Perhaps it was the clarity and sincerity in his eyes when he called her cute, or perhaps it was the warm, straightforward smile at his lips; whatever he said sounded purely like genuine praise coming from him, without a trace of ambiguity, as if it truly sprang from the heart.
Liang Qingluo, too, did not feel shy any longer, and responded openly, “Alright then, I’ll just take it as a compliment from you.”
Pei Huaian then asked her why she had gone to the results posting for the Marriage Proposal Event. Although Liang Qingluo wasn’t very familiar with him, there was something inexplicably reassuring about him that made her want to confide in him:
“I heard that the quickest way to forget someone is to find someone new to replace them. But I turned down a lot of marriage proposals before, and recently, no Marriage Arranger has come to propose. With the Imperial Results Posting happening, I thought of going to catch a husband beneath the lists…”
“After that day, did you go try to catch another one?”
“I wouldn’t dare. What if I caught another son of a noble family, but he’s not as easy to talk to as you?”
“So what do you plan to do next?”
“I’ve already told my mother that I want to get married. She can’t wait to marry me off and will surely find someone for me soon.” Liang Qingluo gritted her teeth, “I’ve made up my mind, no matter what sort of husband my mother chooses for me, I’ll agree.”
Hearing her say this, Pei Huaian felt a strange discomfort in his heart. “I think you shouldn’t be so stubborn about it. What if you don’t like the husband your mother chooses for you?”
“My mother would never harm me, I trust her judgment…”
Pei Huaian wanted to advise her further, but considering they weren’t even close friends, saying more would be crossing a line. So he could only stop there and follow her words, “You’re right—no one knows a daughter better than her mother. The one your mother picks must be a good match.”
At this point, the conversation naturally came to an end. Liang Qingluo gave him a proper salute: “My mother asked me to apologize to you in person. About that day, I hope the Seventh Son will be magnanimous.”
“It’s fine, I haven’t taken it to heart…”
Truthfully, he had taken it to heart. Not that he minded being dragged onto the carriage in a sack, but rather the things that happened inside: how she accidentally tugged his clothes, even kissed him, and when their schoolmate lifted the curtain, she had buried herself in his shoulder, breathing nervously, her nose and lips pressing hotly against his skin…
Because of this, he had dreamed of such scenes for two nights in a row: her kneeling in his lap, kissing his shoulder…
Even thinking of it now, his heart raced uncontrollably.
The young lady before him knew nothing of his thoughts. She simply gave him a polite smile, “I’ll go to Chunxuan Hall to find my mother now.”
“I just so happen to be visiting Grandmother as well, let’s go together.”
Chunxuan Hall.
Old Madam Pei and Madam Liang were both inclined to arrange a marriage between the two families and were chatting animatedly when they saw Pei Huaian and Liang Qingluo walk in side by side.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman—truly a perfect match.
Old Madam Pei beamed. “Look at them, standing together like a pair of jade figures—what a fine match.”
Madam Liang chimed in, “Indeed, indeed.”
Liang Qingluo, having just stepped over the threshold, was startled by their words: A perfect pair? Well matched? Why did those words sound so off to her?
“Old Madam, Mother,” though her mind was full of doubts, Liang Qingluo still greeted her elders first, “I’ve already apologized to the Seventh Son.”
Pei Huaian followed, “Madam Liang, Grandmother, it was nothing serious, really. I don’t hold any grudge against Miss Liang.”
At his words, both Madam Liang and Old Madam Pei exchanged knowing smiles.
Old Madam Pei beckoned for the two youngsters to sit. “Come, sit. I happen to have something to discuss with you both.”
They sat at opposite sides of the hall. Liang Qingluo was still unsettled by the elders’ words, but Pei Huaian already guessed what the elders were about to say.
Old Madam Pei signaled Madam Liang to speak first. Madam Liang looked to her daughter, “Miss Nine, just now, Old Madam and I were discussing your Marriage Proposal Event. Although outsiders don’t know it was you, it is an undeniable fact that you acted improperly with the Seventh Son. You ought to take responsibility…”
“To be fair, my Seventh Son is also at fault,” Old Madam Pei said politely, “Such a big man, and yet he let a young girl pull his clothes off. Blame him… blame him for not tying his sash properly!”
