After the Foolish Beauty Wore Women's Clothes and Married the Brutal General - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Your Beloved Isn’t Here.

Liang Qifeng saw Nan Jianxue shaking his head and sighing at him and couldn’t help but frown. “What is it?”

“Nothing. I just suddenly feel that…” Nan Jianxue paused, looked at him again, and said, “You’re like a dog.”

Liang Qifeng: ?

Liang Qifeng looked at him with a complicated expression. “Is that the comeback you’ve been thinking about for so long?”

Nan Jianxue was a little confused before he realized what he was saying. He snorted. “I’m not as petty as you!”

Liang Qifeng was even more confused. “Then why are you insulting me?”

“I’ll insult you if I want to,” Nan Jianxue said. “Mind your own business!”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

He nodded helplessly. “Fine. Are you done insulting me? Can we go in now?”

Nan Jianxue glanced at the door in front of him, nodded very slightly, and led Liang Qifeng inside.

The host of this banquet was the wife of Marquis Qingyuan. Nan Jianxue was not familiar with her, so he only intended to say hello and then go back to his imperial sisters. But he didn’t expect to be stopped by someone else right after he stepped outside.

“Xiao Xue!” The one who called them was a very handsome man. After their eyes met, he immediately gave a gentle smile and ran to Nan Jianxue. “I was not in the capital when you got married, so I couldn’t make it. When I heard you were coming, I knew you would definitely come to say hello to Lady Guan, so I waited here for you. Did you receive the congratulatory gift I sent?”

Nan Jianxue nodded without answering and looked around behind him.

The man immediately said, “Zhilan didn’t come.” With that, he lowered his voice. “She’s pregnant and has been resting at home these past few days.”

Nan Jianxue’s eyes immediately lit up with a smile. “When did that happen? She never told me.”

“We just found out a few days ago. She said she’d find a time to invite you over for a meal and tell you about it then,” Ji Zeyan said, pausing as his eyes fell on the person next to him. “This must be General Liang? I’ve heard so much about you.”

With that, he cupped his hands at Liang Qifeng, looking generous and enthusiastic, which made Liang Qifeng feel a little strange, but he still nodded.

Nan Jianxue introduced him. “Ji Zeyan is the youngest son of the Duke of Su.”

Liang Qifeng thought for a moment and quickly found this person in his memory. “Your playmate?”

Nan Jianxue was stunned for a moment, but he quickly remembered that he had told Liang Qifeng about this before. He hadn’t expected him to remember.

“Yes, we…”

“We grew up together,” Ji Zeyan said with a smile, taking over Nan Jianxue’s words. “We’re childhood sweethearts, and we have a very close relationship.”

Liang Qifeng raised an eyebrow and didn’t respond.

Nan Jianxue also nodded. “His twin sister was my study companion. We used to play together all the time.”

“Is that so?” Liang Qifeng chuckled. “Then you two can talk for a while?”

Ji Zeyan was about to agree when he heard Nan Jianxue say, “No, it’s time to go to the flower hall.”

“Alright.” Liang Qifeng glanced at Ji Zeyan and saw him frown almost imperceptibly. The smile in his eyes grew, and he reached out and tugged Nan Jianxue’s hand. “Then let’s go together.”

Nan Jianxue looked at him in confusion, but since there were other people around, he didn’t ask more. He only nodded with a cold expression and looked at Ji Zeyan. “We’ll…”

“I’ll go with you,” Ji Zeyan said. “I have to go anyway.”

Nan Jianxue nodded and was about to walk with Liang Qifeng, but Liang Qifeng tugged him again, pulling him so close that he was almost leaning against him.

Nan Jianxue was even more confused. He turned to Liang Qifeng and asked him in a very low voice, “What are you doing?”

Liang Qifeng smiled without answering. He scanned Ji Zeyan’s face, which had become so gloomy it looked like it was about to freeze, and he leaned down and whispered into his ear, “It’s fun.”

Nan Jianxue didn’t understand. Just as he was about to ask again, Liang Qifeng had already pulled him away.

Nan Jianxue pulled his hand back and hit him. “Don’t pull me!”

Liang Qifeng chuckled again and turned his gaze to Ji Zeyan, who was still standing there. “Aren’t you coming with us?”

Only then did Ji Zeyan come to his senses. He took two quick steps to Nan Jianxue’s side, his face having returned to a smile as he told him about a delicious pastry shop that had just opened in the capital.

The three of them entered the flower hall. There were already many people there. When they saw Nan Jianxue come in, they all stood up to greet him. Nan Jianlan, on the other hand, waved at him. “Anle, over here.”

Nan Jianxue looked over and saw that there were two empty seats next to her. Nan Jianfei had gone to the opposite side and sat with her close friends.

