Chapter 579: A Strong Attachment
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Song Mingzhao had achieved his goal, so he did not want to stay for long. He used the fact that he had yet to recover and bade farewell.
Old Madam Yu looked at his back for a long time.
Nanny Liu also felt uneasy and couldn’t help but ask softly, “Matriarch, what do you think we should do now? Since Heir Song has said this, he definitely didn’t say it for no reason. If Third Prince really likes Eldest Miss, just because the Empress Dowager has praised her, Consort Xu only has to ask the emperor for a decree to betrothe her…
The word “betroth” made Old Madam Yu feel a little dizzy. She gripped the armrest of the chair tightly. After a while, she said with difficulty, “Don’t, don’t panic!” After saying that, her body was already trembling, and even her breathing became heavier. “Let me think about it again.”
After leaving the meditation room, Yu Youyao did not return to her room immediately.
The “cousins” strolled along the limestone path in the temple.
Chun Xiao and a few old maids followed from afar.
It was already noon, and the sun was shining brightly. However, the Precious Peace Temple was filled with flowers, trees, and green paths. There was a breeze, and it was a little cool. Even his mood became comfortable.
Unknowingly, they had arrived at the lake and mountain of the Precious Peace Temple.
Yu Youyao pointed at the old branch and apricot tree at the lake. “Cousin, the apricot flowers on the tree are blooming really well. They’re as beautiful as three years ago.”
Zhou Linghuai’s eyelids couldn’t help but twitch. He avoided the main point and said, “Yes, I even broke an apricot branch that bloomed just right for you.”
He still remembered that the little girl was holding an apricot branch. The bright red buds on the branch were filled with pink and white flowers, complementing the little girl’s young and innocent fair face. She was delicate and bright.
It was also because of this that he suddenly began to look forward to the sachet that the little girl had made for using with the thick and beautiful apricot flowers.
He waited for more than ten days.
The first sachet that the little girl had made was for him. The embroidery was very crude, but he liked it very much. He wore it every day, and Yu Shanxin despised it a lot.
Then, he said, “This is from my cousin.”
Yu Shanxin’s disdainful expressions turned to envy, because Yu Shuangbai was not good at needlework.
In the past two years, the little girl’s embroidery skills had improved. It did not take much time to make sachets, fans, handkerchiefs, socks, waist seals, and so on, so she often gave them to him.
Yu Youyao’s lips curled up as she deliberately said, “Cousin, if you hadn’t mentioned what happened three years ago, I would have almost forgotten. At that time, if I was pricked, my entire body would feel pain!”
At that time, she was so afraid that she was about to die. Later, she was bewitched by the apricot branch that her cousin had given her. Just like that, she was coaxed until she couldn’t remember anything!
Every time she mentioned what had happened three years ago, her cousin looked like he was facing a great enemy. He looked very interesting, so she couldn’t help but want to tease him.
She had never cared about what had happened three years ago.
For some reason, her cousin seemed to be brooding over this.
Zhou Linghuai’s expression froze for a moment. He untied the sachet at his waist and handed it to her. “Open it.”
Her cousin liked zither patterns, so Yu Youyao made him something with this pattern. Later, she embroidered other patterns. Although her cousin liked them too, he did not wear them as often as this.
“What’s there to see? I changed the dried flowers in the sachet not long ago.” Yu Youyao took the sachet in confusion. As she muttered, she opened the sachet and looked in—
She couldn’t help but be stunned!
There were some dried flowers stuffed into the sachet, but there was a strand of hair mixed in. This strand of hair should have been cherished by its owner and was often maintained with head oil. Even though it was separated from her scalp, it was black and shiny.
Everyone said that ten fingers were connected to the heart. Yu Youyao’s fingertips trembled slightly, and so did her heart. “This, this strand of hair, did I leave it behind three years ago?”
It was obvious, wasn’t it?
If she already knew, why did she still ask?
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “At that time, I didn’t know that you were the one behind the rockery, so I didn’t have time to stop you.” At this point, he sighed softly. “I frightened you.”
Although he hadn’t hurt her, she was in shock. Every time Yu Youyao mentioned this, he couldn’t help but feel a little short of breath.
He was very worried. What if Yu Youyao suddenly dug up old scores?
His father said, “Only villains and women are difficult to deal with. No matter how understanding and sensible a woman is, as long as she’s unreasonable, she’ll dig through the old scores with all her might. When she finds out and you’re kneeling and begging for mercy, you still have to think of ways to coax her. Otherwise, the next time, she’ll catch this old score and there’ll be no end to it.”
He spoke with a weathered expression and sighed.
It was obvious.
Thinking back to how his father had used many unscrupulous methods to pester his mother in order to marry a wife, he could most likely guess— Sooner or later, he would have to return the favor!
With his father’s example, he had never dared to lie or be perfunctory when it came to Yu Youyao. He had to get her approval first.
Only this matter could be considered a small mistake.
At first, he did not notice Yu Youyao. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a strand of black hair on the rockery. He couldn’t help but think of Yu Youyao, holding the apricot branch and looking delicate and happy. He had no idea that she had just walked through the gates of hell even after she kept saying, “Cousin, you’re the best.”
Perhaps she knew!
However, after he let go of his killing intent, this little girl, whose heart was as clear as glass, also let down her guard and fear towards him.
By the time he reacted, he had already taken off this strand of black hair. Later, he received the sachet that Yu Youyao had promised.
It was unknown how she had felt at that time, but he had placed this strand of carefully kept hair into his sachet and carried it with him.
Unknowingly, it had become a habit.
In the past two years, his sachet had often been changed. Only this strand of black hair had always been with him and had never left his body.
He had a strong emotional attachment to it.
At that time, this might have been an insignificant move of his, but who would have thought that it would be so meaningful? He hadn’t even noticed it himself.
In this life, there was no action that was meaningless.
It stemmed from the heart.
He had a strong emotional attachment to it.
He followed his heart and kept this strand of black hair in his palm. It was already destined that love would surround his heart.
He had been arrogant and rebellious all his life, but he would never go against his heart!
This was probably the reason why he had always carried this strand of hair with him.
He needed to get her.
Yu Youyao’s fingertips trembled slightly as she gently rubbed the embroidery on the sachet. “Have you always carried this strand of hair with you?”
It was pure coincidence that she had mentioned this strand of hair. It was just a strand of hair. Why did her cousin always carry it with him? Her heart couldn’t help but tremble..