Upon seeing Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan, Cui Xiaoqiu politely greeted them.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "I didn't expect such a coincidence."
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Your Majesty, it was Grandmother's sudden decision to come to the Great Xiangguo Temple, so Mother accompanied her to listen to the sutras."
Yanran pointed at him and said with a sly smile, "I know why Old Madam Cui made this on a whim. It's because someone was whispering in her ear, isn't it?"
Cui Xiaoqiu looked slightly embarrassed. "I only told my grandmother yesterday. I didn't know if she would agree before, so I didn't dare to mention it to you, afraid of disappointing you."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and whispered to Meng Yulan, "Childhood sweethearts, how fun!"
Meng Yulan also said so.
Yanran exchanged a few words with Cui Xiaoqiu, then waved her hand and said, "I'll go inside and kowtow to my grandmother first, then I'll come out to play with you later. Oh, and I brought Jiaojiao with me too, see you at the back mountain later."
Cui Xiaoqiu agreed.
As they walked inside, Xiu'er said to Yanran, "Miss, I think Cui Xiaoqiu likes you a lot. Does he want to marry you?"
Yanran paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "What's the use of him thinking? Last year I wanted to marry my brother, this year I think Cui Xiaoqiu is okay too, and next year I might like someone else!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Meng Yulan laughed and said, "You're still just a child."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Isn't it just children playing house?"
When she was in second or third grade, the boy who sat in front of her told her that he wanted her to marry him when she grew up. Tang Zhuyun was furious and punched him, giving him a black eye. The incident alarmed both sets of parents...
However, they later became good friends again.
He told Tang Zhuyun that he liked her because she was the top student in the class.
Tang Zhuyun, eating the snacks the boy's mother had brought him, said, "I forgive you because you're second in the class."
An invincible life is too lonely; when you encounter difficulties, you always need someone to discuss them with.
Looking back now, it was really funny.
I haven't been in contact with that boy since elementary school graduation, and he probably doesn't even recognize me anymore.
In this life, you will meet many people and make many friends, but some people are destined to be just companions for a while.
Cui Xiaoqiu was to Yanran what that male classmate in her memory was to her.
Looking back on it in the future, it will bring a smile to your face.
After waiting inside for a while, Lady Deng arrived with Xue Lie.
After the ceremony, Lady Deng Meng Yulan aside to talk—clearly to discuss Xue Lie's marriage.
Xue Lie pulled Tang Zhuyun aside and said with a distressed expression, "Sister, my mother has gone mad. Can you help me talk to her?"
Is he unable to find a wife?
Tang Zhuyun gloated, "Don't be so ungrateful! I'm trying to find you a wife!"
Xue Lie: "I don't want anything that's monotonous and boring."
Who do you find interesting?
Xue Lie blushed slightly, and even showed a hint of shyness as he looked towards the door.
Outside, Linlin was talking to Yanran with her head turned to the side, while Nanxing stood silently to the side with a cold expression.
Tang Zhuyun: "Nanxing?"
Xue Lie turned his head away, refusing to admit it. "No, it's just... I just think she's kind of interesting."
Tang Zhuyun said bluntly, "It's best if you don't have any, Nanxing won't do."
"Why not?" Xue Lie asked anxiously.
Tang Zhuyun glanced at Lady Deng and asked in return, "What do you think?"
Xue Lie immediately hung his head in dejection.
He knew it would be difficult for him to persuade his mother.
Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief—the fact that they could still weigh the pros and cons meant they hadn't fallen into a trap, thank goodness.
She patted Xue Lie on the shoulder. "If Nanxing liked you, I might still support you. But I clearly asked Nanxing on your behalf, and she's not willing."
Xue Lie lowered his head. "I know, it's nothing... I'm just a little disappointed. I don't have the mind to think about anything else right now. Just give me some time."
He then took a deep breath, and when he looked up again, he was completely nonchalant, even with a hint of a joke in his tone.
"Sister, does Nanxing like Kong Xiyou?"
Tang Zhuyun truthfully replied, "I don't know."
Actually, she didn't think so. But Xiyou probably had some ulterior motives.
"Kong Xiyou is alright."
Tang Zhuyun was somewhat surprised.
Xue Lie was amused by her expression and said self-deprecatingly, "If you don't like me, you don't like me either, but I've liked her all along, so I always hope she finds a good match."
Tang Zhuyun looked at him with newfound respect and praised him, "With such a magnanimous heart, you will surely find a woman who is compatible with you in the future."
Xue Lie his head. "Of course. What does a great man have to worry about not having a wife?"
His words were filled with the arrogance of the Little Conqueror of the Silver Spear.
In the courtyard, Yanran said to Linlin, "Brother, are you going back to school? Let's go together. I've arranged to meet Cui Xiaoqiu over there."
"Alright. Let's tell Mother."
The brother and sister quickly went out, with Nanxing and Jiaojiao following closely behind, each with a tiger, and guards trailing behind them at a distance.
When they arrived at the back of the mountain, Cui Xiaoqiu had not yet arrived.
Yanran said to Linlin, "Brother, you go and study. I'll wait for him here for a while."
Seeing that Jiaojiao and the guards were both there, Linlin nodded and said, "Then I'll go find the teacher first."
"See you tonight, brother," Yanran said with a smile, watching Linlin leave.
She found a large rock to sit on, stroking Jiaojiao's back, looking quite relaxed.
The monks who witnessed this scene were all greatly shocked.
A pretty little girl, as clever and energetic as a snowball, and a majestic tiger—together they are terrifying yet surprisingly harmonious.
"You want to see Jiaojiao? Come and see her." Yanran greeted everyone with Yingying.
But no one dared to step forward.
"Yanran," Cui Xiaoqiu's voice rang out, "Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"
Yanran turned around and saw Cui Xiaoqiu being led by the hand by an elderly woman in her fifties, with Cui Xiaoqiu's mother, Madam Cui, beside her, followed by a group of maids and servants, making quite a grand procession.
Yanran stood up, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear voice, "Greetings, Madam."
Old Madam Cui stared at Yanran, stunned for a long time.
Cui Xiaoqiu sensed something was wrong and looked up at her grandmother.
Realizing her lapse in decorum, Old Madam Cui quickly composed herself and said, "Please, no need for formalities."
She made no gesture, didn't give Yanran anything, and didn't even say a few words of praise to her.
Cui Xiaoqiu felt sullen.
Grandmother, isn't that a bit impolite?
He had a vague feeling that his grandmother didn't seem to like Yanran.
However, Old Madam Cui then added, "In all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen a live tiger."
"Its name is Jiaojiao, and it's very well-behaved," Yanran said with a smile. "Don't be afraid."
Just then, the temple bell rang, and Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Grandmother, Mother, Master Hong'en has begun his sermon."
The implication was that they should leave.
Old Madam Cui said with a kind expression, "Alright, you can play here for a while. Yushu, have someone take good care of you."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left.
After they had walked a distance, Madam Cui whispered, "Mother, just now you..."
"We'll talk about it when we get home." Old Madam Cui's expression was calm, but her eyes were deep and unfathomable.
Madam Cui could tell from her tone that she was angry.
But why?
(One less chapter today, will make up for it tomorrow, running away with a pot on my head)