The snow had stopped, and everything in sight was a vast expanse of white. The two walked towards the top of the mountain and stopped at a thatched pavilion.
“Young master, we can overlook most of Chongfu Temple from here,” Feng Ruilan said happily, pointing into the distance.
Lu Jingyan did not respond.
She turned her head in confusion, only to meet his focused gaze. She was momentarily stunned, then lowered her head shyly. "Why are you looking at me like that, young master?"
“It’s nothing…” Lu Jingyan looked away, paused, and then said, “There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you, Miss, but I don’t know how to bring it up.”
"Please speak freely, young master."
“This…” He scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, “Actually, I ran into you in the main hall when you first arrived at the temple.”
Feng Ruilan naturally remembered this incident, but she always thought that she was the only one who noticed him at the time. She never expected that he had noticed her as well.
Does this mean he also cares about himself...?
As she thought about it, she secretly rejoiced.
"It may be a bit impolite to say this, but I'm afraid that once you return to the capital, Miss Feng, I will never have another chance to ask."
"What would you like to ask, young master?" Her eyes sparkled, and she looked at Lu Jingyan with hopeful eyes.
"I remember there was a woman in blue with you at the time. She was dignified, polite, and graceful. I fell in love with her at first sight. May I ask whose daughter she was?"
The light in Feng Ruilan's eyes dimmed instantly. She stared at him in astonishment, opening her mouth but unable to utter a single word.
So it turns out he's taken a liking to Liu Qingying! What about her dignified manners and graceful bearing? In the main hall, it was just a fleeting glance, how could he see all that? In the end, he's nothing but a shallow, lustful man who covets beauty!
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, so angry that her heart was trembling, but she still tried her best to restrain herself.
After a long while, she managed a forced smile and said, "I'm suddenly feeling unwell, please excuse me, sir."
After saying that, she asked Cui'er to help her leave.
"Miss Feng, are you feeling unwell? Should we call a doctor?" Lu Jingyan caught up with her.
"No need, I just have a bit of a headache from not sleeping well last night. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep." She didn't look at Lu Jingyan's expression and hurried forward, her steps unsteady.
This time, Lu Jingyan did not chase after them.
Feng Ruilan didn't see the cold smile in his eyes; her mind was filled with Liu Qingying's face, and she was almost overwhelmed by jealousy and hatred.
She went to great lengths, but in the end, she was no match for Liu Qingying just by standing there! Why?!
She returned to her room and smashed everything in it in a fit of rage before she felt a little better.
She sat on the stool to calm herself down. After a long while, she suddenly thought of something, and her eyes gradually regained their light.
Sometimes it's understandable to use some means to achieve your goals, isn't it?
Thinking this, she quickly called Cui'er in.
Cui'er had been waiting outside. Hearing the commotion inside, she shrank back and walked in, her shoulders hunched. Seeing the mess on the floor, she swallowed hard.
"What are your orders, young lady?"
Feng Ruilan said, "Clean this place up, then go ask the monks to borrow their kitchen to cook some dishes. I want to host a banquet for Young Master Lu."
Cui'er squatted down to tidy up, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Miss, these are all things from Chongfu Temple. It seems that we have to pay for them if we break them."
"It's just a few broken teapots and tattered teacups. Don't they even know how much money we've donated to this dilapidated temple? How dare they ask me to pay for it again?"
She spoke with such confidence, as if she had forgotten that it was Qingying who had donated the incense money before, and that she hadn't contributed a single copper coin.
Cui'er packed up in frustration, not daring to say another word.
As soon as Lu Jingyan returned, Feng Ruilan's maid came to deliver a message, saying that her young lady wanted to invite him to dinner to thank him for taking care of her these past few days.
He agreed without hesitation.
In the evening, Lu Jingyan arrived at Feng Ruilan's room on time. As soon as he entered, she greeted him warmly, "Young Master Lu, I apologize for my rudeness today."
"It's alright. I understand that Miss Feng is not feeling well. I wonder if you are feeling better now?"
"I'm much better now, thank you for your concern." Feng Ruilan led the people inside, smiling as she said, "I'm hosting this banquet for Young Master Lu today because my daughter will be going down the mountain tomorrow. Once she returns to the capital, I'm afraid she won't have another chance to thank Young Master Lu in person."
"Miss Feng and I hit it off immediately, and we can remain friends even after we return to the capital."
Feng Ruilan looked more sorrowful. She shook her head and said, "Young master, you don't know this, but my family has arranged a marriage for me, and I will be getting married soon."
He feigned surprise and asked, "What kind of family are they?"
"The Minister's residence, the eldest son of the Wen family."
“The Wen family… well, Miss Feng, please forgive me for speaking out of turn, but the eldest son of the Wen family has lost two wives and has many concubines in his household. He is really not a good man.”
“How could I not know what Young Master Lu is saying?” Feng Ruilan sat at the table, propped her forehead with one hand, sighed, and said sadly, “It’s just that it’s an arranged marriage by my parents and the matchmaker, so what right do I have to say anything?”
Lu Jingyan felt deeply sympathetic: "Miss Feng..."
Feng Ruilan waved her hand and said, "Let's not talk about those sad things. Today I specially asked Cui'er to find a jar of good wine. Young Master Lu, please have a drink with me."
"I am not a good drinker... but since you have invited me, I will not refuse. I will gladly accompany you." He sat down next to her.
Upon seeing this, Feng Ruilan quickly stood up to pour him some wine, saying with a smile, "Don't worry, young master, this is just ordinary osmanthus wine, it won't easily make you drunk."
The wine was poured into a white porcelain cup, and a delicate aroma mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus wafted over. He couldn't help but lean in to take a sniff and exclaimed in delight, "What a fine wine!"
"I'm glad you like it, young master." She smiled, her eyes crinkling.
Lu Jingyan picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. The wine was slightly cool as it went down his throat, but it had a sweet aftertaste.
He quickly ordered a second cup.
As Feng Ruilan watched, the smile in her eyes grew increasingly meaningful.
One cup, two cups, three cups...
He hadn't touched the dishes on the table, but he had already drunk most of a pot of wine. His vision began to spin, and he stared at the woman opposite him, her face going from clear to blurry and then back to clear.
He stared blankly at the familiar face before him for a moment, then slowly reached out his hand, drew closer, and softly called out, "Ying'er..."
There was a time when, in the dead of night, he would always see that stunningly beautiful face.
Feng Ruilan tightened her grip on the handle of the wine pot, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and softly responded.
"Ying'er, is it really you?"
"Young master, you are drunk."
"I'm not drunk..."
"Young master, let me help you to bed to rest."
Later, Lu Jingyan suddenly pushed her down onto the bed, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her carefully and asked softly, "Ying'er, is this a dream?"
"Young master, this is not a dream."
"No, you're only this close to me in my dreams... Ying'er, it doesn't matter if it's a dream, as long as you're by my side..."
Feng Ruilan closed her eyes in pain.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com