Chapter 357: Marquis Mansion Madam vs. Younger Prince 100
Kong Liang stood there in a daze, as stiff as a log from head to toe. He suspected that he had heard it wrongly, and also suspected that Miss Zhao did not understand what love was at all. Perhaps the love that Miss Zhao mentioned was just the love for a friend.
Miss Zhao is innocent and naive. She has been pampered since childhood. There are so many young talents around her. Even the Queen wants the Third Prince to marry Miss Zhao. With such a family background, talent and appearance, she is even worthy of being a prince's consort. How could she possibly look down on him?
Kong Liang took a deep breath and walked forward with stiff steps. He subconsciously retracted his fingers and even dared not to hold the horse for Miss Zhao again.
Zhao Baozhen waited for a long time but didn't hear any response. Kong Liang was even trying to pull back. She grabbed Kong Liang's hand and said unhappily, "Didn't you hear me? Let me say it again. I like you. What do you mean by not saying anything?"
Kong Liang felt like he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. His legs were no longer under his control. He didn't dare to use too much force for fear of hurting Zhao Baozhen. He could only stretch out his hands awkwardly and stay away from Zhao Baozhen.
"Minister Zhao has been very kind to me, so I naturally respect you. I will do my best to protect you. I treat you as... my sister, and I dare not offend you."
As soon as Zhao Baozhen heard this, she felt that there was hope. Her mother once said that apart from biological siblings, there would not be so many brothers and sisters who were as calm as water!
She had chased the Third Prince, although she did not catch up with him, but she was the only one in the capital. Looking across the entire capital, there was no one she dared not chase.
Zhao Baozhen tugged at Kong Liang's hand, "Come closer. How can you protect me if you're so far away? If there's an assassin right now, you won't have time to react."
Kong Liang really came over. He twisted his wrist and whispered, "Girl, let me go. I can't move freely if you hold me like this."
Zhao Baozhen chuckled like a bully teasing a decent man or woman, "I won't let you go! If I let you go, you'll run away. If I don't make things clear today, don't even think about leaving!"
Kong Liang sighed helplessly, "Miss Zhao, please stop making trouble. I am of humble origin and I am really not worthy of you."
Zhao Baozhen disagreed and said with a smile: "How are we not a good match? You are well-educated, I am not; you are calm, I am lively; you are smart, you are the top scholar at a young age, I know my brain is not very good, but I will not hold you back."
"You are a modest gentleman, handsome and elegant, and I am also a beautiful girl from a small family, as pretty as a flower. Or do you think I am not good-looking and despise me?"
Kong Liang heard the compliments, but he still felt a secret inferiority complex in his heart. He sighed and said, "Miss Zhao is sincere and straightforward. She is the best woman in the world. I am poor and I really can't bear to delay her."
Zhao Baozhen had never thought about money. Her mother said that when she got married, she would be given a large dowry, which would be enough to provide her with food and clothing for the rest of her life.
"So that's what you're worried about. Don't worry, I don't need you to support me. It doesn't matter if you don't have money. I have money. Aren't we a perfect match made in heaven?"
Kong Liang didn't know how to refute for a moment. Others looked down on him because of his poor family, but Miss Zhao didn't care at all.
But he always felt something was wrong. He struggled for a while and said to himself, "If I let my wife support the family, then what kind of person would I be?"
Zhao Baozhen heard this and immediately said, "What's the big deal? Just think of it as me lending it to you. At most, you can pay me back when you make money. We are all family now. As long as you treat me well with all your heart, these are all trivial matters."
"Aliang, you actually think so far ahead. I'll take it as your agreement. You like me too, right?"
Kong Liang blushed and muttered quietly, "I haven't! I haven't thought about it yet."
Zhao Baozhen let go of Kong Liang, covered her heart with her hands, and put on a sad look, "Aliang, you don't like me? What's wrong with me? Tell me, and I'll change~"
Kong Liang's mind was in a mess. He finally understood Minister Zhao's worries. Miss Zhao was indeed eccentric and often said shocking things. He really couldn't handle it.
"I don't dislike you. You're good in every way. It's just... it happened too suddenly. We need to think about this matter carefully. I..."
Zhao Baozhen clapped her hands excitedly, "Don't say any more, I understand everything! We love each other, but I don't know if Dad will agree. Don't be anxious, and don't let the news out. When I go back, just pester Dad for a few more days, and Dad will definitely agree."
The horse snorted, annoyed that its owner was too noisy. Kong Liang touched the horse's head and fed it a piece of brown sugar to calm it down.
Miss Zhao was in high spirits and couldn't hear anything being said.
Minister Zhao once intended to marry into the Kong family, but Miss Zhao probably doesn't know about this yet. If Minister Zhao agrees, the marriage will be a done deal.
It's not that he doesn't want to marry Miss Zhao, but he is afraid that Miss Zhao will regret it after marrying him. Miss Zhao is young and unstable. She may say she likes him today, but forget it tomorrow.
Kong Liang walked forward holding the reins, and said worriedly: "I'm not in a hurry, girl, you should think about it more."
Zhao Baozhen liked Kong Liang's serious look, and she was even happier teasing him, "Okay, okay, you're not in a hurry, but I am. I'm in a hurry to marry you."
Kong Liang frowned tightly, "Girls shouldn't keep saying these things. It's not good if others hear them."
Zhao Baozhen pulled Kong Liang's clothes and said with a smile: "Come up and ride with me, and I won't say anything."
The two rode together for a while and vaguely heard the laughter of women ahead. Before they saw anyone, Kong Liang jumped off his horse and stayed away from Zhao Baozhen in a serious manner.
After reuniting with the others, Kong Liang breathed a long sigh of relief and almost fled.
The group returned to the camp, and Mulan's poetry reading continued.
Zhao Baozhen was in high spirits as she sat next to Madam Zhao, giggling from time to time. She couldn't bear to eat the two wild geese, so she ordered her servants to take good care of them.
Everyone sat in a circle with a pile of wood in the middle, and when night fell, a bonfire would be lit.
In front of Ji Yunhuan was a small table. Next to it was a grill bubbling with oil, grilling the prey that Zhao Baozhen and others had brought back, and the aroma filled the air.
The servants from Mulan Paddock came over on horseback. They were all wearing the same clothes and had a palm-sized badge on their chests with their names and positions written on them.
The leader was a small steward who ordered the servants to work together to lift a wild boar down. The wild boar had a coat of hard and rough black hair, and the fangs in its mouth shone with a cold light.
The steward struck the gong and drum vigorously and said loudly, "This is the largest prey of the day, weighing more than 200 kilograms. Ladies and young ladies, don't be afraid. The wild boar is already dead, and it was specially sent here for Madam Ji and the eldest lady to taste."
Madam Ji's eyes widened in surprise. "What we sent before were all pheasants and rabbits. The master actually has this ability?"
The steward smiled upon hearing this, bowed to Madam Ji, and said loudly: "This was sent by the Third Prince. It is a token of his filial piety to Madam Ji."
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