I heard you like me

The fragrance of sandalwood wafts through the air, and light wanders across the threshold, creeping up the thick carpet to the tips of shoes.

Princess Rongjing pursed her lips slightly, her eyebrows furrowed, and a hint of sorrow appeared in the corners of her eyes. The bright hall was quiet and dull, and even the pearl-adorned hair ornaments in her hair lost their luster.

Zhao Heng, oh Zhao Heng, now it seems she has wronged Prince Ye and his wife, ruining a perfectly good marriage because of her selfishness.

Yun Qing gave a wink, and Xiao Shun quietly closed the door. His back, which had been tense for so long, finally relaxed, and he looked up at the sky with a look of relief. At this moment, the sky was blue, the clouds were white, the weather was clear, and the golden sunlight shone on him.

He took a few deep breaths. The area was shrouded in dark clouds, and there was probably thunder and lightning in front of the young master's house.

"Young master, why did you have to like Xiaoqiang of all people?"

She might have a bit of tact, some looks, and a bit of courage. But that's about it. Without family or relatives to back her up, how could she have the confidence to go toe-to-toe with a princess?

"Xiao Qiang's dislike of the young master is probably not because I scared him, right?"

He had told Xiaoqiang that because of the young master, every time he saw the princess, it was as if he had been whipped dozens of times. The princess was his only precious daughter, so the future relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was predictable.

Being a daughter-in-law and being an adopted daughter are worlds apart.

As an adopted daughter, we would visit each other occasionally; if she married a princess, that would be her support.

Being a daughter-in-law means that unless you die, you'll never be able to hold your head high for the rest of your life.

Princess Rongjing thought for a long time, her face full of confusion, "What do you think she dislikes about Lan'er?"

Yun Qing was taken aback. She thought the princess was worried about how to persuade them to break up. "Wen Ruo seems to like General Gu's type."

Rong Jing rested her chin on her hand, her tone tinged with annoyance, "I wanted to advise them to break up, but now it's awkward. Lan'er is the one throwing herself at me. Luckily, she cut off our path of desperate pleas. How can I advise her now?"

She didn't want to see the dean of Honghu Academy.

"I'm starting to understand my mother a little better."

Rong Jing sighed deeply, "Why is it that this is something I inherited from her?"

"Young Master, you just said the princess doesn't believe you?"

Rong Jing chuckled. Only a fool would believe what she said when she was delirious.

"Is the princess also thinking about a heartless man?" They knew perfectly well who General Gu liked.

"Why not set an example for the young master?"

Rong Jing glanced at her, and Yun Qing immediately fell silent. "Taking advantage of the situation, you're making fun of me."

Yun Qing smiled slightly, though her expression was cheerful. Inwardly, she was filled with mixed emotions. Who would have thought that the Qi family would produce so many romantics! Then she frowned and asked worriedly, "What if the young master was really hurt and said such things out of despair?"

"Young Master won't try to kill himself, will he?"

Rong Jing paused for a moment, her long fingernail accidentally scratching the back of her hand, drawing blood and leaving small red spots. She stared at it for a while, then suddenly her eyelids twitched. "Tell Xiao Shun to keep a close eye on her."

Yun Qing: "What about Miss Sun?"

"Why should I provoke him at this time?"

"I want to marry her!"

Rong Jing looked towards the door, a hint of hesitation on her face. "Whom should I marry? Miss Sun?"

Qi Guanlan suddenly stepped out from the side, blocking the doorway. He had a package slung over his shoulder. Upon hearing Miss Sun's name, his eyebrows furrowed immediately, and he coldly uttered two words, "Wen Ruo."

Before Princess Rongjing could speak, he lashed out with a dark expression, "Get rid of me through my master? Don't even think about it!"

"Use her and then run? There's no such thing as a free lunch. I'll do whatever she wants!"

As expected, Rong Jing was amused by his words, "Is this the result you came up with after half a day of seclusion?"

"I'm so angry, just tell me if you agree or not."

