Special 4: Flower Marriage (1)

She was injured.

This was the first time in 18 years. But the injury was worth it; in one swoop, she destroyed the Wusha Palace, the assassin organization that intended to take Lin Xi’s life.

However, a minor injury for her: a slash on her back by a long sword, had her tied to boudoir bed at Feng Yao Court headquarters to recuperate. It was not a life threatening injury, but she’s already been in bed for three days. As soon as she felt it was ok to get up and go on with her business, there was a nagging in her ears that forced her to lie down on her stomach and continue to rest.

“You say, as a young girl, how could you rush into danger like this? Lin Xi was in trouble, but where were all of the members in the brother’s league? Were they just eating elsewhere and needed you to block the sword?”

“When did the Master of Feng Yao Court become the head of the assassins?”

“A Xiao and the others can also block the sword, okay? You dare to use your own back! Do you think your back is indestructible?!”

“You think just a couple days of rest, you can just get up and go?! Feng Yao Court will be fine even if it remains closed for a few days, not to mention that you have such a large number of capable subordinates who can cover for you. Just obediently rest for a few days, it won’t kill you, okay?”

“Woman, don’t be stubborn! Rest on your stomach and take care of your injuries, otherwise, I’ll force you to cooperate.”

…

With such talk, Lin Long had no choice but to lie down on the bed and recover from her injuries.

The person who was talking was not someone from the Brother’s League, but Xiang Sheng, the eldest son of the Xiang family. He had been like a ghost possessing her, not leaving her side since she was ten years old.

The Xiang family moved from the imperial capital to Da Hui eight years ago. Head of the Xiang family, Xiang Ziyun had a good relationship with her uncle. He arrived with a pair of children under his knees. His son, Xiang Sheng, was older than Lin Long by four years, and his daughter, Xiang Ning, is one year younger than her. After getting to know each other, she began to treat the two like an extra elder brother and younger sister. And eight years passed in a flash.

At the beginning, she was cold and unwilling to speak out, and she didn’t say anything to refute his parent-like nagging. It caused him to become more and more familiar with her. Later, when she wanted to refute, she was already used to his care, she could no longer refuse his kindness and enthusiasm. Unexpectedly, Xiang Sheng had figured her out: she was only outwardly cold, but extremely warm on the inside.

What confused her was that with Xiang Sheng’s aptitude and wealth, there should be countless ladies and little girls who approached Xiang’s family and requested for his hand in marriage. But Xiang Sheng, who is twenty-two this year, didn’t have any women accompanying him. Well there was one: she was Lin Long.

It should be said that in the past eight years, the person he would constantly pester was her.

What does that mean? Lin Long laid on the bed, frowning and thinking hard. In fact, he had never hid the fact that the person he wanted to marry was her. Instead of other women who were several times more demure and gentle than her…

But doesn’t he think her temperament is too difficult to get along with? Cold and arrogant, not good at words… And the biggest matter was she’s already eighteen years old; she’s already passed her youth.

Ai… she sighed softly. She never thought that a woman with a temperament like her would be wanted by someone. Shouldn’t normal men like a gentle and graceful woman like her mother? Otherwise, lovely and beautiful girls like Jingyu and Yiyue. Unlike her, who was always busy planning official business, a rough woman who’s traveled through Jianghu? It’s hard to imagine that one day she will be hidden in the backyard, embroidering and drawing pictures all day, with a husband and children… She shook her head sharply. That was not the life she wanted. Since she has taken over the position of the master of Feng Yao Court, she will lead the brothers in the Court to open up a vast world…

“Why are you sighing? Your Feng Yao Court is still doing well! It has neither failed nor closed down.” Xiang Sheng hummed angrily.

He stepped forward to tuck the quilt for her, swept the meal on the low cabinet beside the bed, and couldn’t help but growling angrily, “I’ll just walk away for half a day, and you still didn’t have lunch?!”

Lin Long raised her eyes and glanced at him, what was he angry about? She skipped her meal because she was still full from this morning and she didn’t feel hungry at all.

Since she’s been bedridden, her three meals were all personally cooked by Lin Xiao and delivered by a maid. They were all dishes that she could not get tired of eating. All she had been doing these past few days was just eating and sleeping. She found that her always-thin waist was full of flesh. It turned out that there was really no difference between recouping injuries and raising pigs.

How can a person who lies on the bed all day, without any energy, eat so much food? Could it be that he thought he was raising pigs and not her wounds?

Recovering from her thoughts, Lin Long glanced at Xiang Sheng’s frowning expression before turning away. She awkwardly explained, “I’m not hungry yet.” Her voice, which hadn’t spoken for a long time, was a little hoarse.

“It’ll be too late when you’re hungry.” Xiang Sheng muttered, then carefully lifted her and made her sit up, “Eat something to fill your stomach, the weather is good today. I’ll go out with you later… Don’t think about it. I won’t allow you to go to the Court to deal with official business.” He glared at her, blocking what she was about to say.

“Xiang Sheng, with you like this… won’t your family say something?” Lin Long took a few bites in coordination. The Xiang Family had a lot of property. He had spent almost all day in the backyard of Feng Yao Court to accompany her to recover from her injuries. Wasn’t he afraid of gossip?

“What are you saying?” Xiang Sheng glanced at her strangely. He and Lin Long had already obtained the consent from their two parents as early as the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago. As long as she agreed, they would carry a large sedan chair to welcome her through the door*.

(Pure: To be married as the main wife)

“Xiang Sheng, I’m not worth it.” After she took her last bite, Lin Long wiped the corners of her mouth, and stated lightly.

“I know if it’s worth it or not.” Xiang Sheng suppressed the anger in his heart. He was angry at her for devaluing herself so much, but he still packed the food box and helped her get up.

Lin Long sighed helplessly; her persuasion failed again.

He was always able to make her unable to continue talking like this.

Perhaps, subconsciously, she also hoped that he would always walk by her side like this. However, this wasn’t realistic, right? Sooner or later, he will marry a wife… and she… was not suitable for him…