, otherwise, I will punish you severely." After that, she also raised her eyebrows, arrogantly, but the smile on her face was touching, so fascinated that Tang Yuan lowered her eyes in panic, and nodded aggrievedly and obediently.

She knows that the miss is domineering, why doesn't she even let her look at the man today?

However, her illness seemed to be getting worse and worse. The miss's words made his heart beat wildly, as if she was looking forward to the miss's punishment.

Tang Yuan clasped her fingers and was too shy to look at her.

The reason why Tang Yuan expects this is because she is sure that Tang Li will not really hurt her, so the punishment in Tang Li's words is more like... another meaning.

Hey, it's all because of the script! Let her think wildly.

Liu Zhu was accustomed to the whispers between the two of them, but Qiao Ying couldn't help but look at them again and again.

Qiao Ying wanted to drag Tang Li to her and slap her forehead hard with her hands. Did she know who the man outside was? He was her fiancé who was going to marry her. Why didn't she care at all? Instead of peeking at him, she was chatting happily with a little maid. Qiao Ying suddenly felt that her sister was a bit silly.

Qiao Ying said sadly, "Sister Yuan, I understand why you have that idea."

Tangli looked at Shenghui, covered her lips and said with a smile, "What's wrong?"

She swallowed her saliva and said in a very low voice, "Mr. Lu's appearance is damaged."

Tangli had known for a long time that Qiao Ying was a beauty addict, so her words sounded normal to Tangli.

Qiao Ying murmured to herself, "When I saw him in the early years, he was handsome, but now he can't even compare to our janitor. Sister Yuan, if you see such a husband every day, I will really hurt for you."

Concerned about the occasion, Tangli kept suppressing her laughter.

It's inappropriate to talk about other people's looks at will, but for Lu Mingzhi, let's just talk about it, it won't get in the way.

With Tang Li as a worse person, Qiao Ying suddenly felt that she was not the worst in the Qiao family.

She sighed, feeling indescribably uncomfortable.

Since ancient times, matchmakers have talked about the fate of their parents, but it is obviously them who are engaged, but no one wants to ask them if they are willing.

People's voices came from the main hall, mixed with men's voices, which were low and hoarse, probably caused by years of dry cough.

Tang Li is not in a hurry. This marriage will not happen.

Because she was never Qiao Yuan from beginning to end. The real Qiao Yuan has been determined by her for a long time, so Lu Mingzhi should stop having delusions in this life.

"Yingmie, Yuanmie, the flowers are blooming in the backyard, why don't you take Mingzhi around for a walk."

Visiting the garden was an excuse, but the real intention was to give the man and woman who were engaged a chance to meet.

The two families are family friends, and they are married, so the elders naturally turn a blind eye.

Jade fingers lifted the curtain, revealing a beautiful face with flowers on her brows, graceful and noble. When she glanced at her and smiled, she realized what was happening.

It is the posture of heaven and man.

"Miss Qiao."

Tangli and Qiao Ying bowed, and after saying some words to Mrs. Qiao, they stepped across the threshold and prepared to go to the backyard.

It wasn't until this moment that Tang Yuan truly saw Lu Mingzhi's appearance clearly.

His face was pale and thin, and his brows looked tired and haggard. His eyes were following Tang Li's figure, looking slightly obsessed.

Tang Yuan saw this and deliberately called, "Miss, slow down, watch your steps carefully."

Her eyes passed over Lu Mingzhi, coldly and indifferently, and her voice also made Lu Mingzhi realize that she had noticed his gaffe just now, and he lowered his head in shame.

Lu Mingzhi hesitated for a moment, saluted Mrs. Qiao and the others, and finally caught up with Tang Li.

Tang Yuan guarded Tang Li tightly, as if she was worried that someone with ill intentions would come and snatch her away.

This appearance allowed Lu Mingzhi to see her appearance clearly, and his lifeless brows were filled with surprise. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly coughed.

It turned out that a gust of wind had just blown by, bringing with it a faint fragrance, blowing the skirts of Tangli and the others, and passing by the tip of Lu Mingzhi's nose. To others, it was the fragrance of flowers, but to him it was different.

"Sir, are you okay?" The boy Yuanbao took out the cough pills and wanted to give them to Lu Mingzhi, but he waved his hand and said, "It's not an old illness, I just feel uncomfortable, it's okay."

"Is it really okay?"

Lu Mingzhi's eyes were gloomy and he said coldly, "I told you, it's okay!"

Yuan Bao stuffed the medicine back into his purse nonchalantly, not daring to say anything more.

Tangli's expression remained unchanged, and Qiao Ying couldn't help but say, "If Mr. Lu is feeling unwell, you'd better not go to the backyard."

He said stubbornly without any expression on his face, "I understand the miss's wishes."

