Chapter 135:
His mind was full of thoughts: in his past life, after two years of marriage, that young lady had never once taken the initiative to kiss him.
Not anywhere.
Every time they were intimate, only he couldn’t hold back his desire, tightly holding her in his arms and kissing her over and over.
And she…
The person who professed to love him was even reluctant to respond.
Yet now, she was willing to leave her mark on another man.
…What else had they done!
Lu Ziyan’s hand trembled violently, almost making him disregard everything and stand up to tear off the skin of the young man opposite him to see what else they had done!
The Emperor looked at him several times and saw him so absent-minded, his own expression gradually turning displeased.
Until the discussion of matters was finished, it was already near noon, and the Emperor granted a banquet.
Lu Ziyan stood up and requested to take his leave.
Disregarding the Emperor’s attempt to ask him to stay, he turned and left the Imperial Palace.
Ming Jian, who had been waiting at the palace gate, saw his master come out and went to greet him, but before he could speak, he was stunned by the cold and stern aura emanating from him.
Lu Ziyan mounted his horse, Ben Yun galloping out, and Ming Jian hurriedly spurred his horse to follow.
They soon arrived at Duke Pei’s Mansion, where Lu Ziyan was about to flip over the wall to enter, but was urgently stopped by Ming Jian.
“Miss Xie went to a temple outside the city to offer incense today; she is not inside at the moment.”
Lu Ziyan glanced at him and turned his horse around. “Lead the way!”
………..
One hour earlier.
Xie Yanyu left the court, departed the Imperial Palace, and sat in the carriage heading to the yamen, fiddling with a string of beads in his hand, his eyes slightly closed, lost in thought about something.
When the carriage stopped, a familiar dainty female voice came in. He frowned slightly and lifted the side carriage curtain.
Snow was falling heavily. Under the banyan tree at the yamen entrance, the little Commandery Princess was wrapped in a goose-yellow fox fur, holding a hand warmer cupped in her sleeve warmer, her whole body showing only half her small face. She smiled brightly at the man in the carriage. “Elder Brother Xie, I have a few words I want to say to you.”
When the Commandery Princess went out, especially on such a snowy day, she naturally had her personal maidservant holding an umbrella to shield her from the snow, and not far away, two guards protected her from a distance.
The carriage of Duke Pei’s Mansion was noble and grand; even parked in a side corner, it was still visible enough for passing officials to see.
Xie Yanyu’s furrowed brows did not relax. He glanced at her frozen red face and said indifferently, “This official has official duties to attend to. Please return, Commandery Princess.”
Pei Yuxuan’s smile stiffened slightly, her fingers gripping the hand warmer tightening a bit. She stammered, “Just a few words… I’ll leave right after.”
But this was hardly a place to talk.
Xie Yanyu was about to continue refusing when he saw the little girl in the snow looking up at him, her eyes showing a pleading look.
His gaze paused slightly, and the words already on the tip of his tongue changed.
“Get in.”
For an unmarried man and woman to share a carriage was not entirely proper, but Pei Yuxuan sent her personal maidservant away, not allowing her to follow.
The yamen entrance was no place to talk. As soon as she got in, the wheels began to turn slowly, stopping only in a secluded corner at the alley mouth where no one passed.
It was very warm inside the carriage. Pei Yuxuan took her hands out from the sleeve warmer, removed her hat, and smiled at the man opposite her. Her lips were red and her teeth white; she looked extremely dainty.
But Xie Yanyu did not look at her. He only lifted his hand to pour a cup of hot tea and passed it over.
“Commandery Princess, say what you have to say.”
Pei Yuxuan lowered her head, holding the teacup with both hands. Her face reddened at the question. After hesitating for a few breaths, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up and said straightforwardly, “A few days ago, Mother said that after the new year, I’ll be eighteen, and it’s time to settle my marriage engagement. She asked if I had someone in mind.”
Duke Pei’s Mansion was extremely wealthy and did not need to sacrifice a daughter’s marriage engagement to win over others.
Princess Duanyang had only this one daughter, whom she cherished like a pearl or treasure. She had her titled Commandery Princess in childhood and had long planned her daughter’s marriage. It didn’t matter if the family background was a bit lower, as long as she liked him herself.
Since it was time for a marriage proposal, the first thing to ask was the daughter’s feelings.
Pei Yuxuan looked at the man opposite her, her eyes openly filled with expectation, shining like stars.
“Elder Brother Xie, do you understand my feelings?” She pursed her lips, a bit of shyness flashing across her face, then boldly continued, “If you feel the same about me, then…”
At this point, she couldn’t bring herself to finish, merely looking at him expectantly.
Xie Yanyu listened quietly from beginning to end, his expression unchanging.
