Lin Hao pulled the stunned young man toward her and kissed him.
Originally, before A Shuo left the capital, they had agreed to have a meal together, but a sudden emergency order had caused them to miss it.
At that time, she had thought that she should no longer wait to do the things she wanted to do, lest she be left with nothing but regrets.
Right now, she simply wanted to kiss A Shuo.
The summer breeze grew stronger, blowing down rose petals that fluttered onto their clothes, leaving behind a faint, lingering fragrance.
Baozhu was basking in the sun, feeling somewhat drowsy.
Suddenly, something fell, startling the little maid into snapping her eyes open. She discovered it was a brightly colored shuttlecock.
She looked around suspiciously, her gaze finally landing on the surrounding wall.
Could someone be playing shuttlecock over there?
Thinking this, the little maid took a practiced running start and easily climbed atop the wall.
On the other side of the wall stood two young servants, both looking up in the same motion. From her high vantage point, they looked like a pair of dazed geese.
"Whose shuttlecock is this?" Baozhu asked in a crisp voice, holding up the beautiful feathered shuttlecock.
"His!" Changning pointed at Changshun.
Changshun was clearly slower to react and hurriedly said, "His!"
"You guys like playing shuttlecock too?" the little maid asked curiously, clinging to the wall.
The two servants replied in unison, "We don't!"
If they didn't like it, why were they playing? Baozhu frowned and tossed the multicolored feathered shuttlecock back over.
Once Baozhu was out of sight, Changning reached out his hand: "Hand it over."
With a face full of reluctance, Changshun slapped the money pouch into Changning's hand, sighing in heartache: "How could it be such a coincidence?"
Just now, Changning had bet him that Baozhu would definitely be on the other side of the wall at this time. He hadn't believed it, and then... a pouch of money was gone.
Lin Hao and Qi Shuo walked out, rounding the flower trellis.
"Baozhu, who were you talking to just now?"
Baozhu trotted up briskly. "Changning and Changshun. The two of them were playing shuttlecock and kicked it over to this side of the wall."
Lin Hao looked at Qi Shuo.
Qi Shuo: "..." Why were his servants so abnormal?
Baozhu suddenly leaned in close: "Miss, there's a leaf on your head!"
Qi Shuo's face heated slightly, only to see Lin Hao calmly lower her head: "Help me take it off."
He couldn't help but reflect: Perhaps... was he being too rigid?
The next day, the Consort of Prince Jing personally visited the General's Manor to discuss the marriage arrangements with the Old Madam and Madam Lin.
"The Prince and I believe the wedding for the two children should be held this month. After all, it has been postponed for so long, and the children are no longer young. Of course, it still depends on the wishes of the Old Madam and Madam Lin."
Although the status of the Prince's Manor was not something the General's Manor could compare to, the Consort of Prince Jing maintained a very humble posture. This was a way for the groom's family to express their satisfaction with the bride.
Madam Lin looked toward the Old Madam.
On major matters, she still deferred to her mother.
The Old Madam naturally would not object: "The Consort is correct. Since it was already decided, there is no need to delay further. The items needed for the wedding have long been prepared."
Had it not been for the death of the Crown Prince, the wedding would have been completed long ago.
Once the agreement was reached, the subsequent processes were organized quickly, though they were busy, they remained orderly.
The betrothal gifts sent by the Prince's Manor filled the courtyard of the General's Manor. Among them, a pair of red corals as tall as a person was the most eye-catching, as they were imperial gifts.
Not only that, Emperor Taian also bestowed a farm estate in the suburbs of the capital as a congratulatory gift for the newlyweds.
Before her departure, Lin Hao invited several close friends for a small gathering. There was the little county princess Qi Qiong, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Huaian, Chen Yi, the fourth daughter of the Earl of Yichun, Zhu Jiayu, the daughter of the Earl of Xiliang, Tao Qing, and two others who had recently become acquainted with the group: the second daughter of the Marquis of Weiwu, Kou Wan, and the daughter of a wealthy family, Chi Caiyun.
The fact that these two were able to familiarize themselves with the others so quickly had something to do with the fragrance-free floral water shop opened by Lin Hao.
During the months Qi Shuo was away from the capital, Lin Hao naturally did not spend all her heart longing for her lover. On the contrary, precisely because the feeling of yearning for someone was unpleasant, she threw most of her time into the floral water shop to distract herself.
The fragrance-free floral water shop opened its fourth branch, and it was located in the south.
Many things in life are absurd; despite wars breaking out in various places, the business of the first three shops was hardly affected. In fact, the newly opened shop in the south turned a profit in a very short amount of time.
It was as if, as long as the fires of war had not reached their doorstep, it was still a peaceful and prosperous age.
In reality, however, the number of refugees had clearly increased.
In years of disaster, it was the custom for wealthy families, as well as the government, to distribute porridge. Lin Hao used the name of the floral water shop to provide relief to the refugees, helping them survive the freezing winter days.
After Qi Qiong and the others heard about it, they joined in one after another.
Their families had set up porridge stalls, some large and some small, but participating personally using their own money provided a completely different feeling.
For instance, Chi Caiyun was a particularly sincere girl; in a burst of emotion, she brought out all her saved allowance, leaving her with no money left to treat Lin Hao and Zhu Jiayu to lobster.
Seeing that they could not sustain themselves by only spending without earning, the fourth floral water shop was opened as a joint venture among them.
"I didn't expect A Hao to be the first among us to marry," Zhu Jiayu said with a beaming smile, raising her glass. "A Hao, I wish you and the Heir of Prince Jing a long and happy life together until your hair turns white."
The glass contained a pale golden fruit dew, which was both beautiful and delicious.
Lin Hao thanked her and drank it in one gulp.
The others also toasted her one after another.
Lin Hao looked at the smiling faces. Although they were drinking fruit dew with almost no alcohol, she felt a warm, intoxicating sensation.
Of those present, everyone except Kou Wan and Chi Caiyun was betrothed, and the wedding dates for Chen Yi and Tao Qing were also this year.
Regardless of what the future held, at least in this moment, everyone looked forward to the future with anticipation. Among them, some had followed the prescribed path to get here, while others had gained lives entirely different from their previous ones.
It was truly wonderful.
Lin Hao drank another glass of fruit dew, thinking this.
After they finished eating, seeing that it was still early, they went to the floral water shop together.
April was the time when a hundred flowers competed in beauty, and the women had changed into light summer clothes, paying even more attention to their beauty in every aspect. Consequently, business at the floral water shop was very good.
Seeing that the shop was too crowded, the group did not enter and instead leisurely strolled through the various shops lining the street.
Half an hour later, everyone had many more things in their hands: exquisite round fans, beautiful oil-paper umbrellas, novel styles of jewelry, sweet and sour preserved fruits, and crispy, fragrant sesame cakes...
In truth, they hadn't spent much money, but their moods were exceptionally high.
Just as they finished walking down the street where shops stood side by side, a little girl running toward them collided with Chi Caiyun, knocking the packet of preserved fruits out of her hand.
Peach preserves, tangerine cakes, dried apricots, green plums... the colorful treats rolled all over the ground. An angry Chi Caiyun grabbed the little girl's wrist: "What is wrong with you? Running through the street faster than a runaway horse—"
The words stopped when she saw the little girl's face covered in tears and her panicked expression.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" the little girl said repeatedly. She looked back in a panic, broke free from Chi Caiyun's grip, and ran forward.
And in the time it took for this delay, the person chasing after her caught up.
(End of Chapter)