Qiao Ying pursed her lips, he was such a damned ghost who was so hard to talk to.

Tangli smiled and shook the sachet at her waist with her fingertips. When she saw Tang Yuan wearing the sachet she gave her, the smile in her eyes turned cold.

"There is no real daughter this time. Let's see how long you can survive."

"Let's go see the peonies. They are in bloom. They are so beautiful." Qiao Ying suggested.

Tang Li echoed, "It's all up to you."

Lu Mingzhi was silent. He watched Tang Li's figure, watching her chatting and laughing with Qiao Ying, and seeing her putting peonies on the hairpin of the maid next to her. Tang Li's every move attracted Lu Mingzhi.

Such a stunning beauty is his unmarried wife. Only he can bear this kind of blessing. Thinking of my friend's words of envy when he heard that his fiancée was the famous Yuzhou miss Qiao Er made me happy, what about the sick Yangzi? Why don't you still marry Qiao Er? Therefore, the benefits brought by this marriage are countless, thanks to dad's foresight.

Qiao Er was very beautiful and more than worthy of him, but she was a little uneasy at home. She was obviously the daughter of an official, but she always liked to fiddle with calculations and often went out to look after the shop. Although there were not many restrictions on women at that time, she did not go out to do anything. There are many women in business, but he can't control others. He only cares about Qiao Er. After all, she is a wife who he has never married, and a virtuous and gentle woman is the most important.

Her reputation in Yuzhou is well known to everyone, and he is afraid it is related to her restless personality. He must explain this to her seriously, so as not to worry about it after getting married.

Lu Mingzhi was thinking about something when he suddenly smelled the aroma again. He quickly covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief to cover up the itching in his throat.

What happened? He has never felt this way about the fragrance of flowers. Even if he cough, it happens at night. Could it be that his illness is getting worse again?

Lu Mingzhi clenched his back molars, no, he will definitely live a long life!

He sat on the stone bench in the pavilion, drinking warm tea to soothe his throat.

"Is the maid next to Miss Qiao Er new here?"

He was asking the young man Yuanbao. Yuanbao immediately understood what Lu Mingzhi meant. He nodded with a bow and ran to Liu Zhu to inquire about the information.

Liu Zhu carried a bamboo basket filled with petals. Tang Li said that she wanted to make fragrant dew. Of course, no one would stop her, so when Liu Zhu picked flowers, she muttered, "There is a lot of rain this year, otherwise the peonies will drive better."

From the corner of her eye, Qiao Ying noticed Lu Mingzhi sitting there drinking tea, and couldn't help but shake her head.

Not only has this man become ugly, his temperament is still so aloof. If he doesn't want to see this garden, why bother to follow them?

"Let's go and sit there too, we are hosts after all."

Tangyuan touched the peonies on her temples and smiled sweetly. She realized that she seemed to enjoy the intimacy brought by the miss more and more, which was a panacea that could make her mood better.

She looked at Tang Li coquettishly, and even when she saw Lu Mingzhi, she became less aggressive.

Because the two of them had been holding hands just now.

"Master Lu."

Lu Mingzhi stood up slowly, poured tea for them considerately, treated them as guests, "The garden has a nice view, and you can enjoy the entire scenery better by sitting in the pavilion."

He was explaining why he suddenly left Lai Pavilion, and he would never admit that it was because of his health.

Qiao Ying swore: We are not deaf. We can hear your cough. It's not like we are inconsiderate of you. It's really ugly for you to find yourself walking down the stairs.

Tang Li raised her chin and said, "It's indeed good. I believe that by resting here, Mr. Lu will stop coughing."

Qiao Ying felt relieved, and her smiling eyes narrowed into a thin line.

Lu Mingzhi smiled dryly, "I understand Miss Qiao Er's worries, but there is one thing I need to explain. The dry cough just now was not me, but the young man Yuanbao."

Tangli and Qiao Ying looked at each other silently, and Qiao Yingsaid with concern, "Then you have to see a doctor, I bet I'll hurt you."

"Yes, yes, Miss Qiao is right."

Tang Li paid careful attention to Lu Mingzhi. She was not the hero, so she didn't know where the fragrance on Tang Yuan's body came from. They had been together day and night for so long, but they had never discovered the fragrance that could cure diseases. Tangli remembered that the plot said that Tangyuan was his medicine, so in order to prevent this from happening, she prepared the sachet in advance. She couldn't find the scent and couldn't prescribe the right medicine, so Tangli had to use medicinal materials to stimulate Lu Mingzhi.

The strange behavior of Lu Mingzhi before showed that the sachet was effective.

"Miss Qiao."

Qiao Ying looked over and realized that Lu Mingzhi was not calling her.

