Lovable Beauty

Chapter 17-Taking a Fancy Someone, Even Master Can’t Avoid It 

At their departure, Xie Lanyin nodded in satisfaction as she watched the staff tie her beloved mare to the back of the carriage before getting inside. 

Meanwhile, Jiang Huaizhou accompanied Xiao Yuan on horseback. 

The two chatted as they trotted beside the carriage. Xie Lanyin was tired, and her waist was sore, and her legs were weak, so she became sleepy after listening in to the lull of their voices. She took out a pillow from under the small shelf, arranged it how she liked, and lay down cozily. The carriage drove steadily, and the slight bumps on the road surprisingly made the trip more comfortable. Xie Lanyin closed her eyes and fell asleep. 

Jiang Huaizhou found it odd that there hadn’t been any movement in the carriage for some time, so he leaned into the window and lifted the curtain to have a look, only to find his little cousin sleeping soundly. He chuckled, put down the curtain, and turned to face Xiao Yuan, remarking, “She’s only been learning for a short amount of time, but she’s already passed out.  She’s too delicate.” 

Xiao Yuan didn’t answer. He recalled the way his pet oriole slept at home, with its round head nestled in its feathers like a ball of. He’d knock on the cage and the oriole would immediately raise its head, its black beady eyes watery. Thinking of the bird’s eyes, he remembered her twinkling peach blossom eyes. He wondered what she looked like once she woke up? 

Thinking wildly, lost in his thoughts mind, it took Jiang Huaizhou talking to him to snap him out of it. 

After entering the city gate, the two decided to meet up at the Bright Moon Tavern for a drink in the evening, and they parted ways. 

The carriage arrived in front of the residence of the Jiangs. Xie Lanyin hadn’t woken up yet. Jiang Huaizhou thoughtfully ordered the driver to drive the carriage to the Alluring Moon Pavilion and saw to it that Sangzhi and Yingge tucked his little cousin into bed before he left to see his aunt. 

“Lanyin didn’t cause you any trouble, did she?” Madam Jiang gestured for her nephew to have a sip of the tea and asked with concern, “You really spoil her too much, acting more like her real brother. You spoil her so much that she bosses you around. Neither my eldest nor second daughter are so rude to you.” 

“That just means I’m a good cousin, so Auntie should stop being so courteous. We’re practically family,” Jiang Huaizhou reassured her with a grin. Fearing that his aunt would be worried, he praised his little cousin’s horse-riding talent. 

The two had a pleasant chat. Knowing he must be tired, Madam Jiang had him go back to his room to rest. 

Jiang Huaizhou had an appointment with someone, so he didn’t stay longer. 

Madam Jiang knew that the relationship between the two cousins was pure. Thinking of what her sister-in-law said to her in the morning, she instructed her head maid Yuzhan, “Check on the Second Young Lady, if she’s returned, tell her to come over.” 

Yuzhan responded softly and came back shortly, informing her that the Second Young Lady hadn’t returned yet. 

Madam Jiang glanced at the sky and suspected that the two cousins would probably eat outside and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. 

Of her three daughters, the eldest was aloof and seemed to really regard herself as a man and left the second marriage was mentioned, without any signs of being enlightened. The second daughter is very careless. It’s a good thing that her brother and sister-in-law were fond of her, so Madam Jiang hoped for the success of this marriage. As for the youngest daughter, she was only thirteen, so there was no need to worry yet. 

Since her second daughter hadn’t returned, Madam Jiang went to Alluring Moon Pavilion. 

Xie Lanyin didn’t get enough sleep in the carriage, so she flopped down on the bed and continued to sleep. As she slept, she felt someone touching her hand, and opened her eyes sleepily, facing her mother’s gentle and beautiful face. 

“Mother…,” Xie Lanyin mumbled. 

Her mother was naturally a great beauty. In terms of being stunning, she was only inferior to her stern father, but her mother’s eyes are more capable and heroic than ordinary women, which made her beauty unique. In terms of appearance, her eldest sister followed after their father, appearing cold and refined. The second sister was more like their mother, smart and beautiful. As for her, she inherited her parents’ respective strengths and was the prettiest, but her temperament wasn’t like either of theirs. 

“Are you feeling sore?” Madam Jiang was checking her daughter’s palm when she saw that she had woken up. 

Xie Lanyin nodded, leaned closer to her mother, and looked at her utmost trust, “Fortunately, I listened to what Mother said, or it would be even worse.” 

“Did you scrape your skin anywhere?” Madam Jiang eyed her daughter’s legs. 

