Chapter 42: A World Apart

Li Shuang took a sip of tea and gently set the cup down.

“I remember they came to your house; what did you all play back then?”

Li Shuang didn’t want to talk, nor could she. “My mother had some friends who brought their children to play, and Second Cousin was really impressive, he was the best at everything.”

After saying this, she caught a glimpse of Xie Yunzhao standing very close to the carriage and let out a small sigh of relief.

Shen Shurong noticed her subtle movements and handed her a snack, “I heard that once, they followed you to hunt.”

Just as Li Shuang received it, she dropped the snack.

“How can you be so careless?” Shen Shurong offered her another piece.

This was all information that Li Shuang had told her in her previous life.

“Elder Cousin, Elder Cousin is particularly impressive. One year, he and Second Cousin came to my house with my father for a hunt, and Elder Cousin brought back a deer. Second Cousin, knowing this, threw away the rabbit he was holding and searched the mountains for the deer. In the end, he came back still holding only a rabbit. Isn’t that funny?’

Every time Li Shuang chatted with her, she would praise Xie Yunzheng; she truly hadn’t anticipated that she would enjoy such amusing stories.

After waiting for two full years, it was ultimately because her husband didn’t respond that she listened to her Aunt and went home to marry.

“What happened during that hunting trip?”

Li Shuang raised her head and glanced at Shen Shurong again. Did she know something?

Second Cousin wouldn’t have told her; right, Elder Cousin must have boasted about it to her.

Steeling herself, Li Shuang spoke, “That time, Elder Cousin hunted a deer…”

“Is that so? They were quite young back then; it must have been difficult to hunt a deer, right?”

Li Shuang didn’t speak, merely pursed her lips and nodded.

What was the point of not speaking? “No wonder you admire your Elder Cousin so much.”

Li Shuang lowered her eyelids and closed her eyes for a moment; that wasn’t the case. It was clear she liked Elder Cousin!

“What did Brother Yunzhao hunt that time?” Shen Shurong asked again.

Li Shuang’s small hand picked at her palm. Was this conversation ever going to end?

“Rongrong, we’ve arrived.” Xie Yunzhao’s voice was slightly urgent; he didn’t want Rongrong to know that he had lost terribly that time.

The two inside the carriage stopped their topic as they prepared to get off.

When the carriage stopped, Xie Yunzhao lifted the curtain and shot Li Shuang a glare.

Li Shuang felt tears welling up; Second Cousin was such a fool. The Junzhu was clearly using her to express how much she liked Elder Cousin, but he couldn’t even pick up on that.

As Li Shuang stepped down from the carriage, Xie Yunzhao moved back, allowing her maid to help her.

Shen Shurong got off the carriage, and Xie Yunzhao was afraid of being one step too late, quickly helping her down.

“There’s not much to see at the pawnshop; I have business to attend to with the Junzhu. Cousin, you can stroll around by yourself.”

Li Shuang bit her lip hard, “Yes, Second Cousin, I understand.”

Li Shuang didn’t dare wander too far, just looking at a few shops on her left.

By the time the two came out of the pawnshop, Li Shuang was already waiting by the carriage.

Xie Yunzhao steadied Shen Shurong and stepped up to follow her, “Cousin, sit in the back of the carriage.”

Li Shuang walked to the back, her face flushed.

Shen Shurong leaned against him, “Brother Yunzhao, I want to rest for a bit.”

“Hmm, don’t let others on your carriage; you can’t even rest when you’re tired.”

“Cousin Li Shuang isn’t an outsider?”

“If she’s not an outsider, then who am I?”

Shen Shurong pinched his hand, “I understand; you’re not, she is.”

Xie Yunzhao was satisfied and gently kissed her hair, the delightful scent of roses wafting up to him.

…

“Ever since Xie Yunzhao got engaged, he looks for Commandery Princess Yongjia every day.”

“The Junzhu probably doesn’t want that, but she can’t refuse.”

On the street, several noble young ladies saw Shen Shurong coming out of the pawnshop and whispered among themselves.

Among them was Li Wan’er.

