Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Su Wu carried a pot of tea to the garden.

Past the fake mountain, Tao Tu Yun and Luo Bing Liang were playing chess.

Su Wu didn't expect mistress and first master's wife would become good friends. Luo Bing Liang often visited mistress to gossip, take strolls together and play chess in the garden near Tao Fang Ao's villa. She put the pot of tea on the table and walked to a pavilion nearby to not disturb mistress and Luo Bing Liang.

'Tu Yun, why are you a good chess player?' Luo Bing Liang praised.

Luo Bing Liang didn't have many chess pieces left and she realised she lost again.

'Thank you Lady Luo,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun sipped tea and her body warmed.

White and pink blossom trees were planted around the garden. Tao Tu Yun thought the gentle wind was soothing in the garden that she liked most.

'Do you like this garden?' Luo Bing Liang asked. 'Tao Fang Ao designed this garden. He visits this garden the most.'

'Did you say he visits this garden the most?' Tao Tu Yun asked suspiciously.

'The truth is I want to help you,' Luo Bing Liang said. 'Lady Li follows Tao Fang Ao around for days. But you don't even make an effort to spend time with Tao Fang Ao, which is why I want to find opportunities for you and Tao Fang Ao to spend time together. If my prediction is right then today Tao Fang Ao would have warned Lady Li to stay away from him. When he's stressed, he comes here to relax.'

Luo Bing Liang thought her plan was good. She thought Tao Tu Yun and Tao Fang Ao made a good couple. She knew Tao Fang Ao like her, couldn't endure Li Tai Fang's company.

'Then do I need to thank you?' Tao Tu Yun teased.

Tao Tu Yun smiled helplessly, Luo Bing Liang helped to ruin her plan. Tao Tu Yun had hoped that Tao Fang Ao would fall for Lady Li and she could finally leave the Tao Manor.

'Tu Yun, you don't need to worry,' Luo Bing Liang. 'You have my support.'

Of course Luo Bing Liang would support Tao Tu Yun and Tao Fang Ao's relationship progressing, she had put all her taels in Tao Tu Yun's basket. She saw Tao Fang Ao's tall figure and smiled.

'Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives,' Luo Bing Liang said.

'Why are you two together here?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

'Tao Fang Ao, you're here at the right time,' Luo Bing Liang said. 'I'm playing chess with Tu Yun. Do you want to sit and watch?'

'That is a good suggestion,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'On the way here I saw first brother looking for you.'

Luo Bing Liang stood anxiously and Tao Fang Ao happily sat on her seat.

'Is it true?' Luo Bing Liang asked. 'Then you two should stay here and play chess. I'll leave first.'

Luo Bing Liang quickly left the garden.

'I didn't expect you and first sister-in-law would be this compatible,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'You must be enjoying your stay at the Tao Manor having first sister-in-law as company.'

Tao Fang Ao noticed the moment he sat, Tao Tu Yun didn't even glance once at him.

'Lady Luo is an interesting person,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'I'm happy to have her as a friend.'

Tao Tu Yun's eyes admired the tea cup in her hands instead of admiring Tao Fang Ao.

'It sounds like you're saying spending time with your betrothed is not enjoyable,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'Is that why since you stepped into my home you wouldn't willingly glance once at me?'

Tao Fang Ao looked at Tao Tu Yun avoiding eye contact with him and his chest felt angry. He didn't need to see her face to know she purposely distanced herself from him.

Tao Fang Ao didn't know why Tao Tu Yun looked for him in Luo Yang Province if she didn't want to acknowledge their betrothal. Suddenly he remembered what she said on the first day she stayed at the Tao Manor, 'the truth is the purpose why I came here isn't for you to honor our betrothal but to break our betrothal.'

Tao Fang Ao didn't want Tao Tu Yun to be cold toward him.

'It's not true,' Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun's heart sighed, she raised her head and looked directly at Tao Fang Ao's eyes.

'I know you're busy working and I didn't want to trouble you,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'When I took strolls around the Tao Manor, I would coincidentally meet Lady Luo and we became acquainted with each other.'

Tao Tu Yun explained why she spent time with Luo Bing Liang, but she didn't understand why Tao Fang Ao looked angry.

