Nangong Xuan would probably eat with Lu Qingye tonight, since Lu Qingye was visiting.
Zhan Yunge pondered to herself. Should she dine with her grandmother or mother? Before long, she arrived back at Mingzhu Garden.
She could see Wan Yu standing at the compound entrance looking around. The moment Zhan Yunge arrived at the compound entrance, she went over to Zhan Yunge. "Miss, Old Madam Zhan sent word. She wants you to have dinner at Yangxin Garden tonight."
Zhan Yunge was unsurprised since her grandmother often asked to dine with her.
"I will go over once I get changed." Zhan Yunge went back to her room and placed her book on the bookshelf. She had already finished reading this book.
After washing up, Zhan Yunge changed into a fresh set of clothes and went over to Yangxin Garden along with Wan Yu.
When Zhan Yunge got to Yangxin Garden, she could hear laughter coming from the compound. She frowned when she realized that Lu Qingye was around. What was he doing here? She halted and turned to say to Wan Yu, "Tell Granny I have already gone to bed."
The moment Zhan Yunge finished her sentence, she quickly left.
Wan Yu could not wrap her mind around it. Zhan Yunge had just reached the entrance of the compound, so why did she suddenly leave?
Wan Yu could only knock on the entrance of Yangxin Garden. When the maid answered the door, Wan Yu told her Zhan Yunge was asleep and would not be coming tonight.
There were a number of maids in charge of menial tasks in Mingzhu Garden, but Wan Yu was the only one around to serve Zhan Yunge personally. She had to get back to the compound as soon as possible in case Zhan Yunge might need her.
It was simple enough to serve Zhan Yunge, so Wan Yu often ended up doing very little real work.
Old Madam Zhan's maid sighed. "Didn't she just wake up this morning? Why did she go back to sleep?"
Zhan Yunshu and Nangong Xuan glanced at each other knowingly, but they did not say their thoughts out loud.
"Yunge's maid sent word. She has fallen asleep. Sorry for keeping you waiting, Lord Lu. You must be famished!" said Old Madam Zhan to Lu Qingye as she smiled.
Lu Qingye smiled and said, "The wait was okay. I was simply curious. I heard your chef is so good that he can compare to the royal chef. It is my honor that I have the opportunity to sample his cooking today."
"Haha! You are too kind," said Old Madam Zhan happily.
Zhan Yunshu was caught by surprise. Even though Lu Qingye was infamous for being spoiled, he was very good at interacting with the elderly. Since he was kind and respectful to the elderly, he could not be half bad. Zhan Yunshu could not help changing his opinion of Lu Qingye.
Zhan Yunge did not go back to her compound and went to visit her mother instead.
The moment Madam Xinlan caught sight of her daughter, she said knowingly, "Was it too crowded at your grandmother's compound?"
"Not really. I was just worried that I would not be able to resist bullying him. After all, he is our guest." Zhan Yunshu hugged Madam Xinlan's arm tightly.
Madam Xinlan wanted to laugh. "I knew you would not stay for dinner. I told the servants to prepare your favorite dishes already."
The moment she finished her sentence, the maids sent in the food.
After Zhan Yunge had her fill, she sauntered back to Mingzhu Garden. When Wan Yu saw Zhan Yunge, she could guess where Zhan Yunge had gone for dinner without even asking. Since Zhan Yunge did not come back immediately, she must have dined at Madam Xinlan's compound.
She hurriedly prepared the bathwater for Zhan Yunge. Zhan Yunge put on a loose inner robe and walked over to the bookshelf. She took out a sorcery book, went back inside her room, sat down on the couch, and started reading it.
Wan Yu lit a candle and placed it on the table by the couch. Then, she brought some tea and placed it on the table as well before she left.
Before long, she could hear Lu Qingye's voice coming from outside. "Can I spend the night with you?"
"No." Nangong Xuan rejected him succinctly.
"Why not?" Lu Qingye was puzzled. Why couldn't he spend the night at Nangong Xuan's compound?
"Chang He." Nangong Xuan did not bother explaining and simply called his servant.
Chang He gestured for Lu Qingye to leave. "Lord Lu, allow me to send you back to your quarters."
Lu Qingye knew Nangong Xuan's temperament well and did not dare to make trouble. Although Nangong Xuan was only two months older than him, he felt afraid of Nangong Xuan. If he wanted something from the emperor or empress dowager, all he had to do was to act adorable. However, his tactics were futile on Nangong Xuan.
