CHAPTER 572: CHAPTER 561: THE MARCHIONESS’S MAID

Zhong Lan was so shaken by such a gaze, and then turned her head away in embarrassment, her face slightly reddened, unaware of the slight smile that emerged on Duan Rongjing’s lips.

"Go see your wife, we are all fine, she is the one who has truly suffered," the Old Marchioness patted Marquis Weiyuan’s hand and said.

Zhong Lan was still stiff on the spot, Ye Qiu gently pushed her: "Lady, hurry up, the Marquis is back, do you still remember how you communicated in the letters? I can tell, the Marquis cares about you."

Having said that, Ye Qiu quietly left, all the others were tactful, smiling while leaving space for the couple who had been reunited after a long separation.

"Now it’s all good, the Lady has finally gone from suffering to joy," Yang Chun said cheerfully, with a face full of longing.

Ye Qiuqiang smiled without saying a word, but instead took a deep breath.

Thankfully, Marquis Weiyuan was not truly dead, otherwise the Lady would have been heartbroken to death, but now that he has returned, new problems have followed.

Men, especially successful men, rarely refrain from philandering; can Marquis Weiyuan really stay devoted to the Lady? And how should the completion rate for this world’s task be calculated?

"Marquis." After everyone in the room left, Zhong Lan hesitantly gave Duan Rongjing a bow.

Seeing her like this, the smile that had just appeared on Duan Rongjing’s face stiffened slightly.

"Hmm."

Seeing that he didn’t help her up but gave such a stiff reply, it would be false to say she wasn’t hurt, thus Zhong Lan became even more reserved.

"The Marquis hasn’t seen the two children yet, let me take you to see them," she said as she walked toward the inner room with her head down, not noticing the Marquis Weiyuan’s increasingly furrowed brow.

The two children inside were still sound asleep, and the awkward atmosphere between them eased a little upon seeing them.

"You have worked hard, Lady." After a long deliberation, Duan Rongjing said these stiff words.

Zhong Lan just responded accordingly: "It is what I should do."

Certainly, the reunion they imagined was not like this, but they didn’t know what to do next, so the awkwardness continued.

"Marquis, I..." Zhong Lan hesitated for a moment, her mind echoing Ye Qiu’s words, preparing to say something more.

Duan Rongjing pricked up his ears, his eyes softened a bit, but unfortunately, a certain naughty boy just wouldn’t allow it.

"Wah..." The young heir suddenly started bawling, whether he had urinated or what, it was unclear.

His crying woke up his baby sister who was sleeping beside him, who also began to cry loudly.

"What’s wrong with them?" Duan Rongjing became a little flustered all of a sudden.

"They’ve wet themselves." Zhong Lan lifted the diaper, sighed helplessly, and then called to the maids outside.

Upon entering, Ye Qiu could tell that the conversation between Lady and Marquis Weiyuan was not going well; you couldn’t blame them, separated just two days after the wedding for a year, one used to the strict and cold military life, the other a lady raised with proper upbringing, learning to be reserved and gentle, for either of them to take the initiative was difficult.

"I... the matters outside are not yet handled, I will come back in the evening," Duan Rongjing struggled to say after half a day, looking at the busy Zhong Lan and eventually letting out those words.

Zhong Lan, upon hearing this, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, finally feeling less awkward: "Marquis, please be careful, I’ll wait for your return."

This attitude, all business-like, do they even seem like husband and wife? Ye Qiu was nearly speechless, it seems she still had to talk more.

After settling the two little ones, peace returned to Qingfeng Courtyard, and Ye Qiu poured Zhong Lan a cup of tea.

"My Lady, was your interaction with the Marquis just now a bit awkward?" Ye Qiu felt she had put it very gently, yet Zhong Lan seemed deflated all of a sudden.

"It’s different from writing letters, it just feels strangely uncomfortable." Zhong Lan said with some dismay, "The Marquis couldn’t possibly be weary of me, could he?"

"How could that be?" Ye Qiu laughed at her, "When the Marquis came in just now, I noticed the ardent gaze he fixed on you, and the smile at the corner of his mouth. How could he possibly be weary of you? Clearly, he has strong feelings for you."

"Really?" Hope sparked in Zhong Lan’s eyes, and she remembered the look they shared when he first returned; was his gaze indeed so intense?

With that thought, Zhong Lan’s cheeks blushed with shyness.

"Look, My Lady, not only does the Marquis have feelings for you, but you also care so much about him. Why then is it that when you’re alone together, things don’t seem right?" Ye Qiu started coaxing her gently.

"I don’t know, I just can’t muster the courage, nor can I bring myself to start that conversation." Zhong Lan said like a wilting flower, her head hanging low.

"Are you just too proud, My Lady?" Ye Qiu teased her.

"Proud about what?"

"Why didn’t you speak those words we had agreed upon before? Isn’t it because you’re afraid of losing face in front of the Marquis?"

"I’m not." Zhong Lan retorted like a kitten with its fur on end, seemingly fierce yet adorable.

"My Lady, you are husband and wife, the closest relationship in this world is between spouses. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You both understand each other’s hearts, so are you planning to spend a lifetime estranged just because neither of you will speak up first?"

Of course not, thought Zhong Lan privately, yet didn’t know what to do next.

"The Marquis is a man, and he spends years in the army; it’s normal for him not to speak sweetly. If he were good at flattering, that’s when you should worry, My Lady. So between you two, you need to take the initiative."

Zhong Lan was still hesitant: "But if I do, won’t he think I’m too forward?"

"Did he think you were too forward when you started writing letters to the Marquis? He didn’t," Ye Qiu stated surely before Zhong Lan could answer, "On the contrary, the Marquis liked your initiative, and he wrote back caring for you. Why can’t you be as proactive as you were with your letters?"

"I... It’s different."

"There’s no difference. You just need to make the first move; I guarantee the Marquis will respond to you."

"Really?" Zhong Lan was agitated by Ye Qiu’s words.

"Truly."

That evening, Duan Rongjing indeed came to Qingfeng Courtyard again. Ye Qiu made an encouraging gesture to Zhong Lan, then led the maids and matriarchs out with the young heir and the young lady.

"Marquis." Zhong Lan looked at Duan Rong Jing and bit her lip, then braced herself to help the Marquis Weiyuan change his clothes.

"The inner chamber has hot water prepared; you must be tired, Marquis. Please take a wash first."

"Mhm." Duan Rongjing said little as usual, but his gaze never left Zhong Lan.

Perhaps his gaze was too intense, and Zhong Lan no longer felt as nervous as before, yet her heart pounded violently.

With the sound of water gushing in the inner chamber, Zhong Lan sat in front of the dressing table, letting down her long hair and brushing it over and over, her cheeks flushing like ripe apples.