The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 23

The Dowager Duchess of Cheng’en was celebrating her birthday, and Madam Li brought Nian Xi to offer congratulations.

The Dowager Duchess’s youngest daughter was Imperial Concubine Shu in the palace. Her favor had not waned in the twenty years since she entered the palace. The Emperor loved the house for the sake of its occupant, bestowing continuous gifts in recent days.

The Cheng’en Duke’s Residence hosted a continuous feast for three days.

Today was the main day, and virtually all the influential families in the capital had arrived.

The entire Cheng’en Duke’s Residence was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, with carved beams and painted pillars, and a throng of carriages and horses filling the entrance.

However, Nian Xi remembered that before long, Imperial Concubine Shu would pass away, and the Cheng’en Duke’s Residence would subsequently fall into decline.

The greater the glory and grandeur of today, the deeper the melancholy and desolation of tomorrow.

Nian Xi sincerely performed the ritual prostration to the Dowager Duchess and was then held by the hand and praised by Madam He, the Duchess of Cheng’en, for a long while.

Madam Li smiled. “Please stop praising her. This child has been spoiled by her father and me. Aside from having read a few more books than others, there’s nothing remarkable about her.”

Nian Xi stood quietly to the side. At a time like this, she only needed to maintain the proper etiquette of a well-bred young lady and serve as part of the background.

Yet, position fosters character, and nurturing influences disposition. Status and environment can subtly change a person’s temperament and refinement. In her past life, Nian Xi was Madam Pei for ten years. That sense of composure made her a striking presence, even among the many noble young ladies in the Hall of Reverent Cultivation.

Madam He asked with a smile, “Has she reached the age for the hairpin ceremony (Jiji)?”

Nian Xi nodded, not reserved or shy, and replied with graceful composure, “I completed fifteen at the beginning of the year.”

Madam He’s smile deepened. She turned to Madam Li and said, “With such looks and temperament, the young men in the capital probably won’t easily catch her eye.”

This was a subtle inquiry about Nian Xi’s marriage prospects. Madam He’s youngest son was of a comparable age to Nian Xi.

A few days ago, when Madam Li intended to arrange Nian Xi’s engagement, Nian Xi said, “I am still young, and Brother has not yet married. I don’t need to rush.”

Madam Li was unwilling, as a daughter was only considered settled once her future was decided.

Nian Xi had to resort to feigning pity. “You keep saying that once I become someone else’s daughter-in-law, I won’t be able to live as I do now. Since the Duke of Zhenguo is still in the Northern Frontier, why not let your daughter enjoy herself a little longer?”

Her words perfectly aligned with the wishes of Wen Yuanqiao and Wen Qingheng. Aside from Madam Li, the entire family strongly supported her. Madam Li had no choice but to personally go to the Duke of Zhenguo’s Residence and explain to Madam Wang. She simply said that Nian Xi was too young and her family couldn’t bear to let her go, and they would reconsider after the Duke of Zhenguo returned to the capital, and so on.

Madam Wang was very sensible, and this was reasonable. She immediately agreed, and the two families reached an understanding.

Now, when Madam He inquired, Madam Li replied subtly, “She has a mind of her own, and I must listen to her opinion.”

The implication was clear. In ancient times, marriage was decided by parental command and matchmaker’s words. For Madam Li to speak this way meant Nian Xi already had someone in mind.

They were all perceptive people, so Madam He quickly changed the subject, stopping the probing there.

The Marchioness of Pingyang was also present. Nian Xi seized a pause in the conversation to signal to Cousin Mu. Wang Muyi, having married, had to serve her mother-in-law in public. She could only find leisure after her mother-in-law permitted it.

Nian Xi left the main hall first.

Since seeing Pei Jian at the corner gate that day, Nian Xi had resolved to live her life seriously. She had spent these days planning to open a perfumed beverage shop.

However, the cost of opening a shop was too high. No matter how much she reduced expenses, she couldn’t afford a storefront. So, she thought of asking Cousin Mu to invest.

