Wang Haiqing's attitude terrified Cuixi. One day, when Wang Haiqing got drunk, she heard him whispering his name and panicked completely. She never expected that Wang Haiqing's heart was set on Shi Lan.
After that, Cui Xi changed. She began to imitate Shi Lan's walking, sitting posture, expression, and tone of voice, hoping to regain Wang Haiqing's attention through this. She also paid attention to her own life, knowing that when a man is unreliable, only by relying on her child can she find another way out in this deep mansion.
It has to be said that Cui Xi is indeed ruthless. She is ruthless to others and equally ruthless to herself. By imitating Shi Lan day and night, she actually succeeded a few times. However, to her disappointment, her period still came on time, which made Cui Xi very anxious. But what made her most anxious was the busy work of Huang Shi, the head of the Wang family. Huang Shi began to prepare to find a wife for Wang Haiqing.
As the days passed, Shi Lan continued her cultivation techniques while also keeping an eye on the Wang residence. When she heard from the messenger that Wang Haiqing hadn't entered Cui Xi's room for seven or eight days, she knew that Wang Haiqing's novelty towards Cui Xi had worn off, and it was time for her to make her move.
Just then, Shi Mu brought her some news that stunned her.
The most outstanding son of the Lin family in the same city, who was serving as an official in the imperial court, wanted to marry Shi Lan. To show his sincerity, the man named Lin Changqing even made a special trip back from the capital.
Shi's mother was overjoyed and kept saying that Qianfo Temple was effective. She said she would take the birth dates to Qianfo Temple to have the two of them matched. Watching Shi's mother come over like a gust of wind and then leave like a gust of wind, Shi Lan rubbed her forehead with a headache, but she knew that she could not stop this matter.
Left with no other option, Shi Lan had to ask to see Lin Changqing one last time as a last-ditch effort.
Shi Lan's mother readily agreed to Shi Lan's request. Shi Lan's father had met Lin Changqing once, and according to him, the young man from the Lin family was no less handsome than Shi Lan and had the talent to surpass all other scholars. Shi Lan had reservations about her father's opinion. There are many people who can know a person's face but not their heart. What can you tell from just one meeting?
Of course, she would never admit that it was because she was envious that her words were sour.
Two days later, Lin Changqing arrived as promised. Shi Lei led him to the garden and gestured for him to go to the pavilion, where Shi Lan was already waiting.
Lin Changqing looked up at Shi Lan, who was sitting upright in the pavilion. His usually cold and indifferent eyes suddenly softened with a hint of a smile. He walked step by step up the stone steps on the artificial hill to stand in front of her.
"My name is Lin Changqing, and I have met Miss Shi."
Lin Changqing raised his hand in a salute, his voice carrying a hint of coldness, as if touched by the chill of the first rain.
Shi Lan frowned slightly, feeling that the voice sounded very familiar, and unconsciously tilted her ear to listen more carefully.
"May I have a seat?"
Lin Changqing noticed her small gesture, and smiled as he spoke.
Shi Lan then realized her rudeness and quickly raised her hand, saying, "Please sit down. Young Master Lin's voice is so unique that I was mesmerized."
Lin Changqing chuckled softly, as if sighing and teasing, and said, "It is my honor to receive such praise from you, Miss."
Shi Lan turned her head towards Lin Changqing. Although she couldn't see his expression, her senses were sharp, and she knew that he not only had no ill intentions towards her, but even had great affection for her. This really surprised her, and she had no idea where this affection came from.
Composing herself, Shi Lan adopted an elegant and charming demeanor for negotiation, and solemnly declared that she was a jealous woman who could not accept having multiple wives and concubines. She explained that she was blind and unable to serve her husband, and that she was completely ignorant of needlework, music, calligraphy, and painting. Furthermore, she was unable to produce offspring. She asked him to think carefully and not to regret it later.
Lin Changqing listened quietly, a smile never fading from his lips. When Shi Lan stopped to drink tea because she was thirsty, he calmly said that he had countless servants at home and did not need her to do anything. He was not fond of women and one wife was enough. As for offspring, he did not need them.
Lin Changqing's answer seemed unbelievable to others, but for some reason Shi Lan believed he could do it.
Having talked this far, Shi Lan knew that she had no choice but to marry him, whether she wanted to or not, and could only helplessly accept this fact.
Three days later, the news of the marriage alliance between the Lin and Shi families spread like wildfire throughout Fengcheng. When Wang Haiqing heard the news, he was stunned. He did not expect Shi Lan to get engaged so quickly.
Perhaps it was true that the old saying goes, "What you can't have is always the best." From that day on, Wang Haiqing became depressed, spending his days drinking. When he got drunk, he would just find a place to slump down and mutter to himself, not knowing what he was saying.
Seeing Wang Haiqing like this, Cuixi was both frightened and excited. She had served Shilan since childhood and knew very well the outdated ideas of this ancient man. The reason Shilan was determined to break off the engagement was mostly because she was indignant that Wang Haiqing had openly extended his reach to his fiancée's family. In her heart, she didn't really mind that he had taken a concubine. She was afraid that Wang Haiqing would realize this and take his anger out on her. However, on second thought, since Shilan was going to marry someone else, Wang Haiqing had completely lost hope. Then he would no longer care about Shilan and would be indifferent to her.
Cui Xi was also caught up in the situation and couldn't see the truth. If Shi Lan knew this idea, she would definitely laugh at her. Isn't this a perfect description of a cinnabar mole and a mosquito's blood?
Before she knew it, the Dragon Boat Festival had passed. Shi Lan lazily nestled on the chaise lounge, while Shi Lei excitedly read her a letter written by Lin Changqing.
Lin Changqing's handwriting was as strong and upright as a blade, but the words he wrote were surprisingly gentle. In addition to reporting what he had been doing all day, he also reminded Shi Lan to take precautions against heatstroke in the hot weather, advised her not to overthink things to avoid getting a headache, and told her to leave any problems to him.
After reading the letter, Shi Lei rushed to the bedside, looked at the face that looked almost exactly like his own, and said, "Sister, Lin Changqing is a really nice person."
Shi Lan raised her hand and flicked it, hitting Shi Lei squarely on the forehead. "So you know now."
Shi Lei cried out in pain, rubbing the red mark on his forehead, and childishly argued, "I knew it! I was peeking from behind when you two met, and that Lin Changqing was watching you and smiling the whole time."
Shi Lan was stunned and didn't come to her senses for a long time. It turned out that he had been smiling the whole time while she was saying harsh words.
In the days that followed, Shi Lan spent her time listening to the banter between Shi Xin and Shi Lei. Before she knew it, it was the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Qixi Festival, a custom in Fengcheng. On this day, several close female friends would go together to worship the Weaver Girl under the moon, eat Qiqiao fruit, and compete in needlework.
Shi Lan had received Lin Yao's invitation two days earlier, and that evening, Shi Lan, accompanied by her maids and servants, boarded a carriage and headed there.
The carriage swayed and wobbled forward when suddenly the horse neighed loudly. Just as Bi was about to ask what was going on through the curtain, she heard a man's voice outside.
"Ah Lan, can I speak with you alone for a few minutes?"
Shi Lan raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised. Why had Wang Haiqing's voice become so hoarse after not seeing him for several months?
"Ah Lan, I... I meant no harm, I just wanted to see you," Wang Haiqing said, feeling increasingly bitter as there was no movement inside the car.
Shi Lan remained silent for a moment, then gestured for Wan Bi to help her out of the car. "Young Master Wang, you can speak now."
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