Chapter 280: Beauty Like a Flower (Seventeen)
As soon as these words were spoken, the Star Network erupted in an uproar.
“Wuwuwu, is this the director's arrangement? I love it.”
“Overbearing CEO and Cinderella, a classic that will live forever.”
“Doufu Xishi (Tofu Beauty) Jie, she has finally seen her suffering come to an end!”
“Sure enough, the patron said he wanted to give Xiao Xiao a good life, and now she will have a good life!”
Amidst the universal celebration, everyone was frantically sending small congratulatory gifts, causing Snake Taoist's house to be filled with annoying pink bubbles, heart shapes, and ribbon virtual images.
“Boring, these people are really stupid, do they really think it's that simple?” Snake Taoist rolled his eyes.
Some people shared his thoughts.
“I always feel that this little widow marrying into a prominent family isn't a good thing.”
“The Lu family shouldn't be easy to deal with.”
“Yes, a widow, and with a child, would her parents-in-law be willing?”
“And this Lu Gongzi (Young Master Lu) must be thirty or forty, right? According to the ancient cultural knowledge I've studied, how could he not be married?”
“Good looks, good family background, and seemingly proficient in all arts like zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—in ancient times, he should have been a hot commodity in the marriage market, right?”
However, these dissenting voices were drowned out by the screen full of cheers and applause, quickly disappearing among the layers of bullet comments.
...
In the early morning, Xiao Xiao and her mother rode in a soft sedan chair, quietly leaving Qingshui Li.
Upon arriving at the Lu family, the sedan chair did not stop at the main entrance but quietly entered the residence through a narrow side door.
As the heavy door closed, the courtyard felt deep and secluded.
At this point, those who understood ancient culture realized that Rou Niang was not truly marrying Lu Gongzi (Young Master Lu) as a legitimate wife; in reality, she was merely becoming a concubine.
The internet was speechless, while Snake Taoist gloated.
“I knew it, this production team wouldn't do anything good.”
But the next second, more bullet comments appeared.
“It seems a house-fighting drama is about to begin!”
“Fight, little girl!”
“Thinking about how the Lu family will torment the orphan and widowed mother during the house-fighting, I'm so excited!”
“It's best if she's made to kneel today, beaten and scolded tomorrow, and kicked out of the house the day after—the more miserable, the better!”
“Hehe, it's best to kill her old mother too! Make her suffer! I love seeing little beauties with tear-streaked faces the most.”
“This script is good! How can one become a New Human without experiencing hardship?”
“It seems everyone understands what a New Human's natural growth requires, so the production team's arrangements weren't in vain,” Professor Ke commented appropriately.
“Yes, our director is very happy that everyone likes the script he designed, and we hope you all enjoy it. The plot will become even more exciting and spectacular!” Pan Cake said excitedly.
“Friends who are passionate about ancient Chinese civilization can also take this opportunity to learn and understand more.”
Professor Ke also offered a warm reminder.
...
To satisfy the audience's preference for fast-paced narratives, five years passed in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, on the screen was a stunningly beautiful and radiant young woman in luxurious attire, looking no older than sixteen, precisely at the age when she bloomed like a spring flower.
She was currently holding a maid's hand, gracefully and slowly descending from a carriage.
The moment her face appeared on the street, it immediately sparked a heated discussion.
Among them were many men's infatuated gazes, lingering on her face, waist, and buttocks. If they caught a glimpse of her jade feet, wrapped in embroidered shoes beneath her skirt, they would be even more satisfied.
A beauty like a flower, not in the clouds, but on this bustling street—how could one not take the opportunity to look twice?
Snake Taoist couldn't help but stare for a long time. This young girl's appearance was indeed extraordinary; if she were here, she could probably become a minor celebrity.
The beautiful young woman seemed oblivious to the scrutinizing gazes on her face and body, and she seemed not to hear the voices calling her a “vixen,” “demoness,” or “slut.” She merely smiled sweetly, leading her maid into the medical hall named “Earth Mother” before them.
The medical hall's furnishings were very new, clearly indicating it had just opened recently.
Upon entering, the beautiful young woman's gaze immediately fell upon the young doctor standing with his back to the door near the medicine cabinet, and she smiled brightly.
That smile made everyone's hearts flutter.
The young doctor was holding a small brass scale, weighing medicinal herbs, completely absorbed in his task, as if his eyes saw only the scale before him. He seemed utterly unaware that a young woman, with a mischievous smile, was quietly approaching him from behind.
However, just as she was about to touch the doctor with her right hand to startle him, the doctor swung the small scale in his hand backward, precisely hitting the pressure point on her right elbow.
“Liu Sheng Jie!” The young woman hugged her right hand, enduring the waves of tingling numbness, and called out plaintively.
This call was melodious and captivating, tinged with a charming plea, causing everyone to feel a jolt, as if all their pressure points had been struck.
“This Xiao Xiao, she's truly extraordinary now that she's grown up!”
“What's called innate charm? This is it.”
“Is it really okay to describe a child like that?”
“You, moralizer, let me tell you, in that ancient era, a girl her age might already have two or three children.”
“Wow, hearing that, I'm really looking forward to Xiao Xiao's wedding, hehehe.”
“I wonder what kind of man can be worthy of her?”
“Only someone like me will do. Anyone with a lower appearance than mine, I object.”
“The one upstairs, show us your photo?”
Another part of the audience was focused on Liu Sheng.
“Liu Sheng Jie has finally appeared!”
“Long time no see, Liu Sheng Jie, I really missed her!”
“She looks so heroic now! I love it!”
“It seems this strangely named medical hall was opened by her. I didn't expect her to be able to open her own shop after a few years?”
“Liu Sheng Jie is indeed career-oriented!”
“Speaking of which, it's exciting, I want to #@%*! her even more!”
Liu Sheng turned to look at the young woman, who was grimacing in pain, and said calmly, “Isn't it because you wanted to scare me first?”
Jiang Caibin, who was passing by carrying a large, seemingly heavy box, saw Xiao Xiao and his eyes lit up.
“Si Niang! You're here?”
Xiao Xiao pouted her cherry lips.
“I don't like this name.”
“Why? Don't people outside all call you Si Niang?”
Jiang Caibin put down the box he was holding; it turned out to be filled with dried medicinal herbs.
He began to sort the herbs and place them into the medicine cabinet.
Having followed Liu Sheng for a long time, he was already very familiar with these herbs.
“I just don't like it,” Xiao Xiao said decisively.
It was only in front of them that Xiao Xiao would show a hint of stubbornness; in the deep mansion over the years, she had already learned how to conceal her true nature.
After her mother brought her into the family, she learned that her stepfather, Lu Shousheng, was not the eldest son of the main branch, but the second son of the second branch, and his status in the Lu family was ordinary because he was neither scholarly nor militarily accomplished.
Her mother had become the seventh concubine of this useless fop, Lu Shousheng.
Lu Shousheng had few children, only two daughters. Among his generation in the family, there were eight children in total. Xiao Xiao, by age, became the fourth, so the family affectionately called her “Si Niang.”
As Xiao Xiao grew more and more outstanding, it became known throughout the city: the Lu family had Si Niang, peerless and independent.
And her mother had also proven herself capable; even now, with her daughter Lu Siniang having grown to this age, she had not been abandoned like a worn shoe by her pleasure-seeking, wine-loving husband. Instead, she became increasingly favored, often kept by his side.
Many people in the household were dissatisfied with them, and there were also those with ill intentions, often making small moves to test their mother and daughter, even scaring and bullying them.
Therefore, it was not strange for Xiao Xiao to find a corpse in her room.