The female supporting role is really here to mess things up

The necessary items were arranged on the boat, and the four finally got on board. Two cushions with gold sleeves were placed at the front, specially for the master to sit on. Although Lu Qingxi didn't want to sit with Song Yi, he also knew that this was the established rule - the front seat was the most respected. However, after sitting down, he looked at the distance between the two of them and was still not used to it, so he moved slightly to the right.

On the East Lake, the sun shines through the clouds onto the sparkling water. A cruise ship slowly passes by, leaving ripples. Lu Qingxi and Song Yi stand side by side at the front of the boat, both of them focusing on searching for the lotus flowers blooming in the lake.

Although Song Yi was looking at the lotus flowers in the lake, he was thinking about how to get along with his little cousin. He whispered to Lu Qingxi, "Cousin Xier, grandma has always loved lotus flowers. We must pick a few of the most beautiful lotus flowers for her today to make her happy."

Lu Qingxi nodded and smiled. Her fingers gently slid across the wooden railing of the bow, her eyes carefully searching the lake, searching her mind for relevant memories. She replied softly, "Cousin, I remember that my grandmother liked the lotus with light colors and tender petals the most. Why don't we choose according to this standard?"

Song Yi nodded in agreement. He stared at the lake, looking for a lotus that matched Lu Qingxi's description. Soon, his eyes fixed on a blooming lotus. Its petals were as white as snow, with a faint pink tint, and looked particularly beautiful in the sun.

He pointed at the lotus and said to Lu Qingxi, "Cousin Xier, what do you think of that lotus? I think its color is very elegant and its petals are very tender. Grandmother will definitely like it."

Lu Qingxi looked in the direction Song Yi pointed and saw the beautiful lotus. She smiled and nodded, with a hint of approval in her eyes: "Cousin, you have a good eye. This lotus is really beautiful. I believe my grandmother will like it very much."

The two decided to pick the lotus. Xiaohuan, who was standing opposite, wanted to stand up to help, but was secretly pulled back by Aquan. Although Xiaohuan was a little unhappy, she thought that it was good for the young lady to be close to the prince, so she puffed her face and did not move.

The two people on the bow approached the lotus carefully, fearing to damage its petals. Fortunately, Song Yi was very clever and didn't want to tire his little cousin, so he picked the lotus without much effort.

Next, they continued to search for other beautiful lotus flowers in the lake. Sometimes they discussed which lotus flower was more suitable for Old Madam Song, and sometimes they shared their love for lotus flowers. The boat was moving slowly in the lake, and the two of them became closer in the afternoon.

The more Song Yi gets along with his little cousin, the happier he is. When he first met her, he was indeed attracted by her gorgeous appearance, and his heart started beating fast at the first sight. As he got to know her better, he could see how precious her soul was beneath her beautiful skin.

Her behavior revealed an innate nobility and elegance. She treated the servants with deep respect, unlike the superficial charity of the young ladies in the past. She really treated them equally. She was also considerate to her grandmother and always found the points that the old lady cared about the most to comfort her.

Although there is a hint of coldness in her character, this coldness adds to her charm. Her coldness is not arrogance, but a kind of restraint and depth. I can't help but sigh that rumors are misleading, but fortunately I didn't miss the opportunity to get along with her.

Finally, they picked out a few of the most beautiful lotus flowers to take back. After getting off the boat, the four saw servants waiting on the shore. They did not take the same route as they had come, but chose to exit from the other side.

Lu Qingxi picked up the one she liked best and put it in her hand. The beautiful lotus in her hand seemed to be a foil. Her hands that touched the flower branches were long and slender, like a carefully carved jade. When she gently stroked the stem of the lotus, her hands seemed to emit a soft light. Her fingers were slender and flexible, and every movement seemed so elegant and natural. The sunlight shone through the gaps in the veil and fell on her hands, adding a bit of delicacy and luster to her skin.

This touching scene was seen by a group of people coming from behind. Although they could not see the face of the woman in front of them clearly because of the distance, they could feel that the girl in front of them must be a beauty.

