Zhao Qi saw that she insisted on addressing him in such a manner, and with no other choice, he could only let out a helpless smile and indulge her.
"Young Master and madam are really kind people. Miss Wan doesn’t know in which lifeti she accrued such good fortune to be treated so kindly by Young Master and his wife," Sang Wan said softly as they walked along.
Zhao Qi’s figure noticeably stiffened, and he cracked a faint smile, "Miss Wan has a pure heart, it’s hard for anyone not to treat you kindly."
Sang Wan couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a "chi" of laughter upon hearing this, and said, "Didn’t Young Master and I just et today? How can Young Master be so certain and claim to know I have a pure heart?"
Seeing her smile and how her charming face blossod like a myriad of spring flowers upon laughter, Zhao Qi’s heart fluttered, and his mood brightened considerably as he laughed heartily, "I just know! I declare Miss Wan is the best, and so you are the best!"
In the midst of their conversation, they rounded a rockery, and before them lay a vast plain of flowers, all swinging and blooming to their hearts’ content – all of them were various kinds of vibrant autumn hibiscus. The flowers were as large as bowls, with petals layered upon petals, full-bodied and vividly colored, swaying joyfully under the autumn sun, displaying a thousand charming gestures. In the slightly undulating hills a short distance away, countless Chrysanthemums blood, in colors of drooping silk lotus petals and pale court pink, among many others, sweeping away the bleak sternness of autumn.
Having not seen such bright colors for a long ti, Sang Wan’s eyes suddenly brightened, and her expression softened involuntarily.
However, as she looked at the sea of flowers before her, her mind inadvertently recalled the New Year period when Shi Fengju had sohow managed to find and surround the entire courtyard with many bright and blossoming roses. Even the rooms and the warm pavilion were filled with the intoxicating scent of flowers. She was truly moved back then; with him, they had blissful affection... how joyous it was...
"What are you doing!" Sang Wan was startled when Zhao Qi suddenly moved closer, and she took a step back with widened eyes.
Zhao Qi didn’t mind her alarm and quickly smiled, "Just now a gust of wind blew a petal onto your hairpin, don’t move, I’ll pick it off for you!" He leaned in carefully, his fingertips sweeping through her hair – soft, silky, a velvet-like delightful touch that made him nearly intoxicated. He really wanted to embrace this frail woman in his arms and cherish her thoroughly, but he restrained himself for fear of startling her.
"Look." He held out his fingers to her, and indeed, there was a purplish-red petal on the tip of his index finger. The petal silently fell from his fingertip as the breeze blew gently.
"Miss Wan is truly beautiful. All the flowers in the garden, even though they are rare and exquisite, do not compare to Miss Wan’s grace." Zhao Qi looked at her as he gently praised her, and casually broke off a branch of brilliantly blooming pink layered hibiscus and handed it to Sang Wan, "Miss Wan, for you."
Sang Wan imdiately felt awkward, not knowing whether to accept or refuse. After contemplating, she finally nodded her thanks and took it.
Seeing that she liked it, Zhao Qi was overjoyed and quickly said, "Do you like it, Miss Wan? I can pick so more for you!"
"No, no need!" Sang Wan hurriedly declined and said with a forced smile while fiddling with the hibiscus flower in her hand, "Young Master really knows how to charm a lady. Soone like Young Master must surely be the object of desire for many ladies in the capital!"
Upon her remark, Zhao Qi suddenly beca sowhat flustered and quickly said, "I haven’t been back to the capital for many years. I live alone in Xishan Villa, and charming ladies is far from my concerns. I only wish to be good to Miss Wan alone."
Sang Wan was montarily speechless; she had only wanted to test him, but she did not expect him to be so unguarded with his words, saying whatever ca to mind!
Sang Wan pretended not to hear and bowed her head, continuing to walk forward, no longer daring to probe further.
Seeing that she had no reaction, Zhao Qi felt secretly disappointed, but then he thought that since she was not angry or rejecting, his spirits were lifted again, and he called out "Miss Wan" as he quickly followed.
"Are you tired, Miss Wan? Let’s rest at the pavilion up ahead," Zhao Qi suggested tenderly.
Sang Wan, who had not yet fully recovered, had been walking for a while and was already feeling breathless and weak in the knees. Upon hearing his suggestion, she nodded with a hum and headed towards the pavilion in the middle of the sea of flowers.
Just then, Yuanyang arrived with a group of servants carrying cloaks, tea, and pastries, and quickly spread them out in the pavilion.
As Sang Wan was about to sit down, Zhao Qi hurriedly took the cloak, folded it several tis, and placed it on the stone stool, then let Sang Wan sit. He turned and reprimanded Yuanyang, "This slave is getting more and more ignorant! How could you not even bring a cushioned mat? Can one sit in such a cold place? Don’t you know Miss Wan is still ill?"
"I acknowledge my mistake, Young Master, please forgive !" Yuanyang, who dared not argue, bowed her head and sincerely admitted her fault.
"Be more alert next ti!" Zhao Qi said coldly, "If you are so careless and can’t serve properly, you can go back to where you ca from. I do not believe this residence is devoid of soone capable of service!"
Yuanyang’s head hung even lower, and she did not even dare to utter the words "forgive ."
"Young Master, don’t bla Yuanyang. She didn’t know we would co here," Sang Wan spoke up in view of the situation.
On hearing her say "we," aning her and him, Zhao Qi was pleased, and his expression imdiately softened, "If Miss Wan says to let her off, then so be it! Have a sip of warm tea to quench your thirst," Zhao Qi poured tea for her and sniffed, adding, "This is Biluochun tea. I’m not sure if it suits Miss Wan’s taste. If you don’t like it, just ask soone to change it!"
Sang Wan took a sip from the tea cup and said, "Young Master need not worry, I’m not so particular."
Zhao Qi sighed lightly again, "Miss Wan has such a gentle nature and such a good temperant!"
"..." Sang Wan bowed her head and continued drinking her tea.
Zhao Qi, who disliked servants being too close, sent them all away with a look and then conversed and admired the flowers with Sang Wan in the pavilion. Most of the ti, he talked and she listened. His gaze hardly left her, and the deeper the feelings in his eyes, the more Sang Wan dodged and weaved, struggling to keep up, until she soon claid tiredness and excused herself to rest.
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