The message Xiao Shun had just relayed was still ringing in her ears. She looked behind Qi Guanlan and sighed again, "You're going to run away from home just because I don't agree? Putting aside family background, if you marry her, your family line will end. Don't you understand?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Qi Guanlan's eyes, and her expression grew even darker. "So, Mother only has these two requirements? Family background and descendants?"

“Even my mother thinks I’m a good-for-nothing, only good for carrying on the family line. If I have a grandson, will she just leave me aside? If my grandson is just like me, will she think I’m even more useless?”

"No, whether he's good or bad, Mother will only blame me."

Rong Jing was startled, caught off guard, and could only deny it: "I'm not."

“That’s exactly what Mother meant.”

"Don't be unreasonable."

"Alright, you talk about family background. What do you need family background for? Your uncle is the emperor."

"Descendants? To bring glory to one's ancestors?" He scoffed. "Whose lineage are you bringing glory to, whose ancestors are you glorifying?"

"To stand out from the crowd?"

"My uncle is the emperor."

Rong Jing was rendered speechless by his series of fallacies. She pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a rebuttal.

"But you can't be without children, can you?"

"Does Mother want another one like me?"

"This..." Rong Jing frowned, to be honest, she wasn't really keen on it. "But what if it's an obedient one?"

"Do you want him to go to war in place of his father and bring glory to the family again eighteen years later? Mother thinks I'm bringing shame to you? Then you might as well adopt your cousin's son in the future; that's definitely more reliable than gambling on this 'what if'."

Rong Jing was dizzy and disoriented, but she clenched her fists tightly and refused to let go.

"It seems that in Mother's heart, I am not even as important as a child who has not yet been formed." Qi Guanlan shook his head and smiled bitterly upon seeing this, then turned around and said, "I'm going to Yan'an Temple. Mother, come and pick me up when you've thought it through."

Rong Jing stared at his retreating figure, hardened her heart, and shouted, "I disagree!"

"Then I'll become a monk!"

Qi Guanlan clutched his bundle tightly, left without looking back, lightly nudged the horse's belly with his legs, and smiled broadly, "Little White, to Yan'an Temple."

Outside Yan'an Temple, mountains stretched endlessly. The morning light on the mountain peaks gradually faded, and the afterglow draped a golden edge over the ridge beasts on the eaves. Wen Ruo finished her class and saw Cao Xi waiting outside the courtyard. "Someone is looking for you!"

Wen Ruo: "Who is it?"

Did Tao Yan lose all his money so quickly?

Cao Xi: "Qi Guanlan!"

Wen Ruo's smile froze on her face. "I won't see you!"

"He said he wouldn't leave until you came out. Ruoruo, what a clever trick. Who would have thought that the naughty little tyrant of the past would become such a devoted lover?"

Why did Qi Guanlan chase after her again? Wen Ruo felt a surge of annoyance. After a moment of contemplation, she fled under Cao Xi's teasing gaze.

After putting down the books and calming my mind, I slowly descended the mountain. The tassels on my hairpin swayed lightly. The mountains were verdant, birds sang, and the spring breeze rippled, creating layers of waves that added a touch of disorder to the otherwise neat mountaintop.

Standing on the steps, she could see a man and a horse in the distance. The man was even thinner than the little mute boy from back then. It seemed that he had not yet recovered. How could Her Highness the Princess bear to let him go on a long journey?

Wen Ruo suddenly took off her hairpin and hid it in her sleeve.

The figure on the mountain gradually overlapped with the one in his dream. A day apart felt like three autumns. Qi Guanlan looked at her deeply, curled his lips into a self-deprecating smile, and thought to himself that she was becoming more and more outstanding.

"It seems you're doing well."

Wen Ruo glanced sideways and noticed the bundle behind him as soon as she got off the plane. "You've come to Honghu Academy?"

She knew Qi Guanlan's methods; if he wanted to, there was nowhere in the world he couldn't go.

Qi Guanlan pretended not to see the hint of reluctance in her eyes. "I've come clean with my mother. I will only marry you in this life, and I don't want any children. I've listened to her request. What about yours?"

Wen Ruo was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening and turned around to check. She then asked anxiously, "Your mother didn't agree, did she?"

