All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

When Lin Ruan and Xie Yunze went to the An Ning Marquis's mansion, they not only met Xie Yunze's parents, the An Ning Marquis and his wife, but also met Xie Yunze's brother and sister-in-law, Xie Yunqing and his wife.

While Xie Yunze was being held in the study by Earl An Ning, Lin Ruan had already arrived at Xie Yunze's courtyard. She strolled slowly through the not-too-small yet elegant courtyard, squinting her eyes as she curiously took in everything. Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to two unfamiliar figures. They were the maids she had heard of many times but had never seen in person—Fei Cui and Zhen Zhu.

I have to say that Xie Yunze's names for these two girls are really good. Jade and Pearl are both as their names imply—

Jade's presence is pure and cool, like the bright moonlight in the night sky, clear and transparent, with a subtle hint of fragility. Her beauty is unassuming, yet captivating. Her demeanor is like a small white lotus swaying gently in the night breeze; the slightest sound could bring tears to her eyes, as if she could tremble at any moment at the slightest disturbance. Her presence is like the description in a modern poem: "Most gentle is that bowed head, like a water lotus, shying away in the cool breeze, saying take care, saying take care, and that take care is filled with sweet sorrow—"

Lin Ruan looked at Feicui, and the tenderness in her heart could not help but show. She was born with a special pity for girls, and seeing Feicui like this, her eyes naturally became soft. She couldn't help but say to Feicui, "Feicui, take care."

Take care, take care.

Lin Ruan was numb and regretful. He wanted to slap himself twice and donate his mouth.

She really couldn't help it.

Jade is a perfect match for this poem.

"Princess?" As expected, Feicui raised her red eyes like a frightened little rabbit and looked at Lin Ruan pitifully.

"Jade, right?" Lin Ruan lowered her voice. "Would you like to go to the princess's mansion with me?"

Without waiting for Feicui to answer, Lin Ruan turned to Zhenzhu and said, "You too, think about it. Do you want to follow me to the princess's mansion?"

Pearls and jade are beautiful in different ways.

Pearl's beauty was unlike that of jade. Her skin was as white as snow, so pale that, if Lin Ruan herself were to say it, it was almost as pale as Xie Yunze's, exhausted from diarrhea. Her eyes were like bright stars, shimmering with a lively light. Her nose was small and delicate, and her mouth was rosy and plump, giving off an air of innocence. However, Lin Ruan noticed more than just these things; her figure was equally striking. Her figure was plump and rounded, giving off a healthy and lovely impression. Pearl's beauty lay not only in her appearance, but also in the natural vitality and approachability she exuded, which made people want to be close to her.

Close... Close...

Lin Ruan's gaze inadvertently moved downwards, then quickly retracted, as if attracted by some feature of Zhenzhu, but then politely shifted his gaze, and even coughed dryly as if to cover up his own faults.

I heard that these two maids were chosen by Lady Anning for her eldest son. Both in appearance and character, they were perfectly suited to serve a young man like Xie Yunze. Lady Anning's vision was truly excellent. It was a blessing that Xie Yunze became a consort; otherwise, any woman who married him would have been forced to endure the humiliation of being a "virtuous wife" in name only, with those two maids, backed by their mothers-in-law. If she wanted any other options, she probably had to set fire to the Anning Marquis's mansion.

Thinking about it this way, Lin Ruan can be said to be a person who "loves, cherishes and saves flowers". If she were not still wearing complicated palace clothes and had no fan at hand in the deep winter, Lin Ruan would have to perform a "suave and romantic" act.

Lin Ruan looked at the two people in front of her and said earnestly: "Think about it carefully. Although I can't guarantee that you will live a comfortable life in the future, it will at least be much better than guarding your young master's shabby courtyard all day long. I also know what you used to do by the prince consort's side. Since I have spoken today and expressed my willingness to take you to the princess's mansion, it means that you don't have to worry that I will deliberately make things difficult for you or treat you harshly, understand?" Her eyes were firm and sincere, as if she wanted these words to be deeply imprinted in the other person's heart.

