Four

The soft cooing was somewhat flustered; this was the first time hearing a man say such tender words. Although it was quite embarrassing, there was still a hidden joy.

A man must be more proactive; he cannot wait for the young lady to bring the conversation to him. He gazed at her intently and said earnestly: "It is rare for the family to be complete, and marriage is a significant matter. Everyone should come to witness it for it to be truly fulfilling. However, I am unsure if my boldness will cause any inconvenience to your household. With the recent passing of the queen, music and gongs are not permitted for three months. If you were to enter the door during this time, I fear it may cause you distress."

Empress Xiaohui was once my close friend, and the Qi and Xue families are also long-time family friends. You are aware of all this, aren't you?

Lu Ge naturally understood and approached her, asking: "Master, have you remembered something good?"

A gentle chirp is merely a laugh, and good things should not be spoken of too openly; once they are revealed, they lose their efficacy

He looked a bit stunned, and although he uttered a sound of acknowledgment, he did not move. "I will watch you go in."

He, after speaking, was also taken aback, remaining silent for a long time. He simply gripped the handle of the umbrella tightly, instinctively slowing his pace, following her step by step

In this splendid springtime, speaking loudly might startle the celestial beings above. We exchanged glances in silence, seemingly at a loss for words. He appeared somewhat flustered and quietly said: "I have been ordered to prepare the funeral palace for the Empress Dowager, and I just returned to the capital yesterday. I originally intended to pay you a visit, but the backlog of tasks at the office was overwhelming, all requiring immediate attention, so I couldn't find the time. Today, I happened to be nearly finished, and I planned to return to change my clothes before visiting your residence, but I didn't expect you to arrive first..."

Sometimes I truly hate my own crow's mouth, good things do not come true while bad things do. Just two days after she said this, before the Hai family had even come to visit, a message from the palace had already arrived

Yet he sought a topic to alleviate the discomfort, gently saying: "The Empress has passed away; you must be feeling very sad, right? In life, one must continually experience both reunions and partings. One should not be overly joyful due to reunions, nor should one shed tears over partings; this is all a form of self-protection."

He is a person who walks through ravines and mountains, spending most of his time measuring and calculating in the wilderness, aside from diligently making samples. He has not encountered many young women, so he easily blushes if he is not careful. He is someone who values efficiency in everything and has never considered extensively screening suitable candidates for marriage. Meeting this one is already quite good, and he is wholeheartedly waiting for her to favor him, anticipating the day he can marry her.

A slight blush rose to Hai Yintai's face, and the words "I want to see you once" made his heart warm.

Amitabha. The side concubine sat in the hat chair, clasped her hands together in prayer towards the sky, and said, "Fortunately, the son-in-law is a reasonable person. As long as he does not take advantage of our difficulties and intentionally mistreat us, then this marriage can be established well"

When the side consort entered, she was intently filling the incense powder into her double ear ornaments. From this appearance, it was evident that the matter must have been progressing very smoothly

Hai Yintai smiled with his lips pressed together, and his smile always carried a hint of shyness, something that is no longer seen on the faces of the worldly gentlemen of today. "That's just right, I will accompany my sister for a walk"

Yingming said no, "I don't go out often, but I have heard of Qiongfuyuan; I just haven't had the opportunity to take a look."

Lu Ge understood that the busy waist was merely a pretext. In fact, the master did not genuinely intend to ask for a cloak; he simply used this excuse to divert her attention, as there were certain matters he preferred to discuss privately with Master Hai San.

Yingming nodded and turned to instruct Lu Ge: "You go to the car and bring me my cloak"

Yingming said, "As soon as the matter of the Empress arose, all the departments in the palace became busy, and I know you are occupied. I noticed that the weather is nice today, so I brought the maid out for a stroll, and coincidentally walked here, which is why I wanted to see you."

Hai Yintai stated with knowledge, responding calmly and with certainty

Yet this cultured person, when in a frenzy, resembles a headless fly. Glancing at her, the young man smiled and said, "I am truly very happy..."

