The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 98: Asking the Governor to Grant Marriage
After Jiang Shiwan and Hu Xiang returned to the kitchen and told Mother Yuan what Meng Tingzhou had said, Mother Yuan saw that Jiang Shiwan was coughing and knew what was going on: "In that case, Jiang, you go down and have a rest first. You don't have to serve the dishes anymore."

Jiang Shiwan nodded: "Thank you, Mother Yuan."

She walked and coughed, and finally reached her residence, where she was suddenly overwhelmed by tiredness.

I was so tired that the sight of a bed was very welcoming.

She has always loved cleanliness, so she suppressed her sleepiness, simply washed up and fell into a deep sleep.

A dreamless night.

The next morning, Jiang Shiwan was awakened by her own coughing. She looked at the sky outside, got up without thinking, washed up, and went to the kitchen.

When we arrived at the kitchen, Mother Yuan was instructing everyone, "The governor is considerate of us servants and has specially prepared winter clothes for everyone so that we can keep warm during the journey. When we go to measure the clothes later, please don't break the rules."

"Yes, Mother Yuan."

Seeing Jiang Shiwan getting up, Mother Yuan waved at her and said, "I was planning to call you, but now that you're up, let's go together. You're not feeling well, so you'll be the last one to be measured."

Jiang Shiwan agreed.

Because the Governor's Office was in a hurry to go north, all the servants went to different shops to make cotton-padded clothes.

Today, only the people in the kitchen had not been measured. There was usually smoke and fumes in the kitchen, and when they walked in one by one, the people who were measuring their heights couldn't help but frowned.

When Jiang Shiwan went in, he heard the lady who was measuring him say, "There's one last one. It's finally over."

When Jiang Shiwan walked in, she was surprised to find that she didn't have the smell of the kitchen servants, but instead had a faint fragrance.

The steward in charge of recording couldn't help but look up, and was immediately shocked by the astonishing appearance in front of him.

This... this kind of beauty is actually a humble kitchen maid in the Governor's Mansion?
The lady who was measuring Jiang Shiwan was also very puzzled, but she still measured Jiang Shiwan as usual: "A kitchen maid has such an outstanding appearance. This governor's mansion is really full of hidden talents."

Jiang Shiwan said calmly: "My servant is crude and crude, I'm sorry to have made you laugh."

The steward's heart was pounding as he took notes: "In the past, we made clothes for the servants in the Governor's Mansion. How come we have never seen a girl like this?"

Jiang Shiwan sneered inwardly, because she used to be the wife of a governor, and all the clothes she wore came from the most expensive silk shops in the capital.

Seeing that she did not answer, the steward suddenly got excited and stood up: "Excuse me, young lady, what is your name?"

Jiang Shiwan saw his flushed face and knew what he was thinking.

If Meng Tingzhou saw this scene, he would probably accuse me of being fickle, right?

"My name is of no use to you, sir."

She was giving him sincere advice, and it was up to him whether he listened or not.

After she left, the lady saw her nephew looking distraught and said, "Shang Yuan, I didn't know you were such a person!"

Lu Shangyuan is the young master of this silk shop, and the eldest lady is his cousin's aunt. Recently, in order to train him, Mr. Lu asked him to go out and see the world often so that he can inherit the family business in the future.

Lu Shangyuan was not annoyed. He looked at the figure who had just left with his slightly immature face and thought secretly.

On the way back, Lu Shangyuan pulled the lady's sleeve and said, "Cousin, you are the best at dealing with people, so you have to do me a favor."

The lady glared at him, "You, you! Although the Lu family's silk shop is not the richest in the capital, it controls the business of the servants of a large mansion. Why did you fall in love with a maid? And a kitchen maid?" Lu Shangyuan corrected her, "Cousin, that person just now is not an ordinary maid. We have been to so many mansions, who can compare to her? Not to mention those maids, even some young ladies from aristocratic families are not as good as her."

"Oh." The lady joked, "You're already comparing yourself to others after just meeting them once?"

Lu Shangyuan could hear her teasing, so he could only continue to say nice things: "My dear cousin, please help me ask."

The eldest lady was used to doting on this nephew who had grown up under her care. She had no choice but to nod and said, "It's agreed. I'll just ask for your name. I won't go to your father's place to make trouble."

Lu Shangyuan smiled humorously: "I know my cousin is the best."

After rushing as hard as they could, all the cotton clothes were delivered three days later.

In order to avoid any mistakes, Lu Shangyuan asked everyone to go back and try on the clothes, and send any that had problems back for modification immediately.

He didn't have to make this trip, but he came here in person on the pretext of seeing Jiang Shiwan again.

After everyone had taken away their cotton-padded clothes, Jiang Shiwan was the last one to arrive.

When Lu Shangyuan saw her coming in with her head lowered, his eyes were stunned.

After their last encounter, he went back tossing and turning.

But when I saw her again today, I thought she was even more beautiful than the last time I saw her.

When Jiang Shiwan covered her cotton coat with her hands, Lu Shangyuan spoke as if possessed by a ghost: "Miss Jiang... My name is Lu Shangyuan."

"Thank you Mr. Lu."

Jiang Shiwan took his clothes and prepared to leave.

When she stepped out of the door, without the lady by his side, Lu Shangyuan got excited and chased after her: "Miss Jiang, I know this is a bit presumptuous, but I have something to tell you."

Jiang Shiwan's fingers holding the cotton coat gradually became cold: "Since you are being presumptuous, Mr. Lu, please don't say anything."

"But... the Governor's Office will be heading to the northern border soon, so I have to say it." Lu Shangyuan had no idea what would happen if he said this in public.

"Since the last time I saw you, I have been attracted to you." Lu Shangyuan saw her cold demeanor, like a plum blossom on a mountain, "If you are willing, I will boldly ask the governor."

Seeing Jiang Shiwan's pale face, he thought she was afraid, and couldn't help but comfort her: "Don't worry, the Lu family's silk shop has been dealing with the governor's office for several years. If my father asks, I'm sure the governor will agree."

He thought that she was just a maid in the governor's mansion. As long as his father was willing to talk to the governor, the governor would surely not refuse.

Before Jiang Shiwan could say anything, Meng Tingzhou appeared from nowhere. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were very cold.

"Oh? Mr. Lu, huh? What do you want to say to me?"

Seeing that it was Meng Tingzhou, Lu Shangyuan, who looked young, felt uneasy. He bowed solemnly and said, "Your humble servant Lu Shangyuan greets the governor."

Meng Tingzhou glanced at the young merchant's son in front of him, then looked at Jiang Shiwan, and finally his eyes fell on the cotton coat in her hand. He said in a loud voice: "Mr. Lu, what do you want me to agree to?"

Meeting the high and mighty governor for the first time, Lu Shangyuan was a little nervous, but thinking that he would never have another chance if he missed it, he said with a brave face: "I dare to ask the governor to marry this girl in front of me."

(End of this chapter)