Approximately half an hour later.
"Come down now."
Ji Huaiyan dismounted and offered his hand.
Only after helping her off the horse did he notice her eyes were red.
Half from fright, half from anger.
Just as Qu Zhirou was about to get angry, Ji Huaiyan said, "Look ahead."
Qu Zhirou looked in the direction he indicated, and her angry words caught in her throat.
Before them was a vast expanse of peach blossoms, perfectly in bloom. There were unopened buds, like jade and fat, clear and translucent. There were newly opened pink-and-white blossoms, delicate and dewy. Shrouded by the peach trees, a clear, pristine pool of emerald water shimmered.
Beneath that stretch of peach trees, wild flowers dotted the ground in swathes; the pink of the peach blossoms, the blue of the sky, the clarity of the water pool – everything was indescribably clean and beautiful.
Qu Zhirou walked closer. A gust of wind blew, and the unique fragrance of peach blossoms wafted towards her. Pink petals scattered in the air, a beauty so enchanting it was intoxicating.
"So beautiful!"
Ji Huaiyan walked closer and said, "This is Peach Blossom Pond. Come, let's sit in that pavilion."
Remembering she was still angry, Qu Zhirou said coldly, "No, I'm going back to the estate!"
With that, she turned to walk back.
Ji Huaiyan took her hand and said, "Don't be angry anymore. How about I use this beautiful scenery to apologize to you?"
This man didn't even know why she was angry!
"What are you doing, Young Master Ji? A man and a woman alone together will give rise to gossip," Qu Zhirou said coldly.
Ji Huaiyan looked at her, frowning. "Gossip? I thought you giving me a sachet meant you were interested in me. Did I misunderstand?"
Qu Zhirou felt even more wronged, as if she had demeaned herself. He didn't take her seriously, not showing up for several months. Qu Zhirou shook off his hand and continued walking.
"Ah!"
A strong gust of wind passed, and Qu Zhirou was pulled into his embrace.
"Even if I misunderstood, there's nothing for it now. Since you've provoked me, you can't run away!" Ji Huaiyan's voice rang firmly in her ear.
"Scoundrel! Let go of me!"
Qu Zhirou struggled, hitting his chest with her hands. But her meager strength wasn't even enough to tickle him. He didn't loosen his grip even a bit; instead, her own hands began to hurt from hitting him.
"Hey! Don't cry! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Seeing her tears stream down, Ji Huaiyan quickly released her and apologized flusteredly.
Qu Zhirou just felt wronged inside, but hadn't expected the tears to flow on their own.
"I'm sorry, I'm not good with words, and I've never interacted with young ladies before, so... so, please don't cry, it's all my fault, go ahead and hit me again."
Seeing him flustered and scratching his head, Qu Zhirou felt a little better. She lifted her tear-blurred almond eyes and, with a sniffle, asked, "What have you been busy with lately?"
"After the New Year festival, I escorted relief grain to Shudu and only recently returned to the Capital City."
Qu Zhirou felt embarrassed. This... she had misunderstood him.
"Rou'er, I'm sorry..."
Qu Zhirou cut him off, sincerely saying, "I should be the one to apologize. I didn't know you went to Shudu. I thought... I thought you had forgotten about me."
"How could that be! Rou'er, when we go back, I'll have my father go to the Qu Residence to propose, alright?" Ji Huaiyan looked at her earnestly.
She didn't trust him, so he would make things official.
Qu Zhirou was startled and whispered, "Won't that be... too fast?" They had only met a few times in total.
Ji Huaiyan frowned. "You're unwilling?"
"No, it's just that I feel it's a bit fast. My mother doesn't know anything yet, and I..."
"Before you leave the Capital City, let's get engaged first," Ji Huaiyan said.
"Give me some time to think," Qu Zhirou tried to struggle a bit more.
"Don't think about it, Rou'er, I'll definitely treat you well for life. You know, it's a rule in our Wuyang Marquisate that a man only takes one wife in his lifetime."
Qu Zhirou naturally knew this; it was one of the reasons countless daughters of official families wanted to marry into the Wuyang Marquisate.
"Rou'er, trust me!" Ji Huaiyan continued to coax her.
Finally, under his sincere gaze, Qu Zhirou nodded slightly.
Ji Huaiyan laughed heartily, pulled her into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her.
