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âBig sister!â
âSister Zixuan!â
After looking at the dowry for a while, Daohua and Li Zixin held hands and entered Li Zixuanâs room, just in time to see Li Zixuan holding a gold inlaid with ruby and pearl hairpin, shyly looking down and smiling.
Seeing her like this, Daohua and Li Zixin exchanged glances and covered their mouths, giggling quietly.
Li Zixuan hurriedly put down the hairpin, feigning annoyance as she glared at her two sisters, âWhat are you laughing at?â After saying that and seeing that they continued to stare at her, she felt shy and had to use a handkerchief to cover her face, then feeling that wasnât appropriate, she removed it again.
Daohua walked up with a smile, snatched the hairpin, âWhat a beautiful hairpin, who gave this to you?â
Li Zixin came over and chimed in, âWho else but my future brother-in-law?â
Unable to endure their teasing, Li Zixuan stood up, pretending to strike at them.
Daohua and Li Zixin quickly ran away, teasing as they fled, causing Li Zixuan to blush with embarrassment.
After frolicking for a while, all three were out of breath and finally stopped.
Daohua put down the hairpin, sat beside Li Zixuan, and taking her hand asked, âSister Zixuan, you really like that Feng Liangji, donât you?â
Li Zixuan immediately spat at Daohua, âWhat nonsense are you talking about, liking or not liking, stop speaking such nonsense.â
Seeing her coyness, Daohua silently laughed, it seemed she did like him.
Indeed, before getting to know someoneâs character and values, attraction often stems from looks.
Feng Liangji, with his graceful appearance, was indeed easily favored by girls.
Seeing Sister Zixuan so embarrassingly shy, Daohua cheerfully changed the subject, âI heard the Feng Family brought quite a few people today, and the dowry they gave is generous, itâs apparent that the Feng Family values you highly.â
Li Zixuan pursed her lips with a smile, tapping Daohua on the forehead, âYou little mischief, thereâs no need to make fun of me here. In another two years, it will be your turn.â
Daohua shivered and quickly moved aside, âItâs still early for me, my mother said I should stay at home a few more years.â
Li Zixuan laughed, âEven if you stay a few more years, in the end, you must marry someone.â
Not wanting to continue this topic, Daohua quickly said, âStop it, Zixuan, Iâm leaving after the Flower God Festival, let me enjoy a few more carefree days.â
In Zhongzhou, the Flower God Festival is on February twenty-fifth. The day before yesterday, Dong Yuanyao sent out invitations for them to attend the temple fair at the Temple of the Flower God on the festival day.
Initially, she planned to go to Ningmen Prefecture tomorrow, but since Dong Yuanyao invited her, it was just a matter of staying three more days, so she agreed.
Li Zixin intervened, âSister, letâs go together that day.â
Daohua immediately nodded, âRight, Iâve been here for almost half a month and havenât seen you step out once.â
Li Zixuan also felt tempted, âBut we have to ask our mother and aunt.â
Li Zixin smiled, âThey are also going to enjoy the outdoors that day.â
â¦
The Temple of the Flower God is located on the outskirts of the provincial capital.
On the day of the Flower God Festival, the Fan Family, accompanied by Daohua and others, left home early in the morning but only arrived at the Temple of the Flower God by 10 oâclock in the morning (the fourth quarter of the 9:00-11:00 AM period).
Dong Yuanyao had already arrived, and as soon as Daohuaâs group stepped into the temple, she came over. After paying respects to Mrs. Fan and the Jian Family, she asked, âWhy have you only just arrived?â
Daohua: âDonât mention it, there were so many people going out today that we got stuck halfway.â
Dong Yuanyao: âYou must have left late then; we didnât get stuck when leaving the city.â As she spoke, she lifted the multicolored paper in her hand, âCome on, letâs go paste the colored paper.â
Daohua looked at Mrs. Fan, and after receiving a nod, she along with the sisters Li Zixuan followed Dong Yuanyao to the garden.
In the garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, and young ladies flitted among them like butterflies, while in the distance, in the Jiao Pavilion, elegant young men were brewing tea, admiring the scenery, and composing poetry.
After pasting the colored paper, the four strolled around the garden, laughing and chatting as they admired the flowers.
