Chapter 29:
“Oh?” Xie Wanning lowered her head to look at him, smiling as she asked: “Then if he reports to His Majesty and requests His Majesty to issue a decree to fulfill this marriage, do you think my Xie Family can defy the decree?”
The sunlight was blazing, the two of them one sitting and one standing, their shadows stretched very long, exceedingly beautiful.
Pei Yuqing’s gaze fell on their entangled shadows, his voice very soft: “Don’t worry, His Majesty is enlightened and absolutely won’t disregard a young lady’s wish to forcibly decree a marriage.”
With the words said to this point, anyone could see that he truly had no intention at all of marrying her.
Xie Wanning had already begun to suspect whether she had misunderstood his feelings.
Could it be that she thought too highly of herself and had a misunderstanding?
Actually, he really did only see her as a younger sister, and treated her well only for Xie Yanyu’s sake, while she…
Still tried to probe his feelings, asking if he was willing to marry her.
Just thinking about it made her feel very embarrassed.
Xie Wanning could no longer stay, stiffly smiling and nodding: “Alright, I understand. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.”
“Wanwan.” Pei Yuqing called her again, his voice no longer calm and unruffled, but carrying a hint of caution: “Will you still come to Yuxuan Teahouse?”
“…” Xie Wanning was stunned by this series of reversals.
She frowned slowly and squatted down, meeting his gaze, asking in return: “Is whether I go or not that important to you?”
How could there be someone like this, unwilling to marry her, presumably not liking her, yet not wanting to break off contact with her.
No one could know the hesitation and hesitation in Pei Yuqing’s heart; his lips pressed slightly together, clear struggle in his eyes.
Xie Wanning quietly watched him, watching his embarrassment, watching his struggle.
Gradually coming to understand his feelings, understanding his misgivings.
The shame and anger of having proactively proposed marriage only to be refused suddenly vanished just like that.
She reached out and grasped the hand resting on his knee, her eyes bright and lively, smiling radiantly: “Wait for me, I will go.”
She didn’t use any strength, just loosely holding it, and also noticed his fingers trembling slightly in her palm.
But he never drew his hand back.
…Clearly, he liked her.
The smile on Xie Wanning’s face became even more obvious, extending her fingertip to lightly poke the back of his hand, tilting her head to ask: “Pei Yuqing, has anyone ever told you that you’re really quite interesting.”
Interesting enough that even though he had made her angry, she had no thought at all of ignoring him anymore.
After all, he liked her so obviously, yet still stubbornly refused to admit it.
Indeed quite interesting.
It was the first time Xie Wanning had met someone like this.
Pei Yuqing was extremely embarrassed by her question, his eyelashes trembled and then lowered again, softly saying: “I’ve never associated with other young ladies.”
—So naturally, no one had ever told him whether he was interesting or not.
Xie Wanning was nearly amused by his awkward reaction, but since this person had such thin skin, she ultimately couldn’t bear to keep pressing him.
Her fingertip poked the back of his hand once more, she stood up and looked at the sun, saying: “Alright, I really have to go.”
It was nearly time for the banquet to start; if she didn’t go, her several cousins would probably send servants to look for her.
She gave him one last glance, a trace of inexplicable joy rising in her heart, curving her lips in a smile. This time without waiting for his reply, she turned and left with light footsteps.
Long after Xie Wanning left, Pei Yuqing still sat on the stone bench in the pavilion, his gaze on the back of his hand that she had touched, that patch of skin as if still burning, faintly carrying the fragrance lingering from her body.
He lightly touched it, his fingertip unconsciously rubbing, his lowered eyes full of disappointment and bitterness.
………..
When Xie Wanning arrived at the flower hall, the banquet was just beginning. Seeing her enter, several young ladies of the Zheng Family complained one after another: “Your maidservant arrived early, why are you only coming now?”
“I wandered around a bit and was delayed,” Xie Wanning was pulled to take her seat, conscientiously pouring wine into a wine cup, smiling: “I’ll drink a cup as self-punishment, so forgive my tardiness.”
The second young lady of the Zheng Family held up three fingers, giggling: “One cup is nowhere near enough, at least three cups.”
She was the legitimate second daughter of the marquis of Qu City, her elder sister already married, so she was currently the eldest young lady of the Zheng Family, on good terms with Xie Wanning, knowing she had been troubled by marriage ups and downs and hadn’t left the mansion for many days.
Since she had come to the home as a guest today, she naturally had to entertain her well and fulfill her duties as host.
Xie Wanning didn’t haggle, drinking three cups in a row, pleading: “My elder brother will come to find me later. If you get me drunk, he’ll inevitably nag me again.”
Hearing that the cousin from her aunt’s family was coming, the several young ladies of the Zheng Family’s eyes lit up, directing the servants to pour wine, deeming it insufficient, and in the end personally taking action themselves.
Nearby there were also many noble ladies from other families, as if by prior agreement, all urging wine.
After all, it wasn’t them being nagged.
Xie Yanyu’s reputation was too prominent, like an untouchable flower on a high mountain; even getting one more glance was good.
Xie Wanning alone was no match for a table of people; before three rounds of wine were over, she was already drunk with the buzz hitting her head.
When Xie Yanyu came to pick her up, her cheeks were flushed red, her gaze struggling to maintain clarity.
She gripped her elder brother’s sleeve tightly, still arduously defending herself: “I’m not drunk!”
“…” Xie Yanyu silently glanced at her, wanting to support her onto the carriage.
Xie Wanning clung to his sleeve refusing to go, mumbling: “Where are Father and Mother?”
Xie Yanyu didn’t want to pay attention to this little drunkard, but Pei Yuqing who had come along with him said: “Your father has already returned to the mansion. Your mother is staying to help your several maternal aunts see off the guests.”
Xie Wanning then noticed he was there too, tilting her head to look at him, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on his face.
Making Pei Yuqing’s heart pound.
Somewhat worried this young lady would say something bold in front of everyone and regret it after sobering up.
Fortunately, in the end, Xie Wanning just tilted her neck and smiled at him, then supported herself on her elder brother’s arm to board the carriage.
But it was just that one glance that made Xie Yanyu feel something was off. After she got on the carriage, he turned his gaze to his good friend.
“Does Changqing have a private relationship with my little sister?”
Pei Yuqing paused briefly, then smiled: “I just saw her once earlier in the Zheng Family courtyard. Your little sister is lively and cute; I see her as Xuan’er, treating her as a younger sister.”
Hearing Pei Yuxuan, Xie Yanyu unconsciously lowered his eyes, saying: “Get in the carriage.”
Pei Yuxuan had already left first by carriage; it would take some time for Duke Pei’s Mansion to send a carriage, so Pei Yuqing got in without hesitation, Xie Yanyu following after.
As the wheels slowly turned, Xie Wanning who was leaning against the carriage wall with eyes closed opened her eyes, seeing the two men in the carriage, slightly stunned, suspecting she was truly drunk and hallucinating, when she heard Xie Yanyu’s voice.
Xie Yanyu first explained a couple sentences about Pei Yuxuan having returned to the mansion ahead, then said: “Duke Pei’s Mansion isn’t far from ours; it’s conveniently on the way.”
