He had a soft heart to begin with, and under heavy consideration, he had no choice but to obey his parents' command and the words of the matchmaker, and went to the Xu family to propose.
Today, he hadn't wanted to come, but he felt this was probably the last time he would see Wei Lanxuan. His longing could not be resolved, and no matter how painful his heart was, he had to come and bid her farewell.
As expected, a moment after he was escorted back to the side room, a young maidservant said someone was waiting for him at Mufeng Pavilion. She hadn't mentioned Wei Lanxuan's name, but he knew instinctively that among the Wei family, who else could dispatch a maidservant if not Wei Lanxuan?
Thus, without regard for the effects of the wine, he threw on his cloak and went to Mufeng Pavilion to wait.
He looked left and right, but the person didn't appear. Instead, he heard a splash behind the rockery, followed by cries for help that seemed to grow nearer and then farther away.
The voice was familiar, and following the sound, he discovered that Wei Lanxuan and her maidservant had both fallen into the pond!
"Lan'er!" he cried out, and without a second thought, he plunged into the pond himself, paddling desperately towards where she was struggling.
Bai Sihan was standing a little off to the side. First, she was startled by the sound of someone falling into the water behind her, and then she saw that it wasn't Wen Mengsheng who rushed over, but another young master. In her confusion, she dared not make a sound.
Taking advantage of Liang Pan's preoccupation with the rescue, she lifted her skirt and skirted around to flee.
She ran for a long time before her senses returned. She kept replaying what had just happened in her mind. Could someone have deliberately set a trap for her?
In her panic, she happened to run into Bai Siruo and others, accompanied by seven or eight young ladies from noble families, all walking over with anxious expressions.
"Second sister, we finally found you. How could you disappear the moment I turned around? I thought you might have gotten lost and had to trouble these elder sisters to look for you."
Bai Siruo's forehead was beaded with fine sweat, and her serious expression did not seem feigned.
She had indeed deliberately avoided Bai Siruo and the others just now, so she could only pretend to be frightened and tearful.
"I don't know how I took a wrong turn, and I couldn't see any servants, which made you sisters worry. It was all my carelessness."
"Alright, alright. Mingyue and A'yao have already sent Wei family servants to look for you. Since you've been found, come back with me. Let them know not to spoil everyone's enjoyment of the snow."
"Yes." Bai Sihan's clear eyes were filled with tears, like a doe in the mountains, evoking pity in anyone who saw her.
"Let's go." Bai Siruo stepped forward to lead her back when she heard a scream from a distance. The ladies who followed suddenly pulled at her, asking with frightened faces, "What's wrong?"
Bai Sihan heard the sound and realized that perhaps the matter of Wei Lanxuan falling into the water had been discovered. Remembering how Wei Lanxuan had looked at her at the banquet, she conceived a plan.
Feigning concern, she said, "Could it be that cousin and the others encountered some accident on their way to find me? Eldest sister, let's go quickly and see."
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled Bai Siruo, pretending to do so unintentionally, towards Mufeng Pavilion. However, she did not notice the ambiguous look in Bai Siruo's eyes behind her.
Seeing the sisters leave, the noble ladies present exchanged glances. How could they miss a good show? So, after one of them suggested they go and see, everyone hurried in the direction the sisters had gone.
Behind the rockery in front of Mufeng Pavilion, people were now gathered.
Xu Mingyue, who was at the forefront, looked at Liang Pan and Wei Lanxuan in disheveled clothing and finally understood what Feng Jin'yao had meant by a good show.
Feng Jin'yao stood firmly behind her, afraid she wouldn't be able to bear it. Feeling this warmth, Xu Mingyue turned and gave her a smile, "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Even though she had no romantic feelings for Liang Pan, he was, after all, her fiancé, and they were to be married in a few months. Seeing such a scene suddenly, Feng Jin'yao felt that perhaps she had gone too far with this scheme.
While she was worried about Xu Mingyue, her gaze towards the two before her showed no hint of regret.
It was better to pull back from the brink now than to be ruined later.
She believed that a person who could become a female tutor after being jilted without incurring public criticism must have an extraordinary character, and therefore, Xu Mingyue would surely be able to overcome this.
Liang Pan was in a panic. Wei Lanxuan in his arms was dazed from swallowing water, and Yue Jian beside him was terrified. Before him stood his fiancée. What was this scene if not being caught in the act?
"Miss Xu, listen to me..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Bai Sihan pulling Bai Siruo over. Soon after, those noble ladies also arrived.
The scene became even more chaotic.
The Wei family servants who were accompanying Feng Jin'yao and Xu Mingyue were terrified. Those who regained their senses immediately ran towards the water pavilion. Such a matter would surely require the Duke to handle it.
"Ah, why is Young Master Liang embracing Miss Wei so tightly?"
"Could it be that they were having a secret rendezvous here and were caught red-handed by Miss Xu?"
"Heavens, wasn't it said that Miss Wei's family was to bestow her as the Ninth Prince's consort? Could she be cuckolding the Ninth Prince before even marrying him?"
...
A flurry of discussion ensued, and Liang Pan, too embarrassed to explain, didn't know where to begin.
He looked at Xu Mingyue, who was expressionless, gazing at him calmly, as if he were a stranger. His heart sank.
He wished he were the one unconscious at this moment, so he wouldn't have to face such an embarrassing situation.
Inside the water pavilion, Duke Wei was discussing state affairs with several princes. Suddenly, an old woman entered in a hurry. After paying her respects to the princes, she whispered a few words into Duke Wei's ear.
Duke Wei's originally peaceful expression suddenly darkened. However, having served three dynasties, he had long cultivated the ability to remain unruffled even when Mount Tai collapsed before him.
The First Prince, who observed everything, felt a pang of unease at his reaction. Had something major happened in the Duke's mansion?
Duke Wei knew that if today's matter could not be resolved, it would likely become a sharp weapon for the First Prince's faction to attack them. The situation he had painstakingly built could not be ruined like this.
Therefore, he stood up, bowed to Xiao Tingyi and the three princes, and said with a hint of apology.
"I hope Your Highnesses will not laugh at me. My wife is refusing to take her medicine in the back courtyard, and the servants could not handle it, so they found me. I beg Your Highnesses to forgive this old man for leaving the table to persuade her."
His tone was light and carried a hint of helplessness. However, it was well known that Duke Wei and his wife were deeply in love and had been together until old age, so no one paid much attention. Instead, the Sixth Prince kindly offered words of comfort.
"The Duke and the old Madam share a deep affection, which is a good thing. You should go, old sir."
With these words, even the First Prince could not press further. He merely glanced at the attendant guards standing outside, and that person silently disappeared from the doorway.
"Thank you, Sixth Prince, for your understanding. I will return shortly."
With that, he left the table with a faint smile. The First Prince, noticing his slightly hurried steps as he left, picked up his teacup and played with it, wondering.