in2ebook Chapter 139 Looking at each other
Chapter 139 Looking at each other
Granny Gui led He Lan Dian to a pavilion not far from the lake in the garden, then stopped and said, "Young Master He, please go ahead by yourself. I won't see you off."
Helan Dian glanced ahead and saw a woman in a pink ruqun sitting at a stone table in the pavilion. The woman had her back to them, and only her figure and a head of long, black hair could be seen.
Judging from her figure, she is a slender and young girl.
He Lan Dian secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you for your trouble, Granny."
In fact, He Landian had given this marriage a lot of thought.
Although he was born into an official family, he was only a son of a concubine. Compared with his eldest brother and other brothers, his talent was far too mediocre. Even with hard work, he could hardly embark on a career in government.
In addition, his appearance is not particularly outstanding, so it would be really difficult for him to marry a woman who is both beautiful and of good character.
However, if he marries a girl from an ordinary family, the couple will likely have to be careful in their interactions with their siblings and in-laws, and the same will be true if they have children in the future.
Why drag the girl into this mess and make the child suffer?
If he marries this Miss Zhao, with her connection to the Marquis of Pingxi's mansion, the two of them can gain a foothold in the He family. Even if they achieve nothing, no one will dare to bully them.
After bowing, Granny Gui took her leave. He Lan Dian glanced at the pavilion one last time before stepping forward.
Zhao Rufang had heard Gui Mama and He Landian talking early on. She originally wanted to see what her future husband looked like, but she remembered that Gui Mama had repeatedly told her to be reserved yesterday, so she sat and waited for him to arrive, and that's why she held back.
Even though he managed to hold back, he was still restless and couldn't sit still. In the end, he couldn't help but turn around and saw Helan Dian walking in front of the pavilion.
The two looked at each other and paused for a moment.
Then, He Lan Dian withdrew his gaze, bowed, and said, "I am late, and I have kept Miss Zhao waiting."
“Young Master He?” Zhao Rufang sized up He Landian. The man was dressed in a green robe and wore a bronze crown. He was not tall and his appearance was not outstanding. However, perhaps because he had been studying since childhood, he had a certain refined air about him.
Zhao Rufang felt a moment of disappointment, but also a sense of relief that everything had finally settled down.
Although she was reluctant to admit it and was somewhat ambitious and wanted to marry into a higher social class, she realized at one point that the man willing to marry her, even if he was an illegitimate son from an official family, would certainly not be outstanding.
Outstanding young men will certainly have more and better choices.
"It is indeed me." He Lan Dian was much calmer than Zhao Ru Fang, probably because he didn't have high expectations for this marriage.
Zhao Rufang's appearance wasn't particularly outstanding, but after spending two months recuperating at the Pingxi Marquis's residence, her skin became much fairer. In addition, she was young and beautiful, so while her appearance wasn't exceptional, it wasn't bad either.
He was content as long as the person wasn't ugly and was passable.
Zhao Rufang stood up somewhat awkwardly: "Young Master He, please sit here."
"Thank you, Miss Zhao." He Lan Dian stepped forward with an open and generous manner, and then sat down opposite her.
Zhao Rufang rubbed her hands awkwardly, then sat down as well. The maidservants brought tea to the two of them and then withdrew.
In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained in the pavilion.
Helan Dian glanced at the other person's hand on the stone table, then subtly looked away. That hand was different from the slender, fair hands of a pampered young lady from a noble family; the knuckles were larger and the hand was somewhat rough, with a cut mark on it that was unknown.
It's clear that he's experienced hardship and toil.
“Miss Zhao, there’s no need to be nervous.” He Lan Dian smiled. “Just think of me as Miss Zhao’s neighbor, who happened to meet you. We can exchange a few words.”
When Zhao Rufang heard him make this comparison, she thought of Erniu from next door, and she immediately felt less nervous. Moreover, he was better looking than Erniu, had received an education, dressed well, and looked refined and polite.
Hmm... thinking about it this way, this Young Master He is indeed extremely good, a family that she couldn't even reach by climbing a tree before.
As Zhao Rufang thought this, she became increasingly satisfied, and her gaze toward He Landian brightened.
He Lan Dian smiled again: "Is Miss Zhao satisfied with me?"
"Satisfied! Of course I'm satisfied!" Zhao Rufang's smile grew even brighter.
Sometimes, taking a liking to someone is that simple and realistic.
Previously, she thought He Lan Dian's appearance was not outstanding and he was not tall, so she felt he was somewhat unsatisfactory. But after comparing them now, she was more and more satisfied with him, and even his face had become much more handsome.
Looking at He Lan Dian's face, for a fleeting moment she already knew what to name her future child.
He Landian thought to himself that this girl was indeed simple-minded, and her emotions were easy to read at a glance.
He Lan Dian felt relieved. He was getting married because he wanted to live a good life with his wife. It was naturally the best thing that she was satisfied with him.
"I am also very satisfied with Miss Zhao..."
......
As early summer arrives, the days are getting warmer.
Wang Xianrong lay in bed for many days. Her physical condition improved somewhat, but her spirits were low. She was listless, like a flower that was gradually withering and losing its vitality.
His eyes were empty, as if he had lost his soul.
The maid Chen Shuang helped her sit down under a tree in the courtyard, and then brought a kitten over and placed it next to her. It was a kitten that was half white and half yellow, very playful and active, meowing as it stepped on her skirt.
This was a kitten that Song Pingping had given to Wang Xianrong not long ago, saying that having the kitten keep Wang Xianrong company might cheer her up. Chen Shuang thought about it and decided to keep the kitten.
A maid rushed over from outside the courtyard and whispered something in Chen Shuang's ear. Chen Shuang's eyes lit up immediately, and then she went up to speak with Wang Xianrong.
"Miss, do you know that we have guests at your residence today? I heard that the guests' surname is He, and they are family members of Lord He, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. Do you know what brings them here?"
Wang Xianrong sat there, pretending not to hear, without even changing her expression.
Chen Shuang explained, "So it's the third young master of the He family who has come to meet Miss Zhao!"
To be on the same page with Miss Zhao?
Zhao Rufang?
Wang Xianrong finally showed some change in expression, and she asked Chen Shuang, "Has the princess finally decided to get rid of all of us?"
Before Chen Shuang could answer, she smiled sarcastically: "That's right. Now that the princess and the marquis are so loving, they naturally can't tolerate people like us. Yesterday it was Song Pingping who left, today it's Zhao Rufang who's looking for a partner, and I suppose it won't be long before it's my turn."
Chen Shuang's expression changed slightly, and she quickly said, "Miss, what I mean is that the servants saw Miss Zhao and Young Master He chatting happily in the pavilion in the garden. Miss Zhao seemed quite happy and kept laughing."
"Why don't you learn from Miss Zhao and be more open-minded? If it doesn't work out with the Marquis, you can always look for someone else."