Chapter 48

Lu Minghua got off the carriage, still somewhat distracted. She glanced back at the gate, and Wei Yuntai’s haggard appearance was still fresh in her mind.

Why was he chasing after the carriage? She frowned slightly.

“Minghua, you’re so late,” Yan Yuanhua hurriedly came out to greet her, took her hand, and gently complained. But upon seeing her, his face lit up with a radiant smile.

“We’ve been on the road for three-quarters of an hour without a break. How am I late?” Lu Minghua retorted.

“But we haven’t seen each other for a long time,” Yan Yuanhua sighed, looking at her intently, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

“Didn’t we just meet yesterday?” Being looked at like this, Lu Minghua’s cheeks unknowingly heated.

Although she hadn’t come in the past three days, Yan Yuanhua had gone to the town to see her every day.

“A day feels like a year, so it’s been a year,” Yan Yuanhua said with a low, bright smile.

“Who counts like that?” Lu Minghua laughed.

As they chatted and laughed, Yan Yuanhua led Lu Minghua into the house without her even realizing it.

“Minghua, you should move here. I’ve bought the neighboring courtyard as well. Would you like to live there?” Yan Yuanhua, still unwilling to give up, tried to persuade her.

Previously, they were neighbors when they lived on the mountain, and he could hear her laughter from next door. But now, Minghua was far away in the town, and it took three-quarters of an hour to visit her. He could only stay for a morning before having to return.

Yan Yuanhua had never experienced such longing.

“Didn’t we agree? Why bring it up again?” Lu Minghua said helplessly.

“These past few days, I couldn’t help but look at the neighboring courtyard, but you weren’t there,” Yan Yuanhua said softly, feeling melancholic.

Lu Minghua had never seen him like this and was momentarily speechless.

“Minghua, move here,” Yan Yuanhua said, holding her hand and looking at her eagerly.

“I can’t,” Lu Minghua still refused, but she was somewhat hesitant.

“Why not?” Yan Yuanhua, unlike last time, insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

“This is your courtyard. If I move in, what would that look like?” After being asked repeatedly, Lu Minghua had to suppress her embarrassment and speak frankly.

“But—”

“Or do you want to imitate others and keep a mistress in a golden house?” Lu Minghua added.

Without a matchmaker or a formal proposal, keeping her in the house would be no different from keeping a mistress.

Yan Yuanhua’s heart leaped with joy, ready to agree. He naturally wished he could keep Minghua at home all the time. But when he looked up, he saw Lu Minghua’s half-smiling expression. He snapped back to reality.

If they were married, keeping her in a golden house would be a beautiful story. However, as they only saw each other privately, the meaning was more subtle.

“How could that be!” Yan Yuanhua’s words were firm and righteous, almost swearing an oath.

Lu Minghua smiled, curious to see what he would say next.

“There’s no others. In this life, I only want to keep Minghua,” Yan Yuanhua said, his eyes burning as he looked at Lu Minghua.

Lu Minghua’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected him to say this so quickly.

“Minghua, does this mean you’re willing to marry me?” Yan Yuanhua seized the opportunity to ask.

“You,” Lu Minghua stammered, her face burning, avoiding his gaze, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Minghua, you dislike the lack of a matchmaker and formal proposal, so you won’t move into my courtyard. How about I ask my elders to propose marriage to your family?” Yan Yuanhua had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, just never finding the right moment. This time, it seemed perfect.

“No, no,” Lu Minghua instinctively tried to stop him, but seeing the hopeful joy in Yan Yuanhua’s eyes, her voice softened, though her resistance was genuine.

“Minghua,” Yan Yuanhua said, disappointed.

“I,” Lu Minghua didn’t know what to say, finally avoiding his gaze, her voice soft, “I don’t want to get married now. If you,” she wanted to say, find someone else if you’re in a hurry.

She wanted to say it, but the dull pain in her heart stopped her.

Yan Yuanhua, seeing her expression, guessed what she was about to say. Just as he was about to interrupt, he saw her pause and not continue.

His heart suddenly filled with joy, and all disappointment vanished.

“I was too hasty,” Yan Yuanhua laughed, looking at Minghua seriously, “Minghua, I admire you and want to marry you. This feeling will never change. If you don’t want to now, I’ll keep waiting. There’s plenty of time ahead, and I’ll wait for the day you’re willing to marry me.”

So, don’t say anything about letting him find someone else.

“Minghua, I only want to marry you.”

Lu Minghua fled in panic, and even after returning to her courtyard in the town, her heart was still pounding.

Yuan Jianzhi’s persistent and bright eyes seemed to still be in front of her, and his words were so sincere and firm that she couldn’t even raise a thought of doubt.

Seeing her leave in a hurry, Yan Yuanhua sent her off and then turned to sit in the study, his expression slightly subdued. He had been too hasty.

Zhao Shiyi peeked in at the door for a while, seeing his lord’s smile fade, and didn’t dare to enter.

“What are you looking at? Come in quickly,” Yan Yuanhua casually took a pen and threw it at the door, accurately hitting Zhao Shiyi’s head.

“My lord, Wei Yuntai sent people to keep an eye on Miss Lu’s carriage, but we stopped them. What should we do next?”

“How did he come here?!” Speaking of this, Yan Yuanhua’s mood worsened, and he said coldly.

Zhao Shiyi couldn’t speak. Who could have known that Marquis Ningguo’s old illness would flare up and that he would be sent to Yunshan by the imperial physician?

It happened yesterday, and the person arrived today without even giving them time to think of a solution.

Oh, right—

“Prince Changping also came,” Zhao Shiyi said with a stiff head.

Yan Yuanhua closed his eyes, not wanting to speak for a moment. He only felt that all the troublesome things seemed to have been concentrated on today.

