Chapter 15 Extra 3: The Matchmaker (Part 2)
"Excuse me, I'll take my leave now."
Kong Pingsheng hurriedly stood up, deliberately looking away. His face was flushed red, and he fled as if in a panic, leaving behind a single sentence before turning and running away very quickly.
Rong Chifang also stood up, watching the other person's figure disappear hastily at the end of the corridor. She covered her lips with her fan and looked away with a half-smile.
The breeze in the corridor was gentle. She calmly sat down again, poured herself a cup of tea, and then slowly sipped it, unable to resist curving her lips into a smile once more.
...
Before dinner, Bai Hua made a point of seeking out her cousin to find out her wishes.
The two arrived at the dining hall first and went to the inner room together to whisper to each other. Xiao You was responsible for keeping watch outside. If anyone came to take their seats, she would cough at the door to remind them.
After Bai Hua sat down, she asked directly, "Cousin, what do you think? Do you still find Young Master Kong pleasing to the eye?"
Rong Chifang turned her gaze away, blushing slightly. She didn't answer directly, but only said, "He was quite flustered just now, and in the end he was almost scared away by me."
Bai Hua wanted to laugh, but she held it back: "A real man shouldn't be easily frightened. This little incident is nothing to him, but when Young Master Kong sees you again at the dinner table later, his expression will probably be even more vivid and interesting."
Rong Chifang reminded him, "Let's not make things too difficult for him at the dinner table. Young Master Kong is a very nice person, and he knows how to be polite."
Bai Hua raised an eyebrow, propped her chin on one hand, and stared at her cousin: "It seems that you have a good impression of Young Master Kong?"
Unable to bear the teasing, Rong Chifang visibly blushed even more. She whispered, "We only had tea together and exchanged a few casual words. We didn't talk much in depth."
Bai Hua followed up, saying, "In that case, let's have dinner slowly later. I'll ask my husband to pour a few more cups of wine for Young Master Kong. Once he's drunk and in high spirits, he won't be able to hide anything you want to ask."
Rong Chifang hesitated: "This, this might not be a good idea."
Bai Hua smiled and replied, "It seems a bit unfair. I'll have my husband prepare the finest wines and spirits from Duyuan Garden to entertain him as compensation for Young Master Kong. But then again, our plans today weren't meant to harm him, but rather to sincerely help him find a wife. My cousin is beautiful and intelligent, so charming. Young Master Kong should be grateful to us, not resent our momentary concealment."
Rong Chifang became even more uncomfortable after being praised. Clutching her embroidered handkerchief, she nervously asked, "Then, Hua'er, are you going to explain the true purpose of hosting Young Master Kong at the dinner table later?"
Bai Hua: "Does my cousin want me to ask directly? I'll listen to my cousin."
“I…” Rong Chifang pursed her lips, at a loss for what to do. She loosened her handkerchief, then placed her slender white fingers on the teacup, gripping it tightly. After a moment of looking down, she said, “I don’t know. I’ll listen to Hua’er.”
Bai Hua noticed her cousin's shifty eyes and blushing ears, and she roughly understood what was going on.
She readily agreed, saying, "Okay, leave it all to me. I'll handle it."
Rong Chifang turned her gaze away to drink her tea. After putting down the cup, she murmured, "Okay." Then she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Hua pretended not to see it and didn't point it out. She guessed that her cousin must have a very good impression of Kong Pingsheng, otherwise why would she lower her eyes and show such girlish shyness?
...
After a short while, Ning Jue and Kong Pingsheng appeared one after the other outside the dining hall.
Xiao You stood under the eaves, intently watching for the wind. When she saw the two figures entering from afar, she quickly coughed to remind them.
Hearing the noise, Bai Hua and Rong Chifang silently fell silent and left the inner room together.
When the four met in the restaurant, Bai Hua and Ning Jue acted naturally and casually, without any unusual reactions. After exchanging a slight smile, they went their separate ways and invited the guests to sit down.
However, the reactions of the people who met the other two pairs of eyes were much more interesting.
First, Rong Chifang met Kong Pingsheng's gaze. The two steps she took down the steps seemed particularly stiff. When she greeted him, she lowered her eyes. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was in a bad mood or tired.
Kong Pingsheng was momentarily surprised, seemingly not expecting that the banquet would be held with the women. It was reasonable for Miss Bai to be present, but the presence of this familiar-looking cousin beside him made him feel somewhat flattered.
He certainly didn't think he had the prestige to have two high-status female relatives as his companions when he was invited to a banquet.
