Chapter 122:
Xie Wanning clicked her tongue at the Second Prince’s outrageous behavior, and thinking of that cloying “cousin-in-law” he said during the day, she belatedly broke out in goosebumps all over her body.
She resolved in her heart to take a detour whenever she saw him in the future.
This was a scum who would seduce women, and there was more than one noble lady from prominent families in the capital city who had been defiled by him.
And few people knew about this matter yet.
The next day when she woke up, as Pei Yuqing came to wake her, Xie Wanning couldn’t hold back the words she had bottled up all night and asked, “Does His Majesty know about the Second Prince?”
Pei Yuqing hummed and said, “This is an imperial family scandal, not suitable for publicizing. His Majesty has warned him, and he has restrained himself a lot during this period.”
But old habits die hard; who knows how long His Majesty’s one warning could make him restrain himself.
His Majesty has four princes in total, and he treasures each one dearly. As long as it’s not a crime of plotting rebellion, playing with a few women is nothing.
Even if it’s a woman from a prominent family, if she encounters such a thing, for the sake of her reputation, she would only keep it tightly hidden, more afraid than anyone of the matter spreading.
Pei Yuqing knew because he had the Qing Tian Guard.
Seeing the tip of the iceberg, Xie Wanning somewhat experienced how great his power was.
Almost the entire Great Khan’s intelligence network was controlled by him single-handedly.
Whether it was the imperial family’s or the ministers’ families’ secrets and privacies, he knew almost all of them.
“Elder Brother Changqing,” Xie Wanning reached out to hug his waist, “Is there anything in this world that you don’t know?”
“I am also a mortal, of course there are things I don’t know.”
Pei Yuqing placed his hand on her shoulder, his brows slightly raised, his handsome face revealing a smile as he said, “For example, I don’t know when exactly Wanwan you plan to stop lazing in bed.”
And for another example, he didn’t know after these few months whether she liked him even a little more.
…………
This year’s winter was colder than previous years. In Xie Wanning’s view, she should just nest in the courtyard and not go anywhere.
But at year-end every year, it was the busiest time for the madams of each household.
Busy hosting banquets, busy auditing the year’s accounts, busy purchasing silver charcoal, cotton cloth, winter clothes for the collateral branch masters and servants in the manor, and also distributing customary money to the servants in the manor; all the rewards and punishments for the year had to be dealt with.
Only by being a master who watches the abilities of those below and rewards and punishes clearly can the servants be more diligent in their duties next year.
If there are mistakes without punishment, merits without reward, even the grandest prominent household will breed lazy wicked slaves.
And Xie Wanning this year had gone from a young lady in the boudoir to a married woman, and moreover the madam in charge of half of the Duke’s Estate’s household affairs.
So, she also became busier.
Such busyness only eased up after entering the twelfth lunar month.
As year-end approached, each household began hosting banquets.
Distant relatives could be skipped, but for a direct maternal family like the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate, in the first year after her wedding, bringing her husband to pay respects to her maternal grandparents was necessary etiquette.
On the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, with heavy snow falling, the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate hosted a banquet for relatives and friends. Xie Wanning, who hadn’t left the manor for many days, had no choice but to step out of the courtyard gate.
She wore a plain-colored brocade waist-bound ruqun, covered outside with a thick fox fur cape, holding a hand warmer in her hands.
When Pei Yuqing helped her down from the carriage, the moment the cold air hit as she stepped on the freshly swept snow, she shrank her neck from the cold.
Xie Yanyu, who had been waiting for his younger sister for a while, walked over in a few steps, lowered his gaze to look at the young lady wrapped up like a red furball, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“So afraid of the cold?”
“Elder Brother!” Xie Wanning’s eyes lit up as she looked at her brother whom she hadn’t seen for over half a month, then craned her neck to look behind him, “Have Mother and Father come?”
“They have. You’re really heartless; we’re so close, yet you haven’t come back to see Mother for a full ten days or half a month.”
Xie Yanyu couldn’t help nagging a couple of sentences, then turned his gaze to Pei Yuqing with a slight smile, saying, “It’s cold outside; let’s go in.”
The Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate was an old prominent family, rooted in the capital city for many years, flourishing with many marriage ties, and this banquet invited only close relatives and friends.
Entering the main hall, it was already extremely lively inside.
This wasn’t Pei Yuqing’s first time at the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate, but it was the first time coming as the outer grandson-in-law.
His posture was upright, his eyebrows and eyes handsome, with the appearance of a talented and handsome man. He performed a proper junior’s ceremony to the Qu Cheng Marquis couple at the head seat.
Xie Wanning stood by his side, her cape still not removed, the little young lady wrapped like a hair ball, only revealing a rosy little face, her eyebrows and eyes curved, stunningly beautiful.
Looking at this perfect couple, the room went quiet for a moment, then someone soon praised, “What a match made in heaven, a golden match.”
The Old Madam of the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate beckoned her granddaughter closer and asked after her with concern.
