Chapter 606: Proposal (4000 words)
On the morning of the second day after arriving at Bailu Academy, Xu Ming woke up early and sat in the courtyard, meditating on the sword intent.
Ever since Hongxiu woke up, Xu Ming could feel her presence.
But for now, Hongxiu hasn't spoken a word to Xu Ming since she came out to help him that time.
However, Xu Ming could feel Hongxiu looking at this world from inside the long sword, and sometimes Xu Ming could even feel some of Hongxiu's emotions.
While Xu Ming was meditating on the sword intent and establishing a deeper connection with Hongxiu, Xu Ming felt someone standing outside the courtyard.
Xu Ming slowly opened his eyes.
Zhu Cici was outside the courtyard, looking at Xu Ming calmly, as if waiting for Xu Ming to finish his practice.
"Miss Zhu."
Xu Ming stood up and bowed to Zhu Cici.
"Mr. Xu, good morning." Zhu Cici folded his hands in front of him and bowed to Xu Ming.
"Miss Zhu, is there anything I can help you with?" Xu Ming asked.
"Nothing much. The dean asked me to take Master Xu around the White Deer Academy, so I came here. I wonder if Master Xu is free?"
Zhu Cici said in a soft voice, with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"..."Xu Ming did not agree immediately. In fact, he was a little conflicted in his heart.
Last night, Xu Ming still had no idea how to deal with Zhu Cici.
What if I really don’t like Zhu Cici?
This is also unlikely.
Even if he was just attracted by her beauty, Zhu Cici's looks were enough.
Not to mention that Zhu Cici was a woman he had known since childhood.
So when such a woman tells you that she still likes you, the feeling can be said to be completely different.
In other words, Xu Ming still doesn't know how to face Zhu Chichi.
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Zhu."
In the end, Xu Ming agreed to go out for a walk with Zhu Cici and chat with her.
Even Xu Ming knew that the two of them had nothing to talk about, and he might still be avoiding it.
But subconsciously, Xu Ming felt that he might feel better too.
"You are too polite, sir." Zhu Cici smiled, and then said to Lin Xingluo who was serving beside him, "Miss Lin, do you want to go sightseeing with us?"
"Thank you for the invitation, Miss Zhu. I won't go." Lin Xingluo shook her head, then said to her master, "Master, I want to have a good rest in the yard for a while. I am really tired from traveling all this time. Is this okay?"
"Of course, you can just take a good rest in the yard. You have really worked hard during this period of time."
Xu Ming nodded and agreed to Lin Xingluo's request.
In fact, Xu Ming knew that Lin Xingluo wanted to go with him.
Lin Xingluo had great expectations for Bailu Academy and wanted to have a good time there.
But this girl saw the relationship between herself and Zhu Cici.
She didn't want to be a light bulb and wanted to give herself and Zhu Cici enough time to spend together, so she took the initiative to refuse.
Sometimes, Xu Ming didn’t know what Xing Luo was thinking in his heart.
It is certain that Xingluo likes me.
Moreover, neither he nor Xingluo could say that they were innocent.
Because except for the last step, the two people have done everything they should and shouldn't do during the time they have been together.
But whenever he met some women, Xingluo never made himself feel embarrassed and never asked for anything.
Sometimes Xu Ming even felt a little guilty towards Xingluo.
After Xu Ming and Zhu Cici left the courtyard, Zhu Cici acted as a tour guide and took Xu Ming to the back mountain of Bailu Academy.
Xu Ming followed Zhu Cici, and the two walked side by side, looking so well-matched.
When Xu Ming arrived at Bailu Academy yesterday, he saw that the scenery of Bailu Academy was indeed beautiful.
It is a very suitable place for studying, and every scholar has an outstanding temperament.
But the scenery on the road that Zhu Cici and Xu Ming were walking on was even better.
Not long after, Zhu Cici brought Xu Ming to the edge of an inky pool of water.
Although it is a pond, it is as big as a lake.