Luge smiled and teased, "What you say, my lord, is hard to believe. A son-in-law as good as this is hard to find even with a lantern, yet you still say there is nothing good about it"

Yingming was somewhat surprised that he would say such words, which coincided with her attitude towards life. However, while self-preservation is indeed self-preservation, it still lacks the strength and courage to disregard everything. She smiled as she gazed at the distant willows, "It is easy to say, but difficult to do. If one can achieve it, it must be because the feelings are not deep enough"

The soft chirping was still present as I steadied my hands to pull out the copper plate, my eyes fixed on the excess fragrant powder. Carefully, I used a fine brush to sweep it back into the jar. I remarked, "Master Hai San is quite straightforward; he didn't require me to voice those words, as he completed them himself. I trust him, but I cannot be certain how General Hai and his wife will perceive this. During the queen's funeral, Hai Fujin also entered the palace to mourn, and the Empress Dowager likely has heard about my situation. The Hai family has been cautious for generations, especially since they are connected to the imperial court; they may be reluctant to take this risk. If that is truly the case, then there is nothing more to be done. I have done my part, and the rest is up to fate."

"The job assignment will only last four to five days, and to return to Beijing will take at least three years." He naturally took her words and replied, "Let’s take care of our matters while he is in Beijing."

Yingming felt that continuing to go in circles would likely not achieve today's objective. Whether one stretches their neck out or withdraws it, it is still a knife's cut. Thus, she resolutely said: "My elder brother is stationed in Jilin Wula City and has not returned to the capital for several years. Last year, he submitted a request for an audience, and the Emperor granted him permission to return to the capital in April this year to report on his duties"

Yingming smiled slightly, seemingly feeling no need for pleasantries, and simply said, "Alright." She lowered her head and moved forward, clearly counting a few pebbles on the road. Now she felt a bit regretful for coming to find him so straightforwardly; it was indeed somewhat embarrassing to discuss marriage matters in person with him.

This person is so perceptive that it left her stunned. She had thought that she would have to put in a lot of effort, at least hinting to him once, for him to understand her intentions. In the end, he did not require her to exert any effort, nor did he make her feel the slightest bit awkward, as he took upon himself the entire urgency of their desire to marry.

He invited him to sit in the residence, but he declined, saying, "I am not prepared today; it would be inappropriate to come empty-handed. I will prepare a formal invitation and visit properly later, so as not to bring shame upon you."

Yingming slightly turned her head, catching a glimpse of him walking with his hands behind his back, dressed in a casual outfit of evening wave blue, which made him appear like a pine or cypress tree

The girl who admired him took the initiative to come and see him, which left him both flattered and surprised, yet he vaguely felt that it was not merely a simple visit. After much consideration and finding it inappropriate to ask directly, he smiled and pointed ahead, "This long embankment leads to the Qiongfu Garden; that garden was once the private residence of a Hanlin scholar from the previous dynasty. Later, when the family fell into decline, they were reluctant to part with the garden, so they simply built a wall to allow people to visit. Has your sister been there?"

He fell silent, lowering his eyes and said, "Soon we will have to part ways as well, just thinking about it makes my heart feel uneasy."

For the first time, she fought for herself, and with such a significant proposition, she returned to the courtyard and sat down, her heart still pounding. The maidservants came and went in the room, attending to her as she washed her hands and changed her clothes, yet she managed to remain composed. Once the people dispersed, she suddenly couldn't help but laugh when she recalled Hai Yintai's expression just now

On a clear day, the willow trees sprouted new buds, their long tendrils tinged with a faint emerald hue, gently brushing against the surface of her umbrella in the breeze. She remained silent, her brows and eyes curved as she gazed at him, and within that gaze, he experienced a slight, intoxicating illusion.