Xie Lanyin thought that her mother wanted to check it herself and she blushed, insisting hastily, “No, it’s just a little red! I’ve applied ointment for it.  It’s fine.” 

“In order to go out to play, you’d endure everything.” Madam Jiang tapped her daughter’s button nose, and pinched her hand to study it, “I will have the seamstress sew a pair of gloves for you later. In our family, your skin is the most tender. One time when you were little, you accidentally spilled some soup, and it scalded the palm of your hands. Your father almost served your wet nurse with corporal punishment.  When you go home, if he finds that you have calluses, he’ll go into a rampage.” 

Xie Lanyin didn’t quite believe it. “Really?” 

She knows Daddy loved her. If she wanted to do something, all she had to do was tell Daddy.  Even if it was something he was strongly against, she’d have to ask him three times at most before he’d agree. But Daddy is naturally cold faced and rarely smiled at her and her sisters. There wasn’t much intimacy between the father and daughters. 

Madam Jiang patted her daughter’s head, her smile was full of memories. “Your father is stupid and thin-skinned. Only when you were still babies would he make funny faces to make you kids laugh. He doesn’t let me see either. He loves you girls, very very much.” 

When her mother said this, Xie Lanyin suddenly became homesick. She hugged her mother, whimpering, “Mother, let’s go home.” 

Though life at the Xie family residence wasn’t exactly peaceful, her father and elder sister were all there, and she missed them. 

“We’ll leave when she gets better.” Jiang was also eager to return. 

Before parting, her husband hugged her all night. When she dressed in the morning, he sat on the bed silently. His eyes followed her everywhere. The big and strong man looked utterly pitiful. She took pity on him and promised to return as soon as possible, but unexpectedly, she failed to do so. They were even late by half a month. 

When it came to the date of return, some people looked forward to the family reunion, while others were secretly dejected. 

*** 

In the private rooms of the Bright Moon Tavern… 

Standing in front of the window, Xiao Yuan only saw Jiang Huaizhou step off the carriage that parked in front of the building. Although he had expected it, he was still a little disappointed. 

Her voice was even more enthralling than that of his pet oriole. It was a pity wasn’t a bird that could be caught at will. 

He absentmindedly drank and chatted with Jiang Huaizhou. By the time they finished, it was already late into the evening. 

Xiao Yuan, followed by Ge Jin, returned to his residence. 

After taking a bath, Xiao Yuan leaned on the bed and gazed at the sleeping oriole curled up in the cage. His mind was filled with images of her at the horse ranch, whether it be laughing in excitement or screaming in panic, while he could only watch her from a distance, watching as she acted cute with her brother. 

Xiao Yuan pondered on these train of thoughts for who knows how long until he felt sleepy. He rubbed his forehead, closed his eyes and fell asleep. 

Too much time spent on playing around would make anyone lose their willpower. He still has so many things to do. He shouldn’t waste his energy on some voice. 

Consciously, he made up his made, but he ended up seeing her in his dreams. 

She tugged on his sleeve and pouted cutely. Her voice was seductive. The ranch was empty. She was a lone bird that offered herself on a silver platter. He didn’t have to hold himself back. 

The next day Xiao Yuan went to do his morning exercises as usual, and Ge Jin came in to tidy up the bed, only to find that the mattress was rolled up. 

Ge Jin froze in front of the dressing screen. 

His master was the definition of abstinent. When he lived in the place, he dreamed once a year at most, but after entering Xi’an city, this was already the second time. 

It seemed that when he met a girl he fancied, even his master couldn’t avoid such things. 

Ge Jin snickered, picked up the mattress and went outside. 

*** 

At the same time, Yingge stood in front of the vanity mirror, observing her lady’s rosy face that she just wiped clean, and praised sincerely, “Young Lady seems to be even more energetic after tiring yourself out yesterday.” 

Xie Lanyin checked herself out in the mirror while wiping her hands and face. Her eyes were bright like bright stars, and she appeared to be in high spirits. 

She couldn’t help but like horse-riding even more. 

Putting on an apricot-colored round-neck men’s robe, Xie Lanyin greeted her mother with a bright smile. 

Seeing her youngest daughter coming over, Madam Jiang stopped talking in time and gave her second daughter a look. 

Xie Lanqiao was taken aback by her mother’s news early in the morning. She was in an awkward state, but she didn’t think there was anything wrong with telling her younger sister about it, so she joked, “Lanyin, Mother asked me if I like our second cousin. Do you think I like him?  The married kind of like?” 

