Chapter 366: A Maid’s Dowry, Night Approaches p2
…
About half an hour later.
Lin Tianlu, dressed in his red groom’s attire, quickly fled from the bathhouse.
And the young ladies sat huddled around the wet towels by the pool, silent, their faces flushed crimson.
Suddenly, Fen’er’s eyes sparkled with a sweet smile:
“Young Master, he’s so good~”
They had been prepared to offer themselves during this bath, to “prepare” the Young Master for the wedding night. They had even added some aphrodisiacs to the incense and lotions, and secretly used some bedroom techniques to seduce him.
But—
The Young Master had remained calm and composed throughout, not even touching them, not even opening his eyes.
For this entire time, he had been a true gentleman, not behaving inappropriately in the slightest.
“No wonder Sixth Miss was willing to defy the sixteenth prince for Young Master, to have such a partner…”
“D-Don’t say that! We were… truly shameless just now!”
Sister Qing, who had short hair, stood up abruptly, her face red, and scolded in a low voice: “Quickly clean up the bathhouse and get changed, we have to help with the banquet outside.”
“…Yes!”
They stood up unsteadily, rubbing their still flushed cheeks, and quickly started cleaning up. But their minds were filled with fantasies, their hearts racing.
…
As night fell.
Since the only guests invited to this banquet were the old Prince Hua and his two wives, Huixin and Ziyu, the main hall wasn’t too noisy.
After talking with Mother Tan and the others in the main hall, Lin Tianlu, hearing that it wasn’t time for the wedding yet, breathed a sigh of relief and went to the backyard alone to “cool down.”
“—Hmm?”
As soon as he entered the quiet backyard, Lin Tianlu paused slightly.
Because a figure in bright red wedding robes was sitting in the pavilion, also looking back at him in surprise.
“M-Master?!”
Under the tranquil night sky, the young woman looked breathtakingly beautiful, her already graceful figure perfectly accentuated by the wedding dress, her curves alluring.
Her lightly made-up face was even more stunning, her eyes full of affection, every smile and frown captivating.
“Shuya, what are you doing outside?”
“Ah… I-I just felt a bit stifled inside.”
Hua Shuya stood up in a fluster, nervously smoothing her hair and clothes.
But after a slight pause, she said with a pitiful expression: “Please don’t blame me, Master, I didn’t know you would come to the backyard…”
Lin Tianlu approached curiously and asked: “What are you so nervous about?”
“The w-wedding ceremony is about to begin, and the bride should be waiting quietly in the bridal chamber with her veil down.” Hua Shuya blushed slightly and murmured: “I shouldn’t have come out and been seen by you, Master, it’s against the rules.”
“Ha—”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “Rules are meant to be broken. Since we’ve already seen each other, let’s just sit down and chat.”
Hua Shuya raised her eyes slightly and said timidly: “If you’re not angry, Master…”
“Do I look angry?”
Lin Tianlu pointed at himself, then sighed with a wry smile: “I just went through a… difficult ordeal, I’m quite exhausted.”
“Eh?” Hua Shuya’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked with concern: “What happened, Master? Did some unwanted guests arrive, or did my relatives come to cause trouble?”
“Not really.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned subtle, and he recounted his experience in the bathhouse.
Hua Shuya listened, stunned, a strange look in her eyes.
After a while, she finally managed to ask:
“So… you endured… quite a bit, Master?”
“…”
Why was this girl concerned about such a strange thing?
Lin Tianlu rubbed his temples and sighed: “It was quite difficult, but I couldn’t handle the enthusiasm of those girls.”
“I heard that the maids in the villa were all taken in when they were young, most of them orphans, perhaps they are more… passionate than ordinary women.”
Hua Shuya thought for a moment and then smiled serenely: “For them to be so enamored with you after just a day or two in the villa, Master, it proves your charm.”
Lin Tianlu waved his hand with a wry smile: “If I truly indulged in such luxury, I’m afraid I would waste away.”
