Chapter 30: He Does Not Wish to Marry Her

Jiang You'an felt a slight jolt, her heart quickening its pace. Following the sound, she walked forward with a sense of anticipation.

Rounding the flowering tree, a gentle breeze swept by, causing snow-white apricot blossoms to drift down, some landing on Su Mingxiu’s shoulders.

It was truly him!

"Young Master Su." Jiang You'an called out with pleasant surprise.

Su Mingxiu, who had been intent on leaving, paused his steps and looked back, his eyes softened by a touch of spring radiance. Qiulan and Su Mingxiu’s attendant, sensing the moment, discreetly withdrew. Beneath the apricot tree, only Jiang You'an and Su Mingxiu remained, gazing at one another.

"Miss Jiang... so you are here as well."

Jiang You'an smiled. "It was Madam Su who invited me. Where is she?"

"My mother invited you?"

Su Mingxiu realized it was his mother’s scheme. She had orchestrated this setup, luring him out to meet Jiang You'an here with the sole purpose of matchmaking, hoping to have Jiang You'an marry him as a "good luck bride" to improve his health.

"My mother did not come. She told me the scenery here was lovely and suggested I come out for a stroll."

Hearing this, Jiang You'an realized what had happened—it was Madam Su’s doing! Madam Su was truly a thoughtful elder. Jiang You'an’s lips curled into a smile, yet Su Mingxiu’s expression remained troubled. She noticed this and felt puzzled; whenever they had met before, Su Mingxiu had always been cheerful. Why was he so dejected today?

She asked him cautiously, "Young Master Su, what is wrong? You seem troubled."

Su Mingxiu looked at her, as if struggling to voice something. After a long hesitation, he spoke with a solemn tone: "Miss Jiang, you must be aware that my mother... wishes for you to marry me to improve my fortune."

Jiang You'an pursed her lips, adopting a shy demeanor, and said softly, "Madam Su did mention this matter when she visited the Lu residence."

"I will not agree to this."

Su Mingxiu’s voice was firm and resolute, piercing Jiang You'an’s heart like an icy blade. The smile on her face froze as she stared at him in disbelief. He... did not want to?

She had believed that Su Mingxiu liked her. All those times he had shown her favor in the past—had she misunderstood? Was it all just her own wishful thinking? Or perhaps, did Su Mingxiu have some affection for her, but felt she wasn't worthy of him?

Stunned by this sudden blow, Jiang You'an’s heart was in chaos. She bit her lower lip, unable to speak, her face etched with hurt.

Su Mingxiu kept his head slightly lowered. "I apologize. This was entirely my mother’s own doing. Had I known beforehand, I certainly would have stopped her."

Jiang You'an was already miserable, and hearing him say this made her feel both ashamed and angry. "Even if you look down upon me, there is no need to humiliate me so!"

Su Mingxiu looked up abruptly, only to see Jiang You'an looking deeply wounded, her eyes reddened as if she were about to cry. He stammered, "No... that is not it! I did not!"

Already overcome by shame and indignation, Jiang You'an turned to leave. Su Mingxiu hurriedly grabbed her wrist. "I do not look down on you, I..." He took a breath, his voice low and tender as he whispered, "I have long held you in my heart. Could you not tell?"

Jiang You'an froze and turned back. Su Mingxiu gently released her wrist, his face showing a trace of shyness. "When we first met, you plucked a plum blossom branch and gifted it to me; even then... you were already in my heart. Later, when I gave you the jade ruyi and the hairpins, did you not understand my intentions?"

As he finished speaking, he slowly raised his gaze, his handsome eyes reflecting a brilliant light. Jiang You'an felt a new wave of shyness, her cheeks flushing as she pouted playfully, "Then why did you say you were unwilling?"

"Marriage should be a matter of mutual consent. If I am to marry you, it must be with the proper ceremonies and a formal proposal, making you my wife with dignity—not by having you marry me under the guise of an 'auspicious charm.' It sounds as if you were merely an object; wouldn't that be a slight to you?"

She had never expected such thoughts from him. Ever since the Jiang family fell and she became the daughter of a disgraced official, no one had ever treated her with such respect or cared so much about her dignity.

"And... my health is indeed poor; I fear I will only be a burden to you." This was the reason Su Mingxiu had not declared his feelings sooner; he feared his sickly constitution meant his days were numbered, and marrying Jiang You'an would only delay her own happiness.

Hearing him speak this way, Jiang You'an felt a pang in her heart. She quickly said, "But aren't you quite well? You can walk and jump, and you can even skate."

Su Mingxiu couldn't help but laugh at her words.

Jiang You'an took a step closer to him. "Besides, the idea of the 'auspicious marriage' might not necessarily be false. Perhaps I really can bring you good fortune and help drive away your illness?" She took a bold step forward and gently held his fingers. "I am willing. Being with you, I do not feel wronged at all."

Beneath the white flowering tree, the two stood face to face, their hands joined, both blushing deeply.

Jiang You'an shook Su Mingxiu’s hand. "Young Master Su, say something."

Su Mingxiu’s face was as red as an apple as he stammered, "I... are you truly..."

Jiang You'an watched him with a smile, when suddenly she spotted a figure in dark blue approaching not far behind him. It was Lu Xuanheng! She must not let him find her with Su Mingxiu. In her desperation, Jiang You'an threw herself into Su Mingxiu’s arms without a second thought.

Lu Xuanheng, bored on his own, had been wandering through the grove when he suddenly spotted two overlapping figures under a tree. They appeared to be a man and a woman; the man had his back to him, and the woman’s body was obscured, revealing only the hem of a pink skirt.

"How improper!" Lu Xuanheng frowned, turned away in disgust, and absentmindedly plucked an apricot blossom branch to take back to the Princess.

Seeing that Lu Xuanheng had left, Jiang You'an breathed a sigh of relief. Su Mingxiu was still holding her; as he lowered his head, he could smell the fragrance of her hair. Her soft, slender body pressed against him, making his heart race as if it might leap from his throat.

"M-Miss Jiang?"

Jiang You'an came to her senses and hurriedly pulled away from his embrace, smiling sheepishly. "I saw a bee just now; it startled me."

Su Mingxiu coughed uncomfortably.

"Young Master Su, you still haven't given me your answer."

Su Mingxiu’s gaze was as gentle as a spring pool, lingering on her for a long moment. "Are you truly willing?"

"The Taoist priest Madam Su consulted said our horoscopes are a perfect match, a rare and auspicious union. Even if you do not trust the priest, can you not trust my heart?"

The spring breeze brushed past, and petals fell like snow. The girl’s beautiful face seemed to melt into the layers of shadows and blossoms; no one could remain unmoved by her.

Su Mingxiu heard his own heart thundering, and his voice followed, soft and steady: "Then I shall never fail you."