The entire Su Manor was as if facing a formidable enemy, the atmosphere incomparably tense.
Several clan elders appeared in person, respectfully inviting Jiang Lan inside and serving fine tea, not daring to slight him in the least.
Su Qinghan had just finished her morning training when she learned from her maid that the Prime Minister's son had stormed into Su Manor early that morning with a large number of guards. No one had dared stop him.
Even the several clan elders with the deepest cultivation had appeared, personally accompanying him, before hurriedly sending someone to summon her.
"Hmm?"
"Young Master Jiang has come?"
Su Qinghan was somewhat surprised that Jiang Lan had come to Su Manor. After tidying herself up simply, without any makeup, she rose and went directly to see him.
"Why did Miss Qinghan leave without saying farewell that day?"
In the reception hall, Jiang Lan sat there calmly and at ease. Dressed in white, he was as handsome as jade, graceful and refined, a smile on his face.
He had not even sheared all the wool yet, and Su Qinghan already wanted to run?
The many members of the Su Household obediently withdrew, leaving only Su Qinghan, Jiang Lan, and several clan elders worried that something unexpected might happen.
"I hope Young Master Jiang can forgive me. Seeing that you had already awakened safely that day, Qinghan thought the clan might be worried, so I took my leave first," Su Qinghan explained.
Jiang Lan smiled, casually setting down his teacup. "I thought you left so quickly because you were afraid I might eat you."
As though recalling something, the corners of Su Qinghan's lips curved faintly. "I trust Young Master Jiang's character. You are not that kind of person."
Jiang Lan merely smiled noncommittally. With a casual toss, a Sumire Ring glimmering with a soft radiance suddenly appeared before Su Qinghan.
"What is this?"
Su Qinghan was slightly startled.
"Take a look?" Jiang Lan said with a smile.
Su Qinghan sent her divine sense inside. Confusion first appeared on her flawless jade-like face, then slowly turned into surprise and shock. At last, the expression on her face gradually vanished, as though she had fallen into deep thought.
Jiang Lan leisurely drank his tea, unsurprised by Su Qinghan's reaction.
The several clan elders at the side were likewise shocked, but they did not dare overstep their bounds and speak. They could only stare at the Sumire Ring, countless guesses rising in their hearts.
He had barged into Su Manor early in the morning and thrown out such a Sumire Ring. No matter how one looked at it, it carried the air of sending someone off after the deed was done.
Coupled with the rumors spreading through Yuyi City these past few days—
The several clan elders could only sigh inwardly, filled with melancholy and helplessness.
Su Manor had finally produced a kirin maiden, only for her to be ruined by Great Xia's foremost wastrel of the second generation. Afterward, he had even brought a Sumire Ring, intending to send her away with it.
"What does Young Master Jiang mean by this?" Su Qinghan asked in confusion.
"I do not wish to owe Miss Qinghan for her care over these past few days," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile.
As the Prime Minister's son, there was nothing he lacked—except money. No, that was not right. He lacked nothing at all, and naturally did not lack money either.
Su Qinghan shook her head and pushed the Sumire Ring back. "It is too valuable. Qinghan cannot accept it."
Jiang Lan still wore a smile. "Miss Qinghan, do not be so quick to refuse. I have also heard the rumors in Yuyi City. They concern Miss Qinghan's innocent reputation—how could I simply turn a blind eye?"
As he spoke, he gave a light wave of his hand. Three more Sumire Rings appeared before Su Qinghan.
Innocence?
Were the two of them not utterly innocent?
A trace of suspicion flashed through Su Qinghan's eyes. After getting to know Jiang Lan, she naturally could not believe that he was interested in her.
Then why was he saying this? Was he still trying to smear his own name?
"I have already explained the reasons to my father. I will take responsibility for Miss Qinghan."
"These things are also a small token of my sincerity. After I marry Miss Qinghan into my household, I will definitely treat you well. Miss Qinghan may rest assured of that..."
Jiang Lan gently blew on the steam rising from his teacup, yet his face bore an unprecedentedly serious expression.
Though part of it came from his perverse sense of amusement, more of it was for the sake of making Su Qinghan truly devote herself to him in the future. After all, there was no sheep better to shear than her.
Su Qinghan froze on the spot, her beautiful eyes widening involuntarily.
When she saw Jiang Lan's serious expression, absurdity filled her heart. Could he actually be serious?
Although, through her interactions with Jiang Lan over the past few days, she no longer held as much ill feeling toward him as before, she could not say she liked him deeply either. She was only somewhat curious about and admiring of him...
The several clan elders of Su Manor were now dumbfounded as well, wondering whether they had heard wrongly.
Had Jiang Lan's expression not been so serious, they would have suspected that he was making a joke of Su Manor.
"Young Master Jiang, are you serious?" Su Qinghan gathered her thoughts and forced herself to calm down, her bright eyes fixed on Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan nodded slightly. "I will give Miss Qinghan three days to consider. If you are worried about whether I will treat you well in the future, I can first swear an oath or something..."
Only after a moment of silence did Su Qinghan say with a complicated expression, "Since Young Master Jiang has put it this way, Qinghan will consider it afterward."
Though she did not yet know why Jiang Lan was determined to marry her, based on what she had learned of him these past few days, he must have some purpose and reason.
Was he after her beauty and body?
She shook her head inwardly, immediately rejecting that possibility. With his severe obsession with cleanliness, he did not even have enough time to disdain her.
Could he still be trying to smear his own name?
Jiang Lan did not stay long. After giving Su Qinghan three days to consider, he left with his many guards.
Based on his understanding of Su Qinghan, she would not refuse, nor did she have any reason to refuse.
"She was clearly somewhat tempted, yet she still put on such a hesitant, worried appearance..." Feeling waves of Fortune surging toward him, Jiang Lan felt like laughing.
Women truly did say one thing and mean another.
In terms of status and background, he was Great Xia's foremost nobleman, beyond compare. In terms of character and temperament, he smeared his own name and concealed his brilliance, pure as ice and jade. In terms of appearance, he possessed an immortal bearing and divine bones, outstanding and elegant...
Setting aside his original temperament and conduct, he could indeed be called the dream of countless Great Xia maidens.
No matter how exceptional Su Qinghan was, she was still a woman in the end.
After Jiang Lan left Su Manor, a large number of clan members immediately flooded into the reception hall. They had all been eavesdropping outside just now. Su Changkong's expression was especially unsightly, barely suppressing his anger.
"Qinghan, you do not need to..."
He was just about to persuade his daughter not to be angry when the words he intended to say were forced back down his throat. Su Qinghan was far calmer than he had expected; there was not even the slightest sign of anger on her face.
"He says it is three days to consider, but in truth, he is merely granting us three days of mercy. If we cannot give him a satisfactory explanation after three days..." His face was full of sorrow.
"Hiss..."
Yet as he spoke, waves of sharp breaths being drawn in sounded one after another from beside him.
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