Chapter 21: Eavesdropping

  Zhi Xia smiled and saw Ye Qinglan out of Huan Cui Pavilion, her attitude was much more enthusiastic and polite than when she came.

  It's still early, Ye Qinglan didn't want to return to He Fengyuan so soon, so she smiled tactfully and said: "I'd like to take a stroll around the mansion, you don't have to see me off."

  After Zhi Xia left, Rui Xue smiled softly and said: "Miss, you really have a good temper. I was worried that you would quarrel with Sixth Miss just now!"

  Ye Qinglan smiled slightly.

  She is a mature and steady adult, naturally she wouldn't bicker with a little girl. Moreover, at this moment she intentionally wants to make friends with Ye Qingning, so yielding a bit in words doesn't matter.

  But there was no need to tell Rui Xue about these thoughts one by one.

  The snow was aware of its own beauty and saw that Ye Qinglan didn't want to talk much, so it stopped falling.

  Ye Qinglan strolled leisurely in the garden. It was a warm spring day with lush grass and flying orioles, and the backyard of Changyuan Bo's residence was filled with flowers, trees, pavilions, and artificial hills and streams everywhere. After walking for a while, she casually found a pavilion to sit down and rest for a bit, feeling extremely comfortable.

  Although beset with worries and uncertainties about the future, Ye Qinglan's mindset was very relaxed and calm.

  The life she has now is a gift from heaven, and it's already a huge surprise. No matter what happens in the future, she will live with gratitude. Experiencing a completely different kind of life, this isn't something everyone gets to have.

  Ye Qinglan's lips curved into a gentle smile as she strolled forward leisurely, her gaze suddenly fixed on something in the distance.

  Rui Xue followed her gaze and looked past, her face suddenly changing slightly. It was a few apricot trees, with apricot flowers blooming on the branches, releasing their fragrance wantonly, looking far away, extremely beautiful and resplendent.

  Such beautiful apricot blossoms are a disaster for the young lady at home. If she gets close and smells the fragrance of the apricot blossoms, her skin will break out in red rashes that won't fade for several days.

  "Miss, it's getting late, time to head back." Rui Xue reminded her tactfully.

  Ye Qinglan nodded.

  This little body is very fragile and sensitive, with severe allergic symptoms to apricot blossoms. Without Rui Xue's reminder, she would have stayed far away.

  Just a few steps away, a somewhat familiar voice suddenly echoed faintly.

  It's Eighth Sister Ye Qingrou!

  Ye Qinglan remembered the owner of this voice in less than a second. Just as she was hesitating whether to go forward and greet him, the voice stopped, paused for a moment, and then sounded again.

  "Spring Peach," Ye Qingrou's voice carried a hint of unconscious melancholy: "This time on grandfather's birthday, the marriage of Sixth Sister will also be settled, won't it?"

  "The slave girl dare not make random guesses."

  Ye Qing's long and slender body let out a deep sigh, her emotions clearly very low.

  Ye Qinglan had wanted to go forward and greet her, but now she could only stand still. The position where she was standing was behind the fake mountain. On the other side of the fake mountain, there was a small pavilion. Ye Qingruo was leaning against the railing and sitting in the pavilion, completely unaware that Ye Qinglan was just a few steps away.

  Ye Qing softly murmured unconsciously: "Sixth sister is really lucky. Zheng brother is diligent and studious, with a good character, he's the young master of the Duke's mansion, and he's also extremely handsome..."

  Is that Zheng?

  Ye Qinglan sensitively caught this keyword and suddenly felt brightened in her heart.

  Ye Qingning was fourteen this year and had reached the age of marriage. Apparently, Zheng's family intended to take advantage of the happy banquet in the mansion to discuss the engagement with her brother.

  No wonder Ye Qingning's heart was uneasy when she played the guqin. Even the calmest girl would be nervous and apprehensive when facing a major event in her life!

  However, when Ye Qingrou mentioned this matter, the sourness and envy in her tone were too obvious. It was clear that Ye Qingrou had some special feelings for Zheng Shixiong.

  Ye Qinglan inferred the whole story in just a few seconds and made up her mind to leave quickly, as if she hadn't heard anything.

  She is not interested in other people's triangular love affairs.

  At this thought, Ye Qinglan gave Rui Xue a glance. Rui Xue immediately understood and nodded slightly, turning to leave with Ye Qinglan.

  Rui Xue unknowingly stepped on something and a crisp "crack" sound echoed far away.

  "Who is it?" Ye Qingrou was startled and angrily shouted out without thinking.

  Rui Xue's face suddenly turned white, and she looked at Ye Qinglan with a mixture of self-blame and helplessness. What should I do now?

  Eavesdropping on others' conversations isn't a big deal, but getting caught red-handed is really embarrassing. Ye Qinglan had dealt with many awkward situations before, but today's was a first. She quickly thought of a way to respond.

  Ye Qingrou's face turned red with rage and shame as she thought of her words being overheard, and her usual gentle demeanor was thrown out the window: "Who's lurking around there, come out quickly!"

  Since it can't be avoided, might as well walk out with dignity.

  Ye Qinglan walked out from behind the fake mountain with a calm and collected expression, smiling brightly: "What a coincidence, Eighth Sister is also here to enjoy the spring scenery." Her demeanor was natural, her face tranquil and composed.

  Ye Qingrou was originally full of shame and anger, thinking that no matter who it was, she would scold them a few times first. But seeing her like this, the words on the tip of her tongue couldn't be spoken out loud.

  Yè Qīnglán smiled and walked into the pavilion, sat down beside Yè Qīng Róu, and asked with concern: "Your complexion doesn't look too good, are you feeling unwell?"

  I know but ask!

  Ye Qingrou snorted inwardly, but her face remained calm as she replied, "I'm doing very well, thank you for your concern, sister. If I had known that you had a habit of hiding behind the fake mountain to eavesdrop on others' conversations, I wouldn't have been so shocked and frightened you." The sarcasm in her tone was clear.

  The best way to deal with others' cold words and faces is to pretend not to see them.

  Ye Qinglan smiled and said: "Elder sister, you're really wronging me. I was just walking over from that side and accidentally stepped on a thin branch, didn't expect to startle elder sister. I'm apologizing here, please forgive me, elder sister, don't take it to heart."

  Saying so, he stood up and bowed playfully.

  Ye Qingrou had never seen anyone with such a thick skin in her life, she stared with wide eyes, and for half a day, didn't know what to say.

  "It's getting late, I should head back to He Feng Yuan too, so I won't keep you company any longer, sister." Ye Qinglan bid farewell with a smiling face, then led Rui Xue away.

  From start to finish, he didn't show a hint of guilt or unease.

  Ye Qingrou glared at Ye Qinglan's receding back, and after a long while, she squeezed out a sentence: "I've never seen anyone as shameless as this."

  Spring Peach coughed softly and comforted in a low voice, "Don't worry, miss. When the tenth miss left the capital, she was still young, probably has long forgotten the people here." What could the tenth miss possibly make out from those two nonsensical sentences just now?

  Ye Qingrou thought about it and indeed it was so, her heart slightly at ease.