Chapter 255 - 264: Not Cherishing Sentiments
“Madam, this servant doesn’t know who those young men are, only that they said Master sent them to find you, they conveyed the news of Master’s safety, and when I pressed them, they refused to say more. They only mentioned that they would inform you upon seeing you. Moreover, those young men seemed rather secretive, which made me fear something might be amiss. Madam, if you decide to meet them, please be cautious and have some bodyguards accompany you for reassurance.”
Having served Su Wenyue for so long, Aunt Li naturally knew her master’s temperament and didn’t need to guess that Su Wenyue would surely meet those young masters, especially since they claimed to come on Master’s orders.
“They said Husband sent them? Do they have any proof?” Su Wenyue asked with skepticism. When Aunt Li handed over the sachet, Su Wenyue’s eyes paused, recognizing it as her own handiwork. Han Yu cherished the things she made, especially this sachet which had a special meaning at the time. He always carried it with him, but the story behind it was unknown to others. Hence, when the young men came with the sachet, it was likely on Han Yu’s behest.
“If that is the case, then let them in. I will see them in the hall,” Su Wenyue said without a hint of hesitation. No matter what the young men’s intentions were, she had to meet them because of the sachet.
The young men had been waiting outside for a while before being invited in by the servants. Entering the Han Family’s courtyard, they didn’t display any particular emotions but felt internally that, although the courtyard was simple, it was tidied up neatly and probably Madam Han’s doing. Moreover, judging from the way Lord Han spoke about her, Madam Han must be a capable and astute Mistress of the house.
The young men all thought this, so when they saw Su Wenyue, they were momentarily startled and uncomfortable. Madam Han seemed quite young; wasn’t she supposed to be a mother of three? How did she still look so youthful? She wasn’t much older than themselves, and her whole bearing was comparable to, if not exceeding, those of the women from the Aristocratic Families in Chang’an. Could such a delicate-looking woman who appeared to need protection truly be Lord Han’s wife and manage their affairs as he claimed?
At that moment, the young men harbored doubts, only Qi Shen, the youngest, felt a strong liking for Su Wenyue, thinking she was like his older sister. Unfortunately, his sister and kin had all been killed by a group of thieves, so he looked at Su Wenyue with a radiant, somewhat foolish smile.
“Are you Madam Han?” Zhai Li asked uncertainly, gazing at the woman before him with delicate and lovely features. He didn’t question what Han Yu had said, but he felt certain he had the wrong person. Perhaps this was Madam Han’s younger sister?
“Indeed, I am Han Yu’s wife. The servants mentioned you wanted to see me?” Su Wenyue nodded, confirming her identity, taking note of the young men’s doubts and distrust but not commenting further, waiting for the young masters to respond on their own.
“Please excuse my intrusion, Madam is just so youthful, different from what Master Han described, so I was taken aback for a moment. Please forgive me,” Zhai Li candidly said. They came from a Martial Arts Family and believed in the straightforwardness of the martial arts world, not the convolution of the upper-class nobility. This frankness was something Su Wenyue appreciated.
Lan Xin and Lan Fang had gone to bed, but roused by the noise, they got up and saw several handsome young men, who, despite their modest dress, exuded an air and upbringing that appealed to them. They speculated about the young men’s Status, but being prudent, they didn’t openly inquire, only looked on curiously.
Zhai Li and the others, however, didn’t want to be scrutinized. Their current identities were better kept secret; seeing fewer people meant less risk of exposure. Not only were they putting themselves in danger, but now they might also jeopardize Lord Han.
Having taken the Su Lanxin and Su Lanfang sisters under her wing, Su Wenyue was responsible for them and had promised her eldest aunt to look after them, so she couldn’t let the sisters encounter outsiders: “Lan Xin, Lan Fang, there’s nothing left for you to do here. You can go back to your rooms to rest. Grandma Chen, keep a close watch, make sure the young Misses rest well and check if the doors and windows are securely closed against the cold.”
Grandma Chen complied, and with Su Wenyue’s word, the Lan sisters had no choice but to leave. However, before departing, Lan Fang gave Zhai Li another curious glance, thinking the young man looked familiar but certain she had never met him before, which made her feel a bit peculiar.
Once Lan Xin and Lan Fang had left, Zhai Li and the others also sighed in relief, feeling a bit nervous from the girls’ scrutiny.
“Alright, now you can tell me why you sought me out. What message did Husband send with you? Why didn’t he come back himself and instead sent you with a message?” Su Wenyue urgently wanted to know.
When Su Wenyue asked, Zhai Li and the others didn’t answer but looked towards the people around Su Wenyue: “Please forgive us, Madam, but this matter is of great importance, and we must speak to you alone.”
“Yes, Madam,” Qi Shen added, concerned that Su Wenyue might not trust them. “It was also for this reason that Master Han didn’t have us wait for him elsewhere but sent us to you instead. If our identities were discovered…” He was cut off by a glare from Zhai Li, catching himself and realizing he had misspoken. Although naive, he wasn’t reckless and had acted out of fondness for Madam Han.
Listening to them, Su Wenyue’s expression turned solemn. If Han Yu was treating this matter with such significance, the young men’s identities must be exceptional. Given the state of the world, Su Wenyue already had some suspicions upon meeting the young men, though she wasn’t entirely sure. Were that the case, no wonder Han Yu was so cautious.
“All of you leave now. Make sure to command the informed servants not to let a word of tonight’s events slip out, or do not blame me for being unsentimental,” Su Wenyue decisively ordered, now having a plan in mind.
Aunt Li, however, was worried about leaving Su Wenyue alone with the young men. Should they harbor ill intentions, what then? Furthermore, it wasn’t seemly for Madam, a woman, to be alone with several men in a Room, so she wished to stay.