Patrón de flores incorrecto

Capítulo 14

I wonder if there will be any surprises today.

Suddenly a commotion came from the doorway, mixed with a clear female voice.

Yuan Ruxuan frowned slightly again, but remained seated in his chair without saying a word.

However, the noise at the entrance continued unabated, and one could even hear something crashing to the ground.

The young men seated on the throne began to whisper among themselves.

Yuan Ruxuan remained motionless, but his expression darkened. Hearing the arguing at the door growing louder, he finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Who's making a scene? Are you here to cause trouble at Langjing Manor?"

A servant rushed up: "There's a man named Luo Qingcheng at the gate... Young Master also wants to propose marriage." He hesitated slightly, unsure if the man could be addressed as "Young Master."

Luo Qingcheng? The name was unfamiliar, and Yuan Ruxuan shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"Then let him in. I've already made it clear that I won't ask about his background or origins, I'll only look at his character and abilities."

"But the three of them wanted to come in together... and there was a girl in the middle... very sharp-tongued... fierce and domineering... she just got into an argument with Old Wang and almost smashed the screen at the door..."

Yuan Ruxuan said, "Let her come in too. It's no big deal if a girl is brought in by her family to watch the fun. Are you afraid your master is blind and will marry your young lady to the wrong girl?"

The farmhand left obediently.

A short while later, three people entered with fairly synchronized steps.

Yuan Ruxuan picked up his teacup, took an elegant sip, squinted his eyes, and sized up the three people in front of him.

The girl was quite pretty, with bright, intelligent eyes, but she paled in comparison to her own daughter. The young man, on the other hand, was tall, handsome, and dignified. As for the other man beside him, was he from her hometown?

The old man bowed and said directly, "I, Luo Qingcheng, admire Miss Yuan's wealth and beauty and have come to ask for her hand in marriage."

After a fit of coughing, Yuan Ruxuan patted his chest in pain, realizing he was getting old.

Although it was somewhat unexpected, in the past, even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of me, I certainly wouldn't have been able to remain calm, but I certainly wouldn't have choked on my own.

"See... a seat." He managed to squeeze out the two words through his almost incessant coughing.

However, Luo Qingcheng did not obediently take a seat, but instead presented a box as if it were a treasure.

"To show my sincerity, I am offering this small gift."

"Oh." Yuan Ruxuan nodded absentmindedly. "I'm sorry to trouble you." But he didn't reach out to take it.

"Would the master like to guess what's inside?" the big-eyed little girl next to him exclaimed.

"Oh?" Yuan Ruxuan frowned again. These people were behaving in a way that was not in accordance with etiquette.

"What we offer is the verdant bamboo, the subtle fragrance that speaks volumes, and the orchids and chrysanthemums vying for beauty!" the little girl continued loudly, defying all etiquette.

Yuan Ruxuan was slightly taken aback, then said "Oh," and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

The seated young men began to whisper among themselves again. Huang Tingfeng, being bold enough and having a grudge against the three men, spoke up and challenged them.

"You sent flowers and plants, didn't you? So the three of you are gardeners by trade, no wonder you smell so strongly of earth!" He chuckled to himself, and the other young men, not understanding what was going on, joined in the laughter.

The little girl gave a disdainful smile.

"Master Yuan loved two things most in his life: hiding swords and tasting tea. But his greatest pleasure was solving riddles. I'm sure you know the answer!"

Yuan Ruxuan smiled faintly, "Please, young lady, reveal the answer yourself!"

Ye smiled smugly and said, "The verdant bamboo shoots refer to the famous Zhuyeqing wine. The subtle fragrance refers to preserved plums. The orchids and chrysanthemums in full bloom refer to peanuts. We've given three small gifts..."

But Huang Tingfeng chuckled and said, "Indeed, it's a meager gift!"

Ye Xiao said nonchalantly, "The preserved plum peanuts from Jingweizhai are Miss Yuan's favorite. The bamboo leaf green tea from Youruofang is almost exclusively supplied to Master Yuan. Whether this gift is generous or not, Master Yuan must know."

Yuan Ruxuan said "Oh" again, "This young lady is quite right. My greatest pleasure in life is solving riddles. My daughter and I also share a fondness for food, just as you said. This gift is truly ingenious and unique. I really like it! May I ask... what is your name, young lady?"

"I am Ye Xiao, and I know everything!" Ye Xiao happily tossed his braid and sat down in the seat offered by the servant.

