Chapter 616: Chapter 615: Guarantee to Complete the Mission
"Sure!" Zhang Lanfang nodded with a smile, "Right, go pack up my belongings for me, and move them to my courtyard to stay!"
"Move to your place?" Qiu Yue paused for a moment, somewhat unable to believe her own ears.
"Yes, just move over to live there. Don’t worry, I will take good care of you, and I’ll definitely not treat you poorly!" Zhang Lanfang promised earnestly.
"Thank you, miss!"
After chatting for a while, Qiu Yue took her leave.
...
The next morning, Liu Zheng woke up early. After washing up, he sat in a chair waiting.
"Young Master, the miss has sent over some new clothes, let’s try them on quickly!" Qiu Yu said excitedly.
"Alright, let’s go have a look!" Liu Zheng said with a smile.
"Miss, you are really considerate, preparing such beautiful garments for the Young Master. He will definitely become the focus today. Aren’t you afraid that others will be jealous?"
"Jealous? Who has the ability?" Zhang Lanfang scoffed, "I would like to see who dares to stir up trouble under Tai Sui’s nose!"
Soon, the three of them arrived at a pavilion in the Liu family’s back garden.
The pavilion was large and the furnishings were elegant and exquisite, a place with excellent Feng Shui.
Next to the pavilion, the rockery and flowing water, green trees, and red plum blossoms were very pleasing to the eye. Around the pavilion, many odd stones had been built, each stone was of top-quality jade, priceless.
Around the pavilion, there were also several pots of roses, so vivid they almost seemed to drip. The whole pavilion was filled with a rich aroma of roses, quite enchanting.
"Miss, look, these flowers were specially chosen by the maids last night!"
"How beautiful!" Zhang Lanfang exclaimed, "Did you grow these flowers yourself?"
"Of course not, these are roses that I’ve cultivated myself!"
Liu Zheng walked over, picked a rose, and brought it closer to smell it, praising, "It really is fragrant, no wonder it attracts so many people to admire it!"
"Of course, this rose is the holy object of the Valley of a Hundred Flowers. The yield is very small every year. There are more than a dozen plants here, and I am only willing to show one for your enjoyment, so just secretly rejoice!" Qiu Yue said with a giggle.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lanfang’s mood became complicated.
The Valley of a Hundred Flowers, that place which she once longed for in her dreams. Ever since she was demoted to a commoner, she had never seen it again. Little did she expect that she would encounter it here in Liu Zheng’s place.
Liu Zheng, observing Zhang Lanfang’s expression, seemed to guess something, and thus he feigned curiosity, "Lanfang, don’t tell me you also like this rose?"
"I... No!" Zhang Lanfang shook her head in panic, unsure of how to explain, feeling a bit regretful for telling Liu Zheng about it.
"In that case, don’t be polite, if you like it, take it!" Liu Zheng said with a smile.
"I... I really can’t accept it!" Zhang Lanfang quickly waved her hands, saying nervously, "This is too valuable, I cannot accept such a gift!"
"Lanfang, just take it. After all, these flowers are not worth much!" Liu Zheng said with a smile, "Besides, this flower is so beautiful, I like it too!"
Zhang Lanfang gritted her teeth but ultimately did not refuse.
"Lanfang, I’m going to change clothes now, wait here for a moment!" Liu Zheng said.
"Sure!" Zhang Lanfang nodded, watching as Liu Zheng went behind the screen. She took a deep breath, feeling a bit of loss and melancholy, and she didn’t understand why.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Zheng came out in a white robe, his hair secured with a wooden hairpin, looking quite handsome and dashing.
"Miss, what do you think of my outfit?" Liu Zheng asked, vainly touching his head.
"Good, very handsome!" Zhang Lanfang praised generously.
"Hehe, Lanfang, this flower is really pretty, do you want to try wearing it too?"
"I’d better not wear it, lest I get hated to death by those women!"
"Lanfang, I think they would be jealous to death. You are so beautiful, those women will definitely take notice of you!" Liu Zheng said indifferently.
Hearing this, Zhang Lanfang’s heart skipped a beat, a strange emotion stirring within her.
Seeing this, Liu Zheng continued, "How about this, I’ll have someone arranged here to protect you."
"No need! I can handle it myself!" Zhang Lanfang gracefully declined Liu Zheng’s kind offer.
"Alright!" Liu Zheng reluctantly agreed.
"Young Master, the Miss said there’s no need for protection!"
At this moment, Qiu Yu’s voice came from outside the door.
Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng’s eyes suddenly lit up.
"Qiu Yu, what did you just hear? Did your Miss agree?" Liu Zheng asked excitedly.
"Yes, the Miss said there’s no need for someone to protect her!"
"Ah, I knew your Miss would agree!" Liu Zheng exclaimed excitedly.
"Young Master, you are celebrating too early!" Qiu Yu said contemptuously, "Our Miss just doesn’t want any trouble, that’s why she declined your kind offer!"
"This, I didn’t expect Lanfang to accept anyway!"
"Humph!"
...
Liu Zheng looked at Zhang Lanfang, his eyes shimmering with hope.
"Miss, how great it would be if we could live together forever!"
"Young Master, stop dreaming. You’re just a servant of mine, where do you get the audacity to think of living together with me!" Zhang Lanfang said mockingly.
"But, these past days, I’ve been thinking about it. Could I ever meet a woman as outstanding as you in this lifetime?" Liu Zheng said with a face full of longing, "Lanfang, I am really envious of those men who can have you!"
"Hehe, Young Master, what you’re saying isn’t right!" Zhang Lanfang couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
"Lanfang, I know you feel the same way, but I just can’t accept it!" Liu Zheng said bitterly, "Look at my legs, my face, my hands..."
Zhang Lanfang looked at his legs and couldn’t help feeling a sense of sorrow. Her father had been kind to her, but she was disabled because she hadn’t tried hard enough, leading to her current condition.
She also realized how her unsightly appearance troubled Liu Zheng. For an unmarried young woman like herself to be with a cripple like him was truly unfair to her.
She even dreaded to think about the future.
"Young Master, don’t think too far ahead. One day, I will make myself stand up again!" Zhang Lanfang said determinedly.
"Lanfang, I believe in you. No matter how long it takes, I will wait!" Liu Zheng said solemnly.
...
"Father, what brings you here today?"
"Today is your mother’s death anniversary. Aren’t you going to pay your respects?"
"Today is Mother’s death anniversary?"
"Yes, today is her fifty-seventh day!"
"Father, I understand. I will go and pay tribute to Mother right away!"
...
Liu Zheng’s father, Liu Hai, was a middle-aged man around forty, with fine brows and an impressive bearing. He was a Confucian merchant and served as the Prime Minister, holding a significant position in the court. Although he enjoyed considerable prestige, his wife had passed away early, and his son had died from illness. If not for his support within the court, his life wouldn’t have been as stable as it was.
"Father, what reminded you to come to my house to commemorate Mother today?"
"I was planning to visit your grandmother today, but she wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t make it. However, I did send someone to deliver a few bottles of tonic wine to her. She’s under the weather and just happens to need it," Liu Hai said with a slight sigh.
Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng quickly said, "Father, how is Grandmother doing now? Is it serious? I’ll accompany you to see her right away!"
"It’s just her old ailment, nothing to worry about!"
"Father, rest assured, I will take good care of Grandmother and make sure nothing happens to her!" Liu Zheng promised.
"Hmm! I believe you!" Liu Hai nodded.
"Father, then I’ll prepare the carriage to go see Grandmother!"
"No rush. Come home with me today. There are a few matters I need to discuss with you!"
"Oh, alright then!"
