Chapter 14 "Please, Miss, don't send me away."...
The night was as dark as ink, and Yun Teng Pavilion was utterly quiet. Two maids, their expressions worried, lit lamps and pressed their ears against the door, listening intently for a moment. Xia Ling asked, "Miss, are you alright?"
There was no movement inside for a while. Xia Ling muttered a few words in annoyance, "What kind of guard is he? I think we should have kicked him out. We shouldn't have taken him in in the first place!"
The word "guard" was like a pebble thrown into the calm, still bedroom in front of me in an instant.
The window screen fluttered, and the candlelight seemed to flicker in the wind. A moment later, the door was suddenly pulled open, revealing Qian Yingyi's strangely expressiond face.
"Fetch more water, I want to take a bath!"
Xia Ling hurriedly stepped forward to persuade her, "Miss has already washed once, it's alright to wash again, but you must have dinner first. Tonight, Madam has had the kitchen prepare Miss's favorite dishes..."
"Let's put our meal aside for now and go get some water."
Xia Ling still tried to persuade her, but her hand holding the lamp was gently pulled away by another hand. She turned her head, and the lamplight revealed a look of confusion on her face.
Chuntang glanced sideways at Qian Yingyi, who was clearly distracted, her eyes lowered.
So Chuntang secretly gestured.
—Let's do as Miss says first. Look at Miss, can she eat now?
Xia Ling pursed her lips, her eyes darting towards Qian Yingyi, before finally going with Chun Tang to prepare water.
Qian Yingyi stood alone behind the door, the lingering annoyance in her heart still lingering. That guard! The first time he grabbed her wrist, the second time he pressed it against her face, and the third time he pulled her straight into his arms!
Even if what he said earlier was true, Xiao Daimao was also her bodyguard. There were times when she stumbled and fell while moving forward. When Xia Ling and Chun Tang couldn't keep up, it was Xiao Daimao who helped her.
Why don't we see the little hawksbill turtles like this?
Qian Yingyi kept a straight face and didn't say a word.
A young maidservant stole a glance at her and whispered to the maidservant beside her, "Miss is so angry."
In fact, Qian Yingyi had always treated her servants very well.
In spring, new clothes are made, and during major festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, they are given a few days off so that they can return home and reunite with their families.
Sometimes, when he was in the mood, he would play with them in the yard. If he was happy, he would reward them with things; if he was not happy, he would often just sit alone in his room.
Some officials' wives and daughters often beat and scold their servants, but Qian Yingyi seemed not to care much about such trivial matters.
Therefore, the maids liked her very much. Although they were servants and mistresses, whenever Qian Yingyi was unhappy, they would always try to cast a few concerned glances at her.
For example, at this moment, not knowing why Qian Yingyi went out happily in the afternoon and came back in a huff, the maids could only secretly glance at her, pretending to have something to do, and occasionally walk around in front of her.
Before long, Xia Ling and Chun Tang returned with hot water, presented the utensils, and quietly withdrew.
The smoke from the incense burner floated in the room, carrying a wisp of Lingling incense, which gradually spread to Qian Yingyi.
Qian Yingyi repeatedly crossed her arms and gently sniffed her arm, from her forearm to her fingertips, taking very detailed sniffs. It was as if she felt that there was still a trace of minty scent on her body that she didn't particularly like.
Mint is refreshing, cold, and even a bit pungent.
Qian Yingyi had an innate aversion to such smells. The more she sniffed, the more irritated she became. In a fit of anger, she took off her clothes and threw them against the screen.
Steam rose up and condensed on Qian Yingyi's disdainful, pouting face.
With her thin shoulders leaning against the edge of the wooden tub, Qian Yingyi's gaze repeatedly swept over that section of arm.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that this section no longer belonged to her. There was a strange sensation, as if something was being pierced through it, a burning, tingling feeling.
Her eyes flashed with annoyance, and she gritted her teeth inwardly, as if cursing, "Shameless scoundrel, don't let me see you again."
Unfortunately, fate did not favor her.
As the water cooled, Qian Yingyi could no longer smell the odor, and she gradually calmed down, realizing that she was hungry.
So she put on her nightgown, draped a sky-blue cloak over her shoulders, and opened the door with a creak. "Xia Ling..."
"What are you doing here!?" Before she could finish speaking, Qian Yingyi took half a step back and glared angrily at the young man three zhang away.