Pei Huaian: “…” Grandmother really goes all out for matchmaking.
“Luckily, neither of you is married yet. After discussing with Old Madam, we think you two might as well make the best of a bad situation and settle the engagement…”
“Mother,” Liang Qingluo blurted out in panic, “Weren’t we just here to apologize? How did it become a marriage proposal?”
Yet, her anxious expression only looked like shyness to the elders.
“If you’re here to apologize, you should show proper sincerity. Otherwise, it might affect your future marriage prospects…”
“Madam Liang, you overstate it,” Old Madam Pei said, “On the day of the Imperial Results Posting, so many Juren were chosen. Your Seventh Son being one of them is also a kind of fate…”
“Old Madam is right,” Madam Liang said, turning to her daughter, “Miss Nine, since this all began with you, you should state your position first.”
Indeed, one played the stern face, one played the kind, both making perfect sense. What troubled Liang Qingluo was that just a while ago, she had solemnly sworn before the Seventh Son that she would marry whomever her mother chose for her.
She never expected her words to come true so quickly.
And the husband her mother picked for her wasn’t someone else—it was Pei Family Seventh Son.
It wasn’t that she thought the Seventh Son was bad, but she wanted to get married just to forget Qing Jian. If she married Pei Huaian, wouldn’t she see Qing Jian every day? How could she possibly let go of that old affection?
But if she refused, then all the resolute words she’d just spoken to Pei Seventh Son would become empty promises, making her lose face.
Seeing her panic and speechlessness, Pei Huaian took it all in and, after a moment of thought, stood and said, “Grandmother, marriage matters should follow the will of the parents and the word of the matchmaker. Now that both families have spoken, why not invite the Marriage Arranger another day to formally discuss the proposal? Miss Liang is thin-skinned; asking her face-to-face is putting her on the spot. If she agrees now, it might seem too forward; if she refuses, it would seem disrespectful to her elders. Let’s not make things difficult for her…”
“You’re right, we were being too hasty…” Old Madam Pei and Madam Liang had only wanted to let the young ones know about the engagement in advance. They would, of course, formally invite a Marriage Arranger later.
Liang Qingluo let out a sigh of relief, knowing Pei Huaian’s words were a delaying tactic. Since he knew she had feelings for someone else, he would certainly not agree to this engagement.
Better for him to refuse than for her to do it herself—so much simpler.
The apologies had been made, the business discussed; Madam Liang took her daughter and left.
After the Liang mother and daughter departed, Old Madam Pei asked her grandson, “You just spoke up for Liang Family Miss Nine—do you have some intention toward this engagement?”
Pei Huaian knew he ought to refuse. Liang Qingluo didn’t like him; even though she’d just said she would marry whoever her mother chose, she definitely didn’t want to marry him, because Qing Jian was still in the mansion.
But when the words of refusal reached his lips, he couldn’t say them.
That round-eyed, fluffy little girl in the sunlight, the gentle fragrance in his dreams, left his heart in turmoil.
“Grandmother, give me a little time…”
Meanwhile, in the carriage, Liang Qingluo couldn’t wait to complain to her mother, “Madam, you said we were just coming to apologize—how could you go and arrange a marriage without telling me?”
“Now you’re unwilling? If not for the fact that Pei Family Seventh Son was slandered by rumors before, would you even have had this chance?”
“But you can’t make such a decision on your own, without consulting me!”
“Weren’t you the one in such a rush to get married? You even sneaked out to catch a husband at the Imperial Results Posting…”
“But I can’t marry Pei Seventh Son!”
“And what about Pei Seventh Son is unworthy of you?” Madam Liang, seeing right through her daughter’s feelings, continued, “Or is it because you’re still thinking about that bodyguard?”
“When did you find out?” She thought only Sixth Brother knew about it.
Madam Liang snorted, “You came home the other day with your eyes swollen like walnuts…” If she hadn’t realized her daughter had feelings for that bodyguard, she wouldn’t have forced her to agree to this engagement in front of Old Madam Pei.
“If you know, then why do you want me to marry into the Pei Family?”
