Chapter 3: Each with Their Own Thoughts

Lady Niu’s eyes flickered with a momentary surprise, but she quickly replied, "Alright."

Turning her gaze toward Su Xinyu with a smile, she said, "I see that you and your maid look exhausted. Go to the guest rooms to wash up and get some proper rest first; I shall head to the Lu residence."

Having been unsettled by terror all night and having slept almost not at all, Su Xinyu was indeed both weary and sleepy.

"Thank you, Uncle and Auntie."

Under the guidance of the Mu family servants, the master and maid went to the guest courtyard.

Once inside the guest room and seeing the servants walk away, Su Xinyu pulled on Qin Qi. "Can I choose not to marry?"

"Miss, the world is unstable right now; there are bullies and bandits," Qin Qi said distressedly. "The Master and Madam are no longer here. If you have no one to rely on in the future, it will be very difficult to live in this world."

The Miss's beauty was too striking.

In the current state of the world, it was very difficult for a beautiful woman to live alone.

"Moreover, the marriage was arranged by the Master and Madam for you."

Hearing this, Su Xinyu fell silent.

The circumstances of her transmigration were truly difficult to put into words.

——

Deep within the courtyard, golden leaves fell.

The Lu residence, Qingfeng Residence.

After locking all the bandit suspects in the dungeon, Lu Chengxu returned home to rest.

Being a man who valued cleanliness, he bathed as soon as he returned to Qingfeng Residence. After bathing, his drowsiness vanished, so he entered the study to sit upright, holding a chess manual with well-defined knuckles, playing a game against himself.

Suddenly, a fragrance wafted in, followed by a gentle voice: "Cousin, someone just came by to propose a marriage for Sixth Cousin."

The woman held a plate of pastries, her figure swaying gracefully as she lifted her skirt slightly to step over the threshold.

"Sixth Cousin is about to marry, yet Fifth Cousin is still all alone. Third Madam must be feeling quite sorrowful."

Just as she had barely placed the pastries on the writing desk, a voice devoid of any warmth rang out: "Take them away."

The woman froze, motionless.

Lu Chengxu's gaze remained on the chess manual: "Someone, come."

A guard appeared and cupped his fists: "Young Master?"

"Women are not permitted to enter Qingfeng Residence."

His voice was cold and detached.

"Cousin, you know the Young Master prefers quiet; it is not as if you do not know," the guard said, raising a hand toward the exit. "Please, take your leave."

The woman looked as if she were about to weep and began to walk away.

Lu Chengxu couldn't be bothered to speak again, his brow furrowing coldly.

The guard understood and picked up the pastries to return them to the woman: "This kind of rubbish pastry—my Young Master does not eat it."

The woman hurried out of the study, tears streaming down her face.

Once the woman had gone far away, the guard said, "Young Master, Qingfeng Residence is your living quarters, and women are not allowed inside. Do you plan to remain a bachelor for life?"

Lu Chengxu did not respond.

The guard continued incessantly: "I heard from my subordinates that someone really did come to propose for the Sixth Young Master just now. The woman was indeed the one from last night with the blisters on her palms."

Lu Chengxu picked up a black piece and placed it on the board, making a sound more dull than usual.

"Why so much nonsense? I still have to investigate the case tonight."

"Then Young Master, please rest quickly."

——

The sky had been fine at noon, but by the afternoon, it began to turn gloomy.

Lady Niu had eaten lunch at the Lu residence and did not return to the Mu residence until the hour of the Goat.

Mu Rong asked her, "How did things go?"

Lady Niu glanced outside the house: "Where is your niece?"

"She had her meal in the guest room and has likely rested again due to the fatigue of travel."

Lady Niu sighed: "The Lu family looked down on Xinyu for having lost both parents and voided the marriage engagement."

"Such a thing happened?" Mu Rong struck the table. After a moment's thought, he added, "Do not tell Xinyu about this for now."

He had to think of a way.

Lady Niu naturally agreed and walked toward her daughter Mu Baoxia's courtyard.

Mu Baoxia was sitting before a mirror applying makeup. Seeing her mother in the reflection, she hurriedly asked, "Mother, I heard Cousin has arrived. Is she here to marry Sixth Lang?"