"You are... Ye Xiao, who knows everything?" Yuan Ruxuan said in a low voice, suddenly becoming interested. He carefully examined her, and also scrutinized the two men. He smiled warmly without making a sound, ordered someone to serve tea to the three of them, and kept asking them how they were doing.

The several young noblemen who had been neglected looked at each other, secretly envious. Even Huang Tingfeng, who had received preferential treatment, felt a hidden displeasure.

Night gradually deepened.

The beaded curtain, shimmering with a faint light, rustled as Yuan Ruxuan stepped into the room.

A stunningly beautiful woman in scarlet robes leaned against the couch, idly plucking the strings of a zither on the table.

"Pei'er, when you were watching from behind the curtain today, was there anyone you particularly liked?"

The woman glanced sideways, unable to hide her disappointment: "Only that Young Master Huang from the Martial Arts Alliance looks somewhat decent!"

Yuan Ruxuan sighed, "The Martial Alliance is always causing trouble; it's hardly a peaceful place. Huang Chongshan is cunning and treacherous. His marriage alliance with me is just a ploy to seize my family's wealth. I'm afraid you'll suffer if you marry into that family. Otherwise, he would have already discussed marriage with me. If it were truly suitable, why wait until today? Listen to Huang Tingfeng's words today; he said he brought thousands of people from the Martial Alliance to Langjing Manor with utmost sincerity to propose marriage. To put it bluntly, he's just using his power to coerce you. Therefore, I'm determined to find you someone who can stand up to them."

Yuan Peixin lazily looked at her father: "So you've taken a fancy to that ugly freak surnamed Luo?"

Yuan Ruxuan's chest tightened, and after a long pause, he said, "Appearances can be deceiving. You know that person was wearing a mask. I saw that his eyes were as black as ink, with a radiant light within them; his face might not be ugly. He put a lot of thought into those gifts. Those who come to propose marriage today are all rich and powerful; although their gifts are precious, they are easily obtained. Would your father care? Your father only hopes that you will be happy for the rest of your life. Looking at the world, how many men are truly willing to put their heart into you? Besides, he dares to openly defy the Martial Alliance; his strength is not weak."

"Judging from the few meager gifts he gave, I really can't see what kind of ability he has," Yuan Peixin said, pursing her lips.

Yuan Ruxuan looked at his daughter affectionately: "Pei'er, you're still young. These few gifts alone show how powerful he is. Although they are just ordinary items, it's not easy to gather them all. Putting aside the effort they put in, just the fact that they knew our preferences so clearly must have cost them a lot of money. That little girl is quite extraordinary. She has the shadow of someone else in her..."

"Who?" Yuan Peixin finally became a little interested.

Yuan Ruxuan didn't say anything explicitly, but just smiled: "If it's really related to that person, I'm afraid he's planted quite a few of his people throughout Langjing Manor! I wonder what their purpose is! I'll have to think about it. So Pei'er, you must find a way to get along with that Luo Qingcheng and find out his background... regardless of whether you like this man or not..."

Yuan Peixin said, "Oh, that's not difficult. Which man in the world can escape my charm? They all fall at my feet... Besides, there's more..."

Yuan Ruxuan frowned slightly, walked to the window, and glanced at the small white flowers blooming by the water. They still shone like stars in the night.

Its appearance is like ice and snow, yet it is extremely beautiful.

“Pei’er, I know you are intelligent and beautiful, blessed with natural advantages. But there is something you need to know. Money, power, intelligence, and skill cannot buy a good man’s heartfelt love.”

Yuan Peixin didn't speak, but simply raised an eyebrow in disdain.

She understands men very well...

Lanzhou Race

"Sai Lanzhou?" Xiao Xun's eyes widened.

Ye Xiao nodded seriously: "It's right here on Biluo Lake! It's said to be a traditional event of their Langjing Manor. Miss Yuan wants to watch it in person today. The first day will be a competition for Langjing Manor's internal staff, and in a few days they will invite the suitors to participate."

"It's less of an invitation and more of a competition," Luo Qingcheng said, his eyes lighting up.

Ye Xiao nodded: "It's said to be casual, with participation being the most important thing. But everyone knows perfectly well that it's just like a martial arts contest to find a husband."

Luo Qingcheng leaned against the doorpost, his gaze suddenly becoming distant: "A martial arts contest? I like that."

A temporary platform was erected on a large open space on the shore of Biluo Lake.