Midway, Li Zixin wasnât paying attention, ran a bit too rashly, and sprained her ankle. Daohua and the others had no choice but to send her back to Mrs. Fan and Mrs. Jian.
âYou go on and have fun, Iâll stay here with Zixin,â said Mrs. Fan, reassuringly.
Knowing that her cousin and Miss Dong were fond of playing, Li Zixuan smiled and took the initiative to say.
Li Zixin followed up, âYes, go enjoy the flowers. Big sister, you too. Itâs not easy to come out, donât let me spoil your fun.â
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Li Zixuan shook her head, âIâve been walking around for half the day and Iâm a bit tired too, I wonât go.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Hearing what the two said, Daohua finally smiled and left with Dong Yuanyao.
âI just heard that the peonies in the eastern corner of the garden have bloomed, shall we go take a look?â
âSure!â
The two girls laughed and walked towards the eastern corner of the garden.
âLook quickly, there really are peony flowers!â
As soon as they turned the corner, Dong Yuanyao saw pots of blooming peonies in the distance and pulled Daohua to go over.
But who knew, her pull did not budge her.
Turning her head, she saw Daohua frowning at a pavilion not far away.
Following Daohuaâs gaze, Dong Yuanyao immediately looked surprised, âIsnât that Feng Liangji, the son of the Feng Family that your cousin Sister Zixuan has just been betrothed to?â As she spoke, she paused and furrowed her brows as well.
In the Jiao Pavilion not far away, Feng Liangji and three or four youths in brocade were sitting together chatting, with several girls by their side.
One of the girls in pink was feeding Feng Liangji cakes.
Not handing them over, but directly feeding the cakes into Feng Liangjiâs mouth.
Feng Liangjiâs face showed reluctance, yet he did not sternly refuse.
Looking at this scene, Daohuaâs brows were knotted in a lump.
Dong Yuanyao scoffed, âMerchant families really are like this, devoid of all etiquette and manners.â The girl in pink was almost clinging to Feng Liangjiâs body.
Inside the Jiao Pavilion.
âBrother Feng, have another piece, I made this myself yesterday,â Sun Jiayue said while feeding a piece of glutinous rice cake into Feng Liangjiâs mouth.
Feng Liangji was visibly impatient and wanted to refuse, but out of concern not to embarrass his good friend Sun Yongyi, he grudgingly ate the cake.
Feng Hao stood at the edge of the pavilion with his hands behind his back, his gaze caught the scene from the corner of his eye, and his face turned unpleasant, âLiangji, if you donât want to eat it, donât force yourself, lest you upset your stomach.â
Feng Liangjiâs expression changed, wanting to spit out the cake, but finding it indecent to do so, he forced it down. Before he could respond, a companion suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
âThey say a beauty surpasses the splendors of spring, and I never quite believed it until now, seeing the real person, there really are such enchanting creatures in the world.â
As he stared transfixed behind them, everyone turned their heads, and suddenly, two lovely figures, one red and one blue, caught their eyes.
When Feng Hao noticed the silence in the pavilion, he couldnât help but look back, his gaze instantly deepening.
âAhem~â
Suddenly, there was a severe coughing fit from inside the pavilion.
It was none other than Feng Liangji.
The glutinous rice cake was quite sticky, and not being careful, he choked on it.
Sun Jiayue immediately went forward to help him by patting his back, but sadly, this time, Feng Liangji, like a startled rabbit, quickly dodged away.
â¦
âWhy are you standing here?â
A voice suddenly came from behind, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao quickly turned around and found it was Xiao Yeyang and a few others.
Daohua glanced at the direction of the Jiao Pavilion with a snort, âWe have just seen quite a play.â
Yan Wenkai immediately asked, âWhat play? Where is it? Let me have a look.â
Daohua gave him a blank look, âFourth Brother, Iâm afraid youâll never have that knack for theater in this lifetime.â
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua curiously.
There is quite a strong whiff of gunpowder, someone must have made her angry, he thought, and then looked towards the Jiao Pavilion.
At this moment, Feng Hao from inside the pavilion was already walking toward them, with Feng Liangji following with his head down.
âJiguangâs Feng Hao greets the Little Prince.â