Qin Lizheng stood quietly in place, carrying a food box. Because he was wearing a black round-necked robe, he would have been almost overlooked if the Yun Teng Pavilion hadn't been lit up.
Xia Ling then swirled over from the other end and whispered, "Miss, he said... he came to apologize to you."
Perhaps to verify this statement, Qin Lizheng took two steps closer and placed the food box on a small, square bamboo table under the tree.
Qian Yingyi looked disgusted. "Take it away. I won't eat what you brought."
Qin Lizheng turned his head to the side, his voice as cold as ever, "Please don't be angry, Miss. I'm just trying to protect my master."
The implication was that everything was an accident, but Qian Yingyi was very dissatisfied with these words. She walked aggressively towards him, threw the food box back into his arms, and stubbornly said, "I said take it away!"
She glanced at him up and down a few times, then her lips began to touch again. "What did I tell you last time? If you behaved well, I wouldn't send you away. But you really have no sense of propriety. Oh, you said you were eager to protect your master, and I was grateful for your help. But why... why did you... Aren't you supposed to be agile? How could you not avoid such a small mistake?"
Yes, Qian Yingyi became more and more indignant as she spoke, as if she was unwilling to admit that it might really be as he said, just an accident, and that he was only trying to protect her and had no other intentions.
But comparing the two situations, she rushed back in a huff and puff, while he acted as if nothing had happened. What does that mean?
The guard's lukewarm explanation was like a net of "anger" covering her face, leaving her alone inside, head down, spinning in circles.
Her behavior seemed all the more ridiculous compared to his composure.
Therefore, she secretly and pettily attributed this "accident" to his mistake.
Qian Yingyi turned her face away from him, but out of the corner of her eye she saw him standing still, and said fiercely, "Aren't you leaving?"
Qin Lizheng sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that she was a bit spoiled. After listening to her string of words, he thought to himself that she seemed to be being difficult.
In fact, as early as when Xiao Daimao was wondering whether Xu Jun would drive him away, he had already begun to calculate in his mind.
He wanted to weave a vast net to wipe out all the corrupt officials in Nanjing.
As a young lady from a prominent family, she often interacted with other young ladies from other families.
There is no better place than to be by her side.
And so he took it as his fault. So when he realized she was a little annoyed, he went to the vicinity of the Red Temple again to find the old woman who sold rice cakes. He hurried along the way and finally stopped her just as she was about to close up shop.
Qin Lizheng looked at the girl with puffed-out cheeks standing to the side.
She had just taken a shower, and as she hurried over, a fresh scent of soap wafted into his nostrils. Her eyelashes curled slightly upwards, trembling gently, gathering a wisp of moisture, which suddenly added a touch of softness to her usually spoiled nature.
After a long silence, Qin Lizheng lowered his eyes slightly, opened the food box and placed the plate of perfectly warm rice cake in front of her. His tone softened and became more sincere. "I know that Miss will be happy to eat this. It was my fault for making Miss angry."
Qian Yingyi raised an eyebrow, surprised. "When did you buy it?"
"I was afraid the young lady would send me away, so I rode off on horseback just now."
He learned from her stubbornness and handed the rice cake to her, saying, "Please don't send me away, Miss."
The moonlight shone on the wall, and several more lamps were lit in the courtyard, making it even brighter. Qian Yingyi pursed her lips, perhaps recalling the pitiful state he had been in when she first picked him up, and her heart softened again.
After a long pause, she finally turned her face and sat down by the bamboo table, saying, "This is the last time."
Qin Lizheng smiled, "I'll listen to Miss."
The two maids, adept at judging situations, quickly stepped forward, pushed past the guards, surrounded Qian Yingyi, and served her her meal with smiles.
Hunger surged through her, and Qian Yingyi ate rather hastily. Having just bathed, she did not style her hair, but simply used a jade hairpin to lightly gather her long, silky black hair, with a few strands hanging down her shoulders.
Qin Lizheng peeked at her lowering her head to the small bowl, his gaze suddenly fixed on her delicate collarbone, where a plain beaded chain hung, with a glass incense bottle the size of a copper coin hanging from it.
The pale pink pearls, strung together by a corner string on the body of the instrument, look slightly old, with the pearls scattered sparsely and not very aesthetically pleasing.
She has always loved neatness and order, so how could she tolerate having such a string of things hanging around her neck?
