s.h.i.+ Qingxue stayed in King Rui's mansion for a long time. When she came back home, the other ladies had returned from the spring outing dinner.

As soon as she was back, she was asked to go to the East House. s.h.i.+ Junhe and Dong Hui was talking and laughing happily.

“What's the matter?” s.h.i.+ Qingxue moved close to Dong Hui curiously.

Seeing that Qingxue came, Dong Hui concealed her smile and poked her daughter's forehead with her index finger, asking angrily, “Baoning said you left the Moon Mountain earlier, but you come back till now. What did you do?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue felt it was bad. Usually, Dong Hui wouldn't ask about her whereabouts, but now she asked. Qingxue couldn't say that she went to King Rui's mansion. Otherwise, her mother would be more than getting mad.

In secret, she looked at s.h.i.+ Junhe to ask for help pitifully.

s.h.i.+ Junhe coughed. Although he also wanted to know where Qingxue had been, he still helped her. “It's normal for a child to go out for fun. Why did you ask?”

Dong Hui glared at him. “She is not a child anymore. Other girls would stay at home to learn about makeup and etiquette at her age. If in the future, her husband knows that she is still wild and often goes out, what should she do…”

She was striking up the same old tune.

s.h.i.+ Junhe and Qingxue lowered their heads to listen to the lecture obediently but exchanged glances from time to time.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue hinted, “Father, when will Mother finish her speech? I can hardly stand it.”

s.h.i.+ Junhe replied, “I can do nothing. Why did you go out without telling us?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue suggested, “How could I tell you when I was outside? Father, tell her to stop. My ears are suffering.”

s.h.i.+ Junhe couldn't resist Qingxue's spoilt manner and had to say, “Well, it's a good day today. Why did you say that?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was clever and hurried to ask, “Why is it a good day? What happened? Tell me.”

Her questions stopped Dong Hui from saying more. Dong Hui certainly knew what the father and daughter were thinking but still replied happily, “Of course something nice happened.”

“Something nice? What is it? Mother, don't keep me in suspense, okay?” s.h.i.+ Qingxue shook Dong Hui's arm and her eyes were glittering.

Dong Hui could do nothing to her spoilt daughter and said, “Just now your big brother told someone to send a letter to your father. He wants to marry your sister Baoning!”

“Ah?” s.h.i.+ Qingxue was petrified and couldn't react.

Dong Hui patted her head and rebuked her, “Ah? Your brother and sister will become a couple. Are you unhappy?”

Qingxue shook her head in a hurry and feared that Dong Hui would misunderstand. “But it is so important to propose marriage. Why didn't Chi ask Baoning in person?”

He just sent a letter to finish the job? It was different from what had happened in the previous life.

Back then, s.h.i.+ Baoning was in poor health and often got sick. She seldom left the Jingshu Boudoir, but Wenren Chi proposed marriage perfectly. He expressed his love to s.h.i.+ Baoning romantically, which made all the other ladies envy. Why was it different in this life?

Qingxue's casual question made her parents frown and look at each other speechlessly. s.h.i.+ Junhe finally said, “The marriage is suggested by a matchmaker and decided by parents. Chi pays attention to etiquette and it is natural to ask for my advice first. What's more, he was transferred at the last minute to guard the mountain for you idle girls today. How could he have time to come here in person?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue felt awkward and thought she worried too much, so she changed the subject in an instant. “How about my sister? Does she know? What did she say?”

“She certainly agrees. I have asked someone to choose a lucky date. October 20th is a good day for marriage, and it's more than half a year later. We have enough time to prepare for the engagement and wedding gifts,” Dong Hui said joyfully. One would doubt that she had planned everything long ago.

While speaking, Dong Hui had another question. “Junhe, Baojin will get married in a few days. Shall we tell Mother about it after her wedding? But time is limited for now. If we mention it after her wedding, we would arrange the gifts in a hurry, and I am afraid that we will make mistakes.”

They had even less than two months to prepare for Baojin's wedding, and Dong Hui's words contradicted herself, but s.h.i.+ Junhe knew that his wife desired to excel over others.

He felt it laughable but still nodded. “It will be in haste indeed, and it is better to talk about it earlier. I will tell Mother later so that we can set it in stone.”

Since Mo Shujun had forced her son to divorce his wife, Dong Hui didn't like her. Except for the greetings in the morning and evening, she tried not to go to the Shou'an Hall. Hearing s.h.i.+ Junhe's words, she heaved a sigh of relief. “Go now. I have something to tell Qingxue.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue wanted to go away, but Dong Hui told s.h.i.+ Junhe to leave and left her in the room.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue couldn't escape and called with a sad face, “Mother.”

Dong Hui looked cold and prevented her daughter from pleasing her. “Tell me frankly. Where on earth have you been?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue faltered, “I just went out for a walk.”

