"Leaving right after the New Year?" Yun Xi's heart skipped a beat, but she still pretended to be nonchalant on the surface. "What about the Saint Master?"
"Xie Huaiyue is keeping an eye on it. And with General Yun and the others doing their best to investigate, I can rest assured." Yi Yuan replied. Suddenly, he paused, and a rare look of nervousness flashed across his usually calm eyes. "But... before I leave, I'd like to pay a formal visit to your family to propose marriage."
"Ah?" Yun Xi had been racking her brains on how to delay Yi Yuan. Caught off guard by his words, she was stunned for a moment. Then, unable to contain her smile, she said, "Sure... go ahead."
"I'm not being conceited. My mother once hinted that since she just got me back, she wants me to stay with her for a while. It might be easy to get engaged, but it'll take some time before I can marry you." Yi Yuan let out a soft sigh, looking a bit melancholy. "Actually, I've had this premonition for a long time. But..." He planted a kiss on Yun Xi's soft cheek and continued, "It doesn't matter. Getting engaged is also good. It'll make our relationship official, so that no one will think our previous engagement doesn't count and keep pestering you."
[Humph, once the engagement is formalized with the proper matchmaker and betrothal gifts, I'll hold a grand engagement banquet and specifically invite Shen Zhou. I'll let him see clearly that Xiaoxi only has eyes for me and completely crush his wild hopes.]
Yi Yuan's jealous look was so cute that Yun Xi burst into laughter. She held his face and kissed him several times in quick succession. It was not until his phoenix eyes narrowed dangerously that she realized she was in a "dangerous" situation. But it was already too late.
Outside, the world was covered in ice and snow, but inside the room, it was as warm as spring. The steam rose from the pool, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. The two bodies slipping into the pool writhed and splashed water all over the room.
The next day—
Yun Xi didn't wake up until almost mid - morning. Yi Yuan had been quite wild last night. He had almost crossed the line several times. She didn't know where he had learned those naughty tricks, but he had pestered her over and over again. She was so tired that she could hardly open her eyes. As a result, she couldn't get up in the morning.
After she woke up, washed up, and had breakfast, she learned that everyone had gathered early in the morning to search for a way to cure the poison. Yun Xi was both touched and embarrassed. She ordered the kitchen to prepare some snacks and then rushed to the Idle Flower Pavilion in a hurry.
Lifting the curtain and entering, she saw Yi Yuan, Yun Qi, Yun Weisheng and a few others. Mian Xiao, Lin An, Yan Xuan, and Yan Gui were huddled together. On the other side of the curtain were Liu Jingyue and Liu Mengxian. Even Qiao Yan had come. Even the little Yi Yaofeng was sitting in the middle with a serious look on his face, his little eyebrows furrowed.
Only Jiang Ning was absent. As usual, she dressed up and went to the palace to search through those books that Yi Yuan was not allowed to see with Hunyuan Lianyi.
The people in the room all looked up in unison when they heard the noise. When they saw Yun Xi, they all smiled. Yi Yaofeng was the first to call out sweetly, "Sister Xi." He put down the book in his hand and ran over to give Yun Xi a big hug. The others teased her about "sleeping well" one by one. For some reason, Yun Xi felt a lump in her throat.
It had been so hard for her to meet so many people who truly cared about her. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live well, with these people, in peace and tranquility. But she might not have much time left.
Yi Yuan might have sensed it too, which was why he had been so unrestrained last night. Behind those wild actions was his deep - seated fear seeping out from his very bones. It had passed through his skin to hers and penetrated into her heart.
Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Yun Xi gave a gentle smile. She stroked Yi Yaofeng's little head and praised him. Then she joked with the others and joined the search team. If she wanted to live, she had to work hard herself.
This search lasted until New Year's Eve.
The streets were already decorated with lanterns and bustling with activity. People were coming and going, all smiling happily. Since Lou Qianying was in prison, there was no one in the Yun family causing trouble. Liu Jingyue and the others missed Yun Xi so much that they had moved into the Zhihong Garden a few days ago. However, on New Year's Eve, the most important day of the year for family reunion, they still hoped that she could go back to the Yun Mansion to celebrate. They also wanted her to see the place where she had lived as a child again.
Yun Xi naturally agreed. But that shameless Yi Yuan, when Liu Jingyue was talking to Yun Xi about this, casually said, "How nice. Unlike me, I'll be all alone on New Year's Eve."
At that time, Yi Yaofeng, who was sitting cross - legged on the cushion, seriously flipping through a book, looked up in confusion.
Yun Xi naturally felt sorry for him. Liu Jingyue, who already liked Yi Yuan more and more, immediately softened. She invited Yi Yuan to the mansion to celebrate together. Yi Yaofeng, of course, couldn't be left out. He exclaimed happily, jumped up, and hugged Yun Xi and Liu Jingyue, showering them with sweet compliments.
Only Yun Weisheng, an experienced man, smelled a familiar scent of scheming. He secretly gave Yi Yuan a dirty look and made a mental note of it.
However, this was a happy event. It was Yun Xi's first time going back to her family for New Year's Eve in so many years. The couple and Yun Qi, as the eldest brother, attached great importance to it. Although all the New Year's goods and clothes had been prepared early, they still thought it was not enough. On the last day of the year, they dragged Yun Xi and Yi Yaofeng, who was pestering to go along, out of the house and headed for a big shopping spree.
The group set off in a grand manner and headed straight for the busiest street. The street was so crowded that Yun Xi and the others got off the carriage and walked. Yun Weisheng and Yun Qi cleared the way on both sides, while Yi Yuan "protected" her from behind. Liu Jingyue happily held her arm. Whenever Yun Xi took a second look at something, Liu Jingyue would pay for it without hesitation.
For the first time in more than a decade, she felt the feeling of being cherished by her family and lover. So this was how Ye Jueyao felt back then. No wonder she was so confident that it seemed all the young masters in the capital should like her.
Yun Xi's eyes were almost crescent - shaped with joy. Her eyes were brimming with so much happiness that it was about to overflow. Finally, this happiness had come to her.
Just as they were happily shopping, they suddenly heard someone calling from the side, "Xiaosheng, Xiaosheng..."
Liu Jingyue stopped immediately and thought to herself, [Annoying. We can even run into her here.]
Yun Xi gave her a puzzled look. Before she could ask, Yun Weisheng turned around, saw the person, and smiled as he greeted her, saying, "Elder Sister."
Was she her father's elder sister?
Yun Xi looked curiously and saw a well - dressed woman coming gracefully. Even though she was wearing makeup, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were still visible. She was smiling, but while calling Yun Weisheng, her eyes were on Yun Xi and Yi Yuan. There was also a pretty girl about sixteen years old following behind her. Her eyes were like autumn water, full of charm.
Yun Xi had a bad feeling. Sure enough, she heard Liu Jingyue's inner thoughts, [Oh, she even brought her daughter. Why doesn't she just send her straight to the prince's mansion!] [No wonder she didn't make a fuss when I rejected her attempt to introduce someone before. It turns out she had this in mind! How shameless!]