Perhaps his gaze was too direct, because Qian Yingyi noticed something amiss. She looked up suspiciously, only to see him obediently turning to the side.
She pursed her lips, a hint of unease in her voice: "Go outside, I'm not angry anymore."
Qin Lizheng nodded, said nothing more, and turned away.
She had put aside her little temper, and he had also decided to stop while things were going well. As for the accident that was "thrilling" for both of them, they could only put it aside for the time being in some secret corner.
The water clock dripped water for two or three nights, and on this day, when the orioles were singing and the willows were green, the quiet Qian family welcomed Qian Qiyu home again.
Qian Qiyu was used to going alone, at most taking a servant with him to the prefectural school to take care of his daily life, but he always walked around very ostentatiously, as if he wanted everyone to know that he had returned.
That day, he still rushed to look for Qian Yingyi first, searching the whole garden for her but not finding her. Finally, he found her at Xu Jun's place.
As soon as he entered, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold-embossed invitation with a grin. "Sister! Look what this is!"
Qian Yingyi was sitting cross-legged on the couch with Xu Jun, who was teaching her how to make some simple knots.
Hearing the sound, she went to look from a distance and laughed, "You're so far away, and I'm not a god, bring it to me."
When it was handed to her and she saw the words on it, she couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.
It was none other than an invitation to the spring banquet sent by Yan Wenying.
Qian Qiyu excitedly squeezed to sit on the edge of the couch, tilting his head to look at Qian Yingyi, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Sister, shall we go or not?"
Qian Yingyi coughed twice and gave him a wink.
The boy suddenly realized what he was doing, slapped his forehead, and laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, the schoolwork at the prefectural school is so heavy that I forgot my grandfather's instructions. I just ran into the servant who was delivering the invitation at the gate, and thinking that I could go out and have fun with my sister, I just took the invitation on a whim."
"Should we return this post?" he asked hesitantly.
Xu Jun, quick-witted, glanced at the two children back and forth, then slipped off the bed, took two segments of papaya and handed them to each of them, then smiled and said, "Since you've accepted the invitation, go ahead."
Qian Qiyu said, "But Grandpa told us to have less contact with them."
"That's all you remember," Xu Jun said, leaning on a desk and scolding him, "Do you also remember that your grandfather said that it's not a big deal to attend ordinary banquets and small gatherings?"
“Go ahead,” she said after a moment’s thought. “If we interact normally, no one will find fault with us. If we avoid contact with them, it will make our family seem cold and unfriendly.”
So the next morning, Qian Qiyu, dressed in a light blue straight robe and a black headscarf, waited for Qian Yingyi in the garden, looking neat and tidy.
The two siblings stepped out the door amidst the lush spring colors.
By this time of year, the weather was getting warmer, and the streets were bustling with shouts and noise. Often, spirited young men would ride their horses through the long streets, while young ladies would sit in their elegant carriages, all of them having arranged to go on a spring outing.
They arrived at the Lin family's gate and saw servants waiting there from afar.
A moment later, two clever maids came out from inside and led Qian Yingyi and Qian Qiyu into the room.
Qin Lizheng followed Qian Yingyi at a distance, subtly surveying the Lin family's estate. The garden was filled with rare plants, and the green tiles, red eaves, carved beams, and embroidered doors made it quite impressive.
After searching for a moment, he turned his gaze back to the figure in front of him.
According to Chu Zhiyan's confession, the spring banquets of these wealthy families in Jinling were always held in early April, but Yan Wenying's invitation arrived at this time...
He recalled the "accident" on the banks of the Qinhuai River, when Yan Ruheng's gaze had fallen upon him.
This "accident" actually made the Yan family restless? They couldn't wait to hold a spring banquet ahead of schedule to get closer to her?
The maid Wen Shun, who was leading the way, said to Qian Yingyi, "Miss Yan and Miss Wen have arrived. The young mistress was just thinking about you."
Qian Yingyi gave a polite smile but didn't reply.
After walking along the corridor for a while and passing through two small gardens, we finally arrived at the Lin family's large garden.
Upon closer inspection, Yan Wenying had already arranged a banquet and invited a theatrical troupe to set up a stage, making the place lively inside and out.
Yan Qiuyan and Wen Ninglan sat in the four-cornered pavilion, as did Guo Yue, who didn't get along with Qian Yingyi, and some other young ladies who were acquaintances but not very familiar with each other.
