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

While still hoping to achieve a harmonious relationship with Wang Jue and his wife, Xi Lingxian spent a period of time diligently paying her respects to her mother-in-law, Xie, morning and evening, and even intentionally trying to win her favor.

But Xie never liked her.

The reason is simple: Madam Xie is a member of the Xie family, and she longed for her niece from her own family to marry into the family and become her right-hand woman in the inner quarters. Who would have thought that she would suddenly appear out of nowhere?

Even now, the scrutinizing gaze from Yu Guangli wasn't exactly friendly.

If she doesn't like it, fine. She'll never serve them again in this lifetime. In the Wang family, where rules are paramount and even a meal requires the daughter-in-law to serve you with soup from beginning to end, whoever marries into this household is doomed.

Xi Lingxian remained expressionless, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

That gaze remained.

Lingxian turned her head to the side. "Is Madam Wang looking at me?"

"..." Madam Xie's expression stiffened for a moment, then she coughed lightly, her expression solemn. "Miss Xi, I've heard that you've been relentlessly pursuing my Qingyu for months. Is this true?"

"I used to take it seriously, but I don't anymore."

Madam Xie was taken aback, then frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

"After observing for the past two months, I've found that Mr. Wang and I are truly incompatible in temperament and personality. Forcing things won't work, so I won't force it."

Ms. Xie: "..."

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. Xi Lingxian followed everyone's gaze and saw that the beaded curtain of the main hall had been lifted, and an old woman with silver hair, leaning on a tiger-head cane, slowly walked out.

Wang Jue, who was supporting the old lady, wore a bamboo-green wide-sleeved robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, and his posture was as upright as a pine tree. He tilted his head slightly and was talking to the old lady in a low voice. The sunlight that leaked in through the carved window fell on him and outlined his handsome and jade-like features.

In that instant, Xi Lingxian saw several girls blush.

Princess Nankang's eyes were practically glued to him, her gaze piercing, as if she wanted to bore a hole through him. Xie Wanyi lowered her eyes slightly, but the deep affection and longing in her eyes as she watched that figure walk by were undisguised.

Lingxian watched this scene quietly.

Those blushing faces and undisguised adoring gazes.

The same was true in her previous life; even though she was Wang Jue's lawfully wedded wife, these gazes never ceased.

However, she was extremely stingy and possessive, and even a few loving glances made her feel uncomfortable from the bottom of her heart.

That's what misers are like; they're afraid that anyone else will even glance at their treasures or covet a single bit of them.

Because of this, she had countless arguments with Wang Jue in her previous life.

He always seemed to misunderstand her, thinking she was being unreasonable and making a mountain out of a molehill. He thought it was just a trivial matter, just a few insignificant glances, so why should she care?

On one occasion, during a particularly heated argument, he said, "When will you grow up and be able to calm down and be quiet?"

The way he looked at her then was like he was looking at a madwoman.

The tea in her hand had gone cold. She put down the teacup, looked up, and met the figure in bamboo green.

After helping the old lady to her seat, he sat down at the head of the table.

He glanced at the women's section, and soon, as if unconsciously, his gaze met hers.

In an instant, Ling Xian lowered her eyes, and the smile on her lips vanished.

Amidst the gathering, expressions of adoration and infatuation rose and fell.

Lingxian took it all in, remaining an observer.

It feels so good to be detached from everything.

"Banfan!"

A long-lost, warm call pulled her back to reality. A lively young girl in a green dress was captivating and as beautiful as an autumn lotus.

Lingxian was both surprised and delighted when she recognized the person who had arrived. "Sister Qingdai!"

Behind him, a young man in a long, wide-sleeved robe walked out slowly, fanning himself with a folding fan. He exuded youthful charm. "And me? Why don't you greet me?"

"Ji Ruchuan?"

Shen Qingdai and Ji Ruchuan came to offer birthday greetings on behalf of the Shen family of Yixing and the Ji family of Danyang, respectively.

It wasn't time to speak yet, so Lingxian had to suppress her emotions for now.

"Shen Qingdai from Yixing, on behalf of her father, wishes the old lady a long and happy life, as boundless as the Eastern Sea and as enduring as the Southern Mountain."

"On behalf of my father, Ji Ruchuan from Danyang wishes the old lady a long and prosperous life, with blessings that will last forever."

Madam Wang, Madam Cao: "Good children, it's kind of you to come all this way. Please take a seat."

Madam Xie, the eldest wife, got up and instructed the maid to set up two more bamboo mats.

Ji Ruchuan: "Madam, there's no need for such formalities. We're old friends with Fanfan, so just sit close to her."

Ling Xian's eyes welled up with tears as she excitedly hugged Shen Qingdai.

Shen Qingdai was startled. "It's only been a few months, there's no need to be so excited, is there?"

Xi Lingxian left Guangling and returned to Jiankang in February after the New Year, separating from Shen and Ji. By May, it had been no more than a hundred days.

Ji Ruchuan popped a fruit into his mouth. "Fanfan clearly missed me terribly. She was so excited to see me that she didn't know what to do and could only express her feelings with tears."

Shen Qingdai's lips twitched. "Do you even believe that yourself?"

"Fanfan, did someone bully you? I'm telling you, you won't become a pushover like this once you return to Jiankang, allowing others to ride roughshod over you?"

Ji Ruchuan is so annoying, and Qingdai is so protective of her own.

At this moment, Xi Lingxian truly felt that she had returned, that everything was back to a point where she could make choices again.

"Sister Qingdai, I miss you so much."

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Ruchuan's large face suddenly appeared before her. "And what about me?"

Xi Lingxian silently wiped away her tears. "It's been so long since anyone let me hit them. My hands are really itching to get back at them."

Ji Ruchuan clutched his chest. "Fanfan, you've hurt me so much."

Madam Cui, the second wife of Xie, smiled and said, "Miss Xi, Miss Shen, and Young Master Ji are so close?"

Cui seemed quite amiable. Xi Lingxian smiled and said, "The three of us have been inseparable in Guangling for several years, and we've long been like left and right arms."

Xi Yao suddenly said, "No wonder you were so happy in Guangling that you didn't want to leave. It turns out you had Young Master Ji with you. Speaking of which, even my mother never called you by your childhood name. Young Master Ji is someone you trust. It's truly enviable."

Shen Qingdai glanced at him and said, "What do you mean Ji Ruchuan is accompanying me? Am I not even here?"

Xi Yao, with her delicate and innocent appearance, explained, "Sister Qingdai, you misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I just envy your freedom to go wherever you want. I've never left Jiankang in my life. My mother never allows me to run around, saying that a lady from a respectable family shouldn't show her face in public so casually."

"Miss Xi, there's no need to be upset. Your actions are the epitome of a proper young lady. Girls who run away from home at the slightest disagreement with their families and spend their days in public should be ashamed of themselves."

The young man who spoke was named Zheng Lun. If Xi Lingxian remembered correctly, this man was a loyal supporter of Xi Yao.

There's another one...

"That's right. The second young lady is gentle and refined, which is how a young lady should be. She is much better than those who are arrogant and domineering because they rely on their elders' favor."

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

Zhao Heng.

Xi Lingxian narrowed her eyes.

In her past life, Xi Yao had these two men completely under her control, and she would stop at nothing to win their hearts.

In the end, Xi Yao preferred to be Wang Jue's second wife rather than marry either of them.

Gee tut.