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Chapter 46: Matchmaking

Yu Lingxi recalled the ice bed from her past life.

She gazed at Ning Yin in a daze, her lips slightly parted, and asked a long-standing question, “People die, bodies fade away, they rest in peace in the soil. Isn’t it because of resentment towards someone that their corpse get to be sealed away?”

His eyes narrowed, and a faint sneer twisted his lips, communicating unwavering disapproval of the custom.

“The one truly despicable should be stirred up while alive. If they die before their retribution, just behead the corpse and throw it out for the dogs to feed on.”

Ning Yin spoke the cruelest words with the gentlest tone, sarcastically asking, “I wonder if keeping the sealed corpse nearby serves any functional purpose?”

Upon careful reflection, it was indeed so in her previous life.

Yu Lingxi’s eyes widened, “So, if you freeze a dead person in a secret room, is it because… you can’t bear to part with them?”

Ning Yin delicately swallowed the spicy plum delicacy, a layer of splendor appearing on his lips and the corners of his eyes. That gaze clearly asked her: If something brings satisfaction, shouldn’t it be locked away?

It was eccentric and obsessive, but it was indeed Ning Yin’s style.

A ludicrous thought crossed Yu Lingxi’s mind, but she felt it was unlikely.

Her body after death was indeed sealed in a secret room, but Ning Yin only came once after getting drunk and then sealed the room, forbidding anyone to mention it. It was not as he had just said, meeting every day.

The only thing she could confirm was that Ning Yin did not hate her, even though she was the one who had attempted to assassinate him with a poisoned weapon.

Yu Lingxi had not yet figured out the contradictions in this.

“Scared?” Ning Yin bent down, a soft laughter reaching her ears.

He lowered his eyes, sweeping over Yu Lingxi’s complex expression, reaching out to touch her hair.

As shadows fell, Yu Lingxi’s eyelashes flickered, instinctively closing her eyes.

Ning Yin just picked away a purple wisteria petal stuck in her hair, his fingertips gently rubbing the smooth petal, saying lightly, “Afraid of what? I’m someone who hates trouble the most. There hasn’t been anything that makes me bother so much yet.”

The deep and slow tone carried profound meaning.

Yu Lingxi opened her eyes, looking at Ning Yin’s pitch-black eyes bathed in light, softly and firmly stating, “I’m not afraid, Ning Yin.”

She said his name.

When this name came from her mouth, it held a gentle and firm tenderness that seemed to span time and cross the boundaries of life and death. Ning Yin looked at her for a long time, a hint of a smile on his lips, lifting his hand again. 

This time, his long and powerful palm gently covered her head, as if caressing a cat.

Back in the room, Yu Lingxi sat on the bed, looking at the pen on the rack, its tip darkened with red plum blossom ink.  After a long time, she gently touched her throbbing chest. It was warm and slightly swollen.

The moon was high in the sky, and the room was not lit.

Ning Yin, wearing loose inner clothes, leaned against the bed, the apricot-white ribbon twirling in his slender fingers, glowing white in the enchanting moonlight.

Beside the bed, a low cabinet’s hidden compartment was wide open, quietly holding a paper kite with a mended wing and out-of-season Five-Colored Longevity Threads.

Madam Yu, concerned about her new daughter-in-law’s adjustment to the household, instructed Yu Lingxi to spend time with her to keep her company. Even if Madam didn’t mention it, Yu Lingxi would have done the same. 

After all, due to the experiences of her past life, Yu Lingxi had an excellent impression of her new sister-in-law. Moreover, her siblings were often busy with official matters, leaving her rarely finding someone of her age to talk to in the residence.

“How is it?” Su Guan, holding the newlywed’s small bun, blinked her large cat-like eyes, eagerly awaiting her younger sister’s reaction.

Yu Lingxi, nibbling on the red bean flower cake made by Su Guan, took a small bite.

The sweetness spread across her tongue, enough to sweep away all worries.

Yu Lingxi nodded and sincerely praised, “Delicious!”

Satisfied, Su Guan smiled and picked up another piece of cake for Yu Lingxi. She then placed the remaining ones in a food container, planning to give them to Yu Huanchen to taste later.

Seeing the salted plum in Yu Lingxi’s cup, Su Guan, curious, asked in a low voice, “Do you like sour things?”