As she spoke, An Lan saw Xie Yunze approaching from afar and said, "Princess, the prince consort is here."

After hearing An Lan's words, although Feicui and Zhenzhu had their own thoughts, because Princess Lin Ruan was here, they were afraid of being an eyesore to Lin Ruan, and afraid that Xie Yunze would see them. They did not dare to delay for a moment, and hurriedly bowed to Lin Ruan and left in a hurry.

"What was the princess talking about just now? Why did she look so happy?" Xie Yunze looked a little unnatural when he saw the back of his former personal maid.

Lin Ruan smiled and held a branch of wintersweet close to her, saying meaningfully, "I was just saying that the wintersweet in Prince Consort's yard is in full bloom, but now no one appreciates it all year round. It's such a pity, so I must enjoy it today. Don't miss out on enjoying the flowers when they bloom. How many winters can a person see in his life——"

Xie Yunze looked at the plum blossoms before him, wondering to himself: Could it be as Lin Ruan said? He couldn't help but recall the past when he lived in this courtyard. Although he would pick a few plum blossoms and put them in the vase every season, he had become accustomed to it over time and didn't feel much. However, when he looked at these plum blossoms again today, he felt a different feeling for some reason.

Perhaps it's because I haven't seen them in ages? After a period of separation, reunion always brings a sense of freshness and anticipation. Or perhaps... it's because the princess is present? Her pure and ethereal beauty complements the plum blossoms, which stand proudly against the snow and frost, making the entire scene particularly beautiful and moving.

Xie Yunze gazed at the blossoms blooming on the branches, his thoughts drifting away. He seemed oblivious to the chaos around him, completely absorbed in his own thoughts. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it waves of delicate floral fragrance, a refreshing feeling. He took a deep breath, feeling the tranquility and beauty.

Xie Yunze pondered for a while, and actually recited a poem of Bodhisattva:

"The cold branches cast shadows on the clear frosty moon. The faint fragrance spreads darkly through the snow at dusk. Life is like a dream, and looking back at the capital brings back many thoughts. Late at night, I am already drunk. The bright moon is shattered across the window. Where can I find the plum blossoms? The news of spring from my hometown is late."

Bodhisattva? What a coincidence!

Lin Ruan hummed the most classic Bodhisattva Man from the ancient costume female workplace TV series she had seen in modern times, with Xie Yunze's lyrics.

"Princess," Xie Yunze murmured softly. Lin Ruan's voice was melodious and graceful, like the song of a nightingale. This verse stirred a thousand thoughts in his mind, yet he couldn't help but ask curiously, "This piece of music is unique in style, and doesn't seem like the usual Bodhisattva Man tune. I wonder where it came from?" Xie Yunze's words were filled with doubt, his eyes fixed on the princess, hoping for an answer.

"Well," Lin Ruan replied calmly, "this is a song I accidentally heard from a street performer when I was in the frontier. Yulang, do you think the song is crude? When I first heard it, I thought it was beautiful."

Is it crude? Xie Yunze didn't think so. Instead, he felt that the song was inexplicably sad, as if it had sung out all the depressed emotions he had suppressed.

"Yulang, let's take this wintersweet tree away," Lin Ruan said, "and plant it outside the small study in the princess's mansion."

The small study mentioned separately. Xie Yunze only knew that one. It was a room independent of the other courtyards. Lin Ruan would only go in when she missed her parents. Every time she came out, her body was covered with the scent of styrax.

Planted there?

Xie Yunze suddenly had a sense of mission, as if he suddenly had to protect Lin Ruan like Lin Ruan's parents.

"Okay," Xie Yunze said gently, "I'll obey the princess in everything."

After writing a poem to express his emotions and spending a lot of energy, Xie Yunze felt a little tired. As it was getting dark, he might have thought about his body and wanted to leave this place that represented the past. Xie Yunze wanted to go back to the princess's mansion.

Lin Ruan nodded in agreement, but casually said to An Lan beside her, "Go to Madam Bo and get the indentures for Jade and Pearl, and have them return to the Princess's Mansion with you."