Cheng Yujin did not think that Xu Zhixian would actually shout it out. She was a little startled.
Cheng Yujin had always felt that Xu Zhixian was just a child. Whether he liked or not, he always showed it on his face. He only did things according to his own preferences. Of course, this kind of person was not the type that Cheng Yujin liked. But in the face of marriage, what did liking count for? She only wanted money and status.
So at the very beginning, Cheng Yujin had indeed considered Xu Zhixian. He was gentle and affectionate, frank and natural. He knew how to be submissive. Cheng Yujin could easily accommodate him. If Cheng Yujin really married Xu Zhixian, she was completely confident that in the future, she would be able to manage Xu Zhixian obediently. Her future married life would also be very comfortable.
But this kind of comfort was exchanged for by sacrificing her future prospects. Cheng Yujin had always felt that Xu Zhixian liked Cheng Yumo more. The servant girls that played well with him were also the cute and lovable type. But Cheng Yujin was not that type.
As long as she stood there, she would have the aura of an elder sister. She would not fit in with her cousins of the same age. So Cheng Yujin had never thought that Xu Zhixian would like her.
From a man's point of view, he liked a woman.
Now that she heard Xu Zhixian's words, she was stunned. Then she smiled softly. Cheng Yujin still did not believe Xu Zhixian's words. But he was willing to go to this step. Cheng Yujin was already very satisfied.
The green leaves on both sides rustled. A cool breeze passed through the hall. It was as if the sun was also being blown by the wind. Cheng Yujin was wearing a plain white dress. First, she looked at him with slightly widened eyes. Then she could not help but smile.
Xu Zhixian could not help but be a little lost in thought. In the past, Cheng Yujin often smiled. But her smile was perfect and appropriate. The curve was not wrong at all. Looking at it, there was always a sense of distance. But this time, it was like the sun after the rain, the flowers blooming in spring. She truly smiled from the bottom of her heart.
It turned out that she looked so good when she smiled.
Cheng Yujin had a faint smile on her face as she said, "Second Cousin, I'm very touched that you're willing to tell me these things. However, marriage was different from other things. If you didn't like a piece of decoration, a cat, or a dog, you could tolerate it. However, marriage was different. I know that you've heard that my engagement was broken off and that my second younger sister is going to marry Marquis Jingyong soon. Aunt is worried that I won't be able to get married again, so you pity me and want to sacrifice your own marriage to marry me. "
"I appreciate your kindness, but there's no need for that. You don't owe me anything, and neither does Auntie. There's no need to wrong yourself for me. After marriage, we'll have to spend most of our lives together. I know that you don't like women with temperaments like me. Cats and dogs don't like it. Just tolerate it and it'll be over. However, how can you tolerate someone who's been with you for forty to fifty years? " Cheng Yujin stopped smiling as she spoke. She bowed to Xu Zhixian from afar and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need it. These words affect the reputation of the Cheng and Xu Manors. I hope that Second Cousin won't say them again. "
After Cheng Yujin finished speaking, she walked forward. The light intertwined and the green light reflected on her body. Soon, she was out of sight. Xu Zhixian stood alone at the back. He stared blankly in the direction that Cheng Yujin had left in. He did not move for a long time.
Actually, this wasn't the direction that Cheng Yujin wanted to go. However, Xu Zhixian was behind her. In order to avoid him, Cheng Yujin could only walk in the direction in front of her. She planned to first walk around the outer courtyard and then take another path back to the inner courtyard.
After Cheng Yujin walked down from the rattan corridor, she suddenly saw a person standing in front of the moon gate. Her expression froze for a moment. She couldn't believe it. "Editor Lin? Why are you here? "
Lin Qingyuan was also very embarrassed. He was on good terms with Cheng Yuanjing. When Marquis Cheng passed away, he naturally had to pay his respects. Just now, he was standing here waiting for Cheng Yuanjing. He didn't expect to hear such a play between cousins.
