Chapter 125: Do You Like Me?

Lan Shui also knew that Lian Yue had something she wanted to ask. The reason she had said that was actually to lead Yao Yao aside and keep watch for them.

Sure enough, the moment Lan Shui left, Lian Yue slowly came to the point. “Actually, Yue’er has something she would like to ask the three elder sisters today.”

Yan Tong, Fan Shuining, and Tao Xinhua were not fools. Rather than agreeing immediately, they exchanged glances. Only then did Tao Xinhua speak. “There is no need to call it asking for advice. If you have any questions, just ask. So long as we know the answer, we will tell you everything. But you also know that our positions are lowly, and there are some matters we truly have no way of knowing.”

“Exactly. That is what Sister Tao meant to say,” Yan Tong added.

“I feel the same way,” said Fan Shuining.

Hearing this, Lian Yue knew that they had more or less guessed what she wanted to ask. Judging by their reaction, it seemed that the three of them might not know very much. Still, knowing a little was better than knowing nothing. Perhaps what they knew was precisely what she wished to learn.

“I will not hide it from you, Sisters. I am asking about Eldest Sister’s miscarriage. I was afraid that she would be saddened, so I did not dare mention it in front of her. My brother-in-law is not in the residence today, and after meeting the three of you just now, I felt that you were kind-hearted. That was why I thought of asking you. I hope I am not putting you in a difficult position.”

Tao Xinhua’s heart tightened. As expected, it was about this matter.

“I am afraid we will disappoint you. After it happened, we also found it suspicious, but in the end, the residence announced that it was caused by overexertion. Yet Her Highness the Princess has always been in excellent health, and with the Crown Prince already born, this pregnancy should not have encountered any serious problems. We never imagined that she would miscarry. We were badly frightened when we first heard the news.” Tao Xinhua gave an helpless smile. “Our standing in the residence was already awkward to begin with. After such an incident, we naturally became objects of suspicion, so we avoided moving about unless necessary. We do not know the details.”

Lian Yue nodded in understanding. In truth, she had expected this answer before asking and had never placed much hope in them. Nevertheless, Tao Xinhua’s words had revealed quite a bit.

Yan Tong and Fan Shuining had nothing to add, so they remained silent.

Lian Yue considered seeking Xiang Ju to ask about what had happened that day, and thus did not continue questioning them. Instead, she thanked them sincerely. “This alone has been a great help, Sister. I know I have put you all in a difficult position, and I hope you will not blame Yue’er.”

“What difficulty? We were unable to help you at all.” Tao Xinhua sounded entirely sincere. “We are deeply saddened by Her Highness’s miscarriage as well. His Highness has also ordered us not to disturb her. It is fortunate that you have come. With you keeping her company, Her Highness’s spirits should improve.”

As soon as Tao Xinhua finished, Fan Shuining immediately echoed her. “Yes, fortunately you came. We feel much more at ease as well.”

This was no time for silence, so Yan Tong hurriedly joined in. “Exactly, exactly.”

“I will certainly tell Eldest Sister about your concern,” Lian Yue said. Since she had no intention of lingering there, she deliberately glanced at the sun outside and exclaimed in alarm, “Oh dear! If you had not reminded me, I would have forgotten all about it. Eldest Sister is probably looking for me by now.”

Lian Yue rose and looked apologetically at the three women. “You are all very kind. I will come visit you again when I have time. For now, I must hurry over. If I am late, I will have to listen to Eldest Sister nag me again. I am truly sorry.”

The three seated women quickly stood as well and urged her understandingly, “Go on, hurry. Do not keep Her Highness waiting.”

After offering another token apology, Lian Yue turned and ran toward the courtyard where Lian Yu lived. Once she had passed through the moon gate and left the garden, she stopped for a while. Before long, Lan Shui and Yao Yao emerged after her.

Lan Shui glanced around and asked in a low voice, “Well? Did you learn anything?”

Yao Yao also looked at Lian Yue eagerly. She said nothing, but her expressive eyes made it clear that she wanted to know as well.

Lian Yue gave an ambiguous nod. Instead of answering, she looked at Lan Shui and asked, “What do you think of Tao Xinhua, Sister Lan?”

“She has a little cleverness and knows how to protect herself,” Lan Shui replied promptly.

