Chapter 177 - 135
All he could think about was that in their previous life, during the two years of their marriage, that girl never once initiated a kiss with him.
No matter where, it never happened.
Every time they were intimate, it was always him who couldn’t help himself, holding her tightly in his arms and kissing her over and over again.
And she...
The one who claimed to love him, couldn’t even be bothered to respond.
Now, she was willing to leave her mark on another man.
...What else did they do!
Lu Ziyuan’s hand trembled suddenly, almost rising impulsively to tear off the facade from the young man opposite him to see what else they had done!
The Emperor glanced at him several times, noticing his absent-mindedness, and his expression gradually grew displeased.
Until the meeting ended, it was almost noon, and the Emperor ordered a banquet.
Lu Ziyuan, however, rose to take his leave.
Ignoring the Emperor’s persuasion, he turned and left the Imperial Palace.
Mingjian, who had been waiting at the palace gate, was startled by the icy aura emanating from his master before he could even speak as Lu Ziyuan emerged.
Lu Ziyuan mounted his horse, galloping away on Ben Yun, with Mingjian quickly following suit.
Soon they reached the Duke Pei Mansion, and Lu Ziyuan was about to climb over the wall when Mingjian hurriedly stopped him.
"Miss Xie went to the temple outside the city to pray today; she’s not inside."
Lu Ziyuan glanced at him and turned his horse around, "Lead the way!"
...
An hour earlier.
Xie YanYu left court, departing from the Imperial Palace. Sitting in the carriage heading to the government office, he toyed with a string of prayer beads in his hand, eyes slightly closed, lost in thought.
When the carriage halted, a familiar girlish voice drifted in, causing him to frown slightly as he lifted the side curtain of the carriage.
Amidst the heavy snowfall, beneath the banyan tree at the government office entrance, the Little Princess was wrapped in a goose-yellow fox fur coat, holding a hand warmer in her sleeves, with only half of her little face exposed, smiling sweetly at the man inside the carriage, "Brother Xie, I have a few words I want to say to you."
The Princess’s outings, especially in such snowy weather, always had a maid by her side to hold an umbrella to shield off the snow, and two guards stood from a distance for protection.
The carriage from the Duke Pei Mansion was opulently grand, and even when parked in a corner, it was enough to catch the eyes of the passing officials.
Xie YanYu’s furrowed brows did not relax, casting a glance at her frost-bitten red face, he said coolly, "I have official matters to attend to, Commandery Princess, please return."
Pei Yuxuan’s smile froze slightly, her fingers clenched the warmer a little tighter, nervously she uttered, "Just a few words, ...and I’ll leave after saying them."
But this was hardly an appropriate place for conversation.
Just as Xie YanYu was about to refuse again, he saw the young girl in the snow looking up at him with pleading eyes.
His gaze softened for a moment, and the words that were about to be spoken changed.
"Get in the carriage."
A single man and woman alone in a carriage wasn’t particularly proper, yet Pei Yuxuan dismissed her maid, refusing to let her accompany her inside.
Since the government office wasn’t the place for conversation, as soon as she got in, the carriage wheels began to slowly turn, stopping only at a secluded alleyway where no one passed by.
The inside of the carriage was very warm. Pei Yuxuan took her hands out of her sleeve warmer, removed the hat from her head, and smiled at the man opposite her, her lips red and teeth white, looking very charming.
But Xie YanYu didn’t look at her, merely raising his hand to pour a cup of hot tea, which he handed over.
"What does the Commandery Princess want to say?"
Pei Yuxuan held the tea cup in both hands, her face reddening. After a moment of hesitation, as if making up her mind, she looked up and spoke candidly, "A few days ago, my mother said that after the New Year, I’ll be eighteen and should be betrothed. She asked if there was someone I fancied."
The Duke Pei Mansion was wealthy enough not to need to sacrifice their daughter’s marriage to win over others.
With only this one daughter, Princess Duan Yang cherished her dearly, treating her as a precious jewel, having granted her the title of Commandery Princess since childhood, and had planned her marriage well long ago. Even if the social rank was lower, it didn’t matter, as long as she liked the person.
Since a marriage discussion was to take place, the first to inquire about was the daughter’s opinion.
Pei Yuxuan looked at the man opposite her, her eyes filled with undisguised hope, seemingly twinkling like stars.
"Brother Xie, do you understand my feelings?" she bit her lip, a hint of shyness crossing her face before she boldly continued, "If you feel the same for me, then..."
At this point, she didn’t dare to finish her sentence, only looking at him expectantly.
Xie YanYu remained quietly listening throughout, his expression unchanged.
Once she finished speaking, he simply said, "Since ancient times, the important matter of marriage has been in the hands of elders. The Commandery Princess should not lightly discuss marriage with outsiders."
"What do you mean by that?" Pei Yuxuan’s face turned pale, the bright sparkle in her eyes dimming, "Are you saying I am shameless?"