Chapter 18.2

Substitute Marriage (4) – The heart palpitations were probably due to poisoning (2)

Like a seafaring man lured by a siren after losing his direction, Lu Zhi Yao slowly leaned over and brought his shoulder closer, a smile lifting at the corners of his lips.

“Open your mouth.”

Although it was strange, Lu Zhi Yao opened his lips slightly.

His thin lips were slightly red, and the way he leaned over and opened his mouth was inexplicably well-behaved.

A piece of apple was put in his mouth. The flesh was cold and sweet. He subconsciously chewed it, and the sweetness immediately ran through his lips and teeth.

“Hahahahaha.”

Li Ruo Shui looked at his bewildered look as he ate the apple, and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

“If your teeth itch, eat something to grind them. I don’t have a hobby of biting people.”

The pure laughter resounded in his ears, and Lu Zhi Yao inexplicably felt a momentary palpitation that happened in a flash, a feeling he had never felt before.

Lu Zhi Yao swallowed the apple, the smile no longer on his lips, and he reached out to touch his heart.

It was a strange sensation, as if his heart was being rubbed, and there was an indescribable comfort and satisfaction.

When Li Ruo Shui saw that he suddenly stopped laughing, she slowly withdrew her laughter and sat back a little.

Could it be that she had gone too far, was he angry?

She subconsciously went to look for his sword and was relieved to see it on the bed.

If his brain was short-circuited again, she’d still have time to manoeuvre.

“What’s this.”

Lu Zhi Yao’s hand that was touching his heart tightened, looking a little dazed.

Li Ruo Shui glanced at it and replied hesitantly, “That’s your chest.”

Could it be that this person become stupid after eating an apple?

Lu Zhi Yao frowned and put a hand on his wrist, and focused on it to distinguish his pulse.

Li Ruo Shui leaned over to look and unconsciously lowered her voice: “What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Zhi Yao withdrew his hand and replied in a warm voice: “I thought I was poisoned, but it doesn’t seem to be so.”

“Poisoned?” Li Ruo Shui was filled with disbelief, “Who could have poisoned you?”

Only then did Lu Zhi Yao loosen his frown, lowered his eyebrows and chuckled: “It’s just you and me here, what do you think?”

???

Is this a human being saying?

Li Ruo Shui walked over to him, and despite knowing that he couldn’t see, she waved her gauze-wrapped right hand in front of his eyes.

“Do I need to poison you? Wouldn’t it be better if I just let her poke you blind the day before yesterday?”

Lu Zhi Yao put away the medicine bottles and gauze without hurry, the corners of his lips smiling unabatedly.

“I’m already blind long ago, what does it matter about these two eyeballs. Besides, I can dodge it.”

“You finally admit it!”

The anger on Li Ruo Shui’s face was replaced by a smile, with a bit of “I caught you” glee.

“I knew you were tricking me on purpose!”

Lu Zhi Yao sighed slightly, looking distressed, “You noticed it.”

“I’d immediately figured it out at that time.”

At this moment, Li Ruo Shui was so happy that she clenched her fists. This was the first time she had completely guessed Lu Zhi Yao’s thoughts.

She was so immersed in this joy that she overlooked the fact that she had been set up.

In this harmonious and cheerful atmosphere, the door of the inn was opened and two plump and fat-assed matchmakers walked in, one red and one green. Behind them were Lu Fei Yue and Jiang Nian who had hurriedly followed them in.

“Yo, isn’t this the future young lady of the Zheng family, her look is outstanding.”

“It’s just that it’s not proper to be alone in a room with a man.”

The two women sang and commented on Li Ruo Shui, then covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and muttered a few words.

Lu Feiyue, who was holding the roast chicken, walked to Li Ruoshui’s side in three or two steps, a little flustered.

“These are the two matchmakers sent by the Zheng family. They said that they will dress you up tonight and the palanquin will arrive tomorrow morning.”

After the two matchmakers had discussed the matter, they clapped their hands to the floor below, and the three servants immediately entered the room carrying the box.

The matchmaker told them to put the box next to the dressing table and pulled Li Ruo Shui over to the table affectionately.

“This gentleman, can you make way?”

Lu Zhi Yao, who was sitting at the table, hooked the corners of his lips, lifted the tray of gauze and ointment and got up to give way.

These two matchmakers surrounded Li Ruo Shui in the middle, and gave Li Ruo Shui a lesson in words.

It was obvious that Li Ruo Shui did not have a family, so they came today not only to dress her up and give her betrothal gifts, but also to explain the rules of marriage to her from the beginning.

As the two matchmakers were talking passionately, Lu Zhi Yao slowly sat down next to them.

The matchmaker in red turned her head to look at him: “What are you doing?”

Lu Zhi Yao said with a smile, “I don’t know the custom of marriage either, so I’m a little curious.”

Not only Lu Zhi Yao, but both Jiang Nian and Lu Fei Yue also sat down.

Not only were they curious, they also wanted to figure out the process so that they could find time to investigate the Zheng Mansion in depth.

The matchmakers didn’t refuse the opportunity to show off, but instead amplified their voices and continued to speak.

“……Our place is not quite the same as other places. The bride does not have to enter the bridal chamber immediately after worshipping heaven and earth, but she has to sit in the hall with the groom and distribute the wedding candies piled up on the plate.”

Li Ruo Shui also became interested and listened to this completely as if it were a local custom.

“Why do you have to hand out the candies, don’t you cover your head?”

“No need.” The red-clothed matchmaker waved her hand: “We’re open-minded in Cangzhou, and we don’t care about covering the head. It’s good to show the appearance of the bridal couple, so it doesn’t matter whether you hide it or not.”

The green-clothed matchmaker then added: “Marriage is a happy event, and the candies are tainted with the blessings from the bride and groom, so giving out candies is to spread good fortune.”

The two of them continued to talk about the rules, making Li Ruo Shui’s head spinned.

It was only when the afterglow of the setting sun slanted into the inn that these two finished talking.

They handed a modest brocade box to Li Ruo Shui with joy on their faces.

“This is the betrothal gift from the Zheng family. There are some shops and mansions that were bought without names, and they are all yours now.”

Li Ruo Shui’s hand trembled a little as she opened the brocade box and looked at the stack of land deeds inside. She couldn’t help but gulp down her saliva.

This was too affordable.

The two matchmakers opened the other two small wooden boxes and placed the contents on the dressing table one by one, looking festive.

“To give out wedding candy, your face is very important, so let us draw you a beautiful makeup tonight.”

Li Ruo Shui was pulled to the dressing table, a thin thread was pulled over her face to  open her complexion and that was when the long dressing session began.