Nangong Xuan was the same to everyone. The moment Nangong Xuan had made up his mind, no one could make him change his opinion. Lu Qingye had never seen anyone succeed in doing so.
Lu Qingye kept turning back to look as he left, but Nangong Xuan had already entered the compound. He glanced at the signboard hanging over the entrance. The place was called Mingzhu Garden. He had made up his mind to come over tomorrow and try his luck again. What was so special about the place that he could not spend the night here?
Lu Qingye decided to stop thinking about it and followed behind Chang He to go back to his compound. He kept trying to squeeze intel out of Chang He on the way back. He wanted to know where Zhan Yunge's quarters were located. However, Chang He said nothing. They kept walking until they arrived at his guest room, where Chang He finally said, "Lord Lu, have an early night. Allow me to take my leave."
Before Lu Qingye could say a word, Chang He was gone.
Lu Qingye shrugged. He opened the door and entered, and saw his men waiting for him inside the compound.
Zhan Yunge opened the window and saw a gorgeous man dressed in beige robes walking towards her elegantly. He was incredibly stunning, tall, and noble.
Nangong Xuan detected someone looking at him, so he looked over with his deep eyes. He saw her dressed in a loose inner robe leaning against the couch with her hair scattered around her. Even though his eyes were usually cold, they quickly warmed up on her.
For a moment, Zhan Yunge was blown away by his beauty. She trembled slightly looking at him before she lowered her eyes and veered them away.
Nangong Xuan raised an eyebrow. He entered the room and turned toward her. He noticed that she had started on a new book about sorcery.
He walked over towards the couch and looked down at her.
"Can we begin?" asked Zhan Yunge calmly as she closed the book.
Zhan Yunge was very excited about tonight. She could finally become a spirit cultivator, so she was beside herself with joy.
"I drank some wine, so I have to take a bath. We can start after I am done." Nangong Xuan did not hold her in suspense. Nothing could move her if she did not care about something. If she cared about something, it was wiser not to make her lose her patience.
"Okay." Zhan Yunge opened the book again and continued reading it.
Not before long, Nangong Xuan was done bathing. He walked out dressed in a loose-fitting inner robe similar to Zhan Yunge's with his hair scattered behind him and came to the room.
Zhan Yunge put down the sorcery book immediately. She looked at him with her eyes glinting as she asked, "Now can we begin?"
"Uh huh." Acknowledged Nangong Xuan.
Zhan Yunge looked excited.
"You have to promise me one thing," said Nangong Xuan suddenly.
"What?" Zhan Yunge instantly lost her excitement.
"I would hardly call it an additional condition since you were going to do it anyway," said Nangong Xuan gently when he noticed the reluctance in her eyes.
"Just spill it." Zhan Yunge lowered her eyes slightly. She did not mind hearing what he wanted from her first. If she did not want to do it, she did not mind waiting to awaken her souls and chakras some other day. She could always wait for her grandfather to come back from his trip and do it for her.
"You have to promise me to go to the capital before the end of the month." Nangong Xuan spoke unhurriedly with hardly any expression on his face.
Zhan Yunge was surprised to hear this. What kind of condition was this? No wonder he mentioned it was hardly considered a new condition. After all, she was moving to the capital anyway. Although she had other plans in mind, she had no intention of going against a royal decree and bringing trouble to the family.
"Okay," said Zhan Yunge right away.
Nangong Xuan touched her head. "Great."
Zhan Yunge looked at him quizzically. His request sounded strange. Was he afraid she might try to make a run for it? The wedding would only happen at least a year later. Even if she wanted to escape, it would be a year from now.
"I am not going to try and flee from the wedding." Zhan Yunge made things clear.
Nangong Xuan was briefly stunned. He smiled and touched her nose indulgently. "What were you thinking? Shengyu Empire is ours. Where could you possibly run to? Moreover, can you find a better husband than me?"
It was the first time Zhan Yunge had ever heard Nangong Xuan call himself her husband. A thought occurred to her. Was he really going to be her husband if she could survive after she turned 16?
Zhan Yunge suddenly went into a dilemma thinking about this. She did not know why she was feeling this way.
"Aren't you afraid I will try and flee the wedding? Why else would you want me to go to the capital before the end of the month?" asked Zhan Yunge with her eyes lowered.