Fortune Across the World

Chapter 157: A Winter Meeting in Yinzhou (Part 2)

The maid led Lu Weixi to Ningxin Hall, where she left her two attendants waiting outside while she and Qing'er entered the hall.

"Miss Lu, please wait here for a moment. Our Miss will be with you shortly," the maid said, offering hot tea before stepping out of Ningxin Hall.

Lu Weixi had no mind to rest or drink tea; she was eager to meet her beloved Qiyu. However, she was confused about why Miss Fu was meeting her instead, and where exactly Qiyu was. An uneasy feeling crept into her heart.

As the maid's voice announced the arrival of her mistress, Fu Ruqing entered the hall with Yin Su, her face partially veiled under a silver-white cloak.

Lu Weixi courteously greeted, "Miss Fu." Although she couldn't see her full face, the eldest daughter of the Jiangnan Fu family exuded an ethereal grace, unlike the materialistic aura of many merchants she had encountered. Her demeanor was otherworldly. If Qiyu had been with this Miss Fu, who seemed to have severed ties with the mundane world, what might have transpired? The uneasy feeling in Lu Weixi's heart grew stronger.

While Lu Weixi observed Fu Ruqing, the latter was also scrutinizing the renowned "First Talented Woman of Daqian," the woman Qiyu had "once loved deeply." Indeed, Lu Weixi possessed unparalleled beauty and a gentle, graceful aura that made her a "paragon of talent and beauty." Without any adornment, she could stand anywhere, and a single frown or smile would outshine all the women of the world. As these thoughts unfolded, a twinge of bitterness began to ferment in Fu Ruqing's heart. She returned the greeting, "Miss Lu."

The juxtaposition of gentle and cold tones created an imperceptible clash in the air. After exchanging greetings, silence enveloped the room, making the atmosphere in Ningxin Hall exceedingly strange.

Yin Su and Qing'er exchanged glances, quickly averting their eyes. Yin Su was deeply concerned; the name of this exceptionally talented Miss Lu sounded familiar—was she the daughter of that famous general? Miss Lu had traveled from Xingcheng to find their future son-in-law, implying a complex relationship. Could it be that their son-in-law had unresolved romantic entanglements in Xingcheng? What would happen to her mistress and the child?

Qing'er, too, sensed the tension, noting the silent contest between her mistress and Miss Fu. Could it be that Master Ding had become involved with Miss Fu after leaving Xingcheng? If that were true, how would her mistress cope? She was already lovesick from his absence; how could she endure such a blow?

As time passed, it was Lu Weixi, driven by longing for her beloved after many days apart, who broke the silence. Her desire to see Qiyu overrode her unease. She sighed inwardly, maintaining her composure as she asked, "Miss Fu, may I ask if there is a gentleman by the name of Ding Qiyu residing here?"

Fu Ruqing nodded slightly, "Yes."

Hearing this confirmation, Lu Weixi set aside her earlier apprehensions, eager to inquire further, until Fu Ruqing added, "But she is not currently in Qingliu Garden." Inside, Fu Ruqing's emotions were far from the calm exterior she presented.

Lu Weixi's heart sank, her voice softening as she asked, "Then where is she?"

Fu Ruqing, too, felt a wave of sadness. Qiyu had been taken to create mechanisms, and the letter mentioned nothing about her current whereabouts. Shaking her head, she replied, "I don't know. I only know she won't be back for the New Year." Distracted by her own feelings, Fu Ruqing's voice betrayed a faint sense of loss.