Chi Tao's voice was heard by Yi Lei Fang. She stopped what she was doing and saw Mu Ling and Chi Tao standing at the entrance.
Xi Ting who was nearby came over to hand Yi Lei Fang a handkerchief. Yi Lei Fang accepted it and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She walked over to where the guys were standing and with a polite smile, she curtsied, "Greeting to Young Master Mu, or shall I say soon-to-be brother-in-law." Yi Lei Fang teased.
Her smile made Mu Ling heart skip a beat. He didn't realize that he was staring at her for a few minutes before responding to Yi Lei Fang's greeting with a nod, but hearing the word brother-in-law from her mouth made him feel uncomfortable for some reason. His brows furrowed up for a short second and as quickly as it came, his demeanor changed back to the cold and aloof Young Master.
He didn't think much about it and tried to start a small conversation with Yi Lei Fang. However, his small expression had not escaped Yi Lei Fang's eyes.
"Is Young Miss Yi practicing for the upcoming festival?"
"Answering to Young Master Mu, yes this Young Miss is." Seeing Chi Tao quietly standing on the side, Yi Lei Fang ask, "Is Young Master Mu going over to the pavilion to meet up with tang mei?"
Mu Ling had totally forgotten that he was supposed to meet up with Yi Mei if Yi Lei Fang had not mentioned it. Nonetheless he stays quiet, not admitting or denying it.
In an awkward silence, Chi Tao answered back after he clears his throat. "Yes, Young Miss. This nucai is going to show him the way. Chief Yi and Chief Mu wants them to get to know each other before the wedding."
"Ah, I am sure tang mei is really happy to see you. If Young Master Mu don't mind, can this miss also walk with you to the pavilion as well? I haven't seen tang mei for a while now, so I want to drop by and say hi."
Mu Ling looked at the sweating woman in front of him with his eyebrow raised.
Yi Lei Fang looked at him then at herself. Then she realized she looked like a mess. She rubbed the back of her head and let out a dry laugh, "hahaha...I am going to change first. Young Master Mu can go ahead first, I will catch up later."
"I can wait."
"Oh...okay. I will be quick." Yi Lei Fang quickly ran back into her bedchamber to change. On the other side, Mu Ling was watching her back slowly disappearing. He shook his head helplessly, not knowing his lips curved upwards.
Several minutes later, Yi Lei Fang got done changing into her new outfit, a simple yellow hanfu. Before she steps out from her bed chamber, she instructed Xi Ting to stay in the courtyard and have a hot bath ready for her when she comes back.
Yi Lei Fang then went and exit out to see that Mu Ling had not moved one bit and was still in the same spot.
She took a good look at the Mu Ling once again and said to herself, "this guy is one handsome cold ice cube." Shaking her head internally. "No wonder the original owner likes him." Then Ju-Long's face popped up in her head.
Yi Lei Fang froze. Not knowing why the shameless perverted bastard's face appeared in her mind. Thinking to herself that her brain is probably exhausted from all the dancing, she shook off the weird feeling.
By the time she reached to Mu Ling, she patted his broad shoulders and said, "Alright future brother-in-law let's go."...and seeing Yi Mei brew in jealousy of this goddess!
She let out an excited smile. What she did not realize is that her pat to Mu Ling's shoulder caused the young man to tense up from her touch. And when his eyes landed on her exquisite face, her spring breeze smile and the way her eyes shone like stars in the night captured his heart. He did not notice Yi Lei Fang had already walked up ahead.
Knowing that Yi Lei Fang has caused Mu Ling to feel conflicted with his feelings, her lips formed a smirk. She stopped her track and turned around. The smirk on her face quickly changed back to a spring breeze smile, once again. She waved at Mu Ling and shouted, "Hey, Young Master Mu, hurry up! We don't want to have tang mei wait!"
Mu Ling woke up from his state of stupor. He looked at the smiling Yi Lei Fang in front of him. Instead of the crying Young Miss Yi he remembered at the receiving hall, this time it was a happy one.
His brows scrunched up again wondering if he made the wrong choice or if it was too late to ask for the engagement back? Remembering that Yi Lei Fang's wedding is tomorrow, he felt annoyed, regretful, and had anger building up in his chest.
Chi Tao who has been standing behind Mu Ling, cleared his throat and reminded the young man.
"Ahem! Young Master Mu, let's proceed to meet up with Second Young Miss Yi."
Mu Ling soon had his cold and aloof face back on as he takes his first step towards Yi Lei Fang who is patiently waiting for him to catch up.
Throughout their journey to the pavilion, Mu Ling and Yi Lei Fang had a relaxing chat. More like Yi Lei Fang did all the talking while Mu Ling just listened and nodded his head from time to time.
