Over the next several days, Su Yu did not see Ji Xuanyue again.
The physician, however, diligently cared for her grandmother, checking her pulse morning and evening, administering acupuncture, and prescribing medicine.
By the third day, her grandmother’s complexion had noticeably improved, and she could even get out of bed and move around.
Since she had recovered, Su Yu brought up the idea of returning home to the shopkeeper.
But after hearing her request, the shopkeeper merely shook his head and said he couldn’t decide on his own. He would have to consult Young Master Ji before answering her.
Thus, at noon, Ji Xuanyue, whom she had not seen for several days, stepped into the side room once more.
“These past few days, I have been occupied with various affairs and was unable to come visit Old Madam. I hope you will forgive me.”
Madam Chen had already formed a rough impression of this Young Master Ji through her granddaughter’s descriptions. She had thought Su Yu might have exaggerated, but seeing him in person genuinely surprised her.
He was handsome and refined, with an extraordinary bearing. There was none of the arrogance one would expect from a wealthy young master. Instead, he seemed more like a cultured scholar.
After studying him for a moment, she lowered her gaze and nodded. “It is only thanks to your assistance, Young Master, that this old woman managed to keep her life.”
“Your great kindness is something my granddaughter and I will never forget. However, this old woman has recovered seven or eight-tenths of the way now. It would be improper to continue imposing upon you. I would like to return to the village with my granddaughter as soon as possible. May I ask what you think, Young Master?”
At sixty-two, Madam Chen naturally had more life experience than her granddaughter.
In looks and figure, her granddaughter attracted far too much attention. Moreover, Su Yu was gentle, honest, and soft-hearted by nature. Madam Chen was truly worried that some ill-intentioned man might dazzle her, deceive her heart and body, and ruin her life. Her suggestion of leaving was therefore also a test.
A life-saving favor certainly deserved gratitude. But if Young Master Ji intended to use that favor to pressure or manipulate her granddaughter, she would never tolerate it.
What she hadn’t expected was that Young Master Ji was not only handsome and refined, but also had no intention of stopping them from leaving.
“Since Old Madam has recovered, it is only natural for you to return home. However, if you set out now, you will not arrive until evening. Why not rest here for one more night? Tomorrow morning, I will prepare a carriage and personally escort the two of you back to your village.”
Hearing this, Madam Chen’s wariness eased somewhat. “Young Master is right. Then we shall follow your suggestion. As for tomorrow, you need not trouble yourself personally. Sending a coachman will be more than enough.”
“You are too courteous, Old Madam. Compared to the life-saving kindness Miss Su Yu showed me, such a small matter is hardly worth mentioning.”
“You have only just recovered from a serious illness, so I will not disturb you any longer.” With that, he prepared to take his leave. He neither tried to use his favor as leverage nor said anything inappropriate.
Madam Chen glanced at her silent granddaughter and said gently, “Yu’er, go see Young Master Ji out.”
Su Yu answered softly and lowered her head as she followed Ji Xuanyue out of the room. Since his marriage proposal that day, she hadn’t seen him for several days, nor had she figured out how to face him. She walked behind him in silence, her gaze fixed on the pale-colored hem of his robe. Suddenly, the robe stopped moving.
Startled, Su Yu stopped abruptly and looked up, only to meet his eyes as he turned.
Their gazes met, and her heart gave a sudden thump.
“Everything I said that day was sincere.” Ji Xuanyue spoke softly, lowering his eyes to look at her. In those light amber eyes lingered a trace of loneliness and hurt.
“But after thinking it over, I realized that your grandmother was gravely ill at the time, and it was thoughtless of me to raise such a matter so abruptly. If I frightened you, then it was my fault. I apologize.”
Su Yu froze for a moment as the man before her continued speaking.
“Seeing how unsettled you are today, Miss, I think I already understand your answer. You needn’t be afraid. I’m not the sort of man who would force a woman against her will. Perhaps I am simply not fortunate enough to have a woman as wonderful as you as my wife. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone escort you back home. You don’t need to worry anymore.”
After he finished speaking, his lashes lowered even further, perfectly concealing the loneliness in his eyes.
Su Yu had never seen such an expression on a man’s face before.
This was a man of such exalted status that a single word from him could make the Zhao father and son fall to their knees and beg for mercy. Yet in front of her, he was so careful, so cautious, as though he feared the slightest misstep might distress her.
Su Yu lowered her gaze. Her grandmother had once told her that when it came to marriage, the most important thing was finding someone who would care for her through heat and cold, someone who would genuinely cherish her. As for love, she didn’t really understand it. Perhaps it wasn’t all that important. Besides, her grandmother’s illness…
The physician had said that if they wanted her condition to stabilize, her prescription would need to be changed. The medicine she was taking now was already more than Su Yu could afford.
Staring at the ground, Su Yu suppressed her uncertainty about the future and called out softly, “Young Master Ji.”
Ji Xuanyue lifted his eyes slightly and heard the frail mortal before him speak hesitantly.
“I’m willing.”
“Young Master Ji, choose a day and come formally ask for my hand in marriage.”
The next day, as promised, a carriage bound for the village stopped outside Renxin Hall’s side entrance.
The driver was the same coachman who had taken her home two days earlier, though this time the carriage was much larger, spacious enough for her grandmother to lie down and rest during the journey.
Helping her grandmother into the carriage, Su Yu turned around and spotted someone standing by the roadside.
Ji Xuanyue sat astride a magnificent steed. His jade-colored robes contrasted with the stallion’s sleek black coat, making him look like a graceful bamboo stalk and the horse like a soaring dragon.
