In Beining Garden, Qian Zhiqing sat in the hall, slowly sipping her tea.

Dan Cai, the head maid who was in charge of serving Zhu Yi's daily life, stood by the door with her eyes lowered and remained silent.

Lanqiu looked around and felt that the room was too quiet, so she leaned closer to Dancai and said, "I wonder what Madam wanted to see the young master about? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

Without even raising her eyes, Dan Cai replied in a formal and measured tone, "How could I, a servant, possibly pry into the affairs between masters? If you are curious, go to the front courtyard to inquire."

Lan Qiu was trying to find a topic to get closer to her, but somehow she got dragged into spying on her master's private parts. If this got out, she would be punished or kicked out of the manor.

Qian Zhiqing glanced coldly at Dan Cai and snapped, "What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to refill my tea?"

Lan Qiu glanced at Dan Cai and, seeing that she didn't move, hurriedly came over to refill her teacup.

The room returned to silence, and Qian Zhiqing drank her tea listlessly from her teacup.

After another half a cup of tea's time, a commotion came from the courtyard gate. Qian Zhiqing looked up and a gentle smile immediately appeared on her face.

The person strode into the room, looked up and saw Qian Zhiqing, paused for a moment, then quickly regained their gentle demeanor.

Qian Zhiqing stepped forward, curtsied to him, and said, "Cousin, you are such a busy man. I wanted to give you a surprise, but I ended up missing you."

Zhu Yi had just pretended to be stupid and refused Qian Shi, but now, looking at Qian Zhiqing, he felt a little awkward. He subconsciously stepped aside and said in a slightly distant tone, "Cousin, is there something you need?"

Qian Zhiqing was very sensitive to everything about Zhu Yi. Hearing him say this, her smile froze. After a moment, she smiled again and said, "In a couple of days, I will be going back to serve my grandparents. I don't know when I will be back. I wanted to give you a gift as a keepsake, but I feel that since you are already engaged, it wouldn't be appropriate to leave you anything. I thought and thought but couldn't come up with anything, so I simply picked some spring flowers from the garden to offer as a token of my appreciation. I hope you won't think I'm being lazy."

As she spoke, Lanqiu stepped forward, carrying the vase on the table.

The flower branches are sparsely arranged, with buds hidden behind the blooming petals. Two branches hang softly down, complementing the lady on the vase. As the autumn breeze rises and falls, the drooping branches tremble, and the pale yellow stamens in the center also tremble slightly, as if they are about to fall, unable to hold on.

Beneath those petals, a lady sits alone, tucked in her zither.

The fragrance of flowers combined with the artistic conception is just like a vivid and expressive watercolor painting.

Zhu Yi raised an eyebrow, wondering why Madam Qian hadn't mentioned the engagement to him earlier, but he immediately praised her, "Cousin, you have such talent."

Qian Zhiqing was secretly pleased to see that he was not upset about the engagement and instead praised her.

She gave a graceful bow, smiled, and said, "I'm glad you like it, cousin."

Zhu Yi cupped his hands and said, "Who wouldn't like such a perfectly integrated vase?"

Qian Zhiqing pursed her lips slightly, her dark eyes filled with affection, like ripples on Zhu Yi's face.

Seeing her like this, Lanqiu quickly stepped forward and said, "A good flower deserves a good vase, and with your skillful hands, it will naturally be beautiful. It's just a pity that you are about to embark on a long journey and will no longer have someone to cherish you. Even if the flowers bloom in full glory, it will be in vain."

Lan Qiu's words were ambiguous, subtly implying that Qian Zhiqing was already in Huaxin and that if she went back, she might miss out.

Zhu Yi turned his gaze, seemingly unintentionally glancing at Lan Qiu. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Qian Zhiqing's eyes filled with affection, hinting at reluctance, her red lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Zhu Yi's heartstrings twitched, and just as he was about to speak, he saw that a corner of the brocade curtain by the door of the side room had been lifted.

He suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Madam has already told me about this. Tomorrow I will send someone to the dock to make arrangements. Nowadays, large ships sail quickly and steadily, and there are guards on board. I will also order the steward of the manor to make arrangements, so you don't need to worry about safety."

Qian Zhiqing never expected him to say that. Her fervent expectation turned into a chilling disappointment. A coldness crept down her spine, and her legs trembled as if she were about to collapse.

"Cousin," she staggered forward half a step, her body almost touching Zhu Yi, and whispered, "Does cousin really want me to go back?"

Zhu Yi subconsciously stepped back, but when he saw Qian Zhiqing's pale face, he coughed awkwardly and said, "Serving our elders is our filial duty as juniors. I just hope that my cousin can live a comfortable and happy life."

Qian Zhiqing stared at him with wide eyes.

It's ridiculous. He knows his own feelings for her. How can she be happy and at ease without him? Yet he still insists on hurting her feelings like this. Is he deliberately playing with her feelings?

Thinking of how he had ruthlessly disregarded her infatuation back in the God Realm, and how he had been seemingly intentional yet heartless all these years since she came here, Qian Zhiqing couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

Why is it so hard to make him fall in love with me? What is it about Shi Lan that attracts him? She's timid, stupid, and always causing trouble. What does she have besides her decent looks?

Qian Zhiqing trembled all over. She wanted to shake him hard and ask him loudly, but she knew she couldn't, because that would destroy the results of her long-term, subtle influence, and might even directly awaken his consciousness, and she would inevitably be ruthlessly killed by him.

Qian Zhiqing knew perfectly well what was going on, but to stop herself from doing something foolish, she could only clench her fingers tightly.

Her beautifully manicured crescent-shaped nails were pinched so hard they dug into her flesh, quickly drawing blood.

Seeing her trembling, Zhu Yi subconsciously asked, "Cousin, are you feeling unwell?"

Qian Zhiqing clenched her teeth, but a misstep caused her cheek to bleed. The salty, fishy taste spread in her mouth. Qian Zhiqing smiled faintly and said, "I didn't sleep well last night, and I went to the garden to pick flowers this morning. I was just forcing myself to come here, but my cousin still found out."

Seeing that her face had turned pale almost instantly, Zhu Yi glared at the worried Lan Qiu and said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and send Miss Biao back, and send someone to fetch a doctor to take a look."

Qian Zhiqing bowed slightly to Zhu Yi, swayed as she leaned against Lan Qiu, and slowly walked out.

Zhu Yi stared intently at the door, remaining motionless for a long while.

"Now do you still dare to tell me with such confidence that she considers you her brother?"

The brocade curtain was suddenly lifted, and Zheng Ziran stepped out. Before he arrived, his voice preceded him.

Zhu Yi turned around, frowning, and said, "Alright, Zhiqing will be leaving in a couple of days. Once she leaves, I'm afraid she might not be able to come back even after I get married. So please watch your words, okay?"

Zheng Ziran pursed his lips, sat down to the side, and pointed disdainfully at the cups on the table, saying, "Dan Cai, throw this out, and that thing called 'Hun Ran Yi Ti'," he said, leaning to the side, "it's annoying to look at."

Dan Cai suppressed a laugh and stepped forward to take the teacup and vase away.

Zhu Yi glanced at Zheng Ziran and shook his head helplessly.