Her kite had returned.

Lu Minghua lowered her eyes, lost in thought, and then gently smiled. It was as if the regret from the past had been soothed with the return of this kite. What she cared about had finally received a response.

“Thank Young Master Yuan for me,” Lu Minghua looked up, her eyes filled with a smile as if stars had fallen on the spring water, gentle and brilliant.

The person who brought the kite had already left, and Lu Minghua quickly prepared a gift to send over. Thinking that the neighbors seemed wealthy and lacked nothing, she felt that an ordinary gift wouldn’t adequately express her gratitude. She pondered for a while and found herself at a loss.

“Miss, why not send some of your homemade pastries?” Mama Li suggested with a mix of amusement and heartache. Her young lady was so meticulous and considerate, yet now she seemed a bit flustered. It showed how little kindness she had received, making her deeply moved by even this small gesture.

“Alright, alright,” Lu Minghua agreed, nodding. Then she hesitated, “Wouldn’t that be too simple?”

Mama Li was about to speak when she heard her young lady say thoughtfully, “I remember receiving a military book once. Where is it?”

Lu Minghua recalled that Young Master Yuan next door was a military man who might be interested in that book, a rare work by a renowned military strategist. She had come across it by chance.

Such a precious book was naturally brought along by Mama Li, who quickly found it.

Lu Minghua took it, flipped through a couple of pages, placed it carefully in a wooden box, and sent it along with the food box.

“Wait, I’ll go myself.” After a moment of hesitation, Lu Minghua decided to go next door with her servants.

As soon as she knocked, the door opened. Zhao Shiyi had been waiting for a while and was surprised Miss Lu had come in person.

“Steward Zhao, is Young Master Yuan here?” Lu Minghua asked politely with a gentle smile.

“He is. Miss, this is?” Zhao Shiyi’s eyes flashed. It was his first time seeing Lu Minghua up close. He had only heard that this young lady was extraordinary, but seeing her now, he realized her beauty was indeed exceptional.

“Young Master Yuan helped me find my kite, so I prepared some pastries to express my gratitude. I hope he won’t mind. Steward Zhao, please convey my thanks,” Lu Minghua said, taking the food box from Mama Li and handing it to Zhao Shiyi.

Seeing Lu Minghua’s gentle and smiling expression, Zhao Shiyi’s eyes twinkled. Instead of taking the box, he stepped aside and smiled, “Miss Lu, you’re too kind. It was my master’s idea. Please come in.”

Lu Minghua paused, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped inside.

The sun was setting, and it was near dusk.

After dinner, Yan Yuanhua lay on the soft couch, flipping through a storybook, when he suddenly heard a series of light footsteps outside. He paused.

“Master, Miss Lu is here,” Zhao Shiyi announced loudly as he entered the courtyard.

Mama Li’s eyebrows twitched, thinking that this steward’s manners were rather crude. What kind of steward in a household would be so loud and boisterous? She thought to herself that if someone employed such a steward, Young Master Yuan probably belonged to a merchant family rather than a noble family.

Yan Yuanhua quickly sat up and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, feeling a bit annoyed that Zhao Shiyi hadn’t informed him in advance. He got up and went out, seeing Lu Minghua in a green dress standing in the courtyard, looking up with a gentle smile against the backdrop of the beautiful sunset.

“Miss Lu, please come in,” Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but smile as he stepped forward.

They all entered the main hall and sat down. Lu Minghua took a seat, and the maids quickly placed the food box and wooden box on the small table beside her.

“Young Master Yuan, thank you for finding my kite. I wanted to give you a gift, but since you’ve helped me several times, I thought an ordinary gift might be too shallow. So, I decided to give you some pastries I made myself. If you don’t mind, please try them,” Lu Minghua said with a smile after some pleasantries.

As she spoke, Lu Minghua stood up, ready to deliver the gift herself. Strangely, Young Master Yuan’s house had no maids, so she couldn’t let her maids do it and had to come herself.

Yan Yuanhua stood up and took the gift, saying, “It was just a small favor, but it’s my honor to receive pastries made by Miss Lu.”

Zhao Shiyi finally brought the tea and couldn’t help but scoff internally.

A small favor? It was an early morning mission, sending their soldiers to climb cliffs and search the eastern mountains. How was that a small favor?

Glancing at his master, he saw that Yan Yuanhua’s smile remained, but his gaze toward Miss Lu was much softer than when he looked at them, making Zhao Shiyi scoff again internally.

