Could he tell just by the sound that it was her?
But thinking about it, who else in this residence could invite him so mysteriously, other than her?
Yuwen Ming remained silent.
Ma Wenbin took a deep breath, suppressing the ripples and excitement in his heart, and asked softly, "Are you still there?"
Yuwen Ming stayed silent.
Not knowing how to answer.
In fact, she hadn’t figured out how to persuade Ma Wenbin.
"Are you still there?" Ma Wenbin tentatively asked again.
"I’m here!" Yuwen Ming replied softly.
Ma Wenbin exhaled a breath.
As long as she was still there, it was good.
"Is there anything you need me to do? My elder brother..."
"I don’t want to talk about him!" Yuwen Ming interrupted Ma Wenbin’s words and gently opened the door.
The two were separated by a threshold.
The room was somewhat dark, with lanterns hanging under the eaves swaying gently in the February night breeze.
Yuwen Ming couldn’t see Ma Wenbin clearly.
Only a blurry outline, he appeared very tall and slender, yet blocked the cold wind blowing in.
Ma Wenbin practiced martial arts and had excellent vision.
So he could see Yuwen Ming clearly, just as when they first met, still elegant and pure, unmatched in grace.
He could even smell her scent, so pleasant and refreshing.
But her face now looked more haggard, with an expression quite different from the day he saw her at the Princess Residence, now more resolute and courageous.
They both spoke at the same time, feeling somewhat awkward and nervous.
Yuwen Ming took a deep breath and stepped aside, "Come in, I have something to discuss with you!"
Ma Wenbin wanted to say that they could talk just .
But, as if driven by some force, his brain didn’t listen as his feet stepped into the room.
A waft of fragrant aroma, intensely pleasant.
Just like Yuwen Ming’s scent, intoxicatingly fragrant.
Once inside, Yuwen Ming gestured to Ma Wenbin, "Sit down!"
Yuwen Ming didn’t insist, hesitating for a moment before speaking, "Let me ask you, does your elder brother have a woman he loves? Who is she?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Wenbin swallowed.
"My elder brother..."
"Don’t lie to me. Since I’ve let my seventh brother invite you here, it means I already know. I just want to see if you’ll tell me or not!" Yuwen Ming spoke softly.
She didn’t like Ma Wendan at all.
Now he had a woman he loved, and they had eloped once.
The Ma Family had committed fraud in marriage.
However, she couldn’t break off the engagement and return, the Princess Residence couldn’t afford to lose that face.
So she’d rather fulfill Ma Wendan and marry Ma Wenbin in front of her.
Like her, he was also a child born out of wedlock.
"I..." Ma Wenbin swallowed, and then said, "My elder brother does indeed have a girl he loves. She is our mother’s niece from the Chen Family, named Qingya, fifteen years old, and she often stays at our residence, so..."
"They eloped but were caught and brought back, right?"
Yuwen Ming took a deep breath, "Where are they now?"
"My elder brother is confined at home, and Chen Qingya has been sent back to the Chen Family!" Ma Wenbin said, carefully observing Yuwen Ming’s expression.
Wanting to say something, but afraid it would be inappropriate.
Yuwen Ming took a deep breath before continuing to ask, "Ma Matriarch is not sick at all, right?"
Ma Wenbin didn’t say much, just nodded.
The Ma Matriarch was healthy and well-maintained, hardly ever falling ill.