“I said… I’ve been entrusted by Young Master Lu to come propose marriage.” Shi Fa Ke blinked and repeated herself.

“Propose marriage? Young Master Lu?” He Kexian’s face immediately darkened.

“Yes, that Young Master Lu who caught Ketian’s embroidered ball.” Shi Fa Ke, afraid he didn’t understand, kindly reminded him.

He Kexian’s expression became even uglier. He narrowed his eyes and suppressed the urge to strangle the stupid girl in front of him. “Heh, truly a toad wanting to eat swan meat. Who in Tongluo Town doesn’t know that throwing embroidered balls to choose a husband is just a gimmick – a marketing scheme for our wedding cake shop? How could anyone be so shameless as to actually take that embroidered ball and come propose marriage?”

Speaking of this, He Kexian felt his heart fill with old blood. Originally, the He family had a monopoly on wedding cake shops in Tongluo Town, but recently a new shop had opened on East Street with considerable skill, taking away some of their business. Because of this, his stupid sister couldn’t sit still. While he was away in the capital checking the accounts, she came up with this crooked idea of throwing embroidered balls to choose a husband. Mother was always indecisive, and Father spoiled his sister so much he’d put her in the heavens if he could. So by the time he returned, it was already too late to change anything…

The only plan now was to deny and deflect!

Shi Fa Ke was stunned. “…A gimmick? How can marriage, such an important matter, be treated so frivolously?”

“A’Ke, you’re Ketian’s close friend. Do you really think it’s good to casually marry Ketian off to someone of unknown origins?” He Kexian paused, deciding to appeal to emotion and reason.

“Of course not, how could I harm Ketian?” Shi Fa Ke looked serious.

“Exactly…” He Kexian’s expression softened.

But before he could finish, Shi Fa Ke continued, “But Young Master Lu isn’t someone of unknown origins. He’s from Lanzhou, both parents are alive, he has an older brother at home, and he has scholarly achievements – he’s a scholar.” She seriously counted on her fingers, listing each point for him. “Young, handsome, with a promising future, helpful to others, and excellent character.”

Hearing her list the praises of this “Young Master Lu” one by one like treasures, He Kexian’s face grew darker and darker. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “Handsome? More handsome than me?”

Shi Fa Ke thought for a moment. “Mm, more handsome than you.”

“Someone come! Throw this stupid girl out!” He Kexian’s handsome face immediately turned black as charcoal as he roared angrily.

“Eh? Eh eh!” Seeing several maids approach with reluctant expressions, Shi Fa Ke jumped up. “We were talking fine just now! What’s this about?!”

He Kexian was too lazy to deal with her and just had people throw her out.

“Big Brother He, you’re going too far!” Shi Fa Ke panicked and ran toward the courtyard like a streak of smoke. “I won’t talk to you – I’ll go find Ketian!”

“Young Master, this Miss Shi…” the maids tasked with throwing her out looked troubled.

“Let her go.” He Kexian looked darkly at that stupid girl’s retreating figure and sneered coldly. “This stubborn girl who won’t cry until she sees the coffin – does she really think Ketian favors her?”

Shi Fa Ke, familiar with the way, rushed through the hanging flower gate and burst into the back courtyard, standing at the door of He Ketian’s boudoir gasping for breath.

In the boudoir, He Ketian was lazily lying at the table, seemingly admiring a painting. She wore casual apricot-colored embroidered clothing. Hearing the commotion, she turned and saw Shi Fa Ke panting with her tongue out at the door. “A’Ke?… Why are you running so urgently? Is there a dog chasing you?”

He Ketian’s appearance, taking after her father, wasn’t particularly beautiful, so she was very conscious about her looks. Her skin was maintained to be fair and delicate, and her long, thick black hair was also extremely well-kept.

…Though no dog was chasing me, there’s your brother! Your brother is much scarier than dogs!

Shi Fa Ke grumbled inwardly. Turning to see that He Kexian hadn’t followed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and moved forward to squeeze in beside He Ketian. “What are you looking at?”

“A painting by Master Linyuan.”

Shi Fa Ke leaned over to look. On the rice paper was painted a bamboo grove, with brush and ink, arranged in perfect harmony. It seemed you could hear the rustling sound of wind blowing through the bamboo forest – quite lifelike indeed.

Beside the forest was a seal stamped with the two characters “Linyuan.”

“Who is Linyuan?”

“You actually don’t know Master Linyuan’s name?” He Ketian looked astonished.

