Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

42 A Lucky Day, Proceeding in the Right Direction

The two men started to talk about everything from the situation at the border and the most important trading routes f their Chen country to the upcoming wedding and even got a wei qi board from the restaurant in the end, playing one round to compete in their ability to strategize.

Needless to say, Yu Huang Rong won but he still felt quite a bit better about this person. Alright, maybe had he had been overreacting in regard to Qian Mu Qing. That person was obviously a decent guy and didn't have any designs on Zhang Shi Lan. In fact, he wasn't interested in men at all and just saw him as a good friend. Well, he couldn't resent him for that. Obviously, Qian Mu Qing had merely been able to see Zhang Shi Lan's good qualities. That was just proof of his own good character.

In that way, the three of them finally parted ways in a much better mood. The two lovebirds were happy to have been able to spend almost the whole day with each other again and Qian Mu Qing was happy that he had managed to dispel the General's doubts about him. Now, he would not need to worry about seeing Zhang Shi Lan in the future and this relationship might also come in handy one day. So just one afternoon had brought him two good news. That really was something to be happy about.

Zhang Shi Lan and Yu Huang Rong exchanged a last glance before they got onto the carriages the servants of their families had brought over. Each of them had their own thoughts while they went home although Zhang Shi Lan and Yu Huang Rong were thinking of each other.

Ah, today had been lucky for them but they wouldn't be able to do this all the time. Qian Mu Qing already knew about them so it wasn't a risky move. But even if they managed to see each other under the guise of meeting other people, they wouldn't be able to be affectionate with each other again in public. After all, they couldn't let anybody else find out. It was just too dangerous. Thus they could only hope that Madam Yan would soon have good news for them.

When Zhang Shi Lan got down from the carriage, he couldn't help but feel self-conscious. He was still wearing that silver hairpin that Yu Huang Rong had given him. Even though he didn't mind how it looked, he was afraid that his mother or father might notice. In fact, even if just one of the servants noticed, it might also bring them trouble. After all, he would certainly be asked just where this hairpin had come from and he didn't feel good about lying to his parents. Even keeping his relationship with Yu Huang Rong secret from them ... it wasn't a filial thing to do, was it?

He nodded at the servant that had brought him home and then wanted to secretly go back to his room and put in another hairpin before he went to see anybody else but just then, a maid came running toward him.

"Young Master! Young Master, come quickly!"

Zhang Shi Lan froze on the spot and then rushed over. "What is it? What happened? Is something with my mother?" This girl was his mother's handmaiden. If she came running over like this, then it had to be about a matter that concerned his mother. He couldn't help but fear. Had she suddenly fallen ill? Had there been some accident? What if it was serious?

He rushed after the girl only to find himself in the room where his mother liked to sit and drink tea. Even now, she was doing exactly that: She sat at the table, a steaming cup in front of her and a letter clasped in her hand. A bright smiled adorned her face while she was excitedly talking to his father.

Zhang Shi Lan stopped in his tracks, unable to make heads or tails of this. Just what was happening? Why had the girl been that agitated if nothing was wrong with his mother? Zhang Shi Lan slightly furrowed his brows and stepped in. "Father, mother. What happened?"

When she heard his voice, his mother got to her feet and walked over, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the table. "Ah, Shi Lan, you're finally back! Come, come, sit down first. There's good news!"