Chapter 623 - 208: Hong Qingzhu’s Request

She vaguely remembered Hong Qingzhu once mentioning Xu Hong, an Inner Sect Disciple of Bishui Palace. He was supposedly a righteous man of considerable strength, and the two had gotten along well after a chance encounter.

’Perhaps Hong Qingzhu already has feelings for that Xu Hong.’

Still, Lin Shuhua couldn’t help but reflect on the matter. Although Xu Hong could be considered a minor genius, when compared to a prodigy from the Xuanzhen Sect like Yang Jing, the gap in talent, strength, and future potential was simply immense.

’If Hong Qingzhu really gives up Yang Jing for Xu Hong, will she truly have no regrets when she looks back on this day?’

Seeing that Lin Shuhua had stopped trying to persuade her, Hong Qingzhu’s expression relaxed a little. Then, as if she had just remembered something, she looked at Lin Shuhua and said with a pleading tone, "Shuhua, there’s a favor I need to ask of you."

The moment she heard the word "favor," Lin Shuhua’s heart sank. She knew whatever Hong Qingzhu was about to say would be anything but simple.

She chose her words carefully. "Qing Zhu, why don’t you tell me what it is first? If it’s something I can help with, I certainly will. But if it’s beyond my capabilities, or simply inappropriate for the situation, then I’m afraid I won’t be able to do anything."

’She was almost certain that this request had something to do with Yang Jing.’

After all, their conversation had been centered on Yang Jing and the marriage alliance. That’s why she hadn’t shut her down completely, leaving herself some wiggle room.

Hong Qingzhu took a deep breath, her expression growing incredibly serious. She looked at Lin Shuhua and said, "Shuhua, Yang Jing is coming to your Lin Mansion for the banquet tonight. I want you to pass a message to him for me. Tell him I will never agree to this marriage, that he should give up any ideas of an alliance with the Hong Family, and that he shouldn’t waste his time on me."

She paused, then added, as if worried Lin Shuhua wouldn’t get the message across clearly, "If he’s really so set on using the Hong Family’s resources and power to advance himself, if he’s that desperate for a marriage alliance, then he should go talk to my father and ask for the hand of one of the other young ladies of the Hong Mansion.

"No matter what, I will absolutely not marry him. You have to make that crystal clear to him for me."

Lin Shuhua’s brow furrowed slightly as she listened to Hong Qingzhu’s request, and she couldn’t help but hesitate.

’Yang Jing is an honored guest my father specifically instructed us to host with the utmost respect. Approaching him so rashly with such a blunt rejection of the marriage would be incredibly rude. It might even offend him and ruin the entire banquet tonight.’

Noticing her hesitation, Hong Qingzhu immediately grabbed Lin Shuhua’s wrist and shook it gently, her voice taking on a wheedling tone. "Shuhua, this is about my happiness for the rest of my life! Please, just say you’ll do it! I’m begging you! You only have to get my point across; you don’t need to say much more."

Her eyes were filled with entreaty, and her grip on Lin Shuhua’s wrist was desperate.

Seeing her friend in such a state, Lin Shuhua shook her head in resignation and sighed softly. "Qing Zhu, Yang Jing is an honored guest of the Lin Mansion. To deliver such a message so bluntly would be incredibly offensive.

"I’ll see how the situation develops. If a suitable opportunity presents itself, I’ll do my best to pass on your message."

She couldn’t bring herself to refuse Hong Qingzhu’s pleas, so she caved, but without making a definite promise.

At these words, a brilliant smile bloomed on Hong Qingzhu’s face. She said quickly, "Thank you so much, Shuhua! In a couple of days, I’ll take you to the Rouge Pavilion. We’ll pick out some of the finest rouge—I guarantee it’s the new stock just in from the Capital City!"

Lin Shuhua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She shook her head. "I only said I’d do my best. There’s no guarantee I’ll succeed, so don’t celebrate just yet."

"Don’t worry, Shuhua. I know you can do it!" Hong Qingzhu said with a wide smile, her voice full of confidence in her friend.

As soon as she finished speaking, she caught sight of two servants heading their way. Figuring they had more questions about the banquet preparations, she said to Lin Shuhua, "Shuhua, you look busy, so I’ll get going. I won’t keep you."

Lin Shuhua nodded. "Alright, you head back then. I still have a lot to take care of here, so I won’t walk you out."

Hong Qingzhu waved a hand at her, smiling. "Go on, get back to it. Don’t worry about me."

With that, she turned and walked briskly down the covered walkway. The hem of her pale turquoise skirt swayed with each step, and she soon vanished around a corner hidden by flowers and trees.

Watching her friend’s elegant figure recede, Lin Shuhua couldn’t help but let out another soft sigh.

’Sometimes, she really didn’t understand her friend. So many people would kill for a chance to get close to someone like Yang Jing—a man of outstanding talent and boundless potential—yet Hong Qingzhu was determined to refuse him.’

’But even if she didn’t understand it, she knew Hong Qingzhu’s temperament and had no choice but to respect her decision.’

Just then, the two servants arrived. After bowing, they respectfully began asking about the detailed arrangements for the evening’s banquet.

Lin Shuhua immediately pushed aside her personal thoughts, focusing all her attention on the task at hand.

Her father considered tonight’s banquet to be of the utmost importance. She had to ensure every detail was arranged flawlessly; there was no room for even the slightest error.

...

「The sun gradually sank in the west.」

The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, bathing the whole of Jintai Prefecture City in the orange-red glow of dusk. It painted the rooftops and city walls with a warm, luminous halo.

The number of pedestrians on the streets began to grow, most of them common folk heading home after a long day’s work.

Just then, a spacious and luxurious carriage came gliding slowly down the street. It was a glossy black, the body adorned with exquisitely carved cloud patterns. Its wheels were wrapped in thick cushions, allowing it to move with a smooth, silent grace.