The Marquis' Wife
Arrival of matchmaker
Lu Lian's escape episode had no significant effect on Lu Xiang's family, they didn't even look for the girl and let her look for the happiness she dreamed of.
Lu Xiang went to the scholar and student association event at the Wanxioling shop and passed by Zhang Yunlei and Shao Yunan.
"Lu Xiang's! It just so happens that we meet here, let's go in" Take Zhang Yunlei.
Good afternoon, has the show started yet?".
"Not yet but the scholars have come a lot. Let's go in".
Lu Xiang and his friend entered which was greeted by the event organizer namely Fu Lin, the owner of the Lin academy.
"Welcome Xie Hsien. I've wanted to see you for a long time but Juren Zhao never agreed to it". The middle-aged man introduced Lu Xiang to the others.
Many ordinary Hsien scholars were enthusiastically acquainted with Lu Xiang but some people were cynical and nyinyir.
"Oh this is Xie Hsien. I guess the prefect came because it made us all wait".
Lu Xiang's smile did not change. "It's nice to meet you Hsien Xia".
"Hmph! You're a young Hsien but have absolutely no respect for an older Hsien than you. Does Xie's title make you arrogant?" The words of provocation were clearly heard in the ears of others.
However Lu Xiang just smiled and turned around to talk to someone else making Hsien Xia feel like a dog barking caravan passed. His hand squeezed the hand fan firmly. He is famous as the eccentric Hsien and always looking for trouble with people until people no one defended him.
Scholars began to discuss poem or poetry from either the famous poets of the past or the famous scholars of the capital.
"Xie Hsien's".
Lu Xiang turned to Hsien Xia who wanted to look for trouble with him.
"You got the Xie title and must be good at making poem, right? Can we have the honor to hear your poem?"
Some scholars frown on Hsien Xia's exaggerated actions as they gather to discuss poem and poetry instead of competing for poetry. Yet no one stepped in to interrupt because they were also curious about Xie Hsien's abilities.
Lu Xiang stepped forward and held out two apologetic hands. "Hsien Xia is too overrated in praising me. I'm just lucky to get the Xie title".
Hsien Xia stared intently. "So you're looking down on me so I don't deserve to hear your poem?".
Lu Xiang stared flatly then smiled slightly. "If Hsien Xia thinks like that then I can't do anything".
"You!".
"This junior is still in the learning stage and please let all seniors not to be disappointed with the ability of this junior who is still in short supply. This junior has a poem but it's not so good compared to senior poem". Lu Xiang slightly lowered his head to apologize. Lu Xiang's magnanimous attitude made the old Hsien scholar feel embarrassed, they coughed a few times to hide the shame on their faces.
Lu Xiang sat in front of a square table, took out paper, brushes and ink and began to write neatly a poem that flashed in his mind. He made this poem when he thought of Adelia in his life.
The darkness will come by itself
Your body and soul will be detached for a moment and washed away in a dream
Dark winds permeate every cavity of life
Grab everything there slowly and ferociously
Forget those false memories
Missing it will not last forever
Turning bad temper into happiness (from spezer.net)
The Hsien scholars read the verse and became amazed.
"What a good poem! What a good poem. You made it with neat content and true feelings. This was a good poem" Fu Lin praised in astonishment, he even read the poem many times and still felt astonished.
The situation that Hsien Xia had unthinkable happened to make his face red with embarrassment and anger. He finally snorted angrily and left the Wanxioling teahouse but no one cared about his disappearance.
On the other hand Adelia told Lu Fang to deliver herbs for mild illness and ginseng to the Miao family home after hearing that her grandmother had fallen unconscious. He only carries out formalities and does not care about the reaction of his maternal family.
During the day Adelia comes a guest who surprises her. A woman who claimed to be a matchmaker named Mak Li, initially she did not know the purpose of the arrival of the woman in her 40s.
"It's nice to meet you Miss Xie Hsien. You are very beautiful as people say, not only that you also have brilliant ideas like tarts. I'm one who admires the talent and talent you have".
Adelia's feeling became uneasy at the soaring praise from Mak Li. He immediately asked the intention of the woman's arrival and became speechless.
"I came here to show some talented and beautiful women. They all come from respectable families, the more important they are the girls who uphold the norms of women so you don't have to compete and snatch your husband's affection with them" Mak Li chattered as if she was Lu Xiang's mother who could determine anything for that man.
"I mean Mak Li?" Sucking speechless Adelia, she even stutters in speech.
"They'll be scholar concubine Xie Hsien" Adelia's reaction left Mak Li perplexed.
Adelia inhaled a deep breath of trying to calm the explosive emotions in her chest, she did not want her reputation to be ruined for driving away the matchmaker, the act would have put her on the stamp of a jealous wife, one of the 7 traits that became the great sin of a woman in this world.
But the desire to add to the old woman's hair and throw her out almost made her rationality disappear.
"Mr Li. Too bad you didn't come on time because the CUSPUTAN wasn't home". Adelia's smile almost collapsed.
"But this is your duty, Miss Xie Hsien".
Innocent's words made the veins on Adelia's head pop up.
"But I have to discuss it first with my husband. What if he doesn't want a concubine? I can't make my relationship with Lu Xiang tenuous because of this matter right MAK LI?"
Mak Li laughed funnyly. "Which men don't like pretty girls. You don't have to talk about it with scholar Xie Hsien because I'm sure he'll agree".
"Are you Xie Hsien?".
Adelia's cold voice and sharp gaze made Mak Li startled and became frightened. "Ti-no".
"Then how do you know what my husband thinks?".
"I-i... What if you show Xie Hsien a sketch of the candidates and let me know if Xie Hsien has chosen one?" Mak Li still did not want to give up and expressed other ideas, he put a book containing sketches of candidates who wanted to become Lu Xiang's concubine on the table.
"alright. If Mak Li has finished telling you about your arrival here. The exit is over there". A smile that did not reach the eyes was seen Adelia's face.
"I'll wait for the good news from your mistress Xie Hsien".
Mak Li stepped away then turned around and spat towards Lu Xiang's house when he was already far away.
"Sad. You're acting so haughty, being a legal wife is nothing when the husband prefers concubines over you! I pray that happens, let's know how you feel!" The woman left while cursing Adelia who did not treat her well when visiting, she was a famous matchmaker and many people came to her for marriage.
Lu Xiang who had just returned home from the scholarly society found his sulking wife and ignored her. He was confused because he did not know what made Adelia do this.