Tao Fang Ao didn't know why he was angry about Tao Tu Yun being friendly with Li Tai Fang and cold toward him. What Tao Tu Yun said was true, he was busy overseeing the Tao Household's business and Li Tai Fang following him around was a nuisance to him. But he was more troubled by Tao Tu Yun's indifference. Why Tao Tu Yun didn't at least ask him once about his well-being?

Tao Fang Ao thought it would be reasonable he should be grateful and happy Tao Tu Yun didn't trouble him the way Li Tai Fang did. But he wasn't grateful or happy Tao Tu Yun didn't spend time with him, he was angry she ignored his existence.

'What will you do if I say I don't mind be acquainted with you?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

Tang Fang Ao didn't know why Tao Tu Yun affected his moods more than Li Tai Fang could. He thought Tao Tu Yun's company made his troubles disappear and he couldn't fault Luo Bing Liang for enjoying spending time with Tao Tu Yun.

'What are you suggesting?' Tao Tu Yun asked.

Tao Tu Yun hoped that she misheard Tao Fang Ao's words.

'In the future while I'm working in the calligraphy room, you can sit next to me and read,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'If I'm working outside the Tao Manor then you can accompany me outside.'

Tao Fang Ao gently stroked Tao Tu Yu's cheeks and his voice was putting her under a trance.

Later that afternoon, Tao Fang Ao's calligraphy room was quiet as usual except there was a new small table positioned next to a window and Tao Tu Yun was reading in front of the small table.

Tao Fang Ao was happy he finally finished checking monthly balances. He closed the account books, raised his head and admired Tao Fang Ao's beauty.

'Are you tired of staying here while I work?' Tao Fang Ao asked.

'No, I have history books to occupy me, Tao Tu Yun said.

Tao Tu Yun closed the history book she was reading and smiled at Tao Fang Ao.

'I haven't had an opportunity to ask about your family,' Tao Fang Ao said. 'I remember you said you're from Liu Yue Province. What is it like living there?'

'My parents are healthy and I'm their only child,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'Liu Yue Province isn't as lively as Luo Yang Province but everyone in Liu Yue Province works diligently.'

Tao Tu Yun had left Liu Yue Province for more than a month. She missed her family and didn't know when she could return home.

'The way you speak shows that your father must have influenced your education,' Tao Fang Ao said.

'My father is a teacher in Liu Yue Province,' Tao Tu Yun said. 'He doesn't care that I'm a female. I'm thankful my father taught me to read and write.'

Tao Fang Ao understood why Tao Tu Yun was worldlier than Li Tai Fang even though Li Tai Fang was from the imperial city.

'I think I should thank your father,' Tao Fang Ao said cryptically.

Tao Tu Yun couldn't read the complex expression on Tao Fang Ao's face.

'Are you hungry?' Tao Fang Ao asked. 'You've been inside the Tao Manor for many days. Do you want to eat an afternoon meal with me at Long Fang Inn?'

'Are you saying I can go outside the Tao Manor?' Tao Tu Yun asked.

Tao Tu Yun couldn't believe what Tao Fang Ao asked.

'Yes, on the condition you accompany me outside,' Tao Fang Ao said.

Tao Fang Ao suspected he couldn't be angry as long as Tao Tu Yun was smiling at him.

'Can Su Wu come with us?' Tao Tu Yun asked.

Tao Tu Yun thought Su Wu would be happy if they could spend time together outside the Tao Manor.

'Yes, I'll wait in front of the main gate while you ask Su Wu to join us,' Tao Fang Ao said.

***

Outside the Tao Manor, Tao Fang Ao (TFA) was pacing back and forth.

The guards were curious who TFA was waiting for, because it was the first time TFA waited for someone.

The guards didn't need to wait long to see their suspicions confirmed, TFA was waiting for Tao Tu Yun (TTY).

TTY and Su Wu (SW) ran toward TFA.

'TFA, I'm sorry I made you wait,' TTY said.

'Let's go,' TFA said and held TTY's hand.

'Wait,' Li Tai Fang (LTF) said.

'TFA, why are favoring TTY?' LTF asked. 'I'm your future wife. You should take me sightseeing instead of taking TTY.'

'Everyone's hearts know who TFA's real fiance is,' SW said. 'Besides, TFA likes my mistress, not you.'

