As for Cui Xijun, she ran to Minglan Garden full of anger. She was planning to report Xie Miao to Cui Muli, but suddenly she remembered that he was out for business and would not be back for half a month.
She stamped her feet, turned around and left Cui Mansion. She wanted to go to Su Mansion to complain to Su Panyan.
Alas, among the sisters in the Cui Mansion, Xirong and Xitong are too young, and Xining was deceived by Xie Miao into confusion. Only Panyan is sane and can best understand her suffering.
The Xie family simply have bad intentions!
She sat in the carriage angrily. The maid, Minju, peeled a yellow loquat and handed it to her mouth. She waved it away with an irritated hand.
"Not eating, I'm not in the mood."
The loquat rolled to the corner. Minju quietly picked it up and put it in the handkerchief. She looked at her with a lowered eyebrow.
Actually...actually she felt that the Second Young Lady was right. Miss Cousin used to be really pretentious, always getting in front of the Second Young Master. It was very annoying, not knowing one's abilities. But in the past six months, she has hardly been out of her courtyard and has been living in Qingxin Temple for a long time. There is no need for the Young Lady to target her in particular. After all, the Second Madam is about to give birth to a legitimate son or daughter. The Young Lady's future situation is uncertain.
She thinks so, but she dare not say it.
Minju put on a smile, and knelt down next to the small table. She poured tea while saying: "Miss, I heard that Yuzhou is rich in chalcedony. When the Young Master comes back this time, he will bring you a lot of chalcedony jewelry, right?"
"That's natural." When Cui Muli was mentioned, Cui Xijun's complexion became better. Just as she was about to speak, a strange, high-pitched screech suddenly sounded outside the carriage.
"Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave! Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave!"
Third Young Master Zhou?
Cui Xijun hurriedly lifted the curtain and looked at the noisy carriage. Brocade tassels covered curtains, carved Yunfeng carriage walls, and two horses driving side by side. It was exactly the carriage Zhou Niannan uses for his daily travels.
There was joy in her eyes. She smoothed her hair, and straightened her clothes, and called out tentatively: "Is this Third Young Master Zhou?"
The other end was silent for a moment, and a strange voice shouted louder and louder: "Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave! Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is powerful and brave!"
"Shut up!" A low voice reprimanded from inside the carriage. After a while, Zhou Niannan opened the carriage curtain, revealing half of his handsome face, "...it's Third Miss Cui."
The two of them were sitting in their carriages, half a foot apart, talking casually.
Cui Xijun asked: "Are you looking for Second Brother?"
Zhou Niannan coughed lightly and said unnaturally: "Yes, yes..."
Cui Xijun didn't notice anything unusual about him. She tilted her head and blinked slyly, "It's not a good time for you to come. My Second Brother left for Yuzhou yesterday and won't come back until half a month."
Zhou Niannan nodded pretendingly, "In that case, I will come back another day."
"Third Young Master Zhou." Cui Xijun stopped him. She put her hands on the window edge, and asked curiously: "What was calling you just now?"
Zhou Niannan said: "Oh, it's a colourful feathered parrot."
"Colourful feather parrot?" Cui Xijun became interested. She leaned half of her body out of the carriage and said with burning eyes: "I heard that it is delicate, beautiful, and smart. Can you let me see it?"
Of course not, this is for Xie Miao.
Zhou Niannan said with a troubled look on his face: "My parrot has just arrived in the capital. It is not accustomed to the climate and the soil. It is vomiting and having diarrhoea. It is very weak..."
Really? Listening to its loud cry just now, it doesn't sound like it's sick.
Cui Xijun lowered her eyes, and touched her earlobe. She said regretfully: "This..., ah, then I'll have to see it next time."
Zhou Niannan did not follow along with her words and reminded her, "Third Miss Cui is going out?"
Cui Xijun said: "Well, I plan to go to Su Mansion——"
"Then I won't disturb you anymore and take my leave."
The carriage thumped away, and at the same time three days later, it stopped at the same place.
Zhou Niannan was waiting here.
Five or six days have passed since that day when he parted ways with Xie Miao on bad terms.
If he was ignorant and unclear about his thoughts before, then after that drunken dream, some kind of unconscious emotion was stripped of its disguise and appeared exposed in front of him.
He longed for Xie Miao.
