Chapter 261 Good words are hard to persuade a damned ghost

Li Nanke was speechless.

"They've clearly tried to shift all the blame for the failed marriage onto you, but you're acting like you're afraid you're not taking enough responsibility."

He's still desperately trying to take the blame. I misspoke earlier; you're not unlucky, you're just stupid!

"Li Nanke!"

Xie Xuanxiao was furious and embarrassed, his eyes almost overflowing with anger.

"I won't allow you to talk about her like that. You're just a little girl who hasn't even combed her hair yet, what do you know about liking someone?"

“Shu’er has feelings for me; I can tell from the way she looks at me.”

"She would never marry into the Changping Marquis's family; she just said it on purpose to spite me!"

"Just you wait and see, I will definitely convince my parents to propose marriage to the Xue family."

Xie Xuanxiao was furious and rattled off a long string of words.

After saying that, he leaned against the tree with one hand and held the rabbit lantern in the other, still glaring at Li Nanke with a hint of resentment.

He had an expression that said, "Just you wait, I'll make you take back what you said tonight sooner or later."

Li Nanke clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Then I'll wait for Brother Xie's good news. Brother Xie, go back and try your best! Good luck!"

Xie Xuanxiao was stunned.

"You...you also think I should try harder to win it over?"

A strange glint flashed in Li Nanke's eyes.

In the dream, Shen Xu was found when he was fourteen years old, which is four years later.

At that time, Xie Xuanxiao was eighteen years old and had already married Xue Shu.

But now, because of her awakening, Shen Xu has been found four years ahead of schedule.

Shen Xu is the eldest prince, the emperor's legitimate son, and the most likely candidate to become the next crown prince.

The Xue family was eager to form a marriage alliance with the Xie family because the Duke of Xinguo controlled the 100,000-strong Jingxi Camp army.

If Xie Xuanxiao marries Xue Shu, it would be tantamount to openly standing behind the Xue family and the eldest prince.

The Duke and Duchess of Xin were clearly unwilling to accept this, which is why they called off the marriage between Xie Xuanxiao and Xue Shu.

Unfortunately, the very thing she could understand was something that Xie Xuanxiao, the person involved, couldn't grasp.

Reality will soon teach him what it means to hit a wall and what it means to be battered and bruised.

She smiled and encouraged Xie Xuanxiao, "My opinion doesn't matter, as long as you're happy, Brother Xie."

Xie Xuanxiao was stunned for a moment, a sense of guilt rising in his heart.

He realized he might have gone too far with his words. After all, he was fourteen years old; how could he hold a grudge against an eight or nine-year-old girl? And he even said such nasty things.

Xie Xuanxiao hesitated, then subconsciously asked, "Do you really think I should try to fight for it?"

Li Nanke nodded with a smile.

"When you're trying to win them over, remember to be firm. If Uncle Xie and Aunt Xie don't agree, you can kneel there for a long time."

If all else fails, you can try hanging or starving yourself; be bold and try them, what if they work?

Xie Xuanxiao...

The little girl was criticizing Xue Shu and advising him just a moment ago, so why is she encouraging him to go home and make a scene the next moment?

He looked wary.

"What are you really up to? You're not just saying one thing and then sending someone to tell my parents about our conversation so they'll be wary of me, are you?"

Li Nanke frowned.

“How could you think of me like that, Brother Xie? I only offered you advice because I saw you were crying and your eyes were red.”

Xie Xuanxiao's face darkened, and he interrupted her gruffly.

"I didn't cry!"

Li Nanke: "Fine, if you say you didn't cry, then you didn't cry."

Xie Xuanxiao was so angry that his temples throbbed uncontrollably.

"You're being so kind as to give me advice?"

Li Nanke couldn't help but roll her eyes again.

"What bad intentions could I possibly have? My grandmother always said that it's hard to persuade a damned devil with kind words. If I can't persuade you, I'll just have to give you advice."

Xie Xuanxiao...

"Li Nanke, how dare you call me a damned ghost!"

Xie Xuanxiao's furious shouts shook the tree branches a few times.

"Oh, it's just a metaphor, nothing more."

Li Nanke made a face at him, then waved to a passing vendor and asked for two strings of candied hawthorns.

He handed one of the candied hawthorn skewers to Xie Xuanxiao.

Her voice was crisp and sweet, "Brother Xie, don't be angry. Today is my birthday, so I'll treat you to a candied hawthorn."

Looking at the bright red, round candied hawthorn suddenly presented to him, its sugar coating crystal clear, Xie Xuanxiao paused for a moment, then pursed his lips and accepted it.

He was still angry inside, unable to understand how he, a grown man, could always be so easily angered by this little girl, Li Nanke.

"Don't think that I won't be angry just because you're offering me candied hawthorns."

Li Nanke smiled slightly.

"I'm treating you to candied hawthorns not as an apology, but because I'm in a good mood today and want to treat you."

Whether you're angry or not is your business; of course you can continue to be angry.

Xie Xuanxiao...

I took a bite of the candied hawthorn in a huff, and the sweet taste melted on my tongue, instantly easing my irritable mood.

Xie Xuanxiao snorted, touched his body, casually untied the jade pendant hanging from his waist, and tossed it to Li Nanke.

"Here, consider this your birthday gift. Don't say I ate your candied hawthorn for free."

Li Nanke hurriedly caught the jade pendant, feeling inwardly impressed that Xie Xuanxiao had been well-educated by the Duke of Xin and his wife.

The Duke of Xin and his wife were upright, loyal, righteous, and respectful of propriety, as was Xie Xuanxiao.

Even though they didn't get along, their families were on good terms, and he felt it would be impolite not to give her a birthday gift.

The jade pendant is a translucent milky white with a warm and smooth texture. A peony is carved on the front, with smooth and graceful lines and petals that are perfectly spread out.

The back is engraved with two small seal characters: "平安" (peace and safety). The strokes are rounded and simple, complementing the patterns on the front.

Li Nanke smiled and waved the jade pendant at him.

"I won't stand on ceremony with Brother Xie's kindness, thank you very much."

Xie Xuanxiao snorted, picked up the rabbit lantern in one hand, and turned to leave.

Li Nanke turned around and called out to Zisu.

"Sister Zisu, we..."

Turning my head, I was stunned.

Shen Cong appeared behind her at some point, looking at her expressionlessly, his narrow eyes fixed on her hands.

Li Nanke handed over the candied hawthorn in his hand.

"Ninth Brother is here, would you like to try some candied hawthorns?"

Shen Cong narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You're trying to fob me off with things I bought for others?"

Li Nanke blinked.

"This isn't for someone else; it's for myself."

So you're saying you weren't even planning to buy me a string of candied hawthorns?

Li Nanke...

That weirdo is here again!

Shen Cong suddenly stretched out two fingers, pinched the jade pendant in her hand, and with a slight force, took the jade pendant away.

He glanced at it, then gave a soft snort.

"It's just a bluish-white jade pebble, is it really worth treasuring like this to you?"

Li Nanke really wanted to roll his eyes.

Thinking that she had invited him to the night market in order to make up, she patiently explained with a smile.

"This is a birthday gift from Prince Xie. Regardless of its value, it is his kind intention, and of course I will cherish it."

Before he finished speaking, something suddenly appeared in his hand.

She picked it up and looked at it, her eyes suddenly lighting up.