"This..." Liu Yingying felt a little embarrassed, "This...this isn't quite appropriate, is it?"
The two of them are quite different in both status and age.
In such situations, the men and women traveling together are often either married couples or childhood sweethearts who are already engaged.
But what about people like them?
As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed, right?
"It's alright, neither the county magistrate nor Huaizhi are the kind of people who would care about such trivial matters!" Huo Huaizhi smiled gently and innocently.
"Heh, heh heh, thank you for understanding!" Liu Yingying gritted her teeth secretly and said with a forced smile.
She was still wondering whether she should walk over herself or have Huo Huaizhi walk over, since there was a stream between them.
However, the next second, Huo Huaizhi's figure had already landed in front of her like a startled swan.
Did this person grow wings?
Liu Yingying ultimately resisted the urge to reach out and pull him away.
"Among all the gardens in the North Garden, the Xiuli Garden is the most elegant in its landscaping. Would the County Lady do me the honor of accompanying Huaizhi to take a look?"
At this moment, Huo Huaizhi's eyes had completely lost their previous cunning, and he truly resembled a gentle and refined gentleman!
"Okay!" Liu Yingying uttered a single word. The two walked side by side, but their thoughts were different.
Upon closer reflection, Liu Yingying felt that it wasn't a bad deal. Accompanying him to the park was enough to repay the favor she owed, so why not?
As for Huo Huaizhi, he was thinking to himself, "So this is what it feels like to travel with a woman."
He had been guarding the frontier with his father since he was seven years old. There were no women in the military camp, only rough men, so he naturally had little opportunity to come into contact with women.
Later, as he grew older, he would occasionally return to the capital for short stays, and many noble ladies from the capital would flock to him.
But he also found those women too superficial.
They only liked his handsome appearance or his noble status.
After all, they knew nothing about him, so their so-called admiration could only be lust at first sight.
So what was he to Liu Yingying?
Huo Huaizhi was speechless with frustration.
Although Liu Yingying was beautiful enough, given his status, he could have any stunningly beautiful and young woman he wanted.
But he wasn't interested in those women; he seemed only interested in Liu Yingying.
It's that kind of urge to get close to her, to understand her feelings, an urge he can't even control himself...
Sure enough, people soon discovered Huo Huaizhi's whereabouts and saw a very beautiful woman standing next to him.
However, the woman was no longer in her teens; she looked to be in her early twenties.
Those people naturally dared not approach Huo Huaizhi and only followed from a distance, secretly observing him.
"How strange, which family's young lady is that? How could she be so fortunate as to be by Young Master Huo's side?"
"Judging by her age, she should be married by now, right? So she's probably not the young master's confidante, but more likely a relative?" someone asked.
But this was quickly refuted by those around him, "Impossible, I can tell the young master treats that woman differently."
Many people visited Beiyuan Park today, including customers of the snack stalls.
Naturally, someone recognized her.
"Hey, isn't that Mr. Liu from the snack shop in Beicheng?"
"That's right, it's her! But why is she with Young Master Huo?"
Everyone was completely baffled!
Some of the noble ladies felt quite uncomfortable!
What merits did that female merchant possess that she could catch the eye of Young Master Huo?
"Does the Lord of Ning'an County intend to reside permanently in the capital?" Huo Huai asked with a smile.
Liu Yingying shook her head without hesitation, "My relatives and family are all in Furong County. I came to the capital on someone's behalf. Now that the matter is settled, I naturally have to go back."
"Oh!" A hint of disappointment flashed in Huo Huaizhi's bright eyes, but then he seemed to remember something and asked;
"I heard that the county magistrate's husband died on his way to take the imperial examination a year ago, and his remains have not been found to this day?"
"Yeah!" Liu Yingying nodded nonchalantly.
It's a good thing that Scholar Zhu is dead, otherwise I would have had to figure out how to deal with him.
Just thinking about it gives me a headache!
Huo Huaizhi added, "As far as I know, several candidates from Ningzhou passed the imperial examinations this year, and one named Zhu Ziqian even passed both the provincial and metropolitan examinations!"
"Moreover, he is from the same hometown as the county magistrate, and now he has married Lin Jiaorui, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an. It is said that the two are a harmonious couple after their marriage... I wonder if the county magistrate knows that Lord Zhu?"
Liu Yingying suddenly raised her head and stared at Huo Huaizhi in surprise. She felt that something was off about this young master today, but she couldn't find any evidence to prove it...
"As far as I know, only Taoyuan Village in Ma'ao Township has an entire clan surnamed Zhu. However, I do not know the Lord Zhu Ziqian that you mentioned, young master!"
After Liu Yingying finished speaking, she couldn't help but feel puzzled...
In the original owner's memory, Zhu Xiucai once told her that the year he passed the imperial examination, everyone in the village spread the news, and everyone in the surrounding area knew that Taoyuan Village had produced a Xiucai.
But why is it that no one is publicizing the fact that a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) came from Ma'ao Township?
However, this doubt only lasted for a moment, and she didn't care what others thought.
After all, it's not like Zhu Xiucai passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.
If he had truly passed the imperial examination, why wouldn't he have sent a message home?
Huo Huaizhi seemed to have only mentioned it casually before changing the subject, "The Lady of Ning'an County is unlike any of the women I've known before. You are truly a heroine among women!"
"Furong County is too small. Is Your Highness truly willing to spend the rest of your life in a remote corner?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yingying raised her head with slight surprise, "Is the young master planning my future?"
"No... I was being presumptuous!" Huo Huaizhi blushed. They were just casual acquaintances, and he knew he had been presumptuous in saying those words.
But if she could stay in the capital, perhaps... perhaps they would have a chance to meet again in the future...
"I've heard that the young master has been stationed in the northern frontier for many years. I wonder what the local customs and culture are like there?" Liu Yingying changed the subject directly.
People generally believe that the border areas between two countries are often plagued by war and chaos, and that the people suffer greatly.
But in Liu Yingying's view, the complex and dangerous environment also contains huge business opportunities.
When the topic of the Northern Frontier came up, Huo Huaizhi became more talkative. The two strolled around the Northern Garden, admiring the snow-covered scenery and sea of flowers along the way, while recounting various interesting stories from the Northern Frontier...
After strolling through the garden, Liu Yingying said she wanted to go home. Huo Huaizhi offered to take her, but she politely declined.
Helpless, the young master had no choice but to leave alone, but before leaving, he instructed his attendants to leave her a carriage.
Finally, after seeing the young master off, Liu Yingying breathed a sigh of relief.
She found that after getting to know him a little better, this young master Huo was actually a decent person.
She is not as aloof and distant as she appears on the surface.
A short while later, Liu Yingying also got into the carriage and left.
Meanwhile, inside a carriage that had been parked for a long time at the entrance of the North Garden, Zhu Ziqian finally turned his gaze away.
Even though he managed to maintain a calm facade, his heart was already overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of fear and unease!
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