“That is what I think too.” Lian Yue’s expression grew increasingly serious. “She is always speaking with hidden meanings. If anyone offends her, she will shoot an arrow from the shadows.”

“To put it plainly, she is a petty person concerned only with her own safety,” Yao Yao concluded.

Lian Yue meant the same. “And she also believes that Eldest Sister’s miscarriage was caused by someone harming her.”

The three of them fell silent where they stood. Only when a maid approached from a distance did they conceal their thoughtful expressions and brighten their voices.

“Sister Yue’er, the garden of this residence is truly charming.”

“It is rather nice.”

After a few more words, the maid reached them. Carrying a food box, she lowered her eyes and bowed before Lan Shui. “Miss, the pastries and tea are ready.”

Lan Shui said, “Take them to the pavilion in the garden. The ladies should still be there.”

The maid bowed to Lian Yue and the others, then carried the food box along the path toward the pavilion.

Once she had gone far enough, Yao Yao proudly showed off to Lian Yue. “I thought you would be stuck with them for ages. Since you were putting on an act, I expected you to see it through. I never imagined you would get out so quickly.”

“It was enough to ask a few questions the first time. If I had asked too much, they might not have said anything.” Lian Yue glanced at Yao Yao. “Besides, all that flattery, calling one another Sister this and Sister that, made my stomach churn. If I had stayed any longer, I might have felt as seasick as if I were on a boat.”

“With a pill from Yuwen Lingxi, even seasickness would be nothing to fear.” Yao Yao’s attention was easily diverted. She patted her cheeks and asked, “Does my skin look better lately? Honestly, the Jade Skin Pills he gave me really work. Sister Yue’er, could you ask him for some more?”

“If you want them, go ask for them yourself.” These past few days, they had indeed asked Yuwen Lingxi, also known as Xiao, for quite a few things. Each time, Yao Yao had sent Lian Yue to do the asking, leaving Lian Yue feeling increasingly embarrassed.

The two of them were more than ordinary friends or family acquaintances; there was another relationship between them as well. Lian Yue had always found it awkward. Whenever she had free time these past few days, An Ming’s figure would appear in her mind. Every night, she also dreamed the same dream: a man standing across the sea from her, his features forever indistinct.

Because of Eldest Sister’s situation, Lian Yue had not had the time to think about any of this. Now that Yao Yao had mentioned it, however, the thoughts returned despite herself.

Lian Yue did not quite understand her own behavior these past few days. She had kept the black cloth tucked against her chest, at first telling herself that she was preserving a memento of their time in the woods. But after staring at it again and again, she no longer even believed that explanation herself.

Especially lately, whenever she saw the happiness and contentment that unconsciously appeared on her elder brothers’ faces, she felt an emptiness inside and found herself longing intensely for those days in the woods.

Before long, her thoughts had become a tangled mess. Eldest Sister had only just begun to recover; she could not possibly trouble her with these matters. Fortunately, Lan Shui was by her side this time.

“Sister Lan, I have a question to ask you.” Lian Yue stopped and turned toward Lan Shui, her face troubled.

How could Lan Shui have failed to notice Lian Yue’s strange behavior these past few days? A woman’s intuition told her that Lian Yue had fallen for someone. She simply did not know who that person was, and she feared that asking too abruptly might frighten Lian Yue. Thus, she had been waiting for Lian Yue to bring it up herself.

Seeing the gentle attentiveness in Lan Shui’s expression, Lian Yue finally summoned her courage. Before speaking, however, she first had to send Yao Yao away.

“Yao Yao, could you go find Second Brother for me?”

Yao Yao, who had been listening eagerly for what came next, immediately became displeased. Was this not plainly an attempt to send her away so they could whisper in secret? What could they possibly have to discuss that she was not allowed to hear?

“Please?”

Seeing Lian Yue’s pleading expression, Yao Yao was unhappy but decided to respect her wishes. She shook a fist threateningly. “Fine, fine, I understand. You two whisper to your hearts’ content. I will leave, all right?”

With that, she stomped away angrily.

Lan Shui led Lian Yue to a nearby stone bench and sat down with her. “You may ask your question now.”

“Sister Lan, if you keep thinking of someone without meaning to, if you remember every word you exchanged with him with perfect clarity, and if you especially long to see him, is that what people call love?”