188: Several girls who get along well

The three of them walked through the corridor together. The night breeze carried the scent of osmanthus from the courtyard. Liu Xuaner subconsciously leaned closer to Situ Jun. A stray lock of hair at her temple was brushed up by the wind, happening to land on the silver bracelet on Embroiderer's wrist, making a tinkling sound.

"It's already this cold at the beginning of autumn."

Embroiderer raised her hand to tuck in her collar and smiled slightly.

The main hall was brightly lit with candles, and the long table was already filled with dishes.

Lan Yanliu sat at the table with her chin resting on her hand, playing with a jade cup. Seeing them enter, she raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"You finally decided to come out? If you were any later, the Snow Lotus Black Chicken Soup Consort Yu stewed would have gone cold."

Consort Yu was sprinkling green onions into the soup tureen. Hearing this, she gave her a reproachful glare.

"You and your big mouth."

She looked up at Situ Jun, her gaze lingering briefly on his cuff—there was a strand of dark, silky hair stuck there, clearly not his own.

As soon as Liu Xuaner sat down, Jiang Ya's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a faint red mark half-hidden by her collar, and she winked mischievously.

Beside her, Mei Shuang gave her an annoyed look before continuing to peel nuts for Tang Tang and Xiao Rou.

After everyone was seated, they chatted about trivial matters while eating.

Shen Xingwan served Situ Jun a piece of crystal shrimp dumpling when Embroiderer suddenly looked up and said:

"Sister Xingwan, the kitchen has brewed some nourishing medicinal cuisine. You should bring it to Husband's study later."

Shen Xingwan was taken aback. She glanced at Situ Jun and nodded in agreement.

Lan Yanliu suddenly let out a light laugh and used public chopsticks to place a piece of Hibiscus Fish Fillet into Situ Jun's bowl.

"Sister Embroiderer is indeed thoughtful. Husband really does need some nourishment lately."

Situ Jun's hand holding the soup bowl paused. When he looked up at Lan Yanliu, a smile rippled in the depths of his eyes.

"Embroiderer truly cares for me, unlike you, who is never serious from morning till night."

Hearing this, Chen Yufei suddenly burst out laughing, only restraining herself after Lan Yanliu glared at her fiercely.

Seeing the ladies looking at her with smiles in their eyes, Lan Yanliu glanced at Liu Xuaner and said:

"Keep talking about me, I wonder who it was just now..."

Before she could finish, Liu Xuaner stuffed her mouth with a piece of osmanthus cake.

"You crazy woman, even eating can't shut your mouth, hmph."

The atmosphere at the dining table gradually warmed up, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows on everyone's faces.

Mei Shuang spoke about the topographical maps of the Southern Border, Consort Yu chimed in to mention the customs and taboos of various tribes, and Lan Yanliu would occasionally drop a few anecdotes about Southern Border toxins.

Embroiderer listened with a constant smile, only quietly pushing his favorite dishes toward Situ Jun whenever there was a gap in his eating.

As the night deepened and the feast ended, Situ Jun returned to his study to handle various affairs sent from the Northern Border.

The candlelight in the study was brighter than before. Situ Jun spread out the map of the Northern Border, twirling a sound transmission talisman between his fingers as he looked and pondered.

The scent of osmanthus outside the window was carried in by the night breeze, mixing with the heavy scent of Dragons Saliva Incense on the desk, adding a touch of crispness.

He had just written on the sound transmission talisman, "Grain planting must be diversified, while also remaining vigilant that the Dynasty will take the opportunity to control Northern Border City," when he saw Shen Xingwan enter with a black lacquer tray. The medicinal cuisine in the celadon bowl was still steaming.

"Manor Lord."

She placed the tray by the desk. Her gaze paused as it swept over the Jade Slip on the table, but she didn't ask further. She simply took a silk handkerchief and wiped the rim of the bowl.

"Sister Embroiderer said this Angelica and Goji Berry Black-Boned Chicken Soup is best for nourishing Origin Qi. Drink it while it's hot."

Situ Jun put down the Jade Talisman. As he took the soup bowl, his fingertips touched her slightly cool hand.

Shen Xingwan pulled her hand back as if burned, the tips of her ears turning a faint red. She turned to tidy the scattered scrolls on the desk, but he gently grabbed her wrist.

"Xingwan."

He looked up at her, the candlelight casting tiny fragments of light in his eyes.

"The trip to the Southern Border is perilous. I will have to trouble you to take care of the affairs in the manor."

Shen Xingwan lowered her eyelashes, which cast shallow shadows under her eyes.

