Chapter Twenty-One: The Proposal

  This is the first update, and there will be an additional update tonight with more information about the shoes and the Heishi pendant.

  Lin Zhaoyan walked to the entrance of the main hall of Miao Yu Tang and heard bursts of laughter and cheerful voices coming from inside.

  Rarely, there were also faint sounds of laughter from Lin Ruo's words.

  She remembered Manhua mentioning earlier that Lu also brought over her younger brother.

  Lin Ruoyan had always been on good terms with Lu's only son, Liu Wenyuan. His arrival seemed to alleviate her gloomy and depressed mood over the past few days.

  Involuntarily, she recalled the dream from last night, and even now, she could still feel the scorching pain on her arm.

  "Miss?"

  Man Shuang's call brought Lin Zhaoyan back to his senses, and he hastily gathered his thoughts and stepped into the house.

  By the window, on the kang, Liu was talking to a woman wearing a smoke-green woven gold double phoenix short jacket, who was none other than Second Uncle's wife, Lu.

  On the straight-backed armchair with a thick cushion beside the kang sat Lin Ruoyan and a handsome young man wearing a lake blue cross-collared long gown.

  He is Liu Wenxuan, the only son of Lu's family.

  The two of them were originally listening seriously to Liu and Lu's conversation, occasionally interjecting a sentence or two, filled with joy and harmony.

  Upon hearing the announcement "Si Gu Niang has arrived" from outside, they all looked towards the door simultaneously.

  Only one stem of elegant and slender lotus slowly came into view.

  At the age of thirteen or fourteen, with delicate facial features, elegant attire, and skin as white as freshly fallen snow, her bright eyes shone like stars in the night sky. A natural aura of calmness and serenity emanated from her, evoking a sense of admiration at first glance.

  A hint of astonishment flashed across everyone's eyes.

  They were all people who had seen Lin Zhaoyan countless times, but never knew that this little girl could look so good when dressed up!

  Lin Zhaoyan lowered her eyes to avoid their undisguised gaze, bent her knees and bowed slightly, saying lightly: "Zhaoyan has seen Mother, Second Aunt and Third Cousin."

  Liu Wenxuan was the only son of the second house, but in the entire Bo'an Marquis Manor, he was actually the third in line.

  He suddenly came back to his senses, hastily lowering his head to conceal his emotions, but a pair of red flushes quietly crept up his cheeks.

  "Zhaoer's cousin, you're doing well too."

  When she heard his improper and unclassifiable return gift, Lin Zhaoyan pursed her lips and lost her smile.

  She was as close to this cousin as she was to Lin Ruoyan. They had known each other since childhood, although at that time the Lu family had not yet moved to the capital, and they only met during festivals. Liu Wenxuan, who was only two years older than her, showed a big brotherly demeanor, often taking them out to play and have fun, and would also act as a peacemaker when she and Lin Ruoyan quarreled. As he grew up, he became a handsome and noble young man.

  "It's been a few months since we last met, and look at you now, all grown up into a big girl! I'm afraid it won't be long before you get married." Lu Shi also came back to her senses, smiling and teasing.

  A hint of surprise flashed through Liu's eyes, she couldn't understand why Lin Zhao Yan had dressed up so carefully today, was it for Liu Wen Xuan, or...

  She restrained her emotions and smiled along: "It's not that fast, this year is only thirteen, and the hairpinning ceremony will have to wait two more years!"

  Although it is said so, children of wealthy families generally start looking for each other at the age of eleven or twelve and are almost all engaged by thirteen or fourteen.

  Ke Liu was never serious about her daughter's marriage, and Old Lady Lin didn't care, while Lin Chen, being a man, couldn't intervene, so Lin Zhaoyan has not been engaged to any family until now.

  Lin Zhaoyan was not in a hurry, but instead had a hint of joy.

  In her opinion, thirteen or fourteen was still the age of elementary school, and it went against her moral principles to get married and have children so early. Anyway, she didn't expect to marry into a wealthy family, so later would be better, and she could enjoy herself freely.

  Lu shook her head, disagreeing: "Yu Xin, you're wrong. What's the point of waiting another two years until you come of age? By then, this yellow flower will have wilted, and what good family would still want to consider you?"

  Liu smiled and said, "Don't worry, if someone takes a liking to her, they will naturally come to propose."

  There is still another meaning hidden in these words.

  Lu heard this and stopped responding, instead picking up the white porcelain tea cup in front of her and pretending to drink tea.

  Lin Zhaoyan secretly observed their expressions, then looked at Liu Wenxuan's face which had turned red all the way to the base of his neck, and suddenly realized.

  It turned out that he had come to propose a marriage between Liu Wenxuan and someone else!

  Liu Wenyuan is now fifteen years old, and has reached the age of marriage. In ancient times, people liked to play the game of "relative marrying relative", where a cousin would be matched with another cousin. Today, Lu brought Liu Wenyuan here, probably because she had taken a liking to Lin Ruoyan and wanted to propose a marriage.

  But Madame Liu was unwilling, in her eyes Lin Ruoyan was a perfect match, even if Liu Wenyuan was her nephew, but after all, he was just the son of a fifth-grade official and only fifteen years old, with no official title to his name, how could she let Lin Ruoyan marry down?

  But she had a good relationship with Lu, and often asked her to do things, so she was afraid of offending her if she refused bluntly. So she thought of another daughter who could be used, that is, Lin Zhaoyan.

  The Liu family didn't want Lin Ruoyan to suffer a loss, nor did they want to offend her brother and sister-in-law, so they could only marry her off.

  To be honest, Lin Zhaoyan had a good impression of Liu Wenyuan and Lu's family was not bad either. If she really wanted to marry her off, she wouldn't be unwilling, and who knows, she might even secretly rejoice. After all, marrying someone with a good background is better than marrying someone you've never seen before.

  But if she was just a substitute for Lin Ruoyan's sacrifice, her heart would feel somewhat uncomfortable and not so relieved.

  Moreover, judging from Lu's attitude, she seems to be quite dissatisfied with this "exchange of brides" scheme. She must have hoped that Liu would first marry off his elder daughter and then properly propose to Lin Ruoyan.

  Ke Liu ignored her, and she had no way out.

  Only Liu Wenxuan himself knows what he means.

  As she thought so, Lin Zhaoyan shifted her gaze to Liu Wenyuan's body, coincidentally colliding with his direct and forthcoming gaze.

  In those eyes, apart from the usual affection and shyness, there was also a hint of tender feelings.

  Lin Zhaoyan's heart skipped a beat.

  She only knew that Liu Wenyuan treated her very well, but had never thought about it in that way.

  For a moment, her emotions were somewhat complicated.

  On this side, Liu and Lu drank tea and started chatting again. All I heard was Lu saying: "That Permitted Auntie is someone who used to serve the previous empress, after the current emperor ascended to the throne, he let go of all the palace maids who served the previous empress, now they are all sought-after by various high-ranking aristocratic families, if it weren't for your second brother running around for you, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to invite her!"

  Liu listened and also felt grateful, hurriedly saying: "Then I must thank Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, if the matter of my son is successful in the future, I will definitely prepare a generous gift to come and thank you."

  "No need for excessive courtesy." Lu shook her head, with a very generous attitude, but in an instant she said: "What I want is what you know in your heart, Yu Xin."

  Liu was stunned for a moment, then waved her hand to dismiss Lin Zhaoyan and the others, "You two sisters take Wenxuan to the courtyard to play, be careful not to go too far."

  Only a few people knew they had something important to discuss, and they all retreated with alacrity.

  PK200 added another chapter, everyone voted with great enthusiasm hehe~

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