My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 36 Part 4

Ji Taoyu had been eavesdropping from behind a distant door, his legs growing tired from standing. It was his own wedding, yet he couldn’t join the discussion - how dull.  

Seeing his third aunt leave, he wanted to step out, but with the matchmaker still present, he couldn’t risk being impolite.  

He secretly observed Huo Shu’s expressions - sometimes frowning, sometimes relaxing, but over the entire discussion, those were the only two looks he wore.  

Still, the frequency of those changes showed he was earnestly discussing the wedding arrangements.  

The talks lasted over an hour before finally concluding.  

Seeing that everyone was about to leave, Ji Taoyu seized the moment when his parents were speaking with the matchmaker and Yuan Huiru. He quickly ducked over to Huo Shu, slipped a note into his hand, and dashed away just as fast.  

A fleeting warmth touched Huo Shu’s palm, but it disappeared just as quickly. When he looked up, the figure was already gone.  

His gaze softened slightly as he tucked the note away.  

"Truly, things go smoothly when discussing matters with someone reasonable. This lifts a great weight off my mind."  

Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing saw Huo Shu off, both in high spirits.  

"Ah, where did Third Sister go?"  

"She left long ago."  

Huang Manjing said, "She was so set on pairing Xiao Taozi with their family’s Yuan Fei. Now that she’s been humiliated, she won’t dare meddle again."  

Ji Yangzong said, "I told you Huo Shu gets things done quickly, no dilly-dallying."  

Ji Taoyu finally emerged, pretending he knew nothing.  

"So, how did it go?"  

"As if you weren’t eavesdropping the whole time."  

Huang Manjing laughed. "We were just saying we’ll put up celebratory couplets."  

Ji Taoyu raised his brows but didn’t respond.  

"Huo Shu said to check the betrothal gift list and let him know if anything’s missing."  

"Since we’re all living together anyway, it’s not like we’re lacking anything."  

"Exactly! But I didn’t expect him to offer so much for the betrothal gifts."  

"Oh, we must send word to Father soon so he knows about the happy news."  

"No rush. I’ll tell my father-in-law in person when I go to the city for errands."  

Ji Taoyu listened as his parents chatted excitedly but didn’t interject.  

Now that things were settled, he had nothing left to wait for. Light-footed, he returned to his room.  

In the village, walls seemed to have ears, and during idle months, secrets rarely stayed hidden for long.

The moment the matchmaker stepped out of someone’s house, the news spread like wildfire.  

No one had expected the marriage talks to succeed, but Yuan Huiru was surprisingly open, confirming it to anyone who asked.  

"The engagement is settled, they’ll marry in the twelfth month."  

The villagers were stunned. Who would’ve thought the first wedding of the year would be between the Ji and Zhao families?  

Two unrelated families, and yet they’d quietly arranged a marriage.  

"Say what you will, but our village head moves fast. After cutting ties with that unlucky You family, he’s already found a new match for his ger."  

"I said it before, there was something between them. That stone-faced man even let Ji Taoyu ride his horse once."  

"Regardless, this means another feast to attend!"  

A few villagers huddled together, hands tucked in their sleeves, gossiping about the happy news - some approving, others just there for the spectacle.  

On a side path, You's mother, bundled up with only her eyes visible, paused when she overheard the chatter.  

How odd—today, the talk wasn’t about the You family. But upon hearing the news, she found it hard to believe.  

"The Zhao family are outsiders, fine, but that soldier, who knows where he came from? He doesn’t even look like a decent man. And the Ji family dares to give their ger to that man? Desperation must’ve driven them mad if they’ll take anyone."  

You's mother returned home, carrying a bowl of washed fruit to the inner room, where a sallow-faced You Lingxiao sat in silence. She relayed the gossip she’d heard.  

The lifeless You Lingxiao jolted as if struck by lightning. "He’s engaged?!"  

You's mother, seeing his agitation, quickly said, "He was bound to marry sooner or later. Stop dwelling on him. If they can arrange a marriage so quickly, it’s not like our family can’t find a match just as fast. Tomorrow, I’ll hire a matchmaker for you."  

But You Lingxiao muttered to himself, "And he’s marrying such a brute?"  

You's mother had thought her son had moved on, which was why she’d mentioned the Ji family—only to see him react as if thunderstruck again.  

She opened her mouth but said nothing. These days, no amount of consolation seemed to reach him.  

Perhaps reverse psychology would work. "Since he’s getting married, and to such a man, you should pull yourself together and make him regret his choice."  

The dazed You Lingxiao paused, as if the words had actually sunk in—or as if he no longer had the strength to resist.  

Outside, the wind and rain raged, but Ji Taoyu paid it no mind. With the early darkness of rainy days, he hurriedly finished dinner and slipped back to his room, locking the door behind him.  

The window was wide open, letting in gusts of cold, damp wind that snuffed out what little warmth the charcoal brazier provided.  

Gritting his teeth against the chill, he hunched his shoulders and fumbled for the lampshade to cover the oil lamp.  

Just as he reached for it, a dark figure suddenly landed on the windowsill with a thud. The lamp blew out instantly, plunging the room into darkness.  

Only the dim light from the open window offered any visibility.  

Ji Taoyu nearly jumped out of his skin. Then, out of nowhere, something warm draped over his head.  

A spark leapt from the flint, and the room brightened again, revealing a tall figure now standing inside.