Page 608

It’s broad daylight now, and it’s hard to hide a guilty expression.

Cai Xia had no idea what had happened last night, and when she saw Jun Wuxian, she happily reminded, "Miss, look quickly, Young Master Jun."

Just as Xun Qingqing wanted to stop her, it was too late, Jun Wuxian’s gaze was already directed this way, and she had no choice but to steel herself to meet him.

"Good morning," she breathed a sigh of relief that she was wearing a veil, which could somewhat conceal her unease.

Jun Wuxian immediately noticed the dark circles under her eyes, "Did you sleep poorly last night?"

Xun Qingqing guiltily replied, "It was too hot last night, I couldn’t sleep."

Jun Wuxian nodded thoughtfully, "It was indeed a bit hot last night, and there seemed to be mosquitoes too."

Had he not mentioned mosquitoes, it would have been fine, but the mention of them turned Xun Qingqing’s face red; she lowered her eyelids and nodded nonchalantly.

Jun Wuxian gazed down at Xun Qingqing, her discomfort was as if she had something to hide.

At the dining table, the whole family sat down together for breakfast.

Jun Wuxian was Xun Qingqing’s lifesaver, and the Xun family treated him as an honored guest, being very generous with food and drink.

When Xun Qingqing was eating, she had to lift her veil with her hands.

Xun Changfeng and his wife had advised her several times that it wasn’t necessary to wear a veil at home, but Xun Qingqing insisted on wearing it; she didn’t want others to see her face, especially not Jun Wuxian.

As long as he didn’t see, the image he had of her would always be from before her disfigurement.

Jun Wuxian raised his head and glanced at Xun Qingqing, "I heard the lotus flowers in the garden have bloomed."

Upon hearing this, the general’s wife immediately smiled and took up the conversation, "Young Master Jun, the lotus flowers bloomed last night." She then turned to her daughter and said, "Qing’er, after breakfast, why don’t you show Young Master Jun around?"

General Xun also nodded, "The lady is right, Young Master Jun is both a friend and a lifesaver to you, it’s most appropriate for you to accompany him."

Xun Qingqing was distressed, feeling too guilty to be alone with Jun Wuxian at the moment, but seeing the expectant look in her parents’ eyes, why did she feel it was a bit strange?

Xun Changfeng couldn’t help but speak up, "Mother, this isn’t appropriate, my little sister is still an unmarried maiden..."

The general’s wife glared at her younger son, "What would a child like you know? Eat your meal."

"...But Mother, this is basic etiquette..."

General Xun’s tiger-like gaze intimidated, "Finish eating and go practice your swordsmanship."

Xun Changfeng shrank his neck, not daring to utter a sound and focused intensely on his food.

General Xun and his wife both thought highly of Jun Wuxian, hence they were eager to match him with their daughter.

After breakfast, Xun Qingqing, following her parents’ orders, accompanied Jun Wuxian to the lotus pond to admire the blooming lotus flowers, flowers she had seen countless times before, nearly the same every year.

Next to the lotus pond was a hexagonal pavilion, perfect for enjoying the view of the flowers.

The maids had already prepared snacks and tea.

Xun Qingqing sat opposite Jun Wuxian, and because of the kiss she had stolen from him the previous night, she was too guilty to meet his gaze directly. She simply turned her attention to the several lotus flowers in the pond, big as bowls, with purple petals that looked very pretty.

Jun Wuxian slowly sipped his tea, enjoying the pond full of lotus flowers. He glanced at Xun Qingqing and noticed she seemed a bit distracted.

"After the fifteenth, I will be leaving."

The moment Xun Qingqing heard he was leaving, she was stunned and it took a while for her to react.

She knew Jun Wuxian would eventually leave, but actually hearing him talk about leaving still made it hard for her to let go.

"You’re leaving so soon? What a pity, you’ll miss the Double Seventh Festival."

Jun Wuxian couldn’t help but laugh at her remark, "The Double Seventh Festival is still more than fifty days away."

"Ah?" Xun Qingqing was stunned, then, after thinking carefully, realized she had miscalculated the days and felt extremely embarrassed.

"I got the date wrong."

Jun Wuxian chuckled lightly, "Can you play the zither?"

Xun Qingqing shook her head in response, "I can’t."

Jun Wuxian then asked, "Then what can you do?"

Xun Qingqing spoke candidly, "I can’t do much of anything."

Jun Wuxian paused at her answer, amused by her frankness.

Xun Qingqing felt Jun Wuxian was definitely making fun of her, "What are you laughing at? Isn’t it said that a woman without talent is a virtue?"

The amusement in Jun Wuxian’s eyes grew deeper, "You make a good point."

Xun Qingqing suddenly declared with pride, "I can embroider."

Jun Wuxian was somewhat surprised, "I didn’t expect that you could embroider."

"Embroidery is something every girl should know. If others can do it, naturally, I can too." Xun Qingqing had learned to embroider for a few days but had not yet done any serious work; now she planned to embroider a lotus pouch.

On the day Jun Wuxian left, Xun Qingqing stood under the porch, watching him mounted on a tall horse, dressed in a moon-white robe with dark patterns of golden thread, his black hair long and elegant.

Seeing him about to ride off, Xun Qingqing couldn’t help but lift her skirt and take a few steps forward, looking up at the man on the horse: "When will we meet again?"

Jun Wuxian gazed down at Xun Qingqing, her veil fluttering in the wind, revealing only a pair of sparkling apricot eyes. He smiled and said, "Guess."

Xun Qingqing shook her head, "I can’t guess."

Jun Wuxian’s lips curved into a light smile, "At our place, during the Double Seventh Festival, young men and women exchange gifts to express their affections."

Xun Qingqing was momentarily stunned but snapped out of it just in time to see Jun Wuxian raise his whip and ride off.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial City of the Xingmiao Clan

Shen Chuwei had been eagerly anticipating the evening all day, having spent the daytime administering acupuncture and preparing medicinal baths for Ouyang Jingyuan. She finally endured until nightfall.

The appointed time was late at night, as the man didn’t want others to know.

In the stillness of the night, Shen Chuwei carried her medicine box and sneaked over to the courtyard opposite.

Xuetuan followed close behind.

Qin Xiao conscientiously hid in the darkness and trailed them.

Shen Chuwei carried the medicine box inside, waiting until Xuetuan entered before she closed the door.

She turned to see the man sitting at the table, his composed demeanor as though he had been waiting for some time.

She placed the medicine box on the table, then approached the man with anticipation, "I’ve come as promised; you haven’t changed your mind, have you?"

She had every reason to ask; just last night, she had come over full of hope, only to be let down by him.

The man shook his head, "No."

"Good," Shen Chuwei looked at the bandage over his eyes, "Will you do it yourself, or should I?"

The man replied, "I’ll do it."

As the man reached behind his head, Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but hold her breath in anticipation, watching him untie the bandage, unraveling it layer by layer.