Chapter 81 changed his momentary loss of control and tears.
Yue Yining remained rooted to the spot.
This was a wish she had never even considered.
From the day she descended the mountain, she knew she would lose the right to pray for things like peace, longevity, and freedom.
Especially when her wishes came true. She knew that most of her desires were unlikely to be fulfilled, whether for personal gain or for the sake of all humanity.
But it was her own choice, and she doesn't regret it or feel wronged.
Everything in the world is about giving and receiving. Some people give up everything and end up with nothing. She was incredibly lucky to be able to gain something by giving up.
Thinking of this, the corner of my heart that had warmed slightly because of Xie Qingyu's words cooled down again.
"...You're getting off-topic. Why are you talking about wishes out of nowhere?" Yue Yining smiled. "Even if you really have the chance to make a wish, you should prioritize yourself first. You're just too much of a pushover."
"But thank you anyway, for remembering me even though there's something good about me."
The wind picked up again, and the fluttering apricot blossoms scattered like red snowflakes, soaking the two of them from head to toe.
Yue Yining looked up at the torrential rain of petals brought by the spring breeze. She reached out and caught a few petals, looking at the crystal-clear petals in her palm, and said with a smile, "So beautiful."
Xie Qingyu stood an arm's length away from her, gazing at her with a look of utter infatuation.
He wanted to say that this was not a wish, but his lifelong pursuit.
Despite his humble and insignificant status, he was willing to give his life for this.
He came here specifically for her, into this story that should have ended hastily, because he wanted to rewrite Yue Yining's life and create a new ending worthy of her. So he returned to Yanjing and became the so-called eldest son of the Xie family, scheming and plotting every day, biding his time.
Only in this way can the nightmare that has haunted him for years take a temporary rest.
Xie Qingyu lowered his eyes, but heard Yue Yining's footsteps rustling as she walked towards him, crunching over the petals. He looked up and happened to see the top of her head. Yue Yining smiled, took his hand in hers, and laid the petals on his wrist.
The delicate, gossamer-thin petals covering his fair, jade-like skin appeared dull and murky. In comparison, the apricot blossoms paled in comparison.
Xie Qingyu was stunned, but the person who had been teasing him laughed brightly and said, "Heavens! I knew it, these petals aren't even as white as you."
He stared at her blankly.
His breathing caused his chest to rise and fall, like a sudden surge of turbulent waves in the ocean.
The skin between my fingers and wrist suddenly felt burning hot.
His knuckles had begun to tremble slightly. He dared not withdraw his hand; more than her intimacy, he could not bear her noticing, and he feared she would see his panic.
Fortunately, Yue Yining seemed to be just having a whim; after sighing, she brushed the petals off his wrist.
So Xie Qingyu simply lowered her eyes, tried her best to suppress her erratic breathing, and pulled her clenched fists back into her sleeves, slowly calming her chaotic emotions.
Even he himself didn't know what he was saying: "The young lady really likes these flowering trees."
"I wouldn't say I particularly like them, but I used to live in the mountains and rarely saw them. The flowers in the mountains are quite different from those in Yanjing, but they are both beautiful." As she said this, she rubbed off the withered flowers that were stuck to her fingertips.
After pausing under the tree for a while, the two people finally started walking forward again.
Yue Yining pursed her lips, belatedly realizing she was a little embarrassed: Wasn't she supposed to be comforting someone? Why did she end up talking so much about herself?
"...Just now in the front yard, there were too many people around, so I didn't dare to ask you directly." Yue Yining composed herself. "The news of Prime Minister Xie and Madam Wang's passing... I was also shocked when I first heard about it. Rumor has it that the boat encountered an accident while traveling on the Luo River?"
“Yes. In Luoshui,” Xie Qingyu’s smile faded, his eyelids lowered, and his expression was unreadable. “I arrived there on the first day of the fourth month. Before that, I always traveled by water.”
