Lichu slowly walked over. “Cousin, why are you here?”
“Tomorrow, I’ll be going to the Shen residence to deliver the betrothal geese.”
Lichu froze for a second, a faint blush spreading across her soft cheeks. “Oh…”
Everything about this marriage was going so smoothly that it almost didn’t feel real to her.
He looked at her slightly flushed face. Her bright eyes flickered, and for once, there was a shy, girlish softness in them.
He spoke gently. “Grandmother hasn’t been in good health. She’s always hoped I would marry soon. This marriage needs to be settled quickly, so she can feel at ease.”
Lichu hesitated, then said quietly, “But the Old Madam… she doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
Lu Shiji let out a soft laugh. “Grandmother just doesn’t like strangers. Later on, she’ll like you.”
In truth, the Old Madam simply disliked Madam Shen, and because of that, she also didn’t like Shen Lichu. But once Lichu married him and became his wife, his grandmother would naturally accept her too.
There was still a little hesitation in Lichu’s eyes. He stepped closer and spoke in a warm, reassuring voice. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Lichu looked into her cousin’s gentle eyes, and her heart started pounding.
That’s right. She was going to marry her cousin. Someone as good as him would definitely protect her in everything.
A smile slowly spread across Lichu’s lips, sweetness blooming in her chest. “Okay.”
Lu Shiji took out a jade pendant and handed it to her. “This was left to me by my mother. I’ve worn it since I was born. Take it.”
“This is your mother’s keepsake. It’s too precious, I should—”
But he reached out, took her hand, and the sudden touch made her fingers curl slightly.
His fingers were long, his palm cool, like smooth jade—warm and flawless. The thin calluses on his fingertips brushed lightly against the skin on the back of her hand. His movements were gentle, careful.
These past few days, Lichu had shamelessly gone to him every day to ask for help practicing calligraphy. Whenever Lu Shiji wrote, she couldn’t help watching his hands. His knuckles were well-defined. His movements looked casual, yet the characters he wrote were sharp and powerful.
And now, those same hands were holding hers, placing her small hand into his palm.
Lichu’s heartbeat sped up again, faster and louder. Her eyes sparkled.
He placed the jade pendant into her palm and looked at her with a soft smile. “This was meant to be given to my wife one day. A’Li, keep it safe.”
Lichu closed her fingers around the warm, smooth jade. Her face red, she nodded. “I understand.”
Lu Shiji lowered his gaze, looking at the small hand resting in his palm. After a brief pause, he restrained himself and let go.
“Then go back.”
Lichu nodded. The little dimples beside her cheeks appeared as she smiled. “Goodbye, Cousin.”
Then she turned, lifting her skirt slightly as she stepped through the hanging flower gate, her footsteps light and quick.
Lu Shiji stood outside the gate, watching her cheerful figure grow farther and farther away. The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
When Lichu returned to her bedroom, she sat in front of her dressing mirror and let Chunxing help her take down her hair.
She herself held the jade pendant and studied it carefully.
The jade felt smooth and warm, clear and flawless, just like her cousin. The front was carved with an icy lotus pattern, and on the back was carved the character “Ji.”
Chunxing grinned. “The heir really cares about this marriage. He even gave Miss this personal jade pendant. It’s obvious he likes you. Once you’re married, you and the heir will definitely have a loving marriage!”
Lichu gently traced the carved character on the pendant with her finger, and sweetness filled her heart again.
The brief moment of doubt she felt earlier in the corridor was already gone. Her bright eyes were filled with quiet longing.
Luckily, she had worked so hard and persistently to seduce him. And with her aunt carefully planning things for her, she was finally able to win over her cousin — that distant, untouchable flower on a high mountain.
She and her cousin were going to be officially betrothed.
Her long, dark hair fell like a waterfall, and after her bath, Lichu happily climbed into bed.
“Miss, shall I put away the jade pendant for you?” Chunxing asked, tucking her in.
Lichu curled up under the covers, still staring at the pendant in her hand, reluctant to let it go. “Not yet. I’ll put it away tomorrow. I want to look at it a bit more.”
Chunxing teased, “You really don’t want to let it go, huh? You like the pendant so much, and it was from the heir. Once you’re married, won’t you be stuck to him every day?”
Lichu’s cheeks flushed. “I’m not!”
“Alright, alright, I spoke too soon. Now get some sleep,” Chunxing laughed, letting down the bed curtains and snuffing out most of the candles outside, but leaving two lamps burning for Lichu, who was afraid of the dark.
Inside the dimly lit bedchamber, Lichu blinked at the jade pendant in her hand. Even the faint light shining through the curtains made it gleam like it was alive.
It reminded her of her cousin’s gentle eyes.
Finally, sleepiness washed over her. She hugged the pendant and rolled onto her side, closing her eyes with a satisfied sigh.
Then—Bang!—a sharp, ear-piercing noise.
The smooth jade pendant had fallen to the floor and shattered into pieces.
Her voice trembled, but there was a harsh finality in it. “Lu Shiji… I want a divorce.”
He stepped forward slowly, his cool eyes unreadable. “What did you just say?”
Her whole body shivered. Fear crawled over her heart, but she gritted her teeth. “I want… a divorce.”
His cool hand rose and gently brushed her cheek, sliding slowly down to her neck. His thumb traced the delicate pulse at her throat, sensing its quickening rhythm.
In his clear, refined features, a sudden, sharp anger flared, dark and intense. “A’Li, don’t make me angry.”
Lichu’s eyes snapped open.
Before her were the dim ginger-colored curtains. Her lashes quivered, and sweat had started to form on her hand holding the pendant.
Her breathing was uneven. She hadn’t yet recovered from that strange, terrifying dream.
Why… did she dream of her cousin?
And why was it so frightening?
No. That wasn’t her cousin. He was kind-hearted, gentle, and thoughtful. There was no way he could be that scary.
She stared at the smooth, shining jade pendant in her hand, realizing maybe she had really been tangled up with something… bad.
When Lichu finally woke again, it was already noon.
The sound of a bell echoed through the room as Chunxing hurriedly pushed the door open.
“Miss, you’re finally awake! I peeked in several times, and you were still asleep. Luckily, you didn’t have to attend morning greetings today, so I didn’t wake you.”
Chunxing’s voice was cheerful as she drew back the bed curtains and continued talking.
“Oh, and early this morning, the heir took the betrothal geese to the Shen residence—one of the houses Master purchased in Yanjing years ago. Madam also sent both your and the heir’s birth charts to Fahua Temple. Once they’re matched, the marriage will officially be set!”
Chunxing talked on for a while, but seeing no reaction from Lichu, she leaned closer. “Miss?”
Lichu’s face was pale, her eyes hesitant. She wasn’t sure if it was from sleepiness or something else.
After that dream, she had barely slept through the night, her rest uneasy and restless, her mind full of thoughts.
Finally, she muttered slowly, “I… want to go to Fahua Temple too.”
“Why go to the temple, Miss? The charts will be matched and sent back to the house tomorrow. There’s no need to rush,” Chunxing said.
Lichu’s small face tightened with a rare seriousness. “I’m going to the temple… to get rid of the bad luck.”