"You, ah......since you were late in the first place, then you should now make an effort to look at the flowers to boost your image.  Who knows whether that Ying Yan Long really has not arrived yet or maybe he is hiding in the dark to observe all of you."  Hua Ming Zi said in a low voice.

"No, it can't be......Is he really such an evil schemer?"  Although Qian Ying Ying said those words, she still stood upright and put a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

"I thought you said that you were not interested in Ying Yan Long."  Hua Ming Zi lifted her eyebrows.

"I am not interested in him and he is not interested in me......are two different things."  Qian Ying Ying said while her eyes rolled from side to side to see if anyone was looking at her.

"Why are you so worried?  He rejected me when I proposed to him, but I am still living very well."  Hua Ming Zi was looking at a big chrysanthemum bloom and suddenly thought of having a piece of chrysanthemum cake with a cup of hot tea. 

Today has really been a hectic day.

"Aiya......Sister Hua is not the same as us........you are someone who handles important matters, one who can take care of a family very well.  We are looking for someone whom we can rely on for the rest of our lives."

Hua Ming Zi bit on her lower lip and did not know what to say because sometimes she had also thought about giving up everything and would also like to have someone to rely on.

Speaking of this, it is actually not suitable for her to look for a husband whom she had to look after but can any ordinary man accept her personality of habitual decision-making?  Didn't Ying Yan Long reject her because of this?

"Sister, why are you frowning?"  Qian Ying Ying thought she was unhappy and quickly pulled her hand acting like a spoilt child.

"I'm fine.  It's just that I am hungry.  You should go and eat something to pad your stomach.  In this way, later when you are officially dining, you won't look so disgraceful because you are eating so hungrily."  Hua Ming Zi urged her.

"Sister you are so smart.  Why are you so clear about a girl's heart?" 

The reason is that when Hua Ming Zi was a child, she was also brought up like all well-bred girls.  Her mother was a famous well-bred young lady and since a child, the lessons she received on etiquette were not inferior to the etiquette lessons taught to the concubines in the palace.

"Lady Hua......"  Steward Lin of Qingcheng Mountain Villa came up beside her and said.  "Gongzi knows you are here and asked me to invite you to the Purple Bamboo Garden."

"Initially, I wanted to go and greet Gongzi but because the villa is hosting a banquet today and I'm afraid Gongzi will be very busy, therefore, I didn't immediately go to greet him." 

Hua Ming Zi nodded towards Qian Ying Ying and said.  "Hurry up and return to the Banquet."

Then she turned around and left with Steward Lin.

She asked a few questions on Mei Gongzi's illness and was about to set foot on the Pine Cypress Path leading to the Purple Bamboo Garden when a figure suddenly appeared to block her way.

Hua Ming Zi frowned and looked up......

"Why you are here?"  She blurted out.

"It is fate."  Ying Yan Long looked at the woman who walked so fast that her cheeks had turned pinkish and his lips involuntarily curved upwards.

"I did not expect to meet Gongzi so soon."  She nodded with a smile and stopped.

Ying Yan Long looked at Steward Lin.

"Ying......"  Steward Lin clasped his hands and bowed to greet Ying Yan Long.

"Don't stand on ceremony."  Ying Yan Long stopped Steward Lin from calling out his name and shook his head slightly at him.

Steward Lin always knew how to look at people's eyes and he immediately swallowed back the greeting that he was about to give Yin Yan Long.

Of course, Hua Ming Zi was able to read the message between the two men but she pretended not to notice anything. 

This man does not want Steward Lin to address him by his name, but does she want to hear?!

Now it is him who came to block her way and earlier on, it was he who took the initiative to save the driver.  She did not place a knife at his neck to force him.

"Gongzi seems to be a busy man, so I will not delay you.  Once again I thank you for your help just now."  Hua Ming Zi finished speaking and looked at Steward Lin.  "Let's go."

"I remember Lady came to partic.i.p.ate in the Flower Appreciation Banquet but why are you going in this direction?"  Ying Yan Long involuntarily followed behind her.

"Gongzi is quite clear about where the Flower Appreciation Banquet is held."  Hua Ming Zi said without stopping her footsteps.

"Lady is walking on this Pine Cypress Path.......are you going to visit Mei Gongzi?"

"Exactly."  Hua Ming Zi nodded and was not interested to talk to a person who deliberately hid his ident.i.ty.  She was thinking that if he asks her for her ident.i.ty, she would just use the pseudonym as the cousin sister of Qian Ying Ying.

"If Steward Lin doesn't mind, I can escort Lady to Purple Bamboo Garden.  You can go about your own business."  Ying Yan Long looked at Steward Lin as he spoke but his voice tone completely did not leave any room for refusal. 

Hua Ming Zi lifted her eyebrows.  She normally uses this voice tone as well but this man is now in other people's place, isn't his tone a bit too arrogant?

"This Lady is an esteemed guest of my Family's Gongzi and I have been given orders to personally escort Lady to him."  Steward Lin explained to Yin Yan Long politely.

"Does Steward Lin not trust me?  Are you afraid I will send Lady to another place?  I also want to visit your Gongzi and now I am just on my way."  Ying Yan Long said casually with a faint smile on his lips.  "Oh yes, a while ago, I obtained the medicinal herb Lingzhi* of Xiang Mountain from some foreign merchants.  It can soothe his nerves and promotes well-being.  It is beneficial to be consumed with the 'Heart Relaxing' Pill that Mei Gongzi is taking."

