The waiter knocked on the door gingerly. "Sir and miss, I've boiled some hot water for you."
Wei Dongling withdrew her hand awkwardly. "You take a bath and rest early. I'll go back first. Otherwise, my lady will worry about me." With that, she called the waiter in to pour the water.
Yu Zixi pouted, looking reluctant.
Wei Dongling seemed to remember something and said, "I've made an appointment with Prince Yun to go to Lanshan Temple on the first day of the lunar new year. Actually, I want to match - make him with my lady. You should cooperate then."
Yu Zixi's eyes instantly lit up. "So you went to see Shangguan Yun for your lady's sake."
Wei Dongling looked at him puzzledly. "Yes. What else could it be for?"
Yu Zixi instantly bounced off the bed and said to her cheerfully, "It's so late. I'm worried about you going alone. Let me see you back!"
Wei Dongling:......
On the first day of the lunar new year, at Lanshan Temple.
As soon as Qi Jinxuan got off the carriage, she saw Yu Zixi striding towards her with a beaming face. Frightened, she quickly turned around and got back into the carriage.
Yu Zixi twitched the corner of his mouth and asked Wei Dongling, "What on earth has stimulated your lady?"
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes and whispered, "You broke into her boudoir that night. You really scared her. She has a shadow over you now."
Yu Zixi said, "I don't mean this. I mean, why does she dress like a... popcorn?"
Goodness, she's more flamboyant than the girls in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Are you sure she's here to offer incense?
Wei Dongling ignored him and looked around. "Where's Prince Yun?"
Yu Zixi said, "The abbot of Lanshan Temple wanted to ask him for a painting and invited him to the inner chamber for tea."
"Shall we go and offer incense first?"
"Okay."
Wei Dongling helped Qi Jinxuan get off the carriage. Qi Jinxuan, with a gloomy face, kept a good distance from Yu Zixi.
In the main hall, Qi Jinxuan knelt down devoutly, offered incense, and folded her hands to make a wish.
When Wei Dongling knelt down, Yu Zixi knelt down beside her. After offering incense and walking out of the hall, Yu Zixi came over hesitantly and asked, "What wish did you make just now?"
Wei Dongling said, "I hope my great enmity will be avenged soon and the truth will come to light."
Yu Zixi complained discontentedly, "Don't other girls usually wish for a good marriage? Didn't you make any wish related to me?"
Wei Dongling spat, "Should I go back and wish for a different man?"
Yu Zixi was at a loss for words. "Forget it then."
After having the vegetarian meal, just as Yu Zixi rented a passenger boat by the lake, Shangguan Yun finally arrived.
When Wei Dongling saw him, she smiled like a match - making madam and quickly bowed.
Shangguan Yun nodded and smiled faintly. Then he saw the strange girl beside Wei Dongling. She bowed shyly and said, "Greetings, senior brother."
Shangguan Yun raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Who is this?"
Wei Dongling forced a smile. "This is Miss Qi, my lady."
Shangguan Yun nodded and bowed.
Seeing Shangguan Yun looking elegant and handsome, Qi Jinxuan blushed slightly and said, "Senior brother, I'm a later disciple of Master Kong."
Shangguan Yun was taken aback for a moment and smiled gently. "I see. Master Kong hasn't taken in a disciple for a long time."
When he smiled, Qi Jinxuan's heart was pounding so hard that she was too nervous to speak.
Seeing Qi Jinxuan's embarrassment, Wei Dongling supported her and said, "Let's get on the boat."
The four of them got on the passenger boat one after another.
They sat down in the cabin. Pin Hao came over to serve tea and then went to the stern to chat with the boatman.
Wei Dongling winked at Qi Jinxuan, then stood up and said to Yu Zixi, "Mr. Yu, I have something to talk to you. Come here." With that, she walked to the bow of the boat.
Yu Zixi quickly stood up and followed her, leaving space for the other two.
At the bow of the boat, the sunlight reflected on the water was so dazzling that it was hard to open one's eyes. Yu Zixi mumbled a few complaints, then heard Wei Dongling ask him, "Let me ask you, did you break the Crown Prince's leg?"
Yu Zixi blinked and complained discontentedly, "Why don't you say he drugged me first?"
Wei Dongling was shocked. "The aphrodisiac you took last time was given by the Crown Prince?"
Yu Zixi snorted. "Who else?"
Wei Dongling whispered, "Then why were you in Qi... her boudoir?"
Yu Zixi glanced at her. "He was forced into marriage and was unhappy, so he resorted to dirty tricks and tried to use me to ruin the daughter of the Minister of Rites. Do you think I would fall into his trap?"
Cold sweat dripped down Wei Dongling's forehead. "So you deliberately went to the Qi Mansion to ruin the Crown Prince's beloved one?"
Yu Zixi spat, "Do you really think the girl he fancies is your lady?"
Wei Dongling's heart skipped a beat. So the Crown Prince was after the military power behind the General's Mansion and that's why he was so eager to marry her lady?
Damn it! What a person!
Wei Dongling glanced at the two beautiful people in the cabin. They really looked like a perfect match.
"Hey," Yu Zixi blocked her sight and asked, "Where's the thing you made for me?"
Wei Dongling was stunned. "What thing?"
Yu Zixi's face darkened. "What about the thing you promised to embroider for me?"
Wei Dongling:......
"I forgot. How about just forgetting it? You're not short of a silk pouch."
Seeing her trying to renege, Yu Zixi got angry. "Who says I'm not short of it?"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling looked at him with bright eyes.
Yu Zixi added, "Well, although I'm really not short of it. But you're my future wife after all. Besides, I've always kept my promises to you."
Wei Dongling said with a headache, "Can we change to something else?"
Yu Zixi roared, "No! I want this one!"
Wei Dongling was on the verge of tears. "Okay, okay, I'll figure it out!"
Yu Zixi was relentless. "You have to embroider it yourself!"
Wei Dongling wanted to cry. "Got it, got it."
She waved Yu Zixi away and looked at the people in the cabin. She was surprised. "Why did Prince Yun leave?"
Yu Zixi looked back and found that Shangguan Yun had really gone to the stern on his own and was watching the boatman pole the boat with Pin Hao. Qi Jinxuan was sitting alone in the cabin.
Wei Dongling walked back into the cabin indignantly and saw her lady sitting there blankly, with slightly red eyes and a dejected look.
She stepped forward and grabbed Qi Jinxuan's sleeve. "Come on, let's go and have a look too." With that, ignoring Qi Jinxuan's weak struggle, she headed straight for the stern.
Shangguan Yun, Pin Hao, and the boatman looked up as the two of them approached.
Wei Dongling forced a smile. "The view at the stern is nice. We came to get some fresh air."
Everyone was speechless.
Ignoring the contemptuous looks from others, Wei Dongling tried hard to push Qi Jinxuan towards Shangguan Yun until Qi Jinxuan was trembling and at a loss.
Wei Dongling sighed inwardly: My lady, why don't you just throw yourself at him! With a determined heart, Wei Dongling quietly kicked Qi Jinxuan. She thought Qi Jinxuan would fall into Shangguan Yun's arms, but the strength was not right. Qi Jinxuan didn't dare to grab Shangguan Yun and just plopped into the water.
Everyone:......
Qi Jinxuan was in a complete mess in the water, choking on the water.
Wei Dongling exaggeratedly shouted at everyone, "Ah! My lady! What shall we do! My lady can't swim!"