Without figuring things out in his mind, Kong Pingsheng naturally wouldn't speak out easily.
Xiao You received a signal from Bai Hua and went down to instruct the waiting cooks outside to serve the food and wine first. Exquisite porcelain plates and dishes were served one after another, and the table was soon covered with delicacies and wine.
The current atmosphere definitely needs Bai Hua to liven things up.
She looked at Kong Pingsheng and said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Young Master Kong. Compared to when we were at the manor, you look a bit darker, but you seem more energetic. But you must have been given special attention at the Prince's mansion these past few months and have been working hard on the road."
Upon hearing this, Kong Pingsheng responded politely: "Thanks to Young Master Ning's introduction, my colleagues in the Prince's Mansion have treated me very well. Actually, I should have been the one to formally invite you and your wife to a banquet first, but I hadn't finished my work and hadn't found a free time. I just finished up my work the other day and hadn't even had a chance to invite you to a banquet. As a result, you brought it up first. Today, I'm here at Duyuan to have a banquet and ask for a drink. I feel really embarrassed and ashamed."
If someone else had said that, Bai Hua would have thought it was just empty words of flattery and politeness.
But Kong Pingsheng is a straightforward person, not one to play the game of social maneuvering. If he says so, it is the truth. If Ning Jue doesn't invite him, his invitation will be delivered to Ning Jue in a few days.
Bai Hua smiled and replied, "You have no relatives or friends in Beijing, so we should invite you to come more often. It just so happens that my cousin came to Beijing to visit me recently. She doesn't know many people here and is also bored every day. Today, a new face finally came to Duyuan Garden, which can help relieve her boredom."
Upon hearing this, Kong Pingsheng's gaze naturally fell on Rong Chifang.
I glanced at it, then quickly looked away.
He closed his eyes and said truthfully, "When I entered the manor just now, I was briefly seated in the veranda for a while. While waiting, I happened to run into Miss Biao coming from the back garden, and we exchanged glances."
Rong Chifang blinked, surprised that this topic was not brought up by her, but by Young Master Kong.
She knew that Hua'er had brought up the topic of her boredom, intending for Hua'er to bring up the topic of their chance encounter so that they could naturally continue chatting. However, to her surprise, Young Master Kong spoke up first quite frankly.
Rong Chifang knew she had to speak up.
She responded by saying, "Yes, it was quite a coincidence. We not only met, but we also had tea together. Although we didn't chat much, we did share two cups of tea, so we can be considered acquaintances."
Bai Hua feigned surprise, her gaze sweeping over the two of them, and said, "What a coincidence! Du Garden is so big, with so many forks in the road. It's truly fate that Young Master Kong has met my cousin on his first visit. In that case, it seems there's no need for me to introduce you two further."
Ning Jue took a sip of wine and glanced at Bai Hua without making a sound. Seeing that Bai Hua had a smile on her face without any trace of acting, and that she was becoming more and more like a matchmaker, he couldn't help but chuckle.
He coughed lightly, suppressing a laugh, and tried to appear as natural as possible.
He couldn't help in this situation, nor was he good at it, so he tried to say as little as possible, and just prepared to watch his wife's clever words bring them together.
Kong Pingsheng replied, "Yes, I know this is Miss Biao, Madam's cousin. It's a pleasure to meet you today."
After speaking, he nodded slightly in the direction of Rong Chifang.
Bai Hua glanced at her cousin discreetly, her gaze sweeping over her.
Rong Chifang noticed this, her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to reply, "It is also a pleasure to have met you, young master."
The banquet started off very well, even more naturally and harmoniously than Bai Hua had anticipated.
The most crucial point is that the atmosphere between the cousin and Mr. Kong was not awkward.
Today was the first day the two had met. Even though they had met once before, they were still strangers to each other. So Bai Hua initially tried her best to mediate between them. But in the process, she quickly realized that even without her help, the two could continue their conversation naturally and smoothly. Moreover, the awkwardness of meeting a stranger was becoming less and less.
Bai Hua gradually fell silent, subtly reducing her presence until a new topic of conversation at the dinner table, brought up by Kong Pingsheng, revolved entirely around her cousin. Bai Hua glanced at him and smiled meaningfully.
She felt confident that she was on track to play matchmaker, so she glanced at Ning Jue with a hint of pride, as if to say with her eyes: "See? When I do make a move, I can get things done."
Ning Jue smiled too. His gaze remained fixed on Bai Hua, taking in all her little movements and expressions. Of course, he knew what she was thinking with a touch of smugness at that moment.