“It’s spicy,” Yu Lingxi explained.

“Can I try it?” Su Guan asked.

After thinking for a moment, Yu Lingxi untied a small pouch from her waist, picked up a salted plum, placed it in a tea cup, and handed it to Su Guan after the flavor had dissipated.

Su Guan sniffed it delicately, took a small sip, blinked her eyes, and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, saying, “Slightly sour and spicy, a very unique taste.”

“Isn’t it?” Yu Lingxi laughed.

After exchanging preferences, girls tended to become closer. The two chairs moved closer, and eventually, they sat together chatting. When Yu Huanchen returned home, he saw his newlywed wife and his younger sister sitting closely on a swing, reading a book together.

Under the dense shade of summer, sunlight sprinkled like fragmented gold. One was cute and lovely, the other charming and bright. The wind made their draped cloaks flutter, creating a vivid picture of beautiful women.

Yu Huanchen cleared his throat without showing any emotions.

Su Guan immediately raised her head, stood up, and greeted, “Husband, you’re back?”

Yu Huanchen glanced at his charming wife, then quickly averted his gaze, softly responding with a “Hmm.”

“The weather is hot, and you must be busy with official duties. You’ve worked hard,” Su Guan said considerately, taking the cold tea handed over by a servant and offering it to him. “Have some tea, husband.”

As Yu Huanchen took the tea, Su Guan held the red bean cake and said, “I made this sweet treat myself. Husband, would you like to try it?”

She sweetly called him “husband” one after another, and even Yu Huanchen, who had firmly stated that he disliked “delicate and pampered noble ladies,” couldn’t help but blush a bit, showing a hint of sweet awkwardness.

Yu Lingxi swayed on the swing with a book covering her face, smiling with her eyes bent.

As she laughed, she thought of the night when Ning Yin’s eyes were alluringly red and his heart-piercing words, “Even if she dies, I want her to stay by my side.”

Could it be that feelings in the world are not one-size-fits-all but exist in a thousand different forms?

In the summer heat, her thoughts wandered a lot. Recently, the number of times she thought of Ning Yin and her past life seemed to have deviated significantly. Each time she reached a new conclusion, deeper doubts would overturn it.

As noon approached, the sun gradually became scorching.

The newlywed couple was immersed in their love, and Yu Lingxi didn’t want to disturb them further. She collected her wandering thoughts, bid farewell, and returned to her residence.

Just as she entered the courtyard, Hutao rushed over, unable to contain her excitement. “Miss, General Zhongwu and Marquis Cheng’an both sent messengers for matchmaking.” 

“Matchmaking?” Yu Lingxi asked, “For whom?”

“Of course, it’s for you, Miss! It is said that during the recent celebration of the young general’s wedding, young elites from all over the capital were present. Seeing the elegance and beauty of the young lady, many have developed thoughts of proposing. Today, messengers from two families have come.”

Speaking to this point, Hutao felt both happy and worried. Happy because Miss had more choices, worried because she feared Miss might delay her true destiny. After all, no matter how much Miss favored that guard, she couldn’t overcome the barrier of status and lineage. And as for Xue Erlang…

He was deeply in love with the young lady. Not to mention the general and his wife, even the servants noticed it. Yu Lingxi didn’t show much delight, just sighed and secretly felt a headache.

This time, what reason should she use to refuse?

…

In the scorching heat, tea houses in the capital were bustling with customers. Some renowned establishments for high-ranking officials even introduced various flavors of iced drinks and crispy yogurt.

The heir of Marquis Cheng’an gently waved a paper fan, sitting opposite his good friend. After some pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to the topic of the young lord’s marriage.

One of them said, “I heard that the young lord wishes to marry the youngest daughter of General Yu. I extend my congratulations on the joyous occasion!”

The heir of Marquis Cheng’an suppressed his slight intentions and humbly replied, “It’s just my parents’ wish; nothing is confirmed.”

“Oh, the young lord is being too humble. General Yu commands a strong army, and to prevent a powerful general from becoming a threat, the emperor must be cautious. He will not allow engagement of the daughter of General Yu to General Zhongwu, another talented general from a military family. As for Second Young Master Xue, it is said that he has long been engaged to the youngest daughter of the Yu family. The Xue family is known for their restraint and adherence to propriety, and they wouldn’t easily break off an engagement… So, it seems that only the young lord is left.”

