Two quarters of an hour ago.
After tapping on Zhang Yingxue's window, Su Huaisheng led her to hide behind the rockery.
Zhang Yingxue's heart was pounding with fright. Stuttering, she said, "Brother Sheng, aren't we here to enjoy the moon? What are you doing?"
Putting a finger to his lips, Su Huaisheng pulled her down into a squat and said mysteriously, "I'll show you something."
Then he reached into his bosom and took out something. Unwrapping the brocade cloth covering it, a brilliant radiance bloomed in his palm.
It was a glowing pearl, on which were carved many delicate patterns - flying birds, insects and fish, and auspicious clouds.
Zhang Yingxue was immediately captivated at first sight.
"Wow, how did you do this?"
Su Huaisheng moved his wrist, and the pearl rolled in his palm. The light inside rolled with it.
"Your name is Yingxue, so I found a way to hide firefly powder inside this glass bead. It absorbs enough sunlight during the day and can glow automatically at night. When it snows, it will look even more beautiful if you put this bead on the snow at night."
"Sister Yingxue, I have feelings for you." Su Huaisheng looked intently at Zhang Yingxue in front of him. "Would you like to accept this gift?"
Zhang Yingxue took the bead with a smile and said, "I've always been thinking about how I can be with Yuanbao forever. Now I think that being Yuanbao's sister - in - law is a good way."
Su Huaisheng was both angry and amused. "Is this for Yuanbao or for me?"
He never thought that one day he would be jealous of his own sister.
Zhang Yingxue: "Naturally... it's for Yuanbao."
Su Huaisheng admitted defeat. "Well, Yuanbao is the apple of our family's eye. I'm glad to have one more person to love her."
After they had enjoyed looking at the bead in the snow for a while, Su Huaisheng, as promised, led Zhang Yingxue to climb onto the roof of an empty wing - room to watch the moon.
Neither of them knew that in the shadow behind them, their every move was witnessed by several fathers.
Zhang Wentao could now understand Qin Hao's grief and indignation.
How could his well - brought - up daughter be so easily deceived by that young man?! Although that young man did look handsome, was extremely smart, full of justice, and had good martial arts skills, which meant he could protect Yingxue, but - she was his most beloved daughter!
Fortunately, Su Huaisheng didn't stay on the roof with Zhang Yingxue for too long. Soon, Su Huaisheng escorted Zhang Yingxue back to the Pearl Courtyard.
Thinking that his two sons would get married soon, Su Qing was overjoyed. However, he still composed himself and bowed to Zhang Wentao and Qin Hao. "My two rascals offended you tonight. They were so unruly. Another day, I'll surely bring my wife and gifts to your homes to... cough, apologize."
Qin Hao and Zhang Wentao said in unison, "Don't forget, you also have a daughter!"
Su Qing paused for a moment, and his heart couldn't help tightening.
Yes, his Yuanbao was about to reach the age of coming of age, and she was growing more and more beautiful. Could it be that -
No, no. No one in Shengjing knew about their customs in the Northern Desert. No one should be able to abduct his precious daughter!
Su Qing coughed twice and said, "We have an unwritten rule in our family. A man must never take a concubine. Naturally, the man my daughter marries must also abide by this rule."
What he meant was that he wouldn't let his own daughter be wronged, nor would he let other people's daughters be wronged.
Only then did Qin Hao and Zhang Wentao's expressions improve.
However, to confirm that Su Yuanyuan hadn't been abducted, Su Qing specially led Zhang Wentao and the others to walk around the Prince Qing's Mansion a few times. Not finding any suspicious figures, he finally felt at ease.
After sending Zhang Wentao and the others back to the guest rooms to rest, Su Qing returned to the Ink - Meaning Pavilion.
Mo Shi was pregnant and had already gone to sleep, but she slept restlessly. So as soon as Su Qing entered the room, she woke up. Half - asleep, she got up and was about to undress Su Qing, but Su Qing stopped her and said softly, "You rest. I'll do it myself."
As he untied his belt, he pretended to say casually, "I was worried that Yuanbao would be in your room when I came back."
Mo Shi paused for a moment and said, "She is reluctant to part with her good sisters since they will be leaving tomorrow. She sent a message early saying that she wouldn't come tonight and would stay in the Pearl Courtyard."
Su Qing was completely at ease. He got into the quilt, hugged Mo Shi, and closed his eyes contentedly.
"Wife, after hearing Lao Qin's story today, I've been feeling so sad. I truly think that you are the best gift God has given me, Su Qing. You must accompany me until we're old."
Mo Shi's ears turned red from his words. She couldn't help pinching him and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Of course I'll accompany you until we're old. We promised each other on our wedding day that we'll share the same quilt in life and the same tomb in death."
Neither Su Qing nor Mo Shi knew that in the Junyi Pavilion, Su Yuanyuan had fallen asleep leaning on Cang Xuan.
She was still holding onto his sleeve while sleeping, looking completely defenseless and at ease with him.
Cang Xuan looked down at the girl's peaceful sleeping face and squinted his eyes contentedly.
Tonight, let him be greedy just once and possess this pearl all to himself.
...
The next day, at a quarter past the fourth hour, the Qin, Zhang, and Zhuo Mansions sent carriages in grand style to pick up Qin Wanrong, Qin Hao, and the others.
After staying in the Prince Qing's Mansion for so many days, Qin Wanrong was very reluctant to leave. She hugged Su Yuanyuan tightly and wouldn't let go.
For her, Su Yuanyuan was like her savior. If it weren't for Su Yuanyuan, she wouldn't have had a new life.
"Sister Wanrong, our two families will surely have many opportunities to visit each other in the future," Su Yuanyuan said with a smile as she gently patted Qin Wanrong's back.
Qin Wanrong wiped away her tears and nodded. "I know. Well, I'm going back."
Qin Hao bowed respectfully to Su Qing and Mo Shi and then led Qin Wanrong, who kept looking back, away. Soon, the carriages from the Zhang and Zhuo Mansions also left the gate of the Prince Qing's Mansion.
Suddenly, the Pearl Courtyard was empty, and the yard became quiet. Su Yuanyuan was a bit unaccustomed to it, so she moved back to the Ink - Meaning Pavilion and lived with Mo Shi.
The mother and daughter were sitting in the room eating desserts when they heard a sudden rush of hasty and disorderly footsteps outside.
"Mother! Mother!"
The next moment, her two elder brothers stepped into the room one after another and rushed towards Mo Shi.
As if knowing why her two elder brothers were coming, Su Yuanyuan held her round face and said with a smile, "Second and third brothers, you're in such a hurry. What are you planning to do?"
Not caring that his sister was there, Su Huaiyuan lifted his robe and knelt in front of Mo Shi. "Son is in love with Qin Wanrong, the eldest daughter of the Qin Mansion. I'd like to marry her. I hope mother can fulfill my wish!"
Seeing that his elder brother had beaten him to it, Su Huaisheng also knelt down. "Son is in love with Zhang Yingxue, the sixth daughter of the Zhang Mansion..."
Mo Shi didn't seem surprised at all, as if she had long anticipated this day.
Su Yuanyuan pretended to be surprised and covered her mouth. Then she clenched her fists and said angrily, "Second and third brothers, you're even poaching Yuanbao's friends! It's really too much!"