NOVPUBOn days like the Double Seventh Festival, the common people would hang their festoons and lanterns in the hopes that their sons and daughters would find a good relationship during this festival.
Xue Lu received so many invitations from noblemen, but she didn't care to look at those boring letters that had piled up into a mountain on her desk.
Those of whom had asked her out were nothing more than ordinary noblemen with no notable achievements.
There was no need for her to pay any heed to them.
"Young Lady, are you planning to stay in the mansion again during this year's Double Seventh Festival?" Li Ya, Xue Lu's close maidservant, asked, "Do you not want to go anywhere?"
Li Ya sometimes felt that the young lady she was serving was just like a Goddess of the Nine Heavens, only drinking the sweetest morning dew of budding flowers, playing the zither in the courtyard, enjoying herself with a board game of chess, twirling away in a dance, and losing herself in story books.
Xue Lu was just as elegant as a goddess, and her beauty was unparalleled. Li Ya doesn't really know who would be so lucky to marry her young lady in the future.
Whoever it would be, they must have accumulated all their luck over several lifetimes to be graced with the young lady's accompaniment in this life!
"Li Ya, send this letter to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince; I will accept his invitation."
Xue Lu lightly placed a letter she had just finished on the desk and gestured for Li Ya to take it.
"What?"
Li Ya was startled by Xue Lu's answer.
She had only expected a "yes," like how her young lady had always answered.
But why was it different this time?
"Young Lady, are you really going to attend the appointment with His Highness, the Crown Prince?!"
Xue Lu sighed softly.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't."
It was a light reprimand with no hint of deterrence.
"Yes, young lady."
Li Ya felt bitter about her young lady's answer.
Is her young lady still planning to marry His Highness the Crown Prince?
Even if she clearly wasn't attracted to him at all?
Even if she clearly wasn't interested in him at all?
Why should the young lady be subjected to such cruelty?
And then she herself…
Xue Lu lowered her eyes.
How could Xue Lu not know that her maid had impure thoughts about her?
But does that really matter?
All she wanted was her undying loyalty.
Moreover, Xue Lu was now rudely splashed awake by her father's straightforward words.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, is the future Emperor of the dynasty and would therefore be able to get whatever he wanted with the power that comes with the Dragon Throne.
Why bother risking her family's lives because of her own reluctance?
Her unwillingness would only endanger the continuation of her clan.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Ming Chen, although a royal, could barely catch Xue Lu's eyes.
He was not the person she liked.
Nor will he ever be.
☼︎ ✵ ☼︎
"Young lady, we have arrived!"
Following Li Ya's words was Xue Li, who slightly opened the curtain to look out the window.
She has finally arrived at the appointment place with Ming Chen.
The bright moonlight quickly illuminated Xue Li's beautiful figure as she slowly got off the sedan chair.
"Peace unto Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Standing by a clear lake, Xue Lu bowed to the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, Ming Chen.
Seeing her actions, Ming Chen immediately helped Xue Lu up.
"You don't have to treat me so distantly; we have known each other for a long time after all."
"Your Royal Highness, etiquette is not something to be discarded."
Xue Lu was firm in her reply.
"Okay, I understand," Ming Chen replied helplessly.
"Is this the Bright Moon Lake?"
Xue Lu easily changed the subject and turned her eyes away from Ming Chen to the eye-catching scenery.
The surface of the lake was sparkling, reflecting the moonlight and stars above. Occasionally, the black silhouettes of a bird or two could be seen flying across the lake.
It was a rare and beautiful scene, and Xue Lu's gloomy mood slowly dissipated.
The view in front of her made her feel much better.
"Yes, this place is a popular destination, so I wanted to invite you to come and enjoy the quiet moonlight and beautiful scenery by the lake with me."
"Your Royal Highness is very kind to share such a view with me."
"As long as you like it." 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Seeing how Xue Lu liked the location he chose, Ming Chen felt very happy.
He had asked his men to clear the location just for this meeting.
Xue Lu was well-known for her cold beauty. Normally, this would make the noblemen stay away, but because of her talent and beautiful appearance, she was easily liked by people, and many noble young masters would then flock to her.
Just as the two—Xue Lu and Ming Chen—were admiring the view under the bright moon with their respective thoughts, a scream suddenly cut through the silent night.
"Ahhh!"
Then there was a splash.
Xue Lu and Ming Chen's faces changed. They froze at the same time.
Someone had fallen into the lake!
The two hurried to the location where they had heard the shout and tried their best to spot the drowning person with the little light the moonlight could provide.
"It's the young lady of the Minister of War, Shu Xi, who had fallen into the lake!"
It was Xue Lu who had exclaimed.
Ming Chen had now encountered a difficult situation.
According to the benevolent temperament Ming Chen had shown to the public, it was impossible for him to refuse to save Shu Xi!
And in order to be alone with Xue Lu, he had already ordered all his attendants to retreat. Now that everyone was gone, there were only Ming Chen and Xue Lu left on the scene.
The only way to save the Young Lady of the Minister of War is for Xue Lu or Ming Chen to dive into the lake and save the drowning girl.