"I heard that two maids survived on the ship. Did you interrogate them about what happened?"
"After the people returned to the manor, I interrogated them personally. Both maids said that the ship had caught fire by accident. The fire was extremely large, and it was nighttime when the fire came out from the warehouse under the deck. At first, no one noticed, and when they did, it was too late. The fire had already burned a hole in the bottom of the ship."
"Even if the fire could be extinguished, it wouldn't have been able to stop the ship from sinking. The two maids were cowards who abandoned ship as soon as they heard that there was damage to the bottom of the ship, so they knew nothing about what happened on the ship afterward."
Yue Yining frowned. "Shouldn't there be emergency boats on board? Even if the main ship was sinking beyond repair, at least an emergency boat could be launched to protect Prime Minister Xie and Madam Wang and get them out of there first. How could they all have died on that ship?"
Xie Qingyu: "The government offices in Luoshui later found the emergency boat nearby. It was intact and was floating in the middle of the river."
Yue Yining was completely astonished.
What happened on the boat after the two maids left? Why was the auxiliary boat, which was supposed to be used for emergency rescue, released into the river and left to drift away? Why did none of the dozens of servants and two masters survive and all perish at the bottom of the river?
She was about to say, "There must be something fishy about this," when she turned her head and saw that his brows were furrowed, his eyes were filled with grief and sorrow, and the corners of his eyes were red.
Yue Yining's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately regretted it. She shouldn't have asked him so many questions, and she even brought up his painful memories.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that..." She panicked a little, especially since she hadn't seen him cry in a long time. The last time was when they reunited, and the time before that was when he was a slave and they first met in Jinling.
Xie Qingyu simply shook her head slightly, her eyes reddening as she grasped the hand that was being offered to her.
Yue Yining paused for a moment, then took her hand in his palm, his large, dry hand covering hers, slowly tightening his grip.
A tear fell onto the back of their intertwined hands.
Hot tears streamed down her palms, almost scalding her hands. Yue Yining remained motionless, not even looking up at him, but silently tightening her grip on his hand.
If it were her, she wouldn't want people to see her involuntarily vulnerable side.
Even in this extremely unstable emotional state, he kept his lips tightly closed, not uttering a sound. Only a faint, almost illusory, salty tang wafted through the delicate floral fragrance, slowly seeping into her heart.
His loss of control lasted only a moment. Soon, she sensed that he had calmed down again, and his turbulent emotions had subsided.
She asked softly, "Are you feeling better?"
He responded, "Mm."
Xie Qingyu spoke again, her voice even lower and hoarse: "...I'm sorry, I lost my composure."
Yue Yining quickly replied, "It's alright, I don't mind."
"It's only natural to feel heartbroken and sad when a close relative suddenly passes away. Crying might actually make you feel better. Although you are the eldest son, I think you don't have to bear everything in silence. You still have your brothers and sisters, and you can rely on them appropriately."
After offering words of comfort, Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes, seemingly somewhat dejected, but managed a weak smile, "Miss is right."
"However, since my second brother lost his official position, we have become quite estranged. Of the two younger sisters left in the family, Yue Shuang and I are not close, and Ying'er is too impulsive and does not listen to advice. I always need to take good care of her, so I am always worried about her. I am now overwhelmed with everything, and I can only blame myself."
Yue Yining wished she had never said those words.
She was extremely annoyed. "I... I didn't mean that..."
Why does she speak without thinking?! She knows perfectly well what kind of situation the Xie family's children are in. Even if Xie Qingyu wanted to rely on others, there was nothing she could do. Yet she still acts like she's talking without any sense of the situation, spouting sarcastic remarks!
Yue Yining sensed that Xie Qingyu was not in a good mood today, and besides, she wasn't good at comforting others, so she decided not to say anything more. She looked up and noticed that Xie Qingyu's eyelashes were wet. She paused for a moment, then quickly took out a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to him, "Here, wipe your tears."