The young masters were seated at the other end, with the men's and women's tables separated by a row of large screens, and maids and servants on each side taking turns to serve them.
Yan Wenying was talking with a young lady when she caught sight of Qian Yingyi. A big smile immediately bloomed on her beautiful face. She hurried over to Qian Yingyi with her maid, took her hand and shook it, saying, "Good sister, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you."
After saying this, he gently pulled Qian Yingyi to sit in the four-cornered pavilion, and asked two maids to serve her some exquisitely crafted pastries. He said, "Please don't mind, have some first. Once everyone has arrived, we'll drink and make merry, and have a good time!"
She glanced to the side again, and casually urged the maid, "Go to my husband's study and find the young master. Ask him why he hasn't come over yet?"
“They’re all young kids, how can he stay in the study?”
Qian Yingyi assumed she was being polite and smiled obediently at her, while secretly winking at Yan Qiuyan and Wen Ninglan.
Yan Qiuyan hadn't seen her for a while and missed her terribly, so she quickly went over and pinched her cheek, saying, "You look a little plumper."
"Not only have you gained some weight, but your complexion has also become much rosier," Wen Ninglan said with a smile.
"Really?" Qian Yingyi rested her cheek on her hand and squeezed it up, laughing, "It's my fault for being greedy."
As she spoke, she caught sight of Guo Yue. Considering that the two of them were sitting at the same table, Qian Yingyi curtsied to her, "Yueyue."
Guo Yue had never had a proper relationship with her and loved to argue with her, but this time she smiled at her for the first time, saying, "Oh, you look so bright today, it's really a sight to behold."
For some reason, Qian Yingyi felt that there was a hint of malice hidden in her smile, so she grabbed Wen Ninglan and asked in a low voice, "Lanlan, tell me, is Wu Niansheng coming today?"
Guo Yue smiled like that last time, and Wu Niansheng chased after her.
Wen Ninglan frowned and thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Sister Yan probably didn't invite him."
Qian Yingyi suddenly let out a long sigh of relief and looked towards the distance, searching for the shadow of the guard.
She had originally planned to bring Little Tortoiseshell with her today, but when she was about to leave, she remembered this reason and was afraid that Wu Niansheng would haunt her like a ghost, so she brought him along instead.
With him around, she probably doesn't need to be afraid.
In the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, a person came from under the moon gate. He was tall and straight, with his clothes fluttering. Who else could it be but Yan Ruheng?
He always had a smile on his lips. When he got closer, he first went to the men's section to greet them, and then turned to the women's section to politely bow to the ladies.
When his gaze lingered on Qian Yingyi, he paused for a moment, then smiled even more broadly, "Miss Qian, my sister has prepared riddles and pitch-pot for you today, so you don't need to be shy."
Qian Yingyi glanced around and noticed that he wasn't greeting anyone else, but was specifically targeting her to talk to. Belatedly realizing something was amiss, she cautiously pursed her lips, intending to decline, "I don't..."
"Third brother, today is so lively! Since there's a guessing game, how could I be left out?" Suddenly, a boastful voice came from below the door.
The next moment, two figures entered one after the other. The boy in front looked to be eighteen or nineteen years old, with a black headscarf tied around his head and wearing a light blue round-necked robe with grape patterns. He had fair skin, regular features, and a tall stature, but his expression was arrogant. He walked along without glancing at anyone else, clearly showing that he didn't take anyone seriously.
The one behind him was Wu Niansheng, who also looked very energetic, but compared to the young man in front, he was somewhat overshadowed.
Yan Ruheng frowned inwardly.
The garden fell silent for a moment, and then Guo Yue shyly rose and bowed respectfully to the young man, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Qian Yingyi stared intently at the two figures, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Qian Qiyu seemed a little restless, so she quickly gave him a wink.
The weather was fine and sunny, and the garden was full of spring colors. The young man looked down on everything and soon walked to the four-cornered pavilion.
He scanned the people in the pavilion one by one, his gaze lingering on Guo Yue for a moment before turning his attention to Qian Yingyi.
Under the dazzling spring sunshine, the boy laughed with a hint of arrogance, appearing even more eccentric. "Qian Jiayingyi, it's been a long time."
A note from the author:
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Okay, actually, both of them are pretty stubborn...
One who is unwilling to admit that there might be something different in their heart
He was deceiving himself and still lurking by her side...
Oh my god, hahahahahahaha
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