He raised his glass in a very supportive gesture, toasting Bai Hua, his eyes conveying the same message: Impressive, fantastic, well done!
Regardless, Hua'er put her heart into this, and he should encourage her more.
On the other side, Kong Pingsheng and Rong Chifang were still eating and chatting.
"So you're from Jiling, young lady. I've heard that this place is famous for its swordsmanship and has many sword schools. I've passed through Jiling a few times, but I've only stopped there temporarily and haven't had the chance to explore the city properly."
“My family used to run a sword-fighting school, but now…” Rong Chifang paused slightly, then said, “Now we only do small businesses.”
Kong Pingsheng asked curiously, "What about the sword club? Why isn't it still open?"
He didn't mean to pry into the girl's privacy; it was just that the conversation happened to come up here. He also thought that since Young Master Ning's swordsmanship was exceptional, it would be quite suitable if he had a relative who opened a sword school. Perhaps the apprentices of the school could even benefit from it and receive some guidance from Young Master Ning. They would truly be lucky.
Kong Pingsheng's thinking was simplistic, and he didn't notice at all that Rong Chifang's expression became complicated after he finished speaking.
She paused for a moment, then found an excuse to reply, "My father is getting old and is not as strong as he used to be, so he simply changed the ownership of the sword club and found a better life."
Kong Pingsheng had no doubts: "I see."
Rong Chifang changed the subject: "Young Master comes from Yuncheng. Yuncheng and Jiling are in the south and north respectively, separated by a great ravine. The climates must be completely different. I once read a book called 'Records of Strange Mountains,' which said: 'A hundred li west of Yuncheng, there is a mountain called "Buqi Mountain." Climbing to the peak, one can see a sea of clouds, with rolling waves, and at the summit, one encounters a waterfall, a silver spring.' I remembered it vividly at the time and longed to visit it."
Kong Pingsheng was surprised to find that Miss Rong had heard of the extraordinary peaks of his hometown, and his eyes lit up with delight.
He immediately replied, “Miss, you are truly knowledgeable. Mount Buqi is a famous mountain in my hometown. I often go there with friends to enjoy the scenery and fish. If you would like to try climbing it in the future, I would be happy to be your local guide.”
Rong Chifang asked excitedly, "Really?"
Kong Pingsheng nodded: "It's a small matter."
After agreeing, Kong Pingsheng finally realized that he would be going to Xiangcheng to join the army in less than a year, and it was impossible to say when he would return to Yuncheng. He probably shouldn't have agreed so hastily, otherwise he would be breaking his promise if he couldn't come back...
A real man should keep his word.
Kong Pingsheng pondered for a while, hesitating to embellish his words, but when he looked up, he saw that the girl was also looking at him, her eyes exceptionally bright, with a hint of surprise and anticipation. So Kong Pingsheng couldn't bring himself to say what he wanted to say.
Of course, he also had some selfish motives, thinking that he could postpone the mountain climbing trip until he took a break and returned to his hometown, and then fulfill his promise.
But then he hesitated and thought, perhaps Miss Rong was just being polite and giving him face. If he took it seriously, wouldn't that be considered tactless?
Kong Pingsheng ate absentmindedly the whole time. In the end, he simply stopped eating and stared blankly into thought, completely unaware that Bai Hua's gaze had been fixed on him for quite some time.
When he finally came to his senses and unintentionally met Bai Hua's gaze, before Kong Pingsheng could react, he saw Bai Hua smile sweetly and then abruptly ask, "Young Master Kong, you are not engaged or have a woman you admire in your hometown, are you?"
Bai Hua had already asked Ning Jue to find out all this crucial information, but she was asking it at the dinner table knowing the answer already, because she felt the time was right and it was time to reveal the truth.
As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Pingsheng began to doubt whether he had heard correctly.
Bai Hua's words were clear and correct, but he looked somewhat uncomfortable and confused.
As for Rong Chifang, she almost simultaneously clenched her sleeves, her heart racing, and she became nervous.
Kong Pingsheng suppressed his confusion and answered truthfully, "No. I was focused on joining the army and didn't have time for romance."
Bai Hua looked at him and asked further, "Now that your enlistment is almost finalized, a heavy weight has finally been lifted from your heart. So, shouldn't you also consider matters of the heart? Since there's no girl in Yuncheng who has captured your heart, what about the chance to be with someone in the capital? Will you accept it or not?"
That's very straightforward.