“What’s wrong with the Pei Family? The Pei Family’s old Grand Preceptor is still highly respected, the eldest branch is doing well in government, the third branch is wealthy in business, and they’ve even raised a Royal Grandson. Their future prospects are immeasurable—a match like this is hard to find even with a lantern, and yet you ran into it…”
“No matter how good the Pei Family is, you should have discussed it with me first,” Liang Qingluo sighed, “Madam, let me be honest—Pei Seventh Son knows I like Qing Jian, so he would never agree to marry me.”
Madam Liang was stunned, “Ah…” Oh no, what a disgrace!
Sure enough, the Pei Family did not send a Marriage Arranger afterwards. Instead, they sent an Invitation, inviting them to attend a Celebratory Banquet.
With Pei Huaian passing the exams in one try, the Pei Family was sure to host a grand banquet.
Madam Liang received the invitation but was too embarrassed to go herself, so she claimed to be ill and had Liang Xu take Liang Qingluo to the Celebratory Banquet, warning her not to get too close to Old Madam or Pei Huaian.
The banquet was held at the Pei Family’s Capital Suburban Manor. Liang Qingluo attended with her Sixth Brother. At first, men and women sat separately, and halfway through, guests dispersed to admire the scenery in the manor. Liang Qingluo wasn’t in the mood to socialize, so she found a quiet spot to stay.
Though she wished to forget Qing Jian, she couldn’t help but look for him.
He was easy to find; wherever Pei Family Eldest Son or Miss Youran were, he was always nearby.
The Eldest Son was on duty today and didn’t attend, but she spotted him beside Miss Youran.
He followed at a distance—sometimes leaning against a tree, sometimes by the wall, sometimes standing with arms crossed—always watching Shen Youran’s every move.
Liang Qingluo watched him for a long time, but his eyes wandered everywhere except to her.
She was sure he knew she was watching, but he deliberately avoided looking her way.
Remembering his harsh words when he rejected her, Liang Qingluo covered her eyes: Stupid eyes, stop looking! He doesn’t like you anyway!
Today’s banquet was held in Pei Huaian’s honor, and with so many guests, he inevitably ended up drinking quite a bit.
After changing his clothes, he did not immediately return to the guests but went searching for someone.
The invitation from the Pei Family had specifically included Liang Qingluo’s name. Madam Liang hadn’t come today, but Liang Qingluo was here with her Sixth Brother—yet she had not been seen for a while.
Pei Huaian found her under a Xifu Crabapple Tree.
At this time of year, the Xifu Crabapple had finished blooming, while the Weeping Crabapple was at its peak. Most guests gathered under the Weeping Crabapple trees, but she stood alone beneath the petals of the Xifu Crabapple, covering her eyes, her figure silent and forlorn.
“Are you crying again in secret?”
His voice, slightly tipsy, drifted to Liang Qingluo’s ears.
“I’m not!” She stubbornly refused to lower her hand, her small mouth set in defiance.
Pei Huaian grasped her wrist and gently pulled her hand away from her eyes. Sure enough, tears had pooled at her fingertips, soaking the area around her eyes.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t crying?” Pei Huaian leaned in a little closer, his cool fingertips touching the tears at the corner of her eyes. “Then what is this?”
She blinked her damp lashes, still insisting, “It’s sweat, today’s too hot.”
“Why are you crying again?”
“I said I’m not crying…”
“Is it Qing Jian who upset you again?”
“He didn’t upset me.”
“Then why are you crying?”
Liang Qingluo pouted, aggrieved. “If I tell you, you can’t laugh at me.”
“Alright, I won’t laugh.”
There was no point in hiding it from him—he’d already seen her embarrassed so many times.
“I looked at him for so long, but he just wouldn’t look at me…”
“Just for that?”
“Yes.”
“Only because of that?”
“Yes.”
Pei Huaian lowered his eyes to look at the pitiful girl heartbroken over love, and asked her, “Do you want him to look at you?”
Liang Qingluo wanted to say, “No,” but she clearly couldn’t lie in front of him. Even if she tried, he would see through it instantly.
And so, though she did not reply, he saw right through her anyway. “You do want him to look at you.”
Liang Qingluo nodded lightly.
“Then let me help you.”
“How?”
“You have to cooperate with me…” Pei Huaian’s lips curled slightly as he placed his broad hand on her lower back. With just a bit of force, he pulled the teary-eyed, blushing girl straight into his arms.