PNB Chapter 175 The Miss Guo is Back
Chapter 175 The Miss Guo is Back
Everyone followed the sound.
A girl dressed in a light yellow outfit with a fiery red cloak, carrying a lingering chill, stepped lightly across the threshold.
She was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with bright and lively eyes, and her black hair was simply tied into a high ponytail, like a bright flame.
This is Guo Huaiming's daughter, Guo Qiongfang.
"Why are you back?" Guo Huaiming asked quickly.
Guo Qiongfang took off her snow-covered cloak and handed it to the maid beside her: "I see that the sky is gloomy and I am afraid that heavy snow will block the road, so I am thinking of postponing the journey and traveling south after spring."
Guo Huaiming frowned: "Traveling through mountains and rivers is fine as it is, why be bound by a fixed time? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable if you set off earlier?"
Zhao Yulian chimed in, "Yes, Fang'er, your father has made all the arrangements for you. The carriages and guards are top-notch. In this cold winter, the climate in the south is warmer, so it's a good time to go and relax."
Guo Qiongfang waved her hand and said, "Oh, Dad, Mom, I'm just worried about the road. Why do you look at me like you'd love for me to go far away?"
As she sat down, she noticed a strange man beside her.
Dressed in a plain white robe that wasn't particularly luxurious, she possessed an air of refined elegance and grace, with a captivating allure.
"Father, who is this?"
Guo Huaiming quickly introduced, "Fang'er, don't be rude. This is our guest, Young Master Xu."
Ning Zhi stood up and bowed: "Greetings, Miss Guo."
"Young Master Xu..." Guo Qiongfang murmured.
I felt as if something had gently bumped into my chest, and my cheeks involuntarily felt slightly warm.
She had been a mischievous child, playing horseback riding and archery with her brother. She was used to seeing rough and tough soldiers or ordinary scholars and officials in the prefecture. She had never seen such a person before. For a moment, she forgot to speak and just stared blankly.
"Miss Guo?" Ning Zhi called out with a smile when he saw her stunned, his voice clear and gentle.
Guo Qiongfang snapped out of her daze, realizing her rudeness, and quickly clasped her hands in greeting: "Young Master Xu, my name is Guo Qiongfang, I apologize for my rudeness."
Upon hearing this traditional,江湖-style fist and palm salute, Ning Zhi smiled slightly: "Miss Guo has a straightforward and honest nature, much like her father."
Guo Huaiming explained somewhat awkwardly, "My daughter has been spoiled since childhood and has not been properly disciplined. She is a bit wild, please forgive her, Young Master Xu."
"It's alright, such genuineness is rare." He smiled approvingly. "When I was young, I read 'The Biographies of Knights-Errant' and admired such upright character. The land and water of the border town nurture people, which is indeed different from the atmosphere of women in the capital."
Guo Qiongfang was surprised to be praised and said, "Young Master Xu, you flatter me. I'm just used to doing whatever I want."
“It’s not an overstatement.” Ning Zhi shook his head. “Being natural and unpretentious is rare. Although the rules in the capital are strict, sometimes this kind of vibrant spirit is lost.”
He spoke casually, not noticing that Guo Qiongfang's face was gradually turning red.
She, who is usually carefree and easygoing, sat unusually upright today.
While chatting and eating, he couldn't help but steal glances at Ning Zhi.
Ning Zhi didn't notice, but Zhao Yulian did.
She gently nudged her daughter under the table and whispered, "Fang'er, focus on your meal."
Guo Qiongfang withdrew her gaze, leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Mother, Father usually associates with local gentry. When did he become acquainted with such a refined person as Young Master Xu?"
While serving soup, Zhao Yulian replied, "It's all because you never act like a lady. That's why your father asked an old friend in the capital to invite Young Master Xu here so you can see what a real young master from a noble family is like. He wants you to curb your temper and stop playing those horseback riding and archery games."
