Chapter 47: Chapter
Madame Zi watched her son’s brief, lingering glance toward Lanyin before turning back to Duchess Lin Meiyun with a bright, meaningful smile.
"Duchess Lin, that reminds me," Madame Zi said, clasping her hands together gracefully. "In a few days, there will be a grand youth gathering hosted by the Governor. All the young masters of the capital, along with their wives, fiancées, and escorts, will be attending. As you know, my son Zi Han is always buried in his books studying and hasn’t associated with many women over the years. He is quite shy when it comes to these social events."
Zi Han, who was standing quietly nearby, felt his ears turn slightly red at his mother’s public description of him, but he kept his eyes lowered and did not object.
Madame Zi took a step closer to the Duchess, her voice filled with a polite request. "Would you please help me by letting your daughter, Lanyin, be his escort for the evening? I would feel so much more at ease knowing he is in the company of someone as gentle and cultured as Young Lady Xi."
The moment the request left Madame Zi’s mouth, Lanyin’s head snapped up, her eyes widening in utter shock. Beside her, Xi Qianqian and Gu Yue instantly exchanged thrilled, frantic looks, gripping each other’s hands under their wide silk sleeves to keep from squealing out loud.
Duchess Lin Meiyun and Aunt Ronghua shared a swift, highly knowing look. If they hadn’t heard Su Yueqing’s internal thoughts earlier, the Duchess might have politely hesitated or viewed this as a simple, casual request between family friends. But now, knowing that Zi Han was deeply in love with her daughter, this request was practically a formal acknowledgment of his feelings!
"Mother..." Lanyin whispered softly from behind.
Duchess Lin Meiyun covered her mouth with her delicate fan, a warm, bright smile spreading across her face. "Madame Zi, you praise Lanyin too much. However, since Master Zi Han is a fine young man and a brilliant scholar, I see no reason to refuse. Lanyin would be honored to accompany him to the Governor’s gathering."
Before Duchess Lin Meiyun could fully finalize the arrangement, Xi Lanyin suddenly stepped out from behind her mother. Her face was still incredibly flushed, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain everyone could hear it.
"Mother, Madame Zi, please forgive Lanyin’s lack of manners," Lanyin said, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to remain poised. "But I have never been fond of such banquets, and I am feeling a bit unwell from the evening air. I would like to take my leave first."
Without waiting for a response, she offered a quick, hurried bow to the elders, turned on her heel, and practically fled down the garden path.
Xi Qianqian and Gu Yue stood frozen, their jaws dropping in absolute shock as they watched her retreating figure.
’Is she crazy?!’ Qianqian screamed in her own mind, her eyes wide. ’The most eligible bachelor in the capital basically just asked her out on a date, and she ran away to her room?!’
Madame Zi, however, did not look angry at all. Instead, a wise, knowing smile spread across her face. She turned her head slightly and gave her son, Zi Han, a very deliberate, encouraging look. What are you waiting for, foolish boy? Go after her!
Zi Han instantly understood his mother’s signal. His usual calm, scholarly composure vanished, replaced by a sudden flash of determination.
He stepped forward and bowed deeply to the Duchess and Aunt Ronghua. "Duchess Lin, please excuse my sudden departure. I will go ensure the Second Young Lady Xi makes it back to her courtyard safely."
Without waiting another second, Zi Han adjusted his long scholar’s robes and chased down the path after Lanyin.
Zi Han’s long strides quickly caught up to her near the winding stone bridge of the Western Garden.
"Young Lady Xi! Please, wait," he called out, his breath a little uneven.
Lanyin stopped, her back still turned to him. She took a sharp breath to steady her racing heart before slowly turning around. Her face was flushed, but her expression remained guarded. "Master Zi, why have you followed me? I already stated that I am unwell and wish to return to my courtyard."
Zi Han stopped a few paces away, his sharp eyes scanning her tense posture. He had always been a man of books and cold logic, completely unskilled in the delicate art of coaxing women. Seeing her stiff demeanor, he incorrectly assumed she was deeply annoyed by his presence.
"If you are truly unwell, I will call for a physician," Zi Han said, his voice dropping into his usual blunt, matter-of-fact scholarly tone. "But if this is simply an excuse... is it because you do not want to attend the gathering with me?"
Lanyin’s eyes widened slightly, a flash of hurt crossing her features.
"If that is so, then I do not mind," Zi Han continued flatly, completely oblivious to how cold his words sounded. "I, too, am not fond of such superficial gatherings. If accompanying me causes you this much discomfort, I will have my mother rescind the request. I have no intention of inconveniencing you."
Lanyin felt a sharp sting in her chest. He thinks I’m uncomfortable? He thinks he’s an inconvenience?
All the sweet, hidden affection she had hoped for based on Su Yueqing’s thoughts felt completely crushed by his clinical, indifferent attitude. To her, it sounded like he didn’t even want to go with her in the first place and was merely doing it to please his mother.
"It is the way you speak that hurts!" Lanyin snapped suddenly, her voice cracking with emotion as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "That and tone since the first day I met you.. will it ever change?"
Zi Han froze, completely stunned by her sudden outburst.
Having said that, Lanyin didn’t wait for him to reply. She lifted her long silk skirts, turned, and ran away as fast as her feet could carry her, disappearing completely.
Zi Han stood rooted to the spot on the stone bridge, his mouth slightly open and his mind completely blank. He was a brilliant scholar who could memorize complex texts in a single night, but right now, he was too stunned to even process what had just happened or to notice which of the garden pathways she had taken.