You can also see a few canoes rowing back and forth from above.
Willow trees swayed beside the ink pool. Scholars were sitting under the trees reading. Young boys and girls were sitting on the grass, spreading a piece of floral cloth, brewing tea and chatting.
When the students in the academy see Zhu Cici, most of them will greet him and call him "Uncle Master".
Zhu Cici is the disciple of the dean of Bailu Academy. Even some white-haired old men have to respectfully call Zhu Ci "senior brother".
Because of Zhu Cici's identity and appearance, everyone in Bailu Academy knows Zhu Cici.
It was not a new thing to see Zhu Cici, but when they saw a man standing next to Zhu Cici, they were very curious about the identity of this man.
In most people's impressions, Zhu Cici has almost never gone out alone with any man.
"This place is the ink pond."
Zhu Cici introduced to Xu Ming the most famous lake in Bailu Academy.
“Judging from the size of the ink pool, it really can’t be called a small pool.
It is much larger than ordinary pools.
The reason why it is called the Ink Pool is that in the beginning, it was the place where the scholars of Bailu Academy poured their pens and ink.
These words gradually condensed into a small pool.
Then as time went on, the pond became bigger and bigger, and finally formed a lake.
But the name "Mo Chi" has never changed. I heard that when Mr. Xiao was in Bailu Academy, his favorite place to go was this Mo Chi, and so was Mr. Lu and others.
After Mr. Xiao passed away, the ink pool in Bailu Academy spread out for thousands of miles. This was unprecedented, as if the entire ink pool was feeling sad for Mr. Xiao.
Mr. Xiao's name also contains the two words "Mo Chi".
Or maybe Mr. Xiao and this ink pool just have a predestined connection.
As he spoke, Zhu Cici lowered his eyes slightly: "The departure of Xiao Zhao is not only a loss for Wu Country, but also a loss for the world."
Looking at Zhu Cici's lost look, Xu Ming knew in his heart that Zhu Cici had always regarded Mr. Xiao as his idol.
When Mr. Xiao passed away, she must have felt bad.
"Yes, Mr. Xiao's departure is a loss to the entire human race. This has nothing to do with Mr. Mo's realm, but everything Mr. Xiao has done."
Xu Ming nodded.
“That’s why our Wu Kingdom will not retreat, and it is impossible for us to retreat.
The current situation of Wu State is indeed very critical, and everything Wu State has done is unprecedented and will never be repeated.
But these things have to be done eventually.
Since Mr. Xiao has given us a head start on these things, we must continue.
Otherwise, Mr. Xiao’s sacrifice would have been in vain, and everything that our Wu country’s former emperor had done would have been in vain.”
As he was talking, Xu Ming turned around and looked at Zhu Cici:
"The situation in the Central Plains is very bad right now. Miss Zhu, you are the daughter of a prince of Qi State, and I was born in Wu State. It is best not to get too close to them to avoid misunderstandings."
“…”
Listening to what Xu Ming said, Zhu Cici lowered her head, gently pinched her little hands, and did not immediately answer Xu Ming's words.
After a long time, Zhu Cici finally raised his head and looked at Xu Ming seriously:
“You mean the relationship between our two countries is not good, so we can’t get closer.
So if the relationship between our two countries is not that tense, then you would…"
"Ci Ci! Ci Ci! Why are you here? Go back to the front mountain quickly."
Just when Zhu Cici was halfway through his speech, a woman ran over and spoke to him breathlessly.
"What's wrong, Wenwen? Is there something wrong? Why do you look so anxious?"
Zhu Cici turned around and looked at his friend in confusion.
The woman named Wenwen took a breath, calmed herself down, and then said, "Ci Ci, of course something happened, and it's a big deal.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Wei has come to propose marriage to you.
Now the marriage proposal team has arrived at the front yard of the academy, let's go over quickly.
It would be rude if I didn’t go over there.”
