Liu Jin replied, "Fourth Brother, the training grounds are off-limits to women. When can this rule be changed?"
The onlookers quickly realized that the woman who had subdued someone with a single blow was the little princess of the Liu family, Liu Jin.
Looking at the man in pain, their eyes instantly filled with sympathy. Not only might he have been kicked, but he had also offended Liu Jin, the little princess. The consequences would likely be even more dire!
"These are the rules of the army; they can't be changed on a whim! What business do you have here today?"
Liu Jin pouted at the first part of his statement, but then smiled and replied, "It's not just me, Jiu Jiu is here too!" Her tone successfully shifted everyone's attention to Qin Jiu Jiu.
Suddenly, being stared at by a crowd of burly men, Qin Jiu Jiu felt a pang of social anxiety.
Upon seeing Qin Jiu Jiu, Liu Qi seemed surprised, but his expression softened considerably. He looked gentle and kind. Although he was in military uniform and a fine sheen of sweat covered his forehead and neck, he inexplicably gave off an aura of approachability.
Qin Jiu Jiu had no choice but to walk towards the two of them, positioning herself in the center of attention.
She curtsied to Liu Qi, presenting herself with the demeanor of a young lady from a respectable family. This was entirely due to the impression Liu Qi gave her – that of a courteous and refined gentleman – and she was influenced by him!
Seeing Qin Jiu Jiu act this way, Liu Jin suddenly found it rather amusing. When they usually interacted, Qin Jiu Jiu was nothing like this; now, she seemed to have transformed.
Her gaze drifted between the two of them, sweeping over them without a word.
"General Liu."
Qin Jiu Jiu, already petite, spoke with a voice that wasn't overly sweet but was pleasant to hear. Standing there so properly, beside Liu Qi, she looked quite well-matched with him.
Liu Jin mused inwardly, the more she looked at the two of them standing together, the more pleasing they appeared. She became even more determined to play matchmaker for them.
Of course, the two people conversing were completely unaware of this!
"Miss Qin, are you feeling better?" Liu Qi asked with concern.
Qin Jiu Jiu took the opportunity to express her gratitude, saying, "Thanks to the General's intervention a few days ago, I've made a full recovery!"
She then unfastened the Qiankun bag at her waist and took out an item – a jade pendant. The jade was of superior quality, carefully chosen during a shopping trip, intended as a thank-you gift for Liu Qi.
She noticed that Liu Qi favored wearing white and often carried a jade pendant at his waist, so this gift would likely be useful.
Liu Qi was about to decline, but Liu Jin had already reached out, transferring the jade pendant from Qin Jiu Jiu's hand to Liu Qi's. This maneuver involved naturally taking his hand and forcefully tucking the pendant inside.
"Fourth Brother, please accept it! Otherwise, Jiu Jiu will be embarrassed!"
Liu Qi looked at Qin Jiu Jiu and finally accepted it, saying, "Then thank you, Miss Qin!"
Qin Jiu Jiu had settled a significant matter in her heart. She disliked owing favors and would constantly fret over them. Now, with this burden lifted, she felt a sense of ease.
Looking at Liu Qi, she felt even more relaxed.
Deputy General Chen suddenly shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Continue training!"
Seeing that the matter was settled, everyone dispersed to resume their training.
Only the man Liu Jin had kicked left with a lingering sense of unease, knowing he had offended the princess and his future days would likely be difficult...
Liu Qi chose that moment to speak, "This matter is concluded; there's no need to dwell on it!" He was speaking to the man, assuring him that he would not hold it against him and that he could rest assured.
The man indeed felt a considerable amount of relief upon hearing this. However, he was also filled with regret, wishing he hadn't spoken so boldly earlier. If the other party had been someone of high authority and had taken offense, the situation might not have been so easily resolved!
He resolved to be more cautious and measured in his words and actions from now on.
Liu Jin had not given the incident much thought, but just then, an idea for matchmaking had struck her.
They say friendship's boat can capsize at any moment. If she sent these two out boating, wouldn't there be ample opportunities? Then, with a few subtle manipulations, wouldn't it be perfect...
Liu Jin, of course, didn't know that her plan, though excellent, would involve an unexpected addition, and that she had inadvertently offended someone else.
