Chapter 4

Chapter 4

During the days leading up to the wedding, my maid, Lianxin, kept a close eye on the news. She returned to report to me, her voice thick with indignation.

“The Lord Heir has sent someone to that wing again with red coral from the south. He said it’s to help the second young miss pass the time. He hasn’t even officially entered the manor yet, and his heart is already biased to the extreme.”

I was flipping through a scroll in my hand and didn’t even lift my eyelids. “Since it’s just a toy to pass the time, let her have it.”

Lianxin said, “Miss…”

I looked up at her and smiled. “It’s stuffy in this room; I’m afraid you’ll be bored to death. Why don’t we go out for a stroll?”

I took Lianxin with me to board a boat and tour the lake.

The spring waters had just leveled, and the painted pleasure boats were woven together like fabric on the surface.

Lianxin suddenly pointed to a boat in the distance. “Look, Miss, isn’t that the Lord Heir?”

A figure stood at the bow, dressed in a green robe.

His stature was tall and lean, indeed bearing a few points of resemblance.

Just then, the man turned around-

It was not Xie Yijue.

Although his features were sixty to seventy percent similar, his temperament was entirely different.

Xie Yijue was like the still waters of a deep pool.

This man, however, was like the morning sun in spring, his brow radiating the unpolished, high-spirited energy of a youth.

Lianxin let out an “Ah!” “Look at my eyesight. That must be the young master of the Duke’s Mansion, the Lord Heir’s younger brother from the same mother.”

The second young master of the Duke’s Mansion, Xie Congjin.

I had heard he was also quite an outstanding individual.

She began to chatter again about the virtues of Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion. “The Heir’s biological mother passed away early, and the Old Madam is elderly and kind, the most reasonable of all. Once you go over, Miss, you will be the mistress of the household. This brother-in-law seems easy to get along with, and the brothers are harmonious… If only that troublemaker wasn’t involved, how wonderful it would be!”

In the end, she was still angry. “I don’t know what kind of bewitching potion the second young miss gave him!”

The wind brushed across the lake, rippling with fine golden light.

I watched and smiled. “There is so much beauty in this world. If she can charm the Heir into losing his heart, she must have her own skills.”

Lianxin said anxiously, “Then you must work even harder to capture the Lord Heir’s heart and give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible after the wedding-”

Before she could finish, a gust of wind swept past.

The plain white silk handkerchief in my hand slipped away, drifting with the wind toward that pleasure boat.

The man at the bow reacted extremely quickly, reaching out to catch it steadily.

He lifted his eyes to look over.

Our eyes met.

I stood at the bow of my boat and gave him a faint, graceful smile.

He was visibly stunned for a moment. His jade-like face suddenly flushed red. Clutching the handkerchief, he seemed to want to speak.

However, my small boat had already nimbly turned around, sailing deep into the lotus leaves.

I turned and stepped into the cabin.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him still standing there, staring fixedly.

The wedding date was set for next month.

It happened to be the Flower Festival, and Xie Yijue invited me to go out together according to etiquette.

The lanterns on the long street were as bright as day, complementing the blooming flowers as the crowds surged.

We walked side by side. He spoke elegantly, mentioning poetry and scenery, and we got along well enough.

I lowered my eyes and smiled softly, responding with perfect propriety.

I played the part of a dignified and well-mannered fiancée to perfection.

When we reached an arched bridge, his footsteps suddenly paused. His gaze fixed on a certain spot under the bridge, his expression tightening slightly.

“I think… I saw Zhi’er.”

I followed his gaze and saw a pale green figure disappearing into the crowd amidst the flickering shadows of the lanterns.

I smiled. “Perhaps my sister is feeling jealous and didn’t want to see me alone with the Heir, so she followed us out. It’s just a young girl’s petty temper.”

Xie Yijue was stunned, a look of complexity crossing his face. He hesitated. “It’s crowded and chaotic here. She’s alone… I need to go check on her.”

“Miss Ji, please wait here for a moment. I will return immediately.”

“Alright,” I replied submissively. “Don’t worry. The security in the capital is good; nothing will happen to my sister.”

He gave me a deep look. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Once his figure vanished into the sea of people, Lianxin curled her lip.

“The second young miss only knows how to use these underhanded tricks.”

“A method is a method, regardless of whether it’s high or low,” I said, not waiting for him and continuing to browse with Lianxin. “As long as men fall for it, it works.”

I had just bought a flower lantern from a riverside vendor.

As I turned to leave, someone suddenly called out, “Miss-Miss-”

The voice moved from far to near.

My wrist was suddenly gripped gently.

I looked up and bumped into a pair of bright eyes, like stars fallen into a clear pool.

“I found you!”

The youth’s clear voice was filled with joy.

Xie Congjin’s eyes curved into crescents, looking like a little puppy that had finally managed to grab a meat bone.

My gaze dropped, resting on his hand gripping my wrist.

He immediately let go as if burned, his jade-like face turning a deep crimson.

“S-sorry! In my haste, I have offended you, Miss!”

I tucked my sleeves and smiled. “It’s no matter.”

He hurriedly reached into his sleeve pocket. “I’ve been thinking about returning the handkerchief to you. I’ve been carrying it with me-”

Lianxin covered her mouth and giggled. “Young Master has been carrying it close to his person?”

Xie Congjin’s ears turned even redder as he explained flusteredly, “It was just in case of need…”

Halfway through pulling out the handkerchief, he hesitated. His fingers curled, and he pulled back slightly.

I saw this and said gently, “That was a new handkerchief I bought that day; it hadn’t been used yet. If you don’t mind it, Young Master, please keep it.”

“N-no…” His face was flushed as he spoke incoherently. “I-I’ve carried it close to me. It would be truly rude to return it to you now… but keeping it isn’t proper either…”

His voice grew quieter, and in the end, he carefully tucked the handkerchief back into his chest.

I walked with him for a while.

Our conversation was pleasant enough.

However, Xie Congjin’s footsteps were airy.

His ears were completely red.

It was as if he were drunk.

Lianxin snickered beside us.

When we reached the riverbank, the water reflected the lights from the shore like liquid gold.

Flower lanterns bobbed and drifted in the river.

With my sharp eyes, I caught sight of another section of the riverbank not far away.

Xie Yijue was accompanying Ji Zhi, personally placing a mandarin duck lantern into the water.

Ji Zhi tilted her face up, her smile as bright as a flower under the lamplight.

Xie Congjin, afraid I would be unsteady near the water’s edge, took my flower lantern to set it afloat.

Only after the lantern drifted far away did he summon the courage to turn back and ask, “May I know your name, Miss-”

But he saw only the bustling crowd.

The spot where she had been was already devoid of the beautiful lady’s shadow.

He stood there dazed.

Then he turned back to look at that drifting, lonely lantern.

He felt a sudden, profound sense of loss.