If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Chapter 114 Sending a House

Xi Lingxian always thought her family was no less capable, but after the Shen family incident, she suddenly realized the methods and abilities of top-tier aristocratic families.

It wouldn't be surprising to say that ordinary people, second-class nobles, and those from humble backgrounds were all at their mercy.

After being made things difficult by Gu Yong both openly and secretly several times, Xi Lingxian immediately lost all interest in this brothel; they were all a bunch of hypocrites!

As winter approached, the workload at the academy became increasingly lighter. Several of the most important festivals in the current dynasty fell in winter, and the young noblemen in the academy, relying on their family background, could easily obtain official positions. None of them were truly studying for their future; they were merely indulging in refined pursuits and seeking a good reputation.

With more fun things to do in winter, who would want to stay quietly in the study?

For several days in a row, fewer and fewer people attended the school. Everyone had a legitimate reason: they had caught a cold, were at home performing ancestral rites, or had returned to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors...

Xi Lingxian felt that having to be careful around Xiao Yun in addition to reading every day was exhausting, so she simply stopped going.

The Xi family also has a library, so she can learn whatever she wants at home, or hire a private tutor if necessary.

Shen Qingdai had come with her, so when she heard that she was leaving, she naturally left as well.

The two girls packed their bedding and books, got into the carriage, and left without looking back.

Xi Lingxian rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window, and said dejectedly, "It's rare for someone as uneducated as me to want to study, and I end up in a place like this. You wouldn't believe it, that person is supposed to be a headmaster, but he's just a hypocrite like Xiao Yun, and he's made things difficult for me both openly and secretly several times."

Shen Qingdai said indignantly, "It's not surprising. You and I are good friends, so he must be targeting you. But I heard that this time, Grand Commandant Wang is really ruthless. The Gu family has been purged quite severely."

"Is it really that ruthless? The eldest wife of the Gu family is a member of the Xie family. This whole thing is so intricately linked, how could the Wang family not show any mercy?"

Shen Qingdai sighed: "That's the sad thing. Don't be fooled by the fact that we daughters of noble families are born into high-ranking clans and are treated gently and lovingly by our fathers, brothers, uncles and aunts. But when it comes to the upheavals in the court and the transfer of interests, all the kinship and kinship ties are worthless."

Men scheme for the world, weighing the pros and cons, always only caring about the rise and fall of their families and the gains and losses of power; the feelings of women are nothing more than chips in those calculations.

The horse-drawn carriage rumbled back from Zhongshan to Jiankang City.

Shen Qingdai was going to prepare gifts for the elders in her family. The Shen family had turned misfortune into good fortune, and with the New Year approaching, the relatives planned to have a good celebration and reunion.

Xi Lingxian also prepared a gift to congratulate Uncle Shen Pu on the exoneration of his father.

"Fanfan, my father was able to return safely this time thanks to the Wang family. My mother asked me to choose some nice things to send to the Wang family as a token of our gratitude. What do you think would be a good gift?"

Xi Lingxian paused for a moment, then said, "That's easy. The Langya Wang family has a long tradition of scholarship, so writing implements, antiques, and calligraphy are definitely reliable."

"These are all correct, but they're nothing new either; the Master has done my family a great favor this time, and I really don't know how to thank him; owing such a huge favor makes me feel like I'm carrying a heavy burden on my shoulders."

Xi Lingxian picked up a bronze wine vessel and toyed with it, casually smiling as she said, "Does your Shen family still have any daughters of marriageable age? Shouldn't you repay a life-saving debt with your body?"

Shen Qingdai looked horrified, but soon broke into a laugh and said, "Don't tease me. Do you know how coveted the position of the young mistress of the Wang family is? No—not even the position of young mistress, but the position of concubine. Those positions are fought over by the daughters of officials of the fourth or fifth rank, or even the second or third rank."

"Offer yourself in return? They might think we're repaying kindness with enmity."

