Minister Zhu invited Marquis Kangding and Li Shiyan inside, hastily ordering servants to bring tea.

Everyone took their seats one by one.

“This is tea from Huainan. Marquis, please try it and see if you like it?”

Marquis Kangding nodded with a smile, picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip. The tea didn’t smell particularly fragrant, but it was sweet upon entering the mouth.

“This tea is indeed excellent. It’s sweet on the palate and leaves a lingering aftertaste.”

Minister Zhu felt his dignity had been preserved and was very satisfied, saying, “If the Marquis likes it, I’ll have someone send some to your residence later.”

“Huainan tea has always been renowned, and it’s even tribute tea.”

“Indeed, I also obtained some through connections.”

“Since that’s the case, it would be improper to accept it.” The Marquis said.

Minister Zhu replied, “Marquis, there’s no need to be so polite. Our two families are about to become one family, so there’s nothing improper about it. Good tea also needs someone who appreciates it.”

“Haha.” The Marquis laughed so heartily his mouth couldn’t close. “Yes, yes, yes, we’re about to become one family. Since that’s the case, I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

The two elders chatted happily.

Listening to this, Li Shiyan maintained a polite smile on his face, but inwardly he was unhappy.

He had no interest in Minister Zhu’s daughter and no intention of marrying her. His presence here today was merely to save his father’s face and avoid giving people something to gossip about, which would make things difficult for him later. In short, if one must put on an act, one must do it thoroughly. Once this hurdle was passed, he could think of other solutions later.

Zhu Yao sat across from him, observing every expression on his face, and couldn’t help feeling a surge of joy in her heart.

She thought to herself: The heir apparent must like me, otherwise he wouldn’t come to our residence, much less show such an expression.

Therefore, her heart became much more at ease.

At this moment, Minister Zhu turned his gaze toward her and said, “Yao’er, why don’t you show the heir apparent around our residence? You two young people have things to talk about, so there’s no need to accompany us old folks in conversation here.”

Eh!

The two of them together?

Zhu Yao’s heart suddenly tightened. She quickly looked toward Li Shiyan across from her, wanting to see what he thought about this.

The smile on Li Shiyan’s face hadn’t faded.

He remained courteous as ever.

The Marquis quickly picked up on Minister Zhu’s words, saying, “That’s right. If the two young people have things to discuss, let them go out for a walk together. After all, marriage matters have always been determined by parental arrangement and matchmaker’s words since ancient times. We’ll handle the arrangements.”

Minister Zhu nodded, “Exactly!”

Li Shiyan stood up. “Excellent. This is my first time at Uncle Zhu’s residence, so it would be good to walk around.” He then turned to look at Zhu Yao. “Miss Zhu, I’ll trouble you then.”

Zhu Yao also quickly stood up. “If the heir apparent doesn’t mind, I’ll show you around.”

“I don’t mind at all.”

What he wanted most right now was to quickly escape from here. He didn’t want to listen to the older generation exchanging pleasantries, nor did he want to hear how they were arranging his marriage. He had to escape quickly.

So naturally he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity.

The Marquis instructed, “Shiyan, you must treat Yao’er well. If you dare bully her, I won’t forgive you.”

“Father, rest assured. I naturally won’t bully her. I won’t even have enough time to cherish her.”

“Alright, go then.”

“Yes.” He walked before Zhu Yao and smiled slightly. “Miss Zhu, please.”

Zhu Yao bowed to her father and the Marquis, then left together with Li Shiyan.

As they departed, she could faintly hear a voice from behind saying, “They truly are a talented man and beautiful woman.”

Indeed!

Li Shiyan was certainly handsome, and Zhu Yao was also beautiful. Standing together, they truly were a talented man and beautiful woman.

As soon as they left the main hall, the two headed toward the rear courtyard.

Throughout the walk, Zhu Yao kept her head lowered, extremely shy and also very nervous.

But Li Shiyan was like an unrestrained wild horse, now completely liberated. However, since there was still someone beside him, naturally he couldn’t be too unbridled. So as he walked, he said, “Miss Zhu, the arrangement of your residence is truly elegant. It seems much thought went into it.”

He initiated the conversation first, so Zhu Yao picked up on his words and said, “Actually, not much thought went into it.”

“Not much thought, yet it’s arranged so beautifully?” Li Shiyan sighed. “A scholar’s residence is indeed different. Your father is the Minister of Rites, his mind filled with learning, so even the furnishings are arranged with particular elegance. Unlike our home, which feels cold and unwelcoming the moment you enter, not like a home at all.”

“That’s not true. I visited just a few days ago, and your residence was quite nice.”

“Nice? As expected of a young lady from a prestigious family. Even your words are pleasing to hear.”

Pleasing?

The air of shyness on Zhu Yao’s face grew even thicker.

Her heart felt both happy and even more nervous.

Seeing that she didn’t continue, Li Shiyan glanced at her and asked, “Miss Zhu, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong just now?”

She quickly shook her head. “No, the heir apparent didn’t say anything wrong, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

She hesitated, not knowing what to say.

Li Shiyan frowned and asked, “Why did you stop talking?”

What he feared most was this type of young lady who clearly had something to say but wouldn’t say it, leaving people anxiously waiting.

Zhu Yao was simply overjoyed by his earlier use of the word “pleasing,” but didn’t know how to express this. So in the end, it became: “It’s nothing. I’m just happy in my heart that the heir apparent praised me so.”

“Is that all? What I said is true. You truly are a young lady from a prestigious family, and I also very much enjoy what you say.”

“Heir apparent, why don’t you call me Yao’er instead?”

“Yao’er?”

Zhu Yao glanced at him, then quickly averted her gaze, saying, “You keep calling me Miss Zhu, which is really too formal. Just call me Yao’er.”

After all, before long, she would be marrying him!

So there was no need to be so polite.

Seeing her bashful appearance, Li Shiyan realized that this young lady had probably, possibly truly fallen for him. He couldn’t very well refuse, so he agreed, “Alright, I’ll call you Yao’er from now on.”

“Then…”

“Hmm?”

This time, Zhu Yao boldly met his gaze and said, “Then I’ll call you Shiyan as well.”

Li Shiyan was indifferent either way.

He said, “Fine, Shiyan it is. It’s just a name after all.”

Zhu Yao was very happy, though she didn’t dare show it all on her face. The hands clutching her handkerchief tightened several times.

After a short while, the two arrived at a pavilion in the rear courtyard and sat down. The residence’s maids quickly brought tea and some pastries.

Very attentive service.

Li Shiyan completely disregarded his image. He directly propped one leg up on the stone bench beside him, grabbed a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his mouth, eating with smacking sounds, then picked up the tea and gulped it down like water. Because he was too hasty, the tea leaked out from both sides of his mouth.

This greatly surprised Zhu Yao sitting across from him.

Even the maid Cai’er standing to the side was very surprised.