Thinking of the marriage she had personally agreed to the day before, Su Yu’s heartbeat immediately lost its rhythm. Half anxious and half nervous, she found even an ordinary glance at him far less natural than it had been in previous days.
After a moment’s hesitation, she still took a few steps forward and looked up at him. “Thank you for everything these past few days, Young Master Ji…”
Before she could finish speaking, the black horse suddenly turned its head and brought its nose close to her face.
Su Yu was so startled that she couldn’t continue speaking. She froze where she stood, not daring to move, her eyes widening slightly as she stared at the horse.
“There’s no need to be afraid, Miss.” Ji Xuanyue gave the reins a gentle tug, drawing the horse’s head back. “This horse is mild-tempered and has never harmed anyone. The reason it’s drawn so close to you…” He paused briefly, lowering his gaze to her with a gentle expression. “I suppose it likes you.”
The pointed remark immediately made Su Yu flustered. She quickly glanced back toward the carriage. Fortunately, her grandmother seemed not to have heard. She was busy talking with the coachman.
Secretly relieved, Su Yu said, “Then Grandmother and I will be leaving first. Thank you for taking care of us these past few days, Young Master Ji.”
But no sooner had she spoken than the man on horseback replied, “I have no pressing matters today. I’ll escort you and your grandmother home.”
With that, he urged his horse forward a few paces, then turned back. The morning sunlight outlined his entire figure in a faint golden glow.
“Su Yu, get in the carriage.”
The carriage left Qingyang County and traveled onto the country road.
Madam Chen lifted her gaze from the tall horse outside the window and turned to Su Yu.
Delivering medicine, arranging treatment, buying clothes, and now personally escorting them home on horseback… the man had gone far beyond what ordinary courtesy required.
“Yu’er,” Madam Chen said, lowering the curtain and dropping her voice, “tell Grandmother honestly. Has he behaved improperly toward you these past few days?”
Su Yu shook her head. “Young Master Ji has always treated me with propriety. He has never once crossed the line.”
It was the truth. Just not the whole truth.
Her grandmother’s health was still fragile. Only the most precious medicinal ingredients had restored even a little vitality. If Grandmother learned of Su Yu’s intentions, she would sooner let herself die than allow Su Yu to sacrifice her own happiness.
“Young Master Ji appears upright and honorable enough,” Madam Chen said, “but as the saying goes, you can know a person’s face but not their heart. You still need to keep your wits about you.”
Having lived so long, Madam Chen understood the ways of the world well enough. For a man to treat a woman with such attention and care, it was hard to believe he had no motive.
If he truly admired her, that was one thing. What she feared was that he might be the sort of scoundrel who deceived women both body and heart. Yet after observing him throughout the journey, she could detect no ill intent in the way he looked at her granddaughter. If anything, there seemed to be a trace of sincere affection.
Madam Chen sighed inwardly. She wondered whether her foolish granddaughter could withstand it.
The villagers of Lingyin Village originally knew nothing about what had happened in the county seat.
But Zhao Ni had a voice loud enough for the whole village to hear. The very next day, while washing clothes by the river, she spilled the whole story before anyone could even ask.
“You should’ve seen it! The scene was incredible. The manager of Renxin Hall personally came out to greet them and respectfully carried Su Yu’s grandmother inside.”
“Then Young Master Ji himself showed up. He said Su Yu had saved his life in the mountains a few days ago. To repay her kindness, he covered all the medical and medicine expenses. Even Youkang and I received reward money!”
At those words, Aunt Gou, who had been bent over her laundry, suddenly looked up, disbelief written all over her face.
Just a few days ago, people had been gossiping behind Su Yu’s back, accusing her of loose conduct. Yet now she had somehow become involved with Young Master Ji, and it was because of a life-saving favor?
Aunt Gou sneered. “A life-saving favor? Sounds nice enough. Who knows exactly how she saved him out there alone in the mountains…”
“Oh, just shut your mouth already.” Having benefited from the situation herself, Zhao Ni naturally defended Su Yu. “Young Master Ji personally said that Miss Su Yu is his benefactor. How many lives do you think you have, Aunt Gou, to dare speak against the Ji family?”
Put on the spot, Aunt Gou fell silent in embarrassment. The other women nearby exchanged glances and said nothing more.
The carriage entered the village and stopped in front of Su Yu’s courtyard.
Such a grand arrival had already attracted the attention of the neighboring villagers.
Hearing the commotion, Wu Xiu also came outside. At a glance, she recognized the coachman. Wasn’t he the very same man who had brought Su Yu home the other day? And the young man seated atop the magnificent horse, elegant and noble in bearing… could he be the Young Master Ji Zhao Ni had described so excitedly?
While she was still watching from a distance, Wang Youkang had already pushed through the crowd. “Young Master Ji! Young Master Ji, greetings!”
“My name is Wang Youkang. I had the honor of meeting you at Renxin Hall the other day. You personally escorted Sister Su Yu home today. You must have had a tiring journey!”
Ji Xuanyue swung down from his horse and gave him a slight nod, his tone exceedingly courteous. “There’s no need for such formality. I should be thanking you for all your efforts running back and forth that day.”
Wang Youkang waved his hands repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear.
At that moment, the carriage curtain was lifted from within. As soon as Su Yu appeared, Wang Youkang immediately turned and shouted toward the crowd: “Where’s Zhao Ni? Zhao Ni, come quickly! Sister Su Yu is back! Come help Grandmother down from the carriage!”
Seeing this, Wu Xiu knew that, as a daughter-in-law, she couldn’t very well let an outsider assist her mother-in-law. Hastily smoothing her expression, she hurried toward the carriage.