“I had thought before that I would hold a grand wedding banquet with you again and get married again, but people are so vulgar that it is inevitable that some people would criticize me. I don’t want you to suffer such injustice. You only need to be admired and don’t have to feel lost.”
He smiled, his eyes filled with stars, yet clearly casting her image.
"Therefore, please forgive my past mistakes and make up for the unfulfilled nuptial ceremony with me, shall we?"
Qin Xi covered her lips, blinked, and cleared away the tears, her blurred vision becoming clear again.
She had no idea when Lu Huai, who had always been carefree and irresponsible, had become so good at sweet talk. Perhaps these weren't exactly love words, but every single one of them made her usually calm heart tremble.
She touched her slightly flushed cheeks. "Okay."
However, although both of them had this idea, neither of them knew how to do it.
Come to think of it, the matchmaker was supposed to teach them, but they kicked her out. These people are all paid to do the work, and as long as the pay is good, they're happy to have an easy job.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. In the end, it was Master Shu and Madam Shu who couldn't stand it anymore and instructed the two to clasp their hands together, and only then were they able to successfully perform the greeting.
After finishing the antique soup, they began to give Qin Qi birthday gifts. Shu Zhan gave two gifts each, saying that one of them was prepared for her by Shu Hua long ago.
Qin Xi opened it, and inside was a jade ruyi of superior quality. She stroked the jade, feeling the cool temperature from her fingertips, and reminisced about their sworn sisterhood over the years.
...
Inside the building, everyone was enjoying themselves, but outside the temperature had dropped.
The guard bowed, frowning, and said, "Your Highness, the Second Young Madam Lu is upstairs, accompanied by Prime Minister Qin, Minister Lu, Commander Lu, and the Second Young Master Lu..."
The fourth prince held the box tightly in his hands. Hearing the names being called out one by one, he showed no reaction, only staring blankly at the brightly lit Dingtai Restaurant.
If he hadn't sent people to search, they wouldn't have discovered that Steward Lu left the manor after he left. He intentionally concealed this from them; if they hadn't followed him all the way, he might not have known that Sister Qi was here even after they had all left.
So, Lu Huai also knew it was Qi's eighteenth birthday today. He thought that since Qin Wenxiang wasn't there and Shu Hua had left, only he knew...
The fourth prince thought bitterly, lowered his head and remained silent. When his gaze fell on the box in his hand, he couldn't help but close his eyes.
It's utterly ridiculous.
A moment later, the fourth prince gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Let's go."
He opened his eyes, and a hint of fanaticism had appeared in his usually pitch-black pupils.
The guard was silent for a moment, then replied, "Yes."
...
It was already past 7 PM when everyone left. The deep darkness of night enveloped them, and it was finally time for the banquet to end.
They left, but Qin Qi was pulled along by Lu Huai to stroll through the streets. Thanks to Lu Chuan, even though it was curfew, they were still allowed to wander around.
"Look, what do you think of the capital?" He pulled her along to the top of the city wall.
Since the great victory in the Northwest, Lu Chuan had been idle in the capital. He replaced all the guards at the city gates with his trusted confidants, so even if they wandered around, no one would interfere.
Qin Xi didn't know what he meant, but still glanced around and said, "Like gold and jade."
"Gold and jade?"
She remained silent for a long time, then said, "All that glitters is not gold; rottenness lies within."
Lu Huai smiled and said, "Great minds think alike. The Dayu of the past was a peaceful and prosperous nation. The Dayu of today is in turmoil."
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