The garden is not far ahead, and the flowering trees from the Daye Dynasty have been preserved for over a hundred years. The pear trees and the black maple have grown tall and robust. The pear blossoms have fallen, and now it is time for the black maple to bloom. Clusters of flowers extend like antennae from the delicate young leaves, not beautiful but resilient, steadfastly awaiting the impending fiery display that will cover the trees.

Hai Yintai escorted her back, and she sat inside the carriage while he rode alongside outside. Upon reaching the entrance, he dismounted, lifted the curtain for her, and extended an arm to assist her. That hand was right in front of her, with slender and strong fingers beneath the stone blue arrow sleeves. She lightly rested her hand on it, and if nothing unexpected occurred, this warmth would continue on indefinitely

In fact, he knows everything. The situation in the court is treacherous; the queen's death has opened a gap, with some wanting to come out and others wanting to enter. Marrying her now is to save her from peril, allowing her to completely extricate herself from this quagmire. This marriage does not imply any opposition to the emperor; rather, it alleviates the emperor's urgent predicament, sparing him the dilemma between imperial power and marriage. From a broader perspective, it is practically a contribution to the rescue of the throne

In the end, there is an inexplicable sense of discouragement; the laws of fate in this world are unpredictable, and no one knows what tomorrow will bring

Looking at the incense burner, the soft smoke gradually dissipated, indicating that the incense was about to burn out. She rose and sat down at the writing desk, instructing Song Ge to bring the incense. Lifting the lid, she used a round ash press to flatten the incense ash. Recently, she had acquired a jar of fine agarwood and, feeling inspired today, decided to open it and prepare a batch of incense.

Ignoring her, "There is nothing good happening."

Her face flushed as she let out a soft sound, originally prepared for this moment. His words caught her off guard, leaving her unsure of how to respond. The handkerchief twisted into a tight rope, constricting her fingertips as she lowered her head and said: "There is no grievance or anything of the sort; I have never liked overly lively occasions... There is still a month left; will you have enough time to prepare?"

Hai Yintai said it was still possible, "Even if I don't eat or sleep, I must make it in time." After saying this, he became flustered, suddenly realizing there were still so many things left to do. The tighter the schedule, the more meticulous the etiquette must be. He stopped in his tracks to ponder carefully; he could no longer stroll in the garden. He murmured, "Then I shall return to inform my parents, and start preparing immediately... Yes, first I need to choose a good date, finalize the major arrangements, and only then can we discuss further... Also, the house, the house needs some repairs as well..."

Yingming also felt very happy. The social circle within the capital's gates appears vast, yet in reality, it is quite small. There are only so many young men and women of marriageable age, and finding someone who is worthy of trust among them is exceedingly difficult. The two of them are relatively fortunate, being of suitable age, having matching social standings, and sharing compatible temperaments. Thus, there is no need for further hesitation; once the formalities are completed, many worries can be spared.

Yingming watched him lose his composure, feeling both amused and comforted at the same time

Two people walk side by side along the long embankment, with new buds on the branches and the grass gradually turning green on the ground. In the month of March, as the grass grows and the orioles fly, it evokes a sense of revival and rejuvenation

The two individuals who are engaged, though only slightly acquainted, harbor a sense of contentment and security regarding their union. When they meet, everything feels particularly harmonious. There seems to be no need to hasten in expressing longing and affection; a mere exchange of glances, accompanied by a smile that conveys a thousand unspoken words, is already more than sufficient.

Words lingered on the tip of her tongue, difficult to articulate. She hesitated, and just then, he reached out to take her umbrella. The young woman's umbrella was far more delicate than the man's, both in its canopy and its ribs. He grasped the spot where she had just held it, the subtly contoured handle adorned with begonia flowers still retaining a faint warmth. He said, "Next time, I will make you a new one, lighter and more comfortable to hold."

On the street, their reluctant farewell drew laughter; Lu Ge stepped forward to assist her, but she averted her gaze and stepped over the threshold, lifting her skirt.

She tucked her hands and nodded with a smile, "Then you may go back." With a gentle gaze, she looked at him, as if a single glance could hold a thousand pearls.