"Hahaha." Xi Lingxian couldn't help but laugh, sweeping away the depression she had been feeling lately.

Shen Qingdai selected a set of fine writing implements, a painting by a famous artist, and two bronze antiques.

After being delivered to Wuyi Lane, the items were handed over to the gatekeeper for recording, and Shen Qingdai would inevitably have to go in and socialize with him.

Xi Lingxian sat in the carriage waiting; it was not appropriate for her and Wang Jue to meet again now.

It's not good for either of them.

Shen Qingdai had been entertaining guests for quite a while. Xi Lingxian lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and glanced outside. Suddenly, she heard a series of hurried footsteps behind her.

"Miss Xi."

Peach branch peeked out and saw a servant in a gray-blue short shirt running up breathlessly, carrying a vermilion lacquered wooden box in his hands.

Reaching the car window, he respectfully held the wooden box above his head with both hands, saying, "Miss Xi, my second young master instructed me to give this to you."

Xi Lingxian was taken aback.

As if afraid she would refuse, the servant shoved the wooden box into Taozhi's arms and ran away.

Xi Lingxian stared at the wooden box for a long time before opening it. Inside was a house deed and land deed for a house in Wuyi Lane.

Wuyi Lane was occupied by the Wang and Xie families for nearly a century. It was a symbol of the top aristocratic families and could not be bought with money alone.

Why did he give her this?

Could it be that she gave up the house as compensation to his aunt?

Shen Qingdai climbed into the car and breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me to death, Fanfan. You have no idea how thin the teacher is."

"?" Xi Lingxian looked up blankly. Who became a ghost?

"The teacher has lost a lot of weight, and he kept coughing after saying just a few words to me; perhaps sick people are more vulnerable. Today was the first time I felt that the teacher was quite kind and gentle."

Xi Lingxian pouted, "Did you tell him I came with you?"

"I didn't say that." Shen Qingdai noticed the box in her hand. "What?"

"A house in Wuyi Lane? Who's so generous?"

"...Given by Wang Jue."

"For whom? You?"

She nodded, and Shen Qingdai leaned back in surprise. "...Does this mean they're going to give betrothal gifts?"

"What are you talking about? Get serious."

"What other explanation is there? Is this the kind of mansion that ordinary people could afford?"

"...I recently gave away a house I liked to that aunt of the Wang family. Maybe they feel indebted to me."

Shen Qingdai found the two of them really strange.

They are clearly different from each other, yet they act as if they will never speak to each other again.

enemy.

Langya Prince's Mansion

Wang Jue, wearing a fox fur cloak, stood under the eaves, his eyes fixed on the corridor on one side.

"Young master, I have delivered all your instructions to Miss Xi."

"Um."

"Young master, please go back to your room. It's snowing, and you're still not fully recovered. Be careful not to catch a chill."

Wang Jue pulled his fox fur coat tighter around himself, reached out, and caught a snowflake.

A cool sensation seeped in through my fingertips, like an extremely fine needle.

Memories, tinged with pain, lead back to a past life.

It was also a snowy day.

He returned home from outside, his mind filled with a bunch of messy affairs at court, making him very irritable; just as he stepped into the courtyard, a snowball suddenly flew from the side, hitting him squarely in the cheek, and then landing on the side of his neck.

The icy snowflakes seeped into his collar, and he froze for a moment.

Then came a burst of crisp laughter, clearly gloating.

Xi Lingxian stood under the plum blossom tree, wearing a pomegranate red cloak, laughing so hard she almost fell over.

That snowball was her prank.

"You—" He was furious, his face turning black.

"What do you mean, 'you'? Come have a snowball fight with me."

"I'm busy."

"Even if you don't have time, you still need to have time."

"I said, no—"

Another snowball came flying at him, hitting him in the chest.

Now I really have to make time even if I don't have it.

He had to retaliate and show her what was what.