Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao, here's to a Happily Ever After

Jing pulled Xiao Yao to sit down: "There is something I want to discuss with you."

Xiao Yao bent down to play with the water, absentmindedly saying, "Go ahead."

"In the folk songs of the Han River, they sing 'Fair lady, a gentleman's good mate.' Every boy, upon understanding these lyrics, can't help but imagine what his future wife might be like. I was no different when I was young. I thought she should have a beautiful face, a gentle and quiet nature, be skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, know a bit about cooking and needlework, not be too quiet nor too talkative, be capable of managing household affairs, and it would be best if she knew a bit about business so that when I talk about family matters, she wouldn't be completely lost..."

Xiao Yao compared herself to this list in her mind, her expression turning sour.

"When my mother was choosing a wife for me, she asked about my preferences, and I told her about my ideal."

Xiao Yao asked expectantly, "Did your mother say you were dreaming?"

Jing smiled and said, "Mother said, 'These are not difficult requirements. Besides beauty, which is innate, all the other qualities can be cultivated. Even in ordinary families, if they want their daughters to marry well, they will carefully nurture these traits. The hard part is whether she will truly care for you.'"

Xiao Yao quietly thought about it. What Jing described sounded demanding, but indeed wasn't hard to achieve, as Jing only asked for basic competence, not mastery.

Jing continued, "But I never expected... to meet you!"

Xiao Yao wrinkled her nose and said disdainfully, "So what if you met me? I don't have a beautiful face, I'm not gentle or quiet, I can't play music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, I know nothing about needlework, but I am very good at poisoning people. I talk too much, can chatter to myself for hours, I can't dress well, don't know how to manage a household, hate socializing, and have no idea how to do business..."

Jing nodded, "That's all true!"

Xiao Yao puffed out her cheeks, clenched her fists, and glared at the ground.

"But when I met you, I realized that no matter how many ideals I had before, when I meet the one I love, none of those conditions matter anymore." Jing looked at Xiao Yao tenderly. "You're not quiet, but I'm quiet enough for both of us, and I need your lively energy. You're not gentle, quick to act if there's a disagreement, yet when you help me wash my hair or feed me medicine, you're extremely meticulous and patient. You can't play music or paint, but I can, which gives me a chance to show off. You don't know needlework, but I'm not marrying a seamstress, a hundred jade coins can buy the best weaver in the land. You don't know business, but I do, and I can easily provide for you. You don't understand family affairs, but with your chatter, even after a thousand years, we wouldn't run out of things to say, and I don't need to discuss family matters with you. You dislike socializing, which is perfect for me because I prefer to keep you hidden away, where no one else can see you or take you from me..."

Xiao Yao's expression softened, and she tilted her head to look at Jing.

Jing smiled and said, "Xiao Yao, you were right just now, you're not a beautiful face. You are..." Xiao Yao's nose wrinkled again, and Jing tapped her on the nose, "Among all the beauties in the world, none compare to your unique charm."

Xiao Yao's face turned red in an instant, and she stood up to leave: "I don't know what's gotten into you today, talking all this nonsense!"

Jing grabbed Xiao Yao's hand. At some point, they had become surrounded by a swirling white mist. Within the mist, peach trees sprang up, and buds began to bloom at a speed visible to the naked eye, producing vibrant flowers. In no time, thousands of peach blossoms were in full bloom, as dazzling as the evening glow, as vivid as rouge. A gentle breeze scattered the petals around them.

Even though Xiao Yao knew this was just an illusion created by Jing, she couldn't help but reach out to feel the dazzling display.

Jing said, "This is where your father used to live. I brought you here today because I want to tell you, in front of your parents, that Qingqiu Tushan Jing wishes to marry Xiling Jiuyao."

Xiao Yao froze.

Jing asked, "Xiao Yao, will you marry me?"

Years ago, when Xiao Yao and Feng Long were alone in a secret room discussing marriage, she didn't feel embarrassed at all. But now, she was both shy and flustered, wanting to run away immediately. She mumbled softly, "If you want to propose, you should ask my grandfather and Zhuanxu."

"I will definitely talk to them, but before seeking their approval, I want to ask you first. Xiao Yao, will you marry me?"

As the peach blossoms fell around them like a southern rain, Xiao Yao seemed to see her parents again, smiling at her.

"I do!" Xiao Yao shook off Jing's hand and fled into the hut, her cheeks burning and her heart pounding. She looked at herself in the mirror, her face as red as if she had been drinking. She covered her cheeks with her hands and said to her reflection, "You are pathetic!"