The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

"Ms. Mo, your cousin didn't come to the academy today."

Someone kindly reminded me.

Mo Shiyu smiled slightly and replied, "I understand. I came here today specifically to see Master Xie."

Her voice was clear and pleasant, but it caused a slight commotion in the academy. The students whispered and jeered one after another. Mo Shiyu's cheeks flushed and she lowered her head shyly.

Xie Tianyi frowned at these jokes. He and Xue Mingxuan already had a delicate relationship, and he was full of vigilance and doubts about his cousin's sudden visit.

In the classroom, as other students left one after another, only Xie Tianyi and Jiang Yufeng were left.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Mo Shiyu walked straight in, the food box in her hand emitting an enticing aroma.

"Thank you, sir. This is the meal I specially prepared. I wonder if it suits your taste."

As Mo Shiyu spoke, she carefully opened the food box. Inside were six kinds of dishes with tempting colors and a good combination of meat and vegetables. It was obviously carefully designed.

"Thank you for your kindness. I still prefer the meals at the academy."

Xie Tianyi politely but firmly refused. His attitude was clear and he left no room for Mo Shiyu.

"Mr. Xie, I am here to apologize to you on behalf of my cousin. He was wrong in the last incident. He didn't know that the 'Good Luck Restaurant' was opened by Sister Chen's brother."

Mo Shiyu's voice was gentle, trying to move people with emotion, but Xie Tianyi keenly caught the strangeness in her words. Sister Chen? Was she referring to Chen Xi?

"I don't mind. I appreciate your kindness. Yufeng, let's go have dinner."

Xie Tianyi responded indifferently, picked up the book, stood up and prepared to leave.

Jiang Yufeng was confused, but out of trust in Xie Tianyi, he did not ask any more questions and just followed silently.

Seeing this, Mo Shiyu became anxious. She suddenly grabbed Xie Tianyi's sleeve, with a flash of determination in her eyes.

"Master Xie, wouldn't Sister Chen feel bad for you doing this in the academy? You and Master Jiang should give it a try, just consider it as a favor to me."

Mo Shiyu's maid also quickly agreed: "Master Xie, just try it. These are all made by my young lady herself. She carefully selected the ingredients and cooked them by herself."

Xie Tianyi quickly pulled back his sleeve that was being pulled and his expression turned serious.

"Miss Mo, I'm sorry, I'm married and this is not polite. Besides, I only prefer the food made by my wife."

His words revealed an unquestionable firmness, and then he hurried away with the book, as if avoiding something ominous, and Jiang Yufeng followed closely behind him.

After lunch, in the side room, sunlight shone through the window lattice, illuminating the ground in patches.

"Brother Tianyi, is it possible that Miss Mo is interested in you?"

Jiang Yufeng teased half-jokingly and half-seriously, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Xie Tianyi simply responded: "I don't know, and I'm not interested."

His tone was calm, as if he didn't care much about all this, and then he buried his head in the book and continued to review his lessons.

Jiang Yufeng suddenly sat up from the bed, walked to Xie Tianyi with a look of surprise, and seemed to want to say something else, but in the end he just shook his head, sighed, chose to respect Xie Tianyi's choice, and stopped asking questions.

"Brother Tianyi, this is the only daughter of County Magistrate Wang's family. Are you really not tempted at all?"

There was a hint of disbelief and mischief in Jiang Yufeng's words, and his eyes flickered, as if he was expecting some intriguing answer.

A barely perceptible hint of helplessness flashed across Xie Tianyi's brows. He shook his head slightly, thinking secretly in his heart.

Does he have to be interested in every woman?

In this era, marriage is often related to family interests, but he prefers to pursue pure emotions rather than just because of the other person's status.

Furthermore, today Mo Shiyu kept calling him "Sister Chen" in front of him. Behind that seemingly intimate name, who knows what she is planning in her mind? Is it another carefully planned approach?

Just as Jiang Yufeng was about to continue the topic, Xie Tianyi immediately interrupted him, his voice steady and unquestionable: "Hurry up and review your lessons. Are you sure you can pass the provincial examination next year?"

This sentence was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the fire of curiosity in Jiang Yufeng's heart.

He quickly picked up the books scattered on the table and began to study with trepidation.

Jiang Yufeng knew in his heart that he had an older brother in the family who had followed his father into business since he was young, and now all family affairs were controlled by his brother.

As a scholar who was highly expected by his family, he was sent to academy to study since he was a child. The dream of the whole family was that the Jiang family would have someone who would study and become an official.

If he fails in the provincial examination next year, I am afraid that his father and brother will be disappointed like a mountain and will not easily forgive his failure.

……

On the other hand, Chen Xi vaguely felt that there seemed to be a pair of eyes silently watching her in the dark these two days. This feeling made her alert.

That afternoon, she went out again to look for a suitable location for the store she was about to open.

Strolling from the quiet path of Taohuawu to the neighboring street, as the destination approached, Chen Xi's pace unconsciously quickened, as if he wanted to get rid of the feeling of being spied on as soon as possible.

"Feel sorry."

When turning a corner, Chen Xi accidentally bumped into someone. He quickly steadied himself and spoke apologetically.

When she looked up and saw that the other person was Mo Shiyu, the dignified Mo Shiyu whom she had met by chance in the Treasure Pavilion, she was slightly stunned, secretly surprised at this sudden encounter.

"It turns out to be Sister Chen, what a coincidence."

Mo Shiyu instantly suppressed the displeasure on her face, as if a gust of spring breeze was blowing on her face, and she put on her signature bright smile, as if everything had become better because of Chen Xi's appearance.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. If you're okay, I'll leave first."

Chen Xi's tone was as calm as water, which formed a sharp contrast with Mo Shiyu's enthusiasm. She didn't want to linger too long in this unexpected encounter.

At this moment, Mo Shiyu's subtle inhalation was heard from behind, with a hint of imperceptible pain.

Chen Xi's heart tightened and he quickly turned around, only to see Mo Shiyu carefully stroking her ankle, the smile on her face looking a little forced.

Following Mo Shiyu's gaze, the heavy skirt blocked the view, making it impossible to judge the severity of the injury.

"I'll take you to the infirmary."

Chen Xi didn't think much about it. Since he had injured someone, he naturally had to take responsibility.

In the clinic, the old doctor carefully examined the patient and prescribed some medicines for internal and external use.

Chen Xi carefully paid all the expenses and gave an extra five taels of silver to Mo Shiyu's maid as compensation for the accident, hoping to reduce the inconvenience to the other party.

After everything was settled, Chen Xi was about to leave when Mo Shiyu's voice sounded again, with a bit of earnestness: "Sister Chen, I live in the west of the city. Come and visit me when you have time. I really want to be friends with Sister Chen."

She waved goodbye, an inexplicable light flashing in her eyes, and a new plan was quietly weaving in her heart.