Another person, using a folding fan to tap the shoulder of the heir of Marquis Cheng’an, laughed, “Moreover, the young lord is like a blooming orchid, especially his extraordinary talent in painting. He can be compared to Second Young Master Xue, and which woman in the world wouldn’t like him?”

Indeed, the heir of Marquis Cheng’an thought so. Although he held the title of the marquis’s heir, Marquis Cheng’an’s residence had declined over several generations, lacking real power. Given the complex internal dynamics within the palace, he emerged as a well-positioned individual to establish a mutually beneficial relationship.

However, he was genuinely displeased. What he disliked most in his life was being compared to Second Young Master Xue. Twenty years of practice in painting, and all he got was a comparison to “can be compared to Second Young Master Xue.”

Who was Second Young Master Xue? Was he even qualified to be a standard for all men?

The person who noticed his displeasure earlier seemed to want to ease the atmosphere and said with a smile, “It’s only the young lord who has this opportunity. We, being young, married early. There’s no chance for us to compete!”

The heir of Marquis Cheng’an felt slightly better.

A literary man often loves beauty, especially a talented one. Miss Yu, recognized as the most beautiful woman in the entire capital, who wouldn’t want her?

Just as he was thinking, he suddenly heard a light and disordered sound of footsteps behind the partition screen, followed by a young woman in elegant attire rushing in and stumbling into the arms of the heir of Marquis Cheng’an.

Behind her, two menacing men caught up.

The tea cup in the heir’s hand was knocked over, wetting his lower garment. He couldn’t help but furrow his brows, “Miss, you…”

“Sir, save me!” The woman raised a tearful face, her hairpin loose, breathing slightly, showing a weak and delicate appearance. She smelled very fragrant, and the heir of Marquis Cheng’an, dazed, involuntarily leaned closer to her neck.

“Sir…”

Only when the timid voice softly sounded did he come back to his senses, muttering, “Miss, what did you say just now?”

“The humble girl came to the capital alone to find her relatives, but she was deceived and sold to a brothel. Please, sir, save me!” The woman reached out and gently tugged the sleeve of the heir, her eyes moist and pitiful.

Men often have hero complexes, especially those who are romantic.

With a sweet fragrance lingering, the heir of Marquis Cheng’an changed his hand from pushing her away to encircling her waist, protecting her behind him, and said to the two ruffians, “How much did she sell for? This young lord will buy her back.”

The two friends couldn’t advise him in time and exchanged glances.

Night fell, closing time arrived.

The black-clad youth sat in the elegant room, playing with a tea cup, gazing at a certain place on the street outside the tea house.

Under the dim light of the front of the tea house, the woman who had been rescued by the heir of Marquis Cheng’an a few days ago stood nervously. On closer inspection, her demeanor revealed a hint of the world’s influence. She whispered something, and a man hidden in the shadows threw out a heavy money pouch and a small bottle.

The woman hurriedly received it, thanked profusely, and left.

…

In these few days, Ning Yin has been unusually quiet, not appearing in front of her for several days.

Yu Lingxi remembered his fierce reaction when Xue Cen proposed marriage. Now, seeing him silent, a faint sense of guilt and unease welled up within her.

Just as she was thinking of a way to refuse the marriage proposal, she heard from the servant, Hutao, who went to inquire about the situation. The eldest sons of General Zhongwu and Marquis Cheng’an had both canceled their marriage proposals.

“Hutao, what happened?” Yu Lingxi asked.

“The eldest son of General Zhongwu broke his leg the second day after proposing marriage. It’s said that some fortune teller claimed that he and Miss Yu have incompatible destinies, and if they marry, he would meet a tragic end in a distant land. The young master Zhongwu got scared and went back, loudly declaring that he won’t propose marriage anymore!”

Hutao’s face turned red with anger as she continued, “And that young master of Marquis Cheng’an, he makes me so mad when I think about him! He’s keeping a seductive mistress, completely infatuated. He’s determined to bring her into the mansion, which infuriated Marquis Cheng’an. Now, he doesn’t have the face to propose marriage to Miss Yu! They act all high and mighty outside, but their private morals are so despicable!”

