TSWPF -Chapter 396 Sudden Turn of Events

The news spread incredibly fast—before long, everyone in the mansion knew.

When Liu Shi returned to the courtyard, the other Liu family guards all came up to congratulate him.

“Boss, you’re amazing! Quiet as a mouse, and you already won over Miss Xichun.”

“Boss, when did you start having feelings for Miss Xichun? You kept it so secret, not even letting your brothers in on it. Afraid we’d steal your thunder?”

“With your ugly mug, stealing from the boss? In your next life maybe!”

Each guard had something to say, full of envy and admiration—they were jealous of their boss for marrying such a beautiful lady.

Liu Shi’s usually expressionless face softened slightly. He scanned his brothers and raised an eyebrow. “Are you guys too idle? Huh?” He didn’t mind giving them extra training.

“…”

The guards exchanged glances, then quickly dispersed.

The boss was terrifying—they definitely didn’t dare provoke him!

A hint of a smile flashed across Liu Shi’s eyes as he turned back into his room. He needed to check how much savings he had.

He had never thought about marriage before, so he hadn’t paid much attention to his finances. Now was different. He wanted to get married, and if he wanted to bring Xichun home, he couldn’t let her live a hard life.

Inside the room, he rummaged through his belongings, leaving the guards who had sneaked a peek utterly confused—they had no idea what Liu Shi was doing.

“What’s the boss doing in there?”

“Don’t know. Maybe he’s too excited and is… tasting things?”

“Could be!”

Hearing the voices outside, Liu Shi straightened up and shouted, asking if they were bored and wanted to have a round with him.

A round with the boss? They would be beaten half to death!

The guards didn’t dare say a word and ran off.

When others saw them return, they asked how it went.

“The boss asked if we wanted to fight him. Once we heard that, how could we even ask him questions?”

Hearing this, the others shook their heads. Only if they wanted to self-inflict pain would they agree to spar with the boss.

After all, a fight with the boss would leave you sore for at least a month.

Better to keep quiet and mind their own business.

While the Liu family guards settled down, the palace guards were still restless.

They sighed in frustration—they liked Miss Xichun too. Why did she end up with someone else?

Seeing the girl they liked “taken away by a pig” made them unhappy.

“Captain, why haven’t you made a move on Miss Xichun?” Shiyi looked at Ling Yi curiously.

Ling Yi glanced at him coolly, signaling him to keep his mouth shut. He had no interest in Miss Xichun.

Although she was beautiful, she wasn’t his type.

“What? No interest?” Shiyi exaggeratedly widened his eyes. “Captain, then who are you interested in?” His eyes gleamed with gossip—he wanted to know the captain’s love interest.

Ling Yi crossed his arms, half-smiling, and asked, “Since when did you turn into a girl? So gossipy?”

“…”

Shiyi was stumped and quickly defended himself, saying he was concerned about the captain’s marriage prospects. The old man hadn’t married yet—it would be embarrassing for the brothers if he didn’t.

Liu Shi, being the captain’s contemporary, had already “snatched a little cabbage,” so the captain shouldn’t fall behind.

Ling Yi chuckled, surveying Shiyi from head to toe. “Do you want to get married? If so, you can ask the madam to help pick a match for you.”

Shiyi waved his hands frantically. “I’m still young! I don’t want to get married so early. You’re old and still single, but I’m just a kid.”

Ling Yi twitched at the corner of his mouth—he knew exactly what Shiyi was thinking.

“You’re only a year younger than the lord, and he’s about to become a father. You can get married too.”

“No, no, no, not like the lord,” Shiyi shook his head. He didn’t have the lord’s luck or childhood sweetheart. “Captain, only when you get married will I think about it. Otherwise… maybe consider Miss Nianxia? She’s beautiful, though a bit lively.”

Compared to Nianxia, he preferred Xichun—gentle versus a little feisty.

Unfortunately… the Xichun in his heart had been “snatched by a pig,” and it was a perpetually grumpy pig.

He wondered what Xichun even saw in him.

Ling Yi’s gaze flickered sharply as Nianxia’s smiling face appeared in his mind. He subtly shot Shiyi a glance, silently telling him not to gossip like a girl and to focus on work.

“Hey, captain, if you don’t act fast, someone else will snatch Miss Nianxia too. Many people like her.”

“Shiyi, if you say one more word, you’re cleaning toilets for a month.”

“…” The captain was ruthless.

Shiyi covered his mouth and shook his head, signaling he wouldn’t say another word.