Dong Hui retorted, “A walk? But I heard from Zheng that she saw you leave the Moon Mountain with King Rui's eldest son.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue felt nervous. She had forgotten that Dong Hui had sent someone to go to the Moon Mountain with the ladies. So they must have seen everything.

“You have seen that. Why did you ask?” Qingxue said in a depressed voice recklessly.

Dong Hui was furious and pinched Qingxue's arm, but she couldn't bear to use strength. “You have forgotten what I told you, right? I have said many times. Even if the man and woman don't keep a distance in our country, I don't allow you to get close to any man who is not your relative. Earlier, I found that you kept away from Fourth Prince and thought you finally understood your mother's care and thought for you, but you make the same mistake again in just a few days.

What's more, His Highness is alright. You love each other and it's fine that you are close, but His Excellency is not a friend of our family and we have no contact with each other. He…”

“Mother!” s.h.i.+ Qingxue interrupted Dong Hui hurriedly, looking displeased.

Dong Hui was astonished, but soon she found her imposing manner. She stood with her hands on her hips. “What? Can't I teach you?”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue responded gloomily, “I didn't mean it.”

“Then why did you get angry with me?”

Qingxue couldn't explain clearly and mumbled unhappily, “I have no relations.h.i.+p with His Highness. Don't mention us in the same breath. It's annoying!”

Dong Hui was surprised. It was her first time to hear Qingxue mention Mo Junhao impatiently, as if she hated that man to the bone.

It shouldn't be that. Didn't she like Mo Junhao?

Duke s.h.i.+'s wife hadn't understood her daughter's thought yet. She just thought the little girl was mad at him. She replied to make Qingxue feel better, “Fine, I won't mention him. But don't turn a deaf ear to my words. I don't allow you to go out with His Excellency or any other man alone in the future. Understand?”

“I see!” s.h.i.+ Qingxue answered simply.

It made Dong Hui unable to say more. She had to let the girl go. “Well, it's late now. Go back to have a rest.”

s.h.i.+ Qingxue walked out of the East House swiftly and then sighed deeply. Her mother was better at chattering. She could hardly resist it.

“Qingxue, what are you doing here?”

Qingxue raised her head and saw Wenren Chi in military uniform walk to her. He seemed to come from the military camp in haste, and there was sweat on his forehead.

She ran to him with a smile and greeted sweetly, “Big brother, are you coming to see Father? Why are you in such a hurry? It's so hot.”

While speaking, she conveniently gave her handkerchief to him.

When they were children, s.h.i.+ Qingxue often went to play on the s.h.i.+ Army's training ground. Every time Wenren Chi got tired from training, she would give him her handkerchief and even wipe sweat for him when she was in a good mood.

It was natural, and she had no other intention. But as Wenren Chi looked at her bright smile and then at the white handkerchief, he was in a daze.

“Chi?” s.h.i.+ Qingxue pushed the handkerchief to urge him and called in confusion.

Wenren Chi came to his senses and received the handkerchief. He wiped his forehead in order to cover up and forgot his purpose in coming, just standing in front of s.h.i.+ Qingxue blankly.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue wouldn't forget it. She asked the same question and laughed mysteriously. “I knew you would agree.”

“What?”

Qingxue thought he was playing dumb and knocked at his arm like a brother. She didn't notice the embarra.s.sment flas.h.i.+ng on his face and said excitedly, “You have sent a letter to Father. Do you still want to hide it from me? I know you are going to marry my sister. Mother has decided your wedding date. It's on October 20th. It's just around the corner…”

She spoke for a long time, but there was no reply. She looked at Wenren Chi in doubt but found that he was petrified. “What? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Father and Mother tell you to get married so soon. Are you unhappy?”

Wenren Chi trembled and grabbed Qingxue's arm, asking emotionally, “Who told you that I am going to marry Baoning?”

“You said it! You have sent a letter to Father. Can it be…”

She didn't say the last word “false”. As she looked at Wenren Chi's confused and surprised expression, she thought it might be false.

Wenren Chi looked serious. “Where is Father now? I need to see him.”

“Oh, he has left for the Shou'an Hall,” s.h.i.+ Qingxue replied automatically.

After speaking, she met Wenren Chi's eyes. They found that it was not good in each other's eyes. Then both of them ran to the Shou'an Hall quickly.

They hoped that s.h.i.+ Junhe hadn't said that, so they could stop it. If he really told Mo Shujun about the marriage of Wenren Chi and Baoning, then…

s.h.i.+ Qingxue couldn't imagine what a mess it would be, but she didn't understand. “Chi, why did somebody write a letter to propose marriage to Baoning on your behalf?”

Who would be so idle or addicted to making a match?

Wenren Chi bit his lower lip and walked forward silently. n.o.body knew what he was thinking.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was more confused but didn't dare to ask more.

When they reached the Shou'an Hall, the maid Zhu told them that Princess Royal was talking with Duke s.h.i.+ and they should wait outside even if they had something important to report.