Chapter 128

The dancer began to sway gracefully again, but Lu Wensheng remained unmoved. Raising the white jade square cup, he tilted his head back, drinking it in one go. His Adam’s apple moved, an effortless display of elegance.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s kindness, but I feel rather tired today.” Lu Wensheng’s face still bore a gentle smile, but his eyes had cooled as he looked at Xiao Xun. “Does Your Highness have any important matters to discuss today?”

Xiao Xun couldn’t suppress the sneer rising in his heart.

Five or six officials sat in the private room—Xiao Xun’s confidants. Each had dancers and musicians by their side, except for Lu Wensheng, who refused to conform to the revelry.

Xiao Xun felt slighted and harbored resentment, though he didn’t let it show on his face.

“Uncle disdains such ordinary women, fine. Xiang Fu, you may leave.”

Using the wine to mask his expression, Xiao Xun continued to smile faintly:

“The other day on the street, I accidentally saw Pei Jian with a woman. Judging from his demeanor, he seems to care deeply for her. Since he’s often ruined my plans, I’m considering bringing this woman into my residence as a concubine. Uncle, what do you think?”

Xiao Xun had taken a wife the previous year. Princess Consort Jing was a virtuous, gentle, and quiet woman.

Lu Wensheng instinctively disliked this suggestion. However, in front of others, having just refused Xiao Xun’s earlier offer, it wouldn’t do to contradict him again. The young King Jing might not be able to save face.

Still, dragging an innocent woman into the power struggles of men was despicable in Lu Wensheng’s eyes. Thus, he refrained from expressing his opinion and instead asked: “Do you know which family’s young lady she is?”

Xiao Xun leaned casually against the armrest with one hand while holding a beauty by his side with the other. He said indifferently, “She’s merely the daughter of a modest household, incapable of stirring much trouble. I’m even elevating her status, allowing her to ascend to higher ranks.”

The scent of alcohol surrounded him, causing Lu Wensheng to instinctively lean back slightly.

Though his expression remained composed, Lu Wensheng sighed inwardly, realizing that this matter might now be beyond resolution. His proud and self-assured nephew had suffered such a significant setback because of Pei Jian and would undoubtedly seek to make up for it elsewhere.

Still, using a woman for revenge was, in Lu Wensheng’s view, disgraceful. He couldn’t help but offer another piece of advice: “Pei Jian is a wise man beyond his years and has grand ambitions. Making an enemy of him would be unwise.”

“Do you think I fear him?” Xiao Xun sneered, tilting his head back to drink the wine the beauty offered, his smile carefree while his eyes gleamed with malice. “When I bring that woman into my residence, Uncle, you must speak well of me for it.”

Regardless of whether this Wen Nianxi was the “Wen” who had caught his uncle’s attention, Xiao Xun was determined to take this woman as his own, if only to spite Pei Jian.

Lu Wensheng remained silent for a moment and said nothing.

…

As the year-end approached, heavy snow fell again and again.

For the year-end court visits and evaluations, the court required that all officials from various departments nationwide arrive in the capital by the 25th day of the twelfth month.

Recently, the capital has become particularly lively.

Visiting officials paid homage to the emperor and underwent evaluations by the Ministry of Appointments, where promotions, rewards, or dismissals were decided based on their performance. As a result, the eastern and western markets, teahouses, inns, and entertainment venues saw streams of distinguished guests day and night.

Banquets among prominent families also increased.

At the end of the year, there was always something to celebrate—be it personal achievements or maintaining social ties. Sometimes, even two or three families would host gatherings simultaneously.

Nianxi had attended a few gatherings but fell ill after catching a chill on one occasion while drinking. Some close friends visited her at home, allowing her to rest and recover. With the snowy and bitterly cold weather, she became even more reluctant to go out. She gave the book she had brought back from Pei Jian’s residence to Zhou Yanli.

Pei Jian was a person of strong pragmatism and purpose. He didn’t share his father’s genuine passion for reading and writing. Therefore, any book he chose to preserve was bound to contain content highly beneficial for the imperial examinations.

