Xin Jiuwei keenly noticed her sister's unusual behavior.
Normally, Miss Xin would not be so restless.
She thought about it for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
“If you don’t like these things, sister, perhaps I should write to our maternal grandfather and ask Cousin Huaihe for help…”
"Why would I ask him?" Xin Xiyao objected quickly, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly as if she were quite disgusted. "We haven't seen each other for many years, and he's not even a close cousin."
Xin Jiuwei drawled out an "Oh—", then propped her chin on her hand and laughed with a hint of teasing, "But when I went to Yuncheng this time, I felt that my cousin was very reliable. Many girls in Yuncheng like him."
Xin Xiyao's fingertips brushed across the strings, as if she were concealing some emotion.
“If you think he’s reliable, why don’t you go and recognize him as your elder brother? You’re likable anyway, so move to Yuncheng instead of suffering Qi Huaiyu’s temper here for no reason.”
"Oh dear, sister." Xin Jiuwei quickly comforted the jealous Xin Xiyao, "No matter how good Cousin Huaihe is, he can't compare to my sister. Besides, when we were little, it was clearly my sister who was closer to Cousin Huaihe."
“You said it yourself, it was when we were little.” Xin Xiyao pressed a string, losing interest in playing the zither.
Xin Jiuwei observed her expression, "So what do you think about this marriage proposal, sister? There are so many talented young men, but you always complain that one is too thin or that one is too short. Compared to them, Cousin Huaihe is indeed very outstanding..."
"That has nothing to do with him!" Xin Xiyao stood up, her skirt sweeping across the painting on the ground. "You...you can continue looking at it."
She put the portrait away and muttered to herself, "My sister, I don't know if she takes after our father or mother, how can she be so stubborn?"
Three days later, the Xin family garden was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.
The news of Xin Xiyao's marriage selection had spread throughout Yingzhou City. Xin Jiuwei's personally organized "Chrysanthemum Appreciation Party" was held as scheduled, and almost all the eligible young men and talented men in Yingzhou City were present.
Just after the fifth watch drum, the servants of the Xin family began to busy themselves.
Xin Jiuwei stood under the corridor.
"Miss, the guest list." Wang Qing hurried over, carrying a bamboo scroll. "As you instructed, all the eligible young men in Yingzhou City have been invited, but..."
"Young Master Xie personally delivered the invitation," Wang Qing said in a low voice, "and he also said... he also said he wants to rekindle his romance with Miss."
Xin Jiuwei sneered and calmly ordered, "Go back to your work. Tell the guards to keep a close eye on things."
Sure enough, Xie Changjing's arrival meant something was bound to happen.
Halfway through the flower-viewing banquet, Xin Jiuwei was exchanging pleasantries with several ladies when she suddenly heard a commotion coming from the backyard.
She apologized and quickly walked through the corridor, where she saw a young man in brocade robes blocking Xin Xiyao's way, while the surrounding young ladies were terrified.
"What does Young Master Xie mean by this?" Xin Jiuwei stepped forward and stood in front of her sister.
Xie Changjing reeked of alcohol, his flirtatious eyes gleaming with frivolity: "Third sister, you've come at the perfect time. Let me have a few private words with your sister..."
"Xie Changjing." Xin Jiuwei's voice was calm and unhurried, yet every word was icy. "How many times do I have to tell you? You and my sister have never been engaged, so how can I be worthy of being called your sister?"
Xie Changjing's face darkened: "This is all a misunderstanding..."
"Misunderstanding?" Xin Xiyao stepped out from behind her sister, her expression cold. "Xie Changjing, you are short-sighted and shallow. I would never stoop to having any misunderstandings with you."
A murmur arose among the onlookers.
Feeling embarrassed, Xie Changjing reached out and tugged at Xin Xiyao's sleeve: "Yao'er, let me explain..."
"How dare you!" Xin Jiuwei slapped away his groping hand. "Wang Qing, please ask Young Master Xie to leave."
Two rough-looking women immediately stepped forward, but Xie Changjing shoved them away violently: "Who dares touch me! Xin Jiuwei, don't think you're so great just because you've hooked up with Master Jueming! Everyone knows your filthy thoughts..."
"Smack!"
A resounding slap interrupted Xie Changjing's foul language. Xin Jiuwei shook her numb hand, her face frosty: "Young Master Xie is drunk and behaving inappropriately. Aren't you going to help him out to sober up?"
This time, the four guards rushed forward, grabbed Xie Changjing, and dragged him outside. He struggled and tried to curse, but an old woman gagged him with a handkerchief.
"Please excuse my rudeness, everyone." Xin Jiuwei turned to the guests and gave a graceful bow. "Today's flower-viewing banquet was meant to be an elegant gathering, but I didn't expect such a sordid affair to spoil our enjoyment."
"Miss Xin handled it well," Madam Lin was the first to speak in support. "That Xie family brat is outrageous!"
"Yes, yes..." everyone echoed, "Miss Xin has been frightened..."
"The Third Miss is decisive and efficient, quite like the head of the family..."
Xin Xiyao quietly tugged at her sister's sleeve, and Xin Jiuwei squeezed her hand back, signaling the maid to serve tea again.
Under Xin Jiuwei's persistent pleading, Xin Xiyao specially prepared two songs for the banquet, which naturally received a round of applause. Xin Jiuwei was happy for her sister when Mianfeng, who had been in the outer courtyard, suddenly rushed in, carrying something in his hands.
"Miss!" Mianfeng lowered her voice, which was drowned out by the music, "Yuncheng has sent a gift!"
Xin Jiuwei was taken aback. The only family that could offer a gift from Yuncheng was her maternal grandparents.
"Cousin Huaihe?"
She opened the box in Mianfeng's hand and was immediately blinded by its brilliance.
At the top of the box was a set of dazzling agate and gold ornaments, which were obviously very expensive.
Xin Jiuwei picked up the letter next to the gold jewelry, and sure enough, it was from Qi Huaihe.
The gold jewelry was for her, and beneath it were two thick booklets. Xin Jiuwei didn't dare to touch them because the letter paper said that these were unique copies made by the Qin Saint of the previous dynasty, and were priceless.
It was much more expensive than the gold jewelry given to her.
Xin Jiuwei's lips curled up even higher. She glanced at her sister in the crowd and instructed Mianfeng, "Send this to my sister in a bit."
Mianfeng asked, somewhat puzzled, "Are these for the young lady? Are they all being sent over?"
Xin Jiuwei looked at her with an expression of utter despair, "So what if you sent them all over? What's a little gold jewelry compared to that?"
She covered her mouth and laughed, "In Cousin Huaihe's heart, these are the truly precious ones."
As the flower-viewing party was drawing to a close, Xin Jiuwei was also a little tired, but she forced herself to stand up.
"Jiuwei." Xin's father suddenly appeared in the corridor, beckoning to her, "Come here for a moment."
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