Daiyu from the Red Mansion is also arguing with people today

Chapter 172 Farewell to Xu Zhilan

"Don't force yourself, Mr. Lin. Just let fate take its course. I will send the invitation to your house when the time comes. If we are destined to meet, we will meet."

The monk looked at Daiyu kindly with a reassuring smile. This smile made Daiyu suddenly feel that her previous behavior seemed a little unkind. After all, she came here more for points, rather than for true devotion to Buddha.

Just as she was about to respond, there was a commotion at the main entrance and a group of people came in.

"Yu'er, I'm late!"

The leader was Xu Zhilan, who was supporting a strange young woman. Behind her were Wang Tingyu and several maids and servants, including Madam Zhao.

But after Wang Tingyu sent Xu Zhilan into the main hall, he just nodded to Daiyu and turned away.

The abbot saw this and nodded slightly to Daiyu, then walked to the center of the hall and said, "Now that everyone is here, let's start the ritual. Don't miss the auspicious time."

"That's right!" Xu Zhilan agreed, walked to Daiyu's side, knelt down with her, and explained in a low voice, "Some things delayed us, but fortunately we didn't miss the time."

Daiyu gave Xu Zhilan a sweet smile, but she noticed a probing gaze from the corner of her eye. She followed the gaze and met the eyes of the young woman.

Daiyu had some guesses in her mind, but the monk had already started chanting, so she could only temporarily suppress her doubts and follow him in chanting.

After the ritual, Xu Zhilan was very tired, especially her knees, which were a little swollen. She wanted to wait for Daiyu in the back room, but Daiyu declined.

Xu Zhilan held Daiyu's hand tightly, unwilling to let go: "Yu'er, you are in mourning, so it is inconvenient for me to visit you. I can only take this opportunity to talk to you more. I will take a rest in the side room, and we will have a good chat after today's ritual is finished."

Seeing this, the young woman, Wang Tingyu's wife, Chen, also comforted her gently, "Mother-in-law, you should go back and rest first. When Miss Lin is done with mourning, we can send her an invitation and invite her to our house."

Daiyu was a little embarrassed, so she could only confess: "To be honest, I plan to return to Yangzhou after June."

"Why do you suddenly want to go back to Yangzhou!" Xu Zhilan grabbed Daiyu's hand, using a little force.

"Aunt Xu, I'm going back to Yangzhou to take off my mourning clothes." Daiyu gently patted the back of Xu Zhilan's hand, trying to calm her down.

Xu Zhilan silently estimated the time and said with emotion: "Time flies so fast. Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. No, I can't go back first. I have to wait for you in the wing room!"

Chen had never seen Xu Zhilan so stubborn before, and she was dumbfounded standing aside.

Daiyu did have something to say to Xu Zhilan, so she persuaded him, "Aunt Xu, my mother's spirit in heaven will surely understand your deep affection and kindness, so you don't have to stay here. I have rented a yard next to Hongji Temple. You can go back and have a rest first, and let Nanny Wang massage your knees and apply some medicated oil."

Xu Zhilan's knees were indeed a little sore, so she didn't insist. She said to Chen, "Go back home first and tell the master that I will stay at Yu'er's place tonight and will not go back home."

"Mother-in-law, this..." Chen hesitated and stammered without agreeing.

Xu Zhilan waved his handkerchief at Daiyu, took Chen's arm and walked out, saying as he walked, "Let's talk as we go. Don't delay Yu'er's ritual."

Daiyu looked at Luluo and ordered, "Luluo, go and lead the way for Aunt Xu."

When Daiyu finished a day's rituals and returned to the courtyard, she heard lively sounds before she even entered the yard.

"Hurry up and wash this dish. Also, this is what your wife loved to eat the most!"

Daiyu pushed open the door and saw Xu Zhilan looking at her with a visibly happy smile on his face. Daiyu suddenly felt uncomfortable and her eyes turned red.

Xu Zhilan noticed Daiyu's abnormality and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong? Is there anything wrong?"

"No, no." Daiyu denied it repeatedly, suppressing the strangeness in her heart, and took Xu Zhilan's arm and asked, "Aunt Xu, what were you busy in the yard just now? I heard it all from outside."

"It's your uncle who thinks I won't be used to living with you, so he insists on sending so many things and food over here." Although Xu Zhilan complained, Daiyu could still hear the sweetness in it.

Looking back, how many people laughed at Xu Zhilan for marrying an idle royal family member who only knew how to catch cats and fight dogs every day. But now, how many people envy her, because her family is simple and she is her only husband.

At least on the surface, there was not a single concubine in the General Fuguo's Mansion.

Daiyu smiled mischievously and said, "My uncle is so kind to Aunt Xu!"

She was really envious: in this era, not to mention the royal family, even the seventh-rank county magistrate had two concubines. People like Wang Zhisong were extremely rare.

"Of course! I married him under so much pressure!" Xu Zhilan originally wanted to mention Wang Tingyao, but he also knew that he couldn't rush things, so he changed his words and said, "If you don't believe me, go back and ask your father. Back then in Shenjing City, although your mother and I were not the most sought-after girls, we had a very good reputation. If not for... cough, your father wouldn't have gotten such a good deal!"

Daiyu looked curious, but Xu Zhilan obviously didn't intend to continue this topic.

"You have tidied up your courtyard very nicely. It's a pity that I don't have a house nearby, otherwise you could live here." Xu Zhilan followed Daiyu into the main house.

Before this, Luluo had someone clean up the room on the west side, and now it has been decorated.

The two of them sat side by side on the kang in the inner room, while the others waited outside.

Xu Zhilan looked a little lonely. She held Daiyu's hand and said with a choked voice, "Yu'er, I really can't bear to leave you! If you leave, I don't know when we can meet again."

Daiyu hurriedly held Xu Zhilan's hand and comforted him, "When Dad goes to Beijing to report on his work, I can come back with him. Otherwise, Aunt Xu and Uncle will go to Yangzhou for a tour?"

Xu Zhilan shook his head gently and sighed: "There is a rule in this dynasty that the royal family cannot leave the capital without the emperor's order. They all envy me for marrying a good man, but who can understand the pain of being unable to step out of the jurisdiction of this capital for a lifetime!"

Daiyu listened and felt sad for Xu Zhilan, but she couldn't reveal the future changes to her, so she could only nod obediently.

"So, choosing a husband is a big deal for a woman. Min'er was just unlucky and died early, otherwise your father would have been disappointing." Xu Zhilan sighed faintly.

Daiyu felt sad when she heard this, and she also felt sorry for the women of this era.

She thought of her previous worries and begged Xu Zhilan: "Aunt Xu, please write a letter to my father! I am also worried that he will let me marry blindly or marry me to someone he thinks is suitable. If it is not a good man, I would rather cut my hair and become a nun!"