The sunlight was bright, the garden filled with the incessant chirping of cicadas.
Fang Yunxiao and Fang Yuxiu entered Fang Chengyu's yard.
"It's really strange, I heard she went out. Where to?" Fang Yuxiu asked as soon as she entered.
Fang Chengyu uttered a sound of acknowledgment.
"I don't know," he said.
Fang Yuxiu made a tsk-tsk sound and looked at Fang Chengyu.
Fang Chengyu seemed not to notice her gaze as he seriously handed the accounting books to Fang Yunxiao, who, undistracted, sat down to flip through them.
"Why wouldn't you know? You wish you could turn into her shadow every single day," Fang Yuxiu asked.
"Second Sister, let's talk about this after we've finished with the accounting books," Fang Chengyu said.
Fang Yuxiu stretched out her hand and slammed it down on the accounting book, startling Fang Yunxiao, who looked puzzledly at Fang Yuxiu.
"What accounting book, at such a time," Fang Yuxiu's eyes shone as she spoke, "Quickly tell me, she went out, why didn't you know? Was it because she deliberately hid it from you?"
Was there such a thing? Fang Yunxiao also looked at Fang Chengyu.
"Why would she hide it from you?" she asked.
"How could that be, it's not like that," Fang Chengyu earnestly said, "Miss Jun is free to do as she wishes. How can we say she's hiding anything from anyone? Why would family be hiding anything? Do I have to report everything I do in detail to you all? If I don't, would my sisters think I'm deliberately hiding it from you?"
That made sense, and Fang Yunxiao nodded.
Fang Yuxiu pursed her lips and smiled.
"Speak human language," she said.
What does that mean, Fang Yunxiao stared at her in annoyance and was about to speak when she saw Fang Chengyu jump onto a soft couch nearby.
"I don't care why she didn't take me with her," he beat the pillow, burying his head in it, his clear voice becoming somewhat muffled, "No taking me, no taking me, I don't want to do anything, I don't want to look at the accounting books, I want to go too, I want to go."
Fang Yunxiao was dumbfounded.
Fang Yuxiu laughed so hard she bent over.
"It must have been that scholar who sweet-talked her," she said while speaking, "And you're still here pretending to be the obedient, sweet younger brother. If you keep pretending, you'll always be just a younger brother."
Fang Chengyu lifted his head buried in the pillow and tilted it to the side, his eyes fixed on the blooming summer flowers by the window, his lips betraying a faint, barely perceptible sigh.
If he stopped playing the younger brother, he might not even have that role to play anymore.
...
As soon as Miss Jun left the house, Old Lady Fang was immediately aware of it.
"I knew for sure there must have been a secret rendezvous," she said, patting the table.
"Lady Fang was rather surprised, "Chengyu didn't follow along? Does he not know who she's going to meet?"
"Miss Jun has never said," Concubine Yuan said with a smile.
"Even without saying, who couldn't guess it was that despicable and shameless scholar who had the guts and face for it," Old Lady Fang spat.
"All the concerns about her you run faster than anyone, getting more heartsick than anyone else. How come you cower now?" Lady Fang frowned, taking strides as she spoke, "Let him follow."
Old Lady Fang called out to stop her.
"Our Chengyu would not do such a thing," she said. "Our Chengyu isn't the kind to pester endlessly. If Zhenzhen doesn't say it, doesn't allow it, our Chengyu will respect her, not questioning, not following."
Lady Fang and Concubine Yuan both looked at Old Lady Fang.
She was right, indeed it was a bit too shameless.
"I will follow," Old Lady Fang continued.
Lady Fang and Concubine Yuan stared.
This, this...
"My granddaughter is so young and going out alone, I, as her grandmother, am not at ease. What's wrong with going to check on her?" Old Lady Fang huffed.
It sounded reasonable indeed, but the key is, this granddaughter, though young, has already traveled a considerable distance, opposed challenging local gentry, broke through bandits' killing formations, and ran through the ravages of smallpox. These many events that even many adults can't endure, she has gone through them all. Just going outside alone to meet a man, it really doesn't seem concerning.
Old Lady Fang raised her eyebrows.
"A man, don't underestimate these matters of men and women," she said. "It is an extremely perilous affair in this world, one wrong step can mean eternal regret."
With that, she didn't wait for them to speak further, raising her hand in a gesture.
