Chapter 24:
Xie Wanning thought only this, feeling relieved in her heart, and earnestly said: “Mother is still the most capable.”
“Alright, which young lady gets so happy about breaking off an engagement.” Madam Zheng gave her a glance, and seeing her truly full of joy, still found it somewhat amusing: “Rest assured for now. We’re just waiting for the Lu Family to return the marriage certificate. I’ve discussed it with your father—if the Lu Family doesn’t send it back within three days, he’ll go to the Lu Residence again.”
“I’ll listen to Father and Mother.” Xie Wanning obediently nodded, then lifted her hand to pour tea for her mother.
Madam Zheng took a sip of tea and said: “You’ve been cooped up at home these past few days, haven’t you? Tomorrow is your maternal grandmother’s birthday—go out and have some fun.”
Xie Wanning’s gaze brightened. “Good!”
Hadn’t she been cooped up?
She hadn’t gone out for several days in a row, stuck in the courtyard, nearly molding over.
Afraid of Lu Ziyan’s endless entanglement, she hadn’t dared to leave the residence. What if she ran into him on the road—it wouldn’t look good if things got messy.
Now with no such worries, Xie Wanning said repeatedly: “It’s been some time since I’ve seen Grandmother. Of course I’ll go.”
“You do have filial piety. It’s not in vain that your grandmother dotes on you so much.” Madam Zheng smiled slowly, straightened her daughter’s temple hair, and said softly: “Go and play well. Don’t let those bothersome things affect you anymore. Even if my daughter never marries in her lifetime, Mother can afford to raise you.”
“…” Xie Wanning blinked quickly, hugged her mother’s shoulder, and whined: “I’ve made Mother worry for me.”
“Raising a son to a hundred years old brings worry for ninety-nine. You met someone unworthy—how can I blame you? Rather, your elder brother…” Madam Zheng shook her head slightly, helplessly saying: “He’s really going to worry me to death.”
The eldest son was already twenty, yet every time his lifelong event was mentioned, he acted utterly indifferent.
Over these years, the eligible noble ladies in the capital had all been met through various families’ banquets as bridges, but not one had made him agree to a marriage proposal.
If it were only this, Madam Zheng could still assume her son simply had no one he fancied and was unwilling to settle for just anyone, so she wouldn’t be too anxious.
But even the maidservant she, as his mother, had arranged for him—one who understood such matters—he wouldn’t touch.
Other families arranged such things at fifteen or sixteen, but hers, already at the age of capping, actually…
Madam Zheng sometimes couldn’t help but wonder in her heart…
But these words couldn’t be said to her daughter.
Seeing her mother full of worry over her elder brother, Xie Wanning, as the little padded jacket, naturally comforted: “Mother, don’t worry. Elder Brother is talented and handsome—he won’t have trouble finding a wife. It’s just that the one he fancies hasn’t appeared yet.”
“…I’m just afraid he’ll never find one he fancies.” The Xie Family children were all born quite good-looking; if there truly was one he liked, he indeed wouldn’t have trouble marrying her.
But what Madam Zheng worried about wasn’t this. She sighed faintly—how could she tell her daughter about her elder brother’s matters in the room.
…………
Madam Zheng hailed from the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate, one of the top prominent families in the capital. She was the legitimate younger sister of this generation’s Qu Cheng Marquis, and she had married into the Xuanping Marquis’s Estate, also a marquisate. For her mother’s sixtieth birthday, she had brought her husband and children early in the morning to celebrate.
Today’s weather was also obliging: clear skies, a gentle breeze not too dry, and comfortable temperature.
The Xie Family’s main gate was open, and two carriages engraved with the clan emblem slowly drove out.
Madam Zheng and Xie Shu’s carriage led the way, with Xie Wanning and her elder brother’s carriage following closely behind.
By the time they got out of the carriage, the sun was already somewhat scorching. Uncle Zheng from the Zheng Family was greeting guests and hurried over upon seeing the Xie Family’s carriages arrive.
After some pleasantries, with new guests arriving, he instructed Young Lord Zheng Ye to lead the way and usher them inside.
The Xie Family had arrived fairly early, but several groups were already in the elegant hall—either close relatives or married-out daughters like Madam Zheng who had returned with their husbands.
The Qu Cheng Marquis Old Madam was sixty years old, with graying temples, dignified and graceful, looking like a kindly old lady.
She sat in the seat of honor, talking with someone. Seeing her eldest daughter’s family arrive, she paid no heed to the others and beckoned to Xie Wanning: “Wanwan, come quickly. Let Grandmother take a good look at you.”
Xie Wanning and her elder brother Xie Yanyu both properly kowtowed together, offered a few birthday wishes, then happily went up and intimately called: “Grandmother.”
“Ai,” the Qu Cheng Marquis Old Madam held her granddaughter’s hand, looked at her full of loving affection, then turned her head to her eldest daughter-in-law with a smile: “Our little Wanwan looks a bit thinner.”
“She has gotten thinner.” Marquis’s Wife Li Shi looked at her niece a few times and chided: “Your two cousins have been talking every day about going to find you to play. A few days ago, they sent an invitation, and you refused it.”
Madam Zheng explained on her behalf: “Sister-in-law doesn’t know, but Wanwan caught a bit of a chill the other day and has only just recovered.”
Hearing this, Old Marquis’s Wife asked a few more concerned questions.
She wanted to keep her granddaughter by her side to chat properly, but with so many guests today, more celebrants arrived shortly after.
Not wanting to restrain her, she patted her granddaughter’s shoulder and warmly said: “Go to the flower hall and play with your cousins.”
Xie Wanning was peeling almonds for the elderly lady. Hearing this, she placed the peeled almonds in a dish, curtsied, and withdrew from the elegant hall.
Before leaving, she specially looked around. Of her family of four, aside from her mother still in the hall accompanying Grandmother with the guests, her father and elder brother had already withdrawn at some point.
Xie Wanning was very familiar with the Qu Cheng Marquis’s Estate and didn’t even need a maidservant to guide her. She told Er Qing to go to the flower hall first, then began wandering around by herself.
Not long after leaving the elegant hall, she ran into several waves of guests. The current dynasty’s customs were open, so men and women among guests didn’t need to avoid each other. Meeting acquaintances and chatting for a short while wouldn’t lead to gossip.
Xie Wanning also ran into a few familiar noble ladies. Seeing her, the recent rumor protagonist, they showed no odd reaction and conversed naturally for a bit before going their separate ways.
She walked and stopped along the way until she went farther and farther into remote areas, getting somewhat tired, and prepared to go to the flower hall to find her cousins to play. Raising her eyes, she saw a slender and graceful figure appear at the turn ahead.
Her face lit up with joy. She hadn’t expected Princess Pingning to be here too. Just as she was about to call out, she saw the person opposite her.
Xie Wanning was stunned, almost suspecting she had misidentified.
Why was her elder brother here too?
In the distance, Xie Yanyu stood under a flowering tree, lowering his gaze to look at Princess Pingning before him.
From Xie Wanning’s perspective, those two over there seemed to be saying something.
Reacting, she raised her brows slightly and tiptoed closer. But on the grass underfoot, a shadow appeared from behind her, and her wrist was pulled by someone through her sleeve.
She turned back in surprise and met a pair of gentle eyes.
“Shh…” Pei Yuqing made a silencing gesture to her, bent down closer, and said lowly: “If you go over like that, they’ll be embarrassed.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
Where was she thinking of going straight over? She actually wanted to eavesdrop.
Being told this, Xie Wanning turned her head away in some shame, avoiding his gaze.
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