Recently, she had been getting to know some daughters of officials, and a few of them got along well. Today, they had arranged to go shopping together.

A few days ago, she had asked her mother about the past between Commandery Princess Yongjia and Xie Yunzhao, discovering that their engagement had only lasted four years.

She also learned about Xie Yunzhao’s character and felt that Commandery Princess Yongjia would not be willing to marry him.

At this moment, seeing the couple together, she felt a bit envious; after that polo match, Xie Yunzheng had not invited her out again.

Even the invitation to the polo match had been extended in Xie Yunzhao’s name under the Duke of Lu’s household.

One brother would love to see her every day, while the other would prefer not to see her at all; they were clearly siblings, yet the difference was too stark.

Li Wan’er immediately lost interest, “I just remembered, I have something to do today. I’ll head back first.”

She said goodbye to her friends.

Madam Li was somewhat puzzled when she saw her return so soon, had she not just gone out?

Noticing her daughter’s displeased expression, she sent someone out, “Daughter, why aren’t you happy?”

“Mother, Xie Yunzhao knows to take his fiancée out, but why doesn’t Xie Yunzheng?”

Madam Li glared at her, “They are brothers, but they are worlds apart; what’s the use of comparing them?”

“If Xie Yunzheng hasn’t accomplished anything. Are you still willing to marry him? He is the future of the Duke of Lu’s household; there are no romantic entanglements involved, and once he becomes a marquis, he won’t meet Commandery Princess Yongjia often.”

Li Wan’er was just jealous, “Even if they don’t meet, he should at least send something. I haven’t even seen a box of snacks from him.”

Madam Li had nothing further to say; indeed, he should at least send something with a few words of greeting.

“Should I ask the Duchess to arrange a meeting?”

“No!” Li Wan’er turned her back, what was her mother asking about?

“Don’t be ashamed; I’ll take you to visit some friends. They are engaged now, so it’s not a big deal.”

Li Wan’er stood up and pushed her mother, “I said no, Mother, I want to take a nap.”

Madam Li glared at her, “It’s still morning. Hurry up, he must be busy recently. When he has time, you can ask your mother about him.”

“Understood.”

…

After a morning of visiting three shops, Shen Shurong felt tired and wanted to return to the residence, so Xie Yunzhao accompanied her.

After sending her off, he felt awkward; he still had to take his cousin back to the Duke of Lu’s Mansion. If he didn’t send her, his mother would scold him, but if he did, he would have no reason to accompany Rongrong for lunch.

“I’ll come to keep you company this afternoon?” He stared at Shen Shurong with longing.

Shen Shurong smiled and shook her head, “No, I need to sort out the issues I discovered today and take a nap. You should rest as well.”

At that moment, Xie Yunzhao wished he could send Li Shuang back to her hometown; if he stayed, he could spend the entire afternoon with her.

Watching Shen Shurong enter, he hung his head and mounted his horse, “Let’s go back.”

Sending her back was impractical; Li Shuang would at least stay until Xie Yunzheng’s wedding. He needed to think of a way…

After a day of frustration, Li Wan’er received an invitation from the Duke of Lu’s Mansion in the afternoon, asking her to meet tomorrow at a location of her choosing.

Madam Li smiled at her, “Mother said he’s busy, don’t overthink it. To receive such a generous invitation from the Lu’s Mansion, you should be grateful.”

Li Wan’er’s cheeks flushed, “Did he really send this? Why isn’t there a signature?”

“Of course, if it wasn’t Xie Yunzheng, it could only be Xie Yunzhao!”

Li Wan’er’s face turned even redder, “Mother, where shall we go?”

Madam Li’s smile widened, “Mother will help you strategize…”

…

In the Zhaohui Courtyard of the Duke of Lu’s Mansion, Chi Yu entered the study and handed Xie Yunzheng the invitation, “Heir, from the Li family’s young lady.”

???

Li family’s young lady?

Oh! Li Wan’er.

Xie Yunzheng took it, and the characters on the invitation seemed completely unfamiliar to him, ‘Tomorrow at the third watch, enjoying lotus at Qingquan Lake.’