Chapter 44: Heartthrob – Arranged Marriage

So “reporting” meant he had to account for every detail—the whys and wherefores, the times and places.

Though Wen Zhixu was a genuine ancient, he could discern from her sticky-sweet tone that she probably enjoyed hearing him report every trivial matter.

“If I stay at your mother’s residence in the future, I’ll send Wen Qi to the gate every evening to report my daily activities to you.”

Lin Xihe felt an inexplicable warmth flush her cheeks. She changed the subject and spouted more words Wen Zhixu couldn’t understand: “How did capitalists emerge in feudal society? Exploiting worker ants…”

The more nervous she grew inside, the more she rambled. Wen Zhixu didn’t interrupt, merely bending down to pick up the fan she’d dropped.

Du Mu once wrote of “a light silk fan chasing fireflies.” Now Wen Zhixu held a small fan for the girl beside him, brushing away the bothersome insects.

Lin Xihe’s voice gradually softened, her words subtly circling back: “What treasures did you buy at the jade shop?”

A thousand years later, these would all be antiques fit for auction houses!

The girl showed unusual interest in this matter, her eyes sparkling like water: “Your financial status surpasses mine—for now, anyway. Who knows, I might strike it rich later. Hurry up and show me, let me feast my eyes.”

Wen Zhixu hid the jade hairpin he’d carved himself in his sleeve, not daring to meet those bright, washed-clean eyes: “You like summer. The eighth day of the sixth month is an auspicious date. Why don’t we hold our wedding…”

Lin Xihe stood frozen, her mind nearly corroded by his unusually soft tone. What was he saying? Wedding…?

“Woof!” A dog’s bark abruptly snapped her chaotic thoughts back into focus.

Mo Hu, who’d dashed out from some corner, wagged his tail and ran toward his master upon spotting him.

In his mouth was a strikingly familiar object.

Lin Xihe’s pupils constricted—she recognized it instantly. It was the Letter of Annulment Wen Zhixu had previously sent, which she’d hidden deep in her dressing case.

She rubbed her throbbing temples, her mind completely muddled.

As if guided by ghosts, Mo Hu bypassed Wen Zhixu and trotted to Lin Xihe’s side, happily rubbing against her embroidered shoes.

Lin Xihe crouched down, ruffled the dog’s head, and took the object from its mouth.

Before Wen Zhixu could react, the Letter of Annulment was already in the girl’s hands.

“I agree to the annulment!” Lin Xihe cheerfully handed over the letter. “You wrote this originally, right? Though we’re in feudal society, we should bravely break arranged marriages! Your thinking is quite advanced!”

“…”

The Letter of Annulment was drafted in Wen Zhixu’s own hand: the handwriting on the Embossed Stationery was his, the signature was his, and it was his servant who mistakenly delivered it to the Lin residence.

He’d sent the dog to steal it back, but the first attempt failed.

Today happened to be Lin Xihe’s birthday, with no one guarding Tinghe Courtyard, so the dog successfully completed its mission.

But this foolish dog immediately ran back to his side, affectionately nuzzling his leg with its neck, its eyes clearly saying “Praise me, master!”

Wen Zhixu had no way to explain himself.

To make matters worse, the carefree girl unfolded the letter right before him, her posture bold and unrestrained.

Lin Xihe skimmed through it quickly.

By now, these once-intimidating traditional characters no longer stirred any resentment in her. Looking closer, she found the flowing cursive script rather pleasing to the eye.

“Tsk tsk, such elaborate writing. Why didn’t you just say so earlier? I would’ve definitely played along with your act.”

Frowning, he stepped forward: “Play along with what?”

“I heard from Xie Lan that the Empress wants to betroth her to you. Of course, she has no feelings for you now, but who knows what might happen in the future. If I maintain a good friendship with her, I might even put in a good word for you…”

Her words trailed off, her throat seeming to clog. It was an inexplicable sense of loss that made her heart suddenly tighten.

“What about you?” Wen Zhixu pressed forward step by step, backing her against the corridor pillar with no room for retreat. All rules and propriety forgotten, he only wanted to draw her completely into his domain. “What are your feelings for me?”

Lin Xihe curled her hands into fists, pressing them against his chest. That familiar sensation surged back, just like that day on horseback when she could hear her heart beating wildly out of control. Closing her eyes, Wen Zhixu’s face appeared vividly in her mind.

“Why have you stopped talking?” His words carried a crisp sandalwood scent that lightly brushed against her eyelashes.

It felt like a mischievous kitten was stirring chaos in her heart, making it impossible to think clearly. She simply shut her eyes tightly, pretending to be dead.

To Wen Zhixu, the girl appeared stubborn and unyielding.

This was the first time he had ever fallen for someone, and she had once been foolish, now acting blind and mute.

When had the esteemed Second Master Wen ever suffered such silent frustration? Irritation rose within him—today he would definitely make this ancestor speak!

He reached his hands toward her face—

Using two fingers, he pried open her tightly shut eyelids.

Instantly, two dark, gleaming eyeballs bulged out, looking bewildered and innocent.

“Little blind girl, look at me and speak!” His jaw muscles tensed, nearly bursting with anger.

Lin Xihe, forced to become a bug-eyed goldfish: “…”

.

“Imperial decree has arrived!” a loud shout came from the front courtyard. “Lin Xihe, legitimate daughter of the Lin family, come quickly to receive the decree!”

Hearing about an imperial decree, how could Lin Xihe, a modern person, have ever experienced such a situation? In her panic, she grabbed Wen Zhixu’s sleeve. “It’s not going to be execution of the nine clans, is it?”