Seeing her good complexion, she smiled and said, “For a woman, whether she married well or not shows all on her face.”
The elderly lady’s gaze toward her outer grandson-in-law was kindly, very satisfied.
Feeling that these words had a deeper meaning, Xie Wanning shyly lowered her head.
Pei Yuqing remained composed amid the honor, merely smiling slightly and softly giving thanks.
Sitting with her maternal grandmother and mother, chatting with relatives for a while until a cup of tea had been drunk, knowing that the two young people wouldn’t be comfortable staying here, the Old Madam of the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate waved her hand and said, “Go play at the Flowing Water Pavilion; all the young people who came today are there.”
The Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate’s main hall was very large, divided into inner, outer, and side halls, with many people. Xie Wanning indeed wasn’t used to it. Just as she was about to leave, passing through the outer hall, she saw her own elder brother talking with someone in the corner.
She let go of Pei Yuqing’s hand and said softly, “Wait for me here.”
With that said, she lifted her skirt hem and crept stealthily toward that side.
Xie Yanyu was proficient in the Six Arts of a Gentleman, with considerable martial power. When his younger sister tiptoed closer, he had already noticed. He paused for a moment but made no move.
When Xie Wanning reached behind him and was about to raise her hand to pat his shoulder, Xie Yanyu suddenly turned around, startling her.
“Elder Brother!” She flushed red with anger and shouted: “You did that on purpose!”
Xie Yanyu reached out to pinch her rosy little cheek, smiling without a word.
Xie Wanning shook off his hand and said indignantly: “You’ve become bad.”
“Wanwan’s courage has grown too,” Xie Yanyu chuckled: “You never dared to scare me before, but now your boldness has increased.”
“…” Xie Wanning was speechless.
Her courage had indeed grown, all spoiled by Pei Changqing.
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Pei Yuqing had already caught up. He placed his hand on Xie Wanning’s shoulder, greeted Xie Yanyu, then smiled at the man talking with Xie Yanyu and said: “Cousin Ji.”
Xie Wanning also lifted her gaze to look over.
With just one glance, her brows furrowed.
Xie Yanyu said: “This is Second Aunt’s eldest son. By seniority, you should address him as Cousin.”
The Old Madam of Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate had three sons and two daughters in total. Madam Zheng was the eldest daughter, and below her was another younger sister from the same mother, their Second Aunt.
However, in recent years, she had followed her husband on a transfer to a local post in the Northern Region and rarely returned to the Capital City. This Cousin, Xie Wanning should be seeing for the first time, yet she felt somewhat familiar.
Perhaps her hesitant expression on her face was too obvious, that Cousin Ji smiled faintly and said: “Do not let the painted fan emerge from the curtain, to shield the spring mountains lingering atop. If you say the reunion resembles the bright moon, within this, osmanthus flowers must bloom.”
“…!” Xie Wanning suddenly realized, “Since you are my Cousin, why didn’t you come to drink my wedding wine, and how did you end up as one of the wedding escorts?”
On the day of the grand wedding, among the young masters who helped Pei Yuqing with the wedding procession, this Cousin Ji was prominently there.
He had even composed an excellent fan-refusal poem that left a deep impression on her, making her take an extra glance.
Her question was blunt, and that Cousin Ji was clearly unprepared, his expression freezing.
Pei Yuqing explained for him: “I have a good private friendship with Cousin Ji. He is this year’s Top Scholar from the spring examinations, with vast learning and talent. Composing a poem on the spot is no difficulty for him, so I invited him to help me with this favor.”
After all, taking a wife over the threshold was no simple matter—from the urging-makeup poems to the fan-refusal poems, composing a dozen or more was considered few. If some mischievous ones deliberately made things difficult with fresh conundrums…
In short, bringing along several young masters full of poetic knowledge would not go wrong.
Xie Wanning was already stunned listening.
New Top Scholar?
Although in those dreams, she had stayed in the Lu Family’s square rear courtyard, paying little attention to the outside world, the matter of new Top Scholar Ji Chengfeng being ordered by His Majesty to inspect Southern Sichuan, only to encounter displaced refugees on the way, contract an epidemic, and die was too big a stir—she had heard a bit about it.
Those who could become Top Scholars were all versed in civil and martial strategy, excelling in everything. This Ji Chengfeng was said to have world-shocking talent. When news of his death reached the Capital City, His Majesty grieved and wept bitterly, suspending court for three days and strictly ordering a thorough investigation.
He did not believe the death of his personally selected Top Scholar would be so simple, especially dying on the road while carrying out an imperial inspection. The one sent to investigate the case was Lu Ziyan.
The time was just after the new year, in early spring.
She had heard of this brilliantly talented yet heaven-envied Top Scholar, but had not expected him to be so young.
He was very tall in stature, exceedingly handsome, with a face white as jade, refined and scholarly, his posture straight and resilient like green bamboo or pine cypress.
