Chapter 153:
At this moment, another cage containing a tiger with a fierce gaze was lifted into the arena.
It was much larger than the previous black bear, with golden pupils and sharp fangs that were terrifying. It was clearly a fierce tiger in its prime, emitting low growling breaths from its throat, as if extremely hungry, very frightening.
She had thought the danger had suddenly increased and the male guests would hesitate, but unexpectedly, without waiting long, three men stood up, as if they had planned it beforehand, and entered the arena.
“What do you think of that man in green clothes, sister-in-law?”
She was watching with great interest when Pei Yuxuan suddenly asked from her side. Xie Wanning was stunned for a moment, looked closely at the man, and said in surprise: “Zhao Rui?”
Chancellor Zhao Rui, the son of Chancellor Zhao He. She had met him a few times; her impression was of a scholar with good literary talent, but she hadn’t expected him to be so strong and powerful.
Pei Yuxuan certainly wouldn’t ask suddenly without reason; probably this Zhao Rui was one of the candidates that Princess Duanyang had selected for her daughter.
Thinking this way, Xie Wanning’s expression turned serious as she began to observe carefully.
In the beast-taming arena, Zhao Rui’s clothes were torn from his wide swings and bold moves. Several times he brushed past the tiger’s claws, in perilous situations, yet he showed no panic at all. His lips kept moving as he commanded something, displaying a demeanor of facing danger without fear, which would easily make a young lady feel favorable.
After watching for a while, Xie Wanning said objectively: “He has both courage and strategy; he’s a fine young master. Though his appearance isn’t the best among the noble young masters, his features are regular and his brows and eyes are clear and bright.”
“Sister-in-law, you’ve said exactly what I was thinking,” Pei Yuxuan nodded with a smile and said softly, “Then it’s him.”
That tone—how was it like selecting a husband to spend her life with? It was no different from picking an unimportant gold hairpin from a jewelry pavilion.
Xie Wanning was greatly shocked. “How can a lifelong event be treated so casually?”
“Shouldn’t you inquire more about his character, whether he has any songbirds and swallows around him…”
Pei Yuxuan chuckled lightly. “No need. I don’t care about those things.”
Xie Wanning’s brows furrowed even deeper.
She simply couldn’t believe there was any young lady who wouldn’t care whether her future husband had anyone around him.
Even without much affection, that was still the person she would marry and spend the rest of her life with as a couple—how could she not care about his private morality?
“A woman’s marriage is so important. To live comfortably and happily in the latter half of life, Xuan’er, you should still be cautious. At least pick someone with a clean back courtyard.”
Pei Yuxuan smiled faintly and said no more.
Since the person she truly loved was already out of reach, marrying anyone was just making do, getting by day by day.
She didn’t seek perfect harmony or marital bliss, just mutual respect would be fine.
With her status as a commandery princess, no matter whom she married, she would never suffer grievances.
That was enough.
As for whether the other party had kept maidservants or taken concubines before, or how many women he would have in the future, why should she care?
With so many people here, it wasn’t a good place for a heart-to-heart talk. Seeing her stop speaking, Xie Wanning didn’t continue, but her heart couldn’t help but hang in suspense, fearing that this little commandery princess had been stimulated by something at her elder brother’s place and chosen to let it all go to ruin, hastily finding someone to marry just like her.
Her suspended heart finally cooled by half when the tiger with a fierce gaze in the beast-taming arena crashed to the ground, and the rose branch offered by Zhao Rui was accepted by Pei Yuxuan.
…She had really been so casual.
The surrounding guests were also taken aback by the scene. They hadn’t expected Princess Pingning’s marriage to be settled just like that. Once they reacted, everyone voiced congratulations together.
Auspicious words poured out as if they cost nothing.