The two men in the lead, one in a black robe and the other in a black robe, both quickened their pace, but after taking a few steps forward and seeing a familiar tall figure, they stopped abruptly.

Song Yi turned sideways and looked at his cousin, his eyes filled with tenderness. Anyone with eyes could see that he cared about the woman beside him.

The two of them had just finished dealing with the salt merchant yesterday, and today they had some free time to go for a private tour of the lake. It was not good for others to know about the previous incident or their private relationship. The two of them had no choice but to watch the group of people in front of them leave before continuing to move forward.

"Yuebai, the one in front is Song Yi from the Duke's Mansion." The one who spoke was Murong Feng, the eldest son of the Prime Minister's Mansion, who was dressed in black.

The man in a black robe and a half-golden mask was the deposed crown prince Xiao Yuebai. Hearing his friend's words, he said, "I recognized him just now, but I don't think I've ever heard of him being close to any girl. Judging from his actions, he seems to be very concerned." As he spoke, he raised his fan and gently patted his palms.

After that, neither of them spoke again, nor did they mention the woman's identity. They both saw how much Song Yi valued women, and the Duke and his wife had a harmonious marriage and only had one son. It was well known that the couple had traveled around the country five years ago.

That woman must be Song Yi's sweetheart, and the two of them going out together must mean they have feelings for each other. As gentlemen, they would never do anything to find out about someone else's sweetheart.

The two stood quietly on the shore, waiting for the people below to make arrangements before getting on the boat. The lake in front of them was very calm, but only the people looking at the lake knew whether their hearts were calm or not.

In the Duke's Mansion, when Song Yi and his men presented the lotus to Old Madam Song, a pleased smile appeared on the old lady's face. Old Madam Song saw that the relationship between the two was not as distant as when they went out, and the smile in the corners of her eyes deepened.

"That's great! My Xier and Yier have good taste. Come, take good care of these lotus flowers." After praising the lotus flowers, he called on the servants to take care of them.

Song Yi and Lu Qingxi felt extremely relieved when they saw the satisfied smile of Old Madam Song. They all knew that the old lady was not only satisfied with He Hua, but also satisfied with the close relationship between them.

After dinner, Old Madam Song happily let Lu Qingxi go back to the bamboo garden. Song Yi, who was deliberately left behind, sat obediently beside his grandmother, waiting for her to ask questions.

"You and Xier seem to be much closer today, and grandma is very pleased. But do you have the answer to the question grandma asked yesterday?" As she spoke, she pulled Song Yi's hand and patted it gently.

"My cousin and I are much closer today than we were yesterday, and I also understand my cousin's temperament and character a little better. Now I have made my feelings clear, and I like my cousin as a person. I like the way she behaves and the way she treats others." When Song Yi talked about his sweetheart, his eyes and eyebrows were full of tenderness.

"Starting tomorrow, I want to teach my cousin to play the piano. I remember that my grandmother gave my cousin the Qiu Lunong piano last year, but she didn't take it away and it's still in the backyard. My cousin wanted me to teach her some time ago, but...but I never had the time, and it was my own fault that I didn't seize the opportunity. I specially asked for a few more days of leave from the Ministry of Personnel. I...I want to spend more time with my cousin, and I beg my grandmother to agree." After she finished speaking, her ears turned red again.

After hearing this, Old Madam Song burst out laughing. Song Yi felt his ears getting hotter, but he was too embarrassed to say anything.

"My quiet Yi'er has now spoken so many words in one breath, and even has some thoughts. I will ask Xi'er what she thinks tomorrow. Don't worry, I will do my best to help you." She raised her hand and touched her grandson's head. "Okay, I can see that you really like your cousin. You're going out for the day, so go down and have a rest early."

Song Yi understood that his grandmother meant to help him. "Thank you, grandma. I'll be leaving now. You should also go to bed early." Song Yi left Old Madam Song's courtyard contentedly with a blush still on his face.