Adhere to the gentleman's principles

Zhao Junning sighed and started to cry: "Young Marquis, it's Junning's fault. Junning shouldn't have won against you. Please don't bother with me. Next time I will try to lose to you so that you won't lose face again." There are always higher mountains. Li Ziyan looked at Zhao Junning's acting and said: "It's okay. I will accompany you in whatever you like. I don't mind. I really admired you for a long time. Please don't let me down."

As Li Ziyan spoke, he moved closer to Zhao Junning and prepared to lift up his hat with his hand, but then he retracted his hand.

Zhao Junning took a breath and took a step forward, lifting her veil and smiling: "Young Marquis, do you really like me?" Li Ziyan was also stunned and stuttered: "Of course."

Zhao Junning said, "Okay, I heard the young marquis's confession and I will consider it, but how do you plan to get me to leave?" Li Ziyan blinked and said, "It's very simple. I will go to your house at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow and you will accompany me to a place."

Zhao Junning blinked a few times and nodded: "Okay." Seeing that Zhao Junning agreed, Li Ziyan stopped pestering and turned away. Xu Wenhe and Shen Congwen also followed. Zhao Junning was a little puzzled: "He asked me to accompany him to a place?" Fuling said: "Miss, are you going? This young marquis doesn't look serious, so you'd better not go."

Zhao Junning said, "He has already asked me to go, don't worry, he won't do anything." Shen Congwen asked, "Li Ziyan, you want the girl to accompany you to see the princess tomorrow?" Xu Wenhe asked, "You don't want Junning to be a cover for you, do you? You are too unkind?"

Li Ziyan shook his head: "What are you thinking? What does the princess and I have to do with other girls?" Xu Wenhe asked: "Then why do you want Jun Ning to accompany you tomorrow?" Li Ziyan said: "Tomorrow is a poetry competition. Zhao Jun Ning's literary talent is very good. Let her help me win the poetry competition."

Shen Congwen said, "But you were amazing just now, confessing to that girl in front of so many people. The girl even responded to your words." Li Ziyan said, "That's why I said that Zhao Junning is not simple. Maybe she wanted to win me over and get my attention." Xu Wenhe slapped his forehead, "It starts again."

When Li Ziyan returned to Guangping Marquis's residence, Guangping Marquis slammed the table and said, "You little brat, you still remember to come back?" Li Ziyan said, "Why can't I go home? You are so fierce, you are really a tiger." Li Yin picked up the ruler and was about to hit Li Ziyan, but Xu Zhiwan stopped him and said, "Hey, hey, hey, you have something to say, why are you hitting me?"

Li Ziyan straightened his clothes and said, "Mom, this old man has this temper and wants to beat me at every turn. I'm used to it." Li Yin wanted to go up and beat Li Ziyan even more. Xu Zhiwan said, "Put down the ruler."

Li Yin put down his ruler after hearing what his wife said. Xu Zhiwan said to Li Ziyan, "Sit down."

After hearing this, Li Ziyan sat down obediently. Li Yin said, "Tell me the truth, do you like Princess Yufu?" Li Ziyan shook his head decisively, "No, I really don't like her."

Xu Zhiwan said to Li Yin, "It seems to be true." Then she asked Li Ziyan, "Do you like General Zhao's daughter?" Li Ziyan was stunned and said, "Of course I don't like her!" Li Yin was angry and said, "If you don't like her, why did you block her in the cloth shop today and say such admiring words? When she asked you, you said you really liked her."

Li Ziyan said, "I just said it casually. And I saved her, it was just a joke." Li Yin slammed the table and stood up, "Just said it casually? A joke? Do you know that your father and I, General Zhao, passed by you today when we were on business and heard what you said? How can you let the girl get married in the future if you just said it casually? What do you think of General Zhao? I will beat you to death today, you stinky boy!"

Li Ziyan said, "You believe me when I just said it casually. The girl doesn't mind, why are you so anxious?" Li Yin said, "I don't mind you going to those places when you go out and cause trouble on weekdays. That's the girl's reputation. How can she not mind when you just said it casually?" Xu Zhiwan said, "Calm down, Ziyan, tell me the truth. Did you really say it casually?"

Li Ziyan nodded, and Xu Zhiwan said, "Child, do you know that reputation is very important for women in this world? You just said it casually. The girl is only fourteen years old and she will grow up in the future. You said it out loud for fun, but have you ever thought about what will happen to the girl? Ziyan, girls are different from men. The world is unfair to women. Have you ever thought about the consequences of such nonsense? The girl won a few dice games against you and you took revenge on her like this. Do you think it's right?"

Li Ziyan was silent for a while and then said, "Mom, I was wrong. But," Xu Zhiwan said, "It's useless for you to tell mom. I like that girl. I am good friends with her mom. Since you said this, you have to take responsibility, understand?"

Li Ziyan asked, "How can we be responsible?" Xu Zhiwan said, "If you tell others and explain, no one will listen and they will just spread the word worse, and then the girl's reputation will be ruined."

