All of Shangjing knew that Xie Lanting was a man of flirtatious and tender-hearted ways. Of the ten verse-songs at Chunfeng Tower, four had been composed by him, and he was entangled with a great many women besides.

Yet at this moment, Lu Qingrong felt that this man’s heart held only herself.

In the midst of his many pressing duties, he had found the time to come accompany her in admiring flowers that were nothing particularly extraordinary, to listen to her chatter on about family matters that were dull and long-winded, and had even half-knelt in full public view to brush the dirt from her embroidered shoes.

There were so many noblewomen present, and yet from start to finish his eyes had been on her alone.

Ever since Lu Qingrong had come to Shangjing and encountered all manner of young gentlemen of standing, not a single one had been as gentle as Xie Lanting, nor as understanding of her.

She suddenly felt a flutter of nervousness. A person this wonderful — should she not show him more of her affections?

Seeing that dusk was falling and the flower gathering was about to disperse, Lu Qingrong hurriedly said to Xie Lanting, “Father may soon have the joy of a promotion to celebrate. When the time comes, would you be willing to come to our home to drink?”

A fourth-rank commander was not a match for the standing of Dongrong Manor — but a third-rank high official of the Department of State Affairs could be.

“Oh?” Xie Lanting reclined with one hand propped behind him among the flower fields, and said with a smile, “It seems the rumours circulating at court recently are not without foundation.”

“Yes — our family may not have come from great origins, but now we can be said to have emerged from behind the clouds into the sunlight.” She sat beside him, nervously pinching her handkerchief. “We have official rank, and we have money.”

So she — was also a very worthy choice.

Lu Qingrong gazed at him with blazing, ardent eyes.

Xie Lanting happened to glance over, met her gaze, and blinked in mild surprise — then broke into a smile. “Do you take me for someone who would grasp at power and curry favor?”

“No, that’s not what I…”

“Not what you meant, and yet you’re saying these things to me?”

“How could I think that of you — you are wonderful. It’s me who falls short.” She grew anxious and kept explaining. “It’s I who may not be worthy of—”

Before the words could finish, the person before her leaned in, and slowly, deliberately, brushed his lips against hers.

Lu Qingrong’s eyes flew wide open.

The sky had grown dark. All around them, not a person remained — only the gently drifting evening breeze and the swaying, dancing spring flowers.

Her beloved was dressed in a robe of silver-embroidered white. One hand braced against the ground, the other pressed at the back of her neck, drawing her very slightly toward him.

The pale yellow hem of her skirt rose and fell, draping over the white robe.

Their lips moved together, and the floral fragrance grew richer.

“Young Mistress?” A maidservant came searching for her. “It’s about time — we should head back, Young Mistress.”

Lu Qingrong snapped back to her senses as if waking from a dream, shoved the person away with both hands, gathered her skirts, and walked away.

Xie Lanting was pushed back slightly, and watched that figure’s embarrassed and flustered retreating back with a roguish smile. “The wine at your home — must it wait until after your father’s promotion before I can have a taste?”

Lu Qingrong stopped in her tracks, her face flushed crimson. She did not dare turn around. “You — whenever you want to have it.”

“Tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll come tomorrow.”

Joy and giddiness surged up together. Lu Qingrong dipped her head low, gathered her skirts, and hurried out of the flower field.

“Young Mistress, your lip rouge has smeared.”

“I wasn’t paying attention just now — I rubbed it off myself.”

She scrambled into the carriage in a fluster, drew the curtain closed, and leaned against the carriage wall alone. Only after quite some time did she let her wildly racing heart slowly settle back to its normal pace.

Her fingers touched her lips, and that soft, yielding sensation seemed to linger still.

Her cheeks were so red they looked ready to drip blood. Lu Qingrong raised her hands to cover them. The fluttering joy of a young girl mixed with shyness and spilled over from the tips of her brows.

·

“Young Master, this way please.” The maidservant extended her hand to lead the way. “The master of the house happens to be out today. Madam’s meaning is to have you teach the young miss a few pointers in chess.”

Xie Lanting walked along the covered corridor of the Lu household, smiling as he looked all around. “What an opulent place — even the guardian beasts on the eaves alone are more elaborate and precious than those at Dongrong Manor.”

The maidservant smiled in return, pointing ahead. “That up there is the young mistress’s study.”

The eldest young mistress of the Lu household was greatly favored — not only could she help manage household affairs, she also handled the estate’s main accounts. For this reason, she had a study of her own, and ordinary people were generally not permitted inside.

But Xie Lanting had once casually remarked, “The Commandery Princess of Changhé’s study is beautifully appointed — it speaks well of her taste.”

Lu Qingrong had evidently taken those words to heart, and said at once that her own study was no lesser.

Xie Lanting had feigned disbelief. “Your household has a study too?”

That remark truly stepped on Elder Mistress Lu’s tail. She stood up in a huff. “What is wrong with a study — are we not allowed to have one? Come and see for yourself tomorrow! My study is far more interesting than the Commandery Princess of Changhé’s!”

Xie Lanting smiled without fully smiling, followed the maidservant all the way forward, passed through layer after layer of guards and doorways, and avoided two hunting dogs — making it into the Lu household’s study with remarkable ease.

“You’ve come?” Lu Qingrong held out a plate of pastries to him with delight and anticipation. “Have some tea first.”

Xie Lanting casually picked one up and put it in his mouth. His eyes brightened slightly. “This is delicious?”

“Is it really good?” Lu Qingrong asked anxiously. “Truly good?”

“I have never eaten pastries this good in my life.” He looked up at her, and the depths of his clear, autumn-water eyes were filled with something that looked like profound affection.

Lu Qingrong let out a long breath of relief, as delighted as a small child.

She picked up a piece herself and took a bite.

“…” Her expression changed abruptly. Lu Qingrong turned her head to the side and spat it out, her brow so furrowed it nearly tied into knots.

“You — you stop eating that at once.” She quickly reached to grab his hand. “This one turned out wrong — it tastes terrible.”

Xie Lanting took another bite with a cheerful smile. “Qingrong accidentally used alkaline powder in place of sugar.”

“You — how did you know I made it.”

He smiled. “Your feelings toward me — how could I not know?”

Lu Qingrong’s face went red again.

She hastily shooed all the servants out of the room, then glared at him with puffed-up indignation. “You can’t say such things in front of so many people — what if you don’t end up marrying me in the end? How would I ever show my face?”

Xie Lanting lowered his eyelids and raised a brow, then rose and clasped her wrist, looking at her deeply. “How could I bear to see you fall into that kind of situation?”

Hearing those words, Lu Qingrong’s heart settled a little more.

She looked up at the man before her, and thought that perhaps she too would soon come into a marriage that would draw the envy of all.

“This study of yours…” Xie Lanting looked around with a hint of disappointment. “It doesn’t seem particularly special.”

“Come over here.” She led him to a bookshelf, not willing to concede. “At first glance this place may seem unremarkable, but all the ingenuity lies in what’s hidden.”

As she spoke, she turned a flower vase, and the entire bookshelf split open down the middle, revealing a door behind it.

Xie Lanting felt a jolt of surprise inwardly, but showed nothing on his face. “A hidden chamber — my household has one of those too.”

“Mine is different — Father had skilled craftsmen build it specifically. In this entire world, besides my father and me, no one else can open this door.”

As she spoke, she turned the circular disk on the door three rotations to the left, then five to the right, and finally aligned the notch to a specific position.

With a click, the heavy door swung open in answer.