Chapter 135

His mind was full of thoughts: in his previous life, they had been married for two years, but the girl had never kissed him once on her own initiative.

Nowhere, anywhere.

Every time they made love, he was the only one who couldn't help himself, holding the woman tightly in his arms and kissing her over and over again.

And she...

Those who claim to love him are reluctant to even give a response.

Now, she is willing to leave her mark on another man.

...What else did they do!
Lu Ziyan's hands trembled violently, and he almost stood up regardless of anything and tried to tear off the skin of the young man opposite him to see what else they had done!
The emperor looked at him several times, and seeing that he was so distracted, his expression gradually became unhappy.

When the meeting was over, it was almost noon and the emperor gave a banquet.

However, Lu Ziyan stood up and said goodbye.

Ignoring the emperor's request to stay, he turned and left the palace.

Ming Jian, who had been waiting at the palace gate, saw his master come out. He went to greet him, but before he could say anything, he was shocked by his cold and stern aura.

Lu Ziyan jumped on his horse and galloped out at full speed, while Ming Jian hurriedly urged his horse to catch up.

They soon arrived at the Duke of Pei's mansion. Lu Ziyan was about to climb over the wall to enter, but was hurriedly stopped by Ming Jian.

"Miss Xie went to a temple outside the city to burn incense today, so she's not here right now."

Lu Ziyan glanced at him and turned his horse's head, "Lead the way!"

…………

An hour ago.

Xie Yanyu retired from court and left the palace. He sat in the carriage on the way to the government office, with a string of beads in his hand and his eyes slightly closed, not knowing what he was thinking about.

When the carriage stopped, a familiar sweet female voice came in. He frowned slightly and lifted the side curtain.

It was snowing heavily. Under the banyan tree at the gate of the government office, the little princess was wrapped in a goose yellow fox fur coat, holding the heater in her sleeves with both hands. Only half of her face was exposed. She smiled at the man in the carriage, "Brother Xie, I have something to say to you."

The princess went out on a snowy day like this, and she had a personal maid holding an umbrella for her to shield her from the snow, and two guards were protecting her from a distance not far away.

The carriage of the Duke of Pei's mansion was noble and magnificent. Even if it was parked in a corner, it was still noticeable to the officials passing by.

Xie Yanyu's frown did not relax. He glanced at her red face and said calmly, "I have official business to attend to. Princess, please go back."

Pei Yuxuan's smile froze slightly, and she tightened her grip on the heater with her fingers, whispering, "Just a few words, and I'll leave after that."

But this is not the place to talk.

Just as Xie Yanyu was about to continue to refuse, he saw the little girl in the snow, looking at him with her head tilted up and pleading eyes.

His eyes paused slightly, and the words that were already on the tip of his tongue changed their tone.

"boarding."

It was not very appropriate for a single man and a single woman to be in the same carriage, but Pei Yuxuan sent her personal maid away and forbade her to get in with her.

The entrance to the yamen was not a place to talk, so as soon as she got on, the wheels began to turn slowly until they stopped in a corner of the alley where no one passed by.

It was very warm inside the carriage. Pei Yuxuan took her hands out of her sleeves, took off her hat, and smiled at the man opposite her. She had red lips and white teeth, and looked very pretty.

But Xie Yanyu didn't look at her. He just raised his hand, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.

"If you have anything to say, Princess, please tell me."

Pei Yuxuan lowered her head and held the teacup in both hands. Her face turned red when she was asked. She hesitated for a few breaths, as if she had made up her mind. When she looked up again, she said bluntly, "A few days ago, my mother said that after the Chinese New Year, I will be eighteen and it is time to get engaged. She asked me if I have someone I like."

The Duke of Pei's Mansion is extremely wealthy and there is no need to sacrifice their daughter's marriage to win over others.

Princess Duanyang had only one daughter, who was as precious as a pearl. She was given the title of princess when she was young, and the princess had already thought about her daughter's marriage. It didn't matter if the girl's family background was lower, as long as she liked the man.

Since the marriage was to be discussed, the first thing to be asked was what my daughter felt.

Pei Yuxuan looked at the man opposite her, her eyes filled with undisguised anticipation, like twinkling stars.

"Brother Xie, do you understand my feelings?" She pursed her lips, a hint of shyness flashed across her face, and then she boldly said, "If you are interested in me as well, then..."

Having said this, she was too embarrassed to continue speaking and just looked at him expectantly.

Xie Yanyu listened quietly from beginning to end, his expression never changing.

After she finished speaking, she said calmly, "Since ancient times, marriage has been decided by the elders. The princess should not rashly mention marriage to a man outside her family."

"What do you mean by that?" Pei Yuxuan's face turned pale, and her bright eyes dimmed. "Are you saying that I have no shame?"