Li Ziyan said, "Then what should I do?" Xu Zhiwan looked at Li Yin and said, "In a few days, your father will go to the Zhao Mansion to propose marriage and give betrothal gifts. Three days later is Mrs. Zhao's birthday. You and I will go to celebrate her birthday and then talk about the marriage. The next day, let your father go to give betrothal gifts." Li Ziyan said, "Ah?" Li Yin said sharply, "Ah what? Are you still not happy?" Li Ziyan lowered his head and said, "No, that girl is too beautiful. Anyway, I won't marry her."

Li Yin was furious: "You don't want to marry? Tell me again?" Li Ziyan said: "I won't marry you even if you say it ten times." Xu Zhiwan said to Li Yin: "Go back to your room and I'll talk to him." Li Yin went back to his room angrily. Xu Zhiwan walked to Li Ziyan: "Ziyan, tell me why you don't want to marry me?" Li Ziyan said: "I don't like her. Will she be happy if I marry her? Besides, I have to marry her to be responsible."

After hearing this, Xu Zhiwan said, "Okay, mother, I won't beat around the bush. This is the only way to be responsible. Who will believe you if you explain? Not only will no one believe you, but it will probably make people think that you just like the girl and that you have an affair with her. Ziyan mother and your father only developed feelings after they got married. If you listen to mother, you will just have a few quarrels in your life. This girl will definitely be your good support in the future." Li Ziyan said hesitantly, "Okay, mother, I will listen to you."

Returning to the Zhao residence, Zhao Nian and Meng Xiangning looked at each other. Meng Xiangning walked over and took Zhao Junning's hand and asked, "Junning, are you happy going out today?" Zhao Junning nodded, "Very happy." Meng Xiangning said, "As long as you are happy."

Zhao Nian asked cautiously, "Jun Ning, although you are not yet of marriageable age, if you have someone you like or are attracted to, please tell your parents."

Zhao Junning was puzzled: "Dad, I... Dad, did you know?" Zhao Nian nodded a little embarrassedly. Zhao Junning quickly said, "Dad, you misunderstood me..."

Zhao Junning thought: Actually, I like it very much, but. Zhao Nian said: "Today, I came back from Guangping Hou after finishing my business and passed by you. I heard what the young Marquis Li said. If you like it." Zhao Junning's ears and face were red. Fuling said: "Master and Madam, you misunderstood. The young Marquis was just vindictive. The young lady won the dice game and he was not convinced and deliberately said that." Fuling reacted and immediately covered her mouth after she finished speaking. After hearing this, Zhao Nian said: "Junning, it turns out that the young Marquis Li admires you. That's good. Don't worry. Guangping Hou's mansion will come to propose in a few days."

Zhao Junning was shocked: "Propose marriage! So soon?" Zhao Nian asked: "If you don't want to, daddy can just tell him." Zhao Junning wanted to say that she didn't like it, but she really liked Li Ziyan, "Ah no! Daddy, I'll listen to you in everything. The young marquis... he's very good." Zhao Junning agreed readily, which made Zhao Nian stunned but quickly reacted. His daughter was a straightforward person.

The next day, at noon, Li Ziyan went out first to Ying Pavilion to meet Princess Xiao Yufu. When Xiao Yufu saw Li Ziyan, she wanted to throw herself into his arms. Li Ziyan stepped back a few steps and said, "Princess, stay at this distance. I can hear you."

After hearing this, Xiao Yufu had no choice but to stop moving forward, but she said in a charming voice: "Brother Ziyan, I have been waiting for you for a long time, and you are finally here." Li Ziyan bowed: "Princess, please forgive me, my home is far from Ying Pavilion and I am a little late." After hearing this, Xiao Yufu said: "It's okay, I'm glad you are here. Brother Ziyan, do you think I look good today?"

Li Ziyan replied without looking up, "It looks good." Xiao Yufu continued, "That's good. If you say it looks good, it means you like it. When we get married and you live in my princess's mansion, I will wear it every day for you to see." Li Ziyan said, "Princess, I have not agreed to be your consort, and His Majesty has not issued an order." Then Li Ziyan said, "The princess is so precious that I can't get close to her."

After hearing this, Xiao Yufu said, "Brother Ziyan, what did you say? I will go back to Pingliang tomorrow and ask my father to issue an edict to allow you to be my consort." Li Ziyan said, "Princess, don't waste your time. My parents have already chosen a wife for me. This unmarried girl is very good."

Xiao Yufu was furious after hearing this: "Li Ziyan, you are too ungrateful. It is your blessing that the princess likes you. I have come to Bianjing to find you many times, and you treat me like this?" Li Ziyan said: "Princess, I did not beg you to come, and I said a year ago that I did not want to marry you."

Xiao Yufu said, "Li Ziyan, your parents chose a daughter from an official family for you, didn't they? How can I be inferior to her? You should think carefully before you marry a daughter from an official family who has no ability. I am a legitimate princess. If you become my consort, you don't have to work hard to climb up from the bottom. I will directly recommend you to a high-ranking official position."