Only after she finished did he say indifferently, “Since ancient times, marriage is a major matter decided by elders. The Commandery Princess should not rashly mention marriage to an unrelated man.”
“What do you mean by that?” Pei Yuxuan’s face paled, her bright eyes dimming. “Are you saying I’m shameless?”
“This official has no such intention…”
“Coming to find you every day is already not modest, and even if it’s shameless, I’ll own it.” Pei Yuxuan raised her voice, interrupting him, her pale lips trembling slightly. “I’m here today only for one answer from you.”
Xie Yanyu lifted his lowered eyelids and looked at her. “Ask.”
“Next spring, Mother will publicly select a husband for me. If you have feelings for me, give me a straight answer. I’ll wait for you to come propose marriage, and call off the husband selection…”
Pausing, Pei Yuxuan continued, “If you have no feelings for me, just tell me directly, so I can give up.”
During this time, every encounter between them had been initiated by Pei Yuxuan. Xie Yanyu was always polite but coldly distant, never giving her special attention nor rebuffing her approaches.
They had quite a few interactions, but all sustained by her enthusiasm.
Like a scorching little sun, swaying before him every day.
Such confident boldness only appeared in a young lady raised with a thousand affections.
She offered her sincere true heart, asking him for an answer.
Xie Yanyu’s gaze fell on her hands holding the teacup; the girl’s delicate knuckles were slightly pale from gripping too hard.
The girl who had always been poised and generous was now at a loss.
He pondered for a few breaths, then lowered his eyes and said, “Please return, Commandery Princess.”
“What do you mean? Xie Yanyu, I just want a definite answer.”
Pei Yuxuan stared fixedly at him, her tone stubborn. “If you don’t like me, just say you have no feelings for me. Don’t worry—even if I like you ever so much, I won’t continue to entangle you.”
“The Commandery Princess’s affection is misplaced, but this official has no intention of taking a wife.” Xie Yanyu said, “I only hope the Commandery Princess finds another good match.”
Another good match…
Pei Yuxuan was stunned for a few breaths, then seemed to come back to herself, forcing a smile.
“I understand.” She blinked rapidly, held the hot tea to her lips, letting the rising steam make her eyes sting, a string of tears falling into the teacup before she swallowed them all down.
She set down the teacup, took a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her lips, then said, “These days, I’ve been too rude and caused trouble for Lord Xie. My deepest apologies.”
It won’t happen again.
She would follow her mother’s arrangements for marriage and never again defy the elders because of her own feelings.
“I also wish you all goes well and that you marry a young lady you truly love as your wife.”
In the end, he had said he had no intention of taking a wife, but not that he had no feelings for her—giving her the last bit of face.
Though heartless toward her, he was truly a good person.
But such a good person would not be hers.
Pei Yuxuan wanted to cry again. She held it back desperately, gave him one last look, and hurriedly got out of the carriage.
Almost fleeing in panic.
After she left, Xie Yanyu sat quietly for a while, his expression serene, lost in thought about something.
After a long time, he lightly knocked on the carriage wall, and the coachman understood, driving away from the place.
………..
Outskirts of the Capital, Chuyun Mountain.
Puxian Temple was built on the mountainside—not too high, but with steps at every pace, it took a full half hour to walk up.
Xie Wanning had come many times. Though pampered and lazy, she was still proficient in archery and horsemanship under her father and brothers’ urging, so this short distance did not stump her.
She always walked up on foot by herself.
After all, it was to offer incense at a temple; the sisters each brought only one maidservant following from afar, blending in among the pilgrims without drawing attention.
The sisters walked and stopped, finally entering the temple and offering incense.
Xie Ruyu took the lottery tube, closed her eyes, and began to shake it.
A wooden stick fell out. She picked it up and handed it to the temple priest. “Asking about marriage; please interpret, Master.”
“It’s a middle lottery.” The temple priest took it and said, “For marriage, your true match is arriving soon. However, if you let it pass like wind past your ears, without competing or being overbearing, then all will be joyful.”
Xie Ruyu frowned, puzzled, but with pilgrims waiting behind to have their lots interpreted, she could only thank him and step aside.
Xie Wanning was also very concerned about her little cousin’s marriage and asked, “Has your mother begun discussing marriage proposals for you?”
“It’s not Mother, it’s Father.” Mentioning marriage, Xie Ruyu showed no shyness like ordinary young ladies.
She said, “Father wants to betroth me to the new Third Scholar Duan Cheng. He will appear at Puxian Temple today for us to meet. If suitable, they will proceed with the Six Rites of Marriage.”
It was indeed Duan Cheng.
Xie Wanning was about to speak when Xie Ruyu pointed to the lottery tube beside her. “Sister Wanwan, do you want to draw one too?”