"I didn't..." Guo Qiongfang muttered, "What's wrong with riding and archery?"
"A young lady should learn needlework, household management, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If you continue like this, which good family would dare to propose marriage?"
"I don't care what others say about matchmaking." Guo Qiongfang's cheeks flushed slightly as she poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. "If I really have someone I like, I'll take the initiative myself..."
After the meal, Ning Zhi and Guo Huaiming discussed matters in the room.
Guo Qiongfang paced back and forth outside, waiting for a long time, until Ning Zhi finally came out.
"Young Master Xu," she called softly.
Ning Zhi turned his head: "Miss Guo? Is something the matter?"
"Ah, I...it's nothing, just wanted to say hello." She approached, stood beside him, and reached out to catch a snowflake: "Is this your first time in Chuizhou, young master?"
"I came here once when I was a child, but I don't remember some of it clearly."
"Would the young master like to take a stroll around Chuizhou?"
Ning Zhi tilted his head: "Go for a stroll? With the snowstorm so severe, where can we go for a stroll?"
Guo Qiongfang said, "If you don't mind, young master, I can take you to the old drill ground outside the city tomorrow. It used to be a military garrison in the previous dynasty. The snow doesn't bother us; on the contrary, it has a desolate and ancient feel to it."
She finished speaking in one breath, looking at him with bright eyes.
Ning Zhi smiled gently, polite yet distant: "I appreciate Miss Guo's kindness. However, I have some matters to discuss with Lord Guo, and besides, the winter is bitterly cold, so it would be best for you to rest more."
At this moment, Guo Huaiming quickly came out: "Fang'er, don't disturb Young Master Xu."
He turned to Ning Zhi and bowed, saying, "Young Master Xu, tea has been prepared in the study. Please come in."
Guo Qiongfang had no choice but to give up dejectedly.
Ning Zhi nodded: "Miss Guo, I shall take my leave."
The two walked towards the study.
Guo Qiongfang stood there, watching the two figures from behind, and suddenly felt something was off.
"Jin Nan, have you noticed that my father seems to be exceptionally polite in front of Young Master Xu?"
The maidservant beside him replied, "Young Master Xu is so proper and refined, so of course the master must treat him with the same courtesy. He can't be as carefree as he is in front of the young lady."
"That's true, let's go back to our room."
Guo Qiongfang didn't think much of it.
Back in her boudoir, she looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a long time, then suddenly said to Jin Nan, "Bring me my apricot-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and that pearl-embroidered hairpin."
"Why did you suddenly want to dress up, young lady?"
"Don't ask, just go and get it."
"Yes, I'll go get it right away."
Soon, Jin Nan brought over the jewelry box.
While gesturing above Guo Qiongfang's head, he smiled and said, "Madam is worried about not having a matchmaker? If you ask me, there's no one more beautiful than you in the entire Chuizhou City. Why worry about not having a matchmaker?"
Guo Qiongfang put on a hairpin, looked at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help but laugh.
She was indeed born with a radiant beauty.
Unlike the gentle and refined women of Jiangnan, she had broad eyes and a straight nose, and her lips were naturally red without any makeup.
Because of her regular martial arts practice, she had a very upright posture. Now, dressed in a skirt and with her hair styled in a fashionable updo, her face had lost some of its heroic spirit and gained a lot of girlish charm and liveliness, like a bright camellia suddenly blooming in the snow.
She looked at herself in the mirror and whispered, "So this is what it means for a woman to dress up for the one she loves..."
"Jin Nan, do I look good dressed like this? If you were Young Master Xu, would you even give me a second glance?"
"Even a celestial being couldn't take his eyes off this young lady dressed like this!"
After saying that, she glanced outside and said, "Miss! Young Master Xu has come out of the study and is heading towards the Quiet Courtyard."
Guo Qiongfang's heart skipped a beat, and she lifted her skirt and went out the door lightly.