Chapter 153 Not Seeing

Liang Xiao’s silent and sudden appearance gave everyone a terrible fright!

Chuncao looked at him timidly, while Mother Huang immediately pulled Chuncao away.

Xu Ruojin was tucked inside the wooden bathtub, with only her head exposed, watching him. It felt wrong to just get out, yet being stared at by him like this made her feel thoroughly awkward.

After moving her lips for a long time, Xu Ruojin finally managed to speak:

"Why, why aren't you going out yet? I haven't finished bathing..."

Liang Xiao stood by the edge of the tub and looked down at her. "Weren't you dissatisfied? I naturally have to make sure you are satisfied."

"No, no, I wasn't!"

Xu Ruojin hastily waved her hands, sending water splashing everywhere, some of which even landed as droplets on her own face. "You really are narrow-minded. I only said let's not dwell on it, without implying anything else, yet you let your mind wander to improper places all on your own."

"So you are satisfied then?" Liang Xiao lowered his gaze to look at her.

Xu Ruojin nodded immediately. "Satisfied, wouldn't being satisfied suffice? Hurry up and go outside."

"Since you like it so much, as your husband I cannot be stingy, so I shall reward you once more." As he spoke, his large hand reached straight into the wooden bathtub and lifted her right out of the water.

With a startled cry, Xu Ruojin began to struggle, shaking off enough water to drench them both.

"Let go quickly! What, what are you doing? I'm not wearing a stitch, let go!"

"Husband and wife are open and bare to each other; there is no need for you to wear anything."

"There are people outside, let go of me quickly..."

A bath towel was wrapped around her body, trussing Xu Ruojin up like a zongzi.

What with the exhaustion from the previous night and struggling for a long time, she had long since lost the slightest shred of strength.

Wasn't he supposed to be injured? Why were his two arms like iron tongs? Even after using every ounce of her strength, she couldn't push him away at all!

Giving up the resistance, Xu Ruojin was tossed unceremoniously onto the bed.

Before Liang Xiao could pounce on her, she immediately brought up Madam Liang. "It is already quite late; we ought to go pay our respects and offer tea to Madam. As the son, it doesn't matter if you go late, but if I were to arrive late, people would certainly find fault. If I show a lack of propriety the very moment I cross the threshold, how am I supposed to get by in the days ahead? Unless you deliberately don't wish for me to live in comfort, in which case I will resign myself to my fate!"

Xu Ruojin finished speaking in one breath and stared at him with pleading eyes.

Liang Xiao's fists were clenched tightly.

The passion she had aroused in him vanished completely, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head, making his teeth grind audibly.

"Dress, and eat breakfast. Don't be too slow."

With those words, Liang Xiao did not instruct the maidservants to prepare water, but instead went out on his own to fetch a bucket of cold water before stepping into the washroom.

Chuncao had been watching quietly from outside, and seeing that the Fourth Master had gone to the washroom, she hurriedly entered the room to fetch shoes, socks, and garments for Xu Ruojin.

"If he finds me slow, why did he go take a bath himself?"

Xu Ruojin pouted, completely baffled. Mother Huang walked into the room just in time to hear this remark and sighed helplessly, "It seems you still have much to learn..."

After getting up, dressing, and eating breakfast, when Xu Ruojin saw Liang Xiao again, he had already tidied himself up completely.

Ningxiang and another maidservant stood by the table, handing Liang Xiao his bowl and chopsticks and serving his congee. On Xu Ruojin's side, she was attended to by Chuncao and Hongxing.

The morning hour was tight, so Xu Ruojin did not ask any more questions about this. Once finished with the meal, she went over to the dressing table to comb her hair and apply makeup.

On her first day paying respects to her mother-in-law, she naturally needed to look neat and proper.

She wore a bride's formal red outfit with clustered floral patterns, and a gold hairpin carved with a phoenix adorned her peony bun, accented with coral and beeswax.

Mother Huang wanted to apply red to Xu Ruojin's lips as well, but was refused. "It's too bright; I'm afraid Mother-in-law won't like it. Better change to a lighter shade."

"But..."

"Listen to me." Xu Ruojin looked at her. "Having just entered the Liang household, it's best not to overshadow anyone. It's better to keep a low profile."

Mother Huang nodded. Although her own thoughts differed, she knew she could not go against her mistress's wishes.

