Chapter 17:
What she gave was not affection at all, but clearly a sharp weapon for Lu Ziyan to hurt her.
The more she gave, the deeper she fell, but he not only would not be moved or treasure it, but would instead take even greater control.
Xie Yanyu was worried that his younger sister’s determination to break off the engagement would waver because of this news, and when he specially came over, he saw her icy cold expression.
Hearing the question, Xie Wanning’s face rarely lost its smile, and she slightly parted her lips, saying word by word: “Elder Brother, rest assured, from now on even if I like pigs or dogs, I will not glance at Lu Ziyan again.”
“……No need to make such a vicious oath,” Xie Yanyu’s tone was indescribable: “I believe you.”
What liking pigs and dogs, how could his obedient and lovely younger sister be so vulgar.
…………
On the second day after Lu Ziyan dismissed his concubine, the gates of Xie Residence were knocked on once more.
This time, it was Madam of Earl Yongyi, who was on good terms with both Lu and Xie families, and the Madam from the Minister of Personnel’s household.
The two Madams were entrusted by Lu Family, acting as mediators to reconcile the two families.
Compared to the previous invitation that merely hoped their family’s daughter would go eagerly, this time Lu Family acted with some propriety.
Madam Zheng’s pent-up frustration eased a bit, and she opened the door to politely welcome the guests inside.
She politely entertained them all afternoon, with tea and conversation, and even called the musicians kept in the manor for fine singing and dancing, truly treating them with utmost hospitality.
But regarding the two Madams’ intentions, she absolutely would not yield.
No matter how much they pleaded, in the end she only politely saw them out.
After this, Lu Family finally could not sit still.
Previously they were not anxious, because they thought Xie Family’s reason for breaking off the engagement was that the wedding date was approaching while their own child kept a concubine, but now that the person had been dismissed, the other side still refused to relent.
How could they not be anxious?
Early the next morning, Lu Ziyan came to the door again to request a meeting.
Last time the doorkeeper came out to speak, but this time, Xie Family did not even open the gate.
Standing quietly before the lacquered red gate, Lu Ziyan’s handsome pale face showed no ripples, only the piercing aura in his gaze revealing a bit of his mood.
Like a deity in charge of killing descending to the mortal world, making people dare not look directly.
All the way until noon, Lu Ziyan finally stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.
“Go tell your Young Lady, if she really wants to break off the engagement, she should at least say it clearly to my face first.”
His aura was indeed terrifying, but the doorkeeper still passed on the message inside.
Xie Wanning heard it, did not even frown, and only said: “Marriage is a major matter decided by parents, I have nothing to say clearly to him, please ask him to leave, and tell him there is no need to come again in the future, lest others see and laugh.”
Tomorrow was Xie Ruyu’s coming-of-age banquet, and she did not want her own little matter to disturb her cousin’s once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony.
The doorkeeper did not come back with more words, and Xie Wanning did not care what reaction Lu Ziyan had after receiving the message.
That person was very proud, probably had never been so humiliated before.
To be honest, after being turned away once, for him to come to the door again to request a meeting was something Xie Wanning completely had not expected.
She hoped that this time he could see her determination clearly, understand that their fate had ended, and that going their separate ways in peace was the best outcome.
The her in the dream had suffered so much hardship and torment, for her not to hate him was already due to her kind, tolerant, and good-tempered nature.
Anything more was truly impossible.
She also did not think that Lu Ziyan’s two visits to the door meant he was particularly reluctant to break off the engagement with her, probably just felt he had lost face because the woman proposed breaking it off?
Even more likely, he could not accept that the person who had always been obedient and compliant to him actually did not want him anymore.
Outside the gate, Lu Ziyan quietly listened to the doorkeeper’s reply.
When he heard the last sentence ‘lest others see and laugh’, his jaw clenched, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes.
It startled the doorkeeper boy into a shiver, fearing he would force his way in, but fortunately Lu Ziyan only frowned and stood for a while before turning and leaving without a word.
…………
The next day, Xie Residence was filled with guests celebrating the Xie household’s second Young Lady’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Lu Ziyan did not come again, and Xie Wanning breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She thought to herself, this is good.
There were many guests bringing congratulatory gifts, and Xie Ruyu’s coming-of-age ceremony went very smoothly; under the witness of numerous guests, she had her hair styled and pinned, changed into ceremonial robes, signifying adulthood.
As the host, Xie Wanning welcomed her personally invited boudoir close friends into the elegant hall.
Wine and dishes were already laid out inside, and the several young ladies had good relationships; once away from the adults, they no longer maintained decorum and casually took their seats.
Just as they were about to start the banquet, Er Qing lifted the curtain and came in, leaning close to her ear to whisper: “Young Lady, Princess Pingning has arrived.”
Princess Pingning?
Xie Wanning was startled and quickly rose to go welcome her.
But in her heart she was thinking, this youngest daughter of Princess Duanyang had always played with the imperial family’s commandery princesses and rarely attended banquets of ordinary noble ladies, hadn’t she?
Although they had spoken a few words, they were not particularly close, and this time when sending invitations, it was only because at a spring banquet some time ago, this little commandery princess had heard she wanted to go to the jewelry pavilion to order a jade bracelet and enthusiastically came over to offer help.
That was when the two formally became acquainted.
That jade bracelet was now on Xie Ruyu’s wrist, and this time she had also sent a personally handwritten invitation to Duke Pei’s Mansion.
She had never imagined that this little commandery princess from the Duke’s Estate would actually come.
However, the affection among young ladies was built up through such mutual visits; since the other had proactively helped her, she must truly intend to befriend her.
Her thoughts quickly turned as she finally welcomed the person at the archway of the second courtyard.
Xie Wanning hurried forward, curtsied in greeting, and apologized: “I thought you wouldn’t come, my neglect is great.”
“What’s all this ‘you’ business,” Princess Pingning had no airs and a lively personality; she reached out to link arms with her, saying with a grinning mouth: “I’m a year older than you virtually, my boudoir name is Pei Yuxuan, just call me Xuan Jie Jie.”
Xie Wanning immediately complied and called: “Xuan Jie Jie.”
Pei Yuxuan happily linked arms with her and walked forward, explaining: “These past two days I’ve been at Puxian Temple on the outskirts of the capital worshiping Buddha with my mother; if not for my elder brother returning to the capital this morning, I really wouldn’t have made it.”
……Elder Brother.
Xie Wanning was slightly stunned, and a warm, handsome figure quickly flashed before her eyes.
Inexplicably, she thought again of the mark on the jewelry pavilion brocade box that held the jade bracelet.
At the time she had felt it looked familiar, and later she specially compared it, finding it exactly the same as the pattern carved on the jade pendant given by Pei Yuqing.
Only then did she know how precious that jade pendant was.
And that person, with just one meeting, said he was recognizing a younger sister and gave her that jade pendant.
Xie Wanning was naturally puzzled in her heart, but it was not good to pull out the jade pendant and ask someone’s close younger sister what her brother meant by giving her this.
Hearing this, she smiled slightly without responding, and led the person toward the elegant hall.
Begging for monthly tickets, new book developmental period, really needs everyone’s watering; whether it can grow strong, become a towering tree or a stunted bamboo pole, depends on everyone~~
