Chapter 15: Encounter in the Garden, Invited to Join

Ru Yan led Mu Rong Shu through the garden to admire the peonies. Although Ru Yan had a lively personality, she was also a talented young woman who loved peonies.

“Shu Er, look at how beautiful these peonies are! The Empress really is amazing, to have cultivated them so perfectly.”

Seeing the admiration on Ru Yan’s face, Mu Rong Shu took a look around. The peonies were indeed beautiful, though not as striking as the ones in Luo Yang in modern times. Still, they were quite impressive.

“Since you like them so much, why not try planting a few yourself?”

“I couldn’t possibly,” Ru Yan said, shaking her head. “Taking care of them would take up too much time. It’s better not to start.” She didn’t believe she could keep the peonies alive.

As the two of them walked further into the garden, the sound of cheers grew louder. Mu Rong Shu couldn’t help but ask, “Ru Yan Jie, why is it so lively up ahead?”

“Up ahead, they’re holding a game of throwing arrows, shooting, and a poetry contest. Do you want to go see it?” Ru Yan’s face lit up, eager for Mu Rong Shu to agree.

“Can we go too?” Mu Rong Shu asked, uncertain about the city’s customs. She wanted to go, but she worried that as a first-time guest, she might unintentionally break the rules.

“Of course! This is how everyone enjoys themselves at these banquets. Come on, I’ll take you to see it, and next time, you can join me.”

“Alright, but Ru Yan Jie, please walk a bit slower. I don’t want you to trip.” Mu Rong Shu couldn’t help but smile at Ru Yan’s excited pace.

By the time they arrived, a large crowd had gathered around. Ru Yan led Mu Rong Shu through the crowd, and as soon as Mu Rong Shu caught sight of the scene, she was captivated.

In the center, there was a young gentleman dressed in white, his appearance like snow. His exquisite features and handsome face shone, sitting by the Gu Qin, making everything around him seem dull in comparison.

Mu Rong Shu couldn’t take her eyes off Wen Jing. Her heart raced uncontrollably as she realized what had been awakened inside her that day in the carriage, it was the feeling of love.

“Shu Er, snap out of it. That young man in white is Wen Jing, the third son of the Wen family. He’s talented, with a wealth of knowledge, and exceptionally handsome, but no one dares to marry him.”

Ru Yan noticed that Mu Rong Shu was staring intently at Wen Jing and quickly explained.

“Why not?” Mu Rong Shu blurted out. “Is he strange, or maybe… does he have a bad temper?” Her mind raced through countless reasons why such a handsome young man might be unmarriageable.

“Wen San Gong Zi is in poor health. It’s rumored he won’t live past his twentieth year.” Ru Yan whispered the reason to Mu Rong Shu.

“How old is he now?”

“In half a year, he will reach his twentieth year. So…” Ru Yan’s voice was filled with regret.

Perhaps Mu Rong Shu’s gaze was too intense, but Wen Jing, who had been playing the Gu Qin, felt her stare. He looked up to find the source, and as their eyes met, the world seemed to mute, and they both saw the shock and admiration in each other’s eyes.

It felt as though this person was meant to be his, as if they were always destined to meet. Only when the bell at Wen Jing’s waist rang did he snap out of the moment, staring at the bell in disbelief before glancing at Mu Rong Shu. A bold guess formed in his mind.

Wen Zhi, sitting nearby with several of his younger cousins, was the first to hear the bell. They were stunned at first, then ecstatic. The bell signified the breaking of the Wen family’s curse.

“Little sister, Ru Yan, what are you two doing here?” Mu Si Shu hurried over when he saw his younger sister and the girl he admired.

“Big brother, Ru Yan Jie and I just came to join the fun,” Mu Rong Shu said a bit awkwardly, caught by her older brother.

“Si Shu, you’re here too. I thought you wouldn’t come today,” Ru Yan said, blushing as she greeted him.

“Ru Yan Jie, you… you’re here too?” Mu Si Shu stammered as he looked at her.

Mu Rong Shu, watching the interaction, couldn’t help but wonder if her big brother and Ru Yan Jie were a couple. It seemed like they had the perfect match, both talented, with complementary personalities, and they had known each other since childhood. They even seemed to like each other. If they didn’t end up married, it would go against the natural order!

Just as Mu Rong Shu was reveling in her gossip, enjoying the sweet drama, a pleasant male voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Miss Mu Rong Shu!”

Startled, Mu Rong Shu looked up to find Wen Jing standing in front of her.

She was stunned. She hadn’t done anything, just quietly observing, but Wen Jing had called out to her. His voice, deep and melodious like a cello, was irresistible to her, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Third Young Master Wen, greetings.” Though Mu Rong Shu was still lost in his voice and appearance, she composed herself and returned the greeting gracefully.

“Little sister, let me introduce you. This is Wen San Gong Zi, Wen Jing Yu,” Mu Si Shu introduced his younger sister.

“Third Young Master, this is my younger sister, Mu Rong Shu. She just returned not long ago.” The two exchanged polite greetings, officially introducing themselves.

Wen Jing felt a warmth surrounding him, a feeling of ease he had never experienced before. It was a sensation Mu Rong Shu had given him, and instinctively, he moved closer to greet her, his body almost uncontrollably drawn to her presence.

Apart from the ringing of the bell, the physical sensation in his body clearly told him that Mu Rong Shu was the person he had been searching for, the person the Wen family had been waiting for all this time.

Wen Jing’s heart was filled with excitement and relief. Although he was usually very composed, at this moment, he almost lost his restraint. His clenched fists betrayed his nervousness.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Wen Jing said to the group, “Wen San Gong Zi, let’s take Miss Liu and Miss Mu to see the activities over there. There are games suited for ladies.”

“Qing Er, sister, do you want to go?” Mu Si Shu didn’t directly agree but first turned to ask his sister and Liu Ru Yan.

Naturally, Mu Rong Shu was happy to go if a handsome man was accompanying her, and Liu Ru Yan, delighted to be with her crush, also smiled. The two nodded in agreement.

Mu Rong Shu stole a glance at Wen Jing. He didn’t look like someone who was gravely ill. How could there be rumors about him not surviving past his twentieth year?

But then, she thought about the early death of Miss Mu’s fate. If she hadn’t transmigrated here, wouldn’t she herself have died before the age of sixteen? Although she believed in science, her transmigration had made her more wary of certain things.

Once she came to terms with this, Mu Rong Shu didn’t dwell on it any longer. She turned to Wen Jing and asked, “Third Young Master Wen, would you be willing to explain the rules of these games to me?”

Wen Jing hadn’t expected Mu Rong Shu to speak to him directly. After a brief moment of surprise, he bowed respectfully. “I would be more than happy to.”

Wen Jing collected his thoughts and began to patiently explain the games happening in the garden today to Mu Rong Shu.

As his deep, magnetic voice reached Mu Rong Shu’s ears, she felt a sense of fulfillment in her life. His voice, combined with his handsome appearance, captivated her entirely.

Fortunately, Mu Rong Shu reminded herself that this was ancient times, not the modern world. Otherwise, she would have probably asked, “Little brother, would you be interested in having a relationship?”

Mu Si Shu and Liu Ru Yan were also drawn in by Wen Jing’s explanation. Liu Ru Yan looked up at Mu Rong Shu and Wen Jing, sensing that they somehow seemed perfectly matched. The aura between them felt as though it was naturally meant to be.