Xue Luo'er's tears welled up again. She felt she could understand the "humiliation" he spoke of, understood how much pressure he had endured in marrying her, and knew he was sensitive to certain rumors and gossip. That was why she understood why he had suddenly borrowed the Mountains-and-Rivers Cauldron by force.
All her previous unease and anxiety turned into heartache for him at this moment, and she felt that she was the one who had wronged him.
Once someone truly fell in love, they gave up themselves and thought of the other person in every way—because they loved!
Granny Snow also understood the meaning behind his words. Seeing Xue Luo'er's reaction, she chuckled but made no comment.
She did not linger. It was not enough for Chuan Ying to say it had been returned; she had to verify it herself, and confirm whether what had been returned was genuine.
Before leaving, however, she secretly issued a strict order to the people here: without her permission, Chuan Ying was not to leave Ice and Snow Pavilion on his own again.
A small boat drifted upon the lake. Niu Youdao sat alone aboard it, laying out the wine and dishes from a food box and drinking at his leisure.
When the boat reached the middle of the lake, someone suddenly emerged from the water, climbed aboard, sat opposite him at the small square table, and picked up his chopsticks to sample the dishes.
"I heard the wine and food from Thatched Cottage Manor were quite good. They truly are." The visitor's voice belonged to Sha Rulai.
Niu Youdao poured him some wine. "What matter has required you to come in person?"
Sha Rulai said, "You must have heard about the Mountains-and-Rivers Cauldron. I was ordered to verify whether its return was