On the return journey, riding on the horse, Qu Zhirou's heart fluttered for a long time, unable to settle. She had just agreed to him, entrusting the rest of her life to a man she had only met a few times! Her uncle often said she was timid. Wasn't she brave enough today? She wondered what expressions Grandfather, Uncle, and Mother would have when he came to propose.
"What are you thinking about?" Ji Huaiyan asked, leaning close to her ear. His warm breath brushed against her neck, making her recoil slightly.
"Nothing, just hurry up and send me back to the residence. Otherwise, my maid will go back and see I'm not there, and my family will be worried."
Ji Huaiyan chuckled, "I really wish I could just hold you like this and keep walking forever."
...
When the news of Eldest Young Master Ji proposing marriage to the Qu Residence spread, Su Li was surprised for quite a while. Just yesterday, Sister Qu was still downcast, and today she received a marriage proposal! Ji Huaiyan's speed was simply too fast!
However, she was genuinely happy for the two of them.
Su Li stood by the window, gazing at the blooming trees in the courtyard. The April breeze was gentle, and it was indeed a perfect season for an outing. She wrote a few invitations and sent them out.
And so, the following harmonious scene unfolded.
Amidst the embrace of mountains and water, peach blossoms were red, apricot blossoms white, and willow leaves green. Everything was so beautiful, except for a certain person's face full of resentment.
Wei Yuanling glanced at Jun Mo and Su Li on his left. He saw Jun Mo pouring a cup of tea, gently blowing on it to cool it slightly before handing it to Su Li, saying, "Careful, it's hot." Su Li smiled sweetly, took the cup, and sipped slowly.
He then peeked at Ji Huaiyan and Wei Yuanyao on his right. Ji Huaiyan was peeling grapes one by one and feeding them to Wei Yuanyao, who ate with her cheeks puffed out. Wei Yuanling wrinkled his brow in distaste.
Then he glanced at Ji Huaiyan and Qu Zhirou directly opposite him. Ji Huaiyan was enjoying the beauty wiping sweat from his brow.
"That's enough, all of you! Just be decent!" Wei Yuanling couldn't take it anymore and blurted out. "Are you even going to let people enjoy the scenery properly? If I had known this, I would have been better off practicing martial arts at the Martial Training Ground!"
The others looked at him in confusion, seeing him gripping his cup with a long, disgruntled face.
"I say, you're not getting any younger yourself; it's about time you settled down," Ji Huaiyan said, his hands still busy, yet finding time to rub it in. He had taken quite a beating from Wei Yuanling these past few days, and now that he had finally found an opportunity for revenge, he certainly wouldn't let it go.
Wei Yuanling's face darkened. He looked at his sister and said, "Yao'er, peel an orange for your brother."
Wei Yuanyao was happily eating. Hearing his words, and seeing he was alone and pitiful, she didn't argue and peeled an orange for him, handing it over.
When Wei Yuanling acted up, it was truly infuriating. "It's so big, how am I supposed to eat it?"
Wei Yuanyao separated it into segments and handed it to him again.
"The fibers on top aren't peeled off cleanly."
Wei Yuanyao gave him a sidelong glance, her demeanor commanding without needing to show anger. Wei Yuanling knew when to stop. He picked up half an orange and ate it, giving Ji Huaiyan a smug look.
You can only peel grapes for my sister, but I get to eat an orange peeled by my own sister's hands.
Su Li was secretly chuckling to herself, but hadn't expected the trouble to spread to her.
"Li'er, pour some tea for your cousin."
Su Li filled his cup as requested.
Wei Yuanling then said, "It's too hot."
Su Li's mouth twitched. He wouldn't expect her to blow on it to cool it, would he?
Jun Mo raised his eyes and glanced at Wei Yuanling.
Wei Yuanling conceded, explaining, "I was just telling you to pour it back and forth between two cups; it cools faster that way."
Su Li smiled faintly and parted her lips, saying, "Cousin, last time Maternal Aunt asked Li'er which young lady I thought was suitable, and Li'er thinks the daughter of Master Zhou from the Censorate is quite good. Cousin, what do you think..."
Wei Yuanling shivered. His cousin was ruthless. That Miss Zhou weighed at least two hundred catties, with a sturdy build. While he wasn't one to judge by appearance, this was just too much...
"This tea doesn't seem hot after all, so there's no need to trouble Cousin."
Looking left and right, his own sister and his cousin were both not to be trifled with. Fine, he'd just pretend to be blind for the day.
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