“Break his leg for me,” after a while, he opened his eyes, finally regaining his composure, and ordered.

“Who?” Wei Yuntai?

“Yan Rongchen.” Minghua had no feelings for Wei Yuntai anymore. Seeing him wouldn’t matter. In contrast, the lustful Yan Rongchen was even more detestable.

“Yes, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Zhao Shiyi quickly retreated, not daring to stay any longer.

The study was quiet again, with only Yan Yuanhua remaining. His fingers rested on the military book, and he stared at it for a few moments before picking it up and opening it. No matter how he comforted himself, being rejected in his proposal still left him feeling defeated.

In the courtyard in town.

Lu Minghua finally calmed down, sitting inside with a pipa in her arms, but she couldn’t bring herself to play.

Yuan Ji’ani’s disappointed eyes kept appearing before her, along with the slightly dimmed smile on his face when he sent her off. After a while, she put down the pipa, got up, and searched for a long time before finding the pouch hidden deep in the chest.

The black satin, embroidered with silver thread in a cloud pattern, was ordinary in style and not particularly remarkable. Yan Yuanhua had casually mentioned wanting it when he saw her embroidering last time. He hadn’t been serious, but for some reason, she was never satisfied with the fabric. After a month of embroidering back and forth, she finally made one she was happy with. She had intended to give it to Yuan Ji’an, but without any reason, she felt embarrassed and never gave it, leaving it at the bottom of the chest instead.

Holding it in her hand and gently rubbing it for a while, Lu Minghua hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and called Mama Li in, asking her to go to Yunshan.

Lu Minghua’s hurried departure and return had made Mama Li suspicious. Given how Young Master Yuan usually stuck to their young lady, how could he let her come back so quickly?

Seeing the pouch now, Mama Li’s heart stirred. She carefully observed her young lady’s expression and smiled meaningfully, agreeing to go.

Lu Minghua, embarrassed by her smile, hesitated, “Forget it, maybe…”

“I’ll go right away,” Mama Li said quickly, bowing and leaving.

“Mama!” Lu Minghua laughed but didn’t call her back even after the figure disappeared from sight.

Mama Li quickly arrived at the villa and, upon seeing Yan Yuanhua, raised her hand to present the wooden box she was holding.

“Young Master Yuan, this is from my young lady.”

Yan Yuanhua’s heart skipped a beat. He got up to take it and opened it directly.

A black pouch came into view, and he was stunned.

He raised his hand to take it out, looking at the exquisite cloud pattern embroidered on it. Yan Yuanhua held it in his hand, not even daring to use any force.

“Do you like it, Young Master Yuan?” Mama Li boldly asked.

“Of course I like it,” Yan Yuanhua immediately replied, then smiled brightly, “I like it very much.”

“As long as you like it, Young Master Yuan. This pouch may look simple, but my young lady spent over a month embroidering it. She discarded several that she said were ruined. I couldn’t see what was wrong with them. In the end, only this one was left. She kept it until today when she suddenly asked me to bring it to you.”

Mama Li didn’t know what had happened, so she spoke frankly to ensure Yuan Ji’an wouldn’t overlook her young lady’s feelings.

“When did Minghua start embroidering this?” Yan Yuanhua asked, moved.

Mama Li thought for a moment and gave a date.

Yan Yuanhua estimated in his mind and finally vaguely remembered his casual remark. He was momentarily lost in thought, but his smile grew wider.

“I was just speaking casually,” Yan Yuanhua chuckled, “There are embroiderers in the mansion. How could I let her do it? I didn’t expect…”

How could he bear to let Minghua do such tasks? Minghua only needed to be carefree and happy every day.

Mama Li was surprised to learn this. Seeing Yan Yuanhua’s overflowing affection and joy made her even more satisfied.

People who appreciate blessings are rare. Some don’t even recognize kindness when it’s shown to them. But Young Master Yuan, who was so happy to receive a pouch from her young lady, was truly good.

“My young lady was embarrassed. When I teased her earlier, she almost took it back. But after I left, she didn’t call me back,” Mama Li said, not sparing any details.

Yan Yuanhua smiled again but didn’t agree with Mama Li’s words, though he didn’t say anything.

Embarrassment was real, but Minghua feared her feelings wouldn’t be cherished.

“Please wait a moment, Mama,” Yan Yuanhua said, wanting to prepare a return gift for Lu Minghua. But after thinking for a while, he couldn’t find anything suitable and frowned.

After a while, he directly removed a jade pendant from his chest, an ordinary longevity plaque with the words ‘He Tong’ engraved on the corner, which was his childhood name. His mother had personally requested it for him when he was young, and he had worn it ever since.

Mama Li was stunned to see him do this.

Such a personal item…

After placing it in a wooden box, Yan Yuanhua handed it to Mama Li, saying, “Please tell Minghua that this jade plaque has been with me since childhood. I hope she likes it.”

Mama Li carefully took it, agreed, and returned to give it to Lu Minghua, relaying Yan Yuanhua’s message.

Opening the wooden box, Lu Minghua looked at the jade plaque inside and gently picked it up.

“Miss, you don’t know, but I saw Young Master Yuan take this jade plaque from his neck and put it inside—”

Lu Minghua’s fingers trembled, almost dropping the jade plaque, feeling as if it were burning, and quickly put it back.

“I was shocked at the time. Such a personal item, and Young Master Yuan wants to give it to you,” Mama Li continued, not noticing, and asked with a smile, “This truly shows his sincerity.”

The jade’s warm touch still lingered as if it carried the warmth of his body. Thinking that this was taken from Yan Yuanhua, Lu Minghua felt her face burning. After a while, she calmed down slightly, looking at the jade pendant, lost in thought.

Giving a pouch and receiving a jade pendant in return.

Indeed, it was full of sincerity.

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