Today, she intended to discuss this matter with Cousin Mu.

Exiting the main hall and following the garden path, she passed by a cluster of flowering trees. She suddenly heard the name “Pei Shizhang” being spoken from the other side of the trees, carried through the overlapping branches and leaves.

Nian Xi involuntarily slowed her steps.

“…Once he drinks the wine, you lead him to the West Wing.”

Another voice was hesitant. “Princess, are you truly going to do this?”

“What else?”

The first crisp voice said again, “How many invitations has this Princess sent? When has that scoundrel Pei Jian ever responded? If not for the Dowager Duchess’s birthday, and the fact that we are familiar with the terrain of the Cheng’en Duke’s Residence, where would we find such a good opportunity? Tell Yan Qing to proceed carefully.”

“Your servant observed that Guard Yan seems somewhat reluctant.”

“He’s just a guard. Does he think he can defy heaven? Once this Princess and Pei Jian have succeeded, I will reward all of you handsomely.”

Hearing this, Nian Xi basically guessed who the person behind the flowering trees was—Princess Wenshuo, Xiao Nanxi, the daughter of Imperial Concubine Shu.

It seemed they were planning to drug Pei Jian.

Nian Xi tiptoed past the area, careful not to attract any attention.

With the constant flow of people in the Cheng’en Duke’s Residence, Nian Xi chose another path to wait for her cousin.

After a long while, Wang Muyi finally arrived, looking disgruntled. Before Nian Xi could speak, she launched into a rapid-fire complaint:

“That’s why I say it’s better to be a maiden! My mother-in-law wants me to hold her in the palm of my hand at all times. We’re not even at her own residence, she should at least restrain herself. Whether drinking tea or eating snacks, I must hand it to her myself…”

“I finally managed to get permission to go and entertain myself, but then Pei Shizhang walked in. He is the darling of the capital now; everyone wants him as their son-in-law. My sister-in-law had all her thoughts written on her face. Before anyone even did anything, she panicked. Not only did she knock over the tea on the table, but she also made me lose face. Only after tidying up for her did I manage to slip away.”

Saying this, Wang Muyi sighed first. “Pei Shizhang is truly a menace. One foolish Xu Wanxin wasn’t enough, and now he has added so many others.”

“You probably don’t know this, but Xu Wanxin is practically the laughingstock of the capital now.”

Nian Xi didn’t know where Cousin Mu heard all this gossip. She was completely unaware and asked, “What happened?”

The two went to a pavilion. Wang Muyi sat down and took a sip of 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, rumors spread in the capital that Pei Jian would propose marriage to the Xu family after the Palace Examination. Even Xu Wanxin herself subtly hinted at this intention.”

Nian Xi asked, “Did he break his promise?”

Wang Muyi shook her head. “Not exactly, after all, he never said he would propose marriage.

But Xu Wanxin couldn’t wait any longer. She’s getting older and shouldn’t waste any more time. Minister Xu had no choice but to ask the matchmaker to send a message. Who knew Pei Jian would say, ‘Since both sides have broken the engagement, spilled water cannot be retrieved; do not mention it again’?”

He had actually outright rejected Xu Wanxin.

Nian Xi was greatly astonished. Wang Muyi smiled, seeing her expression. “Right? Those words are truly heartless. Otherwise, the matchmaker wouldn’t have passed them on.”

Nian Xi was utterly baffled. “Since he is so merciless, why do people still foolishly like him?”

Wang Muyi clapped her hands and laughed. “They are indeed foolish. But everyone says that Young Master Pei’s behavior is called integrity! The Xu family poured scorn on him that year, even bringing up the old affairs of his second uncle, the Duke of Zheng, and his wife. He is at his most popular right now.”

Nian Xi was momentarily speechless.

She had thought that without her interference, Pei Jian and Cousin Xu would surely become lifelong companions.

Could it be that his state of mind had changed after his rebirth?

Nian Xi couldn’t figure it out.

But what did any of this have to do with her?

Nian Xi smiled easily, casting these matters to the back of her mind.