Chapter 5, Chapter 5, was poked by her like an itch.
After buying sweet potatoes on the banks of the Qinhuai River, Qin Lizheng went to Shangyuan to buy rice balls. He was delayed for a while when he bought sweet syrup from the old lady at Hongmiao.
There were many worshippers around the Red Temple. After asking two or three people along the way, I learned that the old woman that Qian Yingyi mentioned was in a corner of the main street next to the temple.
The old woman sells sweet syrup for three coins, and worshippers often buy a bowl from her when they are tired from their journey.
As a result, a long queue formed in front of the small stall, and most of the sweet-toothed people were women. A man like Qin Lizheng, with his tall stature and aloof expression, stood out in the crowd.
While waiting, a woman, out of curiosity, kept glancing back, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Oh my, does the young master like this sweet syrup?"
Although Qin Lizheng was aloof, he was not an impolite person, so he nodded slightly in response.
Unexpectedly, this response attracted several other women who eagerly gathered around him, their eyes sweeping over his broad shoulders and strong arms, then lingering on his sharply defined jawline for a few moments before asking him a series of trivial questions.
As the conversation drifted to certain questions, Qin Lizheng took a deep breath and replied, "I'm not married, and I don't want to. I don't like drinking it; I'm buying it for you, Miss."
When the young lady was mentioned, the women seemed to only then notice that he was wearing the clothes of a wealthy family's bodyguard.
Feeling resentful, she exchanged a few words, then turned and left.
After buying the sweet syrup, Qin Lizheng noticed that the stall next to the old woman was selling rice cakes, which weren't exactly delicate foods.
He lowered his head and stared, suddenly recalling that when he was at the Yan family's house, the young lady of the Yan family had once pushed a plate of rice cakes to Qian Yingyi.
Having served her for the past few days, Qin Lizheng has come to understand that she is different at home than outside; she is a loud and boisterous person and is somewhat particular about what she eats.
She ate several pieces of rice cake today, so she must really like them?
"Hey, young master, are you going to buy it or not? If not, don't block the way..." Someone behind him saw him standing still and secretly observed his figure, so he urged him in a low voice.
Qin Lizheng remained silent, glanced back at the person, and left with a bowl of sweet syrup in his hand.
It was late afternoon when Qin Lizheng finally entered the mansion through the side gate, walked through the corridors, and found Qian Yingyi's Yunteng Pavilion.
He bumped into Chuntang, who was hurrying out with her cloak. Upon seeing him, she quickly pointed to the courtyard and gestured, indicating that her mistress was not there.
Fortunately, the gestures were simple, and Qin Lizheng guessed correctly. Carrying the food in his hand, he followed Chuntang and headed towards the Qian family's large garden.
Although it's warmer during the day at this time of year, it's still chilly in the mornings and evenings, and it gets dark quickly. By the time you walk into the garden, the pale moon is already high in the sky.
Qin Lizheng's gaze searched for Qian Yingyi's figure, and he spotted her among several clusters of daffodils beside the flowerbed.
When she went out in the morning, she had changed her clothes again. She wore a light blue short jacket with a stand-up collar, and a light pink skirt with a jade rabbit pattern tied around her waist. She also took off the golden cicada hairpin from her head and replaced it with two flower hairpins.
She now lay quietly by the stone table, as if she hadn't been the one who had angrily ordered him around earlier.
Qin Lizheng approached her and placed all the food on the stone table. He looked at her without speaking, his voice husky, "Miss, I've bought it."
But she only lifted her two eyelashes to take a look, then changed her posture, propped her cheeks up with her hands, and said, "Oh, just leave it there, it's fine."
Qin Lizheng did not move.
The maid Xia Ling was very good at reading people's expressions and knew Qian Yingyi's little trouble at the moment. She immediately said in a pretty voice, "If Miss says you're leaving, then you should leave!"
Coincidentally, Little Tortoise returned home from the other side. It was clear that he had received a task from Qian Yingyi in the afternoon. He hurriedly crossed the garden, took out a piece of paper from his pocket, and handed it to Qian Yingyi.
Seeing that Qin Lizheng happened to be there, Xiao Daimao took the opportunity to pull him to stand under the corridor as well.
Qin Lizheng gazed at Qian Yingyi, who suddenly changed her demeanor, beaming with delight as she had Xia Ling bring over a yellow gauze lantern. Her bright eyes darted across the paper, and as if possessed, she abruptly turned to the little tortoiseshell and asked:
"What did she ask you to do?"
Little Tortoiseshell blinked, smiled mysteriously, tilted her head and leaned closer to him, whispering, "She asked me to inquire about the young master of Lord Yan's family. This afternoon, I heard from Xia Ling that Miss seemed somewhat interested. What about you? I haven't seen you for half a day. Did Miss also send you to inquire?"