'You're only a maid,' LTF said. 'You have no right to speak.'

LTF raised her hand to slap SW. TTY stood in front of SW to protect SW, and LTF's hand changed direction to slap TTY.

'Stop!' TFA said and grabbed LTF's arm to stop LTF from slapping TTY.

'TFA...' LTF called.

LTF's arm felt like it was going to break in half, but TFA's glare was scarier.

'If I see you hit anyone, I won't spare you,' TFA warned.

TFA heard from his servants that LTF dared to hit his servants. If LTF dared to hit his fiance in front of him, it meant LTF behaved worse behind his back.

TFA let go of LTF. LTF stumbled back and Feng Yu (FY) caught LTF.

'If you want to come with us then follow us,' TFA said coldly.

TFA held TTY's hand and they walked together to the markets.

LTF followed behind TTY and TFA. LTF glared at TTY's back, and LTF vowed to take revenge on TTY.

TFA took TTY to eat at a restaurant in one of his family's inns.

The restaurant was a popular restaurant in the city. The customers who were waiting for a vacant table didn't complain when one man and four women got a table before them, because TFA's family owned the inn.

The customers were curious to see TTY and LTF. They speculated about who was TFA's real fiance and who was TFA's fake fiance.

The inn caretaker escorted TFA and his guests to the best table on the third floor.

TTY wanted to sit on the seat furthest away from TFA and LTF.

'TY, sit on my right,' TFA said affectionately.

TTY felt awkward sitting closely next to TFA.

LTF glared at TTY and LTF chose to sit on TFA's left side.

A banquet of elaborate dishes were brought to TFA's table like seafood congee, grilled chicken, beef and pork.

'TY, taste the restaurant's most popular dishes,' TFA said.

TFA put vegetables in his bowl, and TTF put grilled beef in her bowl.

'SW, come sit next to me and eat,' TTF said.

'Mistress, am I allowed to sit and eat with you?' SW asked.

'A maid should know her place,' LTF said. 'Isn't that right FY?'

'Yes, mistress,' FY said and looked at the delicious food on the table enviously.

FY also envied TTF and SW's close friendship unlike hers and LTF's mistress and maid relationship.

'A maid is a person too,' TTF said. 'LTF, you shouldn't belittle another person. I grew up with SW. In my eyes SW is my sister. FY served you for years. I don't believe in your eyes FY is only a maid.'

'Stay out of my relationship with my maid,' LTF warned.

LTF wasn't going to give TTY a chance to act like a mistress with a generous heart in front of TFA.

'You're right,' TTY said. 'I have no right to interfere in your relationship with FY so you have no right to interfere in my relationship with SW. TFA, can SW sit next to me at the table and eat together with us?'

TFA saw that TTY didn't want to fight with LTF. He ate a piece of grilled beef and granted TTY's request.

'Yes, SW can sit and eat with us,' TFA said.

SW happily sat next to TTY, and TTY put a piece of grilled beef into SW's bowl.

FY was envious SW had a good mistress like TTY who treated SW like a sister.

Later that day TFA escorted the women back to the Tao Manor, Tao Fang Ling (TFL) was waiting for him outside his bedchamber.

'Big brother, why do you want to see me?' TFA asked.

'Nothing important,' TFL said. 'I couldn't find you in your calligraphy room. The guards informed me that you took your two fiances to eat outside.'

'Big brother, confess,' TFA said. 'Did your wife send you here to confirm or deny rumors?'

TFL laughed helplessly and he didn't deny TFA's assumption.

'The truth is I'm curious about your two fiances too,' TFL said. 'Have you found out who's your real fiance and who's your fake fiance yet?'

'Nothing confirmed yet,' TFA said. 'Big brother, you know it's not important to me who's my real fiance and who's a fake.'

The Tao brothers exchanged a smile with each other. Like TFA, TFL didn't care about their father's arranged marriages for them. Luo Bing Liang (LBL) wasn't TFL's fiance, but TFL was adamant about marrying LBL because TFL loved LBL.

The four Tao siblings didn't care about outsiders seeing them as unfilial and not honoring their father's wishes. It didn't matter who their father gave the jade bracelets to, because the four Tao siblings would only marry for love.

***