Chapter 22: Confession (Qī Liǎn and Shì Bì+)

  As soon as they left the house, Lin Ruoyan returned to her lively personality, holding onto Liu Wenxuan's arm and coquettishly saying: "Brother-in-law, why haven't you come to see me recently? I've been wronged so much!"

  Liu Wenyuan was an only child at home, and in the past, he had been better off in Yanling Fu, at least with his cousins around. Now that he had arrived in the capital, the large mansion was empty except for him, so he liked this lively and cheerful cousin very much, treating her like a younger sister.

  At this moment, he couldn't help but gently stroke her hair and asked with a smile: "What's wrong again that made you so unhappy?"

  Lin Ruoyan glanced at Lin Zhaoyan, then proudly pouted and said, "Don't mention those annoying things anymore. Tell me some interesting stories about Yanling instead! Didn't you go back to your second aunt's place for the New Year? Did anything fun happen?"

  Liu Wenxuan was an extremely clever young man, and at a glance, he saw that the annoying things Lin Ruoyan said were related to Lin Zhao Yan.

  He had always known that Lin Zhao and Lin Ruo were not on good terms, and in the past, he often followed behind to mediate, mostly because of Lin Ruo's overbearing attitude, while Lin Zhao endured it silently.

  He was worried that Lin Zhaoyan would be bullied by Lin Ruoyan again, but it wasn't good to ask directly, so he frowned and answered Lin Ruoyan's question perfunctorily.

  Lin Ruoyan wasn't a fool, so she naturally figured it out. She was somewhat angry, but then thought that Liu Wenyuan, although her cousin's brother, was also a normal man, and being able to like someone was the best thing, so why bother making trouble?

  "Never mind, I won't listen anymore. I'm going to the backyard to admire the plum blossoms. You all can chat slowly here!"

  Looking at Lin Ruoyan's figure leaving like the wind, then turning his head to look at the gentle and quiet lovely girl beside him, Liu Wenxuan's face suddenly turned red.

  His thoughts were obvious even to Lin Ruoyan, an outsider; how could she not understand?

  "Zhang's niece." Having known her for several years, he was well aware of Lin Zhang's temperament and didn't intend to hide or conceal anything. He turned around and paid his respects, the pale blue brocade robe shimmering with a subtle sheen as it moved, complemented by the white snow in the courtyard, evoking an especially poetic and picturesque atmosphere.

  Then, a clear and sweet voice slowly sounded, "Wen Xuan and his cousin have known each other since childhood, although they have always called each other siblings, but have long had secret feelings. If the cousin still has a thread of affection for Wen Xuan, he will persuade his mother to propose marriage, and from now on, he will wait for you with all his heart. If the cousin only has sibling affection for Wen Xuan, then Wen Xuan will also give up early, and consider today's words as if they never existed."

  A young man as elegant as a jade tree, with a sincere tone and a serious expression, is truly taking this matter seriously, without any frivolity or joking.

  Lin Zhaoyan looked up at his clean and clear eyes and thin lips that were pursed into a tight line due to tension, feeling an unusual sense of emotion in her heart.

  He must have seen through Lu's intentions and wanted to refute Lin Ruoyan in order to marry her? But he was also worried that Lang had feelings for his concubine but not for him, and that rashly getting involved with her would cause her trouble. He was even more afraid that Liu would use her as a sacrificial pawn and marry her off, causing her to resent this marriage, which is why he mustered up the courage to say these words.

  I just want to tell her, I like you. If you also have a little feeling for me, I can let you marry into our family with dignity, rather than being used as a pawn. If you have no feelings for me, I will give up the idea of our two families' union and never let you make an unnecessary sacrifice.

  Outside, the cold wind was blowing against her delicate face, but Lin Zhaoyan felt an unparalleled warmth because of this sincerity, and even the unease caused by that nightmare was completely suppressed.

  Although she can't say that she likes Liu Wenxuan very much, she cherishes the rare true heart in this different world.

  If I marry him, if not in perfect harmony like zither and psaltery, at least we can respect each other like guests and grow old together!

