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"Miss, today is so lively, so many people are coming to see the excitement," Cai Xia said with a smile as she began to check Xun Qingqing’s makeup.

Even without going outside, Xun Qingqing could guess that there would be many onlookers, given that she was a disfigured heiress.

"Are there people talking behind my back, saying how I could be so ugly yet still have suitors?"

Cai Xia’s movements paused, not wanting to say anything that would dampen the miss’s spirits, but the miss had already found out.

She consoled, "Miss, don’t mind what others say. Today is a day of great joy, you should be happy above all."

Unconcerned, Xun Qingqing said, "Why should I care about them? What I care about is that the person who is offering the betrothal to marry me is Jun Wuxian. Just because of that, I can be happy for a long, long time."

Cai Xia asked with a giggling smile, "When did I fail to notice that the miss was so fond of Master Jun? I don’t even know how miss came to know Master Jun."

Xun Qingqing remembered that the first time she met Jun Wuxian, she had been kidnapped, scared out of her wits, and he had been dressed in a night-time outfit, resembling an assassin in her eyes.

But after spending more time with him, she realized that he was actually quite nice.

"I’ve known Jun Wuxian for several years, but he always came at night, so you didn’t see him."

Years ago, when she was still in the palace, the miss had already known Master Jun, and she, her personal maid, didn’t even know?

And moreover, in the evening... wouldn’t that be a secret meeting?

However, the miss had always been willful but not reckless in the past; otherwise, she wouldn’t have left the palace for so long before confirming her feelings for Master Jun.

The betrothal had been settled some time ago, prompting General Xun to rush back from the field especially for this.

Today was merely to go through the formalities, to let everyone know that Miss Xun was engaged.

As for the wedding date, that too had been agreed upon, set for the end of the year.

Xun Qingqing couldn’t sit still in the boudoir, so she stood up and walked out, lifting her skirt.

Cai Xia followed behind, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, "Miss, what’s the rush?"

Xun Qingqing, well aware of Cai Xia’s feigned ignorance, retorted petulantly, "What rush? It’s too stuffy inside. I just want to get some fresh air."

Cai Xia didn’t point out the obvious and instead came out holding a platter of washed fruits, "Miss, have some fruit."

Xun Qingqing, seeing that Jun Wuxian hadn’t arrived yet, retracted her gaze to the fruits on the plate and started snacking on the grapes.

Feeling that the face veil was getting in the way, she promptly removed it.

From afar, Cai Xia saw Jun Wuxian approaching and reminded with a smile, "Miss, your betrothed is coming."

Xun Qingqing had just stuffed a grape into her mouth when she heard this, and looked up to see Jun Wuxian walking over toward her. She hurriedly swallowed the grape and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

In just a moment, Jun Wuxian was already close by.

Xun Qingqing looked up at the handsome man in front of her. After spending so much time together, they had grown familiar with each other; but considering today’s betrothal, it was inevitable that she would still feel shy about their relationship as fiancé and fiancée.

Jun Wuyou closed his folding fan and appraised Xun Qingqing up and down. She was dressed exceptionally gentle today, a stark contrast to her usual self.

Xun Qingqing, noticing Jun Wuxian’s continuous gaze, looked down at her own outfit and asked him perplexedly, "Why are you staring at me so intently?"

Jun Wuxian chuckled lowly, "You look so demure and dignified today, not quite like yourself."

Xun Qingqing had been scrutinizing her makeup while Cai Xia was dressing her, and she thought it looked quite nice, albeit a little confining.

It’s just that recently, her mother had been nagging her every day about learning to support a husband and teach children, to be gentle and graceful... her ears were practically forming calluses from hearing it so much.

"Don’t I look good like this?"

Jun Wuxian said, "Being yourself is best."

Xun Qingqing felt somewhat pleased inside, "Then I’ll listen to you."

Cai Xia consciously set down the plate and withdrew.

Jun Wuxian sat down in a chair, grabbed a grape, and tossed it accurately into his mouth, his gaze still fixed on Xun Qingqing, "We will set out tomorrow to find Shen Chuwei."

Xun Qingqing observed Jun Wuxian’s actions; his looks and behavior were nothing like those of a thirty-year-old uncle.

It wasn’t that he was immature, but rather genuinely youthful and vibrant, unlike her older brother with his stern face and feigned solemnity—

"That’s great, I’m quite eager to meet her."

Jun Wuxian watched Xun Qingqing for a good while, then reached out to grasp her hand and with a gentle pull, brought her into his arms.

Xun Qingqing, startled by his sudden move, placed her hands on Jun Wuxian’s chest and, when she looked up into those phoenix eyes, her heart fluttered like a little deer, and her cheeks flushed with a touch of crimson.

Jun Wuxian, looking at her cheeks that turned red at the drop of a hat, caressed them with his long fingers and wore a faint smile, "I haven’t done anything, so why are your cheeks already red?"

Xun Qingqing’s face grew even redder at his words, "You’re holding me, isn’t that enough?"