Only when the people behind them were no longer visible did Qin Lulu finally couldn’t help but say, “Seventh Sister, why didn’t you speak with Young Master Liu?”

“Men and women should maintain proper distance. It’s better to avoid causing trouble.”

Qin Yue, who had remained quietly silent all along, finally couldn’t contain herself either and said, “Fifth Aunt, that was Young Master Liu? This year’s third-place scholar?”

Before Qin Shuying could answer, Qin Lulu nodded, “Indeed. After the New Year, Madam Liu and Young Master Liu visited our residence. I saw them with my own eyes.”

Qin Yue exclaimed in admiration, “Seventh Aunt, no wonder people say that Seventh Miss Qin is truly a woman blessed with rare good fortune! Just now, when the princess summoned you, the ladies and young misses were all discussing it.”

Lin Zilan also said, “Yes, I heard it too. Many people were discussing how exceptional Young Master Liu is, and how… Sister Shuying has such a pure heart and keen intelligence—she and Young Master Liu are truly a match made in heaven.”

Lin Zilan probably wanted to say that Liu Junqing was not only outstanding in literary talent but also extraordinarily handsome. However, as a boudoir maiden, it was truly inappropriate for her to describe such things, and she had to consider whether Qin Shuying might overthink it.

After all, almost all the ladies and young misses in the capital felt that with both parents dead, no reputation for talent, and personally engaging in commerce, Qin Shuying was truly unworthy of such a fine young man as Liu Junqing.

Qin Shuying merely smiled and said, “Marriage is a matter of parents’ commands and matchmakers’ words—it’s not something we can decide. Let’s go look over there.”

All three found it strange. When discussing such matters, Qin Shuying showed not the slightest trace of shyness. If she wasn’t shy, then why was she unwilling to say more? Heaven knows how curious they all were and how much they wanted to chat about it.

The three exchanged glances, each seeing regret in the others’ eyes.

However, since the person involved didn’t want to discuss it, no matter how many thoughts they had, they could only keep them to themselves.

Walking along the edge of the rose garden for a while, they passed by many women and young ladies who were sizing up Qin Shuying, listening to others’ discussions while receiving various kinds of looks. The four of them also felt tired from walking, so they stopped to rest.

After sitting in the shade for a moment, they saw groups of two or three people hurrying past—ladies and young misses as well as young masters and gentlemen—all chattering excitedly as they rushed in the same direction.

They rounded the bend and disappeared from sight, but the sounds of commotion could still be faintly heard.

Qin Lulu wondered, “What’s happening over there?”

Qin Lulu gave a meaningful look, and her personal maid grabbed a passing servant girl to ask, “Sister, has something happened up ahead?”

The servant girl said, “You don’t know? I heard Young Master Liang and Luo Huan got into a fight.”

“Who?”

The servant girl was eager to leave, “Why don’t you go see for yourselves? Then you’ll know!”

Seeing the servant girl’s excited manner, Qin Lulu stood up, “Seventh Sister, let’s all go see what’s happened!”

Qin Shuying wanted to stop her, but Qin Lulu had already charged ahead with unstoppable courage. Qin Shuying had no choice but to follow.

Qin Yue and Lin Zilan were both extremely curious and naturally followed along.

Soon, after rounding the bend, they saw a large crowd gathered in one place, with a layer of men forming the inner circle and women forming the outer layer.

A young lady in green clothes quietly asked, “How did these two end up fighting each other?”

A young lady in red clothes corrected her, “It’s not them fighting—it’s the people they brought who are fighting. Liang Zhe is, after all, the legitimate eldest son of the Western Conquest General’s residence, raised by the old mighty general, and he’s currently an imperial guard with a rank of fourth grade military officer. With his status, how could he personally fight someone? As for Young Master Luo, he can’t lift with his hands or carry on his shoulders—can he fight? Would he dare to fight?”

Her tone clearly showed bias—favoring Liang Zhe.

The young lady in green pointed toward Liang Zhe, who sat boldly on a bench like a king, “That’s Liang Zhe?”

The young lady in red said with evident pride, “That’s him!”

The four of them, Qin Shuying included, looked toward Liang Zhe. They really had no choice but to look, because Liang Zhe was tall and imposing—even sitting on a bench, he wasn’t much shorter than an ordinary standing person.

Moreover, he was extremely eye-catching. Every one of his features was exquisite, and his entire person could almost be described as radiant. But his masculine aura was completely integrated, so beneath the packaging of those exquisite features, he appeared even more distinguished and compelling, heroic and upright, refined beyond comparison.

Furthermore, he sat with one leg crossed over the other, looking like he owned the world, wearing a half-smiling expression that made a crowd of young ladies practically drool.

Due to his powerful presence, others didn’t dare approach too closely. Although he was surrounded by people, no one dared crowd too tightly around him, so Qin Shuying and the others could see him as soon as they arrived.

Moreover, someone who appeared to be his attendant was stretching his neck and shouting, “Everyone move back a bit, move back! Our master is the most handsome in the world, the most charming and debonair in the world, with the best martial arts and fists in the world. If you all crowd so tightly, how can the people coming from behind see? Move aside, move aside…”

While Liang Yanjun was shouting nonsense, he was cursing Liang Zhe in his heart.

He was a military officer, after all—why did he have to pretend to be a wastrel upon returning to the capital? He really wasn’t cut out for this…

Suddenly catching sight of Qin Shuying, something flashed through Liang Yanjun’s mind. With sudden inspiration, he shouted even more vigorously and deliberately drove away those people blocking Qin Shuying’s view.

Then he winked at Liang Zhe. Young Master, Seventh Miss Qin has come—she’s come to see you! Perform well, perform well—don’t mess up the act…

But Liang Zhe paid him no attention. At this moment, he was coldly looking down at Luo Huan with contempt, not taking him seriously at all.

Luo Huan’s face was dusty, clearly having suffered earlier. He trembled with anger, hands on his hips, commanding his attendants viciously, “Fight! Beat them up! If anyone dies, I’ll take responsibility!”

Without any suspense, Liang Zhe’s men defeated Luo Huan’s people in just one or two moves.

One group consisted of men who had killed on battlefields, the other of wastrel attendants—how could they compare?

Liang Yanjun said arrogantly, “Luo Huan, can you do it or not? If not, just admit defeat. Our master has important business to attend to—can you afford to delay him? Acting like a woman, whining and complaining—aren’t you ashamed?”

Luo Huan’s face turned iron-blue. He rolled up his sleeves, still with hands on his hips, and said, “Liang Zhe, today is the hairpin flower banquet held by Her Highness the Princess Imperial. I can’t bring shame to Her Highness, so I’ll let you off for now. But you wait—I have my ways to make you unable to cry! Let’s go!”

With that, Luo Huan turned to leave, and his attendants followed limping along in groups of two or three.

Liang Yanjun sneered, “Luo Huan, going home to tattle? How old are you now? You’ve been fighting with our master since childhood and you’ve never won once—you only know how to tattle! How old are you now? Your son is already three years old, and you still only know how to tattle? Are you still wetting your pants and wearing split-bottom trousers?”

Luo Huan’s expression was extremely ugly, but despite receiving such humiliation, he seemed completely indifferent and swaggered away with great fanfare.

The people at the scene burst into laughter.

This Luo Huan was supposedly on equal footing with Liang Zhe, known as one of the “Twin Tyrants of the Capital.”

From this display, it seemed the reputation didn’t match the reality.