Yuan Shaqing has not been this embarrassed for a long ti. Sadly, Xie Yinong was clinging to a rabbit, looking at him uneasily.
Xie Yinong had never seen him before, only feeling unfamiliar, her lips pursed. She was about to look for soone to handle the situation.
Seeing that she resembled Xie Xun by nearly a quarter and her timid nature, Yuan Shaqing guessed her identity. Sensing her intention, he imdiately said: "There’s no need to alert the elders. I am not seriously hard."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yinong also heaved a sigh of relief.
She privately did not want to interrupt her family discussing Shen Hua’s marriage with the Cui family.
However, the more she thought this way, the deeper her guilt grew. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"Brother and you have similar physiques, I will have a servant fetch a set of his clothes for you to change into."
Yuan Shaqing in such a state was indeed indecent. He nodded in agreent.
The servant who received the order hurried to find clothes.
Soon, the surroundings fell into dead silence. The two looked at each other, speechless.
Xie Yinong regretted it, she should have gone to find the clothes herself, instead of staying here, biting her lip, she bashfully lowered her head.
The light outside the courtyard was just right.
Here, Xie Yinong was simply timid, not wanting to et the guests in the front hall, and was afraid of being pulled aside by so ladies to be questioned, so she simply hid here.
But she hadn’t expected that she would accidentally cause Yuan Shaqing, who ca for the feast, to fall into the water.
She wanted to step back and create so distance, but the feeling of guilt stopped her from moving.
Yuan Shaqing wrung his sleeves, and with a gentle force, water dripped from them.
He had been in the front hall, but could not withstand the enthusiasm of the noble family ladies, who were ultimately looking for a son-in-law. But he had no imdiate plans for marriage.
Before the troubles in the Yuan family, he had thought about it, especially when Cui Bai was marrying.
At that ti, Cui Bai, donned in festive attire and bubbling with joy, teased before fetching the bride: "You are of the sa age as Xuan Chen, who already has a lady he admires and might soon hear the wedding bells. Don’t get too lost in your studies."
At that mont, he had thought about what his future wife would be like.
But he hadn’t yet imagined her face, he could picture her in bridal clothes, under the red veil, waiting for him to lift it.
And softly call out.
"Young man."
At that ti, he couldn’t stand being teased, easily blushing. Just the thought of it made his face unbearably hot.
Seeing this, Cui Bai laughed.
"Those unaware would think you’re the one getting married, looking at you like this, if you stay any longer, you might just get roasted."
Recalling the past only left him with lancholy and montary fluctuations. The heartbeats of that ti don’t linger at all.
It’s as if, after the successive deaths of the Yuan family, he had lost worldly desires. Calm as still water, if not for Cui Yun finding him, he probably would still be in a daze.
Thus, he declined the invitations and sought a quiet place.
He had visited Duke Fu’s Mansion so ti ago, naturally aware that there was an overhanging pavilion standing right above the lake center.
He absentmindedly admired the scenery, following the narrow path towards the lake center. The clear water on both sides glistened, refreshing his spirits upon sight.
He felt inspired to write poetry.
"Wait!"
A hurried female voice ca.
"Watch your step."
He could sense the soft touch under his shoe that hadn’t landed yet, along with the whining of the rabbit.
He... was most afraid of fluffy things.
Initially, when Cui Yun had Xue Tuan, he never !!! visited Marquis Yangling Mansion!
Startled, Yuan Shaqing’s face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively stepped back, but unexpectedly found nothing beneath his foot and fell into the water.
As his body sank, at that instant, he had figured out the first line of his poem, with rhythm and rhy. It took a mont later to realize that he couldn’t swim.
The approaching Xie Yinong knew she had caused a disaster, panic-stricken.
She instinctively leaned over: "Give your hand."
Yuan Shaqing rarely trusts anyone.
He choked on water, reaching out his hand while he bobbed up and down.
But just as he was about to touch her, Xie Yinong pulled her hand back. The aristocratic girl’s eyes were red, and she was terribly anxious.
She said.
"n and won should not touch each other."
In the end, it was the servant who pulled Yuan Shaqing out of the water.
As he stood there, dripping wet, Xie Yinong gingerly bowed and then bent over, not daring to look at him. "I’m sorry."
Yuan Shaqing was also uncomfortable, hurriedly bowing in return: "Lady Xie need not take it to heart."
On the side, Yingyu watched intently, holding back her urge to cry.
anwhile, Shen Hua’s voice, eerie and ill-intended, ca from beside her ear.
"Tell , do these two not look like they are performing a wedding ceremony?"
----
After everything was over, Shen Hua returned to the Minister of Justice Mansion. In the carriage, Xie Xun briefed her on the matters discussed.
He finally cautioned.
"In the bridal chamber awaiting marriage, refrain from causing any trouble."
The date was set, and there was ample ti, but also much to be busy with. Compared to others, Shen Hua turned out to be the freest person.
She only needed to alter the happy gown left by Mama according to her asurents.
Shen Hua let it go in one ear and out the other. But she sat straight, obediently nodding her head. Seeing her like this, Xie Xun couldn’t help but feel lancholic.
Then, looking at Xie Yinong, he said with a warm smile, "Yangyang’s matter is completely settled now, and next, it will be your turn. Yinong, do you have any young man you fancy?"
Xie Yinong shook her head.
"These days, both brother and Daddy have been watching out for you. But the more I think about it, I feel you deserve a finer husband, soone who can protect you, adore you, and genuinely treat you well. I hope for no troubles with your mother-in-law, but for a harmonious family atmosphere instead. So, if you are also not satisfied despite all this, you have the background of the Xie Family to embolden your choice of spouse. I’d rather you take your ti to get to know him, rather than make a mistake." He paused, considering it was her marriage after all, "ultimately, it has to be soone you like and approve of."
Xie Yinong hesitated, speaking softly.
"But I’m sowhat scared."
Xie Xun poured a cup of water and handed it to her, offering a reassuring gesture.
"Today, many young n ca, and Mama was intending to use the opportunity to help you choose, but then, you disappeared. She then spoke a word."
"Mama said, if Ning does not take a fancy to any of them, then it would be fine for her to remain in the mansion, living freely as an aristocratic lady."
The Duchess really is a wonderful mother.
Listening to their conversation, Shen Hua rembered how Xie Yinong was shy by nature and had never ntioned Yuan Shaqing.
In the small courtyard, it was now just her and Xie Yinong.
Since Wei Yingying returned to the palace, Le Jia felt it inappropriate to stay here and moved back to the Seventh Prince Mansion, taking many books with her. However, that was the extent of it; relations were still tense.
Back in her room, she enjoyed a comfortable bath, finally putting on so loose-fitting pajamas and drying her wet hair with a dry towel, humming a tune as she stepped out of the bathroom.
Just as she rounded the screen, she saw a figure reclining lazily on the couch.
He lifted his eyelids, holding a book of unfaithful lover stories that had been pressed under the pillow by the aristocratic girl in the morning.
And next to him, several books clearly ruffled through that he had scavenged, making one feel heartbroken.
Shen Hua’s heart skipped a beat.
Cui Yun’s tone was inscrutable.
"I had no idea you were such an avid scholar."
The books, extensively marked with brush circles and even insights written in the margins.
"How dare you sneak a look!" Shen Hua lunged forward.
Cui Yun’s lips moved slightly.
"Being scholarly is one thing."
"To be unexpectedly cherished, yet all of it applied to ."
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