Xie Qingyu stopped and reached out to take it. "Thank you, Miss."
Yue Yining breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she had finally done something right. She stood aside and watched him wipe his eyes, then casually tuck her handkerchief into his sleeve.
Yue Yining: "?"
The movements were so fluid and graceful that Xie Qingyu seemed oblivious to anything amiss. Seeing her still standing still, he gently asked, "What's wrong?"
If it were an ordinary woman, she would definitely be too embarrassed to ask directly.
But Yue Yining was no ordinary woman. So she pointed to Xie Qingyu's wide sleeves, "That, a handkerchief..."
"Ah, this." Xie Qingyu touched it and smiled gently. "Since it has been used, I can't just return it to you, Miss. I'll have the servants wash it clean and return it to you later."
Yue Yining suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
Although she didn't mind. Anyway, she only carried this thing if Fu Yao prepared it for her; if Fu Yao didn't prepare it, she wouldn't have it.
Seeing her expression, Xie Qingyu suddenly spoke up again: "If Miss doesn't mind, I'll give you a new handkerchief, that would be better."
Yue Yining paused for a moment, then said, "Oh... I don't mind, as long as it's convenient for you."
After they finished speaking, the two were almost back in the courtyard where Yue Yining and Fu Yao had been waiting. Yue Yining went to call Fu Yao, said goodbye to Xie Qingyu, and prepared to return home. Xie Qingyu wanted to see her out, but Yue Yining did not want to trouble him any further, so she politely declined, saying that a maid could lead the way.
Not far from Xie Qingyu's courtyard, Yue Yining suddenly changed her mind. She asked the maid who was leading the way, "Is Miss Xie the Second also in the manor now?"
The maidservant replied respectfully, "Yes, the Second Miss should be in her own courtyard right now."
"I'd like to speak with her for a while." Yue Yining's brows relaxed, and she smiled gently. "Could you send someone to ask the people in her courtyard if the Second Miss is currently available to receive guests?"
......
At this moment, Xie Yunying was lying on her bed, looking utterly hopeless.
The system in her mind was buried in a vast sea of books. After an unknown amount of time, it sighed again: "Host, we still haven't found a solution."
Xie Yunying's dead fish eyes rolled as she stared at the roof beam above her head: "Keep looking."
System: "Master, searching again will yield the same result. This is, after all, ancient times, where etiquette and filial piety are paramount. Since Xie Zhi is dead, as his child, you must observe three years of mourning."
Xie Yunying broke down: "I was about to ask you the same thing! How could Xie Zhi suddenly die? Did he have to die at this point?! Shouldn't he be alive and well in the original plot?! Is this plot development deliberately messing with me?!"
The system pretended not to hear: "Host, calm down. Actually, there is some good news."
"The Book of Rites, in its section on mourning clothes, stipulates that children wear the heaviest mourning garment for their father, 'Zhan Cui,' during which marriage is prohibited. Zheng Xuan of the Han Dynasty commented that it was 'completed after twenty-five months and ended after twenty-seven months,' so the actual mourning period was not three years, but 27 months." The system comforted, "Host, think positively; at least it's a 25% discount."
Xie Yunying: "Would you like this good fortune?"
The system in my mind went silent again, as if it had crashed.
Xie Yunying rolled over, her voice filled with resentment: "I had just seen a glimmer of hope, but that hope didn't last long before it was shattered again. Have you ever seen an egg with a broken yolk? I am an egg with a broken yolk now. I can never go back, and I can never be as lively and cheerful as I used to be."
System: "......." I wasn't exactly lively and cheerful before, was I?
"Host, that's hard to say. Yuan Nanjie didn't agree to it either, did he?"
Xie Yunying sprang up from the bed in a flash: "If I pester him for another six months, he'll definitely say yes!"
The reason why things have turned out this way can be traced back to seven days ago when Xie Yunying went to Yuan's Red Appreciation Banquet.
