“Xin, Uncle Qin is not intentionally making things difficult for you, it’s just…”
I gripped his hand, cutting off what he was about to say, and seriously said: “Uncle Qin, don’t say anymore. Xin Ran understands everything. I promise I will carefully consider it!”
Uncle Qin finally revealed a relieved smile, patting my hand and saying repeatedly: “Good, good! Why don’t I send you to Jade Water Manor, let you spend some time with Zi Han before making a decision?”
“Mm!” I gently nodded, at this moment I knew I could hardly say no.
“Uncle Qin, since Miss Xin has brought me here, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave!” Mei Ying spoke at the right time.
Uncle Qin released me, walked to Mei Ying and patted his shoulder: “Thank you this time! After finishing your business, remember to come see Uncle Qin. Don’t forget, we still have an unfinished chess game!”
“I know, I will come back. Farewell!” He slightly nodded and turned around!
“Mei Ying—” I blankly called out to him, “You, you’re not staying a bit longer?
During this half month of being constantly together, I had grown accustomed to his presence. Even without speaking, I could inexplicably feel at ease. Although I knew he wouldn’t stay too long, I hadn’t expected him to say goodbye so quickly, too fast for me to even react.
“Mei Ying has urgent matters and cannot stay. Miss Xin, take care of yourself!” He remained with his back to me, not turning around.
“Then, be careful!”
“Mm!” His response was very light, very soft! After speaking, he took steps and left.
Jade Water Manor was located at the foot of Blue Cloud Mountain, a solitary large courtyard stretching for miles, with no other households nearby. Its grandeur and luxurious decorations were even more impressive than Si Yu Fortress.
“Sister Ran!” North Courtyard Feng Yin seemed to have anticipated my arrival, waiting early outside the door, his eyes smiling, bright as stars.
“Yi Chen!” I avoided Yu Luo’s hand coming to help me and jumped down from the carriage, greeting him familiarly while looking behind him.
“Don’t look, my big brother doesn’t know you’ve arrived yet!” His gaze was smiling, his tone gentle.
His figure suddenly stiffened, and his steps stopped, but he only coldly replied: “Miss Xin is overthinking!” Then he left along another corridor.
I couldn’t help but frown, staring blankly in the direction he had gone, my expression dim.
“My big brother is just preoccupied, he’s not unwelcoming to Sister Ran. Sister, please don’t overthink it!” Feng Yin smiled, her face wearing its usual gentleness.
“Is that so?” I uncertainly withdrew my gaze, feeling inexplicably empty inside.
Feng Yin nodded confidently: “Sister Ran is beautiful, smart, and kind. How could anyone dislike her? My brother is just troubled by the imperial marriage decree!”
“Imperial marriage?” I raised my eyebrow subtly.
“I heard that both Feng Yin and Wei Chen simultaneously sent envoys requesting marriage alliances. The Emperor has long intended to draw closer to the other three major families, so he issued an imperial decree inviting my brother and the young master of Si Yi Fortress to the capital in three days for the princess’s spouse selection banquet.”
“You mean Yan is going too?” My heart suddenly panicked, and my brow furrowed even tighter. “Besides the imperial family, aren’t there three other major families? Why only invite West Border and North Court?”
Feng Yin explained with a smile: “Because the eldest young master of the Nan Gong family married a year ago, and the second young master is rumored to have left home years ago and never returned.”
Moonlight poured down like gentle water, and the night breeze swept across, disturbing the lake’s tranquility and creating rippling waves. A dark figure in deep blue stood on the small path.
“Who’s there?” I cried out, moving closer to the black silhouette, curious who else was awake so late.
“The mountain villa is cold at night. Miss Xin should return to her room and rest,” a voice emerged from the darkness, with bright black eyes gleaming – it was North Court Zi Han.
“It’s you?” I looked up and examined him. Moonlight reflected his tall figure, with half his features illuminated and half hidden in darkness.
Only the rustling sound of wind sweeping fallen leaves could answer me.
Gently touching my slightly swollen lips, I had one belief in my mind: I must make that proud guy bow before me. It was just a pure belief, a proud woman’s desire to conquer an equally proud man.
The next day, during the meal, my gaze never left my bowl. Regarding the events of the previous night, Bei Ting Zi Han and I tacitly avoided mentioning anything. Feng Yin, however, looked at us strangely, his eyes constantly moving between us.
After a while, Bei Ting Zi Han put down his chopsticks and told Feng Yin, “Tomorrow, I will pack my things and go to the capital. This time, you don’t need to follow me. Stay at the manor and take good care of Miss Xin Ran.”
“I’m going too!” Without putting down my chopsticks, I spoke up first, meeting his stern gaze with a determined expression: “I want to go to the capital with you!”
His handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing and got up to leave.
After he left, Feng Yin immediately sat next to me, raising an eyebrow with a hint of confusion, “What’s going on between you two?”
“What’s going on? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hurriedly avoided his gaze, lowering my head to frantically scoop rice, pretending not to understand.
Feng Yin looked disbelieving, “Don’t play dumb. You both look so strange. Something clearly happened between you and my brother that I don’t know about. Spill it!”
“Nothing really happened. I’m full!” I quickly put down my chopsticks and fled the hall. I didn’t blush when that guy forcibly kissed me, but now, being questioned by Feng Yin, my face suddenly heated up.
Perhaps it was the comfortable wind, or perhaps his chest was warmer than I imagined. Amidst the horse’s hooves, I unknowingly fell asleep in his arms.
When I awoke, it was already nighttime.
Yue Rao was sitting by the bed. Seeing me open my eyes, she smiled and said, “Miss, are you hungry? I’ll bring you something to eat!”
“Huh? Yue Rao, where are we?” I rubbed my slightly dizzy temples and frowned.
“We’re in Xu City. The estate master said we’ll stay here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow morning!”
“Oh—” I nodded and then asked, “What about Bei Ting Zi Han and Feng Yin?”
“The estate master and the second young master are in the next room. Does the miss want me to call them?”
I quickly waved my hand, “No need, I was just asking! By the way, go downstairs and see if you can prepare a basin of hot water for me. I want to bathe.” Riding a horse was not as comfortable as sitting in a carriage.
“Understood, miss?” Yue Rao purged her lips, her eyes filled with laughter.
“Why are you laughing?” I looked at her suspiciously.
“Nothing, nothing! I’ll go prepare hot water for you right away!” Yue Rao shook her head, but the smile on her face only grew.
“Stop!”
I quickly slid off the bed and walked directly in front of her, narrowing my eyes and scrutinizing her.
Yue Rao felt uncomfortable under my gaze, blushing slightly and stammering, “M-miss, why are you looking at me like that?”
I raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, “Am I that funny?”
Two people simultaneously lowered their heads, their faces filled with sorrow. A bad premonition rose in my heart, and I involuntarily raised my voice: “What exactly happened?”
Finally, Wuying raised his head, his expression bleak: “Miss Xin, it’s better to talk upstairs. In short, the Young Master… has lost his memory!”
“Lost his memory?” I exclaimed in shock: “How… is this possible?”
