Don't be tempted, sir

The tofu-like milk, with a layer of light yellow milk skin floating on it, was sprinkled with a little granulated sugar, peanuts and sesame seeds. It tasted sour and sweet and had an endless aftertaste. Shen Yining finished the last bite and smiled with satisfaction: "Can you come again in the evening?"

Song Xiaoyuan sipped the pomegranate juice: "Okay, I'll steal you out."

Shen Yining smiled: "Haha, good!"

Kasa was busy downstairs, and Tuoshi came over enthusiastically: "Mr. Song, long time no see!" Song Xiaoyuan stood up to greet him. Tuoshi saw the exquisite hand in Shen Yining's hand: "It's a good match! It's a good match!"

Shen Yining raised his hand to greet her, and Linglong responded, "Hello."

"Sit down, sit down, you're welcome!"

Song Xiaoyuan said: "Tuo Shi, please help me find a prescription."

"Oh? Let me take a look."

Song Xiaoyuan took out a piece of paper from his arms. Tuo Shi took it and looked at it carefully. Shen Yining sipped the pomegranate juice. The paper was not the prescription from that night.

"Hmm... Chinese herbal medicine, these are quite common."

"Oh! What herb is it!"

"Two-sided needles, bitter wood, and bitter almonds are common, but the rest may be hard to find in Liao!"

Song Xiaoyuan asked for a pen and ink to write down everything: "Tuo Shi, where will you be next time you go on business?"

"It's just a few days away. It's going to be a smooth trade route during the Liao Kingdom's New Year."

"The herbs I just mentioned..."

"I know! I will definitely come with Master Song! But this medicine is quite strong...Brother Song..."

"Thanks for the reminder, that's it!"

Instead of saying goodbye, the two of them walked hand in hand on the busy street. Shen Yining didn't ask, and Song Xiaoyuan didn't explain. He came to the door of Shen's house and watched her go in. Shen Yining went up the steps and ran back, hugging him tightly: "Go to bed early!"

Song Xiaoyuan also hugged her tightly, and said along her back: "Okay, Yining too."

There was no one in the alley. Shen Yining hugged Song Xiaoyuan's neck, stepped on his feet and kissed his cheek: "See you later."

"Ah."

"Oh my, this is outrageous." When his daughter had not returned from the palace, Shen Rushan waited outside the gate and saw her, hiding behind the door with his eyes covered. He had no idea that his daughter was the one who took the initiative, and was afraid that Song Xiaoyuan would mess around, so it seemed that he just wanted his beloved daughter to be more restrained!

"Cough cough!"

Shen Yining walked in happily: "Good evening, father~"

"Well, are you having fun?"

"happy!"

"Yining... forget it, go to sleep!"

"Uh-huh!"

Song Xiaoyuan dotes on his daughter so much, it really makes her lawless! Forget it, seeing Yi Ning happy, Shen Rushan also hopes that the two of them will get married soon.

It's New Year's Day, and the temples are crowded under the falling snow. There are many pilgrims today. Shen Yining came with her mother and sister-in-law. The snow in the temple reflects the plum blossoms, which is very beautiful. The fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the aroma of incense is peaceful.

"Come to Yining." Sister-in-law Wang indicated that it was her family's turn to burn incense. Shen Yining approached and knelt at the feet of the statue to pray devoutly. Wang looked at her with joy and smiled with her hands covering her mouth: "Little girl, it seems that there is something happy?"

Shen Yining smiled and nodded, and returned to the mansion at the same time as the Song family's carriage. The group walked happily in front, and Shen Yining and Song Xiaoyuan walked behind quietly holding hands. Mrs. Song looked back and saw that the two were very affectionate. It was the first time she saw her son so happy.

"Sorry to bother you Madam Shen, I'm here to pay New Year's greetings today!"

“Mrs. Song is too polite. I wish you a happy new year too!”

Shen Rushan came out, smiling happily today: "Song Lao'er, come in and sit down!"

The group of people were in the hall greeting each other and chatting about family matters. Shen Yining had already quietly left the house with Song Xiaoyuan behind him and came to a lantern shop in the street market.

The shop owner was surprised: "Miss Shen! And Mr. Song! Come on, sit inside." After Su Yunze took office, Zhou Cai opened this lantern shop, where everyone can make their own straw flower lanterns.

Shen Yining had received the invitation a long time ago, and when he saw Song Xiaoyuan today, he pulled her along and asked, "Can Xiaoyuan make lanterns?"

Song Xiaoyuan shook his head and was pulled to sit down. Zhou Cai brought tools and said, "Young man and young lady, these are tools. Be careful with your hands! Thank you for the plaque you sent us when we opened the shop that day!"

"No need to thank me, I hope Master Zhou will forgive me for not congratulating me in the future!"

"Miss, that's not right. Fortunately, Miss Shen happily sent the plaque and explained the reason. It's a good thing that Miss Shen was not in trouble."

"Thank you, Craftsman Zhou, for your concern!"

"Miss Shen, you guys do it! If you have any questions, I'll be outside."

"Okay, thank you very much, Craftsman Zhou, you'll be busy now!" The new red-bottomed gold-sand lanterns that were released during the Chinese New Year were very popular, so Zhou went out to greet the guests.

Song Xiaoyuan watched Shen Yining put dried rapeseed petals and dried azalea in the bamboo water. He followed suit and put plum petals and roses.

Slowly put the bamboo curtain into the pulp water, shake it left and right, and the water will flow down from both sides. The bamboo pulp mixed with petals floats on the bamboo curtain. Use the same method to make four pieces, and then make the cage frame.

The two of them worked diligently for the entire afternoon, and near dusk they both picked up the tinderbox and lit the straw lanterns.

"Happy New Year, Xiao Yuan!"

Song Xiaoyuan looked at Shen Yining under the lights and smiled: "Happy New Year, Yining!"

The two held lanterns and said goodbye to Zhou Cai. At this moment, firecrackers were set off in every household and they were about to start eating. The two hurried home. When they arrived at the door of Shen's house to say goodbye, Song Xiaoyuan exchanged their lanterns and said, "Yining, see you tonight."

"Want to stay up together?"

"Ok!"

"See you later, Xiaoyuan!" Shen Yining waved goodbye happily.

The adults of the two families met today. In addition to wishing a happy new year, the Song family mentioned the matter of the two people, and asked in detail about when the Shen family would be convenient, when to arrange someone to come and propose marriage, what requirements, etiquette, details, taboos... Both families saw that the two were very affectionate and had no objection, and decided to come and propose marriage at the end of the month after the new year.

Shen Yining wanted to go back to her garden right after finishing her meal, but Old Lady Shen asked her to stay: "Yining, today is the New Year's Eve! It would be great to have fun together with grandma."

Shen Changjun picked up a piece of apple with a fork and said, "Grandma, Yi Ning might have been deceived by someone! That's why she is so anxious to return to her garden."

"Grandma, don't listen to what my eldest brother said. I went to Chang'an Temple to burn incense early this morning. I feel a little sleepy now and want to go back and rest."

"Oh! Haha, Yining is tired, and you said you want to talk about your marriage together..."

When Shen Yining heard about the marriage, she immediately stopped feeling tired and sat next to Old Madam Shen: "Actually, I'm not that sleepy, grandma!"

Old Mrs. Shen looked at her granddaughter's worried and curious expression and smiled with her handkerchief covering her mouth.

Shen Rushan said, "Yining, the Song family came to our house today and told us about your marriage. Father saw that you, Yining, liked Song Xiaoyuan, so he decided that the Song family would come to propose marriage at the end of the month after the new year."

"Thank you, father!"

"Yining, although we don't know what happened in this experience, do you really understand Song Xiaoyuan?"

"Father, Xiao Yuan is a gentleman! He has protected me, respected me, understood me, and tolerated me in everything since we met. I am not looking for someone who will spoil me. I just want the person I marry and spend my life with to be a gentleman, someone I love and who loves me. I like Xiao Yuan and am willing to spend my life with him."

Everyone looked at Yining's seriousness and determination, and suddenly felt that she had grown up, at this moment! In the past, when asked if she was willing to be with Changqing, she shyly replied that it was all up to her parents. This was the first time she expressed her feelings.

Old Madam Shen continued, "The Song family is a good family, with few people and a quiet environment. Madam Song, Wen Yiyun, is from the famous Wen family, so I don't think she will be a tricky mother-in-law in the future. But... today I heard from Mrs. Wen that Song Xiaoyuan will be twenty-five after the Lantern Festival... but Yining is not even seventeen yet... I'm afraid that in the future..." Old Madam Shen was worried that her granddaughter would face the pain of her lover's departure alone like herself.

Then he asked, "Yining, you are afraid..." Before he finished speaking, Shen Yining knew that grandma was worried, and continued, "Yining knows that grandma is worried, but Yining is not afraid. Yining only wants to be with him at this moment, no matter what happens in the future."

Old Madam Shen stroked her granddaughter's head and said, "Okay, okay! As long as Yi Ning likes it!"