Longing for her eyes to fall only on him. Longing for her attention when she was happy or angry. Longing for the seductive fragrance exuding from her soft body.
He is the youngest son in the family, loved by his parents and cherished by his brother and sister. He was born into a noble family and has been able to do whatever he wanted since he was a child. What he wanted had always been easy, and he thought she would be no exception.
His family background is even better than that of Cui Er, not to mention the poor scholar. Anyone with a discerning eye knows who to choose between them.
Even if she chose him for power...
Zhou Niannan suppressed the discomfort in his heart and pretended to smile relaxedly: It's okay, he doesn't mind. As long as she makes him happy, he doesn't mind her family background. He will make it clear to his mother about his proposal to marry.
Yes, he wants to marry her.
The men of the Zhou family are not lecherous, his father and elder brother are like this. He, Zhou Niannan, even grew up to the age of nineteen and has never been close to a woman. The Empress aunt wanted to marry a noble daughter for him, but he was tired of marriages between aristocratic families. Instead of asking for a female ancestor who needed to be served, it would be better to marry a girl from a small family and save a lot of intrigue.
After all, he doesn't want the person next to him to share the same bed but have different dreams.
Third Young Master Zhou was thinking about his wishful thinking all by himself. He thought he had planned everything well, but he missed one thing.
A person's sincerity.
*
After waiting for seven or eight days, Zhou Niannan finally waited until Xie Miao went out.
At that time, Xie Miao was planning to go to Jushang Pavilion to make some summer robes. She had just come out of the side door and was about to get on the carriage when she suddenly heard a familiar deep male voice coming from the side.
"Xie Miao!"
Xie Miao's eyes condensed and she got on the carriage without raising her head.
Fu Lu and Lan Xia looked at each other, and followed into the carriage silently. They said to Wang Da: "Brother Wang, let's go."
Wang Da shook the reins and looked up at the handsome young master who jumped into the middle of the road and blocked their way. "Young Master, please step aside. We need to hurry out."
Zhou Niannan's figure remained motionless, "I have something to say to your Young Lady."
Wang Da stared at his face for a long time and scratched his head, "Hey, Young Master, you look familiar."
...
Zhou Niannan twitched the corner of his mouth, this scene really seemed familiar.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat and said, "Xie Miao, come down. I have something to say to you."
There was no movement in the carriage. Wang Da felt enlightened. He said seriously: "Young Master, my Young Lady doesn't want to talk to you. Please go away."
Zhou Niannan repeated his old trick, running directly to the carriage window. He lifted the curtain and tried to get in. Unexpectedly, as soon as his hand touched the carriage curtain, a bamboo strip came out from inside and whipped the back of his hand fiercely.
Zhou Niannan received a blow and retracted his hand in pain. Just as he was about to bellow out his grievances, he saw the carriage driven out of the alley in a hurry.
Zhou Niannan rubbed his hands. After a moment of anger, he geared up, eager to take action.
He is a person who perseveres after setting a goal. In his eyes, Xie Miao's little temper is a bluffing paper tiger. As long as he promises real prosperity and wealth, her anger can be easily resolved.
Xie Miao, Xie Miao, just wait. There will come a day when I will make you bow your head and obey me!
*
Xie Miao went to Ju Shang Pavilion and randomly selected some pieces of cloth. As soon as she measured the size and came out, she bumped into Zhou Niannan who opened the curtain and entered the door.
He was holding a birdcage in his hand, as if he had nothing to do, and greeted her cheerfully, "Xie Miao."
Xie Miao lowered her eyes, not even bothering to pretend to be polite. She walked around him and walked out.
Zhou Niannan stretched out his hand to hold her, but she gave him a cold look. He then retracted his hand, but did not move, still blocking her way.
Xie Miao went to the left, so he went to the left. Xie Miao went to the right, and he went to the right. Xie Miao took a step back, and then he took a step forward.
Xie Miao was angry, very angry.
Since her rebirth, she has fasted, chanted the Buddha's name, and cultivated her moral character. She left the love and hatred of her previous life in the past, and tried hard not to let resentment affect her.
However, Zhou Niannan always challenges her bottom line!
"Zhou, Nian, Nan." She shouted word by word, her brows full of anger, "What is wrong with you that you have to go against me?"
Zhou Niannan said: "I won't quarrel with you today. I have something to say. I want to talk to you."