After the Hundred Flowers Welcoming Spring Banquet, the rare sunny days before the Qingming Festival rains were almost entirely filled with the annual red-flower appreciation banquets to be held by various families. Xie Zhi and Lady Wang had long since left Yanjing to return to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors; Xie Qingyu had received orders from the Seventh Prince to travel to Suyang to handle a case. Thus, only Xie Yunying, Xie Yueshuang, and Xie Lianquan remained in the vast Prime Minister's mansion.
Since Xie Lianquan was dismissed from his post and left to live a life of leisure at home, Xie Yunying rarely saw him at home, wondering what he was busy with every day. Once, she caught him returning home late at night, and through the bamboo grove, she saw his servants helping him back to his room. Even from this distance, she could smell the strong stench of alcohol on him.
Xie Yueshuang, however, remained steadfast in her studies. Her tutor at the Prime Minister's residence would change every so often, and Xie Yueshuang herself almost never left the house.
Recently, various families were holding grand banquets. When Xie Yunying woke up from her afternoon nap, she overheard the maids in the courtyard gossiping that the eldest young lady was not studying in her room today. She guessed it was because she had received an invitation to attend the Sun family's Red Appreciation Banquet.
Xie Yunying thought she had missed some part of the plot again: "Who is this Sun family? There isn't a family with the surname Sun among the four great families of the capital, is there?"
System: "Yes, host. However, the Sun family is also a very prominent family in Yanjing. Their children for the last three generations are related to the Yuan family, one of the four great families, by marriage. Previously, the Yuan family was more prestigious, but the Yuan family has been declining since the last generation. On the contrary, the Sun family has seen its status in the capital rise more and more in recent years because of Sun Qiong."
Xie Yunying caught the key phrase: "The Yuan family? The Yuan family that my lame husband belongs to?"
System: "That's right, host! You're really smart; you actually remember him!"
Xie Yunying: "I really suspect you're trying to frame me."
"You're innocent, host! Our systems don't have a built-in program for hermaphrodites~"
Xie Yunying rolled her eyes: "Speaking of which, it's already April, why hasn't the Yuan family made a move yet? Didn't you say they would come to propose marriage as soon as spring arrived?"
System: "Master, that's the original plot development... Xie Qingyu didn't die, and Wang Shi is still alive. Under these circumstances, how could Yuan Shi still come to propose marriage as in the original plot?"
“I thought so too. But I recently reread the novel and found something was wrong.”
"The book says that the reason why the Yuan family came to propose marriage was because the Yuan family found an old Taoist master to tell the fortune of their young master. The result was that 'Xie Yunying' was the destined person for their eldest son, Yuan Nanjie."
“As long as he marries Xie Yunying, their destinies will clash, and Yuan Nanjie’s health will gradually improve.” Xie Yunying said suspiciously, “If that’s the logic, then what you told me before was wrong.”
“Logically speaking, regardless of whether Xie Qingyu is dead or alive, or whether Madam Wang is alive or not, as long as Xie Yunying’s fate is not changed, Madam Yuan will still come to ask for my hand in marriage.”
The system was also puzzled: "This... could it be because of the butterfly effect that the Yuan family didn't invite that old celestial master to their door for fortune telling this time?"
Xie Yunying's face fell again: "No, if that's the case, what am I supposed to do? I'm a virgin from ancient times, am I supposed to take the initiative to go to his door and beg him to marry me?"
System: "Master, why don't you think of a way to find that old celestial master and deliver him to his door? Xie Yunying's fate should not have changed—even if it has, it's not difficult to give that old celestial master some money to turn white into black. When the Yuan family finds out, won't they take action?"
Xie Yunying suddenly realized: "Sure, I think it'll work! Hey, you robot, you're pretty smart!"
Without hesitation, Xie Yunying sent her maid to find a renowned old Taoist master in the capital, and then gritted her teeth and gave him a large sum of her private money, instructing him to deceive the Yuan family as she had instructed.
