Chapter Three Blessing

  Yan Dai smiled faintly: "This is indeed troubling Brother Lu!" As she spoke, her hand exerted a slight force, pinching Wen Ping's arm. Wen Ping was about to offer some words of dissuasion, but was forced to swallow them back.

  Yuandai's movement was very slight, and Lu Weiyin didn't notice anything unusual, just smiling and saying: "Sister is being polite! This is what should be done, where can you say that it's a bother?" As he spoke, his eyes moved left and right, then he sighed and said: "I heard that sister loves plum blossoms, unfortunately this garden doesn't have any plum blossoms! It's really a pity!"

  Yan Dai's face was calm as she replied, "Does Brother Lu also love plum blossoms?"

  Lu Weiyin hastily said: "Plum, bamboo and pine are known as the Three Friends of Winter. Its quality is like jade, pure and icy clear; its nature is proud and frosty; its fragrance is also elegant and refined. Such a wonderful thing, how can people not love it!" As he spoke to his satisfaction, he suddenly flipped open the fan in his hand with a "whoosh" sound and gently fanned himself several times!

  Yan Dai was not expecting this move on such a cold day, and her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly. Wen Ping, who was standing beside her, couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused, so she lightly coughed to remind him: "Young Master, my mistress has always been weak and afraid of the cold!"

  Although Lu Weiyin's face was quite thick, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when Wen Ping said that. He quickly put away his fan and inserted it into his waist, then smiled and bowed to Yuan Dai, saying: "My brother was momentarily carried away and lost his manners, I hope my sister-in-law will forgive me!"

  Yan Dai smiled and turned back to Wen Ping, scolding her: "You're the one who's too talkative!" Then she turned to Lu Weiying and said: "Lu Shixiong, your words are too serious! The elegance of scholars and the charm of talented men are all about being carefree and unrestrained. If one is overly concerned with etiquette, they will inevitably lose their dignity."

  Lu Weiyin was overjoyed when he heard this, and repeatedly said: "Sister is absolutely right!" He couldn't help but take out the folding fan from his waist again. After lightly tapping the folded fan in his palm a few times, he recited in a long voice: "'The reflection of the cold creek water, the water in the creek is also fragrant. A beautiful woman stands in front of the precious mirror, making up her Shouyang makeup.' Last night, several of us returned from Pusu Shadow Mountain Villa. When we passed through the Reflection Water Forest, Xiao Brother was momentarily moved to sighs and recited this poem. I happened to hear it and only then did I know that my sister's talent is so extraordinary. The last time at Guanyin Mountain was indeed an insult!"

  Yan Dai smiled and said: "Lu Shaoxiong has overpraised me!" Although her face was calm and smiling, she had already felt a few points of disappointment in her heart.

  It wasn't just her, even Wenping, who was standing beside her listening to Lu Wei's tedious words, had already felt somewhat impatient. At this moment, she raised her eyes and looked forward, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Miss, look! Is that the pavilion Sixth Master invited us to?"

  Yan Dai heard the sound, and hurriedly looked in the direction she was pointing. About twenty steps away, there stood a small red pavilion on a high platform. Beside the pavilion were clusters of green bamboo, which remained lush and pleasing to the eye despite the severe winter weather. The pavilion was set off even more beautifully by the surrounding scenery, blending harmoniously with it while also adding a touch of elegance.

  She glanced around but didn't see any other pavilions, and Yan Daiyu smiled from afar: "It must be here without a doubt!"

  Below the high platform where the pavilion was located, there were white stone steps in levels, and the three of them went up step by step. As they approached the front of the pavilion, Yuandai looked up to see a plaque on top of the pavilion with three ancient and simple characters: Wind Bamboo Pavilion.

  Yuan Dai stood still outside the pavilion, raised her eyes and swept a glance, couldn't help but secretly praised. From this height, looking down, the entire garden was in sight at once. And this high-up pavilion was undoubtedly a great place to cool off on a summer day.

  She was thinking to herself here, and on the other side, Lu Weiying had already smiled and said: "This place is actually a good place to go, but unfortunately it's winter now!"

  Yan Dai listened with a faint smile, knowing that although he had the air of showing off and being knowledgeable, after all, he came from a noble family, his vision and learning were not something that ordinary shallow people could compare to. "Thank you, Brother Lu, for sending me here!" She smiled and gave a slight bow to Lu Weiying.

  Lu Weiying hurriedly returned the courtesy with a smile, saying: "Sister is being polite again! You and I are relatives, these things were originally what I should do!" As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance around, slightly surprised, saying: "Why hasn't Sixth Uncle arrived yet?"

  Yan Dai raised her eyes and glanced at the sky, calmly saying: "I made an appointment with Sixth Brother at the beginning of Si time, now it's almost that time, I think he'll be here soon!"

  The two were talking when Wenping's sharp eyes caught sight of something and she exclaimed, "Miss, look! Sixth Master is here!"

  Yuandai responded to the sound and looked over, only to see Ling Yuancheng walking quickly through the garden with a serious expression, as if he had heard Wenshu's cry. He raised his head and looked up, catching sight of Lu Weiyin standing beside Yuandai, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.

  Lu Weiying smiled and bowed to him: "Sixth Brother, you've come quite late. If it weren't for the fact that there's no wine here, I'd have to fine you three cups first!"

  Ling Yuancheng burst out laughing and said loudly, "If you had said anything else, it would have been fine! But when it comes to drinking, I'm not afraid of you at all. Just wait until I've had a few words with Ninth Sister, then we'll have a good drink together. However, three cups are far too few!"