"Rest assured," Lady Niu said, looking at her daughter's lovely face in the mirror with a smile. "Lu Sixth Lang only has you in his heart. Today, the Lu family canceled the marriage between Su Xinyu and him."

"Truly?" Mu Baoxia turned around in joy.

Lady Niu helped her daughter tidy the stray hairs by her ear: "Of course it is true."

How could an orphaned girl be compared to her daughter?

After her parents passed away, she was able to hold the Mu family's assets firmly in her hands. Three years ago, after Lord Su and his wife both perished, she was able to interfere and prevent the orphaned girl from coming to the capital.

Now, naturally, she could also help her daughter secure a good marriage.

At this moment in the front courtyard, Mu Rong was pacing back and forth.

Over the years, he had been busy with government affairs and had not looked after his niece, which filled him with guilt.

The Lu family was a Duke's household, of high social standing.

With her engagement broken and her parents gone, it would be difficult for his niece to find another fine husband in the future, let alone a family as good as the Lu family.

Suddenly, two young voices rang out.

"Father."

"Father-in-law."

Mu Rong looked up; it was his son and daughter-in-law returning home.

Early this morning, Mu Haiyu had accompanied his wife, Ma Manman, back to her maiden home.

Seeing the young couple returning while chatting and laughing, an idea formed in Mu Rong's mind.

"Haiyu, your cousin Xinyu arrived today."

Hearing this, Mu Haiyu was delighted: "Cousin Xinyu is here? Good!"

Ma Manman also said, "Where is Cousin Xinyu? I haven't met her yet."

"It won't be too late to see her at dinner."

Soon, dinner time arrived.

Having slept for a long time during the day, the look of fatigue had vanished from Su Xinyu's face, and her coarse clothes had been changed into elegant, graceful dresses.

In the dining hall, seeing her exquisite face and her graceful, stepping gait as she approached, the eyes of the Mu family members were filled with amazement.

Mu Rong was even more pleased: "Xinyu, come quickly and eat."

Lady Niu felt extremely fortunate that she had said to the Lu family: [They say a girl changes significantly as she grows; I must say fairly, my niece has become less and less impressive as she grows up.]

She hadn't expected that the girl who looked like a little beggar just now, once washed clean and dressed in a skirt, would possess such fine features.

Despite clearly having lost both parents, she had somehow been raised to be as delicate as a precious flower, instantly outshining her daughter and daughter-in-law.

Though she thought this, Lady Niu showed none of it on her face, warmly pulling Su Xinyu to a seat: "It has been at least five years since we last met; we should get to know each other again."

"These are your cousin and cousin-in-law."

Before her sat a young man and woman; the man was quite handsome, and the woman was a delicate beauty. Su Xinyu greeted them one by one: "Cousin, Cousin-in-law."

Mu Haiyu nodded in response: "Hello, Cousin."

The young girl had skin like snow and lips like cherries; her appearance was top-tier.

It was no exaggeration to say that among the noble ladies of the capital, none could match the beauty of this cousin.

Ma Manman masked the flash of jealousy in her eyes and said with a smile, "Cousin is so beautiful, it truly makes one happy."

"Everyone is beautiful, everyone is beautiful." Lady Niu smiled and pointed to her daughter, Mu Baoxia, continuing the introduction, "This is your elder cousin."

Su Xinyu once again greeted her politely: "Elder Cousin."

"Now that Cousin is home, treat it as your own," Mu Baoxia greeted her with a smile. "Father, Mother, Cousin must be hungry; let's eat quickly."

The woman before her had a stunning face and a slender waist; even though she was dressed simply, her appearance was undeniably eye-catching.

Lu Sixth Lang would not like such a woman.

Her looks were too attention-grabbing; such a woman would not be well-behaved.

Despite thinking this, her face showed nothing, and she expressed her concern as an elder cousin with perfect moderation.

Seeing that everyone in the family welcomed Su Xinyu so warmly, Mu Rong felt very gratified and was the first to pick up his chopsticks: "Good, good, good, everyone, eat."

(End of Chapter)