Chapter 178 - 135:
"I have no such intention..."
"Coming to you daily, there’s no pretense of modesty; even if it means being shameless, I’ll admit to it," Pei Yuxuan interrupted him loudly, her pale lips trembling slightly, "I came today just to get one answer from you."
Xie YanYu raised his drooping eyelids to look at her and said, "Ask away."
"Next spring, my mother will openly start looking for a suitor for me. If you have any intention towards me, just tell me, and I’ll wait for you to come and propose, and the matter of choosing a suitor will be called off..."
After pausing briefly, Pei Yuxuan continued, "If you have no intention towards me, then tell me directly, so that I can give up."
During this period, every encounter between them was initiated by Pei Yuxuan. Xie YanYu remained courteous, yet aloof, never showing her any favor nor dismissing her approach.
Their interactions were actually numerous, but sustained solely by her enthusiasm.
Like a blazing little sun, she hovered before him daily.
Such confidence and openness only appear in girls raised with abundant love and care.
She held out her sincere heart, seeking an answer from him.
Xie YanYu’s gaze fell on her hands holding the teacup. The girl’s delicate fingers were slightly pale from her exertion.
Always a confident and bold girl, now at a loss.
He pondered for a few moments, lowering his eyes and said, "Commandery Princess, please return."
"What do you mean? Xie YanYu, I only want a definite answer."
Pei Yuxuan fixed her gaze on him, her tone stubborn: "If you don’t like me, just straightforwardly say you have no intention; rest assured, even if I like you, I won’t continue to entangle."
"The Commandery Princess misplaces her affection, but I have no intention to marry," Xie YanYu said. "I only hope the Commandery Princess will seek another good match."
Seek another good match...
Pei Yuqing stared blankly for a few moments, seeming finally to come to her senses and forced a smile.
"I understand," she blinked swiftly, holding the hot tea to her lips, allowing the steam to make her eyes sting, which released a string of tears into the cup, promptly swallowed them all down.
She set the teacup down, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped her lips before saying, "During this period, I was rather impolite, causing inconvenience to Mr. Xie; I deeply apologize."
No longer.
She would adhere to her mother’s arranged marriage, no longer opposing her elders due to her own feelings.
"I also wish you all the best, to marry a girl you truly love."
In the end, he spoke only of having no intention to marry, not explicitly stating he had no intention towards her, preserving her last bit of dignity.
Though he was indifferent to her, he was truly a good man.
Yet such a good man would not be hers.
Pei Yuxuan felt the urge to cry again; she fought hard to hold back, took one last look at him, and hurriedly disembarked from the carriage.
Almost like fleeing in panic.
After she left, Xie YanYu sat quietly for a while, his expression calm, unknown thoughts occupying him.
After a long time, he gently tapped the side of the carriage, and the coachman understood, driving away from the place.
......
Capital outskirts, Chuyun Mountain.
Samantabhadra Temple is built halfway up the mountain, not too high, but it takes a good half an hour to walk up, step by step.
Xie Wanqing had visited many times; though accustomed to luxury and laziness, she was after all an adept in archery, horse riding, and shooting under the encouragement of her father and brothers, so this distance did not stump her.
She always relied on her own feet to walk up.
After all, they were going to the temple for incense; the sisters only brought one distant maidservant, blending in with the worshipers inconspicuously.
Stopping and starting along the way, the sisters finally entered the temple and offered incense.
Xie Ruyu took the bamboo tube, closed her eyes, and began to draw lots.
A wooden lot fell; she picked it up and handed it to the temple priest, "Asking about marriage, may the master offer guidance."
"It’s a middle lot," said the temple priest after taking it, "For marriage interpretation, the girl’s match is coming, but you must take it lightly like the wind passing the ear, nor be aggressively competitive, for all to rejoice."
Xie Ruyu furrowed her brow, somewhat puzzled, but seeing the waiting worshipers behind needing interpretation, she thanked and stepped aside.
Regarding her little cousin’s marriage, Xie Wanqing was also very concerned, observing this, she asked, "Has Aunt started discussing marriage for you?"
"Not Mother, Father," mentioning marriage, Xie Ruyu showed no usual girlish shyness.
She said, "Father intends to betroth me to the new imperial examination’s third-ranked Duan Cheng; he will appear at Samantabhadra Temple today for us to meet, and if suitable, the six rites will proceed."
So it is Duan Cheng.
Xie Wanqing was about to speak when Xie Ruyu pointed at the bamboo tube and said, "Sister Wanwan, would you like to draw a lot too?"
"No." Xie Wanqing shook her head; she had no current doubts needing resolution. Her marriage is settled, children are not urgent, parents are sound in health; everything is smooth.