Chapter 93 Scenery of Romance; Falls into Embrace

Chapter 93: A Scenery of Glamour · Falling into Embrace

"Cousin, long time no see! How have you been?"

Ning Zhong was handsome and refined, with gentle, deep eyes that were full of affection. Upon seeing Qin Jiao, he stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

"Thank you for your concern, Cousin Ning. I've been well." Qin Jiao gave Ning Zhong a bright smile.

Earlier, when Qin Jiao was in Nanzhou, Ning Zhong had often written to him and sent him many rare specialties from Lingbei.

"It seems Nanzhou is indeed a good place. You look rosy and spirited now!"

No sooner had Ning Zhong finished speaking than Lin Wen let out a cold laugh.

It seemed that Qin Jiao's so-called cousin didn't yet know what kind of life his cousin had lived in Nanzhou.

Up on the dais, Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan also looked awkward.

Qin Jiao felt a bit embarrassed as well. Although Ning Zhong was his distant cousin, ever since Xiao Ning Shi had passed away, Ning Zhong had gone away to study. Qin Jiao had never told him about the chaos in the Qin household, so naturally he was unaware.

"Cousin, when did you return to the capital? Why didn't you send word ahead that you were coming to my residence? I would have prepared a warm welcome for you." Qin Jiao smiled and changed the subject.

"I arrived home yesterday. The drunken crabs from Lingbei are quite famous, so I brought many back for you. I thought I'd surprise you today, but I ran into Chancellor Lin..." Ning Zhong tightened his grip on Qin Jiao's hand. "Cousin, he—he wants to break off the engagement with you."

"Yes, I know."

As he spoke, Qin Jiao took out the white jade seal from his sleeve. In the tray on the table, Lin Wen's seal was also there, and now the two seals were neatly placed together.

"Don't be sad, cousin. It's good to call off the marriage." Ning Zhong's voice was hoarse, as if he was nervous. "You—you will definitely meet someone more suitable."

"Thank you for your comfort, cousin."

Qin Jiao wasn't really sad, but he still appreciated Ning Zhong's concern.

Lin Wen glanced sideways, sipping his tea and glancing at Ning Zhong.

Qin Jiao noticed Lin Wen's gaze and glared at him for no reason.

What are you looking at? Don't you want to break off the engagement? Why the dawdling?

Narrow fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, and Lin Wen curled his lips into an ambiguous smile. Then he turned to Qin Yuanshan and said:

"Lord Qin, here are the betrothal tokens. I have also brought the original betrothal document. From today onward, the marriage contract between our two families is dissolved..."

No matter how unwilling Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan were, given the current situation and Lin Wen's firm stance, the Qin residence had no choice but to agree to the annulment.

Breaking off an engagement was as complicated as making one.

Since no elders from the Lin residence had come, Lin Wen had to handle all the matters himself. Qin Jiao, on the other hand, didn't need to stay there. "Cousin, let me take you for a walk around the residence. That red plum tree we planted when we were kids is blooming now," Qin Jiao said to Ning Zhong.

"Alright." After agreeing, Ning Zhong bowed to Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan before following Qin Jiao out.

Shortly after Qin Jiao and Ning Zhong left, Steward Wen rushed back into the main hall, panic-stricken:

"My lord, the Prince of Lingnan has arrived at our residence!"

—

The wind stirred the branches, and the scene was enchanting.

The red plum tree in the Qin residence had been planted by Qin Jiao when he was seven. It had been over a decade since then.

Beneath the red plum tree, Ning Zhong looked at Qin Jiao tenderly. "Cousin, when I returned to the capital, I not only brought you drunken crab, but also this."

Ning Zhong took out a transparent, sparkling crystal the size of a pigeon's egg from inside his robe. Qin Jiao took it with a smile, examined it, and exclaimed, "This stone is so exquisite—it displays a rainbow of colors in sunlight."

