Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 72: A Guess (I)
The banquet was boring. Whether it was the village feasts of his previous life, the hotel weddings, or this very banquet, Lin Zheyu never found them interesting. Wouldn't it be far more enjoyable to drink with a few friends, listen to some tunes, and watch the dancing girls twist their snake-like supple waists?
Soon, the banquet began. After the round of polite formalities, dishes were served one after another. As one of the esteemed families of Songyi City, the Xu Family laid out a lavish spread, filled with fine dishes of excellent flavor.
Unfortunately, sitting with Qiu Gaoxuan and a few others left Lin Zheyu unable to truly enjoy himself. Had he been with Jia Yanyong and his group, he would have been able to relax more.
After the meal came performances of opera, dance, and song. The troupe performing was the same one that often sang for Xu Jingwu, and their opera was excellent. Lin Zheyu listened with great relish.
"Young Master Lin, Young Master Xu requests your presence," a maidservant came over and said.
"Young Master Xu Qinyi?" asked Lin Zheyu.
Among the Xu Family, the only Young Master Xu he was familiar with was Xu Qinyi.
"Yes, please follow me."
"Alright."
Lin Zheyu rose to his feet and followed the maid toward the rear garden. Funing Garden was vast, with covered walkways. After several turns, they arrived at the back garden adorned with rockeries and ponds.
Several young men and women were seated inside a pavilion. In addition to Xu Qinyi, Chen Xihong, and Ren Qingfeng, whom he had met before, there was also a young woman he recognized—Ren Qingfeng's elder sister, Ren Qingying.
Ren Qingying wore a violet dress, her face round, with a small dimple at the corner of her mouth. Her face was like morning clouds, her eyes like autumn waters, and her skin like cream. Her smile bloomed like a flower, her snow-white complexion tinged with rosy hues, making her delicate charm irresistible when she smiled.
Besides Ren Qingying, there was another woman he had never seen before, and she was also strikingly beautiful.
"You've come, Brother Lin. Please, sit," said Xu Qinyi with a smile, motioning Lin Zheyu to take a seat nearby.
"You've already met these two, so I won't introduce them again. The young lady beside Ren Qingfeng is his elder sister, Ren Qingying. She is well-read, courteous, and accomplished in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting[1].
"And beside Miss Ren is my cousin, Xu Yuxiang. She and Miss Ren are close friends. She too is well-read, courteous, and skilled in the four arts," said Xu Qinyi with a smile as he introduced her.
"I am Lin Zheyu. It is a pleasure to meet you both," greeted Lin Zheyu with a smile.
Ren Qingying returned a gentle smile, her eyes flickering with curiosity. Xu Yuxiang, however, pulled a bitter face and rolled her eyes at him. Lin Zheyu was baffled, unable to figure out what he had done to offend this young lady of the Xu Family.
"Yuxiang, don't be rude. Call him Brother Yu," scolded Xu Qinyi, giving her a sharp look.
"No need to be so formal, just call me Zheyu," said Lin Zheyu with a smile.
It dawned on him then. This woman named Xu Yuxiang had likely been arranged by the Xu Family to interact with him. She was indeed good-looking and quite attractive. But beautiful women were plentiful these days, and Lin Zheyu didn't think much of it. He had seen many who were far prettier than Xu Yuxiang in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, and those women carried themselves with far more charm.
"Fine... Brother Yu," muttered Xu Yuxiang, unwilling and reluctant.
"Ah, Yuxiang is just in a bad mood today. Don't take offense, Brother Lin. She's usually quite good-natured. Once you spend more time with her, you'll understand," said Xu Qinyi awkwardly.
If not for the fact that among the Xu Family's young women of proper age, Xu Yuxiang was the only one both unmarried and pretty enough, he would not have asked her to come. This girl was far too uncooperative.
"It's nothing, really," replied Lin Zheyu, waving it off and turning his gaze toward Ren Qingying.
"At last, I meet Miss Ren Qingying. Back then, if not for the porridge you gave me, I fear I would have died outside the city. This cup of wine is for Miss Qingying, to thank you for saving my life that day," Lin Zheyu said as he lifted his cup.
