The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Lingsu and Guan Shuyan stood under the corridor, looking at the few camellia trees in the courtyard. Occasionally, when their eyes met, they would quickly look away, feeling somewhat awkward.

Song Lingsu lightly coughed, turned around, and took out a box from his sleeve, handing it over, saying, ”Here, this is for you.”

Guan Shuyan was startled for a moment. She looked at the box, not much larger than a palm, and blushed, saying, ”What is this?”

Song Lingsu pressed it into her hand, saying, ”It’s your coming-of-age gift.”

Guan Shuyan exclaimed, ”I’m not yet of age.”

She was born in March, and there were more than two months left until her coming of age.

”I know. It’s written on the horoscope card.” Song Lingsu’s handsome face slightly reddened. ”When you come of age, I might not be in the capital, so I can only give it to you now.”

Guan Shuyan opened the box to find a Sheep White Jade Ruyi Hairpin inside, intricately carved with camellias she adored. The craftsmanship was exquisite and delicate, very beautiful, making her heart brim with joy.

Song Lingsu glanced at the hairpin in her hand and said, ”I heard you like camellias, so I took a whole piece of jade and personally asked Master Teng at Treasure House to carve it. I only managed to get it yesterday, fortunately in time.”

Upon hearing this, Guan Shuyan’s heart overflowed with sweetness, and she shyly said, ”When did you make the request? I heard he only makes one jade piece a year now.”

”I requested it after visiting the Lord at Duke Dingguo Mansion before New Year. I exchanged an ancient book and a favor for it.”

Guan Shuyan was astonished and scolded, ”You fool, favors are the hardest to repay. Why the rush? There’s no urgency.” But in her heart, sweetness lingered, as he had thought about it so early on.

Song Lingsu chuckled, saying, ”I intended to give it to you when we get engaged.”

Is his mouth smeared with honey or something?

Guan Shuyan’s face turned as red as a shrimp, and she pulled a wallet from her sleeve, handing it over, saying, ”Reciprocating gifts.”

Song Lingsu was a bit surprised. He took it and opened it, taking out its contents. By coincidence, it was a Ruyi knot, entwined with a piece of green jade the size of a thumb, on which a few lines of the Peace Scripture were carved, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

”I made the knot myself. If you don’t like it, just lock it in a box.” It’s not meant to be given away.

Song Lingsu couldn’t take his eyes off it and hurriedly said, ”How could I not like it? I love it, thank you.”

He attached the knot to his waist and smiled at her.

Guan Shuyan’s eyes curved with a smile.

Song Lingsu looked again at the hairpin in her hand and asked, ”When you come of age, would you be willing to use it to pin your hair?”

Guan Shuyan hesitated for a moment and nodded shyly.

Only then did Song Lingsu breathe a sigh of relief, saying, ”This hairpin, given on our engagement day, serves both as an engagement gift and a coming-of-age gift. When you come of age, I should be heading south with my third brother. I’m planning to take this year’s provincial examination.”

”You’re going to take the provincial examination? I’ve never heard of this before.” Guan Shuyan was quite shocked.

Song Lingsu looked at her and said, ”I’ve only decided it a few days ago. My third brother intends to take the joint exams, and I thought I’d give it a try since I’ve already passed the scholar exam. If I can become a scholar, then when I come to marry you, your face will look more radiant.”

Guan Shuyan’s face instantly turned so red it seemed to bleed. She lowered her head, her shyness making Song Lingsu’s heart race. He stepped closer: ”Shuyan, will you wait for me?”

”Yes.”

Song Lingsu immediately smiled and was about to reach for her hand when he heard a cough. He looked over to see a maid averting her gaze to the sky, causing him to blush and quickly hook Guan Shuyan’s finger.