Chapter 299 Before Flowers

Qi Shuo walked to the door of the general's mansion and slowed down his pace.

The familiar animal-faced tin-ringed gate, the familiar pair of stone lions, the familiar green walls, everything before him was no different from when he left Beijing, but he inexplicably developed a feeling of homesickness.

"The prince is here!" The servant of the general's mansion saw Qi Shuo standing still and came up to him with a smile.

Qi Shuo regained his composure and said with a polite smile, "I'm here to visit the old lady and my mother-in-law."

"Please come in, Prince." The servant warmly welcomed Qi Shuo in.

After Lin Hao came back from the street, she changed into a beautiful new dress and went to the main courtyard to chat with the old lady.

Lin also joined in, not forgetting to laugh at her daughter: "You look so anxious, Prince Jing has a lot of things to do after the banquet at the palace, maybe you won't come until tomorrow."

Lin Hao pursed his lips and smiled: "He will definitely come to pay his respects to Grandma and Mother."

Seeing her silly and cheerful look, Lin shook her head: "You are dressed more festively than the New Year, aren't you afraid that the prince will laugh at you?"

She had suffered enough from women who were not reserved enough, and she felt uneasy seeing her daughter like this.

Lin Hao looked down at her pink and green dress embroidered with roses and said with a smile, "I just want to dress up nicely for him to see."

Lin was about to say something more, but the old lady looked down on her: "Don't teach Ah Hao, Ah Hao knows more than you do."

This silly girl of hers is not reserved when she should be, and is awkward when she shouldn't be. If her granddaughter really listens to her, she will be led into a trap.

As the three of them were talking, a maid came in and announced, "The prince is here."

"Please come in."

Soon the white gauze curtain was lifted, and the old lady and Mrs. Lin looked at the young man who walked in and smiled unconsciously.

Qi Shuo respectfully greeted the old lady and Mrs. Lin, and his eyes turned slightly to fall on Lin Hao's face.

The young girl with outstanding appearance in beautiful new clothes smiled at him, like a flower blooming in early summer, catching his eyes.

He restrained himself from looking away and answered the two elders' questions: "It's not hard, nor is it difficult to adapt. Winning is the most important thing..."

The old lady and Mrs. Lin asked a lot of questions, all of which were answered seriously and patiently.

The old lady was extremely pleased with her grandson-in-law and tactfully stopped the two young men from spending time together. "I'm glad you've returned safely. Your mother-in-law and I are relieved. Ah Hao, accompany the prince to the garden for a walk."

"Yeah." Lin Hao stood up and walked to Qi Shuo, a sweet smile on his raised face, "Let's go."

The garden in April was at its most beautiful, with flowers blooming everywhere and lush vegetation. As if to make room for the two young people who hadn't seen each other for a long time, they walked at a leisurely pace. Apart from Baozhu, who was following behind Lin Hao, there wasn't a single servant on the road.

Before they knew it, they had reached the wall.

Qi Shuo stopped and Lin Hao stopped too.

The two who had been quiet all the way looked at each other, joy in their eyes.

"I'm back." Qi Shuo spoke.

Lin Hao raised his lips: "I know you will come back."

There is no need to mention those worries, anxieties, and concerns about gains and losses on this day of reunion.

Qi Shuo recalled Lin Hao's reaction in the teahouse: "Ah Hao, why are you hiding when you see me?"

"Oh, my handkerchief fell off." Lin Hao explained calmly.

Qi Shuo believed what he said and said with a relaxed smile, "I thought you were angry at the time."

"Why should I be angry?" Lin Hao asked with a smile.

Qi Shuo lowered his eyes slightly, his gentle gaze covering the girl's porcelain-like face: "You're angry that I lied about being seriously injured and made you worry."

Lin Hao nodded. "I'm worried, but I know the news I received is inaccurate. The so-called serious injury is probably due to future plans."

I think so rationally, but I am really worried.

"A Shuo, come and sit down." Lin Hao pulled Qi Shuo to the flower stand full of roses. There was a table and two chairs there, which was exactly the same as the small world in the palace garden across the wall.

When Qi Shuo just left Beijing, Lin Hao couldn't help but worry. When her emotions accumulated too much, she took Baozhu over the wall and stayed in the small world behind the flower stand for a while, and came back when she felt better.

After climbing over the wall a few times, Baozhu asked, "Miss, why don't you put a set of tables and chairs behind the flower stand on our side so that we don't have to climb over the wall."

Although she supports whatever the girl does, Prince Jing is not at home. Why does the girl climb over the wall and stare blankly into the garden of the palace? The scenery on both sides is obviously similar.

The main reason was that she didn't want to use the excuse of looking for shuttlecocks and sandbags to tease that stupid boy anymore. It was a bully.

Lin Hao was reminded, so he made this arrangement, but for some reason, when he was sitting in his own garden in a daze, he still had the urge to climb over the wall.

Qi Shuo sat down, and in front of him were numerous flowers and branches that blocked the glaring sunlight. Although it was similar to the palace, he felt a little cramped.

It feels like a scoundrel...

"What's the matter?" Lin asked with a smile.

Qi Shuo stared at the girl sitting opposite him: "It always feels unreal, as if I was fighting on the battlefield just a moment ago, and now I am chatting with you under the flower stand. I thought-"

He paused, a smile deepening on his lips: "I thought we would be apart for a long time."

Lin Hao raised his eyebrows: "Isn't it long enough?"

This idiot!

"That's not what I meant—"

A bare hand stretched out in front of him, making him forget what to say next.

"I heard there are many specialties in the north. Did you bring me any gifts?"

Qi Shuo's expression froze obviously for a moment, and he shook his head honestly.

"I knew it." Lin Hao sighed, but there was no blame in his eyes. Instead, there was a gentle light in his eyes. "A Shuo, I have prepared a gift for you."

"What gift?" Qi Shuo felt even more guilty.

The girl opposite suddenly leaned forward, and her face, more beautiful than a rose, instantly moved closer, and a pair of soft lips pressed against hers.

She kissed his sharp eyebrows, his upturned eyes, his high nose bridge, and then his slightly cool lips.

His lips were very thin and pale in color, and they were slightly opened in surprise, meeting the other party's clumsy charge.

After a brief pause, the man wrapped his strong arms around the girl's slender body.

The pink and green skirt embroidered with roses spread out, creating ripples like water waves.

Qi Shuo noticed that his body was changing. He moved his hands around the girl's waist up to hold her shoulders and pushed her away a little.

Lin Hao's eyes flashed with doubt, and his voice was no longer as clear as usual, but with a hint of hoarseness: "What's the matter?"

Qi Shuo's gaze shifted to the rose branches swaying gently in the breeze. Only after his eyes regained clarity did he look at the girl in front of him.

"Oh well, our wedding date should be coming soon."

Lin Hao took a step closer and asked in confusion, "So I can't kiss you now?"

Qi Shuo completely forgot to react.