Chapter 82: Wang Pingting Returns to the Flower Viewing Banquet

Two days had passed since the night when the two had their heart-to-heart talk. Although Luo Jin'an had never had the chance to say what came after that, he could clearly feel that Xu Nian's eyes were no longer evasive when they were together.

The original plan today was for Xu Nian to accompany him for a walk around the manor, but the plan was ruined because of the arrival of Madam Guan and Wang Pingting. Luo Jinan looked at the three naughty boys around him who were asking all kinds of questions, and resigned himself to starting to explain the article. After all, they were Xu Nian's younger brothers.

Qingteng Pavilion

Wang Pingting showed Xu Nian the gifts she brought one by one.

"I bought these for you in Lingfeng City. We don't have them in Wansheng County. What do you think? Is my sister good to you?"

Xu Nian looked at the various small items piled on the table, took Wang Pingting's arm and said, "Sister is so good to Nian'er. I am so moved that I want to marry her."

"Tsk, you shameless girl, you dare to say anything, let me see if I will spare you today," and then he pressed Xu Nian on the couch by the window and tickled her.

Xu Nian was not as strong as Wang Pingting, and couldn't break free for a while. She laughed so hard that tears came out, so she had to beg for mercy: "Sister, please have mercy. I know I was wrong, and I won't dare to do it again."

Wang Pingting looked at Xu Nian, who was lying on the couch with disheveled hair and tears in her eyes, and kindly let her go.

Xiu'er fetched some water and helped her daughter clean her face and put on her makeup. Wang Pingting looked at her back at the dressing table and asked, "I heard that you had a distinguished guest at your house and you were accompanying them. Did I disturb you by coming here today?"

Xu Nian looked at the girl through the mirror and said teasingly in a sour tone: "Sister, what are you talking about? It's just that someone has been away for a month, so I have time to accompany others.

I wanted to ask my sister, didn’t you say you would be back in a dozen days? Why did you delay for so long? "

Wang Pingting walked to the dressing table shyly, playing with the hairpin in the makeup box and whispering, "I will be coming of age next month, and my mother said that there are no suitable young talents in Wansheng County, so she and my grandmother have looked for a few families for me in Lingfeng City."

Xu Nian looked at the shy Wang Pingting and gossiped, "How was the photo?"

"Oh, what should I say?"

Xu Nian pulled Wang Pingting to sit on the couch and coaxed her, "Just tell me if there is anyone you like among these people you are seeing?"

Wang Pingting rubbed the handkerchief in her hand and said softly, "I only met you once, so I can't say whether I care about you or not. I will just follow my father and mother's arrangements for everything."

Xu Nian looked at Wang Pingting and didn't believe that she was telling the truth.

"Have you chosen your uncle and aunt?"

"Yes, he is the third son of the Tongzhi family in Lingfeng City. My mother said that after my coming-of-age ceremony, the Wei family will come to propose marriage."

"Sister, what do you think of the Third Young Master?"

"Oh my." Wang Pingting covered her face with her hands and peeked at Xu Nian's expression through her fingers. Seeing that she was asking seriously, she pulled Xu Nian to lie down on the couch and whispered, "I was too nervous. I only remember that day he was wearing a sky-blue robe and he always laughed softly when talking to mother. His voice sounded very gentle."

"Alas," Wang Pingting sighed, "My mother said that he is two years older than me, has passed the imperial examination and is a good match for me because he is humble and polite."

Seeing Wang Pingting's worried face, Xu Nian asked in confusion, "Sister, are you unhappy with this marriage? I don't think your aunt would force you to do it if you don't want to."

"I don't know either." After thinking for a while, he continued, "It's just that my mother said that educated gentlemen like quiet and elegant girls, so she asked me to learn good manners and read more books in the future. But my sister knows that what I hate most is those sour poems."

Xu Nian couldn't help laughing when he recalled the scenes when they studied together. This request was indeed a bit difficult for Wang Pingting.

"So what are your plans, sister?"

"Planning? Of course I have to obey my parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, but the third son of the Wei family will come to Wansheng County for my coming-of-age ceremony, and I'll learn more about it then." Wang Pingting's eyes lit up when she said this, and she turned to Xu Nian and suggested, "How about you help me with the selection then, sister?"

"Ah?" Xu Nian was a little shocked. Is this possible?

"Don't worry, sister. I will hold a horse race and invite a few more people. Please take a closer look at the character of these three young masters. I trust your judgment now."

Looking at Wang Pingting who was staring at her eagerly, Xu Nian had no choice but to nod and agree. However, when talking about the banquet, she remembered the flower-viewing banquet tomorrow.

"Tomorrow I will go to Huifeng Villa with my mother to attend the flower viewing banquet. Sister, can you also go tomorrow?"

"My mother received the invitation as soon as she came back, so of course she had to go. My mother said that this time Madam Han specially held the banquet for Master Shang. Now that Master Shang is out of mourning, it's time to consider marriage."

Xu Nian really admired Mrs. Guan's gossip skills. She knew everything so clearly just after returning. At the same time, she was puzzled as to why Shang Jinzhi wanted to look for a mistress in this small Wansheng County.

Han Xiyin was also puzzled. She originally thought that the flower-viewing banquet was held because her cousin came out to mourn his mother, but she just found out that the banquet was for her cousin's marriage.

She angrily found Mrs. Han and asked sadly, "Mother, is tomorrow's banquet for my cousin to find a wife?"

Mrs. Han felt helpless as she watched her daughter crying sadly. How could she not know what her daughter was thinking? But Jinzhi and she were not a good match.

"Yinyin, mother has long told you not to have any thoughts about your cousin. You are still young now, and mother will find a very good marriage for you in the future."

"I don't want it, I don't want it, I just want my cousin."

"Han Xiyin," Madam Han said angrily, "If you, a straight-forward and stupid person, really marry into the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, I'm afraid your father and I will have to go to Shengdu to collect your body within three months. There is no room for negotiation on this matter. If you dare to disrupt tomorrow's banquet, I will skin you alive."

Han Xiyin was trembling all over when she was scolded. Thinking of her mother's methods, she dared not cry out loud, but still whispered: "A nobleman like my cousin should be matched with a noble lady from Shengdu. My mother was so cruel to choose these girls from poor families for my cousin. If my aunt is still alive, she will definitely..."

Looking at Mrs. Han's murderous eyes, Han Xiyin knew the situation and shut his mouth.

"I have my reasons for choosing this. I can't explain it to a silly girl like you. Go back to your room and prepare for tomorrow's flower viewing party."

Han Xiyin didn't care about being afraid. She stomped her feet angrily and turned to leave. But before she could leave the room, Mrs. Han's voice came from behind.

"Tomorrow, you must control your arrogant temper. I tolerate you no matter what you do on weekdays, but if you ruin the flower viewing party tomorrow, watch out for your skin."

Han Xiyin thought that the fact that she was about to teach Xu Nian a lesson had been discovered, so she replied guiltily, "I know," and hurried out.