(The scientific name for Lingzhi is Ganoderma Lucidum and in ancient China, this herb is said to have the effect of immortality and rejuvenation.  This is an expensive medicinal herb used for soothing the nerves, relieving cough, relieving asthma, and prolonging life and also to cure dizziness, sleeplessness, shortness of breath and cough.)

When Steward Lin heard his words, what else could he do?  Several times, the life of his Master was barely saved by the Ying Family's magical medicine and pills.  Although Ying Dangjia takes good care of his Master, it is all because of the person behind his Master.  But now this Ying Dangjia is only asking a favor from him, how can he turn this into an unpleasant situation?

"Then I will have to trouble you."  Steward Lin said, standing in his place.

"It is not necessary to trouble anyone.  I know the way to Purple Bamboo Garden, so an escort is not needed."  Hua Ming Zi looked at Steward Lin then gave him a nod and very quickly she walked away.

Ying Yan Long hurriedly caught up with her and looked at her pretty face.  He felt that when the beauty is angry, her slightly twisted eyebrows and her tightened lips seemed to be exquisitely charming.

"Is Lady angry because I insisted on following?"  Ying Yan Long asked.

"I am just surprised at the greatness of your face!  You actually take other people's home as if it is your own territory!" 

She is not interested in people who are impolite!

"Lady's words are too serious.  I am not arrogant or bossy.  I just requested a favor from Steward Lin, to fulfill a need and seek convenience."

"Everyone has their own request, everyone has their own need.  There is a difference between two willing parties and using force on another."  Hua Ming Zi snorted. 

"Later, I will personally extend my grat.i.tude to Steward Lin."  Ying Yan Long replied.

Hua Ming pursed her lips without any intention of responding.

"Is the coach driver alright?"  He asked.

"Are you now trying to seek favors?  Thanks to the blessings of Gongzi, he is fine."  Hua Ming Zi said indifferently.

Ying Yan Long pursed his lips and realized the woman has a bad temper.

"Is Lady angry with me now?"  He shot forward and blocked her way.

"Why should I?  You and I have nothing to do with each other."  Hua Ming Zi smiled and walked around him.  Then she quickened her footsteps.

"Stand still!"  He shouted in a low voice and stared at her feet.

Hua Ming Zi ignored him and continued forward.

"Ah!"  Her elbow was suddenly caught by someone.

Her footsteps were hurried and when she was pulled back with a tug, she lost her balance and fell directly into his arms.  Her face knocked into his chest and an expensive scent penetrated her nose.

"What are you doing?"  She shouted in a low voice and raised her hands to push him away.

"There is a snake on the ground.  If I had not pulled you back, you would have stepped on it."  He held her shoulders and moved her behind his back while keeping his eyes on the snake.

Snake? ! !  She is afraid of nothing but the only thing she is afraid of are snakes.  Hua Ming Zi sucked in a breath and she shrank behind him, unconsciously grabbing onto his clothes. 

Ying Yan Long could feel the movement behind him and he curved his lips as he watched the little snake that had appeared at the appropriate time slowly slipping away behind the bush.

"Is it still here?"  Hua Ming Zi tugged twice on his clothes.

"It has left."  He turned a little to the side and looked at her.

"Good."  Her hands were still holding on tightly to his clothes.  She wanted to take a look but she was afraid, so she only threw over a brief glance.

Ying Yan Long looked at her childish behavior and his heart could not help but warm up.  Turning his body a little, he said.  "It has gone.  Don't be afraid."

"Thank......."  Hua Ming Zi looked up at him and then she realized that the two of them were unnaturally close, so close that he was practically speaking into her ear!

Immediately, she put a distance between them and stood three paces away from him.  But her heartbeat unconsciously raced and her face began to heat up.

This person seemed to be a gentleman but when he wants to do anything, he will do as he pleases which is very domineering.

"A few more steps ahead, after the row of bamboo trees will be the Purple Bamboo Garden.  You don't have to send me any further."  She picked up her skirt and started to run, fearing what that person might do next.

Unfortunately, she did not leave fast enough and he noticed that her ears and face had turned red. 

Ying Yan Long did not chase after her and smiled as he watched her hasty retreat.  He never thought that there would be a day he will have an interest in a graceful and virtuous woman.

"Thank you for saving my life!"  Suddenly she turned around and said to him.  She did not want to owe anyone a favor.

"You don't have to thank me."  Ying Yan Long stared into her eyes and his lips curved into a smile.  "I should thank G.o.d for giving me a chance."

Hua Ming Zi felt her face heat up instantly.  She quickly ran along the path and vanished from sight.  However, the crisp sounds of dried bamboo leaves being stepped on mixed with his laughter made her face feel even hotter.

To think that she is the famous Hua Dangjia and she was teased by a man!  If this matter is circulated around, how is she going to manage matters in the future?!  Fortunately, he did not know her true ident.i.ty just as she did not know his.

Hua Ming Zi resisted the urge to look back at him and forced herself to move forward quickly.

She wants a husband she can control but that man's behavior is completely beyond her expectations.  He seems to be gentle but he has a very proud att.i.tude and he will never be a person who is willing to lower his position.  Therefore, it is pointless for her to think too much.

She had always done things that she thinks is necessary and this time, it is the same.

Hua Ming Zi did not turn back and walked forward with big steps.  She was completely unaware that the person she thought had left was actually following behind her silently........