Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Lu Baoer originally thought that she would be the same as Li Jiao, so Su looked at her for a few seconds and let her go.

But this time Su was different from usual. She suddenly put away her smile, waved towards Lu Baoer, and called her softly, "Come closer, let me take a look."

Lu Baoer and the old nanny looked at each other, and the old nanny nodded at her kindly. This action meant that Su had no ill intentions and Lu Baoer did not need to be too frightened.

With so many ladies watching, she didn't want to look panicked and make a fool of herself. So she took a deep breath, walked gracefully, and asked with a soft smile, "Madam, is there anything wrong with me?"

This was a family dinner, so there weren't many rules. So Lu Baoer's words weren't considered out of line. Instead, they were praised for her courage, saying she wasn't afraid of meeting the county lady.

Su suddenly held Lu Baoer's hand and murmured, "It's so similar..."

"Like what?" Even though Su spoke softly, Lu Baoer heard it and couldn't help but ask her.

Seeing the other ladies leaning forward slightly, afraid they might have missed something, Su immediately recovered and said with a smile, "It's alright, you're a good person, there's no need to be so afraid of me. Madam Xie looks young, but she's very steady and I have a good impression of her."

Everyone gasped, their hearts pounding. They couldn't quite fathom Su's intentions. She looked down on Li Jiao, yet instead favored Lu Bao'er? She even praised her profusely, offering a measured assessment. Wasn't this a blatant slap in Li Jiao's face? To promote a country lady, she'd even thrown the dignity of her host family aside?

Mrs. Qian, from the Minister of Rites' family, had previously been treated unfairly by the Su family, and now, seeing this situation, she was puzzled. Could it be that the Su and Gu families were at odds, and were making a big deal out of it? If the Minister of Revenue's family and the Minister of the Chancellery's family were at odds, should she stay close to the Gu family or distance herself from them?

Each family was thinking about these things in their hearts, and for a moment they were a little jealous of Lu Baoer, who was so lucky to be so close to the Su family.

Li Jiao was initially brimming with pride. She was far more impressive than her friends, having invited Su to a fragrance appreciation gathering. However, she didn't receive much praise from Su, and instead, Lu Bao'er took the cake. Who was this woman? First, she had seduced her beloved Xie Junling, and now, Su had fallen for her too.

She couldn't help but look at Lu Baoer. She was dressed simply and elegantly, like a lotus emerging from water, delicate but not gaudy, charming but not seductive.

Li Jiao originally thought that she was one of the most beautiful women in Kyoto, but now compared with Lu Baoer, she felt a little ashamed... No, Lu Baoer was just a petty-minded girl, not worthy of being in a high-class place. How could she be able to suppress the beauty of the peony hairpin and be so beautiful and rich?

Su didn't want others to continue looking at Lu Baoer. She smiled and took out a jade green lotus hairpin from her hair and handed it to Lu Baoer, saying, "This is the first time we've met, so I don't have anything new to give you. This is for you. I've worn it for decades, it's an old item. If you don't mind, I'll give it to you so that you can share in the good fortune."

When this hairpin was taken out, even the old nanny was a little confused. If Su had a crush on her, she could have just given her a piece of jewelry to carry around with her. Why give her something like this from an official with such a prominent background?

Lin Yudie was also whispering to the lady next to her: "What's the origin of that hairpin? It looks like white jade and moist, it doesn't look like an ordinary thing."

The lady she was trying to persuade wasn't particularly wealthy, but she didn't want anything to do with Lin Yudie. She was afraid that if Lin Yudie pestered her a few times, someone would see her, so she spoke quickly to silence her. "That hairpin was given to the old lady by Prince Shou when she got married. Along with the ninety-nine jade hairpins that came with her as a dowry, it was called the Hundred Years Hairpin, symbolizing a long and happy marriage and prosperity. Now that it's been given to that lady, it's probably meant to bring her blessings."

If you put it that way, then it must be quite impressive. Lin Yudie smacked her lips, and also felt a little jealous.

Lu Baoer was a simpleton, and she didn't realize that everyone's eyes were almost glued to her. She just smiled sweetly, took Su's hairpin, and thanked her.

After meeting each other in the reception room, everyone moved to another courtyard to have their meal.