Hua Shuya chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand: “It’s just that you’re not used to it yet, Master. After all, it’s normal for officials and nobles to receive dowry maids when they marry. Even our Hua family has many.”
Her heart stirring, she subtly changed the subject:
“Master, the wedding banquet hasn’t started yet?”
“The old Prince hasn’t arrived yet, so I came out for some fresh air.”
“I see.”
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Lin Tianlu took her hand and chuckled: “How are you feeling now, Shuya?”
“My feelings…”
Hua Shuya bit her lip lightly, her face flushing, and she murmured: “I was quite nervous and anxious yesterday. But today, after putting on the wedding dress, just like Madam Mao and Madam Cheng did before, with my lips painted and my face made up, looking at myself in the mirror, I suddenly felt much calmer.”
Lin Tianlu strolled through the courtyard with her hand in his, and he said gently: “What are you thinking about, Shuya?”
“I was recalling our first meeting… I never thought that one day, I would be standing here beside you, Master.”
Hua Shuya lowered her eyes slightly, murmuring as if in a daze: “Not as master and disciple, not as friends, but as husband and wife, about to be married.”
Mentioning the words “husband and wife,” a smile appeared on the young woman’s lips.
“It feels like a beautiful dream.”
“Then you should wake up soon.” Lin Tianlu smiled and poked her cheek: “If you’re still asleep during the ceremony, you’ll embarrass yourself.”
“…Yes, this isn’t a dream.”
Hua Shuya looked down at their intertwined hands, her eyes shimmering slightly.
So warm, so reassuring, as if she were embraced by the world itself, an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility.
There was no burst of passion, no sweet nothings, for the young woman, this moment of togetherness was the only reality.
“With you by my side, Master, I can face any hardship or danger in the future.”
“Then I must stay by your side for a lifetime.”
Lin Tianlu shrugged and sighed with emotion: “I’ve studied for so many years, yet I can’t even say a few nice words. Your simple words are more touching than anything, Shuya, I’m truly ashamed.”
Hua Shuya smiled faintly: “It’s better for you to be ineloquent, Master. If you were a smooth talker, constantly showering us with sweet nothings, I and the two… three madams would be very worried.”
“Cough!”
Lin Tianlu’s smile froze, and he chuckled awkwardly.
—She had a point.
“Ah… I was in such a hurry to come to the villa these past two days that I forgot to take care of some things, I just brought it back from the mansion today, I haven’t mentioned it to you yet, Master.”
Hua Shuya’s eyes lit up as if remembering something, and she quickly pulled him along.
Lin Tianlu asked in surprise: “What is it, Shuya?”
They ran out of the backyard and, after navigating through the winding paths, arrived at another spacious courtyard with several empty stables.
And inside one of these stables, a horse stood quietly, eating grass.
Looking at its handsome and well-fed physique, its shiny mane like a beautiful woman’s hair, Lin Tianlu immediately recognized this horse… It was Meixia, the horse he had lent to Shuya.
“This horse truly can travel a thousand li a day, incredibly fast, and also very intelligent.”
Hua Shuya brushed her hair lightly and chuckled: “Just as you instructed, Master, she protected me along the way, even helping me resolve some dangerous situations with ghost practitioners.
And when that sixteenth prince suddenly came to ‘propose,’ Meixia jumped out of the stable and kicked him, making him fall and lose face in public.”
As if hearing their conversation, Meixia turned her head slightly, her eyes lighting up. She neighed and jumped over the stable fence, galloping towards them joyfully.
Before Lin Tianlu could even react, Meixia bumped into him, making him stumble. Just as he was about to speak, a long, pink tongue licked his face, from his chin to his forehead, leaving a trail of shimmering saliva.
“…”
Lin Tianlu’s face was covered in saliva, momentarily speechless.
This welcome…
…was truly “enthusiastic”!