Tangli was speechless, waiting for his next words.

She didn't even bother to look at Lu Mingzhi, she lowered her eyes and played with the tea cup, silently.

Lu Mingzhi smiled bitterly. He saw Tang Li's coldness, which was completely different from the way she looked when picking flowers. Lu Mingzhi understood that her calmness was because of him, and for a moment he felt resentful and a little unwilling.

He wanted to reverse the embarrassing situation, so he said, "Miss Qiao, has your business been going well recently?"

"Yes."

Lu Mingzhi added, "You are a lady of ours, so why don't you not get involved in these philistine trivial matters, so as not to be blamed by others."

Tang Li raised her lips and smiled, "I don't steal or rob. If you ask me, those who like to gossip behind their backs will sooner or later slip their tongues."

Lu Mingzhi couldn't accept these words. He couldn't directly admit that he was the one who talked about Tangli.

He had no choice but to respond with a smile, and the three of them became silent again.

"Suddenly I remembered the bougainvillea over there. Sister Yuan, please accompany me to pick some. I also want to make fragrant dew." Qiao Ying cleverly thought of an excuse. She really regretted coming to the pavilion. She might as well enjoy the flowers.

"OK."

Qiao Ying said politely, "Then I won't disturb Mr. Lu's leisure. You are right, you can enjoy the scenery while sitting in the pavilion, but Sister Yuan and I need to pick flowers, so we have to move around."

Her words gave Lu Mingzhi face and explained why they wanted to leave.

Lu Mingzhi reluctantly smiled and bowed, watching them leave.

Bougainvillea is in another place, so Liu Zhu will naturally follow her there, and Yuan Bao has almost found out the news.

Lu Mingzhi listened and recalled her appearance in his mind.

He saw that Tang Yuan was wearing a flower hairpin, and her face was delicate and charming. Lu Mingzhi couldn't help but compare Tang Li with Tang Yuan in his heart. He could only say that they both had their own charms, and they were both beauties.

He said, "Country girl? Yuanbao, do you think she looks familiar to you?"

Yuan Bao shook his head, not understanding what Lu Mingzhi said.

Lu Mingzhi racked his brains to think about whose face and eyes she looked like, but he just couldn't remember.

That's all, why do you want to do this?

But since she is a new maid, she must have never seen anything good.

He pulled off his jade pendant, weighed it, and chuckled.

Yuan Bao said cautiously, "Sir, this is the Qiao Mansion."

Lu Mingzhi squinted and said disdainfully, "Didn't you see the young master that the maid seduced? Not long ago, when we were in the main hall, she deliberately spoke loudly to attract my attention. Just now, she smiled and stood so close to me. It was not for the purpose of seducing. What is she doing for?"

How could a mere maid escape from the palm of his hand? Even if it was Qiao Er's maid, it would not be difficult.

Yuan Bao sighed silently. The young master always thought about picking up yin and replenishing the yang, but he never really looked in the mirror. The young master didn't cherish his body. In recent years, people have become a lot more gloomy. How could he still have that gentleness? It looks like jade. What on earth is young master trying to do with this?

Another gust of wind blew, and Lu Mingzhi smelled the fragrance of the flowers and suddenly felt relaxed and happy.

He knew that he was not coughing because of the fragrance of flowers, and that his body would become healthier and healthier.

"Let's go see Qiao Er."

Qiao Ying's voice was heard across the courtyard wall. Lu Mingzhi broke into the sea of ​​bougainvillea flowers. He saw Qiao Ying concentrating on picking flowers. Tangli was no longer around, only Tangyuan was looking at the petals in a basket.

Lu Mingzhi's eyes lit up and he said, "Little maid, have you seen my jade pendant?"

"Jade pendant?"

Lu Mingzhi nodded, "My jade pendant is missing."

Tang Yuan asked confusedly, "Is it a gift from the miss?"

"Of course not." Lu Mingzhi was speechless and choked. How could his jade pendant be related to Qiao Er?

Tang Yuan tightened the bamboo basket with her arms and said sternly, "That won't work. I am the miss's maid, so I only look for the miss's things."

"...It's ridiculous!"

Tangyuan looked Lu Mingzhi up and down, and then turned sideways to let him see her sachet. Worried that he could not see it, she took it out and walked towards him, shook it and said, "Is it ridiculous? This slave, you don't understand at all. Don't think it's ridiculous, the things given by the miss deserve to be treated like this by the slave. For example, this sachet was given by the miss. If I lose it, slave will die."

Of course she knew that Tang Li had never given anything to Lu Mingzhi. It was false to refuse Lu Mingzhi's help, but it was true to show off.

Tang Yuan snorted disdainfully, her almond shaped eyes were sarcastic, pretty yet fierce.

Compared with me, you are still far behind.

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