boyutpedia Chapter 1437 Satisfaction
Chapter 1437 Satisfaction
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingheng looked at Zhan Miao with a sincere gaze, tinged with inquiry, yet still quite gentle: "I wonder what Miss Zhan's hobbies are?"
Zhan Miao was rummaging through the lotus seed soup in his bowl when he heard this. He looked up abruptly, a lotus seed still in his mouth, his cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel stealing food. For a moment, he forgot to reply.
Seeing this, Lu Jingheng's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible smile, but it was so fleeting that it was impossible to catch.
The Grand Princess was amused by what she saw, and coughed lightly to remind her, "Miao'er, General Lu is asking you a question."
Zhan Miao then came to her senses, hurriedly swallowed the lotus seeds, her cheeks flushed even more, and stammered, "No, I don't have any particular hobbies, I just occasionally practice riding and archery, and read books."
She was telling the truth. She had been learning riding and archery from her father and brothers since she was a child. Although her riding and archery skills were not as good as those of men, they were still much better than those of most young ladies from noble families in the capital. However, it seemed a bit inappropriate to say this at this time.
Sure enough, Lu Jingheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he became interested: "Miss Zhan also knows archery and horsemanship? I would like to have a friendly exchange with you."
Zhan Miao was taken aback by his response and was momentarily speechless. He cursed himself for being so talkative and could only brace himself and say, "It's just a rudimentary skill. How could I dare to spar with the young general?"
Seeing that the two had finally found something to talk about, the Grand Princess quietly got up, gave them a wink, and then tiptoed out, thoughtfully closing the door to the private room behind her. The atmosphere inside was somewhat awkward for a moment.
The moment the door closed, Zhan Miao felt as if the air itself had frozen. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, trying to hide her embarrassment. But out of the corner of her eye, she caught Lu Jingheng looking at her. His gaze wasn't frivolous like others'; he was just quietly watching, which made her even more uncomfortable.
Lu Jingheng seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and took the initiative to speak, breaking the silence: "Miss Zhan, there is no need to be so reserved. The Grand Princess's kindness is appreciated. I have only come here today to get to know you, and I have no other intentions."
These words relieved Zhan Miao. She looked up at him and found that although he looked resolute, there was a hint of frankness in his eyes, which was not as rough and unruly as she had imagined.
She composed herself and relaxed a bit, saying softly, "General Lu has been stationed at the border for many years. Life there must be extremely tough."
When the border was mentioned, Lu Jingheng's eyes darkened, but also gained a bit of luster: "It is naturally tough, but guarding the country and seeing the border peaceful makes it all worthwhile."
When he started talking about the border, he became more talkative, describing the scenery of the grasslands, the battles on the battlefield, and the funny stories among the brothers in the camp. His voice was deep and had a unique magnetism, which made Zhan Miao listen intently.
She had never heard of such novelties before. The young masters of noble families in the capital only knew how to compose poems and talk about romance and nature. This was the first time she had ever heard such passionate stories.
But as they listened, something went wrong.
Lu Jingheng recounted an incident during a battle with the Xiongnu, where his warhorse was startled, and he subdued it with his bare hands. On a whim, he gestured with his hands to demonstrate.
Unexpectedly, the movement was a little too forceful, causing the teacup on the corner of the table to tip over, spilling the warm tea. Most of it splashed onto Zhan Miao's pink silk skirt, creating a large wet stain.
Both of them were taken aback.
Lu Jingheng realized what had happened and hurriedly stood up to apologize. He frantically grabbed a handkerchief from the table and handed it to her, his voice full of apology: "I'm so sorry, Miss Zhan, I was rude and got your dress wet."
Zhan Miao looked at the wet stains on her skirt. The delicate pink silk skirt was already fragile, and after being soaked in tea, faint tea stains appeared. A perfectly good outfit was ruined just like that.
She was stunned at first, then her lips drooped, and she felt wronged.
This was a new dress that her mother specially had made for her. Today was the first time she wore it, and it's been ruined like this. And to make matters worse, it happened on a blind date. How embarrassing!
She took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes haphazardly. Her eyes were slightly red, but she tried her best to hold back her tears. She looked pitiful and cute.
Seeing her like this, Lu Jingheng panicked even more. The young general, who was usually calm and collected on the battlefield, was now at a loss.
He could barely speak properly: "Miss Zhan, don't cry. I, I'll make you a new outfit, any amount of brocade will do, or I'll have the embroiderers in the manor make one for you overnight. Don't be angry."
He became more and more anxious as he spoke, and his face even turned slightly red. His usual composure in commanding thousands of troops was completely gone, and he looked like a child who had done something wrong.
Zhan Miao wasn't really angry; she just felt wronged. Seeing his flustered state, that feeling of grievance inexplicably dissipated. Looking at his flushed face, she held back for a long time before bursting into laughter.
This smile stunned Lu Jingheng, who stared at her blankly.
Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on her face, highlighting her arched eyebrows and shallow dimples, making her even more captivating than the lake and mountain scenery outside. He was so mesmerized that he didn't even notice the handkerchief in his hand falling to the ground.
Seeing his expression, Zhan Miao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her face away, pretending to straighten her clothes, but secretly changed her mind.
Lu Jingheng wasn't a blockhead, though he was occasionally a bit reckless. He was more down-to-earth than those glib-tongued young masters in the capital.
However, she wouldn't let it go, picking up a handkerchief to wipe the hem of her skirt and deliberately putting on a stern face, saying, "Fine, since you didn't do it on purpose, I won't hold it against you. But this skirt is probably unwearable now, so this blind date has to end here."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingheng hurriedly said, "It was my fault. I will treat Miss Zhan to a meal another day to make amends. I wonder if Miss Zhan would do me the honor?"
His gaze, filled with anticipation, fell upon Zhan Miao, causing her heart to skip a beat.
Zhan Miao looked up and met his deep eyes, in which her image was reflected, clear and real. She pursed her lips, and finally nodded, her voice barely audible: "Then, then I'll do as you say."
Outside the private room, the Grand Princess was eavesdropping by the door frame. When she heard the two laughing and talking inside, she couldn't help but smile. She whispered to the maid behind her, "See? I told you these two were destined for each other."
The maid chimed in, "It seems Her Highness is preparing a dowry for Miss Miao'er!"
The Grand Princess smiled and said, "Everything is ready. This princess will make Little Meow the most glamorous bride in Shengjing City!"
When the carriage returned to the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence, the sun was already hanging low over the western eaves, casting a warm golden glow.
The carriage curtain was lifted by a maid, and Zhan Miao stepped out of the carriage, lifting her skirt. The silk skirt that had been splashed with tea earlier had already been changed into a moon-white soft satin dress, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden. Even when the palanquin stepped across the bluestone road, her steps were a little lighter than when she came.
As soon as they entered the main hall, Lin Yiwan came to greet them. She subconsciously took her hand, her eyes filled with probing: "Miao'er, what did you think of General Lu today? Did he please you?"