Zhu Yao listened to her mother’s words and only smiled faintly.

She didn’t say anything.

Minister Zhu looked at his wife and said: “Why are you saying these things?”

“I feel sorry for our daughter.”

“They won’t treat Yao’er coldly. Stop worrying. Besides, you saw the Marquis’s attitude just now. He entertained us so warmly—where was there any negligence? You’re a woman of the household, so don’t gossip here.”

“I’m gossiping? My lord, I’m speaking the honest truth. Today was the first meeting. Although the Marquis observed the proper etiquette, Yao’er will marry into the Marquis Manor in the future to live with the Young Master. The Young Master didn’t come today—isn’t that equivalent to treating our daughter coldly? You’re even speaking up for them, not thinking about our daughter at all.” Madam Zhu had only this one daughter, whom she normally treasured like a precious pearl and loved dearly.

Being treated this way by the Kangding Marquis’s Young Master today naturally made her unhappy!

Minister Zhu felt somewhat of a headache. Frowning, he said: “Enough, enough, stop talking. No matter what, I’m still the Minister of Rites, and my official position stands! They won’t treat Yao’er coldly. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be disrespecting me?”

To this, Madam Zhu only let out a cold snort: “Your face? You’re planning to marry our daughter to his Young Master just for the sake of face!”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Who in this capital city of Yanjing doesn’t know that the Kangding Marquis’s Young Master relies on being the Young Master and idles around all day, not doing a single proper thing? If he weren’t well-born, which family’s daughter would willingly be ruined by him?”

“You… you’re getting more and more outrageous.” Minister Zhu’s expression suddenly changed drastically, his tone stern as he said, “Didn’t you just hear? That Young Master went to Su Manor to seek instruction in learning. You should know what kind of person General Su is, right? If he can receive some guidance from him, it’s better than reading many books! The Young Master is so progressive, naturally he’s become sensible. Why are you bringing this up? If someone hears this and it reaches the Marquis’s ears, how am I supposed to conduct myself? Won’t people gossip about me in the court afterward?”

Madam Zhu was full of words and was about to continue arguing…

But Zhu Yao, who had been silent all along, held her mother’s hand and said gently: “Mother, please stop talking.”

If this continued, who knew if they might even start fighting!

Madam Zhu looked at her gentle daughter, and a wave of bitterness involuntarily surged in her heart. With tears glistening in her eyes, she said: “Mother can’t bear to part with you and feels sorry for you.”

“Daughter has already grown up.”

“No matter how much you’ve grown, you’re still my daughter!”

“Mother, please don’t worry. Actually, Father is right. The Young Master was busy seeking instruction in learning, which shows he has a progressive heart. If that’s the case, daughter should be happy! You mustn’t say such words again.”

“Are you truly willing to marry?”

A flush of shy embarrassment immediately appeared on Zhu Yao’s face. She clasped her hands tightly together, a smile spreading across her lips as she said: “Daughter knows Mother doesn’t like the Young Master, but Father and the Marquis have already made the decision. Daughter is naturally willing to marry.”

The thoughts in her heart were unknown to Minister Zhu and Madam Zhu.

Minister Zhu nodded with satisfaction and said: “Yao’er, that you can be so sensible brings Father great comfort.”

Zhu Yao said: “Father, please rest assured. When you’ve chosen an auspicious day, daughter will marry.”

In Minister Zhu’s view, his daughter was indeed very sensible.

Since ancient times, there were parental commands and matchmaker’s words. Even if Zhu Yao had any thoughts, she had no way to refuse.

Therefore, Madam Zhu couldn’t say anything more either. She just held her daughter’s hand and patted it gently a few times.

Thinking about her daughter getting married, tears welled up in her eyes again.

Zhu Yao lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. The spring breeze caressed her face outside, making her heart feel comfortable.

She gazed at the azure blue sky in the distance, a smile gradually spreading across her lips.

Actually, she had seen Li Shiyan before!

That was two years ago…

The weather was excellent that day. She was boating on the lake, her hands resting on a zither beside her.

Unexpectedly, the water surface suddenly surged, and the boat began shaking violently. Not knowing how to swim, she was extremely frightened at the time, and the maid beside her also didn’t know how to swim.

“Miss? What should we do?” The maid worried.

The boatman stood at the bow and turned back, saying: “Don’t worry, young ladies. Nothing will happen.”

But just as these words finished, the boat capsized!

She and her personal maid both fell into the water!

The boatman also plunged into the water. Although he could swim, he only had one pair of hands and naturally couldn’t save two people. The maid happened to be closer to him, so without time to think of anything else, he directly pulled the maid up.

At that time, Zhu Yao was choked by the water to the point she couldn’t even make a sound. She was terrified, struggling constantly in the water.

Water poured in through her mouth, entering her throat!

It was extremely uncomfortable.

She only felt the strength in her body depleting bit by bit, becoming weaker and weaker. Her entire person sank down, and before her eyes was only the rippling light on the water surface, flickering and glimmering…

Finally, she lost consciousness!

When she woke up again, she was already on the shore!

The maid’s voice filled her ears: “Miss, Miss, don’t frighten this servant, Miss…”

She opened her eyes: “Cai’er?”

The maid wiped her tears. Seeing her wake up, she cried even more inconsolably: “Miss, you’ve finally awakened.”

Zhu Yao gradually regained consciousness and sat up. Only then did she discover that a piece of clothing was covering her body. At a glance, the clothing was clearly a man’s. She grasped the clothing and asked: “I… wasn’t I in the water?”

Cai’er said: “Thanks to a young master who saved Miss. Otherwise, this servant truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

“Who?” Her tone was soft.

Cai’er suddenly turned her gaze toward the distant bridge. On the bridge were a total of three men. She raised her hand and pointed at one of them who wasn’t wearing an outer robe and whose entire body was soaking wet, saying: “It was that young master.”

Zhu Yao looked over and saw that the young master who had saved her was wringing water from his clothes while saying something to the two people beside him. The several men talked while also playfully fighting with each other.

In an instant, the young master turned his head!

The young master’s appearance was handsome. Although he had a somewhat roguish air, one could see the bright, sunny spirit of a young man.

It was also in that moment that Zhu Yao remembered him.

“He… who is he?”

Cai’er recalled: “I only heard someone calling him just now… Young Master, yes, Young Master!”

In the capital city of Yanjing, the only person called Young Master was Li Shiyan!

This name, once Zhu Yao remembered it, lasted for two years.

She had never imagined that two years later on this day, she could actually marry him.

When she learned this news, she hadn’t slept for several nights already, just waiting for today to see him and also wanting to thank him in person.

But—

She didn’t get to see him!

Although she felt somewhat disappointed in her heart, she wasn’t unhappy. For her, she was willing to wait however long…