Qi Guanlan was already prepared, but hearing this still stung his heart. However, he still answered honestly, "No, so what about you?"

Wen Ruo breathed a sigh of relief. She looked Qi Guanlan up and down and asked, "What are you doing here when you're still sick?"

Qi Guanlan nodded. "Don't change the subject. What are your conditions?"

Wen Ruo crossed her arms in front of her. "Qi Guanlan, have you lost your mind? Didn't you understand what I said before?"

"I understand. Your master said you like me."

When he spoke of liking her, he looked at her tenderly, his burning gaze slowly sweeping over her brow bone, eyes, and nose. His trembling lips seemed to pull time back to that night when countless kisses landed on her face.

Wen Ruo's breathing slowed down instantly. Even though the sun had already set, a subtle burning sensation suddenly appeared on her face.

She turned her face to the side and held out her hand to block the view, "Turn around!"

Tao Yan is really making things difficult for her; no matter how she explains herself now, it sounds like she's playing hard to get.

Qi Guanlan's body tensed immediately. He pursed his lower lip innocently. "He also said we weren't suitable, but I don't care about family background or offspring. So what should I do to be suitable?"

Wen Ruo stared for a long time, then frowned and said, "Is it absolutely necessary to ask?"

"right."

Qi Guanlan nodded with unusual firmness.

“I get up at dawn and go to bed at dusk. Studying is hard work, but it’s my whole day. What about after I get married? Ask any man who is getting married, who would he choose, his wife or his mother? How does a married woman feel when she meets her mother-in-law? Why should I make myself unhappy?”

Qi Guanlan seemed to be deep in thought, and after a moment he spoke, "I asked when I came, but my mother chose that non-existent little brat over me and the child that doesn't exist."

"So after we get married, we'll move out. I chose you, and you won't have to see my mother."

Wen Ruo felt a pang of sorrow for Princess Rongjing.

Qi Guanlan paused for a moment, then said, "Besides giving me time, I can serve you tea and water from the side."

Wen Ruo's blood boiled instantly, and sparks flew from her slightly widened eyes. She couldn't help but raise her voice, "Qi Guanlan, you did this on purpose!"

The next moment, Wen Ruo bumped into his arms, her hand was held tightly, and the man whispered in her ear again. He hugged her tighter and tighter, as if he wanted to meld her into his bones, "Just a hug, I knew it was impossible when I came."

He just wanted to keep a memento.

I won't wait for you!

Her hot breath enveloped her neck, making Wen Ruo a little breathless. She calmed her slight reluctance and slowly withdrew her wrist. "Your hair is messy."

Wen Ruo helped him put on his hairpin, and the two parted ways.

Qi Guanlan descended the mountain and headed straight for Yan'an Temple.

In the quiet ancient temple, the guest rooms contain only a bed, a simple desk, a calligraphy brush, and an inkstone.

Qi Guanlan held his brush with a suspended wrist, sat at the table, and with each stroke, as if using immense force, the jet-black ink instantly seeped through the paper and soaked into the poplar wood table.

A delicate, small cloud-shaped hairpin replaced a paperweight and pressed down on the thin Buddhist scripture paper.

He fiddled with the pearls on the tassel, his brow furrowed.

The Floating Cloud Tassel Hairpin was something Cao Xi had brought with her since childhood, and Wen Ruo wore it in her hair.

Qi Guanlan stared blankly out the window. Pigeons were chirping incessantly on the window frame. Years of wind and rain had worn the stone bricks along the window sill smooth.

Spring passes and autumn comes.

On the eve of the new year, Wen Ruo was at the academy with several fellow students and the dean, drinking and admiring the moon. There were no fireworks, no heart-pounding moments, and a few paper lanterns that she had drawn herself slowly rose into the sky.

The two exchanged letters with Zhao Heng and were very much in sync. After that, there was no further news of Qi Guanlan.

Year after year, Zhao Heng and Cao Xi continued their stalemate.

Cao Xi opened the letter, and a note suddenly fell out. She glanced at the calm and composed Wen Ruo and said, "Qi Guanlan is engaged."

Wen Ruo was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Very good."