The 15th, the day of Lantern Festival, was a big day for Tianxiang city.
This day was originally the day for Jian and Wan family to exchange age cards, but now it was an exchange between Jian and Xin families.
Master Xin was the governor of Tianxiang city while Jian family was the oldest family in Tianxiang, so certainly, such a big even was known to everyone across the city.
Mo Qianxue had long been invited. In the afternoon, she and Ning Shaoqing took the carriage to Tianxiang city. Tong Zijing, the naughty boy, insisted that he go together with them. Mo Qianxue had to agree but didn't allow him to get into the same carriage.
She would go crazy if, like last time, she sat between Tong Zijing and Ning Shaoqing, not daring to talk because she had to consider the feelings of both of the men and enduring Ning Shaoqing's long face.
Therefore, poor Tong Zijing took his own carriage and followed behind theirs.
At the sight of Tong Zijing, Ning Shaoqing's first reaction was to search for Ji Xuyao.
But before he found him, Mo Qianxue had agreed that Tong Zijing go together. He almost ordered Asan to throw Tong Zijing back to Tong mansion.
Later, when hearing Mo Qianxue forbidding Tong Zijing to take the same carriage, he felt better and gave Asan a 'you know what to do' look before the door closed.
Soon after they set off, one wheel of Tong Zijing's carriage broke off and rolled down the hill. When the driver got it back, the carriage ahead had long gone out of sight.
Seeing Mo Qianxue's carriage disappearing, Tong Zijing no longer wore the childish smile on his face, ordering coldly, "Tong Bai, from tomorrow, you teach me martial arts every morning." Only when he himself became power, he wouldn't be deceived by these people.
"Yes, lord." Tong Bai was an outstanding one among Tong guards. When he was dispatched to lord, butler Tong had told him to be the coach of lord if he wanted to learn martial arts.
The reason why Tong family could stand still was not only because of political and financial powers or fame, but also due to the century-long heritage of martial arts, which let the masters and lords at least protect themselves in the nick of time.
Without strength to oneself, how could a soft weakling fight in the storm of swords and spears to stand above the rest?
"But today, get yourself punishment of twenty beats." Finishing it, Tong Zijing sat back into the carriage, "If such a thing happened again, you go back to Tong mansion and get more training."
"Yes." Hearing the order, Tong Bai trembled for a second, lowering his head, willing to accept the punishment, and what was more, becoming awed towards his lord, "It was my fault. Thanks for your punishment."
At this time, he sincerely took Tong Zijing as a real lord.
He could have deflected the little stone flying over from the front, but he chose to pretend not noticing it and let the carriage drove head-on so that the wheel got off faster. There was only one reason why he had done it. He didn't wish to see his lord welcoming Ning Shaoqing's cold buttocks with a warm face.
More importantly, he hadn't thought that lord could know the secret plot.
Tong Zijing wasn't close to Mr. Tong indeed, but Tong Zhan, the grandson of butler Tong as well as the future butler, would certainly tell Tong Zijing everything.
Since Tong Zhan was a loyal man, he naturally had explained every detail for Tong Zijing.
Mo Qianxue lifted up the curtain, happening to see the wheel running off the carriage and down the hill.
She was confused because she had checked the things from Tong mansion, which all of top quality. The wheel couldn't get off for no reason.
She looked back at Ning Shaoqing whose eyes were closed and lips curled up at the corners, and an idea occurred to her.
"You did it?" The question sounded sure.
Ning Shaoqing came over to put his arm around Mo Qianxue's shoulders, "Yes, I did it."
"Um…" Mo Qianxue didn't know who to reply. She had never met a person who did a bad thing but in such a self-justified manner and looked as a calm graceful gentleman as usual.
Since when did Ning Shaoqing become so dark-bellied that he should put his dark hand on a poor child? Poor Zijing…
"He's still a child." Mo Qianxue protested.
"Actually, he's twenty-one years of age, the same as me. Why is he still a child?" Ning Shaoqing slightly squinted, taking Mo Qianxue, who was enjoying the scenery through the window, into his arms, and kissed, "Don't stay too intimate with Tong Zijing."