The Cheng Family's situation seemed to be a bit more complicated than he had imagined. Lin Qingyuan had always remembered the eldest daughter of the Cheng Family. However, he didn't expect that such a smart, beautiful, and multi-talented woman would actually be troubled by marriage. Lin Qingyuan felt that it was inconceivable and even more embarrassed. He hurriedly explained, "Eldest Miss, I'm really sorry to hear this. But I didn't mean to. I've been standing here since early morning waiting … "
"I know." Cheng Yujin smiled and interrupted. "Of course I believe in the character of Zhuangyuan Lin. I don't mind."
Of course she didn't mind. Why would she mind? She couldn't wait to be heard by Lin Qingyuan. Then, she could gain a good impression and sympathy.
"That's good." Lin Qingyuan smiled. He was considerate and didn't ask about a girl's private matters. He didn't see anyone just now, but from the sound and conversation, he could roughly guess the origin of the situation. It was nothing more than Miss Cheng's engagement being broken off. They couldn't find a suitable candidate for the time being, so the marriage was delayed. However, there were many children in a large family. When Cheng Yujin slowed down, her younger siblings were blocked. From what he heard just now, Miss Cheng's younger sister was about to get married. The other party's mother was dissatisfied with Cheng Yujin blocking the way. The family was anxious. The eldest daughter's aunt wanted her son to marry Cheng Yujin.
Lin Qingyuan didn't know what happened before this, but he could imagine that when the adults made the decision, they didn't inform the younger generation. This led to a misunderstanding. As a man, Lin Qingyuan could completely tell that the young master was sincere when he said that he wanted to marry Cheng Yujin. However, Cheng Yujin didn't believe him and even reprimanded him.
The Prince Xiang was interested, but the goddess was heartless. The goddess didn't believe the other party's intentions. This was too tragic. Lin Qingyuan couldn't help but sympathize with Cheng Yujin's cousin. Although he had never met him before, Lin Qingyuan could imagine how depressed his cousin must have felt when he was rejected by a girl like Cheng Yujin.
Lin Qingyuan accidentally encountered this kind of situation. According to reason, one shouldn't see or hear indecent things. He shouldn't mention it again. However, Lin Qingyuan was really curious. After pausing for a few breaths, he couldn't help but ask: "Miss Cheng, I have a question. I don't know if it's appropriate to ask?"
Cheng Yujin maintained her smile as she looked at Lin Qingyuan. She had already calmly sized up Lin Qingyuan several times. The more she looked, the more satisfied she was. From his family background, to his person, and then to his potential.
Cheng Yujin thought that she was worried about how to meet Lin Qingyuan. In the end, she just happened to see him here. Cheng Yujin couldn't wait to talk more with Lin Qingyuan. How could she not ask? Cheng Yujin smiled and said: "Editor Lin is too polite. You are the top scholar. Your talent and character are first class. What you say must be reasonable. If Editor has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. "
After Cheng Yujin finished speaking, she pretended to unintentionally say: "You are close to my Ninth Uncle and have helped me many times. It's too unfamiliar to always call you Editor Lin. I wonder if the top scholar has a name? "
"Oh, of course." Lin Qingyuan said, "My name is Qingyuan. When I was twenty, my elders gave me the name Zhizhi. Eldest Miss can just call me by my name. "
"How can that be." Cheng Yujin smiled and said, "I'm many years younger than you and I don't have a rank. How can I call the top scholar by his name? How about I call you Older Brother Zhizhi? "
"Sure." Lin Qingyuan didn't care about trifles and didn't care about these things. After Cheng Yujin heard this, she pursed her lips and smiled gently. The curve of her lips deepened.
To change a man's attitude, one had to start by getting closer to him. First, it was Older Brother Zhizhi. Then, it was Older Brother Qingyuan. After a little more, she could directly call him Qingyuan.
Cheng Yujin was very satisfied with this progress.
After changing the way they addressed each other, it was indeed different. Lin Qingyuan originally only thought that Cheng Yujin called him Editor Lin generously as if she was entertaining a guest. But now that it was Older Brother Zhizhi, it immediately became a lot more intimate. Lin Qingyuan also unconsciously relaxed and asked: "Eldest Miss, I'll ask a rude question. You are young and beautiful. You know how to play the zither, go, calligraphy, and painting. You know how to cook and needlework. You also have exquisite double-sided embroidery. Why are you troubled by marriage? And … "
She even made her family anxious, to the point that they wanted her cousin from her aunt's family to marry her in order to save face. How did Cheng Yujin fall to such a state?