Wen Zhixu stopped teasing her.

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll handle everything,” he said, taking her hand firmly.

Lin Xihe followed him in a daze. The wind whipped his sleeves, and she averted her eyes to the rolling sea of clouds above the courtyard.

A steady warmth spread from his palm, thread by thread, instantly soothing the panic in her heart.

When it was time to receive the decree, Lin Xihe knelt with a thud. Steadying herself, she secretly glanced around from the corners of her eyes.

Lin Zhaoheng, Wen Hongyuan, and others knelt at the front, while the courtyard was filled with a dark crowd of guests kneeling in the main hall. The scene was grand, vividly reminiscent of a historical drama set in Hengdian.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Wen Zhixu. As if sensing it, he met her eyes and puckered his lips, as if to say: Kneel properly. If you misbehave, it really will be execution of the nine clans.

Lin Xihe’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. She straightened her head and resisted the urge to look at him.

The chief eunuch proclaimed loudly: “…By decree, Lin Xihe, daughter of the Imperial Censor, is betrothed to Wen Zhixu, grandson of the current Prime Minister. An auspicious date shall be selected for the wedding…”

Wen Zhixu nearly laughed aloud. Before the proclamation even finished, he couldn’t help glancing at her again.

Seeing her kneeling stiffly, her back radiating an air of “this has nothing to do with me” calmness, Wen Zhixu frowned. What did she mean? Was she dissatisfied with this marriage?

After receiving the decree.

Lin Xihe stood up, her knees sore and numb. Noticing the chief eunuch’s kindly smile, she was about to step forward and say a few words when Lin Zhaoheng intercepted her, subtly shielding her behind him.

“Quickly serve tea to Chief Eunuch Chen!”

Fearing his daughter might say something inappropriate on such an important occasion, he hastily signaled the maids with his eyes to lead her away.

While clamor filled the outer halls, the study remained a tranquil sanctuary.

A tall silhouette fell across the window, and a voice came through the paper pane: “Did you not hear clearly the decree announced by Eunuch Chen?”

Lin Xihe moved closer to the window and replied through it: “I heard it clearly.”

Wasn’t it just about them getting married? It wasn’t as if her ears were failing her.

“Why did you speak with Eunuch Chen? Was there some part of the imperial decree you didn’t understand?” His tone softened, a mix of sincerity and curiosity. “I can explain it to you word by word.”

Lin Xihe: “I just wanted to chat with him for a bit! The eunuchs in TV dramas are all actors, but this one’s real!”

Wen Zhixu: “……?”

With a creak of the window frame, the girl poked her head out, her cheeks flushed like dyed sunset clouds.

“What did you want to say?” Wen Zhixu truly couldn’t fathom this girl’s thoughts. The joy of the arranged marriage had barely settled when a thread of unease rose in his heart. He had gotten his wish, but what about her?

Was she willing?

Lin Xihe stretched out a hand toward him, palm upward: “Where’s my birthday gift?”

That heavy, useless broken sword Xie Qi had given her still made her head ache just thinking about it.

Seeing Wen Zhixu standing there like a wooden post without any reaction, she pulled her face back and scanned him up and down: “Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare anything? You cheapskate…”

They weren’t even married yet, and he was already being so stingy toward his wife!

Wen Zhixu retrieved the jade hairpin he had hidden in his sleeve for so long and handed it over: “For you.”

The girl nearly leaned her entire body out the window as she accepted it with satisfaction. The jade hairpin felt smooth and moist to the touch, its watery sheen dazzling—clearly a priceless treasure.

A soft, delighted smile curled at the corners of Lin Xihe’s lips: “Did you make this?”

Wen Zhixu stubbornly insisted: “I bought it.”

Seeing his denial, Lin Xihe reached through the window and grabbed his hand: “Do you really think I’m a fool?”

In the fading evening light, she could see the numerous carving knife marks covering his originally slender and elegant fingers.

“…Then, do you like it?”

“I love it!” Her eyes secretly held two sparkling stars.

All his efforts these days hadn’t been in vain—it was worth it. Wen Zhixu felt a wave of relief and, hoping to hear a few more words of praise, couldn’t resist adding: “I studied under the renowned craftsman Li Qixing of Shengjing. Master Li said…”

Lin Xihe showered him with flattery: “Wow! Trained by a master!”

Wen Zhixu paused, studying her radiant face as a sliver of doubt crossed his mind: Was she just casually humoring him?

He said earnestly: “What I carved was your…” name.

She nodded emphatically, her tone certain: “You carved a round egg! It’s especially adorable!”

“!!!” All expression vanished from his face, turning him into a stone statue.

What he had carved was clearly a lotus bud about to bloom! Master Li had once said that while the form may not be perfect, the spirit is already present—its charm lies in the grace! In other words, for a beginner like him who had worked hard for many days, achieving such quality was already remarkable.

Lin Xihe shifted her gaze from the jade hairpin to his face, her heart growing uneasy: Had she said something wrong?

She peered at the hairpin’s outline and randomly guessed a few more patterns. Seeing Wen Zhixu’s expression darken further, she quickly circled out of the study, sidled up to him, and right in front of him, stuck the hairpin directly into her hair.

She tilted her head, showing him the hairpin: “Look! No matter what you carved, I’m wearing it!”

“Hmph.” His expression softened slightly as he let out a light snort. At least you know what’s good for you, brat.

Lin Xihe stopped swaying her head and grinned at him foolishly: “One last guess—is it steamed buns? I love the Imperial Academy buns your chef makes the most.”

“…”