Mo Qianxue sighed. Where was the man whose ears would turn red upon slightest trace of erotic atmosphere? Now, when this man got hold of her, he no longer said: go and cook for me, I'm hungry.
He told her with action that he was starving and wanted…her, of course.
However, the vinegar was of the same amount.
In fact, she also thought it inconvenient for Tong Zijing to come along with them. It was rare for the couple to go out together. Who would like to bring a tail?
But she agreed when thinking that today was the day of reunion…
When she thought of this, she remembered her brother and families in modern time. A ghost of faint sorrow crawled onto her face.
"Qianxue, what are you thinking?" Ning Shaoqing's gentle voice swept over her ear.
Unconsciously, Mo Qianxue spoke out her mind, "I'm thinking about who I am and where I come from." As she spoke, she suddenly woke up from her contemplation and quickly tried to disguise with exaggerated wording, "Where shalt I go? What wilt I do?"
Upon finishing, she felt bad. It sounded too deep and too pretentious.
Ning Shaoqing stunned for a second and was about to ask further when cool breeze lifted the curtain and blew in through the window.
Feeling cold, Mo Qianxue subconsciously leaned closer into Ning Shaoqing's arms.
He instantly laughed, "Where you're going to is my arms." Then he looked right in her eyes, promising in an ambiguous tone, "Don't worry, we won't wait long for the thing."
Then, he hugged her tighter, "Since you want it so much, then I should let you feel it right now."
Mo Qianxue was speechless. What was he talking about? Did he regard her as a eager woman? Which of her words had suggested her dissatisfaction of that?
The carriage swayed its way on to certain beat, and Ning Shaoqing's chests were broad and warm, so Mo Qianxue didn't want to argue with him on his covert teasing.
Laying in the warm arms, closing her eyes and listening to the sounds of rustling leaves in wind, tramping hoofs, rattling wheels and Ning Shaoqing's steady heartbeat, Mo Qianxue, for the first time, fell asleep in the carriage.
Feeling the soothing stable breath of the girl in his arms, Ning Shaoqing adjusted his gait so that Mo Qianxue could lay in a more comfortable gesture. Then, he gently pulled over the cloak to put on her body and told Awu to drive slower and steadier before he closed his eyes, stroking Mo Qianxue's smooth hair while sinking himself in pondering.
Mo Qianxue felt a light pain in her neck, opening her eyes to find that the carriage had stopped. Then she looked to Ning Shaoqing, who hid a smile in his lips.
She was woken up by Ning Shaoqing's bite? This fool bit her again? No way, she must bite back.
Getting rid of the hand on her neck, Mo Qianxue rushed to Ning Shaoqing, and her goal was never neck…
At this moment, the door curtain was opened.
"Lord, we arrive at Tingfengquan…"
Spotting the scene that lady rushing at lord to kiss him and feeling lord's sharp cutting eyes at him, Awu hurriedly dropped the curtain and stayed in a daze in wind.
What an embarrassment! Mo Qianxue looked at Ning Shaoqing with grievance. Why every time it was she who lost face? Was he intentional?
Ning Shaoqing smoothed her pouting lips and whispered to her with smile, "I'll let you kiss enough when we get back, okay?"
"You don't go with me to Jian mansion?"
Ning Shaoqing shook his head and said that currently it was inconvenient for him to show up in such a big occasion.
However, judging from his arrogant expression, Mo Qianxue knew that he just thought little of Jian mansion and didn't want to give it the honor.
Hence, she pouted again. Ning Shaoqing tried to please her and said that he would wait her here until she gave the gift to Jian Qingyou. Then when she got back here, they would go to enjoy the lantern festival before going home together.
Since he was so considerate and she knew that he had important things to deal with at Tingfengquan, Mo Qianxue didn't insist.
*
A marriage between two major familes in Tianxiang city was going to be forged. Certainly, Su Qi, now still in downtown, had received the invitation. He didn't care Jian or Xin families, but his business here might be needing their assistance in the future, so of course he should attend it.
After rounds of wine and chatting at feast, it was then time for garden tour.
Su Qi retired from the feast and planned to leave Tianxiang and return to the capital. He only wondered whether that bright girl was well and whether she would remember that there was once a passer-by in her life called Su Qi.
