Chapter 23 Xu Wanxin is almost becoming a laughing stock in Beijing

The old lady of Duke Cheng'en's mansion celebrated her birthday, and Li brought Nianxi to congratulate her.

The old lady's youngest daughter is the Consort Shu in the palace. She has been favored for twenty years since she entered the palace. Your Majesty loves her and has been rewarding her continuously for many days.

The banquet at Duke Cheng’en’s mansion lasted for three days.

Today is a special day, and almost all the prominent families in Beijing have come.

The entire Cheng'en Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with carved beams and painted rafters, and the gates were filled with carriages and horses.

But Nianxi remembered that it would not be long before Concubine Shu passed away, and the Cheng'en Mansion became desolate.

The more glorious and grand today is, the more desolate and lonely tomorrow will be.

Nian Xi kowtowed to the old lady sincerely, and was then held by the hand and praised by Lady He, the wife of Duke Cheng'en, for a long time.

Li smiled and said, "Don't praise her anymore. This child has been raised by me and her father. Apart from reading more books than others, there is nothing good about her."

Nian Xi stood quietly aside. At this time, she just needed to maintain the demeanor of a lady from a noble family and act as a background.

The place where one lives can change one's temperament and body. Status and environment can subtly change one's temperament and quality. In her previous life, Nianxi had been Madam Pei for ten years. Her calmness was eye-catching even in Jingxiu Hall, which was full of noble ladies.

He asked with a smile, "Are you ready to marry?"

Nian Xi nodded, not shy or reserved, and said generously, "I'm already fifteen at the beginning of the year."

He's smile deepened, and she turned to Li and said, "With such appearance and character, I'm afraid that no man in the capital would be able to catch your eye."

This was meant to test Nianxi's marriage intention. He's youngest son was the same age as Nianxi.

A few days ago, Li was planning to get Nianxi engaged, but Nianxi said, "I'm still young, and my brother hasn't married yet, so I don't need to rush."

Li refused, saying that her daughter's family would only be stable if she had a settled life.

Nian Xi had no choice but to pretend to be pitiful, "You always say that when I become someone else's daughter-in-law, I can no longer be like this. The Duke of Hengshuzhen is still in the northern border, so why not let my daughter relax a little more."

Her words were exactly what Wen Yuanqiao and Wen Qingheng were thinking. Except for Li, the whole family strongly supported it. Li had no choice but to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in person to explain to Madam Wang. She just said that Nianxi was too young and the family was reluctant to let her go, and they would make plans after the Duke of Zhenguo returned to Beijing.

Mrs. Wang was very sensible and understood that this was reasonable, so she agreed on the spot, and the two families reached a tacit understanding.

When Mrs. He asked about this, Li said tactfully, "Her opinions are more important than mine, and we have to listen to her opinions."

Listen to what she said. Since ancient times, marriage is a major event that is decided by parents and matchmaker. If Li said this, it means that Nianxi already has someone she likes.

They were all smart people, so they stopped at the point and quickly changed the subject.

The wife of Marquis Pingyang also came. Nianxi took advantage of the opportunity to talk and winked at her cousin Mu. Wang Muyi was married and had to serve her mother-in-law in public. She could only be free when her mother-in-law spoke.

Nian Xi walked out of the main hall first.

Ever since she met Pei Jian at the corner gate that day, Nian Xi decided to live a serious life and has been planning to open a beverage shop these days.

But the cost of opening a shop was too high. No matter how much she cut down on expenses, it was difficult to support a shop. So she thought of asking her cousin Ramu to invest in the business.

I plan to discuss this matter with my cousin Mu today.

Walking out of the main hall, along the garden path, and passing by several clusters of flowers and trees, she suddenly heard the name "Pei Shizhang" echoing from the other side of the flower trees, coming through the intertwined branches and leaves.

Nian Xi couldn't help but slow down her pace.

"...After he drinks the wine, lead him to the west compartment."

Another voice said hesitantly, "Princess, do you really want to do this?"

"What else?"

The clear voice said again, "I have sent so many invitations, when will Pei Jian reply? If it weren't for the old lady's birthday and we are familiar with the Cheng'en Mansion, how could we have such a good opportunity? Tell Yan Qing to be careful."

"From what I can see, Guard Yan seems a little reluctant."

"He is just a guard, how dare he rebel? When this princess and Pei Jian are married, I will reward you handsomely."

After hearing this, Nian Xi basically guessed who the person behind the flower tree was—the daughter of Concubine Shu, Princess Wenshu, Xiao Nanxi.

It looks like they are going to drug Pei Jian.

Nian Xi walked past quietly without attracting anyone's attention.

There was a constant flow of people coming and going in Cheng'en Mansion, so Nianxi changed the route and waited for her cousin.

After a while, Wang Muyi finally arrived. Her pretty face was full of resentment. Before Nianxi could speak, she started to speak rapidly:

"It's good to be a girl, but my mother-in-law wants me to hold her in my hands all the time. We are not in her own house, so she should at least be more restrained. She has to let me pass tea and snacks to her..."

"I was finally asked to go and have fun, but Pei Shizhang came in at this time. He is now a famous person in Beijing, and everyone wants to be his son-in-law. My sister-in-law's worries were written all over her face. She panicked before others did. Not only did she spill the tea on the table, but she also embarrassed me. I cleaned up for her and then I got away."

Wang Muyi sighed as he spoke, "Pei Shizhang is really a big troublemaker. It wasn't enough that he made Xu Wanxin stupid, and now he has added so many more people."

"You don't know yet, do you? Xu Wanxin is almost becoming a laughing stock in the capital."

Nian Xi had no idea where Cousin Mu heard all this gossip from, so she asked, "What's wrong?"

The two of them went to a pavilion, and Wang Muyi sat down to drink some tea before continuing, "Last time in the West Market, didn't we see Pei Jian and Xu Wanxin going in and out together? After that, there were rumors in the capital that Pei Jian would go to the Xu Mansion to propose marriage after the palace examination. Even Xu Wanxin herself hinted at this intention."

Nian Xi asked, "Did he break his promise?"

Wang Muyi shook his head, "Not really, after all, he didn't say he wanted to propose marriage.

But Xu Wanxin couldn't wait any longer. She was getting older and couldn't waste any more time. Minister Xu had no choice but to ask someone to pass on the message. Unexpectedly, Pei Jian said, "Both parties have already cancelled the engagement. It's too late to reverse it. Don't mention it again."

He actually rejected Xu Wanxin outright.

Nianxi was shocked. Wang Muyi looked at her expression and said with a smile, "Isn't that so? That's really cruel. Otherwise, that person wouldn't have spread the news."

Nian Xi was very confused, "He is so ruthless, how can anyone still like him?"

Wang Muyi clapped his hands and laughed, "That's right. People say that the eldest son of the Pei family is a weak and timid person! Back then, the Xu family took advantage of his misfortune and even dug up the past affairs of his second uncle, Duke Zheng, and his wife. These days, he has become the most popular."

Nian Xi was speechless for a moment.

She thought that without her interference, Pei Jian and Cousin Xu would have definitely gotten married.

Could it be that my state of mind has changed after my rebirth?

Nian Xi couldn't figure it out.

But what does this have to do with her?

Nian Xi smiled lightly and put these things behind her.