“Okay.” Xie Yi nodded. He wouldn’t refuse anything Su Mu chose for him.

Que’er upstairs watched as Su Mu placed a piece of light-colored fabric in the foreign young man’s hands, feeling slightly relieved. But as he continued watching, he grew more and more uneasy.

“Young master, it seems Su Niang isn’t selecting clothes for herself. Judging by the color of the fabric, she appears to be choosing for the foreign young man beside her. And the fabric she selected happens to be exactly the same as yours.” Que’er hurriedly retreated back into the room to inform Xu Yunshu of this.

Xu Yunshu slowly put down his teacup, his delicate brows tinged with a trace of worry. After a moment, he said, “Very well, then we won’t take this one. I’ll choose another.”

Que’er pouted unhappily, “Why do we have to yield to that lowborn foreign young man? Young master, you’re the sixth son of the county magistrate, of noble status. So many people want to curry favor with you but can’t. Why do we have to avoid him and not wear the same clothes?”

Xu Yunshu said softly, “Have you forgotten what I said? Su Niang is the main character of this banquet.”

Mother was getting on in years and wouldn’t hold this position for much longer. Now that a new provincial graduate had appeared in the city, it was likely that the next county magistrate would be this Su Niang. By then, people would no longer curry favor with Mother, but with Su Niang instead.

If they didn’t establish a good relationship now, if Su Niang were to uncover some of the things Mother had done during her decades as county magistrate, the entire Xu family would suffer.

That’s why Mother specifically held this flower-viewing banquet. Flower-viewing was just an excuse; establishing a good relationship with Su Niang was the real purpose.

And he knew well that he was the link maintaining the cold relationship between Mother and Su Niang.

Although he was Mother’s sixth son, he was after all born of a minor concubine, merely a concubine-born son, not of noble status.

If he were sent to Su Niang’s bedside and managed to gain her favor through diligent service, he could whisper in her ear and persuade her to show leniency. Why not do it?

Xu Yunshu thought, if he were Mother, if he were in Mother’s current situation, he would probably push himself forward too.

“But-” Que’er protested on his behalf, “But the main character is Su Niang, not Su Niang’s favored attendant. We don’t need to put up with him, do we?”

Xu Yunshu smiled slowly, his clear eyes like hidden mountains reflected in water, “You said yourself that he’s Su Niang’s favored attendant. If we slight him, we’re slighting Su Niang.”

His slender, rounded fingertip casually pointed at a fabric on the clothes rack, “Let’s take that one.”

Que’er looked in the direction he was pointing. It was a piece of light cyan fabric, with a hint of misty color added to the cyan, like water vapor evaporating from mountains after rain, misty and foggy, which also suited Xu Yunshu’s light temperament.

“Alright.” Que’er could only compromise, taking the garment to find an attendant. After paying, Que’er returned.

“Has Su Niang left?” Xu Yunshu lowered his head to taste the tea.

“She’s already gone. The young masters downstairs are still discussing her in low voices, like they’re in heat,” Que’er said.

“Still discussing?” A ripple appeared in Xu Yunshu’s calm eyes, “It seems Su Niang is truly beautiful, to have captured the hearts of so many young men.”

Que’er smiled, “Indeed, young master, it’s really a pity you didn’t go see. I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman before.”

Xu Yunshu laughed lightly, his demeanor as gentle as jade, “Perhaps Su Niang is truly stunningly beautiful, captivating everyone’s gaze. But appearance is the least important thing for a woman. Aren’t character and talent much more important than looks?”

“That may be true, but Su Niang doesn’t lack talent either, does she? She’s the only provincial graduate from our Juancheng in decades, and even the top scholar. As for character…” Que’er smiled dreamily, “I just saw her buying clothes for her favored attendant. Her gestures and demeanor were gentle and affectionate. She seems to be an excellent wife-master.”

Xu Yunshu laughed, “Alright, stop thinking about Su Niang. We should head back now.”

Que’er composed himself and said, “Okay.”

The two went downstairs together. Seeing it was the young master from the magistrate’s mansion, the young masters downstairs all made way.

The Xu family’s sedan chair was already waiting outside. Xu Yunshu got into the sedan chair, and the female sedan bearers headed towards the Xu mansion. Que’er followed closely beside the sedan.

In the height of summer, the weather was extremely hot. The narrow sedan was even more stuffy. Soon, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and sweat soaked through his undergarments, sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

Sitting in the sedan chair, feeling the humid hot air, Xu Yunshu seemed to return to that night when he and his mother had talked through the night.

“Shu’er, you are Mother’s most beloved child. Originally, I didn’t want you to do this, but among my children, only you are of marriageable age, and only you are the most understanding. I will arrange for you to be placed in Su Mu’s household. Your position may not be high, but you must make Mother proud. Try to make her like you quickly, and it would be best if you could soon conceive her first daughter. That way, she will consider the child and let Mother off the hook in the future.”

Xu Yunshu lowered his eyes, recalling his mother’s gentle guidance, feeling only bitterness in his heart.

If Mother truly loved him, how could she send him to Su Mu? Such words were merely perfunctory.

Perhaps the only ones she truly loved in her heart were the son and daughter born to her primary husband. As for his other concubine-born brothers, they had all been married off with ulterior motives by the primary husband.

Some had good fortune and were married as primary husbands to wealthy merchants. Others were less fortunate and became second husbands to elderly, frail gentry. Mother knew all this, but she didn’t care and didn’t want to interfere, only wanting to collect the hefty bride prices.

Xu Yunshu leaned helplessly against the sedan chair.

He hadn’t inherited his father’s captivating beauty, only being described as pleasant to look at. How could someone like him compete for favor with Su Niang’s favored attendant?

A light breeze blew in, lifting the curtain covering the window. The clamor and bustle of the street market suddenly rushed in, but Xu Yunshu’s eyes widened as he came face to face with Su Mu approaching from the opposite direction.

She was dressed in light, elegant plain clothes, her face slightly turned as she chatted and laughed with her favored attendant beside her. Her eyes were gentle and affectionate, her plain and elegant attire blending with her smile, like rain-soaked plantain leaves still dripping with water, cooling the hot summer day and bringing a faint fragrant breeze. In that instant, all the complex sounds around them dissolved.

It was just a fleeting moment as Su Mu passed by his sedan chair. Xu Yunshu lowered the curtain, feeling lost and dejected.

“Young master, young master, did you just see Su Niang? She just walked past us,” Que’er excitedly said through the curtain.

Xu Yunshu’s expression softened, “…I saw her.”

“How was it? Isn’t Su Niang very beautiful?”

A faint worry furrowed Xu Yunshu’s brow.

He had previously thought that the rumors about Su Mu were exaggerated beyond reality. How could there be a woman more beautiful than a man in this world? But that one glance just now made him realize he was wrong.

Su Niang was indeed as beautiful as the rumors claimed, but she was even better to her favored attendant beside her.

The appearance of that favored attendant needn’t be mentioned; only Yan Jiyue could barely compare. His temperament must also be good, at least as displayed in front of Su Niang. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have won Su Niang’s favor, making her willing to divorce Yan Jiyue.

He had no standing next to Yan Jiyue, let alone next to her favored attendant. How could he possibly compete?