outside the palace
Lian Yan looked unkind and kept wandering around the audience.
"Can't you just stop?" Mrs. Lian was speechless, rubbing her temples and muttering in a low voice, "I'm so confused!"
Lian Yan was filled with unwillingness and stared angrily at the palace door on the steps, whispering, "It's been so long, why doesn't Wan Zhou come out?"
"Why are you so anxious?" Mrs. Lian glared at him, her face full of hatred that steel cannot be made into steel, "The main hall is right here, can Wan Zhou escape?"
Lian Yan closed his mouth, but his eyes still did not leave the mahogany palace door.
Mrs. Lian secretly said nothing, and immediately turned her head to look at Fang Xu, who was standing aside, and nodded towards her. A smile instantly appeared on her face, which seemed to be a bit flattering.
Fang Xu nodded and smiled politely.
The next moment, there was a sound from the palace door, and the figures of Queen Zhu and Xie Wanzhou appeared in front of everyone.
Fang Xu looked Xie Wanzhou up and down and saw that she was fine, and his worries were relieved.
"Wanzhou!" Lian Yan exclaimed, striding forward, his eyes full of nervousness, "Are you being embarrassed?"
Xie Wanzhou smiled slightly and shook her head gently, "Don't worry, the Queen is here."
After hearing this, Lian Yan was completely relieved, bowed to Queen Zhu, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Queen, for your help."
Queen Zhu looked at the two of them, with a hint of teasing flashing in her eyes, covering her mouth and smiling, "No need to thank me, if you two are free in the future, feel free to come and sit in Yikun Palace."
Xie Wanzhou heard the tone of her words, her face flushed a little, and she slowly looked at her mother beside her, pursed her lips and smiled.
Fang Xu's eyes fell on her, seemingly pleased and proud.
"Wan Zhou..." Lian Yan's expression moved slightly and he called softly.
Xie Wanzhou came back to her senses and looked sideways at him, with a hint of confusion in her eyes, "What's wrong?"
Seeing her looking at him, Lian Yan swallowed nervously, his Adam's apple rolling slightly, "Qinxin Lake... still... still going?"
Xie Wanzhou paused for a moment, and was keenly aware of Queen Zhu's gossipy eyes. The blush on her face became more and more obvious, and her words were a little choppy, "I...naturally want to go..."
Lian Yan was affirmed, with joy on his face, and followed Xie Wanzhou like a little daughter-in-law, never leaving.
The crisis was over and everyone left one after another.
Xie Wanzhou walked slowly out of the palace gate, and Lian Yan walked with her, walking narrowly just to be shoulder to shoulder with her.
Arriving in front of the carriage, Lian Yan raised his arms and stared at Xie Wanzhou's bright face with a hearty smile.
Xie Wanzhou lowered his head slightly, stretched out his hand to support his forearm, stepped on the footrest and got into the car.
After Xie Wanzhou was settled, Lian Yan turned around to look for the horses he had brought, but saw someone standing at the corner.
Yuan Chen, wearing a black cloak, stood quietly under the palace wall, looking far away here. The aura around him was gone, as if he had been abandoned by everything in the world and stood alone.
When his eyes met, Lian Yan's eyes showed a hint of displeasure, but it was not visible on his face. Due to the gap in status, he suppressed his emotions and saluted Yuan Chen.
Yuan Chen paused slightly and nodded politely.
The wheels turned slowly, and the curtain was lifted a corner. Xie Wanzhou poked out his little face, looked at Lian Yan with a smile, and said softly, "What are you doing standing still? Hurry up and leave."
Lian Yan nodded, raised a slight smile on his lips, and said in a deep voice, "Here you go."
After saying this, Lian Yan no longer paid attention to Yuan Chen under the palace wall. He fetched the horse, climbed on it, clamped the horse's belly, and chased the car away.
Looking at the departing carriage, Yuan Chen's heart felt empty. His fingertips touched his chest uncontrollably and murmured, "From the time I met her until now...she hasn't even glanced at me."
Hearing this, the little eunuch tied up the cloak for him rather distressedly, and whispered, "Mr. Lang, let go of what you should put down."
"What Miss Xie wants is Mr. Lian's enthusiastic and unique preference, but you...can't give it to me."
Yuan Chen stared at the palace door, tried his best to suppress the bitterness in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "His love is indeed very straightforward."
The little eunuch accompanied him and whispered, "If Mr. Lang really can't let go, why not make friends with Miss Xie, so that... we can see him often..."
The light in his eyes completely dissipated, and Yuan Chen laughed at himself, "That's all, I've already lost, so why bother bothering me anymore..."
"No matter who gets to know her first, I will never be Lian Yan's opponent."
"Lian Yan's love is so showy."
Yuan Chen slowly closed his eyes, raised his chin slightly, and the cool breeze caressed his face, carrying his voice into the distance.
-
Qinxin Lake
The lake is vast, with rippling waves. The water is so clear that there is no impurity. There is a century-old willow tree on the shore, with branches and buds hanging in the lake. The wind blows, causing ripples.
It was approaching evening and the sky was getting dark. Except for Xie Wanzhou and Lian Yan, there was no one around.
The two of them were sitting on a stone bench next to the willow tree, and the atmosphere was a bit subtle.
"That's what happened. I told it truthfully." Xie Wanzhou lowered his head slightly, his long eyelashes drooped, and his voice was clear.
Lian Yan frowned and kept asking questions with a worried look on his face.
"You spoke to that person so frankly, and he didn't treat you harshly?"
"When the porcelain cup was smashed, was there hot tea in it? Did it hurt you?"
"Does the superior still need you to go and get married? Why don't you get a definite answer now?"
"..."
Xie Wanzhou raised his head and looked at Lian Yan longingly. Seeing that he was thinking about his own safety every time he spoke, he couldn't help but feel a sore nose.
"You..." Lian Yan frowned and whispered, "Why are you crying..."
Looking at the girl's face that suddenly came closer, the scent of osmanthus came from the tip of the nose, and a touch of softness touched the lips. Lian Yan's words stopped abruptly and stuck in his mouth.
Xie Wanzhou was obviously inexperienced, like a dragonfly touching water, he only touched it for a moment and then immediately pulled away.
Lian Yan was defenseless and froze in place, still keeping his head down.
The next moment, he heard his own heartbeat, a deafening thud, and numbness surged from the top of his heart to his whole body.
For the first time, Xie Wanzhou lost control and looked around in panic, fearing that others would see him.
Seeing no one around, Xie Wanzhou hurriedly stood up, his ears turned red quietly, looking into Lian Yan's clear eyes, he whispered softly, "I told you not to marry anyone else, do you... understand my feelings?"
Lian Yan didn't answer and just stared at her, his eyes filled with emotions that she couldn't understand.
"I see it's getting late, so I'll go home first..." Xie Wanzhou couldn't resist his eyes, and felt so ashamed and angry that she subconsciously wanted to run away. As soon as she reached Lian Yan's side, a knuckle hit her on her thin wrist. Distinctive hands grabbed.
Xie Wanzhou was startled and turned around in surprise, meeting Lian Yan's sincere eyes.
Lian Yan held her thin wrist, his Adam's apple rolled, and he barely found his voice, "I'm going to propose marriage... okay?"
(End of chapter)
