Chapter 3

At Qu Shui River.

Wang Muyi held Nianxi’s hand, chatting all the way. “These past days, when I visited you, you always seemed sick and listless. My mother feared I would disturb your recovery, but today, you seem much better.”

Nianxi smiled lightly. “Thank you, Aunt and Cousin, for your concern.”

The Aunt Nianxi referred to was Marchioness Guangping. Both her aunt and her mother were from the Li family of Longxi. Back then, her aunt married the rightful heir of Marquis Guangping, while her mother fell in love with the handsome and elegant new scholar, Wen Yuanqiao.

Her grandfather, Li Gong, admired her father’s talents, and despite the Wen family’s humble background, he still married his daughter to him. Over the years, her father had always been working away from home. Only recently had he managed to be transferred back to the capital, taking up a leisurely position as a fourth-rank official in the National Academy.

“Sisters don’t need to speak so formally.” Wang Muyi was a spirited and straightforward person, dressed in crimson brocade with flowers and clouds, her hair in a high bun, exuding a bit of heroic spirit, but her words were full of tender affection: “I’ve checked out all the young men who came today; none of them have poor family backgrounds. If you find someone you like, don’t be shy.” She was already engaged to the rightful heir of Marquis Pingyang. Today’s outing by Qu Shui was for her cousin’s future.

Uncle Wen was somewhat of a pedantic scholar, and Wang Muyi feared that her beautiful and delicate cousin might also be as aloof and rigid, thus wasting her mother’s efforts.

Unexpectedly, Nianxi asked, “Wouldn’t it be looked down upon if a girl is too proactive?”

Wang Muyi was secretly delighted and quickly said, “Of course not! Do you see that girl under the willow tree up ahead?

She is Xu Wanxin, the daughter of the Minister of War. She was once engaged to Pei Jian, the eldest son of the Pei family. Although the engagement was called off, her love for Pei Jian is known throughout the capital. We all think she is courageous.”

It was the first time Nianxi heard the story of Pei Jian and his cousin Xu Wanxin from an outsider’s perspective. In her previous life, she went to Chongming Tower, met Pei Jian through her brother, and thought they were in mutual love, feeling overjoyed. No one had ever spoken to her about Xu Wanxin. It turned out that her cousin, who had later cursed Xu Wanxin in various ways, had initially looked at her with admiration and approval.

“However, Xu Wanxin has poor judgment.” Wang Muyi shook her head as she spoke, “Besides his face, Pei Jian has a terrible character. He never shows a kind face to any of the young ladies, acting as if everyone covets his looks. I don’t know what everyone sees in him.”

Nianxi smirked, feeling a mix of awkwardness and amusement. At the same time, she was curious whether, without her, Pei Jian and his cousin could end up together this time. But she quickly adjusted her mindset; she shouldn’t be curious about Pei Jian’s affairs. That person was already irrelevant to her.

She raised her chin and asked about the man riding a tall horse on the official road not far away, “Who is that gentleman?”

She had never seen him before.

Wang Muyi followed Nianxi’s gaze and then laughed, “Are you talking about Gu Ci? He is the young general from Duke Zhenguo’s household. His father and brothers are stationed at the border, but he stays in the capital to study.”

“Many young ladies in the capital, both awake and dreaming, think about him.”

Gu Ci was dressed in a warrior’s outfit, a precious sword at his waist. The leather belt accentuated his slim waist, his long legs clamping the horse’s belly, his eyes slightly upturned, exuding a natural nobility, surrounded by people laughing and talking.

Silver saddle on a white horse, full of youthful vigor.

Truly outstanding.

Seeing the man opposite looking back at her, Nianxi withdrew her gaze and said indifferently, “Is that so?”

Although she wanted to find a man to talk about love, she was not truly fifteen years old. As a twenty-eight-year-old noblewoman, if she had given birth early, her child would probably be playing among this group of people.

Nianxi found it hard to convince herself to interact with these young men without any reservations. However, while she couldn’t do it, someone else could easily help her.

The so-called Qu Shui outing was no different from the usual banquets, with poetry, painting, butterfly chasing, flower viewing, kite flying, boat rides, and sightseeing. The only difference was that the elders would be more lenient on this day, imposing fewer restrictions on the interactions between young men and women.

Introduced by her cousin, Nianxi met a group of young ladies. Most of them would marry into prestigious families in the future. In her previous life, Nianxi had interacted with them many times and knew their likes and dislikes very well, making her conversations with them smooth and natural. This made the noble ladies present feel both close and curious about her.

At first, they thought Nianxi’s family background was low, but later, they found her to be endearing and lovely.

“Her maternal grandfather is from the Li family of Longxi, a truly prestigious family. How could a daughter from such a family be anything but exceptional?”

“Her soft Wu dialect made me think she was delicate, but she turned out to be remarkably composed and genuine, without any pretense.”

At this moment, someone said sourly, “When she arrived, many young men secretly looked at her.”

Upon hearing this, the ladies fell silent.

It was because Nianxi was indeed outstanding. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waves, her skin as delicate as jade, her bright eyes sparkling, exuding a clear and elegant beauty.

There was even a hint of melancholy in her brows. It was captivating and endearing.

When she arrived, the entire Qu Shui fell silent for a moment. It seemed that when the goddess Nuwa created humans, she gave all the essence of heaven and earth to Nianxi alone.

At this moment, someone joked, “I used to think that only my sister was the most beautiful in the capital, but now that Miss Wen is here, it’s hard to say who is more beautiful.”

Xu Wanxin was making tea, and her smile froze upon hearing this. However, she quickly covered it up and continued her actions, her voice gentle, “I am of humble origins and cannot compare to Miss Wen.”

Nianxi was unaware of these conversations.

Just now, while chatting with the ladies, even though they would all become elegant and dignified noblewomen in the future, at this moment, they were still young and innocent. Even their verbal sparring was filled with the charm and innocence of young girls.

Like roses with dew, they were full of vibrant allure.

Nianxi was inexplicably infected by this atmosphere and quickly integrated into it, becoming a true fifteen-year-old girl.

The spring sunlight was bright, and her youth was in full bloom. Suddenly, she became interested and pulled her cousin to fly a kite with her. But the kite was too big, and even with the help of the two maids, Xing Yue and Chun Tao, the four of them couldn’t get the kite to fly after a long time.

Nianxi didn’t feel discouraged. Her bright face was relaxed and carefree. She wiped her sweat with a handkerchief and looked up, just in time to meet a pair of deep phoenix eyes. It was the young man on the tall horse from earlier, Gu Ci.

Nianxi didn’t avoid his gaze and smiled gently.

The young man was stunned for a moment, then walked over.

“Need some help?” His voice was clear, and against the light, the warm spring sun softly enveloped him, making his smile exceptionally bright and dazzling.

A phrase inexplicably floated into Nianxi’s mind— A dashing young man, as graceful as a jade tree in the wind.