The matchmaker smiled contentedly when she noticed An Hei’s expression. I just knew that Yang Jin Jin would be to his liking if he sees her firsthand! Since the girls were sitting beside each other, she thought mistakenly that he was looking at the older sister.
Even Jin Jin herself thought so. She stood up hastily and curtsied. "Mister An …"
Hardly had she uttered his name as she froze and Madam Yang and matchmaker Lin didn’t know how to react for a moment either. An Hei’s appearance had diverted their attention before, but now that Jin Jin had repeated the name, they realized: Isn’t An the name of the imperial family?
Jin Jin’s heart beat faster. Since she was a little girl, she had always dreamed of becoming the queen of the south. Losing her status was the worst that could have happened to her, and she had nearly lost all hope to ever ascend to these circles again. The status of a queen was something she had not even dared to think of receiving anymore. It would have been good enough if she didn’t have to marry a merchant’s son like the second son of the Wu’s. But now, the one who stood in front of her and had praised her in front of the matchmaker was not only a member of the southern kingdom’s royal family but apparently a member of the imperial family. She wasn’t sure if one of the emperor’s sons had the given name Hei, but even if she couldn’t become empress by marrying this man, it was more than enough to enter a family that would ensure that she would never have to worry about having enough food and clothing or do the work of the servants herself.
She clapped her hand over her mouth and lowered her gaze. "Please forgive me. Your subject Yang Jin Jin greets you, Your Highness." She curtsied again and remained in motion, waiting for him to request her to rise and look at him. She figured that since he had praised her before when just seeing her painting, he should like her even more when seeing her face to face now.
But An Hei just waved carelessly. His gaze never left Yang Ling Ling even for a moment. The younger girl had risen together with her mother as well, but greeting him didn’t seem to cross her mind. She just stood there, her head lowered and her cheeks flushed, while her fingers clenched and unclenched nervously under the cover of her sleeves. An Hei smiled. The girl in front of him didn’t know who he was and still felt this nervous. He really hadn’t misjudged her. Well, it did not come as a surprise anymore after hearing her words yesterday.
The matchmaker stole another glance at his face and inwardly sighed with relief when she saw his smile. Things were turning out well in her mind. Just when she was wondering if she should introduce Madam Yang and her two daughters, the guest already moved on his own.
"Miss Yang." An Hei entered the room and slowly made his way over until he stopped in front of the two girls.
He had already been able to see Ling Ling again yesterday when she came to the garden but the feeling he had at this moment was a different one. The day before, he had only been able to watch her secretly while now, he was standing right in front of her. He was able to see her just like she was able to see him. And he knew that whichever words the two of them spoke, they would not be secretly said but out in the open as it should be.
Yuan Hao and Nong Bai who followed him over from the doorway curiously looked at the girl as well. So this was their future queen? She seemed quite young but she did have a lovely face and seeing her together with their king, the picture seemed quite harmonious. The two of them also glanced at An Hei and noticing the smile on his lips, their hurriedly lowered their heads. Right now, it would probably be best if they could just vanish on the spot and take all the extraneous people with them. How nice it would be if their king had time to be alone with his fiancee!
Unfortunately, they couldn’t make that happen and the beautiful misunderstanding that had occurred was about to make things quite awkward.
With An Hei’s constant gaze in their direction, Jin Jin’s heart beat faster and she waited spellbound for his next words. She couldn’t think of what they might be but as long as he indicated that he was interested in marrying her, she would be sure to agree.
Ling Ling’s pulse accelerated as well but instead of abandoning herself to her imaginations like her sister, she only lowered her head further until An Hei couldn’t even see her face anymore. She had frequently imagined seeing him again. She had wanted to smile and tell him how long she had waited for him. She had wanted to tell him that she had been afraid he would forget her. But now, facing him, she wasn’t able to utter a single word. No matter what she thought of, it all seemed wrong and insignificant compared to the joy of seeing him. If not for the fact that it would seem indecent, she would have long rushed over and thrown herself into his arms.
An Hei wasn’t quite sure what to say either. Clearly, they both remembered the promise between them but Ling Ling’s mother had never believed it. It seemed not quite right to be straightforward and just remind her of it. In the end, Madam Yang might even think this was merely a ploy the sisters had come up with so Ling Ling wouldn’t need to get married to whatever suitor showed up. He needed to make it unmistakably clear that he truly intended to wed her. Pondering for a bit, An Hei finally reached out with his palm facing up. "I believe you have something which is mine."
Jin Jin froze and gazed at his face in surprise. His smile took her breath away, but she didn’t know what to say to his words. She prepared to speak up but then noticed that he wasn’t even looking at her. Instead, he watched her sister expectantly. Jin Jin’s shoulders sacked. It seemed … it seemed she had completely misunderstood. He was not here because of her. Just like the second son of the Wus, he had also taken an interest in her sister instead of her.
She glanced at Ling Ling’s face and seeing her expression, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes. She had seen this expression before whenever Ling Ling talked about that injured soldier she had found all those years ago. Could it be …? Was he the man she had spoken of?
While she pondered, Ling Ling took out a golden hairpin decorated with blood-red stones and placed it in An Hei’s palm. Clearly, she had known exactly what he was referring to.
Jin Jin sighed faintly. It seemed it was true. This was indeed the man her sister had found back then, the one who had promised to marry her in return for the help she rendered. Ling Ling really had good luck. Jin jing turned to glance at the man’s face again but then just lowered her head. Well, she would have loved to marry into the imperial family but marrying this specific man had been her sister’s lifelong wish. Even in the situation they were currently in, where they had nothing and their future was uncertain, Ling Ling had been willing to give up everything to honor her promise to him and help her older sister out in return.
How could Jin Jin begrudge her for finally achieving what she wished for? It was a pity for her but maybe there would be somebody else out there. With her sister marrying into an influential family, her own chances at finding a good husband would also be better. It was a chance for their whole family. That was the thought she held onto.
Meanwhile, Ling Ling folded her hands in front of her. "You … forgot this," she brought up haltingly, not sure what else to say. The hairpin had been lying on the ground back then while nothing had remained of that man. It was the only reminder that she hadn’t just dreamed up their encounter. It was what she had held onto for all these years whenever her mother chastised her for daydreaming too much and even making up such a story.
An Hei’s smile grew more pronounced. "I didn’t forget anything." He reached out and slid the pin into her hair, brushing through the black strands when he took back his hand as if admiring them.
Behind him, Yuan Hao and Nong Bai pressed their lips together to try and not make a sound. Their eyes had turned round though and they were staring at their king’s gentle gestures. Was this really still the same man who had refused to marry for centuries? Was this girl really just a human or was she some kind of fairy that had bewitched their king? This was really changing their perception! If only they were able to go and tell the others about this immediately … Their hearts were really burning with the desire to spread the news about this development but, at the same time, they also wanted to continue to watch. How many more surprises would their king bring them today?
Under their expectant gazes, Ling Ling finally dared to lift her head and look up at An Hei. Her expression was dreamy but a bit unbelieving as well. She really had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that after so many years of waiting for him and after the worry of yesterday that she might be given to another man before she even had the chance to see him again, he was suddenly standing before her.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she was imagining things but looking at him, those doubts slowly passed. His face was exactly like in her memory: Skin as white as jade, black, sword-shaped brows that lend him a courageous air, and dark eyes that appeared to have seen the world. She only wanted to have a short look and avert her gaze at once but his eyes captivated her.
"Miss Yang …" An Hei leaned forward until his breath brushed her face, the smile contained in his eyes making her unwittingly smile back. "Would you like to become my wife?"
Sweet!