Chapter 48: Chapter 48: He Wanted to Offer Himself in Marriage at the Time

Yan Wen knew Su Huaqing couldn’t stand Song Lianhe. So when he heard that Yan Wen was going to meet her, Su Huaqing went on high alert and insisted on coming along to protect him.

Su Huaqing’s exact words were, “Don’t get snatched away by that femme fatale!”

Although his friend was just looking out for him, Yan Wen abided by the code of a gentleman. He treated women with restraint and propriety and would never make such a joke himself.

Besides…

’His heart already belonged to someone else.’

“Wanzhang, please don’t make jokes like that again.”

With that, he picked up his cup again.

Su Huaqing took one look at his dear friend and knew he was thinking about the other Miss Song again. He tapped his folding fan lightly against his palm and shook his head in resignation.

He looked up to meet Song Lianhe’s gaze, no longer beating around the bush. “Second Miss Song, you still haven’t explained,” he asked directly. “Why did you specifically pick our Rongbai?”

Song Lianhe picked up a peanut from the plate with her chopsticks. “You’ll have to ask Boss Yan about that,” she said as she ate.

Su Huaqing froze, then immediately turned to Yan Wen, his expression clearly saying, ’You’re actually hiding something from me?’

Yan Wen looked slightly awkward. ’After all, getting drunk, running to the gates of the General Mansion in the middle of the night, and crying and shouting to see Miss Song… It was utterly humiliating.’

He deliberated for a moment and was just about to speak when Song Lianhe put down her chopsticks and answered for him. “It’s nothing much, really. During a torrential downpour, he was knocked unconscious by a carriage and his heart stopped. I just happened to be passing by, so I saved his life.”

Su Huaqing looked completely shocked. “You’re saying *you* saved him?”

“That’s right!”

Song Lianhe nudged the silent man beside her with her elbow. “He felt he could never repay me for saving his life, so he wanted to offer himself in marriage. I turned him down, and that’s how we ended up with the Boss Yan you see today.”

Yan Wen grew flustered. “Second Miss Song, please don’t spout such nonsense! I never—”

“Heh, I’m just joking! Wanzhang here was just saying I had my eyes on you, so I’m simply returning the favor.” Song Lianhe picked up her chopsticks and resumed eating. “Boss Yan, don’t be so tense. Relax. It’s not like I’m going to eat you. You’re here to be my shopkeeper, and we’re going to make a lot of silver together. It’s a win-win situation.”

Yan Wen pressed his lips together, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment before he finally looked away. He took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were clear and focused. He said solemnly, “Second Miss Song, you may rest assured. I will not go back on my word.”

“Aha! Now that’s more like it! Come, come, let’s drink!”

Su Huaqing sat across from them, propping his head up with one hand and watching the two with an amused expression.

*

An opening day was chosen for the clinic. Shuang Ye and Ah Yu had been so busy these past few days they were constantly on the move, while Song Lianhe, in contrast, had become the idlest person around.

On the second day after their detoxification, Shen Fu and the others were sent out of the Prince Mansion one by one and settled into proper accommodations outside.

The Prince Mansion returned to its usual tranquility. Song Lianhe lay on a chaise longue, sunbathing with her eyes squinted. Without looking, she could reach out and unerringly grab a snack from the food box on the table.

A small shadow fell over her. She opened her eyes wide. “Ah, Young Master Huai!”

She sat up straight. “Have a seat.” She then pushed her treasured food box toward him. “Help yourself.”

Huai Xu smiled and politely declined. Zhou Cangyan had previously asked him to check on Song Lianhe’s health, but he had been busy with Shen Fu and the others. He finally had some free time today and also wanted to consult with her on a few matters.

’He had to admit,’ he thought, ’that when it came to the medical arts, this Second Miss Song’s ideas were quite innovative and refreshing. The views she expressed were unlike anything he had ever heard.’

Although Song Lianhe felt it was all rather superfluous, she cooperatively extended her hand…

Just then, Uncle Liang suddenly walked into the rear garden. “Second Miss Song, Eunuch Lu has arrived. Please hurry to the front hall to receive a decree.”

“Eunuch Lu? What’s he doing here?”

Lu Shunfu was the Chief Eunuch who served the Holy Emperor. ’If he’s here,’ she thought, ’he must be carrying a decree from His Majesty. And I’m not naive enough to think it’s another reward.’

Since a decree from the Holy Emperor was involved, it was no longer convenient for Huai Xu to continue. Song Lianhe bid him a quick farewell and followed Uncle Liang to the front hall.

“This servant greets Princess Cheng Hong,” the eunuch, dressed in a crimson-purple robe, said with a beaming smile as he looked at Song Lianhe.

“I am here to relay a verbal edict from the Holy Emperor…”

*

Even after she was seated in the carriage, Song Lianhe was still in a daze.

’They sent me away just like that?’

’I have no idea what that old Emperor is thinking.’ After Lu Shunfu had delivered the verbal edict, he had his men “invite” her directly onto a carriage, which then “escorted” her all the way back to the General Mansion.

Outside the Prince Qing Mansion, Zhun Xu frowned. “We’re just letting Second Miss Song leave like that?”

Uncle Liang scoffed. “Eunuch Lu himself brought a verbal edict from the Holy Emperor. This is clearly a way for the National Guardian General to save face. What were we supposed to do, defy an imperial decree to keep her here?” As he spoke, he glanced to the side and called for Xuan Mei, who wordlessly and stealthily followed the carriage.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep