Qi Yi nodded in agreement, finding the suggestion more appropriate.
Qi Zhenzhen then returned and informed the Old Madam about the matter.
"I trust Zhenzhen's judgment," the Old Madam said without hesitation. "A few families inquired about Xuanxuan recently, and I was contemplating their suitability. Xuanxuan's ideas are rather unconventional; marrying into a family with many strict rules would surely make her life difficult. The customs in the frontier are more open and have fewer demands on women. Moreover, Amur carries half the bloodline of our Great Feng Imperial family. Although their clan is currently experiencing severe internal strife, as long as he stays in Great Feng, there will be no issues."
With the Old Madam's approval, if Xuanxuan favored Amur, the matter would be settled.
"My mother-in-law and I will depart for Taihe Temple the day after tomorrow. I will have Erxi come to pick up Xuanxuan then."
Two days later, Qi Xuanxuan was picked up and placed in the carriage of the Duke of Protectorate's mansion.
Knowing that Qi Xuanxuan was also going to Taihe Temple, Madam Da Qin traveled in a separate carriage from Qi Zhenzhen.
"Second Sister," Qi Xuanxuan said, less lively than usual, with a hint of shyness in her eyes.
Qi Zhenzhen understood that her grandmother must have told her the truth without any concealment.
"There's no one else here, so tell Second Sister your thoughts," Qi Zhenzhen said, holding Qi Xuanxuan's hand.
"He still remembers me?" Qi Xuanxuan asked, a touch of bewilderment mixed with her shyness. She had only returned his dagger and lectured him a bit; other than that, they seemed to have had no further interaction. How could he have taken an interest in her?
After returning home the day before, her grandmother had told her about this, and she had been pondering the reason ever since.
Yet, she couldn't come up with an answer.
As she continued to think, the image of the person she had almost forgotten became much clearer.
His skin tone was a shade deeper than most men in Great Feng, though not dark. His build also seemed sturdier than others his age. His eyes were bright, and his voice, still in the process of changing, had a slight rasp. He was also a bit impulsive and quite frank.
Overall, Qi Xuanxuan felt her impression of him was not bad.
"Our Xuanxuan is kind and lovely. Is it strange that he remembers you? It would be more unusual if he didn't," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile.
"Then, what do you think of him, Second Sister?" Qi Xuanxuan asked.
"If I thought he was a bad person, would I ask you to go to Taihe Temple with me?" Qi Zhenzhen affectionately squeezed the back of Qi Xuanxuan's hand. "Second Sister knows that some might see me as impulsive and unruly, but I believe that if you don't have a bad feeling about him, this might be a happy marriage. You told me you wanted to find someone you clicked with, someone willing to travel the world with you. Second Sister thinks that besides Amur, most of the young talents in the capital probably cannot fulfill this wish."
Qi Xuanxuan understood Qi Zhenzhen's point.
The education these young talents received from childhood destined them to be unable to accept a wife who was not content to stay at home.
In this regard, perhaps only Amur met her requirements.
Of course, Qi Xuanxuan's aspirations for her future partner were not limited to just traveling with her.
"Second Sister, is this fate?" Qi Xuanxuan asked softly.
Second Sister had brought her a beautiful dagger. On a whim, she wore it, and then her horse was startled, and they encountered Amur. Amur saw the dagger, and her heart softened, so she returned it to him. Oh, right, he had also given her a jade pendant at the time.
Qi Xuanxuan gently squeezed the jade pendant in her purse, and Amur's face involuntarily surfaced in her mind again.