Chapter 23: Worrying About Her Cousin!

The last few days of March.

Liu Ru Yan and Song Yan ran had sent Mu Rong Shu an invitation in advance. They had planned to visit Hui Shan Temple together.

Song Wei and Rong Qing were busy today, and Song Wei was worried about Mu Rong Shu going alone. So, she asked her eldest son, Mu Si Shu, to escort his younger sister.

The Rong residence was on the way to the Liu residence, so the Mu Rong siblings stopped by to pick up Liu Ru Yan. Initially, Liu Si Rang was concerned about Ru Yan going alone, but seeing Mu Si Shu and Mu Rong Shu together, he was immediately reassured.

Inside the carriage

“Shu Er, thank goodness you and Brother Shu came along, or else my father would have lectured me for ages. Sigh, my father is even more… overbearing than my mother. Is Uncle Rong like this too?” Liu Ru Yan began complaining about her father as soon as she got into the carriage.

“My father is quite similar to Uncle Liu. Sometimes, my second uncle is even more emotional than your father,” Mu Rong Shu replied, recalling her second uncle’s childish antics when competing for attention with her father. He wasn’t much better than Liu Si Rang.

“Sigh, these days, even going out makes him overthink things. What will he do when I get married someday?” Liu Ru Yan sighed deeply, genuinely concerned about her father.

“Why not ask Uncle Liu if he’d like to accompany you as part of your dowry to our General’s residence?” Mu Rong Shu teased her with a grin.

“Shu Er, I… I’m not talking to you anymore!” Liu Ru Yan’s face turned red with embarrassment. Her “Brother Shu” was outside, and Shu Er had spoken so loudly, he must have overheard!

“Big Brother can’t hear us, Ru Yan. Don’t get upset. Besides, Big Brother already told me he only likes you. Ru Yan can only marry him,” Mu Rong Shu said, clinging to Liu Ru Yan’s arm and acting playfully.

Mu Rong Shu’s words made Liu Ru Yan blush even more, but the joy in her eyes was unmistakable. She stammered, “Brother Shu… really said that? You’re not making it up, are you?”

“Of course not! How could I lie to Ru Yan Jie?” Mu Rong Shu nearly swore to prove her sincerity.

“I believe you, Shu Er,” Liu Ru Yan quickly interrupted, worried Shu Er might actually make an oath. The two young girls laughed and teased each other in the carriage.

Mu Si Shu, who had practiced martial arts for years, had exceptional hearing. He heard the conversation between his sister and Liu Ru Yan in the carriage loud and clear.

Silently, he vowed to treat both his sister and Liu Ru Yan even better. When they arrived at Hui Shan Temple, he planned to pray for a good match for Ru Yan. Once back home, he’d urge his mother to arrange a marriage proposal with the Liu family. Only when the engagement was set could he be at ease.

When Mu Rong Shu and her group arrived at Hui Shan Temple, Song Yan ran was already waiting for them.

“Yan ran, why are you here so early?” Mu Rong Shu asked, surprised to see her cousin.

“Early? You don’t know how early Grandmother and Mother woke up! The Wisdom Master is giving a lecture today, and Grandmother always comes well in advance every month,” Song Yan ran explained, wishing she could have come with her cousin to avoid waking up so early.

“You’ve worked hard, Yan ran. Let’s head up quickly!”

“Shu Er, Ru Yan, don’t tell me you two are planning to listen to the scripture lecture too. Let me warn you, I’m not going! The Master’s teachings are way too profound, I can’t understand them at all,” Song Yan ran declared, seeing Mu Rong Shu and Liu Ru Yan looking eager to head up the mountain.

She took the opportunity to clarify her stance, having used waiting for Mu Rong Shu as an excuse to skip the lecture. The last thing she wanted was to be dragged back to it.

Her words amused everyone, and Mu Rong Shu tugged at her cousin’s arm, laughing. “Don’t worry, Yan ran. We’re definitely not going to the lecture. Didn’t you say the view behind Hui Shan Temple is breathtaking? I’m just excited to go see it!”

“Of course, your cousin wouldn’t lie to you. The scenery behind Hui Shan Temple is renowned even in the capital. I come here every year. This time, I’ll make sure you appreciate it fully, you’ll definitely fall in love with it!”

Hearing that Mu Rong Shu was eager to explore the scenery, Song Yan ran instantly perked up, as if energized, and started pulling her along. She turned back to Mu Si Shu and Liu Ru Yan, saying:

“Since both of you come here every year, you don’t need to follow us today. I heard the matchmaking tree now has a new matchmaking bridge nearby. Cousin, why not take Ru Yan there? Pray to Yue Lao, and maybe next year Shu Er and I will have a sister-in-law!”

Her teasing left both Liu Ru Yan and Mu Si Shu blushing furiously. Mu Si Shu stammered, “But you and my sister, just the two of you…”

“Don’t worry, Cousin. This is Hui Shan Temple, who would dare cause trouble here? You take Ru Yan now, and we’ll meet up at the flower valley later. I promise to look after Shu Er.”

“Big Brother, Ru Yan, hurry up and go. It’s rare to have such a chance to come out. I’ll stay with Yan ran, and we’ll meet up later,” Mu Rong Shu chimed in, helping to persuade them.

Mu Si Shu hesitated, but seeing the hopeful look in Liu Ru Yan’s eyes, he finally relented. “Then I’ll trouble Yan ran to look after Shu Er. Ru Yan and I will meet you later.”

“Of course, Cousin. Shu Er will be in good hands. Now hurry up and take Ru Yan before the place gets crowded. Shu Er, let’s go!”

Song Yan ran urged her cousin to leave quickly so she and Shu Er could go off and have fun. Mu Si Shu gave his cousin a polite bow and led Liu Ru Yan in the opposite direction.

“Shu Er, you see, Cousin has liked Ru Yan since childhood, but every time he sees her, he gets tongue-tied. It even made Ru Yan think he didn’t like her, and they almost missed their chance,” Song Yan ran said, shaking her head as she recounted her cousin’s clueless behavior.

“Thank you for helping today, Yan ran. When Big Brother finally marries Ru Yan, my brother and I will treat you to a big feast!” Mu Rong Shu said, knowing how much effort Yan ran must have put in to help her cousin win over Ru Yan.

“Forget the feast. If I eat too much, Mother will scold me for gaining weight. Shu Er, just give me a jar of your beauty cream instead,” Song Yan ran replied, her tone teasing yet sincere, she really adored Mu Rong Shu’s homemade beauty cream.

“That’s easy, Yan ran. Whenever you run out, just come to me for more. I’ll make sure you look gorgeous every day!”

“With Shu Er’s promise, I’m all set. I’ll rely on you from now on,” Yan ran said, laughing as the two walked off together.

Since they’d arrived early, the back mountain was still relatively quiet, with only a few groups of young men and women enjoying the outing.

Song Yan ran, familiar with the area from her yearly visits, eagerly led Mu Rong Shu around, stopping at various spots to explain the scenery. At every turn, she shared stories, even recounting how a young lady fell here last year.

Mu Rong Shu couldn’t help but think her cousin would make a top-tier tour guide in modern times, she was that thorough.

As Yan Ran animatedly introduced another spot, she noticed Shu Er staring off at a sea of flowers in the distance.

“Shu Er?” she called, but her cousin remained entranced by the view. Curious, Yan Ran followed her gaze and froze in shock.