Chapter 19: Returning Home in High Spirits

Miss Xiao Yi was surprisingly not displeased and allowed Shen Lan to hold her like that.

Little Nine blinked his eyes and watched attentively, noticing that Xiao Yi and Shen Lan were drawing closer and closer, just like... just like the father and mother in his memories.

Could it be that he had really made a mistake?

Little Nine tucked his tail between his legs, lowered his head, and dared not make a sound, silently following behind Xiao Yi and Shen Lan.

Shen Lan slightly turned his head and, seeing that the white fox named Little Nine had subdued his aura, was satisfied and began chatting with the tailor shop owner.

The tailor shop owner had initially thought the deal would fall through when Shen Lan hurriedly dropped a few words and left. Who would have thought that fortune would turn? The wealthy young lord had returned, holding the hand of a young lady.

The fabrics and styles the lady wore were many, and seeing the couple together meant a big order!

The owner immediately bustled about, circling around Xiao Yi. “Madam, your complexion is fair. This beige fabric sprinkled with flowers suits you very well. Would you like to try it?”

“This sample robe is made from soft silver gauze. Do you fancy this brocade gown? I can take it down for you to try.”

But Xiao Yi had no interest in the owner’s recommendations. She was almost completely enveloped in Shen Lan’s arms. His subtle breath lingered around her, warming her from head to toe, leaving her unable to think clearly.

“Madam? Would you like to try it?” The owner asked after a long silence.

Xiao Yi only blushed and remained silent.

The owner's experienced eyes saw through this immediately—this must be a newlywed shyly embarrassed!

So the owner shifted his sales pitch to Shen Lan. “Young lord, what do you think? I suggest you make a garment from this fabric too. Wearing matching clothes will make you two look perfectly suited! How about it?”

Shen Lan loved to hear such auspicious words and waved his hand grandly. “Tailor, make all those you recommended into matching pairs!”

Xiao Yi was startled. Shen Lan was just an envoy—how could he afford so much silver? She hurriedly stopped the owner. “Tailor, don’t listen to him.”

Unexpectedly, the owner kept working with a smile. “Young lady, you don’t know. All expenses for this young lord are covered by Lord Xiao of the Fox Clan! Just pick whatever you like.”

Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment before asking, “Is it Xiao Ru?”

The owner was immediately shocked and respectfully said, “Young lady, you also know Lord Xiao? So you all are acquainted! My apologies!”

Shen Lan was momentarily overjoyed, his mind filled with delight that Xiao Yi had not rejected him. He forgot about the previous tension and suddenly looked at Xiao Yi’s face, only to see her eyes lose focus and sadness flood her expression.

Quickly, Shen Lan pulled Xiao Yi into his embrace and told the owner, “Forget about that Lord Xiao. I’ll pay for everything.”

“小 Nine, follow the tailor and have these all packed up!” Shen Lan pulled out a silver note from his sleeve, tossed it to the tailor, and gave the order to Little Nine.

Little Nine was stunned for a moment, thinking: Me? Since when did a wolf have the right to command me?

However, seeing the urging look in Shen Lan’s eyes and the sobbing Xiao Yi in his arms, he finally understood.

Obediently, he followed the tailor away from the scene, leaving Shen Lan and Xiao Yi some privacy.

Once the place was empty, Shen Lan gently stroked Xiao Yi’s back and comforted her, “Don’t think about him anymore, okay?”

Xiao Yi buried herself in Shen Lan’s arms, sobbing, “It was right here in this shop. I overheard him telling Xiao Qiang that his white robe was worn for so long it fit perfectly, and he hated to discard it. But the bamboo leaf embroidery I did made him disgusted, so he wanted to tear it apart.”

“Am I really that worthless now?” Xiao Yi paused, her voice trembling with quiet sobs. “I wasn’t like this before... not like this at all.”

Hearing this, Shen Lan took a deep breath. Only now did he understand the source of Xiao Yi’s sorrow.

He carefully cupped her face and said slowly and clearly, “You are wonderful, the woman who captured my heart at first sight. If Xiao Ru doesn’t cherish you, that’s his fault.”

Shen Lan wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and took a piece of cloth from his bosom, handing it to Xiao Yi. “The bamboo leaf embroidery—you made it, and I’ve brought it back for you.”

On the cloth was the very bamboo leaf embroidery Xiao Yi had done before.

Trembling, Xiao Yi touched the embroidery and then looked up at Shen Lan with a puzzled expression. “How did you get this?”

“Your dear brother asked me which garment I liked best. Among all these clothes around, I picked that white robe you mentioned. I liked the embroidery, so I rescued it,” Shen Lan smiled softly, kissed her forehead, and said slowly, “Tell me, don’t I have excellent taste? Aren’t we a perfect match?”

He added with a grin, “If Xiao Ru doesn’t want you, it only means he’s blind.”

Xiao Yi had been grieving, but upon hearing this, she burst into laughter through her tears.

Her smile warmed Shen Lan’s heart. Just as he was about to make another move, Little Nine and the tailor returned.

The tailor grinned and said, “Young lord, everything else is settled. You only need to take one last measurement of the young lady.”

Shen Lan waved his hand, “No need. I’ll write it down for you.”

He wrote Xiao Yi’s measurements in the book the tailor handed him.

Xiao Yi was surprised and looked at Shen Lan in confusion. He whispered in her ear, “I’ve long planned to make clothes for you. After holding you a few more times, I’d know the sizes anyway.”

Xiao Yi blushed deeply and silently nudged Shen Lan’s side.

After settling the arrangements with the tailor, Shen Lan took Xiao Yi and Little Nine to have a proper meal in the East Market before leading them back to the Fox Clan’s main residence.

Upon arriving, Xiao Yi bade a reluctant farewell to Shen Lan and the playful Little Nine. When she returned to the Western Garden, the entire courtyard was eerily quiet.

She called out the servants’ names but received no response.

Unease gripped her heart. Tentatively stepping into the yard, she saw several rows of servants kneeling on the ground.

Xiao Qiu knelt at the back of the rows. Hearing Xiao Yi’s footsteps, she quietly turned her head and waved her hand, signaling a warning.

But now that they had come this far, under Xiao Ru’s watchful eyes, there was no turning back.

Xiao Yi lifted her gaze slightly and looked toward her room’s doorway, only to meet the cold, stern face of Xiao Ru.

Her heart sank. Hastily, she tucked the hairpin Shen Lan had given her deeper into her sleeve and forced herself to remain calm as she approached Xiao Ru, bowing slightly. “Brother, is there something you need?”

Unexpectedly, before she finished speaking, Xiao Ru stepped forward and delivered a swift kick.