The crystal looked ordinary, but when held up to the sunlight, it revealed beautiful multicolored hues. It was the first time Qin Jiao had seen such an unusual stone.

"This stone is called Linggu Stone, a specialty of Lingbei. It disappeared years ago, but only in the last few months have people in Lingbei been mining it again from the Fengwu River." What Ning Zhong didn't say was that the stone was extremely expensive, and many stone prospectors in Lingbei had become wealthy from it.

"Then I'm really lucky," Qin Jiao said with a light laugh.

Ning Zhong also smiled. "Wearing the Linggu Stone long-term can nourish the vitality and calm the mind." He pointed to the light yellow tassel hanging from the stone. "I also had this tassel blessed at a famous temple in Lingbei. It's meant to bring you protection. I'm not good with words, but I only wish for you to be healthy and well."

"Thank you, cousin. You are truly thoughtful."

As Qin Jiao spoke, he thought that since his cousin was so sincere to him, he should find a good gift to give back to him.

"Shall I help you put it on?"

The Linggu Stone had been made into a waist pendant, best worn on the waist.

"No need, I can manage."

It was windy and cold today, and Cong Shuang had draped a fox-fur cloak around Qin Jiao's shoulders. As Qin Jiao bent down to fix it, the fiery red jade bells on the cloak jingled with a crisp sound.

"That cloak is quite nice," Ning Zhong remarked.

"Thank you for the compliment, cousin."

Qin Jiao secretly thought he had many cloaks just as fine.

After that hurried parting with Xie Nai that night, Luo Yue had moved all the things from the Tongjia residence—the ones from that day—straight to Twilight Mountain Residence.

Naturally, Qin Jiao didn't want to accept them, but Luo Yue, right in front of him, ripped a magnificent robe to shreds. "His Highness said that if you refuse, I am to destroy these things first, and then destroy myself for failing in my duty—that way, there's no more trouble."

Luo Yue put on a miserable face. "Just take them, for the sake of saving my skin, Young Master. Please accept them."

Qin Jiao: "..."

Unable to withstand Luo Yue's relentless pestering, and also unwilling to waste Xie Nai's kindness, Qin Jiao eventually accepted the items.

"Hey, how did this get tangled into a knot?"

Qin Jiao was a little annoyed. The maple leaf pendant, which had been properly hung at his waist, had suddenly become entangled with the tassel ribbons on his robe. He fumbled for a while but couldn't untie it.

"Let me help you."

Ning Zhong's lips curled slightly as he reached his slender hands toward Qin Jiao's waist.

"Sorry to trouble you, cousin."

Qin Jiao was getting frustrated to the point of sweating. He leaned back slightly to make it easier for Ning Zhong to help him.

Clusters of bright red plum blossoms swayed in the wind, and their robes billowed. The two figures—one tall, one short—created a picture-perfect scene beneath the red plum tree. Qin Jiao's cloak was wide, and as Ning Zhong leaned closer to him, the distance was so near that they almost looked like they were about to embrace. Ning Zhong felt his heart pounding like a drum.

To divert his attention, he chatted while helping Qin Jiao untangle the pendant. "I remember this maple leaf pendant was a gift from Aunt Yu. So many years have passed, but the jade hasn't lost its color at all..."

"Did you say this jade pendant was a gift from Yu Shuhan?"

Qin Jiao suddenly cut Ning Zhong off.

"That's right." Ning Zhong nodded affirmatively. "If I remember right, it was for your birthday. Aunt Yu personally selected it at the Tong Mansion and had your mother give it to you."

"How is that possible? Wasn't this a birthday gift from my mother..."

Qin Jiao stared blankly, stepping back in shock.

"Cousin Qin, be careful!"

Behind Qin Jiao was a protruding root of the red plum tree. As he stepped back, his ankle twisted, and he was about to fall. Ning Zhong quickly reached out to catch him, but just as he reached out, Qin Jiao had already fallen into someone's arms.

----------------------------------------