The stage was adorned with flowers and colorful ribbons.

The audience was packed, and Ye Xiao, following behind Xiao Xun and Luo Qingcheng, couldn't squeeze within ten feet. She suspected that the entire town and manor within dozens of miles of Langjing Manor were already empty.

The streets were deserted as everyone flocked to catch a glimpse of her beauty.

Today, it is said that two of the most beautiful women in the martial arts world will appear at the same time.

"Shen Wan is said to be Yuan Peixin's close friend. Because of some trouble at home, Miss Yuan invited her here to relax," Ye Xiao chattered, reporting the gossip to the two men.

"It can't be such a coincidence, can it? I'm afraid there's some other purpose behind it?" Xiao Xun frowned.

Ye Xiao sighed, "We'll see. Anyway, we're already here. At worst, Qingcheng can find a son-in-law, and we can investigate the case. We can do both without any problems."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingcheng turned around, his eyes flashing with a meaningful light.

Ye Xiao paused for a moment, then suddenly patted Luo Qingcheng's waist: "I suddenly realized that the second brother's eyes are still bright and sparkling."

Luo Qingcheng scoffed: "Not just the eyes, the whole face, the whole person is radiant and full of vitality. When will you see it?"

"Oh?" Ye Xiao said bluntly, "You're a firefly?"

Amidst the playful banter, the person in question gracefully appeared on the stage.

Suddenly, a frenzy erupted from the audience, with countless men shouting and yelling, trying to rush onto the stage.

Fortunately, the guards were used to such scenes and were well-trained enough to form a circle and block the way.

"Huh? Isn't this the veiled woman we met at the restaurant the day the jewelry box was auctioned? Why does she seem less alluring than she was that day?" Xiao Xun said with his sharp eyes.

Luo Qingcheng remained silent for a while before reluctantly saying, "It's her. She seems even more captivating with a veil on."

Ye Xiao pitifully tiptoed and jumped a few times before she could see clearly. She looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression and said, "She's an absolute beauty! Of course, she's prettier than someone wearing a veil."

Yuan Peixin, with her alluring gaze, slender waist, and long legs, held a colorful ball in her hand as she slowly walked to the front of the stage, gazing at the masses below.

"They're not going to throw a colored ball to find a husband? Oh no! I didn't find out clearly. If they're throwing a colored ball, I'm doomed! I'm so far away, I definitely won't have a chance!" Ye Xiao was shocked. Suddenly, he shrugged and squeezed into the crowd. After squeezing for a long time, he was disappointed to find that he was still at the back.

"Why are you pushing and shoving? Even if it's a ball-throwing contest to find a husband, it won't fall on the girl's head! You should find out that the ball is a prize hanging on a bamboo pole at the finish line! The race is also about whoever catches the ball first wins!" A man next to her was particularly angry because she was getting in his way while he was admiring the beautiful girl.

Yuan Peixin slowly raised the colored ball.

"Are you sure it's not a colored ball? But I think she's about to throw it!" Ye Xiao exclaimed anxiously.

"This is just a gimmick to start the show. Miss Yuan throws a colored ball, and whoever catches it ties it to the bamboo pole at the finish line... It doesn't have any special meaning. It's like this every year. If it were a marriage contest, Miss Yuan would have been married off many times over by now..." The man couldn't stand it anymore and nudged Ye Xiao with his buttocks in disgust.

Ye smiled and finally felt relieved.

The colorful ball was already airborne when the men suddenly pushed to one side, rushing towards it with great enthusiasm.

Some highly skilled and daring individuals have already taken to the air, soaring like cranes.

Because many of them are handsome men, it's especially pleasing to the eye when they fly.

Ye Xiao tilted his head back with great satisfaction, watching countless brightly colored cranes in brocade robes fly by in the sky, and smiled.

A crane with a particularly graceful figure flew through the air without touching the ground, heading straight for the troublesome colorful ball.

Not only is it graceful, but it is also domineering, kicking and pulling down other cranes while leaping in the air.

Ye Xiao watched as countless beautiful cranes fell into the mud, feeling annoyed and cursing the man for spoiling the scenery.

He looked at the person with dissatisfaction, who unsurprisingly took the colored ball, and slowly and elegantly turned around, revealing an ordinary face.

My jaw dropped.

Qingcheng? He quickly turned his head. Sure enough, only Xiao Xun was cheering loudly beside him.