flstandardbreds Chapter 181 So you're in unrequited love right now?
Chapter 181 So you're in unrequited love right now?
Shen Jinzhu's fingertips paused on Xie Yuntan's name—
The eldest daughter of the Xie family was gentle and composed. Compared to the book-loving niece of the Li family, she valued Xie Yuntan more.
So he immediately wrote an invitation, only saying that he would be going to Yulong Temple to offer incense the next day, and asked Madam Xie to bring her daughter along.
Soon, the Xie family replied to the invitation and gladly accepted.
The next day.
Shen Jinzhu called her son over.
"Come on, let's go with Mother to burn incense, so that she can pray that you will become a top scholar."
“Mother, if praying to gods and Buddhas could make you the top scholar, then temples would be overflowing with scholars long ago. I won’t go; I’ll just stay home and wait for the results. There are five days left until the results are announced.” Yu Ziheng refused.
"Go on, go on, just think of it as keeping your mother and sister company and helping them relax," Shen Jinzhu continued to persuade her son.
But Yu Ziheng still refused.
"Big brother, actually, Mother wants you to go and meet your future sister-in-law." Yu Ningyao, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore and directly told the truth.
"What?" Yu Ziheng's ears turned red with surprise.
"No, no, no, I'd rather not. I'm still young, there's no rush."
"What do you mean 'little'? You're already seventeen." Shen Jinzhu gave him a disgruntled look.
"I didn't say anything at first because I was afraid you'd be nervous and stutter when you saw the girl. That would make her not like you. Now that Yaoyao has brought it up, let's just go and meet her."
"That's right, that's right, big brother, you don't know, you're very popular, many ladies want you to be their son-in-law." Yu Ningyao teased her big brother with a smile.
"So what? I don't want to be their son-in-law. I just want to..." Yu Ziheng muttered, shaking his head.
"What?" Shen Jinzhu didn't hear what he was muttering.
"I just... I don't want to go yet," Yu Ziheng stammered, clearly indicating a problem.
"I'm going back to my room to study now. You guys go ahead."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Seeing him flee in panic, Yu Ningyao suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She grabbed his sleeve and blurted out, "Big brother, you don't have a girl you like, do you?"
"How did you know?" Yu Ziheng turned around abruptly, a blush spreading from his neck to the corners of his eyes, his face full of shock and shyness.
Shen Jinzhu's hand holding the handkerchief trembled, and she suddenly burst out laughing.
She reached out and patted her son's shoulder: "Ziheng has grown up. You have a girl you like but don't tell your mother. Just tell her directly, and I'll ask the official matchmaker to propose marriage for you."
"It's not even close to being settled yet, it would ruin the girl's reputation if we said that." Yu Ziheng bit her lip, her ears turning bright red.
"Tell me, which family's daughter is she?" Shen Jinzhu became increasingly curious.
“She’s my classmate Xie Linchuan’s older sister. I met her by chance when I went to his house to discuss Buddhist scriptures. He always talked about how capable and outstanding his sister was. I, I just…” Yu Ziheng was too shy to continue.
"Xie Linchuan?" Yu Ningyao felt that the name sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
Then, she suddenly realized what was happening.
"Isn't that just..."
Before she could finish speaking, her mother covered her mouth with her hand.
She looked up at her mother and saw her mother wink at her, so she knew that her mother had also remembered.
Xie Linchuan is Xie Yuntan's younger brother.
"So you're in unrequited love now?" Shen Jinzhu asked, suppressing a laugh as she looked at her son.
"I guess so. I don't know what Lin Chuan's sister thinks of me." Yu Ziheng said, sounding a little disappointed.
"I was thinking that once the results were announced and I had officially obtained my academic title, I would inform you and ask the official matchmaker to propose marriage. That might give me a better chance of success."
“If that’s the case, why don’t you come with me to Yulong Temple and ask Buddha to bless Xie Linchuan’s sister so that she also falls for you? Then you two can be in love and create a beautiful story.” Shen Jinzhu said, suppressing a laugh.
"This Buddha of Yulong Temple can not only bless me to pass the imperial examination, but also bless my marriage. Isn't that a bit too much?" Yu Ziheng was somewhat tempted.
Shen Jinzhu's smile deepened the wrinkles around her eyes.
"Buddha is all-powerful, and sincerity is key. Perhaps if you go today, your wish will come true."
“Alright, then I’ll go with you. After all, you’ve already agreed to the matchmaking, and if I don’t go, you’ll lose face. But I need to make things clear to you first,” Yu Ziheng said, feigning seriousness.
"I'm just accompanying you to offer incense today. I don't know anything about whether we're interested in each other or not. You can find a reason to refuse others later, but you mustn't let Miss Xie know."
Yu Ningyao almost burst out laughing when she heard this.
When the eldest brother arrived, he discovered that the person he was looking at was none other than the Xie family girl he admired. He wondered what kind of expression he would make.
He'll definitely regret saying that later.
“Alright, Mother will listen to you. We’ll definitely reject that girl.” Shen Jinzhu and her daughter exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but laugh.
……
The carriage slowly arrived at the foot of the mountain where Yulong Temple is located.
The group got out of the car and walked together into the temple.
Yu Ziheng followed his mother into the temple, and for some reason, his heart suddenly started beating faster.
"Oh, Madam Song, what a wonderful coincidence! You've come to offer incense too?" Shen Jinzhu saw the Xie family and quickly went to greet them, lifting her skirt.
A knowing glint flashed in Yu Ningyao's eyes behind her.
This is a common excuse.
Create chance encounters.
Instead of simply saying, "Let's meet and see."
When Xie Yuntan's mother, Song Mingfang, saw them, she smiled and said, "Yes, my daughter and I have come together to pray to Buddha to bless our elders with good health."
"What a coincidence. The results will be released in a few days, so I brought my blockhead eldest son here to ask the God of Literature to open his eyes and bless him to get a good ranking." Shen Jinzhu pulled her son over.
"Ziheng, hurry up and greet Madam Song and Miss Xie."
Amidst the swirling incense smoke, Yu Ziheng caught sight of a figure in a snow-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) behind Madam Song.
The sash embroidered with orchids was lifted by the draft, catching his dazed gaze.
The person before him was none other than Miss Xie, whom he had been longing for.
Seeing her elder brother stunned, Yu Ningyao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Yu Ziheng's face instantly turned bright red.
"Cough!" Shen Jinzhu pinched his lower back, and he quickly came to his senses and bowed, saying, "This junior greets Madam Song and Miss Xie."
Yu Ningyao also greeted them, "Hello, Madam Song, hello, Sister Xie."
Xie Yuntan smiled and said, "Tan'er greets Madam Shen and Young Master Yu. Hello, Sister Yu."
Song Mingfang glanced at Yu Ziheng and smiled, "Madam Shen is too modest."
"Your son is handsome and accomplished at such a young age; it's no exaggeration to call him a prodigy. If he's a blockhead, then what about my mischievous kids?"
She was very satisfied with this son-in-law, and therefore did not hold back her praise.
"Not at all. Your daughter is truly intelligent and kind-hearted; she makes one happy at first sight."
The two exchanged compliments about each other's children, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
The atmosphere is almost set.
Shen Jinzhu winked at Song Mingfang: "I heard the peach blossoms on the back hill are in full bloom. Why don't we have the children pick a couple to take home?"