So, he pulled Liang Qifeng and went over.

As soon as they sat down, Nan Jianlan asked him, “Did you see Zeyan?”

Nan Jianxue was stunned for a moment and nodded. Ji Zeyan, who was following behind him, immediately bowed. “Princess Anping.”

Nan Jianlan smiled and then looked at Liang Qifeng. “General Liang, what do you think of Zeyan?”

Liang Qifeng’s movements as he sat down paused. He quickly understood what she meant and smiled. “A very interesting person.”

“He’s A-Xue’s playmate, after all,” Nan Jianlan lowered her eyes, her smile not fading. “A-Xue has an innocent nature. As his older siblings, we have to pay more attention. The people who can stay by his side are, of course, carefully selected.”

Liang Qifeng glanced at Nan Jianxue and saw that he didn’t react to the conversation at all. He took the tea offered by a maid and seemed to be in a good mood.

He looked at Nan Jianlan again. “The princess isn’t a child anymore.”

Nan Jianlan smiled and didn’t say anything else, but Nan Jianxue, on the other hand, turned his head and called out to her. “Imperial Sister.”

Nan Jianlan looked at him.

Nan Jianxue leaned in and whispered, “You said to my imperial brother that I had a playmate when I was little. Why don’t I remember?”

“You only met a few times, so it’s normal that you don’t remember,” Nan Jianlan said softly. “Think a little harder?”

Nan Jianxue frowned and thought.

Nan Jianlan’s gaze fell on Liang Qifeng, and she said with a laugh, “It seems General Liang is determined to find that person.”

Liang Qifeng didn’t answer.

Nan Jianlan retracted her gaze and looked in Ji Zeyan’s direction. She saw that he had been staring at Nan Jianxue and continued. “If we were to choose another husband for A-Xue, who do you think would be a better choice, General Liang?” She said, pausing. She saw Ji Zeyan’s eyes light up, and she let out a very soft chuckle. “Earlier this year, the Duke of Su came to the palace to ask for Anle’s hand in marriage.”

Nan Jianxue’s head shot up when he heard this. “When did that happen?”

“After the Lantern Festival, I think,” Nan Jianlan said. “My imperial brother rejected it then.”

Nan Jianxue frowned. “He should have. The Duke of Su is really something. Isn’t he trying to make a match with the wrong person!”

Nan Jianlan smiled. “You’re very unwilling?”

“Of course. Zeyan, he…” Nan Jianxue said, suddenly pausing. He glanced at Ji Zeyan and saw that he looked disappointed. He immediately said, “You’ll ruin his reputation like this. What if he can’t find a wife in the future?”

Nan Jianlan smiled and looked at Ji Zeyan. “It sounds like you have a beloved.”

Ji Zeyan hadn’t had time to answer yet, but Nan Jianxue already denied it first. “No, don’t talk nonsense.”

Ji Zeyan, however, nodded. “I do,” he said, looking at Nan Jianxue. “My heart belongs to someone. I won’t have anyone else but her.”

Nan Jianxue was stunned and asked in confusion, “You clearly said you didn’t want anyone to know before. Why can you say it now?”

Ji Zeyan’s expression instantly froze.

Liang Qifeng found it amusing and looked at Nan Jianxue. “You seem to know a lot about it.”

“He told me himself,” Nan Jianxue said, glancing at Ji Zeyan. Seeing that he didn’t say anything, he explained, “Two years ago, his father wanted to arrange a marriage for him, and he caused a huge fuss because he had someone in his heart and didn’t want to get married. That’s why his father beat him. I heard she’s a person who looks like a fairy, innocent and cute, and very beautiful.”

Liang Qifeng could tell from his gossipy tone that he probably didn’t understand the meaning behind Ji Zeyan’s words.

He could even imagine that when Ji Zeyan said that, he must have been staring intently at Nan Jianxue. He probably hoped that Nan Jianxue would understand the subtle and hidden affection in his words.

Just like now.

From the moment they first met, Ji Zeyan’s eyes had barely left Nan Jianxue.

Although Nan Jianxue was cold in front of others, he never pretended in front of his siblings. Since Ji Zeyan grew up with him, he probably saw what he was like now many times.

Not cold or difficult to get close to.

On the contrary, he loved to smile. He was soft and cute. Even his temper tantrums were like a kind of spoiled affection. It was completely normal for Ji Zeyan to like him.

And this liking was unconcealed. Nan Jianlan could see it, Liang Qifeng could see it, and probably even Nan Zhan Yuan and Nan Jianxue’s study companion could see it. But only Nan Jianxue couldn’t.

He didn’t know where he had read all those novels.

Liang Qifeng finally couldn’t help but laugh out loud when he heard Nan Jianxue and Nan Jianlan say they wanted to set up Ji Zeyan and his beloved.

