Chapter 9:
Xie Wanning’s hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly, and out of courtesy, she picked up the dish with chopsticks and put it into her bowl.
Her heart was somewhat inexplicably puzzled.
…Did he know she liked sweet flavors, or was he just casually pointing to a dish.
Just as she was puzzling over it, she heard him instruct the servant standing by: “Have the kitchen make a sweet soup, and bring a few plates of pastries.”
Xie Wanning was startled: “Is this teahouse your industry?”
This was the largest teahouse in the Capital City.
Pei Yuqing nodded slightly and smiled: “Since this meeting was so sudden and I didn’t prepare a meeting gift for you, how about Miss Xie comes often in the future and gets free orders every time.”
“…” Xie Wanning fell silent for a moment, her eyes glancing at him, then at her elder brother whose expression was somewhat inscrutable nearby, and said dryly: “This doesn’t seem right.”
Why did she feel that he…
Just as she was lost in wild thoughts, she saw this man smiling with a face full of… kindness?
“Miss Xie doesn’t need to feel embarrassed,” he said warmly: “Your elder brother and I have been friends for many years, so in my eyes, you are no different from my own younger sister.”
“Speaking of which, my youngest sister at home is about the same age as you, so we can be considered fated.”
His younger sister?
Princess Pingning of Duke Pei’s Mansion?
Xie Wanning had met her a few times; in her impression, she was indeed a lively and spirited young lady, and she had even sent her an invitation for her coming-of-age ceremony.
However…
She was about the same age as his younger sister, so he naturally treated her like a younger sister?
Look at that tone full of an elder’s demeanor.
Xie Wanning was feeling a bit indignant when Xie Yanyu beside her suddenly coughed lightly and changed the topic: “Did you suffer any grievance at the Lu Family today?”
Otherwise, why would she leave before lunch at this hour.
Xie Wanning paused slightly, then said as if nothing had happened: “No grievance; my temper is quite big—who would dare to make me suffer.”
Xie Yanyu glanced at her, not believing it in the slightest.
He had long known that his younger sister was completely under Lu Ziyan’s control, utterly spineless.
The little tyrant at home turned into a perfectly obedient little wife the moment she entered the Lu Family’s door.
For her to leave even before mealtime, it was probably not just a grievance, but a big one.
Since there were outsiders present, he didn’t plan to ask more and was about to drop the topic when he heard his friend suddenly say: “I heard Lu Ziyan returned to the Capital City today; calculating the time, he should have already come out of the Imperial Palace.”
…So, it was Lu Ziyan who had given her the grievance.
The brother and sister both understood the implication in his words.
Xie Wanning immediately turned her head to look at him: “Young Lord, your news is quite well-informed.”
Even the Lu Family hadn’t known until Lu Ziyan entered the door.
Pei Yuqing’s expression paused slightly as he lowered his gaze: “I happened to hear about it.”
…So he had to say it here, lest her Elder Brother not know that it was Lu Ziyan who had made her suffer grievance.
Xie Wanning grumbled inwardly but showed a smile on her face: “Can you stop interrogating me? You two chat about whatever you want.”
She had no hobby of airing her wounds in public.
Xie Yanyu gave his friend a thoughtful glance, not knowing what he was thinking, and didn’t continue the topic.
Until lunch was finished, the two men’s attention never returned to Xie Wanning, and she was happy to be free, holding her teacup and quietly listening to them talk.
They weren’t discussing Imperial Court matters, just local sights from various places and the recent spring examinations list in the Capital City, with the fresh top three scholars.
When she heard the name Duan Cheng, she subconsciously lifted her head and asked: “How is this man’s talent, character, and appearance?”
Xie Yanyu frowned: “Why are you asking about this?”
Xie Wanning blinked and said very naturally: “They all say the Third Scholar is handsome; the previous one was you, Elder Brother, whom I’ve already seen, so now I’m curious what the new Third Scholar looks like.”
She remembered that in her dream, her cousin Xie Ruyu had been engaged to this Duan Cheng, but at that time she had already married into the Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate and it wasn’t convenient to personally inquire about her cousin’s husband’s affairs; the scenes in the dream were also fragmented and unclear, so she didn’t know if the engagement was good or not.
Now that she had woken from the dream, since she could glimpse the future, of course she had to do her utmost to help her family.
If the man wasn’t good, she could make the engagement fall through from the start.
She was worrying a lot, but Xie Yanyu didn’t know; seeing his little sister so enthusiastically interested in some other man, he helplessly rubbed his brow: “You’ve been spoiled looking at Lu Ziyan’s face since you were young; others can hardly catch your eye, so don’t be curious about anyone else’s appearance.”
At those words, Xie Wanning looked unconvinced toward the youth who was pouring tea for her and her brother nearby, pouting: “Where is it hard? Isn’t there one right here?”
No sooner had she spoken than a “clang!” came from the table.
The youth who had been casually praised by her nearly couldn’t hold the teapot steady, spilling a bit of tea on the table; his clear and aloof face quietly flushed red.
Just like a good young man from a respectable family who blushed after being teased by a bully.
Xie Yanyu’s brow twitched sharply: “Wanwan!”
“I was wrong; I didn’t mean to tease,” Xie Wanning hadn’t expected this Young Lord to have such a big reaction and immediately acted obedient: “I treat Young Lord Pei like an elder brother.”
With that, she looked up at Pei Yuqing, blinking: “Right? Didn’t you just say I’m no different from your younger sister.”
“…” Pei Yuqing lowered his eyelashes, not looking at her: “Indeed.”
Xie Wanning thought this newly acquainted elder brother was quite interesting.
Far more interesting than her own stodgy real elder brother.
If the timing were right, she would have said more, but seeing Xie Yanyu with a darkened face across from her, she obediently shut her mouth.
As for news of Duan Cheng, of course it couldn’t be obtained.
She only knew he was from the direct line of the Liangzhou Duan Clan, with excellent talent; as for his private life and character, it was still unknown for now.
The three stayed in the teahouse private room until the sun had shifted and the hour was late; then Xie Yanyu took his younger sister and rose to bid farewell.
Pei Yuqing took a palm-sized jade pendant from his waist and handed it over, smiling warmly: “I can’t let a little girl call me elder brother for nothing; take it.”
Xie Wanning took the jade pendant in hand and lowered her gaze to look at it.
It was a piece of mutton-fat white jade, lustrous and translucent, of excellent quality, engraved with a pattern resembling a crescent moon.
Pei Yuqing said: “In the Capital City’s major shops, wherever there is this mark, you can enter with the jade pendant and get a free order.”
Xie Wanning was startled and inexplicably felt the item was a bit hot to hold; she subconsciously looked toward her elder brother.
“What are you looking at me for,” Xie Yanyu said indifferently: “Your recognized elder brother is willing to give you a meeting gift; you decide whether to accept it.”
“…” Xie Wanning was in a dilemma.
Just as she was hesitating, Pei Yuqing beside her said again: “If you truly see me as an elder brother, then accept it.”
With words said to this point, Xie Wanning had no choice but to pocket the jade pendant in her sleeve and accept this cheap elder brother.
After thinking for a moment, she really couldn’t find anything to give in return and said somewhat troubled: “Everything on me is a daughter’s items…”
But Pei Yuqing seemed to have anticipated it and smiled: “No matter; if you have the intention, prepare something for me next time.”