At first, she was worried that he was a Taoist priest with professional ethics and integrity, but when he saw the gold and silver treasures she took out, the old Taoist priest immediately smiled from ear to ear, and couldn't be happier.
Seeing this, Xie Yunying felt relieved and waved her hand, handing the task over to him.
Not long after, the old Taoist priest came to her door, saying that he had done as she had instructed, and had found an opportunity to get in touch with the Yuan family and tell the fortune of the eldest son of the Yuan family.
"Don't worry, young lady. The Yuan family trusts me. After I explained the Yuan family's eldest son's old illness and fate in just a few words, they asked me repeatedly if I had a way to resolve the situation and prolong his life."
The old master stroked his beard and said smugly, "I just said what the young lady asked me to say. I said that the second young lady of the Xie family and your young master are a match made in heaven. If you can marry her as your wife, then your birth charts will be compatible and your five elements will be in harmony. At that time, the young master's health will gradually improve and he will recover without medicine."
Xie Yunying asked anxiously, "And then? Did they believe what you said?"
"The Yuan family members seem to have complete faith... but the eldest son of the Yuan family, no matter what I say, remains silent, his expression calm and serene, as if he doesn't take my words to heart."
Xie Yunying was stunned, wondering if she had misheard: "You mean... his expression was calm and serene?"
Is this word used to describe Yuan Nanjie?
"Yes, speaking of this, this is the first time I've met the renowned eldest son of the Yuan family. Upon seeing him, I immediately realized that the rumors were unbelievable!" The old master got excited again and began to speak at length, "I've lived to such an old age, and I believe I still have a good eye for people. You should know that one's face reflects one's heart, and this principle applies to most people."
"The eldest son of the Yuan family is not as gloomy and ruthless as rumored. On the contrary, I think he is more gentle than many people!"
Xie Yunying: "......."
She was filled with doubt and surprise: "System, is this for real? Is the butterfly effect really that powerful that it can even change Yuan Nanjie's character?"
The system pondered: "That shouldn't be the case... Just like Xie Yunying's destiny, Yuan Nanjie's character design should also be the underlying logic that constructs the world in the book, and it won't be changed by external factors inserted midway."
"Perhaps this old Taoist master has misjudged the situation?"
Xie Yunying: "Who knows? Oh well, let's leave it at that for now." Anyway, the news has already been spread, so all she has to do now is wait and see.
However, seven more days passed, and the Yuan family still did not make any move.
Xie Yunying was extremely anxious, but the system remained steadfast: "Host, don't worry. Marriages in ancient noble families were very elaborate, with numerous procedures. Perhaps they're making preparations? They might send someone to your door in a few days—"
Xie Yunying, however, was getting restless: "But I've arranged for guards to monitor everyone entering and leaving the Yuan residence, and I haven't seen any female guests visiting these past few days..."
In ancient times, when noble families sought a wife for their eldest son, they would first perform divination and then select a matchmaker before the formal six rites were completed. After the old celestial master calculated the fates of the two people, the matchmaker would be chosen, usually a woman of the fifth rank or above. This selection process would take anywhere from three days to half a month.
However, in the past seven days, there has been no word from the Yuan family about choosing a matchmaker.
System: "Don't worry, host, this can't be rushed..."
Xie Yunying didn't know how to describe her intuition to the system. She always had a strong and accurate sixth sense, and although the mission hadn't gone wrong so far, she had a very ominous premonition.
She suddenly remembered something, sat up abruptly, and slapped her thigh: "How could I have forgotten that thing!"
"System, help me redeem a live streaming prop, and set the location to Yuan Nanjie's current location."
System: "Okay!"
A flash of white light appeared before her eyes, and Xie Yunying subconsciously closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was already in a quiet courtyard.