But what Mu Ling find out about Yi Lei Fang is that her personality is carefree and she is an outspoken woman. He even found her amusing and cute.
Realizing his thoughts, a faint smile drew over his face. He watched her gesturing her hands up, down, and around dramatically. She was retelling about her experiences during the hunt minus the part she met Guan Yu. Yi Lei Fang's voice was so loud and exciting that Chi Tao's eyes were glistening with awe as he listened to the young misses adventure.
During their walk to their destination, Yi Lei Fang excused Chi Tao since Mu Ling and her could see the pond and the back view of Yi Mei inside the pavilion as well as a maid. Both of them were now standing at the moment. Chi Tao bowed his head and left.
Yi Mei who had been waiting for quite a while went livid when her maid informed her Yi Lei Fang and Mu Ling are coming over together. Her front was facing the pond and her maid, Fu Ai, a cute 13 year old girl was trembling while facing the Second Young Miss' back.
Yi Mei squeezed her silk handkerchief that she embroidered for Mu Ling two days ago. She greeted her teeth and cursed, "Why the hell is that bitch with my fiance! That slut is getting married tomorrow and yet here she is flirting with someone else's man!" She unconsciously grabbed the already cold tea pot on the table next to her and threw it onto the floor. With a loud bang sound, it attracted the two coming figures behind her.
Fu Ai was used to seeing the Second Young Miss tantrum. She knows Yi Mei's true color behind that facade she puts on every day in front of everyone. So she did not say much and stood quietly as she knows she will feel Yi Mei's wrath if she spoke up.
By the time Yi Mei was making a fuss and smashed the tea pot, Mu Ling and Yi Lei Fang were already a few feet away from her. With their martial arts skills, they heard every single words that came out of Yi Mei's mouth.
In Yi Lei Fang's head, she was happily hopping in joy witnessing Yi Mei innocent and caring cousin figure cracked while Mu Ling's aura turned cold in an instant.
Yi Mei who felt cold chills behind her back, automatically turned around. Her face drained out of color when she saw Mu Ling standing at the entrance of the pavilion staring at her with an unpleasant look.
Then Yi Mei heard Yi Lei Fang's sad voice and her quiet sob in between some of her words.
"Tang mei, I didn't know you feel like that about me. Sniff* I just want to get to know Young Master Mu since he will be part of our family soon and...and...sniff* I know my place. I wouldn't even dare to seduce Young Master Mu. Sniff* I just happened to see him when he was on his way to see you. I came along with him because I have not seen you for a while since the receiving hall. Sniff* I won't bother Young Master Mu and tang mei no more."
Yi Lei Fang dramatically cover her mouth with her sleeves and ran away like a broken willow.
After getting to know Yi Lei Fang a little more and seeing the sadness in her eyes, Mu Ling heart clenched. He wanted to grab her wrist to stop her but Yi Lei Fang was too swift with her movements avoiding his touch. He did not see a flash of cold light passing by the corner of her eyes when she saw his hands reaching out.
Yi Mei starts to panic. She want to say something but at the same moment before her mouth could even utter some words, Mu Ling shot a cold and disgusted glare at Yi Mei. Making the words stick inside her throat.
But Mu Ling did not stay any longer as he ran to catch up with Yi Lei Fang.
Yi Mei saw the back of Mu Ling quickly vanished in the same direction to where Yi Lei Fang disappeared to, she became frantic and called out to him.
"Young Master Mu, wait! Wait! Don't go! Mu Ling!"
Her feet stumbled down the small stairs causing her to kneel on the ground. Her hands reaching out to him as she continues shouting.
Fu Ai who witnessed everything was shocked. She ran to Yi Mei and try to coax her to get up.
"Second Young Miss! Are you okay!? Please get up. Let this nubi see if your knees are okay."
Yi Mei pushed Fu Ai down and slap her across the face.
"This is all your fault! If you would have told me that they were here I would not have embarrassed myself in front of Mu Ling!"
Fu Ai face paled. "Second Young Miss, this nubi did not know they were there. Please believe me!"
Fu Ai kowtow on the dirt floor. Every time her head touch the floor, a loud thud could be heard.
Yi Mei wobbling got up. She looked down at Fu Ai with a cold glare. Even when the maid's forehead starts to bleed, Yi Mei didn't stop her, instead, she grabbed the maid's hair and slap both of her cheeks, back to back.
"You bitch, what is the point of acting. Are you trying to look pitiful so you can seduce him too!"
Fu Ai did not say anything and accepted the punishment. She knew if she retaliated, Yi Mei will probably do something even more violent. So being slapped was a small punishment for her.