"Marriage is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. You should be cautious, Young Master Lin. You can take your time to think about it and there is no need to rush." Chu Youran recalled how Lin Yan was shocked when he heard her confession at the teahouse, and he almost spat out the tea he was drinking.
She had been seriously ill for many years and her love life was completely empty. She never expected that Lin Yan, a man who had fought on the battlefield, would have an even more empty heart than her. Lin Yan had helped her a few times, and unknowingly, his image had appeared in her heart. However, Lin Yan seemed not to have noticed her at all; her presence was too weak.
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Chu. I will think it over as soon as possible and give you a clear answer." Marriage is a major event that requires careful consideration. He needs to sort out his thoughts and carefully consider whether he truly likes Chu Youran.
Chu Youran has reached the age for marriage proposals. If he doesn't think things through for a long time and only realizes later that he doesn't like her, he will be wasting her precious youth and ruining her great marriage.
"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Lin Yan was leading troops on an inspection tour in the capital. He had come out quietly after agreeing to Chu Youran's invitation, and he needed to get back as soon as possible.
"Please go ahead, Young Master Lin." Knowing that business was important, Chu Youran, being considerate, did not try to stop Lin Yan.
"Farewell." Lin Yan turned around and strode down the deck under her smiling gaze. Shen Lixue stood behind the wooden stairs, supporting Qiu He. Lin Yan did not see her and went straight down the painted boat to the shore.
Shen Lixue, supporting Qiu He's hand, slowly climbed onto the deck. She saw Chu Youran standing by the railing, watching Lin Yan's departing figure with a sorrowful expression.
"Don't be sad. Cousin Yan already knows how you feel about him. He will accept you after he has thought it through."
“Young Master Lin did not give me a clear answer.” Chu Youran walked quickly to Shen Lixue, took her arm, her eyes dimmed, and sighed softly: “Moreover, the way he looked at me was very pure, like ordinary friends meeting each other, without the slightest hint of liking.”
"Don't rush things. Feelings take time to develop. You can't rush them. Weren't you just telling Cousin Yan not to be in a hurry? Why are you getting anxious now?"
Shen Lixue's light and casual question made Chu Youran's pretty face blush: "This is the first time I've confessed to someone, and I'm very nervous waiting for his unknown answer. Do you understand that feeling?"
"I understand, I understand perfectly." Shen Lixue blinked. In ancient times, young ladies from noble families were very reserved. Even if they liked a certain man, they would not say it directly.
It took a lot of courage for Chu Youran to confess her love to Lin Yan, but Lin Yan didn't give her a clear answer. She felt a mix of hope and frustration.
"I can't talk to him anymore until he gives me an answer." Once the thin veil between them is broken, it can't be mended. Before the answer is clear, it will be somewhat awkward when they meet.
"Then let's wait for Cousin Yan to figure it out himself. I believe he won't keep you waiting for long." Shen Lixue smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers blooming.
"What do you mean?" Chu Youran asked, puzzled.
“As a general on the battlefield, Cousin Yan is decisive and efficient. If he didn’t have feelings for you, he wouldn’t have come to the lake to keep your appointment.” Shen Lixue lowered her voice and said slowly and mysteriously.
Chu Youran's dim eyes rekindled with hope: "Is there still a possibility between us?"
“Very likely.” Shen Lixue looked at Chu Youran’s bright, beautiful eyes, coughed a few times, and pretended not to understand, saying, “You invited me to the lakeside just so I could analyze Cousin Yan’s mentality for you?”
"No." Chu Youran pulled Shen Lixue to sit on a soft chair on the deck, personally picked up the teapot, and poured tea for Shen Lixue. The warm sunlight made it comfortable and pleasant.
"I've heard that pregnant women often feel better after sunbathing and taking a boat trip on the lake. It's good for both the mother and the baby. That's why I invited you to the boat trip earlier. Your baby will be born in two months, right?"
As her child grew older, Shen Lixue's mobility became increasingly limited, so she could only take this opportunity to express her feelings.
“Yes, he will be born in two months at most.” Shen Lixue gently stroked her swollen belly with her fair hand, her beautiful face full of the happy smile of becoming a mother. Her gaze at Chu Youran carried a hint of teasing: “I think your relationship with Cousin Yan can be settled before the baby is born.”
"Thank you for your kind words." Chu Youran's beautiful face flushed slightly, and a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes. She handed Chen Lixue a cup of tea, the steam rising slowly and the aroma pleasant: "This is West Lake Longjing tea. Try it, it tastes very good."
Shen Lixue accepted the tea and was about to taste it when a familiar female voice came over: "Princess Consort, Miss Chu, you are also boating on the lake."
