Chapter 37

April was half over, and the weather was clear and pleasant.

Sang Yao, who didn’t like bookkeeping or reading much, was often idle in the mansion.

In the past, she would pass the time by doing embroidery or lying on the couch reading, but recently, her eyes had been hurting from reading too much. In her boredom, she began to think of other ways to pass the time.

And these days, she had indeed come up with a very interesting idea.

She had always remembered the small pastry from the princess’s mansion last time, and recently, a pastry chef had just arrived at the mansion. Although the small pastry was not common in the capital, and the chef hadn’t heard of it, after Sang Yao vividly described it, they managed to come up with something similar.

Sang Yao’s confidence increased, and these days she began to learn how to make pastries, which could be eaten and played with.

On this day, she saw that the weather was good, so she leisurely had someone bring her a plate of rough version of the small pastries and some tea, and went to the lotus pavilion in the backyard of the mansion.

The sunlight was warm, the water shimmered, and the gentle breeze lifted the hem of the young girl’s skirt.

Sang Yao sat on a bench, her slender arms resting on the railing, holding a half-eaten pastry in her hand, breaking off a piece and watching the fish scramble for it in the water.

“Ran Dong, do you think it’s too immature of me to go out and still think about the pastries from the princess’s mansion?”

Ran Dong said, “How could that be? Besides, Miss, you’re still young.”

As Sang Yao swung her arms, mentioning her age reminded her of her frustrating marriage issue.

Originally, she should have been betrothed last year, but Sang Yin thought she was still childish, so it was delayed until this year.

But no matter how much it was delayed, she would definitely be married off in these two years.

Sang Yao herself didn’t really have any big ambitions.

To go be a concubine for someone else wouldn’t be a problem.

Sang Yao didn’t consider as much as her father did. She just hoped to marry a normal man.

He didn’t have to be high-ranking, or a prodigal son who descended to the mortal world. As long as he was gentle, knowledgeable, respectful of her wishes, that would be fine.

This seemed like a high requirement, but Sang Yao thought of a backup plan. If the other party was rough and simple-minded… she could still accept it, as long as he was a man of integrity inside.

Lost in thought, she heard a commotion not far away.

Ran Dong took a few steps forward to take a look, then came back and said, “Miss, the eldest young master is back, and it seems that there is also a young master with him.”

“It’s the top scholar from the other day.”

Sang Yao sat up straight. She was just wondering how to return the umbrella to Yang Wenchuan, but now that he was coming over, she wouldn’t have to make the trip.

Sang Yao hurriedly said, “Go get the umbrella I brought back the other day.”

As they were talking, the voices of the two men grew closer. Sang Yan waved to Sang Yao from afar and said, “Yao Yao, look who’s here!”

Sang Yao always felt that something was off about this, but she still looked over.

Yang Wenchuan was dressed in a light blue robe, handsome and smiling as he looked at her from among the leaves, and waved to her.

Sang Yao stood up.

The two men had already arrived in front of her, and Sang Yan said, “Yao Yao, I didn’t expect you and Brother Yang to be old acquaintances. It’s been more than ten years since you last saw each other. If it’s not fate, what is it?”

It was indeed quite fateful. Sang Yao asked softly, “Big brother, aren’t you in the palace?”

“How did you come back?”

Sang Yan said, “I had to go to the countryside for something, and I happened to pass by here. I can only stay for a while, and I’ll be leaving soon.”

He added, “By the way, Yao Yao, it’s urgent. You chat with Brother Yang here first. I have to go find Father.”

Before Sang Yao could respond, Sang Yan hurriedly left.

Now there were only Sang Yao and Yang Wenchuan left in the pavilion.

Sang Yao looked at him first and said, “Thank you for the umbrella you left for me last time.”

Perhaps because they had known each other since childhood, Sang Yao always felt a special affinity with Yang Wenchuan.

Moreover, when Yang Wenchuan spoke to Sang Yao, he was familiar but also respectful, so even though they were alone now, Sang Yao didn’t feel awkward.

Yang Wenchuan said, “When I left, the rain hadn’t fallen yet, so I thought I wouldn’t need it, so I left it for you.”

He glanced at Sang Yao and asked, “Have you used it?”

Sang Yao couldn’t help but think of the cold and refined face of Xie Yun.

With that came the dim and narrow space, and the sound of pouring rain still lingered in her ears.

She couldn’t help but feel her cheeks heat up, and said somewhat guiltily, “I…I have used it.”

Yang Wenchuan smiled and said, “That’s good.”

As they spoke, he looked down at a plate of peculiar pastries on the stone table in front of him.

“What is this?”

Following Yang Wenchuan’s gaze, Sang Yao saw several crooked and twisted little things lying on the porcelain plate, each seeming to be emblazoned with the word “embarrassing.”

Sang Yao suddenly felt embarrassed, as if she were back in her childhood, when her father taught her to write, and she made mistakes more often than not.

She quickly said, “Brother Yang, although it doesn’t look very good, it tastes okay.”

Yang Wenchuan asked in surprise, “Did you make this yourself?”

Sang Yao nodded.

She picked up the plate and tentatively asked, “Do you want to try some?”

Yang Wenchuan picked up a piece and said, “Thank you, Yao Yao.”

Under Sang Yao’s expectant gaze, Yang Wenchuan nodded in satisfaction and exclaimed, “It’s even better than what the chef in my house makes. I didn’t know you had such talent.”

Sang Yao knew that Yang Wenchuan was just trying to comfort her with his words, but she was still very happy to be praised.

She whispered, “I wanted to make that little pastry, but I couldn’t make it look like that.”

It was at this moment that Ran Dong brought the umbrella over.

Sang Yao took it and handed it to Yang Wenchuan, saying, “Brother Yang, here’s your umbrella.”

Yang Wenchuan looked down and said, “Yao Yao, you’re too polite. It’s just an umbrella.”

Sang Yao said, “But it still needs to be returned.”

Yang Wenchuan thought for a moment and said, “But I have to go back to the Hanlin Academy later, and it’s a bit inconvenient to carry the umbrella with me.”

He looked at the plate of pastries and said, “If you don’t mind, how about using this plate of pastries instead?”

Sang Yao looked at her own plate of mismatched pastries and said, “Well…”

Yang Wenchuan nodded and said gently, “If you don’t want to, it’s okay.”

What was there to not want? Sang Yao said, “Then Ran Dong, go find a food box.”