PFC Chapter 583 Xie Jue's Storyline: Proposal
Chapter 583 Xie Jue's Storyline: Proposal
Amidst the bustling crowd, one person remained calm and composed. Lu Xinghe wore a long emerald green dress and only had a simple jade hairpin in her hair. She walked through the teahouse with a very composed demeanor.
In the private room on the second floor, several ladies were whispering among themselves.
"Is that Miss Lu, whom Young Master Xie invited to manage this teahouse?"
"That's right. I heard that she handled everything from the location selection and decoration to the naming of the dishes in this teahouse."
"She actually has such ability? I've never seen a woman in charge of such a big business in the capital."
"She is no ordinary woman. It is said that even the milk tea at Fuyulou was originally made by her."
“Fuyu Tower…that’s a place where only the powerful and wealthy can sit.”
As everyone gazed at the slender figure downstairs, their expressions shifted repeatedly.
Although the Great Jin Dynasty did not prohibit women from engaging in commerce, women were only in charge of embroidery workshops and rouge shops.
Lu Xinghe is the first person in the capital to personally plan and manage a large teahouse, with dozens of people on the opening day.
But she did it all in a very organized and methodical way, and her words were always appropriate, which made people admire her.
Even in the afternoon, the area in front of Banrixian Gate was still bustling with people.
At this moment, a magnificent carriage with a canopy slowly came to a stop outside the gate.
The curtain was lifted, revealing a bright and pretty face; it was Gao Wanzhi.
A maid carrying a brocade box followed closely behind her.
A sharp-eyed waiter rushed inside to report, "Manager Lu, Princess Wanzhi has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xinghe immediately rushed out from the back room to greet him.
"What brings you here in person today, Princess?"
Gao Wanzhi said with a smile, "How could I not come when your teahouse opens?"
"This is a God of Wealth that I specially had transported from Nanjing. It is three inches tall, made entirely of gold, and the base is made of the finest white jade. It has been blessed to bring wealth and good fortune, and it is most suitable for your grand opening."
As she finished speaking, the maid behind her opened the brocade box, revealing a finely carved statue of the God of Wealth, adorned with a jeweled crown and robe, its entire body gleaming with gold—clearly an extraordinary piece.
Lu Xinghe thanked her profusely, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. You flatter me."
He then instructed the waiter beside him, "Take the princess to the best private room on the second floor. Don't charge her for anything she orders today."
As soon as Gao Wanzhi went up to the second floor, she saw Changqing standing at the end of the corridor in the distance.
"Changqing," she called out.
Changqing turned around upon hearing the voice, and seeing that it was her, he quickly smiled and bowed, "Princess."
"Where is your young master? I haven't seen him for days. Is he hiding from me, or has he secretly run off somewhere again?"
Changqing grinned, "I wouldn't dare to avoid the princess. These past few days, the young master has indeed been busy with something, leaving early and returning late, and has even rarely gone to Fuyu Tower."
Gao Wanzhi raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat suspicious.
"What's going on? Why are you being so secretive?"
Changqing scratched his head. "This servant dares not say, but—"
He paused, his smile meaningful, "Young Master has instructed me to convey a message that you are invited to a place tonight. You will find out when you arrive."
"Where?"
"Princess, please don't worry. A carriage will come to the Princess's residence to pick you up. Young Master said that if a surprise is announced in advance, it won't be a surprise."
Evening, at the Princess's residence.
Gao Wanzhi sat in front of the mirror, wearing a crimson-purple brocade dress with gold trim, a pearl flower tucked into her hair, as a maid carefully combed her hair.
Just then, footsteps could be heard outside.
The curtain was lifted, and a maid entered, whispering, "Princess, the Xie family's carriage has arrived and is waiting outside the mansion gate."
When Gao Wanzhi arrived at the door, she saw a carved black lacquered carriage waiting under the moonlight. The coachman stood respectfully to the side, and when he saw her, he quickly bowed and greeted her.
The carriage rumbled along the quiet alleyways of the capital.
Gao Wanzhi lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out the window. The streetlights were dappled, and the night breeze carried the fragrance of early summer lotus and a faint, indistinct floral scent.
Her doubts deepened.
Where are we going?
The journey was long, and Gao Wanzhi gradually grew tired. She lowered the curtain and leaned against the carriage wall to doze off.
"Princess, we're here."
Upon hearing this, Gao Wanzhi lifted the curtain and stepped out. She was stunned by the sight before her.
Liyuan.
This was a place she knew all too well.
But tonight's opera house is completely different from the past.
The garden gate is surrounded by brocade lanterns, with long red tassels and beaded curtains hanging from the eaves, and warm yellow lanterns suspended among the ancient trees, like stars in the night.
The garden is adorned with lanterns, with magnolias, crabapples, and pomegranates specially decorated. Every corner is like a painting, and when a breeze blows, the lantern shadows sway, making it feel like stepping into a fairyland.
The garden path is paved with colorful glass fragments, and the shimmering light makes it seem as if you are walking on a shattered Milky Way.
The stage curtains were drawn, and countless gauze curtains hung around the stage.
The faint sound of a konghou (a type of Chinese harp) could be heard from behind the curtain, its melody clear and elegant.
Gao Wanzhi's heart trembled slightly, and even her breathing became a little lighter.
Suddenly, the sound of the konghou (a type of Chinese harp) slowly stopped, and the lights in the garden dimmed slightly, leaving only a halo of light in the center.
In the light, someone slowly approached.
Xie Jue changed into a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns, his eyebrows and eyes gentle, a smile hidden in his eyes.
"Wanzhi, do you remember when we were little, we used to release lanterns in a garden like this?"
Gao Wanzhi nodded gently: "I remember, that year you released a lantern and said you wanted to make a wish."
"Back then, I wished to make lots and lots of money."
"But now, the wish I made has changed."
Xie Jue raised his eyes and looked directly into her gaze. "I want to marry you."
"I'm sorry, I'm late, far too late. You've waited for me for so long, but I still haven't seen myself clearly."
"We've missed out on too much, and I don't want to miss out again."
"Wanzhi, I want to marry you." He repeated it solemnly once again.
Gao Wanzhi's eyes filled with tears. "Okay."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Jue's eyes lit up instantly, and he pulled her into his arms.
Gao Wanzhi hugged him, her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to his rapidly beating heartbeat, and her heart began to burn as well.
Xie Jue lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, his voice low and husky, "Say it again."
Gao Wanzhi raised her eyes, the corners of her eyes reddening.
"I want to marry you."
Xie Jue lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Just as their lips touched, a soft "bang" was heard, and the night sky suddenly lit up.
A golden firework shot into the sky from behind the pear orchard, blooming into a dazzling white light in the night.
Immediately afterwards, a series of fireworks burst forth, blooming into a dazzling display of light and color in the sky, making the entire pear orchard as bright as day.
Gao Wanzhi was startled by the sudden splendor and slightly opened her eyes.
She looked up and met Xie Jue's eyes.