Shen Lixue paused, looked up, and saw Li Youlan flying over from mid-air. Her scarlet dress, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, drew a graceful arc in the air before gently landing on the deck. Three or four cold-faced guards with serious expressions followed closely behind her, landing on the deck as well.
"Princess Consort Zhan, what a coincidence." Shen Lixue smiled slightly, her cool gaze quietly turning to the water. A beautifully decorated painted boat was moored ten meters away, its decorations noble and luxurious, bearing the mark of the Zhan Prince's Mansion.
Matching tables and chairs were set up on the deck, with a tea set on the table. There was no one around, and she couldn't see what was happening inside the pleasure boat, but the boat gave her a feeling of gloom and oppression, as if some evil person was sitting inside: "You and Prince Zhan came to enjoy the lake?"
"Prince Zhan is busy with many affairs of state, how could he have time to accompany me on a boat trip on the lake? The concubines in the mansion are making a headache every day, so I came here to take a boat trip on the lake to relax. I didn't expect to run into the Princess Consort and Miss Chu."
Li Youlan complained incessantly, while Chu Youran looked at Shen Lixue with a meaningful gaze: "It's more lively when there are many people on the lake. I'm all alone, and the Princess Consort and Miss Chu are only two people. It's too boring. How about the three of us go on the lake together?"
"Since Princess Consort Zhan has such an elegant interest, we will naturally comply." Unsolicited hospitality is always suspicious; Li Youlan and Shen Lixue have always been at odds, so her sudden invitation to go boating on the lake today is definitely not a good deed.
"Thank you, Princess Consort." Li Youlan smiled and sat down next to Shen Lixue, her beautiful eyes darting around as if looking at something.
For some reason, Chu Youran felt that her smile was strange and uncomfortable to look at. She narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled, "Li Xue, the sun is starting to set. Why don't you sit in my seat so you can enjoy the sun?"
The small table on the deck was square. Li Youlan sat to Shen Lixue's left, and Chu Youran sat to Shen Lixue's right. If Chu Youran and Shen Lixue switched places, they could separate Li Youlan and Shen Lixue.
"The sun is still warm, there's no need to change for now." Understanding Chu Youran's good intentions, Shen Lixue smiled and declined. The pleasure boat was only so big, and if Li Youlan really came to cause trouble, simply dodging her wouldn't solve anything.
"Look at the painted boats of the Zhan Prince's Mansion. The Princess Consort of Zhan has been touring the lake for a while now. Could you tell us which scenery is the most beautiful?" Shen Lixue smiled slightly, remaining calm and composed.
"Keep the painted boat going straight ahead, and you'll see the most beautiful scenery." Li Youlan's gentle smile held an inexplicable eeriness, causing Chu Youran to frown deeply.
She rented the pleasure boat. She invited Shen Lixue to have a heart-to-heart talk, and only brought two maids who were powerless. It seems that Lixue also only brought one maid on the pleasure boat. Li Youlan herself knows martial arts and also brought three powerful guards. If she has bad intentions, they are afraid that they will be in big trouble. What should she do?
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... Starting tomorrow, the final chapter of my "Taking a Break" series will be released. I don't know the word count yet, but I'll definitely upload it on November 22nd. Remember to come and watch the perfect finale on the 22nd, along with the cunning little bun! La la la...
Chapter 222: The Finale (Part 1)
"If I remember correctly, if the pleasure boat keeps going forward, we'll see a vast expanse of lotus flowers!" Clusters of lotus flowers cover the water's surface, and the lotus leaves stretch to the sky and the ground, a breathtaking sight, suitable for viewing, and even more suitable for... committing murder!
"The Princess Consort has a good memory. Five hundred meters away is a lotus pond. When the sun sets, the whole pond will be in full bloom, fresh and elegant, unparalleled in the world. To sleep in the beautiful lotus mud would be one of life's greatest pleasures."
Li Youlan smiled slightly, her smug gaze carrying an indescribable sinister glint. Chu You felt a chill run down her spine, her hair standing on end. She secretly tightened her grip on Shen Lixue's small hand, her heart filled with regret.
She was alone and had nothing to worry about, but Li Xue was pregnant. If something happened to her, it would be a double tragedy. She felt guilty and regretful, and even if she gave her life, it wouldn't make a difference. No matter what, she had to protect Li Xue.
"Princess Zhan is traveling with us not just to praise the beautiful lotus flowers, is she?" Shen Lixue keenly sensed the hidden meaning in Li Youlan's words and gently squeezed Chu Youran's hand, signaling her to calm down.
“As expected of the Princess Consort, you are a wise woman. You guessed it right away. I have come here today because there is something I don’t understand and would like to ask the Princess Consort.” Li Youlan’s smile faded and her gaze became serious.
Shen Lixue smiled and said, "What is it? Princess Zhan, please speak freely."
"This is what happened..." Li Youlan said softly, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Chu Youran.