Lu Baoer was walking at the end. She and the old nanny had not taken a few steps when someone suddenly called her. The person who came was Qiuju, Su's personal maid.

Qiu Ju smiled and said, "Thank you, Madam. Please stay for a while."

Lu Baoer asked in surprise, "Are you the old lady's maid? What can I do for you?" "My name is Qiuju, and I serve the old lady on weekdays." Qiuju folded her hands and bowed to her. "The old lady wants to ask you something. I wonder if Madam Xie is free to sit in the pavilion?"

Lu Baoer had received guidance from the old nanny, so she naturally wouldn't offend Su's face. So she said, "It's the middle of winter now, and the pavilion is too cold. I'm afraid the old lady is not feeling well. Why don't we find a room with a floor heating? I'll go and pay my respects to the old lady."

Qiu Ju was surprised by Lu Bao'er's thoughtfulness. She smiled and said, "That would be the best. The old lady has rheumatism and bone pain, and she can't stand the cold. Then come with me, madam. I'll take you to the warm room to see the old lady."

Qiu Ju and Lu Bao'er's words were naturally told to Su Shi by someone. After listening, Su Shi asked in surprise, "Did she really say that?"

Madam Zhao, the elderly woman beside Madam Su, pursed her lips and smiled, "Isn't it? Madam Xie is truly a well-behaved woman. However, I am a little curious. I heard that Madam Xie is just from a commoner background and doesn't have any relatives serving in the imperial court in Kyoto. Why did she catch your eye?"

Su sighed and asked, "Do you think she looks a bit like Yao'er?"

Aunt Zhao was startled and asked tremblingly, "Does she look a bit like the eldest lady?"

Su's second daughter was named Fu Yao. Thirteen years ago, Fu Yao and her husband from the Cheng family brought their infant daughter to Kyoto for the Lunar New Year. On the Youzhou waterway, they encountered robbers and both husband and wife were killed. Only their infant daughter, Cheng Lingyan, survived and was found by Su. She felt the most pity for Fu Yao, thinking that Cheng Lingyan was all alone and helpless, without parental support. Even if she returned to the wealthy Cheng family, what would become of her? Wouldn't she still be devoured by the uncles and aunts who bullied her orphanage? It would be better for her to raise her in her care, so she could protect Cheng Lingyan for the rest of her life.

In this way, Cheng Lingyan grew up in her maternal grandparents' home and was Su's darling.

Su often dreamed of her deceased daughter, always waking up in the middle of the night with tears soaking her clothes. She felt as if she had just seen Lu Bao'er, and she was overwhelmed with wonder. How could there be someone so similar? And the jade pendant around her waist... Su remembered it was the Hetian jade she had left for Su Yao. It had a small chip on the left side, accidentally knocked against it when she handed it over.

Why is this jade pendant on Lu Baoer?

Su was puzzled. After Lu Baoer entered the warm room, she asked kindly, "I came to see Madam Xie because I want to ask you something. Where did you get this jade around your waist?"

Lu Baoer said, "This is the jade my father left me before he died. I don't know where it came from."

"What about your mother?"

"I grew up with my father and have never seen my mother."

"Oh, so that's the case. One more thing, has your father ever been to Youzhou?" Her daughter encountered robbers on the waterway in Youzhou and her body was never found.

"Youzhou?" Lu Baoer frowned, thought about it carefully, and said, "I don't know about that. I don't even know where Daddy went when he was young."

Su Shi didn't give up and continued to ask her, "Where is your father from? Where does he live? Could you tell me his name?"

These questions were so bizarre that Lu Baoer didn't know what to say. She pondered for a moment, then answered honestly, "My father and I live in Jinhua Town. His surname is Lu, and his given name is Jin. Why is the old lady asking these questions? Did something happen?"

Su shook her head and said, "It's okay. Madam Xie, go play. You don't have to accompany me. I'm old and a little tired. I need to lie down for a while."

"Okay, then I'll go out first. Madam, have a good rest." Lu Baoer was completely confused, but she didn't think much about it and left the warm room on her own.

There were too many things that happened today. When she returns later, she will have to have a good talk with Xie Junling to see if there is anything wrong.

(End of this chapter)