Seeing her low spirits, Yan Qinghe felt inexplicably irritated.
What better way to cure worries than eating?
He handed the menu to Song You'an: "Order whatever you like, don't hold back."
Qi Huan chuckled: "You sound like you're treating us."
If Yan Qinghe paid for this meal, her cousin could treat next time.
Back and forth, their relationship could blossom over shared meals...
As she finished speaking, Yan Qinghe scratched his head: "To be honest, before we left, Shu gave me 500 taels of silver. He said to order more dishes, so I wouldn't eat everything and leave you with nothing..."
"This meal is actually Shu's treat."
Qi Huan was stunned: "Has he been eating properly lately?"
"Yes!"
When you take from someone, you owe them a favor.
Yan Qinghe didn't hesitate to speak well of Li Shuchen: "Shu said that when he was in Yunzhou City, he promised you he would eat well and keep regular hours. When conditions allowed, he never broke that promise."
The key was that lately, conditions hadn't really allowed...
Shu often stayed up until midnight.
Thinking of this, Yan Qinghe guiltily rubbed his nose: "Let's eat, let's eat!"
The meal lasted from noon until a quarter past one.
After eating, Qi Huan excused herself to use the restroom, creating an opportunity for her cousin.
Yan Qinghe knew the situation well, so she felt at ease.
Besides, she was just in the next private room. If anything unexpected happened, she could quickly bring Yan Qing and Tao Su.
After she left, Song You'an timidly raised her eyes, her palms damp with nervous sweat.
She wanted to be brave for once.
With trembling hands, she picked up her teacup and took a small sip to calm her nerves and moisten her throat.
Her head was bowed low, hiding half her face. Yan Qinghe took the chance to secretly glance at her.
The young woman had jet-black hair and snow-white skin, with pure and innocent eyes, like a soft, tender little white rabbit.
He couldn't help but recall the scene from his dream...
Yan Qinghe's eyes flashed with annoyance. It was all Yan Wu's fault!
He must have accidentally seen Yan Wu's treasured picture book, which led to his daydreams becoming night dreams.
He felt truly sorry about this.
In this situation, should he take responsibility for the little rabbit?
Just as he was pondering who to ask to help propose marriage, Song You'an gently put down her teacup.
"Young Master Yan, my family is arranging a marriage for me..."
As she spoke, her face reddened, and her voice became as faint as a mosquito's hum: "...but I don't like the other party. Should I refuse?"
After speaking, Song You'an raised her watery eyes and stared at him unblinkingly.
Society says that parents' orders and matchmakers' words are paramount. Her father and brothers can't support her forever, and there are countless arranged marriages in this world.
She wanted to accept her fate, yet also wanted to struggle against it.
But if the person she liked didn't care about her at all, then it seemed it didn't matter who she married.
So, she waited for an answer from Yan Qinghe.
At this moment, Yan Qinghe's mind was buzzing.
The first half of her statement was too shocking, and Song You'an's voice was so soft that he completely missed the crucial second half.
He only heard that she was getting married...
Yan Qinghe didn't know how to handle this situation. If others were arranging her marriage, wouldn't it be unethical for him to intervene? Wouldn't it cause the little rabbit to be criticized? Finally, he forced a stiff smile: "Congratulations."
In an instant, the light in Song You'an's eyes suddenly dimmed.
She had always followed the rules, and this was the most daring thing she had done in all her years. It seemed to have used up all her courage.
She held back her tears and lowered her head even more: "Thank you."
Yan Qinghe felt a heavy pressure in his chest, as if his throat was stuffed with cotton.
"May I ask, who is the other party?"
After all, they had shared a meal together. It would be reasonable for him to secretly investigate the character of her future husband, right?
Yes, he was simply being kind and helpful.
Yan Qinghe gulped down cup after cup of tea like a thirsty ox.
At this time, Song You'an answered softly: "The eldest son of Lord Liu, the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Justice."
"You remember so clearly?"
Yan Qinghe furrowed his brow, thinking: The marriage isn't even settled yet, and she's already so invested...
Song You'an's eyes reddened even more as she stammered: "...I have a good memory."
Seeing her 'shy and evasive' demeanor, Yan Qinghe's forced smile became increasingly difficult to maintain.
"I'll go pay the bill. Please tell Qi Huan that I'm leaving first. We'll meet again next time."
Since both she and Qi Huan were engaged, it wasn't appropriate for him to come and go with them, so he left early.
After returning to the Duke's manor, he immediately asked his spies to find out where Liu Zisheng lived and went to secretly observe him.
Unlike the rest of the Liu family, Liu Zisheng seemed to be a good seed from a bad stalk - handsome, well-educated, and of good character.
If the little rabbit married such a man, she would surely be happy.
Yan Qinghe looked at his reflection in a water barrel. He was handsome too.
Though his studies weren't great, his martial arts were excellent.
He also didn't drink excessively or visit brothels, and would help old women who fell down. His character was probably good too...
Three to three, a tie!
He wasn't inferior to Liu Zisheng.
Why hope that Liu Zisheng had some flaw?
He should compete openly and fairly!
Having cleared his mind, Yan Qinghe raced back to the Duke of An Manor at the fastest speed of his life.
As expected, Shu hadn't gone to rest yet.
In the study, the advisors were still heatedly discussing how to quickly absorb the military power from the Marquis of Xuanping. With the Jin Kingdom eyeing them covetously and conflict rising at the borders, it was the perfect time for Li Country to use military force. They wanted to win over as many as possible and minimize bloodshed.
Yan Qinghe leaned against a large tree in the courtyard, quietly waiting for them to finish their discussion.
The moonlight was like silk, and the night wind whistled, sweeping up the last few withered leaves from the tree and mercilessly blowing them to the ground.
He suddenly remembered what Shu had told him yesterday.
It was time to send the intercepted peace negotiation silver to the border.
At the same time, he would join his father's old subordinates and head to the battlefield.
He looked up at the bare tree branches, unusually pensive.
He didn't know when the war would end, or when he would return.
Or even if he could return at all...
How could a woman's youth withstand such delay? Liu Zisheng could give the little rabbit a more stable happiness.
Yan Qinghe's eyes reddened as he stood straight-backed, disappearing into the night.
*
A few days before departure, he tugged on Li Shuchen's sleeve: "Brother..."
"Speak."
"Brother, can you hold a farewell banquet for me?"
Li Shuchen pressed his temples and gave him a cold glance: "Didn't you drink enough with Yan Wu and the others yesterday?"
"I want to drink with Qi Huan too, and also..."
Before he could finish, he saw Li Shuchen's icy gaze.
Yan Qinghe quickly saved himself: "Qi Huan is sister-in-law! Qi Huan is sister-in-law! Qi Huan is sister-in-law!"
"Mm." Li Shuchen's tone lifted slightly at the end.
"I've known Qi Huan for three years now. Before going to war, I want to have a meal with her and... her cousin to say goodbye. That's not too much, right?"
"...In case I die on the battlefield, this might be the last time we see each other."
This was the first time Li Shuchen had heard Yan Qinghe talk about life and death, as he was usually full of vigor and fearless.
"Tomorrow, at the Swallow's Return Pavilion."
"To bid you farewell."
Yan Qinghe smiled, having gotten what he wanted, and pushed his luck further: "Brother, can I borrow one of your clothes?"
"I like that new purple damask robe with cloud patterns you had made this month. It looks great on you! It would surely look great on me too!"
He wanted to leave the most handsome and dashing image in the little rabbit's mind.