Zhou Yanli accepted the book with a smile, casually flipping through a few pages before saying with feigned nonchalance, “Thank you, Elder Sister, for thinking of me. Such a precious manuscript—I wouldn’t even know how to thank Lord Pei properly.”

Nianxi thought for a moment before responding with a laugh, “I don’t know either. Perhaps ink, paper, and brushes would suffice.”

Pei Jian’s preferences were rarely for material possessions but rather for pursuits of self-improvement and advancement.

Zhou Yanli carefully observed her expression and felt slightly reassured upon seeing that her demeanor remained neutral when Pei Jian was mentioned.

Since that meal at Panlou, Nianxi had become increasingly polite toward him. Despite Zhou Yanli’s efforts to act obediently and play the role of a good younger brother, the closeness they once shared could not be regained.

Zhou Yanli no longer understood what she was thinking.

In the past, Nianxi was easy to read—just a slight furrow of her brows, and he would know her thoughts. But within less than a year, she had become a mystery to him.

“Why aren’t you attending the banquet today, Elder Sister?”

Nianxi was painting at the desk. The little rabbit on the paper was round and plump, wearing a floating fairy skirt around its waist. It was lively and adorable, leaping off the page.

“This rabbit in the painting is quite charming.”

Nianxi held her breath as she carefully added the finishing touch to the rabbit’s eyes. Only then did she exhale deeply. After several days of painting rabbits, today’s creation finally felt complete.

“Endless banquets—so boring they could drive one mad,” she remarked.

Zhou Yanli chuckled softly, his handsome features becoming even more captivating. “Since you were a girl, you’ve never liked attending banquets. Every time, you’d sneak away from the gathering.”

“Really?” Nianxi was momentarily stunned.

“Of course. I always knew that by the lakes, ponds, or wherever there was water, I’d find you fastest.” Zhou Yanli’s voice carried a lingering warmth, filled with nostalgia for the past.

Nianxi fell silent. She thought of Zhou Yanli from her previous life and how they had reunited—at an exhausting banquet, by a desolate, snow-covered lakeshore. She felt a twinge of sadness in her heart but was powerless to pull Zhou Yanli out of his immersion in the past.

“Yanli, with the year-end approaching, when will you return to Jinling?” she asked.

Zhou Yanli’s smile froze momentarily. “In a while, I suppose. Whether I return or not makes no difference to my family.”

Zhou Yanli’s father had remarried just three months after his mother passed away, quickly having two sons and a daughter with his new wife. That stepmother, with her hypocritical kindness, raised children who showed little respect for Zhou Yanli. He had little affection for the Zhou family.

Nianxi picked up her brush and smiled, “Yanli, what small animal do you like?”

Zhou Yanli didn’t understand her intent but instinctively answered, “Cats.”

In truth, the one who really liked cats was Nianxi herself. Zhou Yanli didn’t have any particular preferences. However, Madam Li was allergic to cat fur, so she couldn’t keep one. Whenever she saw a cat, she would only watch from afar and never dared to touch it. Others might not know this, but Zhou Yanli knew her likes and dislikes more than anyone else.

In just a few strokes, Nianxi painted a stretching cat on the paper. Then she unfolded the paper and asked with a bright smile, “How is it?”

Zhou Yanli, captivated by her smile, felt his heart light up with joy as well. “It’s lovely.”

“When I learn how to make lanterns, I’ll gift you a little cat lantern. By the Lantern Festival, you’ll likely still be in Jinling, and you can hang it up to celebrate,” she said warmly.

Zhou Yanli looked at her and promised, “It will surely be adorable. I’ll take good care of it. Thank you.”

“I’m your elder sister; it’s my duty to take care of you,” Nianxi replied, lifting her gaze to him. “Yanli, all I want is for you to feel a little happier and more at ease.”

Zhou Yanli chuckled softly. “Because you’re my elder sister, of course.”

He shook his head slowly, letting out a faint laugh, whispering to himself so only he could hear, “I knew it—how could something that good happen to me?”

When he looked up again, his expression had returned to normal. Pointing at another drawing of a rabbit on the table, he asked, “Is this one also for making a lantern?”

Nianxi followed his gaze and softened her expression before replying, “It’s a gift for someone far away—a friend from the past.”