  While speaking, he had quickly stepped up the stone stairs and in a moment, he had entered the pavilion. After the three of them exchanged greetings again, Ling Yuqing asked with slight surprise: "How did Ninth Sister happen to come here with Wei Ying?"

  Yan Dai smiled, and before she could speak, Lu Weiying on the other side had already laughed and said: "I didn't get up early for nothing, I was thinking of going to Xiao Brother's place to sit for a while. Due to laziness, I took a shortcut, but unexpectedly met Ninth Sister on the way!"

  Ling Yuancheng also asked casually, without any suspicion, and smiled when he heard the words, saying: "So that's how it is!" After speaking, he couldn't help but furrow his brow, looking at Yuan Dai and then at Lu Weiyin, with a somewhat uncertain expression.

  Lu Weiying smiled and said, "I was just escorting Ninth Sister here after we met on the road. Now that Sixth Brother has arrived, I'll take my leave first and wait for him at Xiao's place to drink and admire the plum blossoms together!"

  He finished speaking and bowed, then left. Ling Yuqing saw this and felt a bit embarrassed, but still didn't open his mouth to keep him.

  When Lu Weiyin left, Ling Yuancheng turned his eyes towards Yandai, and there was something unusual in his expression.

  Yan Dai didn't mind and raised an eyebrow, asking: "Sixth Brother asked me to come today, is it about the Princess of Linchang?"

  Ling Yuancheng was thinking about how to tactfully bring up the events of the previous day, but unexpectedly, Yuan Dai didn't wait for him to ask and spoke first. He felt a sense of relief in his heart and hastily said, "That's right!" His expression turned solemn for a moment.

  Yan Dai said calmly, "Actually, nothing much happened yesterday. It was just that Princess Lin Chang spoke ill first, and Sister Xiao couldn't bear it, so she argued with her for a few sentences. Then she pulled me back to the other courtyard!"

  Ling Yuancheng's heart skipped a beat as he listened, and the meaning behind Yuandai's words was clear: the source of this matter lay with her. His sword-like eyebrows unconsciously furrowed, and Ling Yuancheng forced a smile, saying: "I've always known that my sister has a gentle temperament, surely you wouldn't have quarreled with that princess?"

  Although he spoke with a worried tone, it was clear that he did not think that Faraday was at fault.

  She took a deep look at Ling Yuancheng and said calmly, "Second Brother may not know yet! The Empress has the intention of betrothing me to Prince Rui!"

  As soon as these words came out, they were like a sudden clap of thunder, almost causing Ling Yuancheng to fall to the ground: "Empress... Empress..."

  Yan Dai calmly said, "This is what the princess told me personally yesterday! The princess knew about this marriage and saw that I was ordinary and unremarkable. She thought I was completely unsuitable for Prince Rui, so she deliberately made things difficult, which led to the dispute!"

  Ling Yu was stunned for a long time, and then bitterly smiled: "So that's how it is! So that's how it is!" He said "so that's how it is" twice in a row, clearly showing that his mind was already in disarray, and for the moment, he didn't know what to say.

  Yan Dai suddenly looked at him and asked: "I forgot to ask Sixth Brother, when did you know that we had left yesterday?"

  Ling Yuancheng reluctantly composed his emotions: "Yesterday, General Yue took us to the residence of Prince Rui, where he was admiring plum blossoms and drinking wine in the backyard. When he saw us arrive, he invited us to sit with him and drink until nightfall. It wasn't until after dinner that we learned you two had a disagreement!" Ling Yuancheng couldn't help but glance deeply at Yuan Dai, continuing: "Prince Rui immediately sent someone over to apologize and asked you both to return..."

  Yuan Dai heard this and nodded slightly, but her expression was as if she was deep in thought.

  Ling Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly at her words, and said: "The wise prince also said that this matter must be the princess's fault! Tomorrow he will lead the princess to personally come to our door to apologize!"

  Suddenly hearing this, Yuandai was finally startled: "Tomorrow? Isn't that today?"

  Ling Yuanchen nodded and said, "It's today! Yesterday I returned to the other courtyard, originally thinking of coming over immediately to ask about the reason for your affairs, but was stopped by Baili. He said that although Prince Rui said he would come today, it would be at least this afternoon, so I gave up the idea of going to find you right away and instead told Cai Xia to come early today to call you over here to talk!"

  Yuandai nodded slightly, but didn't say anything. On the contrary, Ling Yuancheng stared at her intently, his expression rather strange, yet seemingly hesitant to speak. Smiling at him, Yuandai said: "Sixth brother has something on his mind, just ask directly! No need to be so ambiguous!"

  Ling Yuancheng heard this and couldn't help but ask with a bitter smile: "Sister, now that you know about this matter, what do you plan to do?"

  Yan Dai's mouth curved up slightly in a mocking smile as she countered, "The person who decided on this matter was never me, what does Sixth Brother think?"

  Ling Yuanqing nodded and said: "In my opinion, if sister really doesn't want to, this matter may not necessarily be without room for maneuver..."

  Yan Dai heard this and raised an eyebrow, saying: "Sixth brother, are you thinking of saying that with Rui's personality as a prince, he would never force others to do something against their will? So if I'm not willing in my heart, I can openly express my intentions. Is that right?"

  Ling Yuancheng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "So sister had already seen through this point?"

  Yan Dai smiled slightly and said softly after a while, "Doesn't sixth brother think that, actually for me, Prince Rui is also a pretty good choice!"

  Ling Yuancheng was taken aback: "In terms of talent and character, Rui's father is indeed impeccable! However..."

  Yan Dai didn't wait for him to continue, and suddenly cut off his words: "If that's the case, Sixth Brother should be congratulating me instead!" (This station... Your support is my greatest motivation.)