01 Rejecting a marriage proposal
In the depths of winter, amidst heavy snowfall, the usually bustling streets were eerily quiet, covered in a thick layer of white snow. From afar, a woman could be seen struggling against the wind and snow, holding an umbrella. The howling wind whipped past, making her shiver with cold, and she nearly stumbled several times.
It makes one wonder, why is such a thin and frail woman walking alone on the street in such cold weather? Is it for a living?
Not long after, the woman walked into the slums, pushed open the dilapidated door, put her umbrella aside, and came to a worn-out bed. She smiled and talked to the person on the bed while taking their pulse.
"Sister Zhang, how are you feeling today? Where's Xiao Hu?"
"Little sister, I feel so bad that you come to see me every day while you're pregnant. I feel much more energetic today. Xiao Hu and his dad went out. By the way, will your husband be back soon?"
"Yes, the scientific expedition is over, and they're probably on their way."
“Sister, it’s been three years. Seeing how hard you’ve worked, your older sister feels sorry for you. You were born into the Prime Minister’s family, pampered and enjoying all the riches and honors. But for your brother-in-law, you broke with the Prime Minister and lived in the slums, doing odd jobs every day to make a living. Is it really worth it?”
The question, "Have you ever regretted it?" made her ask herself, and memories of the past flooded back like a tide.
On February 18th, after the snow had cleared, Leng Qingli accompanied her mother to Ciyun Temple to offer incense. After offering incense, she and her maidservant went to the back mountain to enjoy the snow scenery, but they encountered a spoiled young man who made lewd remarks. She raised an eyebrow, slightly impatient, and prepared to use poison, but suddenly heard a frail scholar speak up for her:
"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, it is shameful and against all moral principles for a young master to bully a weak woman like this. You must apologize!"
"Oh, so who dares to meddle in my business? Turns out you're just a poor, pedantic scholar. You're asking for trouble, huh? Fine, I'll grant your wish! Beat him to death!"
At his command, six burly servants emerged one after another, beating and mocking the man as they went.
"You brat, you don't even know your own limitations before meddling in the young master's business. Even when you're playing the hero, you should think twice before acting like a fool! Hahaha!"
After a beating, the scholar collapsed to the ground, barely breathing, but he still wouldn't let go, repeatedly insisting that what he had done violated etiquette and that he must apologize.
Seeing the scholar, who was on his deathbed yet still lecturing, Leng Qingli felt curious for the first time and wanted to understand why the scholar had become so pedantic.
Leng Qingli waved her hand, scattering the sleeping potion into the air. Everyone collapsed to the ground. The scholar examined their injuries and, seeing they were no longer in mortal danger, relaxed. Using a stone to probe the way, she led the guards of the Prime Minister's residence to the backyard. With a casual wave of her hand, she scattered the antidote into the air, pretending to have just regained consciousness. She stood up unsteadily and asked, seemingly casually:
"What's wrong with me? I feel dizzy."
"Miss, I failed in my duty and caused you to be frightened."
"It's alright, there's nothing else to do anyway. Tie up those people over there and send them to the authorities in my name for severe punishment. Help Haitang up, and bring that scholar back to the Prime Minister's residence as well. Find a doctor and take good care of him. Now go back."
The group left Ciyun Temple one after another and returned to the Prime Minister's residence.
A few days later, the scholar's injuries improved, and he personally went to the main hall to thank the prime minister.
"I will always remember your life-saving grace, Prime Minister, and I will repay your great kindness in the future!"
“I learned from my daughter that it was a brave man who saved her. I should thank him. Here is three hundred taels of silver to repay his kindness.”
"Your Excellency is too kind! As the saying goes, 'Only those who act bravely and righteously are true men,' there is no need for thanks. I have been disturbing your residence for many days and am filled with trepidation. I bid you farewell now."
After speaking, Xiao Feng left the Prime Minister's residence without looking back. Leng Qingli saw everything and secretly admired him. She quietly followed the scholar and trailed him all the way to the famous slum alley in the capital. She watched him help the elderly with limited mobility and patiently teach the children to read and write.
In the following days, Leng Qingli came to the alley entrance every day to deliver food and supplies to the elderly people who had difficulty moving around, and also helped with some simple tasks. She gradually became familiar with Xiao Feng.
After several days, Leng Qingli concluded that Xiao Feng had been too deeply influenced by the etiquette of private school and followed all the principles in the book. Although this had created his current pedantic and rigid personality, he was a learned and open-minded gentleman who would surely stand out in the future.
Spending every day together, feelings secretly blossomed. If I could have such a husband, what more could I ask for? A letter to express my feelings:
Remembering the gentleman's righteous words, refusing thanks in front of the hall, his noble character is admirable. I admire his kind heart and lofty aspirations. I entrust this heart to the bright moon, waiting patiently for his good news. If he is also interested, on the second day of the third month at the Phoenix Pavilion, he will use the embroidered ball to propose marriage. Do not hesitate.
Time flies, and it is already the second day of the third lunar month. The Phoenix Pavilion is heavily guarded inside and out, and the area below the pavilion is crowded with people of all shapes and sizes, young and old.
Once the hour of Si (9-11 AM) had passed, the Prime Minister, with a booming voice, addressed the people below the arena:
"Today is the day my daughter throws her embroidered ball to choose a husband. Regardless of wealth or social status, as long as you are between eighteen and twenty-five years old, healthy, and unmarried, you may participate in the marriage selection. Whoever lands the embroidered ball will be married immediately in the inner hall."
Wearing a phoenix crown and a wedding dress, Leng Qingli walked lightly up to the embroidered tower, took the embroidered ball from the maid, and looked down, trying to find the person she longed for in the crowd.
She walked from left to right, then back again, back and forth, with urging voices constantly ringing in her ears. In the distance, she saw a figure rushing by, a radiant smile on her face, a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
Xiao Feng, you've finally arrived.
Before Xiao Feng could even regain his footing, Leng Qingli secretly channeled her inner strength and tossed the embroidered ball into the air. The ball flew towards Xiao Feng's arms in a high-altitude parabolic trajectory, unstoppable by anyone.
The embroidered ball had been caught, and the dust had settled. The Prime Minister was already waiting in the back hall. When he heard from the servants that the one who caught the embroidered ball was a poor, pedantic scholar, he was furious and refused to acknowledge his relatives.
Seeing his second daughter and Xiao Feng enter one after the other, the Prime Minister was taken aback for a moment when he looked at Xiao Feng, then smiled and said:
"Hero, we meet again! It's been so long, how have you been?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. I have fully recovered."
"That's good, brave man. Here are five hundred taels of silver as a small token of my appreciation. I'll use it to buy the embroidered ball you're carrying. Is that acceptable?"
"A true man should keep his word. What does Your Excellency mean by this? Is the marriage proposal by embroidered ball just a game? Can an embroidered ball really be bought with silver?"
"Think it's too little? Feel free to name your price, but remember your place and don't ask for an exorbitant amount, or you'll only humiliate yourself!"
"Haha! So the dignified Prime Minister is actually a snob, a vain and materialistic man. If you wanted to break off the engagement, you didn't need to humiliate me like this. As the saying goes, wealth cannot corrupt, poverty cannot sway, and power cannot subdue. I, Xiao Feng, may be poor, but my spirit is not broken. I would never covet a single penny. Today, I snatched the embroidered ball because we were mutually in love. Since you don't acknowledge it, I, Xiao Feng, will not stay here. I can only disappoint you. I hope you will take good care of yourself in the future! Farewell!"
"Wait!" A clear voice rang out in the hall, stopping Xiao Feng in his tracks and sealing his fate.
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