Xie Lanyin was stunned for a moment. The indifferent and handsome face of her second cousin Jiang Xingzhou appeared in her mind. She couldn’t hold back her laugh and plopped down next to her mother, proclaiming, “Mother, what made you think this? Second Cousin is the most beautiful green bamboo in the bamboo forest. My sister is the sparrow flying around in the sky. They are two different kinds of people.” 

If there was something between her sister and second cousin, she would have noticed it. 

Both daughters saw this marriage as a joke, but Madam Jiang was serious about it and shot her youngest daughter a scolding look. “What do you know? You might not think it’s suitable, but once they marry, they’ll be able to get along.  Like your father and I. If I ignore him, he will only say a few words the whole day. And yet don’t we have a good marriage and even gave birth to you three girls?” 

“But you two had mutual affection for one another. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for my cousin,” Xie Lanqiao immediately retorted, “Second Cousin is my real brother in my eyes, and he thinks so too. Mother, just stop with your matchmaking. If you really want to become in-laws with my uncle’s family, why don’t you match Lanyin and Third Cousin…?” 

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Xie Lanyin had enough of that and took a lunge at her sister. 

The two sisters started arguing like magpies fighting. Madam Jiang was fuming as she turned to sip her tea. 

Xie Lanyin snuck a look at her mother and sat down again as she gloated to her sister, “Since Mother mentioned it to us, then my aunt probably also mentioned it to Second Cousin. Will you still ask Second Cousin take you to shop around every day? Why don’t you come to Mount Tong with me?” She wanted to invite her sister to go with her, but her sister wanted to go shopping with Second Cousin instead. And now, she got served some problems out of it. 

Xie Lanqiao didn’t take it seriously. “Second Cousin is not so petty. If you don’t believe me, just watch. I will ask Second Cousin myself.” 

The second daughter spoke so bluntly, without any hints of femininity. Jiang rubbed her forehead and decided to let the children do as they wished, saving her from having to figure out a reason to reject her brother and sister-in-law. The marriage between cousins was reassuring since they knew everything about one another, but the children didn’t see eye to eye, so they couldn’t force it on them. 

The three of them talked for a while and went to the main room for dinner. 

All the members of the Jiang family had arrived. Jiang Qin and Madam Li sat side by side at the head of the table while Jiang Jizhou and his wife sat on one side, and Jiang Huaizhou and his brother sat on the other. 

Seeing the three of them, Madam Li’s eyes lit up, and she looked at her sister-in-law expectedly. There was no problem with her son, so they’re only waiting on the other side. 

Xie Lanqiao was smart, and her clever eyes could easily read people. She glanced around, smiled, and walked directly up to Jiang Xingzhou. “Second Cousin, my mother and aunt want to match us up, so let me ask you, do you want to marry me?” 

Everyone was shocked. 

Madam Jiang gave her brother and sister-in-law a helpless look and went straight to her seat. Xie Lanyin followed her mother, watching Jiang Xingzhou and wondering how he would answer. 

Jiang Xingzhou glanced at his aunt, turned his gaze back to his cousin, who was as frank as they come, and stood up, generously offering, “If Lanqiao is willing to marry me, I will treat you well, and we will grow old together…” 

He didn’t have anyone he liked. Since their parents were wishing for this match to be made, if his cousin was willing, he would cherish her wholeheartedly. 

“Who wants to grow old with you?” He was interrupted by Xie Lanqiao before he finished speaking, snapping angrily, “Second Cousin, don’t pretend with me! I know you only think of me as a younger sister. Oh, you want me to take the blame for disappointing our parents’ painstaking efforts, and let my mother blame me for not being able to recognize gold and jade when I see it, is that right?” 

Jiang Xingzhou maintained a natural smile and patted his cousin’s head and said, “Since Lanqiao doesn’t like me then I will find a good husband for Lanqiao.” 

He really had no romantic love for his cousin, and he was relieved that his cousin shared his feelings, because he felt that his cousin should marry a man who truly loved her, a husband and wife who loved each other instead of respecting each other as guests. 

Xie Lanqiao dodged his hand in disdain. 

Jiang Qin and his wife shared a look, not knowing what to feel. It seemed the two children didn’t have any intentions towards each other, and they simply read too much into it. 

Extras: 

Xie Lanyin: You are a two-faced brute! 

Prince Qin: Does that mean you’ve seen my eight-pack? 

Xie Lanyin: … 

Prince Qin: Or did you see something else? 

Xie Lanyin: … I’m going home!