At the end of the east corridor, a crescent-shaped inkstone pool was carved out, and the rocks piled on the bank resembled a sleeping tiger. The wind rustled the slender bamboo, and the maple leaves were tinged with a pale red. Xie Yunying looked around and realized that the courtyard she was in must be Yuan Nanjie's.
Since she's here, it means Yuan Nanjie must be staying in his room and hasn't gone out.
She walked along the path and came to the backyard. In front of her was a palace-style building covered with blue tile roof, and several maids stood quietly with their heads bowed on the corridor.
This should be Yuan Nanjie's residence.
The door was open, so Xie Yunying swaggered in.
As the eldest son of the Yuan family, Yuan Nanjie's bedroom was similar to Xie Qingyu's, with a bed, curtains, tables, chairs, incense burner, and antiques. On a small wooden table sat a Ge kiln blue glass vase with a few freshly picked roses.
Slowly walking around the screen, Xie Yunying looked up and suddenly stopped.
A man sat at a table behind the screen. He wore a moon-white silk robe with cloud patterns, his eyes lowered, and one hand held a book. Steam rose from the tea on the table, spreading like clouds and mist in the light that streamed into the room.
Although she knew he couldn't possibly see her, Xie Yunying still couldn't help but hold her breath.
He indeed noticed nothing. His slender fingers turned a page of the book, and the only sound in the quiet room was the crisp sound of the pages turning.
Xie Yunying felt that she had somewhat regained her original breathing rhythm. She quietly walked around the table and saw that the chair the person was sitting in was not an ordinary four-legged chair, but a wooden wheelchair.
This person must be Yuan Nanjie.
Xie Yunying grew bolder. She lay down on the other side of the table, leaning half her body forward, and rested her chin on her hand to observe Yuan Nanjie's appearance up close.
She was truly beautiful. Xie Yunying didn't know how to describe it. She had memorized the "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" before, which contained the line "Her eyes sparkled with brilliance, her face radiant and jade-like." She had never been able to picture it, but upon seeing Yuan Nanjie today, the image came to mind.
His breathing was very light; so close, one could hardly see the rise and fall of his chest. If it weren't for the occasional turning of the page, one could easily mistake him for a sculpture.
Would a normal adult male breathe this lightly?
Xie Yunying then remembered that Yuan Nanjie was not a normal person, but a weak and immobile patient. He did look very thin, and his wrists were also thin.
Her frail body was lighter than a butterfly's, and her plain clothes shone like snow.
System: "Host".
"Whoa!" Xie Yunying suddenly straightened up, patting her chest in shock. "You scared me to death! System, why did you suddenly call me?"
The system said, somewhat bewildered, "No, I saw you just now..." as if it were staring blankly.
Before Xie Yunying could speak, a few soft sounds came from the door.
It was a maid's voice asking, "Young Master, preparations for today's Red Bloom Banquet are already underway in the front courtyard. Shall I come in and help you change your clothes?"
The person in front of him, who had been doing nothing but turning the pages of a book, raised his eyes and spoke for the first time: "Come in."
Xie Yunying paused again. Yuan Nanjie's voice was also clear and bright, not the deep and hoarse one she had imagined.
In the book, Yuan Nanjie is a cold-hearted and ruthless hypocrite. He is unpredictable, often suddenly losing his temper and beating and scolding his servants, as if nothing around him can satisfy him.
The Yuan Nanjie in front of him was extremely obedient when the maid dressed him, and he had no objection to the choice of clothes and accessories throughout the process. He could almost be described as well-behaved.
Xie Yunying originally wanted to observe a little longer, but the live broadcast props were used for a very short time. Suddenly, a white light flashed before her eyes, and in the blink of an eye, she was back in the Prime Minister's residence.
Xie Yunying, sitting on the bed, was still a little dazed.
She murmured, "...What exactly is going on?"
System: "What discoveries has the host made?"
Xie Yunying suddenly looked up: "System! Don't you think Yuan Nanjie is a bit strange?"