Li Ziyan said, "The princess's temptation is good, but how do you know that she is not good when you have never seen her? Since I can get my parents to come and propose marriage, I approve of her. The princess is very good, born rich and noble, the daughter of the phoenix, but so what? Now you are not discussing other girls with me, a son of an official,?"

Xiao Yufu picked up the teacup and splashed the tea on Li Ziyan's face and said, "Li Ziyan, I've made a note of this! Let's go."

Xiao Yufu shook her sleeves and left Ying Pavilion. Li Ziyan stood up and turned to salute: "Farewell, Princess." Mo Yu stepped forward and handed over a handkerchief and said: "Sir, this princess is really unreasonable. She has been pursuing you for a year. She has been rejected by you every time, but she still insists. You made her so angry today. Aren't you afraid that she will hate you?" Li Ziyan wiped the tea off his face and said: "Let her hate! After all, it's not the first time or the second time that she has been angry."

Mo Yu said, "Mo Yu just doesn't understand. Young Master was protecting Miss Zhao just now, why didn't he just say Miss Zhao's name? General Zhao is so majestic in the court, the princess wouldn't dare to do anything to Miss Zhao, right?" Li Ziyan said, "You don't understand this. Women hold grudges, and holding grudges against women is even more terrible. Besides, we don't know whether Miss Zhao will agree to our proposal or not."

Li Ziyan was stunned when he mentioned Zhao Junning: "Oh, what time is it now? Let's go to Zhao's house." Li Ziyan came to Zhao's house and saw Fuling at the door. He walked up to him and asked: "Little girl, where is your young lady?"

Fuling said, "Oh, you're here? I thought you weren't coming. My young lady is weak and has been waiting for you here for an hour. She was already feeling unwell after being blown by the cold wind on the street yesterday, and now she has caught a cold after waiting for you for an hour. I'm afraid she won't be able to keep your appointment."

Li Ziyan felt a little guilty after hearing this, but he didn't know why he came to visit. Fuling looked at Li Ziyan and said, "Young Marquis Li, I know you hold a grudge, but you hold a grudge too much. My young lady just won a few dice against you, but you stopped her on the street and said those words of confession, and asked my young lady to wait for you. Now you have almost had enough revenge!"

After saying that, Fuling was about to enter the mansion. Li Ziyan asked, "Is your young lady in a serious condition?" Meng Xiangning pulled Fuling and said to Li Ziyan, "She has a fever, very hot, but she has taken medicine. Young Marquis, please don't mind. Fuling's words are just because she is worried about Jun Ning's condition." After hearing this, Li Ziyan said, "Don't mind. I have some important things to deal with today, so I am late."

Fuling said softly, "What's the important matter that made my young lady wait for an hour?" Li Ziyan thought for a moment and said, "I went to Princess Yufu to clarify some things. She has always wanted to marry me but I have never wanted to. I went today to clarify. I said something offensive to Miss Zhao yesterday, but I will take responsibility."

Then he looked around the mansion and said, "Miss Zhao is ill today and cannot be convenient, so I will take my leave first." Li Ziyan and Mo Yu paid their respects and left. "Looking at his back, he is a young man full of vigor and vitality. He would be a good son-in-law," Meng Xiangning nodded and said.

Zhao Junning sneezed after drinking the medicine in the house, and Fuling came in. Zhao Junning looked at Fuling and said, "What's wrong with you? Are you so angry? Who bullied you?" Fuling said, "That young marquis, he just came and I couldn't help but scold him."

Zhao Junning stood up when she heard Li Ziyan coming: "He's here? Where is he now?" Fuling said: "He has gone back. His hair is soaked and he is sweating a lot. How can a young marquis sweat in the autumn wind?" Zhao Junning sat down and said: "Really?"

Then he asked, "What did you tell him?" Fuling said, "I said you caught a cold and went to bed, and the lady said you had a fever, and the young marquis was very worried." Zhao Junning said, "He was worried about me!" Fuling said, "Miss, isn't it normal for him to worry about you? It's wrong for him to worry about you without feeling guilty for making you wait for so long. What are you happy about?"

Zhao Junning said: "No, no, I'm not happy. I'm just surprised that he would feel guilty about me."

Zhao Junning said this with a smile on her face. Then she asked, "Did he say why he was late?" Fuling said, "The young marquis said he went to see Princess Xiao Yufu, saying that the princess wanted him to be her husband but he refused."

Zhao Junning heard: "Really?" Xiao Yufu's maid came to the room where Xiao Yufu was staying. Xiao Yufu asked: "Where is Brother Ziyan?"

The maid said, "The young marquis stayed in the Zhao residence for a moment and then left. He said a lot of things but I couldn't hear them clearly because he was too far away."

Xiao Yufu stopped the incense burner in her hand and asked: "Zhao Mansion? The residence of General Zhao Nian?" The maid said: "It should be." Xiao Yufu said: "Help me keep an eye on Li Ziyan in the next few days. If he has any other movements, please tell me at any time." The maid said: "It is Her Royal Highness the Princess."