Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

21 A Dream and a Fear, Let Us Meet Again

Yu Huang Rong returned to the capital on the morning of the event, fetching the robe he had ordered and finally leaving for the matchmaking pavilion. Despite his many years on the battlefield and the fact that he had faced lots of strong people in his almost thirty years of life, his heart was beating crazily and his hands and back were coated with a layer of cold sweat. Zhang Shi Lan was the only person in the whole world that could make him feel like this.

When the carriage stopped in front of Madam Yan's establishment, he took a deep breath and got off. Looking at the already familiar building, he slowly calmed down. He had taken all the steps that he could to prepare. Now, it would depend on whether he was able to make Zhang Shi Lan feel at ease with him. Maybe he would make progress today or maybe he would need to work hard in the future. He didn't know but he wouldn't give up easily. That should be enough, shouldn't it?

He walked over to the entrance and was greeted by the sight of Xiao Xi, one of Madam Yan's aides. He raised his brows. How come that money-grubbing matchmaker wasn't here today? Could it be that woman was evading him? It had been the same when he came here two days ago too. She didn't intend to let him wait for a long time today too, did she?

Xiao Xi broke out in cold sweat when the General looked at her like that. The greeting she had memorized got jumbled up in her thoughts and she could only stutter. "Uh ... General! Greetings. Welcome to the event! Our pavilion ... uh ... I ... I'm bringing you over ... then."

Yu Huang Rong still looked at her questioningly, making her tremble in fear. She really didn't know why she was the one who had to do this. Couldn't Xiao Jia have gone? Why had she been allowed to bring in the gentle scholar instead?! They should have swapped!

Before she could say anything else and make the General angry, Xiao Xi mechanically turned around and trudged into the house. She glanced over her shoulder every two steps and almost missed the right door. She only remembered at the last moment and came to a sudden halt, rushing back to open the door and motioned inside. "Here. It's here. The event ... oh, no, the ... You can wait here." She already wanted to run away but Yu Huang Rong barred her way.

"What do you mean waiting here? Your Madam Yan wouldn't want me to wait for another hour again, would she? What about the event? And where is Scholar Zhang?"

Xiao Xi shivered and her eyes couldn't help but flicker to the door on the other side of the corridor. If she didn't remember wrongly, then Scholar Zhang should be in there with Xiao Jia. Was she allowed to tell the General though? Madam Yan hadn't said anything about that.

Yu Huang Rong didn't need her to say anything. Her gaze was explanation enough. He looked at the door and took a step over before he stopped again. What was he doing? This wasn't how the event was supposed to go. If it were, Madam Yan would've had him brought over there already. But she hadn't so that could only mean that she had some other plans.

Even though he didn't like it and would have wanted to spend more time with Zhang Shi Lan, he didn't want to appear impatient. Whatever her flaws might be Madam Yan was a matchmaker and if the rumors could be believed, she was even a very good one. She would know what should best be done to get them together.

He sighed and finally went into the room that Xiao Xi had shown him, sitting down at a table and pouring himself a cup of tea.

Xiao Xi looked at him, her hair still standing on end. Normally, she should go in there and accompany the guest but she just couldn't bring herself to do so. The General was way too terrifying. "Uh ... I ... I'll go and take a look where Madam Yan is." With that, she turned around and rushed away, even forgetting to close the door behind her.