What's strange about it?
"His personality doesn't seem as bad as the book describes." Xie Yunying racked her brains for adjectives. "He's quite quiet, and when he was interrupted by a maid while reading, he didn't say anything, just did what he was told, and didn't get angry."
System: "But the host only observed for five minutes, it's hard to draw a conclusion, isn't it? Maybe he'll suddenly start hitting people as soon as we leave?"
Xie Yunying didn't answer for a moment. The scene from just now reappeared in her mind. She was lying on the table, Yuan Nanjie was turning the pages of a book, and she could even feel the breeze from the turning pages brushing against her face.
Xie Yunying pondered for a moment, then summoned her personal maid, Bitao: "Is the Yuan family's Red Appreciation Banquet today? Did they send an invitation to our residence?"
Bitao nodded: "The invitations arrived, but the master and madam are not home, and the second young master and eldest young lady don't plan to go either, so the servants in the side room put them away..."
Xie Yunying found it strange: "Second brother and eldest sister aren't going, so what about me? Why did they just put it away without even asking me if I was going?"
Bitao was stunned; she was clearly surprised: "Miss, don't you usually not attend these kinds of flower banquets?"
"Last year, neither Master nor Madam left the capital. They sent even more invitations to the Red Appreciation Banquet. Madam even wanted to take you with her, but you said you would never go unless Madam had you tied up. Otherwise, you would never sit with those girls who only talk about cosmetics and gossip about men for an afternoon."
Xie Yunying: "........."
System: "Pfft."
"Damn it!" Xie Yunying forced a smile: "I was... I was sulking with my mother when I said that."
"Besides, people's thoughts always change. I've changed my mind this year and want to go to the banquet to have some fun and make some new friends." Xie Yunying scratched her face.
Bitao was overjoyed: "Oh my god, that's wonderful! Miss, you should go out more. Madam would be so happy to know! I'll go and get all the invitations from everyone right now!"
Xie Yunying quickly called out to her, "Hey! No need for all that trouble, just bring the letter from Yuan Shi."
Bitao stopped in her tracks: "Miss, aren't you going to take another look? We've received many invitations to the Red-Crowned Beauty Banquet from various prominent families, including many more extravagant ones besides the Yuan family..."
"No need," Xie Yunying said. "I'll only attend the Yuan family's Red Appreciation Banquet."
Bitao was completely confused, but she did as Xie Yunying said and took the invitation.
The Yuan family's banquet for appreciating the red flowers begins at noon today. Although Xie Yunying is the second young lady of the Xie family, it wouldn't be a problem if she went in the afternoon, but it would inevitably leave a rude impression. If she wants to attend the banquet on time, she only has one hour to prepare.
Xie Yunying instructed that everything should be kept simple, with no need for elaborate dressing up; her clothes and jewelry should simply be presentable and appropriate. The maids filed out of the room, bustling about, and finally managed to get Xie Yunying ready by noon, before sending her onto the carriage bound for the Yuan residence.
The Yuan family mansion had a towering gate. Although it ranked last among the four great families, it was still a force to be reckoned with in the capital.
Xie Yunying's solo arrival was clearly unexpected by Madam Yuan and the others. The banquet for appreciating the red flowers was hosted by Madam Ye, the eldest wife of Madam Yuan. When a servant reported that a carriage from the Prime Minister's residence was parked at the gate of the mansion, she wondered if it was Miss Xie, but she never expected that it would be Xie Yunying.
After all, Miss Xie was very famous. She didn't like to socialize with people, and her personality was strange and sharp. She rarely participated in grand banquets and events.
Despite her doubts and uncertainties, Madam Yuan still warmly received Xie Yunying on the surface.
The Red Blossom Banquet was one of the major spring social events among the aristocratic families of the capital. Most of them were held in the courtyards of various mansions. The noble ladies who were invited would eat a continuous banquet in the courtyard, admire the blooming flowers, compose poems, play chess, and watch songs and dances. In short, they were doing things that Xie Yunying was completely uninterested in.