Zhu Cici frowned, with a bit of displeasure in his eyes: "I won't go. You can tell the Crown Prince that I am ill and can't go. Wenwen, you know that I don't plan to get married at the moment."
"But Cici..."
Wenwen looked a little conflicted and embarrassed.
"If it was in the past, your excuse would have worked. But it's different now. They brought letters from your parents."
"Letters from my parents?" Zhu Cici asked in surprise.
"Yes, they are here to propose marriage now. It can be said that it is the will of your parents and the words of the matchmaker. If you don't give them a reasonable explanation, it will be difficult to deal with it. I even heard that your housekeeper has come."
Listening to Wenwen's words, Zhu Cici couldn't help but clench her sleeves, feeling a little troubled.
For Confucianism, etiquette is very important.
What Confucianism values most is etiquette and law.
Moreover, the other party was arranged by the parents and the matchmaker, which also involves filial piety.
This is indeed difficult to handle.
"I didn't expect Weiwei would be right. What a bad mouth!"
Zhu Cici complained in his heart.
I don’t know what conditions Wei gave to Qi to make their parents agree to such a thing.
Under normal circumstances, even if his parents really liked such a prince of Wei, they should call him back instead of making a decision on their own.
Zhu Cici only felt that there was one possibility.
That is, the war between Qi and Wu has entered a white-hot stage. The situation is now very urgent, and an alliance between the two countries is inevitable.
"Master Xu, let me take you back to the courtyard first. I have some things to take care of."
No matter what, since the other party has come with a letter from my parents, I have to show up.
"Do you need me to go with you?"
Xu Ming asked.
Xu Ming knew that he had to step away at this time.
After all, the marriage proposal was Zhu Cici's, and I was just an outsider no matter how I looked at it.
But Xu Ming felt that this time it might not be that simple.
Moreover, the State of Wei joined forces with a sect to launch a surprise attack on Wudu. I heard that this matter was proposed by the crown prince of the State of Wei.
I want to see what kind of person this prince of Wei is.
Hearing that Xu Ming wanted to go with him, Zhu Cici smiled and shook his head:
"You don't have to worry about me, sir. Over the years, I have heard countless people propose to me. I am used to it. But I may have to leave first."
Zhu Cici bowed to Xu Ming and followed Wenwen to fly to the front yard.
"Are you really not going?"
Just after Zhu Cici left, a voice sounded in Xu Ming's heart.
This voice had a hint of playfulness, and even a taste of eating melon.
"Senior Hongxiu seems to really want to join in the fun?" Xu Ming said to Hongxiu.
"You can't say that." Hong Xiu's voice sounded in Xu Ming's mind again, "I just want to see what you will do."
Xu Ming: “.”
"You kid"
As she spoke, Hongxiu sighed.
"Since I woke up, I've watched you handle matters between men and women. The more I watch, the more outrageous it seems.
Your personality is exactly the same as my first master, both of you are very slow.
Fortunately, my first master had no man from birth to death. Even though some men expressed their love to her, she rejected them all. She only had kendo in her heart.
But you are different.
You are such an overabundant guy with lots of romantic opportunities.
To be honest, in all my life, this is the first time I've seen someone as lucky in love as you."
"So what do you think, senior?"
Xu Ming asked.
"What's the point of asking me how to see?"
Hongxiu gave Xu Ming a cold look.
“What matters most is how you look at it.
What you should think about is not to delay what other people are thinking about and not to make things difficult for others.
But have you ever thought that these people you think of don’t care.
And don’t you think that you are thinking too much?
If you like it, you like it. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Since you like it, why should you consider so many factors?
You like her and she likes you, so if that's the case, then you two should just be together first.
As for the other things, are they important? "
Xu Ming: “.”
At the same time, when Zhu Cici rushed to the front yard, quite a few people had already gathered there.
When the old housekeeper of the Zhu family saw Zhu Cici coming, he immediately greeted her with a smile on his face: "Miss! You are finally here. This old servant has been waiting for you for a long time."
(End of this chapter)
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