"Rest assured, Manor Lord. Sister Embroiderer and the others will manage things properly. It's just you..."

She paused, her voice as light as a feather.

"Please take care."

Situ Jun released her hand and took a spoonful of soup, drinking it slowly.

The medicinal fragrance mixed with the aroma of the meat spread out; it wasn't unpleasant to drink.

Shen Xingwan squatted down, picked up the Jade Slip belonging to Daoist Ming Ya of the Southern Border, brushed off the dust, and carefully placed it on a corner of the desk.

"Is the Manor Lord worried about the safety of the Northern Border?" she asked, looking at the spread-out map of the Northern Border.

Situ Jun's hand holding the soup bowl tightened.

"East Lin City is my home, and the Northern Border is also my home. Li Xuan used the matter of the Southern Border to force me to leave East Lin City. Northern Border City has only just stabilized; it's inevitable he might take the chance to interfere there."

He took a sip of soup and looked at Shen Xingwan, continuing:

"As for the defenses of East Lin City, I had General Yang Feng implement them today. In terms of security, there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Shen Xingwan stood up and walked to the window, looking at the osmanthus trees in the courtyard whitened by the moonlight.

"When you are not here, even the most intensive protection makes it hard for people to feel at ease."

Situ Jun finished the last sip of soup and put the bowl back on the tray.

"Your peace is my greatest expectation."

He stood up and walked behind her, looking at her slender figure reflected on the window paper.

"I've put you all through a lot."

Shen Xingwan's shoulders trembled slightly, but she didn't look back.

"To meet the Manor Lord is our blessing."

When she turned around, her eyes were slightly red, but she forced a smile.

"I'll take the soup bowl now. Rest early, Manor Lord."

She walked quickly away with the tray, the wind under the corridor lifting the hem of her skirt like a butterfly about to take flight.

Situ Jun stood by the window, watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor before turning back to the desk.

The candle suddenly let out a loud crackle. He picked up the topographical maps of the Northern Border and East Lin City, meticulously pondering possible emergencies and countermeasures.

The osmanthus trees outside the window rustled in the night wind, and a few tiny petals swirled down, sticking to the carvings on the window frame.

Situ Jun's fingertip traced the boundary line between the Northern Border and East Lin City on the map. His dark pupils reflected the dancing candlelight as he suddenly remembered Shen Xingwan's reddened eyes when she turned away just now.

He raised his hand to rub his temples and sighed... On the other side, just as Shen Xingwan turned the corner of the corridor, she saw Embroiderer standing under an osmanthus tree holding a colored glass lamp, her light green skirt swaying gently in the night breeze.

The moonlight covered her shoulders, appearing even softer than the lamp's light.

"Sister Xingwan."

Embroiderer raised her hand to smooth her hair ruffled by the wind, her gaze landing on the slight redness at the corners of her eyes.

"Did he drink the medicinal cuisine?"

Shen Xingwan looked down at the empty bowl on the tray and gave a soft hum of affirmation.

The scent of osmanthus under the corridor mixed with the smell of soap on Embroiderer's body, which actually calmed her restless thoughts a bit.

"The Manor Lord will likely stay up until late tonight."

Embroiderer held the lamp a bit closer to her, the warm light from the wick making the silver bracelet on her wrist glow with a gentle luster.

"Go and accompany him in the study. Whether it's adding tea or grinding ink, it's better than him sitting there alone in misery."

Shen Xingwan's fingers tightened on the tray. When she looked up, she met Embroiderer's smiling eyes. There wasn't a hint of scrutiny in that gaze; it was as if she had seen through all her thoughts but chose not to point them out.

"But..."

She wanted to say that Situ Jun might not want to be disturbed, but the words were gently cut off by Embroiderer.

"Matters between men and women should naturally involve give and take."

Embroiderer adjusted the buttons on her collar. The silver bracelet brushed against the tassels on her garment, tinkling.

"He acknowledges your status in the manor and acknowledges you as one of us sisters. You should be bolder and more proactive to truly integrate. Go back and dress yourself up beautifully before going. The Spiritual Plant on his study's windowsill needs watering; while you're at it, change the lamp wick for him."

The wind again carried the scent of osmanthus. Shen Xingwan looked at the tall figure on the window paper of the study in the distance and eventually nodded.

As she turned, the halo of the colored glass lamp dragged a long shadow on the bluestone floor, intertwining with the moonlight under the corridor.

(No backlog, missed a day of updates. Looking at the pitiful traffic, my mood is terrible. I only managed to scrape together two chapters by late the next night.)