As soon as Xie Yunying entered the Yuan family courtyard, she started making plans: "System, where is Yuan Nanjie now? I want to go directly to him."
She wanted to try striking up a conversation first to see if Yuan Nanjie's personality had really changed.
System: "Let me see... Oh, he seems to be inside."
Xie Yunying: "Inside?"
The system simply displayed a map, a light blue electronic screen unfolding in front of Xie Yunying, with a red dot symbolizing Yuan Nanjie flashing in the upper right corner. "He's right here. We're currently in the southwest corner of the courtyard, and he's in the northeast corner. I don't know if he's alone. Host, why don't you go inside and take a look?"
"However, host, you'd better be careful. Those are all male customers. If you get caught up in it, people will definitely gossip about you."
Xie Yunying didn't care at all: "Haven't I been the subject of enough gossip about my persona before?"
Fortunately, the banquet at the Yuan family's residence had not been going on for long, and most of the guests were gathered in one place. No one would wander around like Xie Yunying, so she had no trouble passing through the arched doorways that were covered with green curtains and slowly followed the path to the other end of the courtyard.
The light blue electronic screen floated in mid-air, and she got closer and closer to the red dot.
She had wandered off somewhere, and it was hard to even spot any servants on the road. Xie Yunying muttered to the system, "Everyone else is having fun at the banquet, but he's hiding in this corner. I wonder what he's doing."
System: "The episode that best fits his character."
Xie Yunying: "Don't interrupt. What if I really catch him doing something bad?"
System: "Don't worry, host! There are teleportation items in the shop. You can slip away unnoticed and won't get caught!"
Xie Yunying: "There's such a thing? How come I've never seen it before? What's the price?"
The system announced a price, and Xie Yunying blurted out a vulgar curse: "Damn, that's expensive! Why don't you just rob someone?"
As she was cursing the system, Xie Yunying turned a small path and saw an octagonal pavilion hidden in a magnolia grove. She finally saw the walls of the Yuan family mansion.
She paused, for there was a person in the pavilion, dressed in clean robes, sitting in a wooden wheelchair.
Although only a silhouette was visible, Xie Yunying recognized him immediately – it was Yuan Nanjie.
He really was alone. Sitting in this secluded corner, all alone, watching the flowers.
In the pavilion, with its vermilion walls and green tiles, the sun shines brightly. A breeze blows, and the petals ripple and overlap. He sits in his wheelchair, his shadow blurred in a sea of magnolia blossoms.
The scene was so beautiful that it took everyone's breath away. Xie Yunying slowed her pace involuntarily, as if afraid of accidentally disturbing him.
Xie Yunying was trying to figure out how to greet him and introduce herself without seeming out of place. But as she got closer, Yuan Nanjie remained motionless in his wheelchair, showing no reaction.
Xie Yunying found it strange. It was so quiet here, and she hadn't deliberately moved her footsteps lightly. Logically speaking, Yuan Nanjie should have been able to sense that someone was coming.
She was almost behind the person when Xie Yunying hesitated for a while before deciding to speak first.
She called out softly, "...Young Master Yuan?"
A gentle breeze ruffled his long hair. He seemed not to hear Xie Yunying's calls, remaining seated quietly.
Xie Yunying paused for a moment, then immediately realized something was wrong.
She walked around the wheelchair and stood in front of Yuan Nanjie, then froze.
Yuan Nanjie leaned back in his wheelchair, his neck limp, his face as white as paper, utterly lifeless. His eyes were closed, his serene and peaceful appearance suggesting he had fallen into a deep sleep.
His hands hung limply at his sides, one hand half-holding a medicine bottle about the length of an index finger. Blood trickled from his lips, dripping onto his snow-white robe with a soft sound, like a bright red flower blooming in the snow.
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