Among those who had a chance for marriage, only Xue Erlang remained virtuous and self-disciplined. Hutao was indignant, but Yu Lingxi was surprised for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Miss, why are you laughing?” Hutao asked, puzzled.

Yu Lingxi was in a good mood because these individuals had voluntarily withdrawn from proposing marriage, saving her from the trouble of rejecting them.

Amused, she explained, “It’s just that their situations are so coincidental. Zhongwu’s eldest son, a military man, fears death in battle, and the fortune teller uses this to dissuade him. Marquis Cheng’an’s eldest son, a man of talent and passion, gets entangled with a seductive mistress, causing chaos. It’s as if someone has found their weaknesses and exploited them. It’s rather amusing.”

With their self-withdrawals, she wouldn’t need to waste her words to reject them.

In high spirits, the sky seemed to brighten up along with her mood.

Hutao, still resentful about her mistress’s unfortunate marriage matters, then said, “By the way, Miss, the Qingping Princess from the Tang mansion sent word, inviting you to join the night stroll to see the lanterns during the Qiqiao Festival.”

Reminded by her, Yu Lingxi realized that the Qiqiao Festival was approaching in half a month.

She remembered that in her previous life during this Qiqiao Festival, her uncle wanted to take her to a feast to ingratiate themselves with the imperial relatives. It was the first time she saw the true face beneath her uncle’s hypocritical mask, which shocked and infuriated her, leading to a serious illness.

Later, after recovering, she learned that the relatives her uncle wanted to curry favor with had all died, and there had been a major political upheaval, with Ning Yin’s name rising overnight, shaking the whole world. She didn’t know the details of what happened during those few months. Everything was swept clean, and everyone kept silent.

In present, she only knew that if Ning Yin’s plan went smoothly, he would probably leave the Yu Mansion soon. It was strange. This was the ending she knew from the beginning, but suddenly, when she thought of it today, she felt unprepared.

The wind brushed over the surface of the water pavilion, creating ripples that lasted for a long time.

In the summer, there were many fruits, and often farmers carried grapes, sweet melons, and other goods they couldn’t finish eating, selling them through the streets.

When Ning Yin returned, he brought a bunch of grapes, cleaned them, and leisurely peeled and ate them. Seeing Yu Lingxi sitting alone, lost in thought in the water pavilion, he paused and walked slowly towards her.

His mood wasn’t great these days, with too many nuisances around him. Moreover, there was a fool named Xue Cen, eagerly waiting for his little miss to fall into his arms.

Just thinking about it made him nauseous.

Now he’s behaving himself and doesn’t enjoy killing as it would upset someone. Otherwise, those few people would have long been chopped up and turned into flower fertilizer.

Feeling a cool sensation on her face, Yu Lingxi suddenly turned around, only to meet Ning Yin’s deep and handsome eyes. On his face was a bunch of grapes, still carrying dewdrops.

“Ning… Wei Qi, what have you been doing these days?” Yu Lingxi’s eyes brightened, then she gently dispersed the soft and shimmering reflections in her eyes. “Where did the grapes come from?”

Not knowing what she was thinking, she almost called out his real name.

Ning Yin picked a grape, carefully peeled it, and stuffed the pulp into her mouth, moistening her lips with the juice on his hand.

Gently pressing her lips with his fingertips, he withdrew indifferently, leaving behind a cool and wet mark.

Yu Lingxi was momentarily stunned, then her eyebrows furrowed due to the stimulation of the juice.

Where did he find such sour grapes!

“Is it sour?” Ning Yin asked.

Yu Lingxi nodded hurriedly, finding it so sour that it made her shudder.

Ning Yin smiled, nodded, and said, “Good, it should be sour.”

Using the hand that had just touched her lips, he picked another grape and put it into his own mouth, eating it without changing his expression.

After watching him for a while, Yu Lingxi, as if determined, rested her chin on her hand and asked, “Wei Qi, is there anything you want?”

Having been together for so long, it seemed she hadn’t properly asked about Ning Yin’s needs.

Since he would eventually leave, she had to leave him with something to remember.

Ning Yin glanced at her, leisurely swallowing the grape.

As if savoring some delicious taste, he chuckled and asked, “Anything I want?”

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