Qin Jiu Jiu had no objections to boating, and Liu Qi found it difficult to refuse Qin Jiu Jiu's request. Seeing the two of them excited, he could only offer a helpless smile.
Unexpectedly, they encountered Xiao Yuan, who had come to look for Liu Qi midway, turning a trio into a quartet.
Liu Qi claimed that three people rowing a boat wasn't as good as four.
Liu Jin: I've landed myself in this situation!
Thus, among these three, apart from Xiao Yuan, the other three harbored their own intentions – Liu Qi was trying to play matchmaker between his younger sister and his brother; Liu Jin was trying to play matchmaker between her brother and her good friend; Qin Jiu Jiu wanted to matchmake Liu Jin and Xiao Yuan.
In this regard, Liu Qi and Qin Jiu Jiu found themselves on the same side.
The two on the same side successfully arranged for Liu Jin and Xiao Yuan to share a small boat. Although Liu Jin was reluctant, she told herself that for her brother's future happiness, she had to endure it.
An agreement was reached. Only Xiao Yuan remained silent. The three of them smoothly finalized their plan.
It was now deep autumn, and the lake water was rather chilly. Not many people were out boating.
Two small boats, guided by the wind and the current, bobbed on the lake. Liu Qi and Qin Jiu Jiu chatted cheerfully, while Liu Jin and Xiao Yuan remained silent, creating a cool atmosphere. Sometimes, when Xiao Yuan asked a question, Liu Jin would answer politely, much like a harmonious couple.
Qin Jiu Jiu was very interested in the Manluo Kingdom, having heard there were many legends and mysterious artifacts there. She had always been captivated by such stories and objects, and she listened intently, completely engrossed.
Liu Qi's rowing was skillful, a talent many in the military possessed, which could be useful for escape in times of need.
During pauses in their conversation, both glanced back at the boat following closely behind. Seeing Liu Jin and Xiao Yuan maintaining their silence, they felt a sense of regret.
With that glance, they seemed to have found a comrade, a shared understanding passing between them.
"You..." They spoke simultaneously, inadvertently confirming the other's unspoken question, making further elaboration unnecessary.
With their unspoken understanding, they looked at each other and smiled. Finding an ally in such matchmaking endeavors was truly wonderful!
Qin Jiu Jiu suddenly spoke, "Is it time to make our move?"
Before Liu Qi could reply, they saw a person fall into the water from a pavilion not far away. Qin Jiu Jiu clearly saw that the woman had jumped in herself.
Although there was another woman on the pavilion, who appeared to be anxiously calling for help.
Attempting to take her own life? At this moment, the matchmaking between Liu Jin and Xiao Yuan was forgotten. Liu Qi saw what was happening and was already rowing his boat rapidly towards where the woman had fallen.
Xiao Yuan and Liu Jin were behind them. They hadn't seen it initially, but the boat in front suddenly accelerated, creating a widening distance, which caught their attention.
Looking into the distance, they saw splashes of water and someone struggling in the water.
Someone had fallen in!
Thus, both boats raced forward. As Liu Qi approached the now exhausted young woman, he stopped the boat and dove into the water, pulling her out.
All four arrived at the pavilion. The woman who had remained on the pavilion quickly rushed to the side of the woman who had fallen into the water. The drowned woman was laid on the ground, seemingly having swallowed water.
Qin Jiu Jiu watched Liu Qi perform the entire rescue process with surprise. Although she had some prior knowledge, her mind had gone blank, and she wouldn't have been able to act so proficiently.
She felt a surge of admiration for Liu Qi.
"Miss, please wake up! Miss..." The person beside her, seemingly the maid of the drowning woman, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Only when the woman on the ground finally woke up and coughed up a large amount of water did she cease her lamentations.
But the woman on the ground looked somewhat familiar?
As soon as the woman woke up, she cried out to Liu Qi, "Thank you, General Liu, for saving me!"
This exclamation was packed with information. Qin Jiu Jiu also recalled seeing this woman at a banquet – it was that young lady who had lavished praise on Liu Qi.
A saying inexplicably popped into her mind: the grace of saving a life is to be repaid with a bubbling spring... No, it could also be repaid by offering oneself in marriage.