In my household, there is a lovely girl, fair and delicate.
She walks with a graceful pace, toying with a pale purple and plain patterned pouch, her face innocent, her charming voice delightful like the singing of an oriole.
The Little Traitor tightly grips the soft palm he holds, moving subtly closer whenever passersby approach the young girl, testing the waters with his voice: "So how can I become number one in your heart?"
Ye Zhi was caught off guard by the sudden question and was bewildered.
Reaching out her small hand, she touched her double coiled bun, her eyes rolling about, quickly providing an answer: "If you still want to know the answer when you are twenty, come and ask me then."
It undoubtedly leaves a sense of suspense.
Breaking free from his hand, the little girl in a Shu Brocade skirt embroidered with gardenias skipped away!
Vanishing into the night market.
Shen Chen quickly steps forward, keeping pace with her.
The next day, Lu He, dressed with dignified elegance, arrived once more at the gate of the Ye Mansion.
Her hair styled neatly in a Wangxian bun, wearing a deeply hued Qiankun Society Skirt with shadowy embroidery, Jade Willow Leaf Earrings, clutching a box of rouge bought on her way home yesterday despite the heartache, dotted her lips too, a lively beauty indeed.
Departing in the morning, even Zhao Jun was struck by this proper attire, boldly yearning for Lu He’s embrace...
Only to receive a scornful response from the beauty: "A toad wants to eat swan meat."
As she left, she hummed a little tune, revealing her good mood.
In front of the red gate stood two guards, one on each side, clad in armor, wielding long spears, faces expressionless.
It’s more fitting to call them soldiers than guards.
When the Zhao Mansion was raided, those fierce officers stormed right in, with an aggressive demeanor, looking like bandits when moving things, disregarding even the maids and servants of the household.
Lu He held a shadow in her heart towards soldiers, harboring some fear, she stepped forward cautiously to speak with the guard on the right: "Well brother, I wish to see the Minister’s Wife, may I trouble you to inform her?"
The guard frowned and responded sharply, "Who are you, that you think you can meet the lady just like that?"
Lu He steadied her emotions, softly speaking again: "I am an old acquaintance of your lady."
An old acquaintance! The young girl before him was about the age of coming of age, making one think of the rumors spreading in the Capital City about the Minister’s wife’s illegitimate daughter...
The guard’s tone considerably softened, acknowledging: "Wait here, I will inform the steward."
The red gate opened and closed again, as he went to report solemnly.
Lu He shouted a thank you across the closed door: "Thank you, big brother."
Feeling much relieved, not all soldiers are bad people.
She stood firmly in place, awaiting news!
Shortly, the guard first opened the red gate and stepped out~
Followed by a middle-aged man, clad in a black silk robe with a stern expression.
"Miss, I am Zheng Qi, the steward of the Ye Mansion, I wonder what affairs bring you here seeking my lady?"
Could this be the one at the center of rumors? The alleged illegitimate daughter of his lady?
Zheng Qi’s slightly muddy eyes scrutinized the young girl, looking her over, dismissing it all as utter nonsense, seeing no resemblance to the lady in her.
Should he find out which rascal spread this, surely a harsh "hospitality" awaits them.
(Zheng Qi’s good friend, Manager Yao, sneezed thrice in the Guiyun Pavilion, muttering: this winter turning to spring is easy to catch a cold, better cover with more quilts at night.)
Lu He, with keen perceptiveness, presented a white jade bracelet: "I am Lu He from Feng County, this was given to me by my mother as a token, to seek kin in the future, your esteemed lady might recognize this item."