Qin Lizheng turned his head away again, without answering Xiao Daimao's question.
“He was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age, passed the imperial examination at eighteen, and is now only twenty-three…” Qian Yingyi read aloud, glancing at the two maids with a smile, “Heavens above! It’s so unfair. It’s one thing to be talented, but to give him such a face!”
Having read it, Qian Yingyi held the paper and lowered her eyes, sitting back down on the stone stool. She pondered over and over, but there was only one thing on her mind—although she was not as talented as the recluse of Youqi, she still had her own scholarly air. When Sister Yan left today, she said that she would host a spring banquet in the spring, and she would see that face again then, and she would definitely have to exchange a few words with him.
But she has been writing storybooks with great skill in recent years, and she is afraid that when she talks to Yan Ruheng, they will go from talking about romance to talking about heartbreak and mutilation.
After thinking it over, Qian Yingyi carefully scanned the paper again, and after a long while, she sighed.
The crescent moon cast some light into the garden. Seeing that it was still late, Xia Ling couldn't help but urge them, "Miss, no matter what kind of deity he's dressed as, he's still just a living, breathing person. He's a person, and you're a person too. You haven't had dinner yet, why don't you have something first..."
After saying that, he glanced at the food on the stone table and pushed the still-warm sweet potato forward.
Chuntang did the same, taking the cloak draped over her arm and putting it on Qian Yingyi's shoulders. She gestured a couple of times and joined in the persuasion.
Who knew that Qian Yingyi was just like that? If something or someone could attract her, she wouldn't mind skipping a meal.
The two maids exchanged glances and smiled helplessly. Xia Ling collected the food and went to heat it up in the small kitchen, while Chun Tang stepped aside to wait.
Seeing the food being taken away, the little hawksbill turtle began to ponder to itself.
It wasn't that the young lady hadn't shown interest in handsome men before; he had been by her side since he was fourteen, so he was well aware of these things...
However, when he went to inquire in the afternoon, he did not see Yan Sanlang. Therefore, he became curious, stole a glance at Chuntang, his ears turned red, and slowly moved closer.
As they drew closer, the little tortoiseshell gently tugged at Chuntang's sleeve, pulling her two steps back, and gestured with its hand:
Just how handsome is Young Master Yan? That he could make Miss so distraught, unable to eat or sleep!
Unfortunately, Chuntang did not go to the Yan family. Xialing had told her about it when she returned home, but sometimes, as girls, they had some unspoken secrets. Therefore, Chuntang was unwilling to tell him about her mistress's troubles. She just pursed her lips and gestured casually at him.
Before long, the little hawksbill turtle lowered its eyes and burrowed back to Qin Lizheng's side.
Qin Lizheng's eyes widened in suspicion. "What is Chuntang gesturing to you about?"
For Qin Lizheng, focusing his long-term efforts on Yan Ruheng was the right choice, so Qian Yingyi's ability to meet with Yan Ruheng frequently provided him with many opportunities.
The little hawksbill turtle's purpose just now was obvious, so he should naturally ask it a few questions.
Little Tortoiseshell pursed her lips, slumped onto the veranda chair, and looked a little aggrieved. "She said it's none of my business."
Qin Lizheng was taken aback, then chuckled to himself.
About half an incense stick later, Qian Yingyi finally felt hungry and remembered that she wanted to eat. She glanced at Qin Lizheng, not forgetting that she had deliberately punished him during the day. She sat up straight with her slender waist and called out, "Lin Zheng!"
A few stars shone in Qin Lizheng's eyes, illuminated by the swaying lanterns under the corridor. He leaned lazily against a pillar, arms crossed, and asked, "What is it?"
This slight tilt made Qian Yingyi's eyebrows furrow. She lifted her skirt, walked around the flowers, and glared at him. "I haven't settled accounts with you yet. Don't think you can just let what happened today go. I'm asking you, did you do this on purpose?"
Qin Lizheng seemed unable to recall, "Which matter?"
After a moment, she asked again, "Should we block the young lady from getting close to Yan Sanlang? Or should we shield the young lady from peeking at Yan Sanlang?"
Qian Yingyi's eyes widened in shock, and she poked his shoulder repeatedly. "You really did this on purpose! What a treacherous thought! Did I bring you back so you would oppose me?"
"Where have I offended Miss?" Qin Lizheng said calmly, twisting his arms behind his back and letting her poke him like an itch. He then changed the subject, "Miss ordered me to buy food, and I went. It's Miss who doesn't want to eat."