Sigh… Is it easy being him? Worrying about the captain’s marriage and getting threatened like this.

Better let the old captain stay single forever.

Ling Yi looked at Shiyi once more, warning him to stay alert and watch every corner of the mansion to prevent any mischief.

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.

“…”

Shiyi cast a resentful glance at Ling Yi’s back, sighed deeply, and went off to patrol the mansion.

Ling Yi, walking away, frowned in thought, paused, then turned toward the kitchen.

Before reaching it, he saw Nianxia carrying a tray coming out.

“Captain Ling, what are you doing here?” Nianxia looked up and greeted him cheerfully.

Ling Yi studied her for a moment, a faint smile on his lips, and asked if she had some free time later.

“After I deliver these to the madam, yes. What’s up, Captain Ling?”

He nodded, instructing her to meet him at the pavilion by the lotus pond later.

Nianxia nodded without thinking much.

Ling Yi’s smile deepened as he accompanied her part of the way. At a fork, they parted, and he reminded her to come.

“Okay,” Nianxia replied and hurried off with the tray.

Ling Yi went alone to the pavilion, hands behind his back, gazing at the lotus-filled pond, lost in thought.

He didn’t know when he had developed feelings for Nianxia, but seeing her radiant smile made his heart relax and fill with joy.

So… this must be what it feels like to like someone.

If Liu Shi hadn’t made his move on Xichun, he probably wouldn’t feel the urgency to confess to Nianxia.

He was also worried someone else might beat him to it, so he wanted to act first.

But what if Nianxia didn’t feel the same? What if she liked someone else?

The more he thought, the tighter his brows furrowed, and the fiercer his aura became.

When Nianxia arrived at the pavilion, she was startled to see Ling Yi like this.

She timidly called, “Captain Ling…”

Ling Yi suddenly turned around, his stern expression making Nianxia step back in fear.

“C-Captain Ling, what’s wrong? Did I offend you?”

Seeing her frightened, Ling Yi quickly softened his expression and smiled. “Did I scare you?”

Nianxia, honest as ever, patted her chest and nodded. Then she asked why he looked so serious.

Ling Yi smiled faintly, stepped forward two paces, and approached her.

“Miss Nianxia, what do you think of me?”

“Very good,” Nianxia replied without hesitation. Capable, good-looking, and a decent personality—a good person.

Ling Yi’s heart leapt. “What makes me good?”

Nianxia explained her thoughts, puzzled as to why he was asking.

The next moment, she got the answer—and it made her want to run.

“Miss Nianxia, I have feelings for you. I want to marry you. Will you be my wife?”

“Ah?” Nianxia’s eyes widened. He… liked her? Wanted to marry her? “C-Captain Ling, you must be joking?”

She had never imagined Ling Yi would have feelings for her.

Ling Yi’s expression remained serious. “Do I look like I’m joking?” He could tell from her expression that she didn’t have feelings for him.

At that moment, he felt a pang of jealousy toward Liu Shi—his own love didn’t feel the same way back.

Sigh…

Nianxia, flustered, smiled nervously and said she wasn’t worthy of him.

She was just a maid—how could she match his status?

“My status isn’t much higher than yours. How is it that you’re not worthy?” Ling Yi logically countered. “Do you already like someone else?”

As he asked, he stared at her intently, making Nianxia even more flustered.

She didn’t dare meet his gaze and quietly shook her head.

Hearing her say “no,” Ling Yi smiled again. “I’m unmarried, you’re unwed. Will you consider me?” He paused. “I sincerely want to marry you and hope you’ll think it over carefully.”

Nianxia blushed, nodded in a fluster, muttering “okay,” and quickly ran off, avoiding his gaze.

Ling Yi: “….” He watched her retreating figure, chuckled, and didn’t follow—letting her think it over.

When Nianxia returned to the courtyard, Xichun glanced at her and curiously asked why her face was so red—was she unwell?

Nianxia waved her hand vigorously. “It’s nothing. I just ran too fast.”

“Really nothing?”

“Really nothing,” she shook her head. “Xichun, how does it feel being with Liu Shi?”

Hearing this, Xichun blushed, glanced at Nianxia, muttered, “I’m going to see the madam,” and ran off.

Nianxia exhaled slightly and sat on the doorstep, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

She still couldn’t believe Ling Yi liked her.

What did she do to catch his eye? If she had known, she could have asked him directly instead of overthinking here.

But now… she would ask him tomorrow.

Little did she know, a major turn of events would happen that very night.