Previously, every time Lu Taobao visited, he would either ride a horse or arrive in a carriage. What was happening today? Why did he come on foot?
"Nothing much, I just wanted to get some exercise."
Lu Taobao said, waving his hand, and walked into the courtyard.
Huo Cheng, seeing Lu Taobao's peculiar demeanor, didn't say much. He just watched Lu Taobao's swaying figure with some confusion. It was early in the morning, had he been drinking?
But he didn't smell any alcohol.
If he wasn't drinking, why was his walk not in a straight line?
Unable to figure it out, Huo Cheng returned to his post at the gate to read.
Although he couldn't attend the academy, Shen Xiaoming would teach them some characters whenever he had time. Now, he had learned quite a few.
Meanwhile, Lu Taobao swayed into the backyard and saw Shen Xiaoyan and a few others sitting on stone benches in the courtyard, playing with children. The crisp laughter of the children was exceptionally pleasant to hear.
Looking at the tender children, Lu Taobao thought, if they had known Bai Ying was that divine maiden, would they also be married by now, with children, living a blissfully happy life?
"Why are you here? You didn't say a word when you arrived."
Zheng Wei turned his head and saw Lu Taobao standing on the corridor, gazing absently at the scene.
Although he was looking in this direction, his eyes seemed to be wandering somewhere far away.
"My divine maiden, she's gone."
"Who's gone?"
Shen Xiaoyan stared at Lu Taobao for a moment, then asked in surprise.
"Bai Ying, she's gone. I don't know where she went," Lu Taobao said, walking over to them and plopping down on a stone bench.
This bench was made entirely of stone. If Zheng Wei sat down with such force, wouldn't his buttocks hurt?
Shen Xiaoyan thought this, and her own buttocks felt a slight ache.
But, how could that statement be so off? Didn't he just say his divine maiden was gone?
Could it be that Bai Ying was that divine maiden?
"Could it be, Bai Ying is..."
"Yes, she is the divine maiden who saved me back then," Lu Taobao said preemptively before Shen Xiaoyan could finish her question, then chuckled self-mockingly.
"I searched so hard, and I even boasted that I would recognize her instantly upon seeing her. Now, it seems I'm not just blind, my heart is blind."
Listening to Lu Taobao, the others didn't know what to say.
As it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Xiaoming was not attending school today. Shen Xiaoyan had the nanny take the children to Shen Xiaoming's east wing room to play with him. The rest of them sat there to keep Lu Taobao company.
"You all must be laughing at me for being foolish in your hearts right now?" Lu Taobao asked, scanning their faces.
Shen Xiaoyan really wanted to say that he was indeed very foolish.
However, seeing him like this, she found it hard to speak.
"There's nothing foolish about it, you were just not suited for each other."
Shen Xiaoyan didn't speak, but Yue Qingxin chimed in. Her gaze towards Lu Taobao was a little cold, devoid of any sympathy.
"Your current pain and sadness are not because Bai Ying is gone. Nor is it because you love Bai Ying. It's because you've realized Bai Ying is that divine maiden, isn't it? Because you suddenly learned she is the one you've been yearning for, you are now so dejected that she's gone. I don't think you're deeply in love."
Yue Qingxin's words stunned not only Lu Taobao but also Shen Xiaoyan and the others, who looked at her in surprise.
Yue Qingxin paid no mind to their astonishment and continued softly, "I think the reason Bai Ying left, and didn't tell you she was the one you were looking for, is probably because she's understood something."
"Understood what?" Lu Taobao asked blankly.
"You don't love her. Even if she told you the truth, you would either believe her and be with her, but not truly love her. Or, you wouldn't believe her, thinking she'd say anything to be with you, calling her a liar."
Lu Taobao paused at Yue Qingxin's words, immediately wanting to retort. But before he could speak, he closed his mouth.
He realized he couldn't confidently say that he wouldn't act that way.
"Is there any wine?"
Lu Taobao pondered for a moment with his head down, and only asked this question.
"If you want to drink, go back home and drink," Shen Xiaoyan said, standing up.
He used to think Lu Taobao was a decent man, but now, it seemed he was an idiot when it came to matters of the heart.
With that thought, Shen Xiaoyan didn't want to sit there wasting words with him anymore.
Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin left hand in hand, leaving the three grown men looking at each other.
"Why did I anger the two sisters-in-law?"
Lu Taobao was confused. They were fine a moment ago, why were they angry now?
"Think about it yourself. I'm going to check on the children."
Zheng Wei patted Lu Taobao gently on the shoulder and then hurried after Shen Xiaoyan.
"Brother Shui, they've all left. You won't abandon me alone again, will you?"
Lu Taobao looked at Sima Han with pitiful eyes.
Sima Han felt a pang of reluctance. Seeing a grown man look so pathetic, but as a man henpecked by his wife, it was better to follow his wife's footsteps.
Sighing, Sima Han could only offer Lu Taobao a comforting smile, and then quickened his pace.
In an instant, he was left all alone. Lu Taobao felt a surge of melancholy for some reason.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others sat in the east wing room, looking out the window. They could only see Lu Taobao's slightly melancholic figure.
"Should we go out and comfort him? He's actually quite pitiable."
Sima Han hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
"If you want to go, you go. You can sleep with him tonight. It'll be good to comfort your dear brother's wounded heart. If you're still worried, you can accompany him back to the Lu mansion. You don't need to come back, just stay with him."
Yue Qingxin didn't look up, but she was playing with a toy, coaxing Sima Shuierong, and spoke softly.
Because the children were present, Yue Qingxin's voice was not loud, nor did it carry any anger.
However, these words still weighed heavily on Sima Han's ears, like a thousand pounds.
"No, I'll stay with Xin'er and Rong'er. He doesn't sleep well if I'm not by his side."
Sima Han said this, then walked forward, holding Sima Shuierong tightly in his arms, demonstrating his resolve to Yue Qingxin.
At the same time, he apologized inwardly, truly not that he wasn't speaking up for Lu Taobao, but he really had no authority to do so.
With this thought, Sima Han looked towards Zheng Wei.
To his surprise, Zheng Wei was quite perceptive, or perhaps, he was easily swayed by the sight of beauty. Without a word, he was already busy coaxing his darling Ruanruan.
The group stayed in the east wing room for the entire morning. Lu Taobao remained sitting there all morning, not changing his posture once.
As it neared noon, all the children became sleepy. Shen Xiaoyan had the nannies take them to sleep.
After the nannies left, silence fell among them.
Shen Xiaoming glanced out the window and said worriedly, "Brother Taobao has been sitting like this all morning. Is he alright?"
"The temperature is just right today, not too cold or too hot. He'll be fine, it's just..."
Shen Xiaoyan said with a light smile, telling Shen Xiaoming not to worry. However, the unsaid part of her sentence made Shen Xiaoming even more anxious.
"Elder sister, what is it?"
"It's just that he's probably hungry."