…No wonder after he was gone, His Majesty grieved as if he had lost a son.
Indeed, an outstanding young man.
And what the court most feared was young men loyal to the state, brimming with ambitions, capable, and talented.
Such people were the Great Khan’s backbone and hope.
The young lady at the tip of his heart was staring dazedly at a man. Pei Yuqing lowered his eyes, concealing the darkness within, and calmly called her name.
Xie Wanning then came back to her senses. She felt no embarrassment and naturally withdrew her line of sight.
The atmosphere inexplicably became somewhat awkward.
After a moment of silence, they all decided to head to Flowing Water Pavilion.
Just as they left the main hall, they saw that the snow outside had grown heavier, and the snow accumulated on the paths, swept away by the servants, had soon piled up again in a thin layer.
Xie Wanning’s deerskin boots stepped on it, making dull “creak creak” sounds.
The path was not very wide, so Xie Wanning deliberately slowed her pace. Pei Yuqing and Ji Chengfeng walked ahead, while Xie Yanyu accompanied his younger sister side by side behind.
The siblings had not had a proper talk in a long time. Xie Yanyu looked down at her and said: “Cold?”
Xie Wanning shook her head. Snow fell from her long lashes. She tilted her head up and smiled: “Not cold, just my legs are a bit sore. I want Elder Brother to carry me.”
They were four years apart, and she had basically grown up on her elder brother’s back as a child.
“Wanwan,” Xie Yanyu brushed the snowflakes from her lashes and said helplessly: “You are a young lady now.”
“Oh,” Xie Wanning responded softly, then immediately said: “Then I’ll go ask my husband to carry me.”
“Come back,” Xie Yanyu pulled back his younger sister who was about to dart forward, face stern as he asked her: “Why were you staring at your Cousin Ji in a daze just now?”
“…” Xie Wanning blinked, not knowing how to answer.
She could hardly say that she was hesitating whether to save his life or not, right?
……If she wanted to save him, how should she do it.
Her silence made Xie Yanyu’s face look even worse. Xie Wanning saw it and got a fright, quickly saying, “I was just curiously looking a bit more, no other thoughts.”
Xie Yanyu said flatly, “Do you remember who the man was that you last stared at in a daze?”
Xie Wanning choked, who else could it be, Pei Changqing.
She said irritably, “That’s different.”
Not far ahead, Pei Yuqing’s steps paused slightly. He turned his head and glanced at his companion beside him.
Ji Chengfeng felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said in a low voice, “Changqing brother, don’t overthink it.”
Behind them, Xie Wanning’s voice synced almost exactly with his.
She said, “Elder Brother, don’t overthink it.”
Such a coincidence made everyone’s hearts skip a beat.
Except for Xie Wanning, this woman with ordinary hearing, the other three could all easily hear each other’s voices.
Xie Wanning continued, “I just think that the new Top Scholar is already so good-looking, so what must the Third Scholar look like.”
The Third Scholar was Xie Ruyu’s future husband, and she had long wanted to inquire a bit but hadn’t found an opportunity.
She had considered asking Pei Yuqing directly but was afraid he would overthink it.
Thinking this, she tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her. “Elder Brother, are you familiar with Duan Cheng? What kind of person is he?”
“What are you curiously asking about Duan Cheng for again.”
Xie Yanyu glanced at his brother-in-law ahead and said helplessly, “Though I have not been acquainted with Duan Cheng, the court’s selection of officials strictly examines talent, character, and family background. For him to be selected as Third Scholar, his temperament may not be the finest, but it is at least superior.”
“Don’t even think about his looks,” Xie Yanyu said. “If not for Chengfeng’s exam essay being outstanding and making Your Majesty unwilling to let the Top Scholar position go to someone else, this Third Scholar would definitely have been his.”
Xie Wanning fell silent.
What did he mean by don’t even think about it, as if she……
But she understood. Duan Cheng was a decent person, just not as good-looking as Ji Chengfeng, which was no big deal.
It’s just……
Xie Wanning said, “Then how is his private morality?”
The court doesn’t care about private morality when selecting officials, but when a woman marries……
“Wanwan!” Xie Yanyu’s tone was serious.
Where was there a married woman inquiring about another man’s private morality.
He still remembered that a few months ago, his younger sister had inquired about Duan Cheng……
Xie Yanyu’s gaze changed somewhat. “Why are you always curious about Duan Cheng?”
“I’m not doing anything, I haven’t even seen him, what could I do.”
She truly hadn’t seen Duan Cheng, and Xie Yanyu slowly let out a breath.
Xie Wanning had completely conceded defeat. She waved her hands repeatedly, saying, “Forget it, I won’t ask anymore.”
She truly shouldn’t ask. Even close male friends rarely care if the other’s private life is debauched, as long as their conduct is good and they don’t force good women into prostitution; being a bit romantic isn’t wrong.
So, she still had to find a way to ask Pei Yuqing.
