By the Fangxia River, in the tea house along the corridor.
Wang Chen and Ye Dai sat facing each other, with the maid Xiao Yu attending to them.
Their basic information had already been exchanged through the matchmaker, and tonight’s eting was to assess their mutual attraction.
If they liked each other, they could further get to know one another, and when the ti was right, the matchmaker would be invited to the Upper Sect to make it official.
If there was no attraction, then there was nothing more to discuss.
Ye Dai had a favorable impression of Wang Chen.
Though Wang Chen was not the picture of a handso young noble, and his looks were not exceptionally outstanding, he possessed an extraordinary deanor, speaking and behaving with calm confidence, giving a very reliable impression.
This feeling precisely struck a chord in Miss Ye’s heart.
Wang Chen also had a fondness for Ye Dai. Despite being an illegitimate daughter from an outside residence, her appearance and manner were not sothing an ordinary family could nurture.
More than that, Ye Dai was quite learned, conversing with Wang Chen with grace and poise.
Bang! Pop! Bang!
As they sat in the tea house for half an hour, the banks of the Fangxia River reached their liveliest and most bustling mont.
Fireworks soared into the sky, blooming into vivid colors, cascading down, illuminating the elated faces in the market with excitent.
Many children cheered and laughed, their voices carrying far and wide.
Such a stunning sight stirred Wang Chen’s emotions, prompting him to recite, "The east wind sends off a thousand trees of flowers by night, and blows them down, stars like rain..."
These verses were so fitting for the mont!
Ye Dai listened with shining eyes and couldn’t help but ask, "Mister Wang, is this poem your work?"
"It is not."
Wang Chen shook his head, "I encountered a remarkable man who composed it during my scholarly travels."
Plagiarizing famous literary works was easy, given the vast array of classic masterpieces accumulated over thousands of years on Earth. Any of them could easily make one famous in this world.
But is it aningful?
There really is no need.
"Oh."
Ye Dai was a little disappointed but still eagerly asked, "Could you tell the full content of it?"
Her eyes were fixed on Wang Chen, revealing a hopeful look.
The east wind sends off a thousand trees of flowers by night, and blows them down, stars like rain...
What beautiful verses!
"Let think about it."
Wang Chen tapped his head with a finger and smiled, "How about this, once I return, I’ll write down the entire poem and send it to your residence?"
"Thank you."
Ye Dai realized her excitent was a bit excessive, and her face flushed with a shade of blush.
The fireworks lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and when they ended, the crowds gathered on the banks of the Fangxia River began to disperse, their noise and rrint fading away.
With that, Wang Chen and Ye Dai’s matchmaking eting also concluded, with the latter boarding a carriage waiting by the street with her maid.
Wang Chen watched them disappear around the street corner.
Then he returned to Tongluo Alley.
anwhile, Ye Dai returned ho, and upon entering the living room, she saw a middle-aged man sitting in a chair.
The man was dressed in scholar’s attire, but his tall and imposing figure exuded a commanding presence.
Ye Dai was quite surprised and removed her veil to inquire, "Father, why are you here?"
The man was Ye Xiangming, the County Magistrate of Qing’an County, and Ye Dai’s biological father.
Seeing the bright-eyed and brilliant-toothed girl before him, a trace of tenderness appeared on Ye Xiangming’s stern face. He raised his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "That scholar, how is he?"
Though Ye Dai was from an external residence, Ye Xiangming had always regarded her as his precious daughter. Aside from not being able to give her the status, she was treated no differently than a true noble lady.
This eting between Ye Dai and Wang Chen during the Mid-Autumn Festival had, of course, been approved by Ye Xiangming.
The County Magistrate was undoubtedly quite inford about Wang Chen.
"What do you an how?"
Ye Dai’s cheeks turned red, and she said coquettishly, "Father always says such odd things, I’m not talking to you!"
Ye Xiangming laughed heartily and said, "Your father, I co from a military background, always straightforward and dislike beating around the bush. It’s either yes or no. You have to tell clearly."
Ye Dai, though shy, deeply understood her father’s nature. After a mont’s hesitation, she nodded bashfully.
"Then that’s settled!"
Ye Xiangming clapped his hands, "I’ll handle everything from here; you just wait to get married."
Ye Dai was already eighteen years old, turning nineteen after the New Year, and with traditional counting, she’d be twenty. Delaying any longer, she’d really beco an old maid.
Ye Dai’s marriage had always been a matter close to Ye Xiangming’s heart, and now that it was finally coming together, he was quite pleased.
"Father～"
Ye Dai shyly tugged at Ye Xiangming’s arm, "Are you that eager to marry off?"
"A grown daughter can’t be kept."
Ye Xiangming sighed, "If you try to keep her too long, she becos a foe. Your stepmother thinks the sa; though Wang the Scholar’s origins are a bit unclear, his conduct is solid, and he indeed has talent."
"Rest assured and get married. If anything were to arise, I’ll make the decision for you!"
The last two sentences were filled with ferocity.
Ye Dai silently nodded.
"Alright."
Ye Xiangming stood up and said, "I must return. By the way..."
He asked in a serious tone, "Has that Cao lad been bothering you lately?"
Ye Dai shook her head, "No."
"Hmm."
Ye Xiangming’s eyes turned dark, "The Cao family playing lapdog for the magistrate is one thing, but daring to have designs on you, hmph!"
He patted his daughter’s shoulder, advising, "Lately, things in the market have been unsettled. Try to avoid going out unnecessarily."
Ye Dai obediently said, "I understand, Father."
Knowing she was the most compliant, Ye Xiangming felt at ease.
Two days later, Ye Dai received a letter delivered by Wang Chen’s ssenger at ho.
With a tinge of indescribable excitent, she carefully opened the letter in her room.
And the content of the letter was precisely the poem Ye Dai had heard from Wang Chen on the Mid-Autumn night!
The east wind sends off a thousand trees of flowers by night, and blows them down, stars like rain.
Perfud carriages line the roads with fragrance.
Phoenix flutes play, jade banners turn, as vivid spectacles unfold all night.
Snow-flake hairpins and golden threads, the joy and laughter disappear like a sweet scent.
Searched a thousand tis.
Suddenly, turning back, there she was, in the dim light!
Ye Dai silently recited this masterpiece, famous in another world for a thousand years, recalling the scene of eting Wang Chen that night, becoming captivated.
"Searched a thousand tis, suddenly turning back, there she was, in the dim light!"
In the days that followed, though Wang Chen and Ye Dai hadn’t t again, the exchange of letters between the two beca frequent.
Ye Dai’s affection gradually grew more attached to Wang Chen.
However, just as their relationship was reaching new heights, a group of unwelco guests suddenly arrived at the Private School in Tongluo Alley!
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This is the first update.
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