After delivering the food box, Lu Minghua took out the wooden box.

As Yan Yuanhua reached out to take it, he felt an unusual texture on his fingertip. He instinctively looked up and met Lu Minghua’s surprised eyes.

Their gazes locked, and both froze. Lu Minghua’s breath caught at the rough texture of his fingertip, leaving her speechless. Apart from Wei Yuntai, Lu Minghua had never experienced such intimate contact with a man, not even her father, due to their distant relationship.

Yan Yuanhua was also stunned. His shoulder injury made his hand less agile, and it was just an unfortunate coincidence…

He quickly moved his hand aside, holding the corner of the wooden box.

Lu Minghua hurriedly withdrew her hand, placing it in her sleeve, but the rough touch lingered.

Yan Yuanhua’s lips moved, wanting to apologize, but the moment had passed unnoticed. Speaking up would only cause awkwardness. He was fine, but he worried about making Lu Minghua uncomfortable. After some thought, he decided not to say anything, just looking at her apologetically.

Lu Minghua lowered her eyes, and after a moment, she finally looked up, meeting Yan Yuanhua’s apologetic gaze. She instinctively looked away, then, regaining her composure, looked back and smiled gently, indicating she was fine.

However, she still felt uncomfortable. After exchanging a few words, Lu Minghua stood up to leave.

“I’ll walk you out,” Yan Yuanhua said, standing up.

Unable to refuse, Lu Minghua walked with him to the door.

The tall figure of the man walked beside her, and for a moment, there was silence, with a subtle atmosphere lingering between them.

Wanting to break the silence, Lu Minghua looked around the courtyard and casually found something to say.

Yan Yuanhua, willing to cooperate, responded, and they began to chat intermittently.

When they reached the door, Lu Minghua finally felt a sense of relief. But when she looked up and met Yan Yuanhua’s bright eyes, she instinctively looked away again. Her gaze fell on an empty spot, and she said goodbye before turning to leave.

The light green figure gradually receded, and Yan Yuanhua looked down at his fingertips. It was as if he could still feel the soft, tender touch.

After that day, Lu Minghua didn’t go out for several days. Yan Yuanhua, on the other hand, went out every day but didn’t see the gentle, smiling young woman again.

It wasn’t until mid-February that he saw her again.

The morning sunlight was clear and gentle. A carriage was already prepared outside the villa. As Yan Yuanhua stepped out, he saw the gate of the neighboring courtyard open, and Lu Minghua, dressed in a misty purple dress, stepped out. Her eyes were heavy, and her face no longer held a smile, looking as if she was about to go on a long journey. His eyes lit up, and he walked over quickly.

“Miss Lu,” he called, “Are you going out?”

Lu Minghua had already noticed his figure from the corner of her eye and instinctively looked away. However, after these days, she could maintain her composure and smiled as she looked at him, saying, “Young Master Yuan, good morning. I received news from home yesterday, and I need to go back.”

“Safe travels,” Yan Yuanhua said.

“Thank you, Young Master Yuan,” Lu Minghua replied, nodding. She got into the carriage, and as soon as she turned around, the smile on her face faded again.

The carriage gradually moved away, and the wind carried away the faint scent of jasmine. Yan Yuanhua suddenly lost the desire to go out and turned back, calling Zhao Shiyi to ask, “What’s been happening at the Wen’an Earl’s residence lately?”

“The heir of the Ningguo Marquis is seeking to marry the fourth young lady of the Wen’an Earl’s residence, and the wedding is set for tomorrow,” Zhao Shiyi replied, internally grumbling that his master had said he wanted to rest and not bother with such matters, yet now he was asking.

No need to think much; it was definitely because of Miss Lu next door.

Yan Yuanhua’s eyes flickered. He had known about Wei Yuntai and Lu Minghua’s sister, but he hadn’t expected—

“How impatient,” he sneered.

Zhao Shiyi didn’t understand the situation, seeing his master’s mocking expression, and was confused.

Yan Yuanhua frowned slightly. Wei Yuntai’s actions disregarded Lu Minghua’s position, and he wondered what people in the capital would say about her.

In the carriage, Lu Minghua’s face was very unpleasant. She didn’t want to return for Lu Mingxi’s wedding, but this time, Lu Chengsong had been persistent, even sending someone yesterday to say he would come personally if she didn’t return. She had no choice but to leave.

