After driving away the young masters from Yizhou City, Zhao Xiuyuan compensated the lantern stall owner with five taels of official silver. Before long, the Bridge of Immortal Ascension was bustling with activity again.
The tale of Second Young Master Zhao beating up the spoiled young masters to save a beauty would circulate for some time.
Xiang’er and Ling’er stood obediently on the riverbank, not disturbing the two beneath the willow tree.
By this time, Ji Yingying found she no longer wanted to question Zhao Xiuyuan.
Two shadows were reflected in the water. She broke off another willow branch and silently whipped at Zhao Xiuyuan’s reflection.
He wanted to embrace her. Unfortunately, not only were Ji Yingying’s two maids on the bank, but his servants Zhao Ping and Zhao An also dared not leave. Zhao Xiuyuan cleared his throat, and seeing Ji Yingying whipping his shadow, knew she was upset at his late arrival. He sheepishly pleaded in a low voice, “Grandfather had questions for me, that’s why I was late. Don’t be angry. I heard your mother confiscated all your little treasures. I’ll make you a new set, alright?”
“I don’t care!” Ji Yingying snorted. Being straightforward by nature, she still raised her head to ask him, “Did you come to tell me in person that your family won’t let you marry me? Tell me the truth, I won’t blame you.”
But Zhao Xiuyuan wanted to tease her: “Oh, so if my parents won’t let me marry you, you’ll forget me right away?”
Ji Yingying’s heart turned bitter. But what could be done? The Ji family wouldn’t stoop to forcing their daughter on him. She lowered her head, not wanting him to see her sad expression, and said earnestly, “I will marry someone else and then forget you.” She then dealt Zhao Xiuyuan another blow, “After I marry someone else, I’ll live happily too. That’s the truth.”
You heartless girl! Who wants to hear such truths? Zhao Xiuyuan was so angry he wanted to strangle her. He glanced at the riverbank, saw Zhao Ping and Zhao An knowingly blocking the two maids’ line of sight, and grabbed Ji Yingying’s wrist to pull her into the shadows behind the tree.
He stepped forward, forcing her to lean against the tree, and stared at her saying, “Say it: you, Ji Yingying, can only marry me.”
With the light behind him, she couldn’t see his expression, only those eyes, bright as stars. Ji Yingying’s fingers drew lightly on his chest, her face gradually burning up, but she stubbornly persisted: “Why should I?”
Zhao Xiuyuan lifted her face, and saw the gleam of tears in her eyes, like a kitten with retracted claws, showing none of her usual fierce willfulness. Her small lips were pressed together, full of unspoken grievances. In that instant, all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his lips, clamoring for him to kiss her. It won’t be long now, Zhao Xiuyuan heard his heart pounding. He was ultimately a person of extreme self-control, and merely ran his finger across her lips, telling her softly, “Yingying, you are mine.”
His fingers had thin calluses that hurt slightly as they brushed her lips. His body grew increasingly warm, and being so close, she could feel his breathing become heavy. Ji Yingying couldn’t tell if it was shyness or nervousness, but she instinctively pressed her hands against his chest, murmuring, “Don’t be like this. We’ve been close since childhood, you know my personality. If you can’t marry me, I won’t cling to you…”
Zhao Xiuyuan lifted his head to take a breath and stepped back two paces. The river breeze blew past, gradually dispersing the heat that had risen in his heart. He smiled slightly at her: “Silly girl. Grandfather has agreed. After the brocade competition is over, we’ll propose to the Ji family.”
She had always wanted to hear him say it himself. Now that she heard it, Ji Yingying’s heart felt like a rabbit was bouncing around inside. She stared at him blankly, watching the joy radiating from Zhao Xiuyuan’s entire being. She suddenly felt unable to face him and turned to run: “It’s late, I’m going home!”
She ran up the riverbank, turned to look at him once, wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say, then turned and ran away quickly. Seeing this, Xiang’er and Ling’er hurried after her.
Her yellow dress billowed in the evening breeze like a chrysanthemum blooming in autumn. Her figure was light and graceful, disappearing instantly into the brilliant lantern light. Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart stirred, and he murmured, “I know what brocade pattern to weave now. Yingying, you are my lucky star.”
Zhao Ping brought out a lantern from behind him and asked quietly, “Young Master, this lantern hasn’t been released yet.”
“She’s already gone, what’s the point in releasing it? You go release it,” Zhao Xiuyuan said indifferently.
Zhao Ping took the lantern to the riverside, lit the candle, and placed it in the water. He quickly clasped his hands together to make a wish. Suddenly, a kick landed on his back. Zhao Ping fell into the river.
He stood up in the water, looking fearfully at Zhao Xiuyuan, stammering, “Y-young Master.”
Zhao Xiuyuan coldly looked at him: “I’m in a good mood today, so this is just a small punishment. If you dare betray me again, I’ll sink you in Huanhua Stream.”