Kong Pingsheng was still processing what Bai Hua was saying and trying to keep up with her train of thought. He was a little confused, but when he saw her raise an eyebrow and glance at Miss Rong with a meaningful look in her eyes, Kong Pingsheng's heart skipped a beat. Even if he was slow to understand, he had figured out the gist of it.
A connection in the capital...
Bai Hua meant that she wanted to introduce her cousin to him as a potential wife.
Kong Pingsheng was utterly flattered.
He hesitated for a moment, but no words came out. He didn't dare to look at Rong Chifang, and was too embarrassed to even glance at her.
At that moment, Ning Jue stood up, picked up another pot of wine from the side and placed it on the table. Then he patted Kong Pingsheng on the shoulder and said, "It's getting late. Let the ladies go back and rest first. We'll stay and drink slowly. There's no rush about what Madam just mentioned."
"……yes."
Kong Pingsheng nodded in agreement, his ears turning slightly red, his heart pounding.
He had indeed drunk a few glasses of wine, but he was naturally a heavy drinker and never showed it on his face. This inconspicuous blush spread unusually.
...
Bai Hua and Rong Chifang left the dining hall and walked all the way to the small garden corridor before stopping to talk.
After the servants withdrew, Rong Chifang lowered her voice impatiently and said, "I'm so anxious. My cousin's question made me feel like my heart was going to jump out of my chest."
Bai Hua chuckled: "Cousin, why are you panicking? Shouldn't it be Young Master Kong who's panicking? This is our territory, we have the upper hand. He's the one who was invited in. Just now, the three of us were staring at him at the table, and he seemed to be frightened. But the way he looked at you, cousin, was clearly warm. I think he might have feelings for you too."
The word "also" stirred up Rong Chifang's emotions, which she was trying to calm down, once again.
Her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes as she said, "After all, we didn't speak frankly or give a direct answer, so how can we be sure..."
Bai Hua, however, did not think so. In fact, she had a better understanding than Rong Chifang, the person involved, probably because an outsider has a clearer perspective.
"Don't worry, cousin. My husband and I are working together. Young Master Kong is drunk and will stay at Du Garden tonight. We'll have an answer by tomorrow."
Rong Chifang didn't say anything more, nodded, and agreed to follow Bai Hua's arrangements.
The two parted ways at the fork in the road, and Bai Hua led Xiao You back to the main courtyard.
Rong Chifang followed slowly, turning into the corridor and pacing back and forth. She couldn't help but worry... She wondered how much Young Master Kong could drink. He had drunk so much just now. Would he feel unwell?
He immediately shook his head, trying to banish the man's dark but undeniably handsome face from his mind.
She had to resist thinking about him.
...
It was almost midnight when Ning Jue finally settled Kong Pingsheng in, then went back to his room to rest, took a quick bath, and got into bed.
Bai Hua waited for him, not sleepy at all, wondering what they would talk about when they drank alone.
So as soon as Ning Jue returned, Bai Hua couldn't wait to ask, "So, what did he say to you? Is it what I thought?"
Ning Jue stood by the couch, drying himself with a cotton towel, and teased her with a smile, "What is Madam thinking?"
Bai Hua glared at him, knowing full well that she was anxious, yet he was still deliberately keeping her in suspense.
"What do you think? Of course, it's about whether he and his cousin can get together."
Bai Hua impatiently reached out and grabbed Ning Jue's sleeve, urging him to get into bed and explain in detail, leaving no stone unturned.
Ning Jue sat down on the edge of the couch following her pull, his palm naturally resting on Bai Hua's soft waist. Seeing her bright eyes looking at him, he really had no intention of chatting with her at that moment.
Bai Hua urged again, "Speak!"
Ning Jue leaned forward and pressed closer, unexpectedly pecking Bai Hua's lips lightly, his breath hot as he said, "Give me a kiss first."
Bai Hua blinked in surprise, then quickly realized what was happening and playfully slapped Ning Jue on the shoulder.
"We've already kissed, why are you still dawdling..."
"I mean, give me a kiss."
What a bargaining stunt! They got a good deal but are now acting innocent!
Bai Hua was indignant, but there was nothing she could do about it. After all, he was the only one who knew what she wanted to know, so she had no choice but to cooperate.
"Give me a kiss, and you have to say something."
"good."
Once the conditions were explained, Bai Hua moved aside and did as she was told.
She was feeling unwell, her belly was heavy, and she couldn't bend over, so she tilted her head back and leaned closer to him. She then reached out and wrapped her arms around Ning Jue's neck, using her strength to make him bend down so that she could kiss him more easily.