*
On the 8th, Jian Qinghua and Jian Qingzhen had gone out together. Although Jian Qinghua was scolded and driven out by Ning Shaoqing, luckily, she had met him.
During Jian Qingzhen's visit to Baiyunju last time, she even hadn't had an opportunity to see Su Qi.
Just now through silk screen, she saw again Su Qi swinging a fan and so outstanding in the crowd, and her heart began to leap to an irregular beat again. Besides, she overheard that Su Qi would return to the capital tomorrow and panicked at once.
If the seventh lord Su returned to the capital, there would never be a chance for her to forge a happy marriage with him. Instantly, she became as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.
The second madam Jian knew what was in her daughter's mind, so after hearing Qixiang's report, she whispered to her daughter and gave her a small pack, urging her to make good use of it.
If used properly, she would become the legal daughter-in-law of the super noble Su family and one of the most honorable ladies in Tianqi.
*
Su Qi was standing by the lake and watched the bamboo forest across the river, but his mind flew back to Tong mansion when he and she and Tong Zijing played carefree together.
A servant girl suddenly dashed over and reported that the eldest young lord Jian Mobai invited him to take a seat and appreciate paintings and poetry at the study. At once, Su Qi's expression changed and murderousness shot out from his eyes.
Just now at the feast, Jian Mobai had invited him, along with the future brother-in-law and several other young lords, to appreciate his orchids in the greenhouse.
Back then, he had turned him down, on the pretext that he wanted to take an air and walk around.
Today, Xin Yiming was the major guest, a future brother-in-law that had just exchanged age cards and letters of proposal, so Jian Mobai wouldn't halfway abandon him and other young lords to invite Su Qi to appreciate calligraphy and paintings.
Even if that was the case, the messenger should be Jian Mobai's guards instead of an unfamiliar servant girl. Therefore, there must be a covert indecent trick of women on play. He was most familiar with these plots and intricacies in a big mansion. Jian family to Su family was equal to a noble family without royal entitlement.
A cold smile flicker on Su Qi's face. He was never benevolent to those who deployed calculations on him. Instead, he really wanted to know who this daring woman was that was graving her own grave.
Su Qi happened to be in a bad mood recently, so if there was a game for free. Why not take a look?
He was never a kind person after all.
At the age of three, he set fire on his aunt's hair. At the age of nine, he kicked the ass of the little heir of the prime minister. At the age of ten...on that day, he caused an earth-shaking trouble and messed up with an untouchable person, so her mother sent him out of the capital as protection…
He now wanted to let that despicable woman know that there were people for whom she shouldn't have longed.
With that in his mind, he didn't plan to make it straightforward with bare words.
The servant girl standing restlessly next to Su Qi was shaking because of the chill he emitted.
Su Qi laughed, amiably and playfully as usual, "You unruly girl. Why don't you take me there? Are you waiting for reward?"
His tone made the girl relaxed, "Sorry, I don't dare to ask for reward. Please follow me."
The girl turned away and led the way in front. Su Qi swayed his fan, deadpan.
In a while, they arrived at a study, but there was no one inside.
The girl looked apologetic and served tea, saying respectfully, "Please take a seat lord. You must be tired walking a long way here. Please have some tea. I guess eldest lord Jian is on his way."
"Well, you may leave now." Su Qi took over the tea and smelled, taking a full cup of it.
Drug of poor quality! What a shame to use this kind of drug on him!
What a naïve woman that was! Couldn't his martial arts defend himself against such poor quality drug?
But if he wanted to enjoy a drama, he must be the player first.
Su Qi drank the tea and in a while, held his head with his fist. Then, he shook his head, seemingly having been affected by the drug.
"What the matter lord? Are you drunk from the feast? Do you want to take a rest in the back room? I can report when lord Jian arrives. Okay?"
Usually, there was a back room in a study for the lords or masters to occasionally take a rest.
"Alright." Su Qi stood up, hand pressing against his forehead, and walked into the back room. That servant girl left and shut the doors.
Su Qi sneered. He had already detected a person breathing heavily inside the room. Obviously, she was nervous.
Upon entering the study, he first scouted the layout of the study and noticed a ventilation window hanging high on a wall. With a cruel smile, he knew how to retreat from this spectacular drama.