Xu Ruojin carefully examined herself in the mirror for a moment, and seeing no problems, she went to wait by the doorway for Liang Xiao so they could leave together.

Ningxiang walked in carrying a steaming bowl of medicinal decoction, and Liang Xiao picked it up and drank it in one gulp.

Xu Ruojin frowned, walked over to look at the medicine dregs at the bottom of the bowl, and asked:

"What is this medicine for?"

"The Fourth Master's injuries have not yet fully healed, so he still needs medicinal tonics to nourish his body, especially in the winter," Ningxiang replied, and Xu Ruojin nodded.

Liang Xiao took a cup of plain water to rinse his mouth. Seeming reluctant to discuss the medicine any further, he looked at Xu Ruojin and said, "Let's go."

Although the Great General Liang had been demoted and banished here with no news since, the Liang family had not suffered any devastating blows.

At the very least, this single residence was three times larger than the Xu Manor.

It was a four-compound courtyard: the first compound was the main hall for receiving guests; the second compound was Madam Liang's main courtyard; the third compound was where Xu Ruojin and Liang Xiao resided; and behind that was a small private garden.

Since the distance was not far, the two did not take a sedan chair, but strolled leisurely toward the main courtyard.

Walking across the snow along the way, it made a crunching sound underfoot. It was Xu Ruojin's first time experiencing such playful whimsy, leaving her own footprints in the flat snow.

Liang Xiao's pace was fast, and after walking a short distance, he would have to wait for her.

Chuncao looked at the Fourth Master's cold expression and hastily reminded her, "Stop playing around, the Fourth Master has been waiting for a while..."

Xu Ruojin stuck out her tongue and trotted hurriedly to catch up.

Yet no matter how much she quickened her steps, she could not keep pace with Liang Xiao. By the time they reached the main courtyard, beads of cold sweat had already broken out on her forehead.

"Fuya Yuan" was the name of the place where Madam Liang resided.

Liang Fangru lived in Madam Liang's eastern side chamber, keeping her company day in and day out. When Xu Ruojin entered the courtyard, Liang Fangru was standing smilingly at the doorway waiting for them.

"Offering my greetings to the Third Sister."

Xu Ruojin curtsied slightly, taking the lead to offer the salutation.

Liang Fangru took Xu Ruojin's small hand and looked her up and down thoroughly, then glanced at Liang Xiao's icy expression. She smiled even more brightly instead. "Good. The Third Younger Brother has settled down, and as an elder sister, I am very happy."

Toward Liang Fangru, Xu Ruojin still held a favorable impression. "It is all thanks to the Third Sister's blessings..."

"Has Mother gotten up yet?"

Liang Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, which Xu Ruojin observed, causing her own thoughts to settle.

"Mother was also tired yesterday and hasn't risen yet."

A trace of bitterness appeared on Liang Fangru's face. "The Fourth Younger Brother and Sister-in-law should wait a moment and go inside to have a cup of tea first."

Liang Xiao nodded. "I will go in first to see her." He walked directly into the inner rooms, while Xu Ruojin followed Liang Fangru into the main hall.

Only a single young maidservant was attending to the main hall. Seeing the Third Miss and the Fourth Young Madam enter, she immediately brought out tea.

Xu Ruojin picked up her teacup, and before it even brushed her lips, she heard the sound of porcelain shattering in a chaotic crash from the inner chamber.

Setting her teacup down, Xu Ruojin saw a bitter look surface on Liang Fangru's face.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, please wait here a moment. I'll go inside and take a look."

With those words, Liang Fangru stood up and went in.

Left alone in the main hall, Xu Ruojin grew exceptionally calm instead.

Yesterday was a day of great joy, and having carried on too happily, she had forgotten her true standing in Madam Liang's eyes.

Offering tea to the mother-in-law on the second day of marriage was a ritual; if the mother-in-law refused to drink it, it meant she did not acknowledge this daughter-in-law.

She had still thought too simply of Madam Liang.

It seemed that deep down, Madam Liang still harbored resentment toward Liang Xiao for refusing to marry the noble lady from the marquis's estate who had once been betrothed to him.

But what did that have to do with her?

Yet, it was impossible to reason with a mother-in-law.

It appeared her days in the Liang household would not lack for excitement after all...