"Prepare the carriage."
...
Outside of Yangcheng, Luomei Pavilion, true to its name, must have planted many plum trees to have the plum blossoms bloom and fall.
Luomei Pavilion made full use of them, brewing plum wine, making plum cakes, and plum cake, though not exquisitely delicious, was still a specialty of Yangcheng. And since the plums to be collected were limited, it provided only a limited supply, not something one could always get when they visit.
Ning Yunzhao stood by the window, his eyes catching sight of a carriage appearing, different from the ones that had come earlier. This one bore the mark of the Fang Family, a sight Ning Yunzhao recognized.
She's here.
Ning Yunzhao took a deep breath as he watched the approaching carriage get closer and closer.
The carriage stopped in front of the door. Ning Yunzhao was about to wave and greet her, but he saw another carriage coming up behind.
The carriage also came to a halt, and Ning Yunzhao shook his head with a smile as he watched the person who descended from it.
It seems another quiet conversation is not to be had today.
Ning Yunzhao withdrew his gaze and stepped outside.
By the time he descended the stairs, Miss Jun and Old Lady Fang had already entered the hall.
"What a coincidence, you're here too?" Old Lady Fang was earnestly inquiring, "How come you suddenly thought of coming to Luomei Pavilion? Why are you alone? Didn't you bring Chengyu, Yunxiu, and Yuxiu with you?"
Hearing this, Ning Yunzhao smiled and took a step forward.
"What a coincidence," he said.
At the sight of Ning Yunzhao, the girls from the Fang Family let out another surprised murmur, and Old Lady Fang raised an eyebrow.
He had the nerve to call this a coincidence.
Of course, she did not think there was anything wrong with her own words.
"It's quite the coincidence," she said, "Noble Son Ning, you're here too."
Ning Yunzhao was about to speak with a smile, but Miss Jun spoke first.
"I had arranged to meet Noble Son Ning here," she said, "How coincidental that you're here too, Grandmother."
It's our Zhenzhen who's candid, not tempted by the scholars to continue lying and deceiving.
Old Lady Fang nodded in approval.
"Is that so, then Noble Son Ning might as well join us," she said.
This was it.
Xiaoding thought of the young ladies following behind Old Lady Fang and imagined how lively the meal would be.
Forget having a pleasant conversation with Miss Jun, it would be a question if the young master could even get a chance to speak.
Ning Yunzhao glanced at Miss Jun, who smiled and nodded at him.
Seeing her smile, the smile on Ning Yunzhao's face grew even warmer. He wasn't deceiving himself; he had indeed felt a little choked up the moment Old Lady Fang appeared.
As to whether it was really a coincidence, that was not important. What mattered was that the pleasant and relaxed time alone he had anticipated was no longer possible.
At this moment, seeing Miss Jun's carefree and joyful smile, his slight annoyance dissipated like smoke.
Firstly, to have the chance to meet, and secondly, to be able to converse happily—whether alone or not, what difference did it make?
Ning Yunzhao was about to extend a hand in invitation when he heard a cough from outside.
"Quite the unlucky timing, there's quite a crowd today."
The people in the hall, including Old Lady Fang and Ning Yunzhao, instinctually looked towards the sound and saw that unknown to them, a few more guests had arrived at the door.
Standing against the light, their tall figures clothed in black seemed like a wall blocking out the sunlight, darkening the originally bright Luomei Pavilion in an instant.
Seeing their faces, the attendants turned pale, Old Lady Fang and Ning Yunzhao's smiles gradually faded, while Miss Jun's expression remained the same.
She remembered these men, though she had only seen them once before at Jin Yun Hall during the third day of March.
Jinyiwei, indeed it's about time they showed up.
Silence reigned supreme in the hall, but this quietness caused doors of many private rooms to open, with murmurs rising and falling throughout Luomei Pavilion.
"Miss Jun!"
That was joyous.
"Noble Son Ning!"
That was a pleasant surprise.
"..."
And that was silent.
The sounds rose and fell, fell and rose, seeming chaotic yet also stagnant.
It seems a pleasant conversation is not to be had today after all.
Ning Yunzhao sighed lightly in his heart.
*************************************
Thank you for the He's Bi reward from the ice in the south, O(∩_∩)O
It's Friday! Everyone, go on your dates!
The matter here is resolved, please bear with it a moment longer.