Nan Shiying looked at Ji Jinmo, who was casually drinking tea, and then at the moonlight outside the window. The moonlight was lovely, but the person was rather insensitive.
Nan Shiying sighed, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. She knew Ji Jinmo had come to Xin Yuan Pavilion for a reason, but his silence for so long, settling down to drink tea, was a bit too much.
"Don't use Fengluan's identity these few days," Ji Jinmo said, holding his teacup. The surface of the water, illuminated by the candlelight, was dotted with unfurling tea leaves. He didn't look up, and his voice seemed to have rolled over the water, picking up moisture, making it exceptionally solemn.
Nan Shiying was slightly stunned. She had thought Ji Jinmo was going to talk about the marriage alliance between Dali and Linyuan, but instead, he was saying this.
"I've been targeted?"
"Because of Poison Elder?"
Nan Shiying felt the pastry in her mouth instantly lose its sweetness. She knew it, those two, an old one and a young one, were immense trouble.
Ji Jinmo nodded noncommittally. News had come from Linglong Pavilion that many unfamiliar guests had been inquiring, intentionally or unintentionally, about Fengluan's background. Their words had revealed a little. It was less that they were inquiring about Fengluan, and more that they were inquiring about the Poison Elder by Fengluan's side.
"I'll have someone look after Poison Elder, but the shop you bought isn't ideal. The Dali delegation is currently in the capital, and we don't know what troubles might arise. Yunlan Street is too close to the delegation's post station, which is unsafe. In comparison, Sishui Street is safer."
Nan Shiying nodded.
"Also, the winter hunt... never mind, we'll talk about that later." Ji Jinmo stopped speaking abruptly, as if recalling something. If Nan Shiying hadn't been so lacking in curiosity, she would have been exasperated to death.
Who stops talking halfway through a sentence?
She gave an "Oh" and then looked at Ji Jinmo. "Sir, is there anything else? If not, you see, it's late. Perhaps..."
"Perhaps we can retire together?"
Ji Jinmo put down his teacup. A hint of teasing laughter was hidden in his sharp phoenix eyes. Seeing Nan Shiying's instantly darkened face, he raised the corners of his lips unreservedly. Just as she was about to explode, he slowly stood up.
"Sweet dreams!"
He left after uttering those two words.
...
Xuan Yi and Xuan Thirteen crouched on the rooftop. Even without seeing, they could imagine the Princess Consort gritting her teeth in annoyance.
"Thirteen, Master has changed."
Xuan Yi poked Thirteen's waist and sighed, looking up at the moon overhead. Xuan Thirteen turned to look at Xuan Yi, who was tilting his head at a forty-five-degree angle, his face full of a melancholy that lamented the passage of time. Xuan Thirteen speechless twitched his mouth.
Why are you acting so melancholic?
Xuan Thirteen rolled his eyes in disdain.
But—
Master has indeed changed!
...
Nothing much had happened in the capital these past few days, only a few more marriages.
The eldest legitimate son of the Duke of Zhenguo was betrothed to the granddaughter of the Earl of Qinyang. The daughter of the General of Zhenbei was married to the legitimate son of the Minister of War. The gates of Prince Gong's mansion had almost been trampled flat by matchmakers these past few days... All eligible bachelors in the capital who were not yet married were arranging marriages, fearing they might be favored by the Emperor and bestowed marriage to the Princess of Dali.
"I won't marry, I won't marry!"
Mu Xiaoxiao became somewhat angry and threw the box away.
The box contained the jade pendant of the legitimate grandson of Grand Tutor Wang.
Among so many suitors, Prince Gong favored this grandson of Grand Tutor Wang the most.
Wang Mingyang, now only in his early twenties, had already placed in the top three in the imperial examinations, had a promising career, and a clear family background. Grand Tutor Wang, as one of the Emperor's three tutors, not only had a master-disciple relationship with the current Emperor, but even the renowned Regent King had once studied under Grand Tutor Wang, making him a half-mentor.
Whether it was in terms of status or position, Wang Mingyang was the best choice for Prince Gong's mansion, which maintained neutrality.
"Xiaoxiao!"
Mu Xiaoxiao's mother became somewhat angry. She stood up and picked up the box. Although the box had fallen to the ground, it was sturdy enough that the jade pendant inside was not broken. If it had been broken, it would have been difficult to explain.
"Wang Mingyang, in terms of character and appearance, is one of the most outstanding among the young noblemen in the capital. If you are not satisfied with such a person, what do you want? I think you've gone out for a while and your temperament has become too wild. If it weren't for the fact that you rescued so many disaster victims in Yuzhou, I would have broken your legs long ago."
"Now, since your grandfather has accepted their jade pendant, he has agreed to this marriage. You will agree whether you want to or not."
"Why should I? If Grandfather likes him, let Grandfather marry him. I won't marry!"
Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes were red, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to cry. A surge of injustice rose in her heart. Whenever she thought of the time in Yuzhou, her heart felt as if it were soaked in boiling medicinal soup, or thrown into aged vinegar. It was bitter and sour, and yet, amidst this bitterness and sourness, there was a hint of sweetness that made her afraid to recall yet unable to stop recalling.
She didn't know what she wanted, but now that she heard her family had arranged a marriage for her, a sense of fear suddenly arose in her heart.
She felt that if she agreed, then there would truly be no possibility between her and Fengluan for the rest of her life.
"You, you, you, what nonsense are you spouting? Mu Xiaoxiao, I think I've spoiled you too much. Today, I must teach you a lesson."
Madam Mu was furious. She looked around, then strode to the bedside, picked up the ruler from the bamboo basket by the bed, and was about to hit her.
"Mother, Mother, don't be angry."
Mu Baiyu had not intended to come in, but seeing his mother truly angry, he quickly ran into the room and shielded Mu Xiaoxiao behind him. Mu Xiaoxiao looked at her brother blocking in front of her, and tears instantly rolled down. She sniffled, sobbing, "Brother, I don't want to marry, I don't want to marry."
"Alright, alright, we won't marry."
Mu Xiaoxiao's crying broke Mu Baiyu's heart. He fumbled to wipe away her tears, his mind devoid of any reason. He quickly agreed.
"Mu Xiaoxiao, Mu Baiyu!"
Madam Mu's eyebrows shot up in anger. If it weren't for the dignity of the mansion's mistress that she couldn't abandon, she would have taken off her shoe and thrown it at them.
Are they putting on a show of sibling affection with me here?
"Mother, Mother, calm down. Xiaoxiao has only just come of age, so it's understandable that she doesn't want to get married yet. You know her temperament. If you force her too hard, she might run away again. Last time she was lucky to meet good people and returned safely. If she runs away again, who knows what kind of people she'll meet or what dangers she'll encounter."
"Run? She still dares to run? I'll seal off her courtyard, and let's see where she can run to!" Madam Mu became even angrier when she mentioned her sneaking out of the mansion.
Mu Baiyu felt a chill run down his spine.
An angry mother was far more terrifying than a father!