Chapter 1254: 1254: Letter from Madam Hou
Chapter 1254: Chapter 1254: Letter from Madam Hou
Shu Yu was taken aback and received the letter with some surprise upon seeing the sender.
“Sent by Madam Hou?”
She walked into the courtyard while opening the letter. After reaching the living room, she took a sip of tea before unfolding the letter to read it.
On reading it, her eyes widened suddenly, showing utter disbelief.
Ying Xi, noticing her unusual expression, asked softly, “Miss, what’s the matter?”
Shu Yu shook her head with a smile, “Nothing, just received some good news.”
Good news? Ying Xi was puzzled.
Shu Yu didn’t explain to her; Ying Xi didn’t know Madam Hou or the incidents during their exile, so she wouldn’t understand even if told.
Shu Yu returned to Yu Garden with a gleaming smile and soon went to the storeroom to choose gifts.
Halfway through picking gifts, the old lady returned home.
Hearing that Shu Yu was near the storeroom, she hurried over to find her.
“Yu, what are you looking for?”
“Grandmother.” Shu Yu put down what she was holding and walked over with a smile, helping her sit down before saying, “Madam Hou sent me a letter; she left Linzhang Prefecture.”
The old lady was taken aback, “Left Linzhang Prefecture? Wasn’t she a convict in exile? Could it be that she too has made a contribution and was pardoned like you?”
“No, she left with Lord Wan and has now become Lord Wan’s concubine, accompanying him to the capital.” Shu Yu was worried she might not remember Lord Wan, so she added a reminder, “He was the Ministry of Personnel’s official who went to Uncle Yao’s house to read the Imperial Decree and returned to the capital with him. Grandmother, you’ve met him.”
After thinking for a moment, the old lady came to a realization, “Oh, that tall, thin official?”
“Yes.” Shu Yu nodded. “Speaking of which, I even met Lord Wan on my way to the capital. At that time, I guessed he was heading southwest. Later, when I returned from the capital and was at the dock, I saw him again. He was busy, so I didn’t greet him. Thinking back, the woman with the curtain hat following him might have been Madam Hou, and we just missed her!!”
The old lady lamented, “What a pity, but how did Madam Hou become Lord Wan’s concubine?”
Shu Yu also found it quite curious. In the letter, Madam Hou mentioned that when Lord Wan first met her, she happened to save him.
Perhaps due to this connection, Lord Wan remembered Madam Hou vividly.
However, as for the development of their relationship, such as when they became close or developed feelings, Madam Hou did not mention it in the letter.
Indeed, such private matters are hard to discuss.
The letter only stated that after Lord Wan left Linzhang Prefecture for the first time, he bought her many things.
Madam Hou thought it was just a token of gratitude from Lord Wan, but unexpectedly, a few months later, Lord Wan reappeared at the courier station in Linzhang Prefecture where she was staying.
This time, he was again there to read an Imperial Decree, pardoning a court official who had been exiled.
Originally, the imperial court had assigned another official from the Ministry of Personnel, but Lord Wan took the initiative to handle the matter.
Upon arriving in Linzhang Prefecture, he saw Madam Hou again. Lord Wan discussed his family situation with Madam Hou and asked if she would be willing to return to the capital with him.
Madam Hou naturally agreed. She was originally the concubine of the Shu family’s second master, and now as Lord Wan’s concubine, her status had been elevated.
What’s more, Lord Wan’s wife had already passed away, and he had not remarried. His rear courtyard had only two concubines, with one being a longtime chambermaid, which was cleaner than Second Master’s rear courtyard.