Ren Qingying was momentarily stunned. She recalled Qingfeng once mentioning that Young Master Lin had fled from Jiunan City to take refuge in Songyi City. She smiled faintly and the dimple on her cheek showed, carrying a warmth like a spring breeze.
Graciously, she raised her cup and said, "Young Master Lin is too polite. Even without me, I believe Heaven would have watched over you."
"No wonder you kept staring at my sister when you came in. I thought you had taken a liking to her, but it was for this reason!" exclaimed Ren Qingfeng in sudden realization.
"Qingfeng, don't talk nonsense," said Ren Qingying softly.
"I'm not speaking nonsense. Brother Lin, don't you think my sister is beautiful? Do you have any interest in becoming my brother-in-law?" Ren Qingfeng chuckled slyly as he spoke, then glanced challengingly at Xu Yuxiang.
He felt this girl was quite tactless. How could she fail to appreciate someone as accomplished in both the civil and martial arts as Brother Lin? In Ren Qingfeng's eyes, Lin Zheyu was far superior to the young masters of the city's esteemed families. If he could be welcomed into the Ren household as a son-in-law, it would be an excellent match.
"Ahem." Xu Qinyi gave a pointed cough and shot Ren Qingfeng a sharp glare. He had suspected all along that this fellow had brought his elder sister, Ren Qingying, here with ulterior motives.
"Young Master Ren jests. Miss Qingying is both beautiful and kind, but I fear I am unworthy of such a match. Besides, marriage is a major matter in life. It should follow the command of one's parents and the word of a matchmaker. With my parents and kin no longer around, I have no heart to consider such things now," replied Lin Zheyu, declining politely.
"Qingfeng, didn't you say you wanted to take Miss Qingying to admire the flowers? Little Xuan, escort Young Master Ren and Miss Ren to the gardens," said Xu Qinyi quickly, before Ren Qingfeng could speak again.
Ren Qingying couldn't help but laugh softly. She knew Xu Qinyi was trying to arrange things between Yuxiang and Young Master Lin, so she did not linger to get in the way.
"Yes, Qingfeng, come with your sister to see the flowers," said Ren Qingying as she rose and pulled Ren Qingfeng up with her.
"Brother Lin, let's meet again next time. I'll bring my sister out alone just for you, haha," said Ren Qingfeng. He turned back and chuckled darkly at Lin Zheyu, leaving him both amused and exasperated.
"Yuxiang, it's Brother Lin's first time at Funing Garden. Take him around for a walk," said Xu Qinyi.
"Yes, Cousin." Xu Yuxiang reluctantly stood up and said to Lin Zheyu, "Come on, I'll show you around."
Lin Zheyu had no objection and strolled alongside Xu Yuxiang through Funing Garden.
"Brother Xu, I don't think those two stand a chance," said Chen Xihong once the pair had left. He had been watching the whole thing like a play.
"Sigh, I feel the same. If Yujun weren't already married, her temperament would have been a much better match," said Xu Qinyi with a sigh.
"Come, drink. Let fate take care of this matter," said Chen Xihong with a laugh.
***
Walking together with Xu Yuxiang through Funing Garden, Lin Zheyu found the scenery pleasing. Each courtyard had been carefully arranged, each with its own distinct beauty.
Xu Yuxiang walked ahead in silence, her face expressionless the entire way. Lin Zheyu didn't mind. He simply treated it as if he were strolling alone.
After a long while, Xu Yuxiang opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm not interested in you, so give up on that idea," said Xu Yuxiang.
"What a coincidence. Neither am I," replied Lin Zheyu with a smile.
"Hmph, that's for the best then!" Xu Yuxiang snorted coldly, looking even more displeased.
The two wandered aimlessly for about two hours before finally returning to the pavilion. Seeing Xu Yuxiang's frosty expression, Xu Qinyi couldn't help but sigh. He resolved to speak with his fifth uncle later about curbing this girl's temper.
By the time Lin Zheyu returned home, the sky was already dimming. Along the way came the crackling of firecrackers and the laughter of children chasing each other, filling the streets with lively cheer. As usual, Lin Zheyu practiced martial arts for over two hours before fully circulating the Tortoise Breath Grand Method and drifting into slumber.
1. The "four arts" (琴棋书画 qín qí shū huà), zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, were regarded as the essential accomplishments of a cultivated scholar in traditional China. ☜
