Chapter 3 The Handsome Boy
On the banks of Qushui River.
Wang Muyi held Nianxi in his arms and kept talking.
"I went to your house to see you a few days ago, and I always saw that you looked sick and listless. My mother was afraid that I would disturb your recovery, but today you are finally well again."
Nian Xi chuckled, "Thank you, auntie, for thinking of me."
The aunt Nianxi was talking about was the wife of Marquis Guangping. Both her aunt and her mother were from the Li family of Longxi. Her aunt married the son of Marquis Guangping, who was a good match for her, while her mother fell in love with the handsome and newly crowned third place winner Wen Yuanqiao.
My maternal grandfather, Mr. Li, appreciated my father's talent and, despite the Wen family's poverty, he still married my mother off.
My father had been serving in other places for many years, and it was only recently that he was transferred back to the capital and took up a non-official position of fourth rank in the Imperial College.
"Sisters, please stop saying these unorthodox words."
Wang Muyi was a person of high character. She was dressed in a scarlet dress with flowers and brocade, and her hair was tied up high. She looked like a heroic woman, but she spoke like a little girl:
"I have inquired about the gentlemen who came here today. They all have good family backgrounds. If you see any one that you like, don't be shy."
She has been promised to a man who is the prince of Pingyang Marquis Mansion, who is a suitable match for her. Today's trip to Qushui is for my cousin's life.
Uncle Wen has a rather sour character like a scholar. Wang Muyi looks at her beautiful cousin, who is pure and charming, and is afraid that she will be as aloof and old-fashioned as her uncle, which would be a waste of her mother's efforts.
Who knows that Nian Xi asked, "If a woman is too active, will she be looked down upon?"
Wang Muyi was delighted and said quickly, "How could that be! Did you see the woman under the willow tree in front?
She is the daughter of the Minister of War, her name is Xu Wanxin. She was engaged to the eldest son of the Pei family, but the engagement was called off. However, she is obsessed with Pei Jian, and everyone in Beijing knows it. We all think she is very brave.
It was the first time that Nian Xi heard the story of Pei Jian and Cousin Xu from an outsider's perspective.
In her previous life, she went to Chongming Building and met Pei Jian through her brother. She thought they were in love with each other and was very happy.
No one has ever talked about Xu Wanxin in front of her.
It turned out that cousin Mu, who had scolded Xu Wanxin in various ways in her previous life, was looking at her with such admiration and praise at the beginning.
"But Xu Wanxin has poor taste."
Wang Muyi shook her head as she spoke, "Besides that face, Pei Jian's personality is really bad. He never has a good face towards the ladies, as if everyone is coveting his beauty. I don't know what everyone likes about him?"
Nian Xi smiled, feeling a bit awkward and embarrassed.
At the same time, she was a little curious. Without her in this life, would Pei Jian and Cousin Xu be able to finally get married?
But she quickly adjusted her attitude. She shouldn't be curious about Pei Jian's affairs.
This person has nothing to do with her anymore.
He raised his chin and asked the man riding a tall horse on the official road not far away, "Who is that young man?"
How come I have never seen it before?
Wang Muyi followed Nianxi's gaze and then smiled, "You mean Gu Ci? The young general in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, his father and brother are both guarding the border, only he stayed in Beijing to study."
"Many young ladies in the capital miss him both when they are awake and when they are dreaming."
Gu Ci was dressed in a sturdy outfit with a sword on his waist. His slender waist was set off by a leather belt, his long legs were wrapped around the horse's belly, his eyes were slightly upturned, and he had an innate nobility. He was surrounded by a group of people, talking and laughing.
The white horse with a silver saddle is full of vigor and vitality.
Really great.
Seeing the man opposite looking back at her, Nian Xi retracted her gaze and said calmly, "Really?"
Although she really wants to find a man to talk about relationship, she is not really fifteen years old after all.
As a 28-year-old middle-aged lady, if she had given birth early, her children would probably have played among this group of people.
It was difficult for Nian Xi to convince herself to get along with these men without any grudges.
However, she couldn't do it, but someone could easily help her do it.
The so-called Qushui Spring Outing is no different from any other banquet on ordinary days, with people reciting poems and painting, catching butterflies and appreciating flowers, or releasing paper orioles, and taking a boat ride to enjoy the scenery... The only difference is that on this day, the elders will be relatively lenient and impose fewer restrictions on the men and women.
Nianxi got to know a group of young ladies through the introduction of her cousin Mu.
Most of the people here will marry into a prestigious family in the future. Nianxi had dealt with them a lot in her previous life, so she knew their habits and likes and dislikes very well, and she was more familiar with them when talking to them.
The ladies present felt both cordial and curious.
People used to think that Nianxi came from a humble family, but later they just thought she was lovable.
"Her maternal grandfather is the Li family of Longxi, a truly aristocratic family. How could a daughter from such a family be bad?"
"I thought her soft words were just a sign of her being coquettish, but I didn't expect she was actually very generous and not at all artificial."
At this time, someone said sourly: "When she came just now, many men secretly looked at her."
After these words were spoken, all the women fell silent.
Just because Nianxi is really born outstanding.
Her eyebrows are as dark as distant mountains, her eyes are as bright as autumn waves, her skin is as delicate as jade, and her bright eyes are full of life, bringing out a pure and dust-free charm in her movements.
But there is still a hint of sadness between his brows.
It is fascinating and lovable.
When she arrived just now, the whole Qushui was quiet for a moment.
It’s all because Nuwa was partial when she created humans, and gave the essence of heaven and earth to Nianxi alone.
At this time, someone joked, "I originally thought that my sister was the only one in the capital who was extremely beautiful, but now that Miss Wen is here, it's hard to tell who's better."
Xu Wanxin was brewing tea, and her smile froze when she heard this. But she quickly covered it up, her hands moving non-stop, her voice soft, "I am poorly qualified, so I can't compare to the sister of the Wen family."
Nian Xi was completely unaware of these words.
Just now, I was chatting with the girls. Even though they would become elegant and dignified ladies in the future, at this moment, they were still young and tender. Even when they were arguing with each other, they were all cute and innocent like little girls.
Like a rose with dew on it, it has vigorous charm.
Nian Xi was inexplicably infected and quickly integrated into it, turning into a real fifteen-year-old girl.
The spring is bright and the time is right.
She suddenly became interested and pulled her cousin Mu to fly paper birds with her.
But the paper kite was too big, and even with the help of the two maids, Xingyue and Chuntao, the four of them couldn't fly the kite after trying for a long time.
Nianxi didn't feel depressed, her bright face was relaxed and carefree. She took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, and when she raised her eyes, she happened to meet a pair of deep phoenix eyes.
It was the young man who was riding on the tall horse earlier, who declined.
Nian Xi did not dodge or evade, but smiled gently.
The young man was stunned for a moment, then walked over.
"Can I help you?"
The voice was clear, against the light, the warm spring sun shone softly around him, and his smile was particularly brilliant and dazzling.
A sentence inexplicably came to my mind——
The handsome young man is as graceful as a jade tree in the wind.