Chapter 320: Chapter 127 Lu Min_4
"What’s the matter?"
"I must have been seeing things," Yin Zheng said with an embarrassed smile, "There were so many people earlier, I didn’t get a clear look. I thought there was someone standing beside the lady, and mistook him for Lord Pei!"
...
"I just... thought I saw the Princely Heir Pei."
The magnificent carriage draped with a canopy passed through the bustling crowd, someone lowered the hand-held carriage curtain, and spoke softly.
"Lord Pei?" The maid handed the warm brazier to the person next to her and spoke quietly, "Did Miss see clearly?"
The lady seated in the carriage gently shook her head, the emerald-colored, leaf-patterned brocade of her skirt embroidered with exquisitely beautiful phoenixes. The lantern light inside the carriage fell on her face, casting her fair complexion into even greater allure, as elegant and radiant as any highborn lady of Shengjing.
This was Qi Huaying, the treasured daughter of the current Grand Preceptor’s mansion.
Grand Preceptor Qi, with one wife and one concubine, had one son and one daughter born of his second wife. After the death of his second wife, Qi Qing did not remarry. The legitimate eldest son, Qi Yutai, now held a nominal position at the Ministry of Revenue, while his younger daughter, Qi Huaying, was only seventeen this year.
As Qi Qing fathered a daughter later in his life and cherished her for losing her mother at a young age, he was extraordinarily indulgent to Qi Huaying. It was often said among the noble clans of Shengjing that while Grand Preceptor Qi was frugal and diligent himself, he was especially generous to his daughter. The utensils and clothes that Qi Huaying used daily were so lavish they even surpassed those of princesses.
For instance, at this moment, Qi Huaying wished to take a carriage alone to stroll through the lantern festival. On the surface, Grand Preceptor Qi agreed and indulged his daughter’s wishes, but secretly, he ordered dozens of covert guards to follow around the carriage to prevent any mishaps.
Qi Huaying gripped the brazier in her hands, her beautiful eyes filled with thoughts.
As the carriage had passed by the festival’s lantern area, her curiosity led her to lift the curtain to look out, where she saw a familiar silhouette that seemed to be Pei Yunmeng; he was walking alongside an unfamiliar woman, speaking to her in a low voice.
For a moment, Qi Huaying’s breath nearly stopped, a rush of joy surged through her heart, but when she looked again, all she saw in the distance were people coming and going, and lantern lights. The figure from before was gone.
Was it... a mistake?
Qi Huaying herself couldn’t be certain, disappointment quickly replacing her joy, with a deeper confusion arriving from her heart. If it truly was him, then who was that woman by his side?
The maid seemed to sense her thoughts and, with pursed lips, softly smiled, "Lord Pei is so busy every day, and though the young master has sent many invitations, none have been accepted. How would he have the time to visit the lantern festival? It must have been a mistake, Miss."
At these words, Qi Huaying tightened her grip on the brazier, letting out a somewhat desolate sigh, "Indeed."
Ever since the assassination attempt at Baoxiang Tower and being rescued by the Princely Heir of Lord Zhao Ning, both privately and officially, out of emotion and(reason), the Qi Family owed Pei Yunmeng gratitude. Her brother held a position in the Ministry of Revenue and also intended to grow closer to the Pei Family, but despite the numerous invitations sent, the Commander of the Imperial Guards seemed unable to find the slightest spare time, not once visiting the Grand Preceptor’s mansion.
A trace of soreness emerged in Qi Huaying’s heart.
"Why does Miss sigh? The young master has said that the affairs of the Palace Front Office are indeed complicated. If you truly wish to meet him, all it would take is a word with your father..."
"Hold your tongue!"
Qi Huaying abruptly cut off the maid’s words, and the people beside her immediately went silent.
"Such talk is not for you to make!" Qi Huaying scolded the maid sharply, her face turning away in embarrassed anger, her cheeks gradually reddening.
She was seventeen now, old enough to be thinking about marriage. Her father had not neglected to mention the matter of her betrothal, but she had always interrupted him. None of the so-called talents of the younger generation caught her eye.
Except for... except for that one person.
Qi Huaying’s heart began to thump loudly.
The carriage was enveloped in silence, with the maid sitting with her head bowed on one side, not daring to speak.
Qi Huaying bit her lip.
Perhaps, as the maid had suggested, she should indeed have a talk with her father.