Chapter 151:
Based on such an idea, there was thus a Beast Taming Performance banquet to select a husband for Princess Pingning.
Even the Emperor praised loudly upon hearing it, after all, any military general with real talent and practical skills was his favorite, and what the Great Khan lacked most were generals loyal to the Imperial Family.
The husband’s younger sister was choosing a husband, and as the eldest sister-in-law, Xie Wanning naturally helped organize it as well.
She specially sent invitations to her familiar relatives and friends.
The Pei and Xie families were relatives by marriage, and besides Xie Yanyu, the Xie Family’s second wife also had two legitimate young masters, who were of course on the list of invitees.
Xie Ruyu had already settled her marriage engagement with Duan Cheng half a month ago, but the Beast Taming Performance was rare after all, so it was good to come and see.
In addition, Madam Zheng was concerned about her nephew and specially reminded her daughter that Ji Chengfeng had not yet discussed marriage with Cao Ying’er, and he was still in the Capital City now, so she asked Xie Wanning to send him an invitation as well.
Although Ji Chengfeng was a scholar and might not quite meet Princess Duanyang’s standards, almost all the noble ladies of marriageable age in the Capital City had come to this banquet, so there would surely be a good match suitable for him.
In such busyness, time flew by to mid-March, the day of the Beast Taming Performance.
It was the time when spring was warm and flowers were blooming, with bright sunshine in the Capital City. Half a month earlier, the nobles had already taken off their thick fur cloaks and changed into soft and delicate brocade silk garments.
Today, the young masters and noble ladies from various families were all dressed in fitted riding outfits, in bright clothes and on galloping horses, rushing out of the city to the Beast Taming Manor, their joyful laughter drawing countless commoners on the streets to turn and look.
Xie Wanning was originally going to accompany her mother-in-law in the carriage, but Princess Duanyang waved her hand, looked toward the eldest son beside her, and smiled: “This palace does not need accompaniment here. Wanwan, go coax your husband well. I see that Changqing has not been in a good mood these days.”
“…” Xie Wanning fell silent for a moment, then stealthily glanced sideways at the person beside her, just happening to meet his gaze.
Clearly they were an intimate couple, yet she turned her head back as if scalded, and hurriedly said, “Yes.”
As someone who had been through it, how could Princess Duanyang not see that this young couple had perhaps had a quarrel? She did not say much more, but directly boarded the carriage, leaving Pei Yuqing and Xie Wanning to look at each other in bewilderment.
Xie Wanning lowered her head somewhat nervously. From the Lantern Festival Palace Banquet until now, although the two still dined together, their interactions were always awkward.
They had even rarely been alone together.
……For such a person who showed no sign of it, the Princess could still tell he was in a bad mood.
So, just how bad was his mood…
“Do you want to ride a horse or take the carriage?”
The man’s clear and cold voice interrupted her thoughts. Xie Wanning paused, then said: “Take the carriage.”
She was now a married woman, and it was indeed not suitable for her to show her face prominently and gallop through the streets on horseback.
Pei Yuqing gave a soft hum and called for someone to prepare the carriage.
It was still this carriage. After two months, the two sat facing each other again.
Almost the instant she sat down, Xie Wanning felt some regret.
If she had known, she should have chosen to ride a horse.
She was so nervous, how could Pei Yuqing not see it? He raised his hand to pinch his brow, seeming somewhat weary as he said: “What are you afraid of?”
Afraid of what…
Xie Wanning choked, and said softly: “I’m not afraid.”
Pei Yuqing turned his head and gave a light chuckle, saying no more, but lazily lifted his eyes to look out the carriage window.
After a long while, he restrained his smile, lowered his eyes, and said: “If you don’t want to see me so much, how about I leave the Capital City?”
Leave the Capital City?
Xie Wanning was greatly startled. “Where are you going?”
“Something came up in Yangzhou, and His Majesty intends for me to go there personally,” Pei Yuqing said.
“Why so sudden…” Xie Wanning frowned. “How long will you be gone?”
Seeing her concerned expression, Pei Yuqing’s heart softened slightly, and he asked softly: “You care about this… I thought Wanwan was already annoyed with me and didn’t want to see me at all.”
“I don’t… mean that I don’t want to see you… I just…” Whenever she thought of him leaving, Xie Wanning felt flustered, stumbling over her words haltingly. Hearing him say that made her feel even more distressed.
“Just what?” Pei Yuqing looked at her without blinking. “If it’s not that you don’t want to see me, then why have you become increasingly distant toward me?”
“I’m not being distant toward you. I just don’t know how to get along with you. You always deceive me… always deceive me…” Xie Wanning blinked desperately to hold back her tears. “I’m a bit afraid of your methods…”
Even forcefully holding back her tears, her eyes were still somewhat wet, and the tip of her nose was tinged with a grievance-filled red.
Pei Yuqing’s wrist instinctively lifted, wanting to coax her, but as soon as he raised it, it paused in mid-air, and he slowly withdrew his hand.
“I won’t deceive you anymore,” he took a deep breath and said: “I promise you, from now on, no matter what happens, I will not deceive you again.”
……Even if you want to leave, even if you choose someone else, I won’t use methods anymore, won’t deceive you anymore.
After saying this, Pei Yuqing only felt a bitter taste in his throat.
How could he blame her for being distant? The fault lay only with his unrestrained actions that had hurt her trust.
“When are you leaving… Can you not go?”
Xie Wanning’s mind was entirely on his impending departure from the Capital City, her heart anxious and panicked, completely thrown off by this sudden news, with no attention left to dwell on the previous deception.
The beloved young lady glared at him with a pair of watery eyes, asking cautiously if he could not go.
The man who prided himself on his excellent self-control gripped his fingers tightly, then quickly surrendered like laying down arms, stretching out his arm to pull her into his embrace.
His movements were urgent, and he held her tightly. Before Xie Wanning could react, she was on his lap, her nape grasped by one of his hands, and his voice, now low, sounded in her ear: “Why don’t you want me to go?”
“Hm?” Before Xie Wanning could speak, he lowered his head to press close. “Tell me, why don’t you want me to go?”
“I’m afraid you’ll be in danger,” Xie Wanning obediently sat on his lap, gripping his sleeve, her voice carrying a sob as she looked up: “All the states and prefectures are in chaos now. I’m afraid something will happen to you.”
“And?”
“…What?”
“Just afraid I’ll be in danger?” Pei Yuqing’s jaw tightened as he lowered his head to rest against her forehead, his gaze burning as he stared at her: “Is there nothing else?”
Xie Wanning’s heart fluttered under his pressing gaze, her throat somewhat dry. She swallowed with difficulty, but had no idea what to say to satisfy him.
Pei Yuqing closed his eyes briefly. He didn’t believe that this girl, who was entirely his, had no romantic feelings for him at all. But with him pressing her like this, she…
“Who is it that you like?” He could no longer hold back and asked directly: “Tell me the truth. Who is the one in your heart? …Is it me, or Lu Ziyan?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Wanning’s pupils suddenly dilated, and she instinctively wanted to lower her eyes to avoid his line of sight.
