Chapter 11 A Bold Proposal
In the evening A Li entered the room carrying a food box. "Imperial Princess, Young Valley Lord sent this for you."
Inside were a few small dishes and two bowls of millet porridge.
I asked, "Does Xie Ning eat this for dinner too?"
A Li looked awkward. "Yes. This place is remote and only has simple food. Please make do for one night, Imperial Princess."
I quickly took the box. "This is his kindness. How can I complain? He went to the trouble of preparing it."
A Li looked confused.
The moment I lifted the box I froze. Several gold beads sat in the corner.
These were the ones Xie Ning had taken from me last night. He had returned them.
A Li scoffed. "At least he has some conscience."
I clutched the beads in my hand. "Where is Xie Ning?"
I hurried out of the courtyard and saw him sitting on a stone bench, wiping a dagger.
"Xie Ning," I ran up to him, apologetic. "Why didn't you come inside?"
He put the dagger away and stood up casually. "No need. I just arrived."
Xuan Ming stood to the side, looking like he wanted to speak but held back. He rolled his eyes.
I opened my palm. "You gave the gold beads back to me?"
"Yes," Xie Ning looked away. "They belong to you. You will need travel money on the way to Lan Shan. I will have a carriage ready tomorrow morning to send you off."
I looked up at him, stunned. "Leave?"
He lowered his eyes slightly, brows pressing down as he met my gaze. "Aren't you going to find your fiancé?"
The last three words came out with a hint of gritted teeth.
I shook my head. "I'm not going anymore."
Both Xie Ning and Xuan Ming froze.
Xuan Ming asked doubtfully, "Weren't you determined to go to Lan Shan to see him?"
Before he finished, Xie Ning expressionlessly snapped a tree branch beside him.
They both stared at me. I braced myself and started making excuses. "I was lying to you. I was afraid Young Valley Lord would force me to marry him, so I made up a fiancé on the spot."
Xie Ning folded his arms and snorted. "Your acting was quite convincing. You almost fainted from crying."
I fell silent.
Xuan Ming secretly tugged Xie Ning's sleeve and gave him a look.
Xie Ning looked at me again. "Then why aren't you afraid now? Planning to stay here and rely on me?"
I tilted my head and smiled. "That's right. Didn't you say you wanted to marry me? If I don't stay at Ling Yun Valley, where else can I go?"
Xie Ning's smile froze at the corner of his mouth. Xuan Ming's eyes widened. A Li belatedly tried to cover my mouth but was too late.
Xie Ning looked down at me, throat moving. His tone gave nothing away. "What did you just say?"
I tilted my head and studied him. This life's Xie Ning seemed slower than before. "I meant it literally. We hit it off at first sight. I like Young Valley Lord, so I accept your proposal."
Xie Ning stood stunned for a moment. He stepped back several paces, his face suddenly flushing red all the way to his neck.
Though his expression held faint anger, his words came out stammering. "You... you are a woman. How can you speak so directly?"
I said kindly, "I was afraid you wouldn't understand if I spoke more subtly."
Xuan Ming quickly pulled him aside and forced a laugh. "The Imperial Princess is only joking with us country folk."
I was about to say I was not joking when I paused. "You know I am the Imperial Princess?"
Xuan Ming opened his mouth and looked to Xie Ning for help.
Xie Ning replied calmly, "The Imperial Princess is the number one beauty in Yu Jing. Of course we would recognize her."
I beamed. Especially nice coming from my future husband.
I grinned and scratched my head. "Am I really that impressive? I didn't think I was that famous."
Xie Ning froze, and another strange flush rose on his cheeks.
I tugged his sleeve. "By the way, I still need to go into Lan Shan tomorrow. Can you give me a ride?"
Xie Ning gripped the branch tightly and snorted coldly. "Still worried about that sickly man?"
"Of course not!" My face burned. "I want to buy a few changes of clothes."
He lowered his gaze and finally frowned slightly.
Ling Yun Valley was almost entirely men. There were no women's clothes at all. I had fled from Yan Zhuo in a sorry state. My dress was covered in mud and torn in several places.
"Fine," Xie Ning looked away again. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. And... buy you some jewelry and hair ornaments too."