Chapter Twenty-Eight—Xu Qingyan and Kong Shuyin, Part Three
“Sister Nian Nian, did I get myself into trouble?” Kong Shuyin asked nervously, biting her lip.
Niannian studied the man who had been hit, then glanced at Kong Shuyin behind her.
“Hmm. I’d say you probably did,” Niannian replied with an amused, knowing smile.
Li Mingyue took another look at the man. Wasn’t he her cousin from her maternal uncle’s family, Cousin Yiheng?
“Sister Kong, don’t worry. He should be fine.” Remembering Wen Yiheng’s temper, Li Mingyue thought that once she explained that it hadn’t been intentional, her cousin probably wouldn’t hold it against them.
“Miss Mingyue, you know him?” Kong Shuyin asked, looking at her.
“He’s my cousin. His temper is usually pretty good,” Li Mingyue explained after a moment’s thought.
Even as she said it, Li Mingyue wasn’t entirely sure. Her maternal uncle and aunt doted on her, and naturally, all her cousins did as well. Surely Cousin Yiheng would let Sister Kong off for her sake, wouldn’t he?
“He’s Aunt Cheng’s son?” Niannian had initially been confused, but then she suddenly remembered Cheng Qingli saying that she wanted Niannian to meet her son. Could this be the young man she had been talking about?
“That’s right.” Li Mingyue hurriedly nodded.
Li Mingyue looked at her cousin with an amused, meaningful smile.
If she remembered correctly, her aunt had wanted Niannian to marry Cousin Yiheng.
If her cousin really married Cousin Yiheng, wouldn’t that bring Li Mingyue even closer to Niannian?
Li Mingyue had completely forgotten that she herself might one day marry and leave home.
“Mingyue, did you see who hit me just now?” Wen Yiheng asked as he rubbed the back of his head and walked toward her, clearly displeased.
“Cousin, are you all right?” Li Mingyue asked with a sheepish smile, trying to smooth things over.
“Do I look all right to you?” Wen Yiheng turned around and revealed the large bump on the back of his head.
When Niannian and Li Mingyue saw the bump, they both turned to look at Kong Shuyin, who wore a guilty expression.
It was all thanks to Kong Shuyin that he had ended up like this.
Kong Shuyin also felt guilty. She could only offer him an ingratiating smile and say, “Young Master, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Wen Yiheng had been about to lose his temper, but when he saw the young girl who had suddenly appeared before him, he no longer knew whether he should continue being angry or let it go.
“Cousin, Sister Kong didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t take it to heart,” Li Mingyue hurriedly pleaded on Kong Shuyin’s behalf.
“Mr. Wen, my friend didn’t mean any harm. We’ll cover the cost of your medical treatment, and we’re also willing to compensate you for the injury.” Niannian looked at Wen Yiheng and spoke with a faint smile.
Wen Yiheng, who had still been furious a moment earlier, was stunned when he saw Niannian’s breathtaking beauty.
He had never seen such a beautiful girl in the capital.
“Cousin, who is she…?”
Wen Yiheng pulled Li Mingyue aside and asked her in a low voice.
He couldn’t help thinking how beautiful the girl was.
“Cousin, she’s my cousin—the one from Prince An’s household.” Li Mingyue suddenly burst out laughing. She had been thinking that this cousin of hers really was just like her aunt: he had a weakness for beautiful girls.
Then she remembered Niannian’s marriage prospects and shook her head before adding, “I heard my uncle loves his daughter so much that he plans to bring in a matrilocal son-in-law for my cousin.”
Li Mingyue had said this hoping Wen Yiheng would realize the difficulties and give up.
“Ah, so she’s the Young Princess of Prince An’s household. No wonder I’ve never seen her before.”
Wen Yiheng had clearly not taken in everything Li Mingyue had said.
He had only heard Niannian’s identity and immediately decided that his chance had come.
He would go home and ask his mother to visit Prince An’s household and propose marriage on his behalf. Besides, he knew very well that his mother and Princess Consort of An were close friends.
His mother would surely support his decision.
“Cousin, why don’t you go see a doctor about that injury first?” Seeing that Wen Yiheng hadn’t listened to a word she said, Li Mingyue sighed inwardly. Her cousin was caught up in the excitement, so there was no way she could talk him out of it for now. It would be better to have her mother explain things clearly to her aunt later.
Surely the Wen family wouldn’t actually let their son become the son-in-law of Prince An’s household, would they?
Thinking of this, Li Mingyue relaxed a little. For now, she had better get her cousin to have his injury examined.
After all, Sister Kong was practically one of her own.
“It’s just a small injury. I’m fine,” Wen Yiheng said nonchalantly.
“Really?” Li Mingyue asked, still worried as she stared at the huge lump on his head.
“What kind of man do you think your cousin is? I’m tough. This little injury is nothing,” Wen Yiheng said dismissively, his eyes still drifting toward Niannian.
“Sister Nian Nian, is that man really all right?” Kong Shuyin asked uncertainly, tugging at Niannian’s sleeve. She knew she had caused serious trouble.
“Don’t worry. He’s only suffered a minor injury.” Niannian wasn’t particularly concerned.
Kong Shuyin was in the wrong, but it was only a minor injury. Given the relationship between Prince An’s household and the Wen family, this matter would be easy enough to settle.
Besides, Kong Shuyin was the woman their third brother cared for. Their parents would certainly protect her.
“Really? That young master looks like someone from a wealthy and powerful family,” Kong Shuyin said anxiously.
“Are you scared now? When you chased my third brother for three whole streets, you didn’t look guilty at all.” Niannian couldn’t help smiling when she remembered the scene.
After all, she and her mother had happened to be out shopping that day and had witnessed the whole thing.
“How could you blame me for that? Your third brother was the one who caused the misunderstanding. I was only trying to save a damsel in distress.” Recalling what had happened, Kong Shuyin felt even guiltier. Someone had deliberately tried to lean against An'an, but he had instinctively dodged. From Kong Shuyin’s angle, all she had seen was the girl falling down, so she had mistakenly thought An'an had pushed her. That was why she had chased him for three streets.
“Yes, yes, it was my third brother’s fault. Don’t worry. In the capital, aside from the people in the imperial palace, no one else would dare do anything to you.” Niannian smiled and patted Kong Shuyin on the shoulder.
“Sister Nian Nian, now that you’ve put it that way, I feel much better.” Kong Shuyin happily threw her arms around Niannian.
“Kong Shuyin!”
An'an had only just managed to shake off the girl who had been trying to chat him up when he saw that the girl he loved hadn’t paid the slightest attention to what he had been doing.
So all his efforts to keep his distance from that other girl had gone completely unnoticed.
Worse still, she was now clinging to Niannian so affectionately. An'an felt that his position in her heart had been seriously threatened.
“Oh, Brother An'an, are you done?” Kong Shuyin merely glanced at An'an. She continued holding his hand affectionately without loosening her grip in the slightest.
“Kong Shuyin, let go of my hand!” An'an drew a deep breath and couldn’t help scolding her.
“Huh?”
Kong Shuyin looked at Niannian in confusion, then glanced at An'an, who stood not far away.
Had she done something wrong?
“Third Brother, why are you yelling at Miss Kong?” Niannian frowned at An'an, unable to understand what he was making such a fuss about.
