Yi Zhici's anger flared up instantly. However, she couldn't just rush to claim the credit for the sugarcane juice. Since Lian Qingping had pulled this stunt, she must have already thought of countermeasures. If Yi Zhici forced an explanation about the sugarcane juice, it might even worsen Lin Qiong's impression of her.
"Father asked me to send a teapot to the general," Yi Zhici managed to squeeze out a somewhat sweet smile and handed over the teapot that Zhao Fu had told her about earlier. "This is it. A purple clay teapot. Father specifically told me to bring it."
Lin Qiong was a bit surprised. "The marquis is sending such a precious gift. I really can't accept it. Princess, please take it back."
Just as they were in the middle of the polite refusal, Lin Yuan came out from the inner tent. "Father, I'm going out for a while..."
Looking up and seeing Yi Zhici sitting beside Lin Qiong, he froze.
Lian Qingping smiled enchantingly. "Young General Lin."
Lin Yuan nodded briefly as a formality and then averted his eyes, not looking at Lian Qingping again. "Why is the princess here?"
Yi Zhici stood up politely. "I hope the young general is well." Although their feelings for each other had been laid bare, they still had to maintain proper etiquette in front of outsiders.
Yi Zhici placed the teapot on the table. She had brought it in the name of the Marquis of Jing. If she took it back just because Lin Qiong refused a little, it would make her father seem stingy and damage his reputation. Purple clay teapots weren't that hard to find. She could just find another one for her father later.
"I've delivered the gift. I'll take my leave now."
Lin Qiong still wanted her to take it back, but Yi Zhici had already stood up. Lian Qingping's smile froze at the corner of her mouth, and there was a cold glint in her eyes.
Lin Yuan said, "I'll see the princess off."
This escort led them all the way to Yi Zhici's tent. Then, with a bit more effort, Lin Yuan pulled Yi Zhici into the small forest outside the tent.
Yi Zhici angrily shook off Lin Yuan's hand and leaned against a tree, sulking on her own.
Lin Yuan said softly, "What's wrong? Tell me."
Yi Zhici pouted. Her eyes were always bright and watery, and with a bit of a tear stain, she looked even more pitiful. "That sugarcane juice was made by me, not Lian Qingping. She stole the credit. And he's your father. I couldn't just take the credit back. If I did it wrong, it would backfire."
"Is it the one on the table?"
Yi Zhici nodded. "How could she do that? Didn't I just play a trick on her once? But I did it because she played a trick on me first. How can this person be so unreasonable? She even wrongly accused me of stealing her bracelet before. That was clearly the one you gave me." The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. "I should have known better than to send it. Then there wouldn't have been all these troubles. It's all your fault!"
Lin Yuan gently pulled Yi Zhici over and into his arms. "It's all my fault. I'm in the wrong. Don't be angry. You'll only hurt yourself if you get angry. Stop being angry, okay?"
Yi Zhici hugged Lin Yuan aggrievedly. Suddenly, she remembered that the sugarcane juice was probably made from the sugarcane that Lin Yuan had sent. And then she recalled the vow she had made last night before going to sleep, to be nicer to Lin Yuan.
In an instant, it was as if a torrential rain had fallen in her heart, washing away all those petty negative emotions. Her heart was as clear as the blue sea and sky of the Bihai Mountain Villa.
Yi Zhici hugged Lin Yuan and said coquettishly, "You're so good - looking. I can't bear to be angry with you."
Lin Yuan's breath hitched. He slowly leaned closer to Yi Zhici's lips. There was a hint of lust in his earnestness as he asked carefully, "Princess, this humble general wants to... May I?"
This was the first time Lin Yuan had made a request to her, other than asking her to take good care of herself. Looking at the beautiful face so close, his earnest and devout appearance was extremely charming. Yi Zhici was already so infatuated that she would have wanted to offer the whole world to him.
She didn't care about anything else. "Yes, of course you can."
Then Lin Yuan kissed her.
There was a paulownia tree beside them. The white petals on the tree were fluttering in the wind. The tall crown of the tree perfectly shielded the two people tightly embracing each other. It was as beautiful as a painting.
When they separated, they were both reluctant to part. Yi Zhici felt like a firework had exploded in her heart, and her mind was in a complete mess. Her dazed look was extremely cute. Lin Yuan couldn't help himself and kissed her again.
Yi Zhici mumbled, "Won't your secret guard see us?"
Lin Yuan's voice was deep and hoarse. "He has the sense not to."
Yi Zhici leaned in Lin Yuan's arms. "I feel like General Lin doesn't like me very much. What should I do?"
"Actually, the daughter - in - law he has in mind is Princess Qingping," to prevent Yi Zhici from getting angry and running away, Lin Yuan first held her tightly in his arms and whispered in her ear, "Before in the Southern Border, because he knew her, Father always thought I should marry someone like her. So..."
But unexpectedly, Yi Zhici didn't even think about running away. She just leaned quietly in his arms. "But you don't like someone like that, right? Then I think there's still a chance. After all, I'm marrying you, not General Lin."
Lin Yuan couldn't help but smile. "Yes, this humble general doesn't like someone like that."
Yi Zhici came up with a new idea. "Is it because of my father's status? General Lin is probably too afraid of getting involved in court strife, but my father has a high position and great power..." The more she talked, the more she thought she was right. She couldn't help but admire herself. "But Lian Qingping is a princess from another country and is out of favor, without any real power. So she won't be suspected by the emperor. Alas, for the first time, I think being favored is not a good thing."
"Being doted on by the marquis and living a life of luxury is a good thing," Lin Yuan ruffled Yi Zhici's hair. "Don't think so much. It's not an obstacle. This humble general will soon be able to convince Father."
Looking at Lin Yuan's earnest face, Yi Zhici found it both funny and heart - warming. "There's no rush. After all, we just confessed our feelings to each other yesterday... Ah, today is our second day. It's already the second day. Time flies so fast."
Looking at the flowers on top of the paulownia tree, she didn't know what she was thinking and started giggling.
There was a smile in Lin Yuan's eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about our second year, twentieth year, and two - hundredth year!" The dimples on Yi Zhici's cheeks were faintly visible. "It's really beautiful just to think about it."
"Where would we get two hundred years?"
"Then in the next life."
"The princess is really greedy."
"Yes, I'm extremely greedy. I not only want the next life, but also the life after that, and the life after that..."
"Then shall we consider it a deal?"
"Let's pinky - swear."