Triumphant Return 2

Of course, Qin Feng wasn't about to take something like that for granted. He had only interacted with Elder Ming for an inconsequential amount of time, and wasn't altogether sure that the old man would react in a way that he could predict with any degree of certainty. However, he was rather confident that he would not be tossed aside. At least, not until he had managed to fulfill the old man's desires.

After all, he had managed to get his hands on yet another two herbs that Elder Ming wanted. That should be enough to put the old fellow in a pleasant mood.

Which was why the young herb-grower was wearing a wide smile on his lips as he trudged along the trails, all the way back to his medicine garden. In his head, he was already planning what he was going to say to Elder Ming, when the old man summoned him later.

A flash of a pale green robe in front of his little house almost made him miss a step. And a scowl immediately replaced the grin on his face, as he stared at the one who was seemingly awaiting his arrival there. What was she doing here? And how did she know when he would return?

The young woman waiting for him was, of course, Lingxi. And the intent look on her face warned him that she was probably going to cause him some trouble, one way or another. Which was enough to make him raise his eyebrows her way, as he got closer.

"You seem to have collected a substantial amount of quality herbs this time, judging from the pleased expression on your face," she said in greeting, as soon as he got closer, and waved a hand at the door at her back, "Perhaps we should talk inside, so that you can start arranging your gains. You don't want those herbs to go bad, do you?"

He snorted as soon as he heard her suggestion. Clearly, she did not want anyone to hear what she had to say to him. Otherwise, why would she even suggest that he invite inside? Wasn't that going to spur another round of gossip about him and his romances with the other women around him? But his reputation was already in a mess, so he simply nodded at her, as he pushed the door of his hovel open, and stepped within.

"Come in then. You can help me light the lamp on the table, while I put these things aside. I take it that you would prefer it if we spoke with my door closed?"

Lingxi didn't reply, and simply reached for the wick of his small oil lamp on the table. She trimmed it expertly, and promptly lit it using a light-stick that she had pulled out of her waist-pouch. Which was enough to tell him that she was more than prepared for this visit of hers.

And that his reaction had been well within her expectations.

So he didn't waste any time, and quickly drew the door close behind her, after she finished lighting the oil lamp, after he had set his basket of harvested herbs down. By the time that he turned back to face her, she had already seated herself on one of the stools at his only table, and was watching him intently.

"I suppose this is urgent enough that I shouldn't bother to offer you any tea? Not that I have anything ready right now. And I wasn't intending on boiling any water," he asked, sighing as he stepped up to the table and sat down across from her.

"What happened to make you come all the way here? And approach me in ... such a daring manner? Aren't there enough rumors about me already, at the Rear Gardens?"

Lingxi nodded, and gave him a weak smile. It took him a moment to realize that she was embarrassed. And a little nervous too. But what could have caused something like that?

He soon received an answer to that unspoken question:

"It appears your ... chiding had been correct. Elder Xuan and Elder Ming had a rather loud conversation as they walked through the Rear Gardens two mornings ago, when they went to visit their respective daughters. Apparently, word of you ... paying court to Ming Qingsong had reached Elder Xuan's ear, and he ... had questioned Elder Ming regarding that."

She was blushing as she went on, and Qin Feng found his eyebrows rising as he listened to her. Had matters gone that far already? But ... how had Elder Xuan come to hear about something like this? One person came to mind at once! But why would Xuan Mei say anything to her father?

Lingxi, on the other hand, was still sharing what she had learned about the matter:

"Well, Elder Ming denied everything to do with ... a romance between you and Ming Qingsong, and Elder Xuan said that he was ... relieved to hear that. And then he said that ... that you ... that Xuan Mei has ..."

Qin Feng found himself getting a little irritated at the woman then. Why could she just say it? What was going on with her? And how did Elder Xuan and his daughter have anything to do with what was happening with Ming Qingsong? Did they know about her condition? And the deal that he had made with Elder Ming?

But he didn't interrupt her. Who knew what Lingxi would say or do, if he butted in right now? All he could do was to paste a bored expression on his face as he waited patiently for her to get around to what she wished to say.

Lingxi didn't take too long to recover from her distracted state. And her eyes became clear once more, when she turned to look straight at him. He could see her taking a deep breath, as though she was about to tell him a huge secret:

"Apparently, Xuan Mei has asked ... her father ... Elder Xuan ... to arrange a marriage with you. At least, that was the impression that all the eavesdroppers had received, from some of the words that Elder Xuan used."

"What?!"

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