Feng Jinyao watched her happy demeanor and for a moment couldn't bear to interrupt. She stood quietly, letting the other girl dress her up. After much deliberation, nothing seemed quite right – either too flamboyant or too plain. Frustrated, she pouted and asked the shopkeeper, "Don't you have any other good items? No matter the price, just bring them out."
When choosing things for A'yao, only the best would suffice.
The shopkeeper, hearing this, knew they had found a big spender. With a smile, she invited them to the second floor, where the truly fine goods were kept.
Bai Siruo glanced at Feng Jinyao. It was the same tactic as Zhenbao Zhai – no profit, no action.
The items on the second floor were indeed much more exquisite. Bai Siruo admired one piece after another, liking them all. In the end, she couldn't decide between a bracelet made of red agate and jadeite, and a necklace of eight treasures and exquisite jade.
"A'yao, which one do you prefer?"
Feng Jinyao nodded, looking at both items. They were exquisitely crafted, but perhaps too luxurious, unlike the jade hairpins she usually wore. She wanted to refuse, but feared disappointing her cousin, so she said,
"Cousin, you choose for me. I like them both."
The difficult decision fell back to Bai Siruo. Finally, she waved her hand decisively, "Just buy both. The other one can be considered a gift from Mingyue. Anyway, before she left, she specifically told me to give you a coming-of-age gift. As for the money, we can ask her for it later when we go visit her at Wenjin Academy!"
The thought of having someone to collect from made her want to fleece her a little.
The shopkeeper completed the transaction, carefully wrapped the jewelry, and respectfully escorted them out, a wide grin plastered on her face.
Haitang and Yunxu, trailing behind Bai Siruo and Feng Jinyao, were also chatting and laughing happily. Suddenly, Haitang caught sight of Lu Yuanfeng, looking grave as he emerged from Hu Yiguan.
"Miss, it's Young Master Lu."
Haitang stopped Bai Siruo and pointed towards Lu Yuanfeng.
Bai Siruo followed her gaze and indeed saw Lu Yuanfeng. If she hadn't seen him, it would have been one thing, but to see him now and not greet him felt rather rude. So, she waved and called out, "Young Master Lu."
Lu Yuanfeng looked up, scanning his surroundings, and happened to spot them.
"What a coincidence, are you also visiting the West Market?" Bai Siruo offered a polite smile. Her demeanor made Feng Jinyao curious. Who was this man? Why was her usually uninhibited cousin being so formal? Lu Yuanfeng offered a bitter smile, his expression desolate.
"What's wrong?" Even Bai Siruo, usually so carefree, noticed something was amiss and quickly asked.
"Miss Bai, my mother is gravely ill, beyond any medical help. The physicians at Yuqin Tang say even a celestial being couldn't save her. I was hoping to try my luck at this Hu Yiguan, perhaps find a reclusive master physician to examine her. Unfortunately, it seems they are not here. My mother... I fear she won't last these next two days."
As he spoke, his sorrow deepened. It's said that men don't easily shed tears, yet Lu Yuanfeng was heartbroken for his mother.
Bai Siruo understood the pain of having loved ones in trouble and being powerless to help. She wanted to offer some comfort but didn't know how to begin. Instead, she turned to Feng Jinyao and asked urgently,
"A'yao, can you ask Divine Doctor Zhang to come? Young Master Lu is my savior. If I can help him save his mother, it would be repaying the kindness he showed me back then."
"Savior?" Feng Jinyao was even more astonished. How had she never heard of this?
Where had this person come from?
She wasn't Bai Siruo; to her, this Young Master Lu was a stranger. For some reason, her intuition told her this person was not to be underestimated. His averted gaze only intensified this feeling. Her cousin claimed he was her savior, yet she didn't believe it at all!
So, she refused Bai Siruo, "Divine Doctor Zhang's whereabouts are always unpredictable. The previous two times were coincidences. If you go to Guiyuan Tang now, you certainly won't find him."
Hearing this, Bai Siruo was also at a loss. She looked at Lu Yuanfeng apologetically and said, "Young Master Lu, are there any other options? Or perhaps, I could ask an imperial physician for you?"
"Imperial physician?" Lu Yuanfeng feigned ignorance of her identity and expressed surprise, "Miss Bai, what is your esteemed identity that you can summon an imperial physician?"
"I am the granddaughter of Prime Minister Bai. If you need me to, I will go and ask immediately."
Lu Yuanfeng was taken aback by her words. He paused for a moment, then feigned gratitude and was about to speak when a young servant from the Lu family came running, panting, "Young Master, hurry home! Madam is not doing well."
Hearing this, Lu Yuanfeng staggered a few steps. Before he could say anything, he rushed away, leaving behind a worried Bai Siruo and a thoughtful Feng Jinyao.
"Young Master Lu is also to be pitied, to face the pain of losing his mother at such a young age."
Bai Siruo's words were full of sympathy as she watched Lu Yuanfeng's hasty departure, clearly moved.
Feng Jinyao, however, noticed something peculiar.
For instance, the servant's perfectly timed arrival!
"Cousin, what exactly is going on?"
Bai Siruo turned to see Feng Jinyao's confused expression and recounted how Lu Yuanfeng had saved her many years ago, and how they had met again.
In the carriage, Bai Siruo handed over the sachet containing the pendant.
"I am already betrothed, so naturally, I wouldn't think of anyone else. It's just that I've worn it for so long that I forgot to take it off."
She smiled faintly at the sachet. While she had been initially resistant to the engagement, after interacting with Xiao Muqian, she didn't necessarily love him, but they were certainly compatible, and she had slowly come to accept it.
Feng Jinyao took the pendant and examined it closely. "You're claiming he's your savior based on this?"
"Otherwise? If he weren't, why would everything else fit?"
Feng Jinyao didn't reply, but it was precisely the fact that everything fit that made it suspicious.
She handed the pendant back to Bai Siruo. Some things were just her suspicions, and she couldn't be sure, so she didn't want to tell Bai Siruo directly. Her innocent nature might lead to extreme reactions.
So, she changed the subject, "I heard Young Master Xiao will be leading the army to the Northwest in two days. Do you have any plans?"
"Plans for what? We're engaged. Am I going to go back on my word, or will he?"
Bai Siruo gave her a sideways glance and couldn't help but laugh, dispelling the faint melancholy from her encounter with Lu Yuanfeng.
"You're too casual about being a fiancée. Shouldn't you at least prepare some handkerchiefs or clothes, or at least get a few protective amulets for him?"
Haitang chuckled beside them, making Bai Siruo blush deeply.
"Third Miss, you may not know, but Miss personally went to get a protective amulet for her future husband yesterday. They even talked in her room for quite a while."
Feng Jinyao looked at her shy demeanor and her worries completely dissipated.