Xie Miao snorted coldly and turned her head, "I have nothing to say to you."
"Just because it won't happen now, doesn't mean it won't happen later." He said meaningfully with a smile on his lips.
Xie Miao suddenly felt tight in the chest and short of breath. This guy couldn't understand human language!
She was too lazy to talk nonsense and turned around to leave. Unexpectedly, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side.
The onlookers' eyes widened immediately. Originally, it was a pleasure to watch the handsome man and beautiful woman. It warmed the heart and was pleasing to the eyes. Now that the young master is engaging in robbery, are they going to pretend not to see it, or are they going to act like they did not see it?
Fu Lu and Lan Xia rushed forward immediately. As soon as they took a step forward, they were blocked by two tall guards. The sword was so bright that the sharp silver light almost blinded them.
Fu Lu and Lan Xia hugged each other in fear.
Speaking of which, the two guards had met Fu Lu and Lan Xia several times and were considered half-acquaintances. Seeing their panic, they softened their hearts and whispered in a low voice: "Don't be anxious, the Young Master is just saying a few words to Miss Xie."
Lan Xia stamped her feet anxiously, "What if Young Master Zhou bullies my Young Lady?"
Guard Zuo Qing snorted and asked, "Has your Young Lady ever suffered a loss at the hands of my Young Master?"
Guard Zuo Lan sighed, "There hasn't been a time when my family's Young Master was not beaten."
Fu Lu, Lan Xia: ...That's true.
*
Zhou Niannan pulled her into the side room. Seeing that she was still resisting mercilessly, he simply grabbed her wrists and held them in his arms. He raised the birdcage in his hand and said, "Look, what interesting thing did I bring for you?"
Xie Miao struggled to raise her head and met a pair of black eyes as big as mung beans. After briefly looking at each other, the other party burst out with an earth-shattering cry.
"Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave! Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world! Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave!"
Xie Miao was stunned, "What, what is this?"
"Colourful feather parrot." Zhou Niannan introduced enthusiastically: "It was transported from southern Xinjiang to the capital. This is a treasure."
Xie Miao took advantage of him not paying attention. She squatted down and escaped from his arms, choosing a far away position to stand, "It's just a bird."
Zhou Niannan didn't agree, "It is beautiful, cute, and smart. The most important thing is that it can learn human language."
"So what if it can learn human language?" Xie Miao sneered: "What it learned is not a good thing."
Third Young Master Zhou is unparalleled in the world, Third Young Master Zhou is mighty and brave... learn some nonsense!
Zhou Niannan choked at what she said. He rubbed his fingertips, raised his arm and gave it to her, "Well, then you take it back, and you can say whatever you want it to say from now on."
Xie Miao frowned, "I bring it back?"
Zhou Niannan took a few steps closer to her and said, "This is your thank you gift for saving my life last time."
Xie Miao refused without thinking, "I don't need it."
Zhou Niannan smiled lazily, but did not give in at all, "What you say doesn't count."
... Doesn't it matter what she said about her affairs? What the hell is that? !
Xie Miao was forced into a corner by him, with her back against the wall. Her voice tightened unconsciously, "Zhou Niannan, have you forgotten what I said last time?"
He put one hand on the wall, leaned down slightly, and stared at her, "What are you talking about?"
She was almost trapped in his shadow, and the unfamiliar crisp fragrance came with invisible oppression. If she moved even slightly, their foreheads would touch.
Xie Miao was a little confused.
She didn't understand how the two of them could come so close and unexpectedly, and she subconsciously felt flustered. She tried to look back fearlessly, but in the end she was defeated in panic, and looked away in embarrassment. She could only say something fierce, "You stay away from me!"
She stretched out her hands to push him, however he didn't move at all, but held her hand tightly.
The fingertips are slender and white, neatly trimmed.
He lowered his head and looked at her face carefully. From eyebrows to eyes, from pink cheeks to seductive red lips.
Wherever you look, beauty is everywhere, bright and fresh.
He couldn't help but recall the sweet dream, his Adam's apple bobbing lightly. His eyes suddenly darkened, with an undercurrent surging.
"Xie Miao..."
His tone was low, as if he was suppressing some deep and strong emotion, and he also had the usual arrogance of a superior person.
"I want to marry you."
Xie Miao was stunned and lost her voice, completely dumbfounded.