Yuan Ling’s gaze shifted, and the white-clothed young servant immediately stepped forward, pointing at Xu Wanzhi: “Qu Zhu Jun, the Junling has invited you. By refusing so, are you trying to embarrass the Junling?”
Xu Wanzhi raised an eyebrow, looking at him strangely: “We just met and don’t know each other. Why would I embarrass him? What does your Yu Ling Young Master’s Qingxin Banquet have to do with me?”
Yuan Ling suddenly stopped him, glancing at the embarrassed and panicked steward and old man. Turning to Xu Wanzhi, who had a slight hint of impatience between her brows, he smiled lightly: “Qu Zhu Jun, please excuse the rudeness. Anyway, Yuan Ling will take his leave now.”
“Please feel free.”
These words were indeed directed at him.
Xu Wanzhi’s politeness was well-cultivated, and she courteously responded, waiting for him to turn away with the angry young servant before slowly walking off.
Little did she know that in a world where no wall is completely soundproof, the Qu family also had gossipy servants. Despite the steward’s strict instructions, the story twisted and leaked out.
It was merely that the Qu family’s reclusive main wife, after a serious illness, had suddenly become fierce, preventing the master from taking concubines and forcing her to be away for months! Especially unacceptable was daring to argue with Yu Ling’s first young master, Yuan Ling Junling, who personally visited, disrespecting his face, which was entirely against wifely virtues and unworthy of being a noble wife… causing quite a stir.
Regardless of how wild the rumors were, Xu Wanzhi’s small courtyard remained undisturbed and serene. After touring this ancient garden for several days and feeling the novelty fade, she found it boring and wanted to explore the outside world, planning to return home by any means.
Here, she had no concerns, needing only to dress properly to go out.
The sky was blue, the clouds sparse and the weather fine.
“Master, are you going out?”
Qi’er, entering from outside, encountered her light steps. Xu Wanzhi, in a good mood, casually responded: “What, I can’t go out?”
How could a noble wife go out without preparation, wandering casually?!