Nan Jianxue immediately turned his head and looked at him. “What are you laughing at?”

“At you,” Liang Qifeng said. “Do you want to change professions and become a matchmaker? Why do you love to play cupid so much?”

Nan Jianxue frowned and thought for a moment. He then wore a look of sudden realization, leaned closer to him, and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. Your matter is still a priority. I’ve looked, and your beloved isn’t here.”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

Nan Jianlan was sitting close and also heard his words. She chuckled and said with a hint of meaning, “The person involved is often blind. People are sometimes blinded by unnecessary things and can’t see the truth of the matter.”

Liang Qifeng nodded. “Indeed.”

Then he heard Nan Jianlan laugh again.

Liang Qifeng felt that this laugh had another meaning. He frowned slightly.

Nan Jianlan, however, didn’t explain further. She looked at the people in the hall, pointed at a few, and stated their identities one by one. She then said, “They have all asked for Anle’s hand in marriage from my imperial brother.”

Liang Qifeng looked at her deeply. “What reaction do you want from me, Princess?”

Nan Jianlan smiled without answering and turned her gaze to Nan Jianxue.

Nan Jianxue was using two fingers to pull on Liang Qifeng’s sleeve.

His fingers were thin and fair. When he pinched the dark sleeve, it made them look even more like jade. They were carefully wrapped in the soft, smooth fabric, which made them look very precious and also gave off a… subtle intimacy.

Especially when Nan Jianxue was only tugging on his sleeve so that Liang Qifeng would get him a piece of pastry. This intimacy became even more apparent.

“It’s not good,” Nan Jianxue frowned and put the pastry back on the plate. He picked up the tea next to him and took a sip. “It’s too sweet.”

Liang Qifeng saw him put the pastry back and raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you like it more?”

“It’s sickeningly sweet,” Nan Jianxue said after finishing his tea. “Let’s go to Yuxiangji on the way back. Their snow blossom cakes are delicious.”

Liang Qifeng gave an “mm,” picked up the other plate of pastries next to him, but it collided with another plate in mid-air.

He looked over and met Ji Zeyan’s eyes.

Ji Zeyan gave Liang Qifeng a faint smile. “Xiao Xue will like this one better.”

It was a very boring provocation and declaration.

Liang Qifeng didn’t pay any attention to him. He placed the plate in front of Nan Jianxue. “Try this one.”

Nan Jianxue said, “Oh,” picked up a piece, took a bite, and nodded. “It’s good.”

“Then finish it all,” Liang Qifeng said, reaching out and, while Ji Zeyan was still stunned, took the plate from his hand and put it in front of Nan Jianxue as well. “Eat both of them.”

“That’s too much,” Nan Jianxue said, but he still picked up another piece of pastry. He then leaned closer to Liang Qifeng and whispered, “Eating so much is not graceful.”

Liang Qifeng also lowered his voice. “Sit back a little. No one can see you.”

Nan Jianxue glanced at Liang Qifeng. With his size, he could indeed block him. The other side only had his imperial sister, so it didn’t matter if he was ungraceful.

With that thought, he moved back, and his entire body disappeared from Ji Zeyan’s sight.

Ji Zeyan frowned. His gaze at Liang Qifeng became a little colder. “General Liang is unexpectedly a little…”

Mischievous.

Liang Qifeng smiled and was about to say something when a scream interrupted him.

Both of them were stunned and immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

Nan Jianxue was also startled. He quickly stuffed the rest of his food into his mouth, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and poked his head out to look. He saw a man lying on the ground, clutching his stomach.

“What’s wrong with him?” Nan Jianxue asked in confusion. “Is he sick?”

Liang Qifeng shook his head. He saw everyone crowding around and frowned as he instructed one of the people he had brought with him. “Go and get a doctor.”

The person next to him said, “Yes,” and left like a gust of wind.

Just as he left, another man screamed. It was also a man, also clutching his stomach, but he wasn’t lying on the ground. He was sitting in his seat with his head down, his face a little pale.

Liang Qifeng’s gaze swept over the people in the room and found several others in the same situation. They were all clutching their stomachs, their faces pale and covered in sweat, looking very pained.

After looking at everyone, Liang Qifeng’s eyebrows slowly furrowed.

He knew all these people. Just moments ago, Nan Jianlan had pointed them out and introduced them to him—

These people were all young masters from noble families who had asked for Nan Jianxue’s hand in marriage.

There was only one person in the same situation on the field who was okay.

Liang Qifeng looked at Ji Zeyan and saw that he was also frowning, seemingly unaware of the situation.

If he was also a target, then…

Liang Qifeng’s gaze shifted to the plate of pastries by Nan Jianxue’s hand, from which a piece had been eaten. His face immediately darkened.

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