Chapter 659 No plans to get married [Bonus chapter]
Feng Lao put the bamboo slip on the floor table when he heard the door open. "Lord Shui, Miss Miaoran wants to see you. She is outside. Should I let her in?" the servant asked.
"Let her in," Feng Lao said. He picked up the candle stand and put it at the center of the floor table from the stand beside him.
Miaoran came inside and gave a bow to him. "Please take a seat," Feng Lao said and motioned his hand to the floor chair. Miaoran settled on the floor chair and thanked him for letting him in.
"There is no need to thank," Feng Lao said. "I am glad you came to see me. It has been days since you have come out of your room. Are you well?" he asked with a bit of concern.
"I am better now, Lord Shui. Thank you for giving me time," Miaoran said.
"You can call me Feng Lao. No need to call the 'Lord'," Feng Lao said and smiled at her.
"It may sound inappropriate," Miaoran stated.
"It will not sound inappropriate, Miaoran," Feng Lao assured her.
Miaoran gave a simple nod and looked at the bamboo slips on one side of the table. "Were you working? I hope I didn't disturb you, Feng Lao," Miaoran said.
"I was reading something. Not working. My work is with Prince Lóng Wei mostly," Feng Lao explained.
"I wanted to thank the Sixth Prince. Because of him, I was rescued that day from all of them," Miaoran said.
"I will tell Prince Lóng Wei about this," Feng Lao assured her. He looked at her face. The bruises were healed and the glow was returned to her face.
"I thought to do household chores like cleaning, cooking, and washing dishes. However, Lady Jingfei doesn't let me do anything. I feel bad about staying for free and doing nothing," Miaoran asserted.
"You don't have to work here. I suppose, you already did a lot of work in all these years. Now, you should enjoy the rest," Feng Lao stated.
Miaoran was touched by his gentleness and turned a bit emotional "No one cared about me before. Thank you for showing your kind concern, Feng Lao." She expressed her gratitude toward him.
"Now, you have got a lot of people around you to take care of you," Feng Lao said and smiled at her. "You should not think about your old life anymore. You have entered a new life, where happiness wants to embrace you," he said and asked Miaoran if she knew how to read.
"Yes, I know how to read and write," Miaoran replied.
Feng Lao asked her to wait and stood up from his place. After a few minutes, he returned with a book in his hand and sat across from her. "It's a book of short yet inspirational stories. Poems are also there. You should read it in your free time. I bet you will like this book." Feng Lao handed her the book and she thanked him.
"Last I read was three years ago. I could not get time to read," Miaoran answered and stroked her hand on the book cover.
"Did you get yourself checked with the physician? You need to take extreme care of your body," Feng Lao said as his eyes landed on her neck where the purplish bruise was still visible to his eyes.
"I am taking medicines for the weakness I have. For the bruises and wounds, the physician has said they will take time to get healed," Miaoran asserted.
"That's good to hear," Feng Lao stated.
"I wanted to go out. Can I?" Miaoran asked.
"Of course, you can," Feng Lao answered. "Where do you want to go?" He asked her.
"I wanted to see around," Miaoran said. "I will go by myself," she quickly added.
"Are you sure? I can go with you. It is already evening. You may need someone to show you around and to protect you," Feng Lao stated.
Miaoran opened her mouth to speak, but words didn't come out. So, she simply nodded at him.
"It is evening almost. Do you want to change into different clothes, or the same outfit be good?" Feng Lao asked.
"It is better, I feel," Miaoran replied.
"Then, shall we go?" Feng Lao inquired her. She hummed and the two rose to their feet. He picked up the money pouch from the cupboard and put it inside the inner pocket.
They both came out of the room and went outside. "We will find a carriage ahead," Feng Lao told her and they both started walking.
After a certain distance, they found a carriage. Feng Lao paid the carriage driver and asked Miaoran to get in. After her, he entered the carriage and they left for the market.
"Feng Lao, I was thinking I should leave after some time. I mean, you will also get married after some time and then Brother Xu Zifan's family would expand too. It will be inconvenient to stay with you all for a long time," Miaoran said. She had decided to work in the fields and earn money through it. Indeed, a house would be tough for her to find, but she thought she would eventually find a place to live.
"I have no plans to get married," Feng Lao replied. "You should stay in the residence only, with us," he affirmed.
Miaoran was stunned to hear his reply. "But I will not be comfortable. Surely, you will get married to somebody. Your family will expand and my presence may be troublesome," she explained to him.
"I won't get married, Miaoran," Feng Lao spoke with confidence this time. His eyes bore hers and she, for a second, thought she made him think something painful. However, Miaoran didn't dare to ask about it.
"Consider us as your family. Xu Zifan already calls you a sister. Jingfei has also found a sister in you," Feng Lao stated with a smile.
Miaoran was touched by his words. "What about you?" She suddenly got curious.
"Perhaps, a friend," Feng Lao answered.
Miaoran smiled at him. "You are a great man, Feng Lao. I wish you find a loving woman soon," she ended up saying.