“This servant was wrong, I’ll never dare again!” Zhao Ping lay terrified in the water, kowtowing and begging for mercy repeatedly.
Zhao Xiuyuan snorted and turned toward the bank: “Get up.”
“This servant thanks Young Master.” Zhao Ping was greatly relieved as he climbed out of the water. Though dripping wet, he dared not wipe himself, just followed with his head down.
Zhao An felt no sympathy for Zhao Ping, thinking you’ve followed Young Master for several years but still don’t understand him, you deserved it.
When they returned home, Madam Ji was still awake.
Ji Yingying was afraid her mother would learn she had caused trouble again and carefully went forward to pay her respects.
Her daughter’s cheeks were flushed with a charming glow, those eyes bright with a hint of shyness. Madam Ji had been through this herself and knew her daughter had an appointment with Second Young Master Zhao today, so she understood.
“Yingying, come here,” Madam Ji called softly.
Ji Yingying’s heart jumped, and she shuffled over reluctantly: “Mother, it’s so late, you should sleep.”
After the Zhao family proposes marriage and Ji Yaoting’s wedding at year’s end, her daughter would be married by early next spring at the latest. Madam Ji held her hand, feeling somewhat reluctant to part: “Yingying, did Second Young Master Zhao tell you?”
“Tell… tell me what?” Ji Yingying stammered.
Madam Ji looked at her tenderly and said softly, “Mother also hopes you can marry well. Second Young Master Zhao treats you with true sincerity, and I don’t oppose this marriage. It’s just that the Zhao family is large and prestigious, with both main and branch families living in Locust Lane – many people mean many affairs. Unlike our small household. Mother only worries that with your straightforward nature, you don’t understand the complexities of the inner courtyard. You won’t be able to be as free and unfettered as you are at home.”
Ji Yingying looked up to see tears glistening in her mother’s eyes. Her earlier joy vanished like smoke. She longed to be with Zhao Xiuyuan but also couldn’t bear to leave her mother and brother. As if she could never return to her current home, Ji Yingying felt for the first time the anxiety that came with marriage. Her knees weakened and she knelt before Madam Ji, resting her face on her lap: “Mother, the Zhao family hasn’t proposed yet.”
“Barring anything unexpected, after the brocade competition on the ninth day of the tenth month, the Zhao family will send someone. Though the Zhao family is only separated from us by one street, Mother just feels somewhat reluctant to part.” As Madam Ji spoke, the emotions of raising her children alone for over ten years suddenly welled up, and her voice became choked.
Ji Yingying felt she was truly unfilial. She wanted to say I won’t marry, I’ll stay with you and brother. But even she wouldn’t believe those words if she said them. She wiped away the tears on Madam Ji’s cheeks and said seriously, “I’ve never been afraid of anything. No matter how big the Zhao family’s estate is or how many people they have, I’ll just do my duty. If anyone dares to provoke me, I’ll make sure they regret it.”
Madam Ji laughed through her tears and gave her a hard smack: “Large households have many rules. Doesn’t this attitude make Mother worry more?”
“No more crying, alright?” Ji Yingying grinned foolishly, rubbing her face against Madam Ji again and again. “As long as Second Young Master Zhao doesn’t bully me, it’ll be fine. If he bullies me, I’ll divorce him. I’ll come home to stay with Mother and brother, and still live well.”
Not even engaged yet and already thinking of escape routes. The bit of melancholy in Madam Ji’s heart was completely washed away by Ji Yingying’s words, and she couldn’t help wanting to scold her again. But then she thought, life in this world is already more difficult for women than men. Her daughter’s personality might help her live more freely. So the scolding turned into advice: “Keep such thoughts in your heart. Don’t tell anyone, not even Second Young Master Zhao. Understand?”
“Mm, I’m not that foolish.”
Madam Ji thought of something else: “What Mother worries about most is that this year the Zhao family might lose to the Yang family from Yizhou City again. If they fail to win the brocade crown, people in the Zhao family will use this marriage as gossip. Even if you do marry over, life won’t be easy.”
“What does that have to do with me? I can’t weave brocade anyway.”
Her daughter was still somewhat naive. Madam Ji held back from saying more and sent Ji Yingying away.
Ji Yingying wasn’t as ignorant as her mother thought. She returned to gaze thoughtfully at Teng Garden across the street.
“Brother Xiuyuan, I trust only you,” she murmured. What she relied on was Zhao Xiuyuan’s feelings for her. Even if things turned out as her mother said, she wasn’t afraid. As long as Zhao Xiuyuan treated her well, that was enough.
“Young Miss, it’s late,” Ling’er dutifully reminded her.
Ji Yingying made a sound of agreement, her gaze becoming clear. What was there to fear? She wasn’t the type to obsess over problems or hang herself from a single tree. If he didn’t treat her well, they’d part ways and each seek happiness elsewhere.