"I have no such intention..."

"I come to you every day, so I can't be considered reserved. Even if I have no shame, I admit it," Pei Yuxuan interrupted him, her pale lips trembling slightly, "I came here today just to get an answer from you."

Xie Yanyu raised his drooping eyelids, looked at her, and said, "Ask."

"Next spring, my mother will publicly select a son-in-law for me. If you are interested in me, tell me the truth. I will wait for you to come to propose marriage, and the selection of a son-in-law will be over..."

After a pause, Pei Yuxuan continued: "If you have no interest in me, then just tell me directly so that I can give up."

During this period, every time they met, Pei Yuxuan took the initiative, and Xie Yanyu was always polite and cold. He never looked at her favorably, nor did he ever repel her approach.

There was actually a lot of communication between them, but it was all maintained by her enthusiasm.

Like a scorching little sun, shining in front of him every day.

Such confidence and generosity can only be found in a girl who grew up being pampered by everyone.

She came to ask him for an answer with all her sincerity.

Xie Yanyu's eyes fell on her hand holding the teacup. The girl's delicate knuckles turned a little white due to the force.

The girl, who had always been graceful and elegant, was now at a loss.

He thought for a few breaths, lowered his eyes and said, "Princess, please go back."

"What do you mean? Xie Yanyu, I just want a definite answer."

Pei Yuxuan looked at him steadily, her tone stubborn: "If you don't like me, just say you have no interest in me. Don't worry, even if I like you again, I won't continue to pester you."

"My princess is in love with me, but I have no intention of marrying a wife," Xie Yanyu said, "I just hope that my princess can find another good match."

Find another good match...

Pei Yuqing was stunned for a few breaths, and finally seemed to come to his senses and forced a smile.

"I understand," she blinked quickly, holding the hot tea to her lips, letting the rising steam of the tea make her pupils sore. A string of tears fell into the teacup, and she swallowed them all immediately.

She put down the teacup, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her lips, then said, "I have been too rude these days and have caused trouble to Master Xie. I am very sorry."

I will not do it again.

She would follow her mother's arrangement of marriage and would never disobey her elders just because of her own will. "I also wish you all the best and marry the girl you truly love."

In the end, all he said was that he had no intention of getting married, but he didn't say that he had no interest in her, which was to give her the last bit of face.

Although he was cruel to her, he was really a good person.

But such a good person will not be hers.

Pei Yuxuan wanted to cry again, but she tried her best to hold it back. She took one last look at him and hurriedly got off the carriage.

Almost fled.

After she left, Xie Yanyu sat quietly for a while, his face calm, and no one knew what he was thinking.

After a long time, he knocked lightly on the wall of the carriage. The coachman understood and drove away.

…………

In the suburbs of Beijing, Izumo Mountain.

Puxian Temple is built on the hillside. It is not too high, but it still takes nearly half an hour to walk up one step at a time.

Xie Wan Ning had been here many times. Although she was used to being lazy and pampered, she was also a girl who was proficient in archery and horse riding under the supervision of her father and brother, so this short journey did not pose any difficulty for her.

Every time I hiked up there on my own.

After all, they were going to the temple to burn incense, so the two sisters only brought a maid with them and followed them from a distance, so they were not conspicuous among the pilgrims.

The two sisters walked and stopped until they finally entered the temple and burned incense.

Xie Ruyu took the fortune stick tube, closed her eyes and started shaking the dice.

A wooden stick fell, she picked it up and handed it to the temple keeper, "I want to ask about marriage, Master, please help me solve my doubts."

"This is a lucky draw," the temple keeper said after taking it, "If it's a marriage prediction, then the girl has found her true love. However, if you don't take right and wrong lightly and don't be too competitive, then everyone will be happy."

Xie Ruyu frowned, somewhat puzzled, but there were pilgrims behind her waiting for their divinations to be interpreted, so she could only thank them and move aside.

Xie Wan Ning was also very concerned about her cousin's marriage, so she asked, "Has your aunt started arranging a marriage for you?"

"It's not mother, it's father," Xie Ruyu was not shy like other girls when talking about marriage.

She said, "My father wants to marry me to the newly crowned top scholar Duan Cheng. He will also appear at Puxian Temple today and ask us to meet. If it is a good match, we will go through the six rituals."

It was indeed Duan Cheng.

Just as Xie Wan Ning was about to speak, Xie Ruyu pointed to the lottery stick beside her and said, "Sister Wan Wan, do you want to draw a lottery stick too?"

"No." Xie Wan Ning shook her head. She had no doubts to resolve now. Her marriage was already established, she had no rush to have children, her parents were in good health, and everything was going well for her.

"Then let's go take a break." Xie Ruyu did not force her. She took her sister's hand and walked towards the backyard of the temple.

