He Jin stood outside Concubine Li's room, hesitating.
Just then, Nanny Wang, who had always served Concubine Li, walked out.
"Second Young Master, the concubine has just woken up. Please don't irritate her anymore."
Nanny Wang's voice was very low, as if afraid that the people inside might hear.
He Jin felt a bit guilty. He hadn't expected the concubine to be so angry.
"But I've already said that I'll go to propose marriage tomorrow."
"Second Young Master, please think carefully about what Concubine Li said. She won't do you any harm," Nanny Wang said earnestly.
He Jin craned his neck to look inside the room, sighed, then turned around and walked towards his own courtyard, thinking on the way about how to persuade Concubine Li.
Why didn't the concubine agree to his marriage with He Le? What was wrong with her?
Thinking of this, He Jin recalled Nanny Wang's words, and his expression changed.
Could it be that today's incident was not a coincidence after all, but someone's deliberate arrangement?
But he had always been very careful when meeting A Le. No outsider should have known about it. So who could have arranged it?
The more He Jin thought, the heavier his steps became. Could it really be A Le?
...
The next day, He Xun was summoned to the main courtyard by Chen Wanrong.
Inside the room, Chen Wanrong was reclining on a beauty couch, pretending to doze. Wispy smoke curled up from the gilded Boshan censer behind her. The faint scent of sandalwood was soothing.
On the carved table, there was a pastel porcelain plate with seasonal fruits, adding a touch of fruity aroma to the room.
Hearing the noise and knowing that He Xun had come, Chen Wanrong slowly sat up straight and said,
"Two days later, dress yourself up handsomely. Don't always wear those dull black robes. You look so serious and old - fashioned."
He Xun looked down at his black outer robe.
"Why?"
Chen Wanrong picked up the visiting card on the table and waved it.
"Two days later is the birthday of the Medicine Buddha. Miss Nan Sheng knows that I'm devout in Buddhism and has invited me to go to Hanguang Temple to offer incense. You should go too."
He Xun lifted the back of his outer robe and sat on the rosewood round chair beside. "She invited you, Mother."
Chen Wanrong looked at him helplessly.
"So what if she invited me? Can't you go along to protect us? What if there are mountain bandits?"
"This is under the emperor's nose, and Hanguang Temple is a well - known Buddhist temple. There won't be any mountain bandits," He Xun said, not really in the mood to argue but stating the truth.
Chen Wanrong took a deep breath to suppress her urge to hit someone. "Are you going or not?"
"Going."
"You're smart," Chen Wanrong said, finally satisfied.
Thinking that he would meet her again, He Xun fiddled with the pouch on his waist. He thought it might be better to be straightforward and just ask her to marry him.
As for whether she had a sweetheart or not, it didn't matter anymore.
...
In a side - courtyard room of the marquis's mansion, the doors and windows were tightly closed, and not a single breath of wind could get in. The strong smell of medicine made people wrinkle their noses involuntarily.
Concubine Li was half - reclined on the soft pillow, her face sallow and looking sickly.
"Now you've really made up your mind. You even went to ask her for help. Do you still have me, your mother, in your eyes?"
Concubine Li raised her voice, trying to sound strict, but due to her recent illness, her voice still sounded weak.
"Concubine," Nanny Wang quickly reminded. Although they were in their own room, the address still had to follow the rules and not be overstepped.
Concubine Li waved her hand and stared straight at He Jin, who was standing respectfully in the outer room.
This was the son she had doted on for seventeen years. Now, for a woman, he had gone to ask Chen Wanrong for help. He knew that she detested Chen Wanrong the most.
He really knew where to hurt her the most.
Although He Jin didn't say a word, his face was full of defiance.
He had already broken his promise by not going to propose marriage as agreed today. If he didn't find a way to propose marriage soon, he wouldn't be able to show his face in public.
But he didn't refute Concubine Li either, for fear of fainting her again.
Even through the bed curtain, Concubine Li could see the defiance on He Jin's face. She said coldly,
"Since you're so determined to marry her, I won't stop you anymore. Tomorrow I'll send someone to the Su family to propose marriage."
He Jin didn't expect Concubine Li's attitude to change so quickly. Overjoyed, he immediately said,
"In that case, why not send the matchmaker now?"
"In my current state, how can I invite a matchmaker? If that Su He Le can't even wait for one day, then there's no need to propose marriage at all."
Seeing that He Jin didn't show any concern for her at all, Concubine Li felt dizzy with anger.
"A Le can definitely wait. Tomorrow it is. Thank you, Concubine, for your approval," He Jin knew that he had been too impatient just now and had angered Concubine Li again. He quickly tried to soothe her.
Concubine Li couldn't bear to see him so happy for Su He Le.
"Don't be too happy too soon. The marriage proposal can be made, but remember, I don't like this marriage. Don't expect me to offer a generous betrothal gift."
He Jin didn't care at all.
"The betrothal gift is just for show. A Le never cares about fame and fortune. What she cares about is me!"
Concubine Li snorted but didn't say a word. He Jin didn't care about her attitude and was beaming with excitement.
Great! He could finally go to propose marriage.
...
The night was as cool as water, and people had just settled down. The window in the room was open, and the wind was slightly cool.
Su Nansheng was sitting beside the lamp, carefully looking at the rice paper in her hand, her expression concentrated.
As the lamp shadow flickered, her face was also dimly lit, looking rather intriguing.
After a while, Su Nansheng brought the rice paper close to the candle flame, lit it, and threw it on the ground.
The flame shot up and instantly turned into a ball of fire.
Su Nansheng watched the rice paper in the fireball until it turned into a pile of ashes and not a single spark remained.
"Second Miss, it's time to rest," Bitao reminded when she saw Su Nansheng staring blankly at the floor.
In the past two days, the second miss had been staying in the room, writing and drawing. She looked very tired.
Now that she had finally finished writing, she burned them all. What was the point?
"Okay," Su Nansheng replied, but didn't move.
Seeing the melancholy on her face, Bitao said,
"Second Miss, do you think Second Young Master He will come to propose marriage?"
She had been waiting all day today but hadn't heard that He Jin had come. Did he not want the eldest miss anymore?
Only then did Su Nansheng look up.
"Probably not. Maybe he hasn't convinced his family yet."
Concubine Li was a person who valued family status the most and was very competitive.
Although Su Nansheng didn't know how He Jin had convinced her in her previous life, it had taken many days.
Now that such a thing had happened, it would be even more difficult for Concubine Li to agree.
"Ah? He sounded so certain yesterday. I thought he was already well - prepared," Bitao said, a bit surprised.
"If that were the case, he would have come to propose marriage long ago," Su Nansheng said.
There wouldn't have been any chance for them to interfere.
Bitao pouted. "I don't know how worried the eldest miss will be."
Because she had been sorting out the events of her previous life in the past two days, the calmness that Su Nansheng had finally achieved was once again covered by hatred.
Now hearing Bitao mention Su He Le, Su Nansheng's eyes turned as cold as a frozen pond.
"This is what she deserves."