Shi Fa Ke honestly shook her head.

“All you do is read romance novels. Please cultivate some refined hobbies, okay?” He Ketian rolled her eyes rather inelegantly. “Master Linyuan is a very famous painter. Even His Majesty praises his paintings endlessly. Unfortunately, no one has seen Master Linyuan’s true face, and very few of his paintings circulate, so now people say that a thousand gold can hardly buy one painting by Master Linyuan.”

“Mm, Aunt Li from West Street also always says that when the late emperor went south, he passed by her house and praised her sauced pig knuckle endlessly. Later she moved to Tongluo Town and opened a delicatessen.”

“…What do you mean?” He Ketian’s mouth twitched.

Shi Fa Ke looked at her sincerely. “I mean… haven’t you been deceived?”

He Ketian’s face turned green. “This ‘Forest Sea’ was a birthday gift my brother specially brought me from the capital, costing thirteen hundred taels!”

Shi Fa Ke’s eyes widened. A bushel of rice cost only five wen, one tael of silver was a thousand wen, thirteen hundred taels…

“So Master Linyuan’s paintings are really that valuable…” Shi Fa Ke was indeed shocked and amazed.

He Ketian, seeing her unsophisticated appearance, snorted lightly, then cupped her cheeks in her hands and said dreamily in a soft voice, “I wonder what Master Linyuan actually looks like. If only I could meet him…”

“Why would you want to meet him? When you eat eggs, do you care what the chicken looks like?”

He Ketian’s face twitched.

“What’s wrong?” Shi Fa Ke looked at her in confusion.

He Ketian very unladylike wiped her face. Why did she always break character in front of Shi Fa Ke…

“Forget it, forget it. You wouldn’t understand my feelings of admiring Master Linyuan.” He Ketian waved her hand helplessly, then sighed softly, her fingertips tenderly stroking the rice paper before her. “I often fantasize about Master Linyuan’s appearance… He must be well-read and learned, with broad vision, a very refined gentleman.”

“Maybe he’s a refined old gentleman,” Shi Fa Ke blinked.

He Ketian was choked again and finally couldn’t help turning to glare at her angrily. “Shi Fa Ke, what exactly are you here for today?”

Shi Fa Ke coughed lightly and solemnly took He Ketian’s hand. “I have something to tell you.” Seeing He Ketian’s dismissive expression, she added, “Something serious.”

“What serious matter could you have?” He Ketian raised an eyebrow, her face full of doubt.

“Hey, have you forgotten what I do?” Shi Fa Ke winked at her.

“…Matchmaker?” He Ketian’s eyes flashed, somewhat uncertainly.

“Exactly!” Shi Fa Ke clapped her hands, her eyes bright. “I don’t know who Master Linyuan is, but the man I’m telling you about really is a well-read, learned, and very refined gentleman!”

“A matchmaker’s mouth is like a bottomless bucket – you really dare say anything.” He Ketian was completely unimpressed and snorted disdainfully.

“You actually don’t believe me? When have I ever lied to you?!” Shi Fa Ke widened her eyes somewhat indignantly, then stood up and said seriously, “Besides, I’m not speaking without basis – I’ve been entrusted by someone.”

“Since my coming-of-age ceremony, matchmakers proposing marriage have nearly worn down our doorstep. Being entrusted by someone isn’t unusual.” He Ketian carefully rolled up the painting on the table while speaking casually.

“The person who entrusted me isn’t ordinary.” Seeing her casual attitude, Shi Fa Ke frowned slightly. “Aren’t you going to ask who it is?”

“Oh? Who is it?” He Ketian’s hands paused slightly, but she obligingly asked.

Shi Fa Ke looked at her. “It’s the gentleman who caught your embroidered ball.”

The embroidered ball throwing was just a few days ago. She didn’t believe He Ketian had already forgotten completely.

He Ketian laughed “Ha!” with an incredulous expression on her face. “Someone really came to propose with the embroidered ball?”

“…What do you mean?” Shi Fa Ke had a bad feeling.

“I mean, so there really is someone with toad-like ambitions wanting to eat swan meat. Who in Tongluo Town doesn’t know that throwing embroidered balls to choose a husband is just a gimmick – a marketing scheme for our wedding cake shop? How could I, He Ketian, possibly marry someone so inexplicably and randomly?” He Ketian said, covering her lips with her sleeve, the laughter in her eyes full of mockery.

Exactly the same words as her brother.

Should she say they were truly siblings…