Without stopping, she soon arrived at the Wen’an Earl’s residence. The usually elegant residence was now decorated with lanterns and streamers, and the servants were all cheerful. But upon seeing Lu Minghua, they instinctively restrained themselves, sneaking glances at her.

“Minghua, you’re back.” Busy in the second courtyard, Madam Qin, supervising the servants’ careful arrangements, saw Lu Minghua and greeted her with a smile. She looked rejuvenated as if she had become a few years younger.

Seeing this, Lu Minghua couldn’t help but recall her own wedding.

Lu Mingxi had fallen ill at that time, and Madam Qin had been entirely focused on her, leaving no time for Lu Minghua. All the wedding arrangements were left to the maids and servants, who eventually sought her help.

It’s quite funny to think that she had to prepare most of her own wedding.

Looking at Madam Qin, Lu Minghua smiled, surprised to find that she felt nothing— No, there was something. It was annoyance. Returning to this place that should be called home made her miss her own villa.

“Mother,” Lu Minghua said warmly as she approached, unhurried and polite. But looking into her smiling eyes, Madam Qin suddenly felt a void in her heart. It was as if something essential was missing. She felt a bit panicked but didn’t understand why.

“Minghua, how have you been living on the mountain? When you’ve had enough of the solitude, come back and live here. I always worry about you in that desolate place,” Madam Qin said, stepping forward to hold her hand.

“Mama Li and the others have always taken good care of me. Mother, you don’t need to worry,” Lu Minghua said lightly, changing the subject.

Madam Qin hesitated but followed her lead.

After chatting for a bit, the mother and daughter went to see the bride for tomorrow. With the wedding approaching, Lu Mingxi’s usually pale face looked much better. Seeing Lu Minghua, she looked up and gave a bright smile.

“Sister, you’re finally back. I was worried before… It’s good that you’re back,” she said, her slender figure fluttering like a dancing butterfly, not hiding her joy and the shyness of a new bride.

“Sister’s big day, of course, I had to come back,” Lu Minghua said. She had been unhappy on the way back, dreading facing all this, but seeing the cheerful Lu Mingxi, she suddenly smiled.

Her dear sister really thought the Marquis’ residence was a good place.

“Thank you, sister,” Lu Mingxi said, lowering her head, her cheeks blushing.

Lu Minghua smiled gently again and said, “I wish my sister and Wei Yuntai a long and happy life together, never to be separated.”

She had said this blessing several times, but each time Lu Mingxi heard it, she couldn’t help but feel a chill.

“Sister, don’t just talk about me. What about you?” Lu Mingxi said, secretly mocking Lu Minghua’s bravado.

Madam Qin seemed to be reminded of something, looking at her.

Feeling cautious, Lu Minghua smiled slightly and said, “I’m enjoying my freedom for now and have no other plans. Let’s talk about it later.”

Madam Qin hesitated, and a subtle smile appeared in Lu Mingxi’s eyes.

Seeing their reactions, Lu Minghua realized something was going on that she didn’t know about, making her even more alert. She planned to investigate later, but Madam Qin quickly provided the answer.

“Minghua, do you know Prince Changping?” After seeing Lu Mingxi, Madam Qin took Lu Minghua back to her courtyard and, after a moment of hesitation, asked.

Lu Minghua nodded. She knew of him.

A lecherous man with a harem full of beauties, who had lost three wives, and whose household was in chaos. Madam Qin wouldn’t ask about him for no reason— Her heart tightened as she listened to Qin Shi continue.

“Your father said Prince Changping wants to marry you as his consort. What do you think?”

The faint smile on Lu Minghua’s face gradually disappeared, and she looked at Madam Qin expressionlessly. Every time she thought she couldn’t be more disappointed in her parents, they managed to prove her wrong.

“Mother, Prince Changping has over a dozen sons, and his eldest son’s child is only a few years younger than me. His harem has dozens of beauties, and you want me to marry him?” Lu Minghua stared at her biological mother, feeling as if she didn’t know her at all.

“If you marry him, you’ll be a princess,” Madam Qin tried to persuade her. Seeing Lu Minghua ignore her, she added, “You’re divorced, and with the Ningguo Marquis’ residence involved, who would dare marry you? Now that the prince is willing, it’s the best match you could hope for. Do you want to be alone forever?”

“So what if I do?” Lu Minghua sneered.

She would rather become a nun than marry the so-called Prince Changping.

“You’ve become too headstrong. I can’t control you anymore. But your father has already agreed to this marriage. Think it over,” Madam Qin said, annoyed, and left after dropping this bombshell.