He just gave her a light peck, so she reciprocated with a quick touch, making it fair.
Bai Hua closed her eyes, leaned forward, and slowly pressed her lips to Ning Jue's thin lips. They were soft to the touch and carried an undeniable warmth.
She blinked, and after getting close enough, she wanted to pull away, but just as she was about to move, Ning Jue's hand on her lower back suddenly tightened, forcing her to stay put and unable to separate.
His intention was clear: he wanted to deepen the kiss.
"Hmm..."
Bai Hua frowned slightly, gently pushed Ning Jue's shoulder, and mumbled indistinctly from her throat.
She gave him a reproachful look, implying he hadn't kept his word, but Ning Jue returned the look with innocence, as if to say that his actions were reasonable and beyond reproach.
It's about a kiss, but who dictates the depth or how long it should last?
She came to negotiate with him, and he naturally set the rules.
Ning Jue supported her waist with one hand and lifted her chin with the other, then held her jaw and kissed her deeply but gently.
Under the continuous gentle onslaught, Bai Hua gradually lost the strength to resist, and her whole body slumped into Ning Jue's arms. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she couldn't care less about continuing to ask Kong Pingsheng for his reply.
Ning Jue laid her down on the couch, with her back to him in a side-lying position.
This posture... Bai Hua's heart skipped a beat.
Lying on her side was a cautious and habitual practice she and her husband adopted after she became pregnant, to prevent her abdomen from being bumped during intercourse.
So without saying much, Bai Hua immediately understood what he wanted.
Soon, she heard the rustling sound of clothes being undressed behind her, and then her clothes were stripped off one by one. A hot chest pressed against her from behind, and his burning breath echoed in her ear.
"Kong Pingsheng has feelings for my cousin. Arrange for the two of them to be alone tomorrow so he can confirm his feelings. Your efforts have not been in vain."
Bai Hua didn't move, but turned her head, her eyes filled with surprise and asked, "Really? What did he say?"
Ning Jue raised his hand to touch Bai Hua's fair nape. Without replying to her, he simply stroked her neck and said indifferently, "Hua'er is so concerned about other people's affairs, which is really cold to me."
"No way," Bai Hua denied immediately, then corrected herself, "How can my cousin be considered an outsider?"
Ning Jue said calmly, "Even if they are our own people, can they be closer to me? Why does Hua'er only think of others and not me?"
Bai Hua was too tired to crane her neck to turn around, so she simply lay down and said with a smile, "We see each other every day, we're inseparable, you tell me, how much more do you want me to miss you?"
Ning Jue remained silent, but moved his palm to Bai Hua's shoulder blade and gently pushed her to turn to the side again.
Before Bai Hua could react, Ning Jue had already moved closer from behind, whispered in her ear, and said in a deep voice, "That's what you think."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stared at the faint blush on Bai Hua's earlobe, his eyes deepening slightly. Then he reached down and deftly lifted the thin, gossamer-like skirt on her body, pressing his skin against hers. Once their bodies were pressed together, he held his breath and tensed his waist and abdomen, trying to squeeze into the crevice between them.
Bai Hua first pursed her lips, then gasped for breath, and said tremblingly, "I... I'm in my late pregnancy, I need to be careful..."
Ning Jue nodded, gently stroking Bai Hua's swollen belly, and said with restraint, "I've asked the doctor, and it's still okay to have sex for now, but we have to be careful in ten days. I won't touch you again after today until you feel better, as a precaution."
Ning Jue was naturally extremely concerned about Bai Hua's health and dared not take any risks.
Even though the physician had given him a clear deadline based on experience, he still cautiously broadened the scope to provide an extra layer of assurance.
Ning Jue spoke seriously, his expression unchanged, but Bai Hua blushed deeply, her cheeks involuntarily turning ochre.
Both of them gradually broke out in a sweat. The winding path was secluded and quiet, and they were now quite full. Bai Hua was pregnant and easily felt tired, and Ning Jue was also extra careful than usual. He wanted to indulge himself, but at the same time he had to be mindful of restraint. His brow furrowed and relaxed intermittently, but he hesitated to let loose.
Bai Hua's fingers clenched tightly around the folds of the bedsheet, her peripheral vision glancing at the gilded bronze beast-shaped pillar in the corner of the bed, its head hooked onto the soft, hibiscus-patterned gauze curtain, swaying back and forth incessantly...
Author's Note: First update. (There will be an extra update tonight.)
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