  Lin Zhaoyan's lips curled up, and she smiled at him. That smile was like the radiant spring flowers of March, exceptionally dazzling and captivating. She was about to open her mouth to respond when a voice broke through the warm and harmonious atmosphere.

  "Fourth Miss, Young Master, Third Madam is calling you back. She says that someone has arrived at the Chengguo Gongfu and all the young ladies from each house are to go to Rongshou Hall to pay their respects!"

  Liu Wenyuan's eyes welled up with disappointment, but he perked himself up, raised the corners of his lips and smiled at Lin Zhaoyan, "Sister has something to attend to, so go ahead first. This answer can wait, I'm not in a hurry."

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded and before leaving, he said in a low voice, "If Brother Biao can persuade Auntie, then I won't let him down either."

  She could see that Lu's family liked Lin Ruoyan, but Liu's family was unwilling. Moreover, Liu Wenxuan took the opportunity to express his own feelings, and this marriage might not be impossible after all.

  Although Lu was a clever and calculating person, she wasn't that kind of stingy and vicious person. As long as she was sincere and served with kindness from now on, they could spend their days harmoniously and beautifully.

  Lin Zhaoyan's footsteps became lighter with this beautiful expectation.

  Chengguo Gong was a title conferred by Emperor Huiwen of Yan during his reign. It is said that at the time, the northern Qiang tribe invaded, and the state of Yan was in turmoil due to the Five Dragons' struggle for the throne. With internal and external troubles, Emperor Huiwen was worried and did not dare to let the troops belonging to the four princes go to repel the enemy army, fearing that they would collude with outsiders and the great Yan dynasty would not be preserved.

  At this time, the then unknown Lu Yan was appointed to lead the army, and he was granted the title of General Against the North, with a reward of 100,000 elite soldiers to help him repel the enemy country. As a result, Lu Yan did not disappoint Emperor Wen of Liu Song, not only defeating the enemy army in succession, but also occupying two cities of the opponent, and after returning, he was granted a noble title and a luxurious mansion, with great prestige for a time.

  At that time, the Jian'an Marquis's estate was in a precarious situation due to its mistaken factional stance. The clever Jian'an Marquis used every means possible to establish ties with the Chengguo Duke's estate and eventually formed an alliance through marriage, thereby securing the foundation of the Jian'an Marquis's estate while also reaching an agreement with the Chengguo Duke's estate that their families would intermarry in future generations, uniting the two surnames in friendship.

  In the following century, both families have continued to uphold this point, supporting and helping each other, with a friendly relationship that continues to this day.

  Although Ma's intervention hindered the progress of their marriage, this relationship maintained by marital blood ties could not be stopped.

  Lin Zhaoyan entered the main hall of Rongshou Hall, which was packed with people, but she still caught sight of the young man in brocade robes standing right in the center.

  It turned out to be Lu Yan Zhi of legend.

  Lin Zhaoyan had seen him twice when he was a child, and at that time, he thought he looked as beautiful as a girl. Now that he saw him again, he looked even more stunning than before.

  Although only fifteen or sixteen years old, he had skin as white as jade and eyebrows like a painting. His jet-black hair was casually tied up with a jade pin, making his skin look like frozen cream, and his lips were red and his teeth were white.

  He wore a simple bamboo leaf green brocade robe, tall and slender, with no adornments on his body, yet he looked like an unpolished natural jade, emitting a warm and gentle glow that was impossible to look away from.

  At this time he was talking with Old Lady Lin.

  Soft humming and shallow smiling, the pitch-black eyes seem to contain a hint of starlight, exceptionally dazzling.

  This is probably the true pride of heaven!

  Even if the whole house is filled with brilliant flowers, it can still quietly stand out.

  But such a beautiful young man has to sacrifice his marriage for the sake of family interests and cannot be in control, it's really a pity.

  "Third Uncle's daughters have arrived, it's been years since you've seen them, I'm afraid they won't recognize each other anymore?" Lin Laotaitai's laughter brought back Lin Zhaoyan's thoughts, and as she came to herself, her eyes met Lu Yan's incredibly handsome gaze.

  But in those eyes, the light that had just flashed was gone, and they became dull and unclear, with a complex emotion that could not be expressed.

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