"At the wonton shop south of the city, two people were eating wontons!"
Young Master Liu said joyfully, "That's great, that's great! She hasn't left. She hasn't left... Quickly, quickly prepare the carriage and head south of the city."
"Yes."
Young Master Liu's departure was grand. How could it be hidden from his mother, who was concerned about her son? In the study, Master Liu and Madam Liu were discussing their son.
"I don't know which fox spirit has bewitched my son, making him so infatuated that he doesn't even recognize his own mother. He spends all day in his room fussing over those flowers, pulling them while muttering to himself."
Master Liu had just finished reading an account book, "Alright, Madam, relax a bit! It's rare for our son to find someone he likes, so just let him be!"
Madam Liu immediately retorted, "You're speaking as if I'm some old hag..."
Just then, a maidservant reported, "Madam, Master, the young master has gone out."
The two exchanged glances, a little confused, "He hasn't gone out for days, why is he going out today?"
The maidservant seemed hesitant but still replied intermittently, "He said... the young master's personal attendant met that young lady on the street, and the young master... rushed over."
Madam Liu shot up with a bang, startling Master Liu so much that he lost his grip on his brush, and a drop of ink fell onto the account book. Master Liu quickly rushed to clean up the ink, "Oh dear! Madam, why are you so flustered!"
Madam Liu said indignantly, "Your son is about to be eloped with, and you're still so unfazed."
"Oh dear!" Master Liu was cleaning the account book, "Our son is growing up. His feelings are blooming. It's normal to meet someone you like! Madam, why make such a fuss."
Madam Liu was furious, "Are you saying I'm being unreasonable? Fine, you two, father and son, are both right, and it's all my fault."
Master Liu said helplessly, "Madam, you know perfectly well that's not what I meant."
But Madam Liu ignored him, "Someone, prepare the carriage, I want to see that young lady." With that, she slammed the door and left.
"Alas~"
Master Liu couldn't argue with her, so he let her go.
Even though everyone hurried to the wonton shop as quickly as possible, a lot of time had passed. By the time Young Master Liu arrived, the people were already gone.
Young Master Liu was unwilling and hurried to ask the boss. The boss was an old man with failing eyesight. Upon hearing that the young master was looking for a young lady, he chuckled, "Young master, there are plenty of young ladies who come here. I really don't know which one you're talking about. However, most of them head towards Jinming Lake for a boat tour. You can go and have a look, perhaps you'll find the person you're looking for."
Young Master Liu understood and, with his attendant, headed towards Jinming Lake.
When Ye Qingcheng and the other arrived at Jinming Lake, all the boats had been rented out. The two looked around and truly couldn't find a single boat.
Jing Xiu was about to give up, "Miss, look, there are no boats left. Perhaps we should go back!"
Ye Qingcheng nodded. Without a boat, how could they tour the lake? It was better to go back and study medicine.
The two reached a consensus and decided to return home. However, they were delayed on the way back, mainly because Ye Qingcheng's eyes were drawn to the candied hawthorns.
Jing Xiu said helplessly, "Miss, our monthly wages still need to last for a month. We can't spend recklessly!"
Ye Qingcheng disagreed, "How can this be considered reckless spending! Candied hawthorns are so delicious! Look, isn't the vendor selling candied hawthorns pitiful? Shouldn't we give him some assistance?"
Jing Xiu cast a glance at her mistress, "Don't talk nonsense. We are also very pitiful. Why hasn't the King... er, that person, come to assist us? If you want to eat them, just say so. Why put it so grandly!"
Jing Xiu looked at her mistress's pitiful and innocent eyes, silently acting cute and coquettish. Jing Xiu sighed, not knowing how Bi Xi had served the Princess in the past, "Alright! Just one."
Ye Qingcheng nodded her head vigorously like a rattle drum.
There was no other option, so Jing Xiu bought a candied hawthorn for her.
Ye Qingcheng ate the candied hawthorn she had been longing for, her eyes smiling so much they became slits.
Suddenly, a voice came from not far away, "Miss, how have you been!"
The two looked towards the sound. It was the young master from that day.
Jing Xiu looked at him in alarm, instinctively shielding Ye Qingcheng behind her, "Why are you still haunting us!"
Young Master Liu smiled, "Miss, my name is Liu Huai'an, the young master of the Liu family from Qufu Lane. I've come specially to apologize for what happened that day."
Ye Qingcheng pondered for a moment and realized that having been confined to the inner chambers for too long, she truly didn't know this person, "Young Master, we accept your apology. We shall take our leave now."
Liu Huai'an hurriedly chased after her, "Ah~ Miss, you're here to tour the lake, right? I happen to be here to tour the lake as well. Let's go together!" Just then, the attendant whispered a reminder, "Young Master, there are no boats."
The attendant's voice was not loud, but it was audible to everyone present. Liu Huai'an choked, feeling a little awkward. He shot a glance at the attendant, thinking, "One is not afraid of god-like opponents, but rather of pig-like teammates." "Go find a way. This young master wants to tour the lake."
This put the attendant in a difficult position, "This..." Where was he supposed to find boats for him at such short notice? Even if he offered a high price, it wouldn't work. After all, those who could rent boats were no ordinary people, and there were several imperial relatives present.
The attendant wanted to beg for mercy, but seeing the young master's glaring eyes, it was as if he was saying, "Who told you to make me lose face."
Ye Qingcheng continued to maintain her cool, goddess-like demeanor, "Then we shall not disturb Young Master Liu any further. Goodbye."
Liu Huai'an quickly waved his hand, telling the attendant to step back, and then hurried to keep up with her, "Ah~ Miss, where are you going? We're going the same way, so let's go together!"
Jing Xiu quickly interjected between the two, "Young Master, you're overthinking it. Although we haven't been here long, we are somewhat familiar with the routes in the capital. We are going to the southwest city, while Qufu Lane is in the north. The distance between south and north is too great, it would take at least two hours for a round trip. And you just said you were here to tour the lake, so I'm sorry, we are not going the same way. Please do not follow us anymore."
Liu Huai'an, however, was quite thick-skinned, "Ah~ What a coincidence, I'm also going to the southwest city."
This left Jing Xiu speechless.
Ye Qingcheng chuckled, "It's also quite a coincidence. We've changed our route temporarily. We're not going to the southwest district anymore, we're going to the southern city."
Liu Huai'an was choked.
"I heard that there is a Su Fang Zhai in the southern city, which makes extremely delicious pastries and fruits. We are going to buy some. Since we are not going the same way as you, Young Master, we will take our leave now."
"Ah~" This made Liu Huai'an unable to stop her.
However, all of this was witnessed by Madam Liu from not far away. She spat and criticized her son without any hesitation, "What kind of behavior is that, sticking to someone like sticky rice paste, just like his father."
The maidservant beside her lowered her head, not daring to speak.
In the Regent's Mansion, Xiao Wangye had been feeling strange lately. Why hadn't he seen Ye Qingcheng much these past few days? What was she doing?