“No need.” Xie Wanning shook her head. She currently had no doubts needing resolution—her marriage was set, offspring not urgent, her parents healthy; everything was going smoothly.
“Then let’s go rest our feet.” Xie Ruyu did not press and pulled her sister’s hand toward the back courtyard of the temple.
Xie Wanning let her arrange things.
Since she was accompanying her sister for the arranged meeting, they naturally could not just go down the mountain.
As a temple with prosperous incense in the outskirts of the Capital, Puxian Temple covered a vast area. The back courtyard was large; though the scenery was not as fine as the Marquis’s Estate garden, it had its own charm.
But the weather was too cold—not a season for strolling gardens. After a few steps, a little novice led them into a side room reserved for nobles to rest.
There was plenty of charcoal fire inside. Xie Wanning undid her cape and, just as she sat down, said, “I know a little about this Duan Cheng.”
“Oh?” Xie Ruyu was somewhat surprised and hurriedly asked, “Tell me about him, Sister Wanwan. What is he like?”
Xie Wanning told her everything Ji Chengfeng had said that day and added, “At twenty, it’s not surprising he’s had an engagement. I just don’t know if he himself is willing.”
After all, blind marriages were not common in this dynasty. Her Second Uncle valued rules most, yet even he, who favored Duan Cheng and wanted him as his son-in-law, would let his daughter meet him first and agree before raising the matter of marriage.
So, Duan Cheng’s previous engagement with his former fiancée was most likely agreed to by him himself.
Xie Ruyu had also thought of this. Her expression turned somewhat unpleasant. “Father and Mother only knew his parents died early and he has no concubines or such around, but didn’t think he had been engaged.”
No elders at home meant she could manage the household after marriage without needing to observe rules before a mother-in-law, which was naturally good, but…
After all, he was to be her husband for life. She feared he already had another young lady in his heart—that would be infuriating.
A girl in the bloom of youth, with parents so loving— no matter how sharp-tongued or strong-willed Xie Ruyu usually was, she had expectations for marriage.
Hoping to get along with her future husband just like her own parents, hand in hand till old age.
In Xie Ruyu’s view, if her future husband already had another young lady in his heart, she would be no different from a second wife.
“Wait for him to arrive and take a look first. If you really mind, then we won’t marry.” Xie Wanning comforted her. “Second Uncle won’t force his precious pearl of a daughter to marry an unsatisfactory young master.”
As she spoke, several figures appeared at the door: one was the little novice who had led the way, another wore a dark green cloak with a jade crown binding his hair, his tall figure carrying a slight sense of pressure. A servant followed behind him. Seeing the two young ladies in the room looking over, the man at the door paused slightly.
Duan Cheng had rushed over after court, still shocked by Lu Ziyan being the Fifth Prince, and now he saw his former fiancée. After a stunned moment, he cupped his hands in salute.
This was Xie Wanning’s first time seeing Duan Cheng, but not for Xie Ruyu.
Her gaze showed a moment of obvious daze, then she stood and returned the salute.
Xie Wanning noticed nothing amiss. She looked Duan Cheng over for a few breaths.
She thought to herself that he was indeed upright and gentlemanly—no wonder her Second Uncle, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, had taken a fancy to him.
The maidservant served hot tea, and Duan Cheng sat while his servant stood.
With two strange men suddenly present, Xie Wanning had to sit up properly.
As Xie Ruyu’s married elder sister, though younger in age than Duan Cheng, with no other elders present, she had to receive the guests.
Testing scholarship or such, she didn’t presume to have the ability to examine a Third Scholar, so she only chatted about everyday matters.
Duan Cheng always responded appropriately, with perfect poise, leaving no faults to pick.
Xie Ruyu also chimed in from time to time, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly quite good for a while.
At this point, Xie Wanning sensed that her little cousin was satisfied with this first arranged meeting with Young Master Duan.
They chatted until mealtime, when the monks served vegetarian food.
There was no reason for two young ladies to dine with strange men, so Duan Cheng went to the adjacent side room.
Taking the opportunity, Xie Wanning smiled and asked her cousin, “How is he?”
“The day the new scholars paraded the streets, I stood in a teahouse side room and caught a distant glimpse of him.”
Xie Ruyu neither said she liked him nor disliked him, only, “After the meal, if he invites me to talk alone, it means he has feelings for me. I’ll ask about his previous engagement then decide.”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning was relieved and smiled. “As long as you have it figured out.”
Her cousin had always been decisive and planned everything well—no one needed to worry for her.
Moreover, this new scholar Duan Cheng, in terms of talent, appearance, and family background, was a good match for a Xie Family young lady.
The only impropriety at present was his previous engagement.