Xie Wan Ning was arranged by her.

Since I have to accompany my sister to see it, of course I can't just go down the mountain like this.

Puxian Temple is a popular temple in the suburbs of Beijing. It covers a very large area and has a very large backyard. Although the scenery is not as good as the Marquis's Garden, it also has its own artistic conception.

But the weather was too cold, and it was not the right time to visit the garden. After the sisters walked a few steps, they were led by a little monk into a room specially provided for the rest of nobles.

The charcoal fire was quite strong inside. Xie Wan Ning untied his cloak, sat down, and said, "I know a little about Duan Cheng."

"Oh?" Xie Ruyu was a little surprised, and hurriedly said: "Sister Wan, tell me about him that night, how is he?"

Xie Wan Ning told her everything Ji Chengfeng said that day, and then said, "It's not surprising that he has decided to get married at the age of 20, but I don't know if he is interested."

After all, blind marriages are not popular in this dynasty. Her second uncle is a man who values ​​rules the most. However, he is optimistic about Duan Cheng and wants to recruit him as his son-in-law, but he wants his daughter to see him and get the nod before he mentions the marriage.

Therefore, it is highly likely that Duan Cheng himself agreed to the engagement with his ex-fiancee.

Xie Ruyu also thought of this, and her face became a little ugly, "Father and mother only thought that his parents died early, and there were no concubines around him, but they didn't think that he had been engaged."

There are no elders in the family, so it is good that you can be the head of the family after you marry, and you don’t need to set rules in front of your mother-in-law, but...

After all, he was her husband to live with for the rest of her life, and she was afraid that he might have other girls in his heart already, which would be disgusting.

As a young girl in love, whose parents are extremely loving to each other, no matter how sharp-tongued or strong-willed Xie Ruyu is, she still has expectations for marriage.

I think that getting along with my future husband will be like growing old together with my own parents.

In Xie Ruyu's opinion, if her future husband had already fallen in love with other girls, then she would be no different from a concubine.

"When the people come, you can take a look first. If you really mind, then we won't marry," Xie Wan Ning comforted him, "Second Uncle will never force you, the apple of his eye, to marry a man you don't like."

After he finished speaking, he saw several figures at the door. One was the young monk who had just led the way. The other was wearing a dark green cloak, a jade crown to tie his hair, and his slender figure gave off a slightly oppressive feeling. Behind him was a servant. When the two girls in the room looked at him, the man at the door was slightly startled.

Duan Cheng hurried over after the court session ended. He was still shocked by Lu Ziyan's identity as the fifth prince. Now he saw his ex-fiancée, and after being stunned for a moment, he bowed.

This was Xie Wan Ning's first time meeting Duan Cheng, but not Xie Ruyu.

There was a moment of obvious daze in her eyes, and then she stood up and returned the greeting.

Xie Wan Ning didn't notice anything unusual. She looked at Duan Cheng for a few breaths.

She thought to herself that he was indeed a gentleman, no wonder he was favored by her second uncle, who was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College.

The maid served hot tea, and Duan Cheng and the servants he brought with him sat and stood alternately.

Suddenly, there were two more men from other countries, so Xie Wan Ning had to sit up straight.

As Xie Ruyu's eldest married sister, although she is younger than Duan Cheng, there are no other elders around at the moment, so she has to be the one to greet people.

As for testing the academic achievements or something like that, she claimed that she didn't have the ability to test the third place in the imperial examination, so she could only talk briefly about family matters.

Duan Cheng always responded appropriately, and his actions were measured, making it hard for anyone to find fault with him.

Xie Ruyu also spoke from time to time, and the atmosphere was surprisingly good for a while.

Only then did Xie Wan Ning feel that her little cousin should be satisfied with her first encounter with Mr. Duan.

We chatted until lunch time, when the monks served the vegetarian meal.

There was no reason for two girls to dine with a stranger, so Duan Cheng got up and went to the next room.

Taking this opportunity, Xie Wan Ning asked her cousin with a smile: "How is it?"

"On the day when the newly-appointed scholars were parading through the streets, I was standing in the side room of a teahouse and saw him from afar,"

Xie Ruyu didn't say she liked him, nor did she say she didn't like him. She just said, "After dinner, if he invites me to talk alone, it means he is interested in me. I will ask about his previous engagement and then make a decision."

Hearing this, Xie Wan Ning felt relieved and said with a smile, "It's good that you know the answer."

Her cousin is very independent and has planned everything very well, so there is really no need for anyone to worry about her.

Moreover, Duan Cheng, a newly-minted Jinshi, was a perfect match for the girl from the Xie family in terms of his talent, appearance, and family background.

The only thing that seemed amiss at the moment was his previous engagement.