Qian Yingyi had originally intended to settle accounts with him, but after his reminder, she felt her stomach grow even emptier, as if she hadn't eaten a full meal in her past life. So she started ordering him around again, "...Then, I'm hungry now! You have long legs, go to the small kitchen and get the food we bought!"
Qin Lizheng turned his eyes away lightly, thinking that he would not annoy her twice a day, so he did not answer, but instead used his actions to prove that he was fulfilling his duty as a guard.
He had walked halfway toward the small kitchen when he suddenly heard Qian Yingyi calling out from behind, urging him to walk faster.
Qin Lizheng disliked being rushed, paused, turned around and walked towards Qian Yingyi, still with that aloof and cold demeanor. He took out an oil paper package from his pocket and placed it next to the corridor bench, saying, "I bought it on the spur of the moment."
After saying that, he turned and left again.
Chuntang picked up the oil paper package, sniffed it, opened it, and saw that it contained several pieces of still-warm rice cakes.
Qian Yingyi was taken aback. Just then, an evening breeze blew by, which instantly dissipated much of her previously righteous arrogance. After a few moments, she took the oil paper package and took a small bite.
After eating a few pieces of rice cake, Qian Yingyi felt a little better. When Qin Lizheng brought her more food, her eyes became more alert. She ate everything in the garden and instructed Xiao Daimao to lead Qin Lizheng to fill his stomach.
As they strolled around the garden to digest their food, Qian Yingyi walked slowly ahead, with Xia Ling and Chun Tang waiting on either side. Two guards returned and followed at a distance.
Qian Yingyi was in a great mood after eating and drinking her fill. She didn't feel cold at all while wearing a cloak, and her pretty face was slightly flushed.
The garden was quiet. After a while, Chuntang turned around and looked at the two guards, beckoning them to come closer.
Qin Lizheng turned to face Qian Yingyi and saw her wink at him twice. The sparks in her words dissipated a lot. "You did a decent job. You also shielded me from Wu Niansheng today. Consider it an offset. From now on, you and Xiao Daimao will be part of Yunteng Pavilion."
"Miss Xie thinks too highly of me."
Having been hurt by Chuntang, Little Tortoiseshell had completely forgotten about it during the meal. When Qian Yingyi called her, she happily stood aside and asked, "What can I do for you, Miss?"
Qian Yingyi, unusually shy, pursed her two bright red lips and hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "What do you think I should do next time I see Yan Sanlang?" She gestured to Chuntang with her hand.
All four were taken aback. Xia Ling was the first to come to her senses, clapping her hands happily. "This servant thinks, perhaps we should cater to their preferences?"
Chuntang pursed her lips, her skin was too thin, and she didn't make a sound.
Little Tortoiseshell stole a glance at Chuntang, lightly captivated by her profile. "Show him your face often, okay? I'm a man, and I think that's how it should be. Let him get used to your presence first. After a while, if you don't appear in front of him for a period of time, he might feel restless and anxious..."
Actually, the others misunderstood. Qian Yingyi just wanted to have more exchanges with Yan Ruheng, so that she would have more opportunities to admire that stunningly beautiful face.
She had just twirled to the base of a wall when she saw that there was still one person who hadn't answered, so she asked, "What do you think, Lin Zheng?"
The dappled shadows of the trees fell on her pale face. This was the first kind smile she had shown him in days, and she was much more serene than when she had been so aggressive earlier.
Qin Lizheng's face was expressionless; he was too lazy to ponder such trivial matters of love and affection. He merely glanced at her without even moving his lips.
"...I knew you wouldn't understand. What do you, a mere martial artist, know?" Qian Yingyi, not hearing an answer, turned away with disdain, picked up the yellow gauze lantern, and disappeared into the backyard, unilaterally ending this impromptu, inexplicable affair.
After she left, Little Tortoiseshell happily came over and put her arm around Qin Lizheng's shoulder, speaking with the air of someone who had been there all along, "Whatever Miss wants to hear, just say a few words to her. Why stay silent? Look, what I said is better than what you did..."
"You mean what you told Chuntang under some pretext?" Qin Lizheng pushed his arm away, the starlight in his eyes dimming, and he sneered disdainfully, "She can't hear you, so you think it counts as you putting on a show for yourself?"
After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Little Tortoiseshell blushing. Her thoughts had been exposed, and she was too ashamed to admit it. She secretly pointed in his direction and said irritably, "No wonder Miss said you don't understand!"
A note from the author:
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Little Tortoiseshell: What do you know? [Angry]
He turned to look at Chuntang, gesturing for a while: "Chuntang, don't you think so?" [Pitiful]
Chuntang: [Question mark]
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