With a soft snap, a half of the nail on Bai Di's left little finger broke off. No one noticed this faint sound. Everyone was just gathered around Feng Linyuan, offering their congratulations one after another.
Bai Zheng watched Feng Linyuan in the distance, his expression calm.
She stared at him quietly. The surrounding noises seemed to fade away slowly, as if she were standing on the water surface, with ripples spreading out in circles.
The sounds were blocked by the water and became extremely distant and vague. Only that person became clearer and clearer in this world as if veiled in mist.
He was dressed in white with a jade crown, his complexion calm, and the rare smile in his eyes reached deep into his pupils. Bai Zheng watched from afar and felt a strange sensation, tinged with a hint of sweetness, welling up in her heart.
From then on, their fates would be firmly tied together.
But it seemed that she didn't reject this outcome either.
The cold crescent moon hung among the clouds, shining down on the carriage moving forward alone on the ground.
As the carriage rumbled along, Feng Linyuan sat upright on one side, closing his eyes to rest. Whether it was due to the strenuous journey in the past two days or the poison of the purple calyx fruit, his complexion looked paler than usual.
Song Yiqing held a folding fan and tapped his left hand absent - mindedly. His gaze was always fixed on Feng Linyuan, looking at him meaningfully.
"Does Young Master Song Er insist on squeezing into this marquis's carriage just to admire this marquis's appearance? After all these years, it's rare that you still haven't had enough of the sight," Feng Linyuan said faintly, suppressing the discomfort in his body.
Song Yiqing gave a mischievous laugh and suddenly leaned his head in front of Feng Linyuan.
Feng Linyuan opened his eyes slightly and glanced at him indifferently. "What are you looking at?"
"I see that the Marquis of Dingyuan has a celestial bone on his forehead, a glint in his eyes, a smooth and mirror - like glabella, and his two eyebrows soar into his temples. There will be happy events approaching soon!" Song Yiqing played with the folding fan in his hand and said seriously.
"So you mean that the reason you didn't find Mingzhu is that your appearance is not as good as mine?" Feng Linyuan countered leisurely.
"Don't mention it! Your Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is not short of money. That girl is obviously a good money - maker. It would be better to give her to me. We're brothers. Why do you have to snatch her away?" Song Yiqing raised his fist.
"After all, brothers are like the limbs of a centipede, while women are like winter clothes. My Dingyuan Marquis Mansion doesn't mind having a money - making girl to add luster, and to extort more silver from the Song Mansion for me," Feng Linyuan said unhurriedly.
"You!" Song Yiqing's face contorted. Then he seemed to think of something and smiled maliciously. "By the way, don't tell me you've really fallen for that girl?"
Feng Linyuan paused. From just now until now, he hadn't really asked himself this question seriously.
Being asked like this by Song Yiqing, he was at a loss for words for a moment.
Love? Was this love?
He couldn't tell either.
He only knew that if he watched Bai Zheng marry someone else, he, Feng Linyuan, couldn't accept it.
Seeing Feng Linyuan silent, Song Yiqing poked him with the handle of the fan. "Just admit it if you like her. There's nothing to be shy about. But, will Feng Linche agree to your marriage?"
At the mention of Feng Linche, a glint of killing intent flashed in Feng Linyuan's eyes.
This Feng Linche always regarded the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion as a thorn in his side. The Battle of Yan City back then was thanks to him. In the past six years, he had sent countless assassins to attempt to kill Feng Linyuan.
Now, would he agree to let Feng Linyuan marry Bai Zheng?
The killing intent in Feng Linyuan's eyes flashed by, and he regained his calm. "He will definitely agree."
Song Yiqing was a bit skeptical. "Miss Bai San has earned two hundred thousand taels of silver for Feng Jingye. For such a money - making girl, would Feng Linche be willing to let her go?"
"With such merits, Feng Jingye will surely take them all for himself. Feng Linche probably only thinks of Miss Bai as an ordinary young lady in the boudoir," Feng Linyuan said with a sneer.
Song Yiqing knew what kind of person Feng Jingye was. Hearing Feng Linyuan's words, he nodded in agreement. Then he seemed to think of something and frowned. "But if they really believe your theory about the eight characters, Feng Linche won't agree either!"
The smile on Feng Linyuan's face remained unchanged. "The theory of the eight characters is just for deceiving others. Feng Linche never believes in ghosts and gods. In his eyes, I'm probably just grasping at straws in a hurry."
Song Yiqing nodded. "Speaking of which, Miss Bai San's reputation has been a bit bad. Maybe Feng Linche really won't object to your marriage."
"Not only will he not object, but he will also be eager to let Miss Bai get engaged to me."
"Why?" The moment the words came out, Song Yiqing understood. This time, the reason why Feng Linche was so eager to choose a marriage partner for Bai Zheng was originally for Bai Yihuan's sake, to stabilize the frontier soldiers.
And as a general of the Changping Army, once the defending army of the Great Zhou, if Feng Linche chose a good marriage for Feng Linyuan, it would also be a reassurance for the frontier soldiers, letting them know that the Great Zhou would never abandon them.
So, marrying Bai Zheng to Feng Linyuan was a win - win thing. How could Feng Linche not agree?
This was the art of the emperor.
Thinking of this, Song Yiqing flattered with a smile. "Congratulations, Marquis of Dingyuan. I wonder how it feels to have such a money - making beauty in your arms?"
Feng Linyuan's expression remained unchanged, but the smile on his lips gradually spread. "Anyway, Young Master Song will never experience this feeling."
"That's too much!" Song Yiqing jumped up and stabbed Feng Linyuan hard on the shoulder with the handle of the fan.
Although the force wasn't very strong, Feng Linyuan felt a sweet and fishy taste welling up in his throat.
All the discomfort that he had suppressed before rushed up at this moment. He frowned tightly and stared fixedly at Song Yiqing.
Song Yiqing felt uneasy under his gaze. "What's wrong with you?"
"Pfft - "
Feng Linyuan finally couldn't hold it back and suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Then, mouthfuls of blood vomited out of Feng Linyuan's mouth. His complexion became paler and paler until it was as white as paper.
Song Yiqing was extremely shocked. He quickly stepped forward to support Feng Linyuan, who had fainted and lost consciousness. His panicked shouts penetrated the thick carriage curtain and were especially loud in the quiet moonlit night.
"Back to the mansion! Hurry! Back to the mansion!"
...
The next day, when Bai Zheng woke up, Zhu Ling, who was helping her wash up, chattered non - stop, bringing her a piece of news.
"At yesterday's marriage - selection banquet for the young lady, all the eligible young masters in Yongding went to the Gaochang Marquis Mansion. As a result, the business in the Willow Lane was much worse. Only the Yicui Pavilion had a big spender!"
Bai Zheng was holding a mouthful of mouthwash. Hearing this, her hand holding the cup paused, and her eyebrows lifted slightly.
Zhu Ling quickly handed over the copper basin for receiving water and continued. "I heard that there was a thief in the Willow Lane yesterday, so someone reported it to the authorities. The Prefectural Magistrate's Office sent many soldiers to search, and finally they searched the Yicui Pavilion..."
At this point, Zhu Ling paused for a moment and suddenly changed the topic. "Does the young lady know which flower girl in the Yicui Pavilion has the most enchanting figure, the most melodious voice, and the best skills in playing the piano and dancing?"