Cheng Yujin lowered her eyes when she heard this. Lin Qingyuan saw this and hurriedly said: "I was just asking casually. I was rude. Eldest Miss, you don't have to answer."
Cheng Yujin raised her head and glanced at Lin Qingyuan. She lowered her head and sighed silently. She didn't want to say it, but she couldn't help but reveal it for Lin Qingyuan's sake. "Originally, I shouldn't tell anyone about this, but other than Older Brother Zhizhi, I don't know who else to ask for advice. Older Brother Zhizhi should already know that my engagement was broken off. It turns out that Marquis Huo likes my sister. Second Sister and I are twins. He mistook her for someone else, so he proposed marriage to me. Later, Marquis Huo realized that something was wrong, so he broke off the engagement with me and got engaged to my second sister. They finally got married. As their sister, I should give them my blessings, but … I can't do it. "
Lin Qingyuan could roughly guess what happened after that. He sighed: "Miss Cheng …"
"Marquis Huo's wish has been fulfilled, which is worthy of celebration. But this world is so unfair to women. Their happy occasion has become my disaster. My reputation was damaged after my engagement was broken off. Many people were unwilling to propose marriage to me because they were worried that I was once engaged to the Huo family. Occasionally, matchmakers would come, but they were all jealous of the Marquis Household and my dowry. Seeing that Second Sister is about to get married, if I still don't propose marriage, I'll end up in the Marquis Household. I'd love to stay in the Cheng Family for the rest of my life and be filial to my parents. However, if I do that, the Marquis of Yichun's reputation will be ruined because of me. I don't care about myself, but I can't implicate my parents and elders and cause them to be gossiped about. "
Lin Qingyuan was extremely touched. He didn't expect that Cheng Yujin would face such a difficult situation. He originally thought that a woman like Cheng Yujin would be pursued by many men and wouldn't have to worry about marriage.
Lin Qingyuan thought about how Cheng Yujin was about the same age as his sister. If his sister were to suffer such a thing, how angry would he be? Lin Qingyuan couldn't help but feel pity for Cheng Yujin: "Miss Cheng, don't worry. You're smart, beautiful, and capable. Your future home won't be bad."
These words were true. As a man, Lin Qingyuan knew how realistic men were. Just based on Cheng Yujin's appearance, no one would be willing to let go of her. At the same time, she was smart, capable, and multi-talented. Such a perfect wife, no man wouldn't be tempted.
Cheng Yujin knew that enough was enough. She had achieved her goal, so she didn't continue to act pitiful. As long as Lin Qingyuan knew about her miserable situation, she could emphasize it from time to time in the future. Sooner or later, Lin Qingyuan would be moved by her. It wouldn't be good to be too eager. As for whether Lin Qingyuan married her out of love or pity, was it important?
It wasn't important at all.
Cheng Yujin smiled and pretended to be strong: "Brother Zhizhi and I don't have to talk about this. Let's talk about something happy. Brother Zhiyuan, where are you going? "
Lin Qingyuan then remembered the purpose of his visit. He said, "I'm going to find Jing Xing's courtyard. I left two books with him."
Cheng Yujin said, "So you're here to find Ninth Uncle. Ninth Uncle's courtyard isn't easy to find. I'll take Brother Zhizhi there. "
Lin Qingyuan, of course, followed the host's wishes. He reached out and gestured for Cheng Yujin to go first. "Thank you for your trouble, Miss."
Cheng Yujin smiled gently. She was thinking about how she would quietly take Lin Qingyuan in a big circle. She couldn't let go of such a rare opportunity to be alone.
Cheng Yujin planned the route. She and Lin Qingyuan walked side by side through the garden, chatting as they walked. Lin Qingyuan walked down the corridor and said to Cheng Yujin sideways, "Thank you for leading the way, Miss. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know where to go."
Cheng Yujin was about to say some hypocritical polite words when she suddenly met someone as soon as she turned the corner. The other party stood there calmly and unhurriedly. "If you don't know how to get to my courtyard, why didn't you ask me?"
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