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

"You really will stop at nothing to achieve your goals. How can you even say something like that?"

Xi Lingxian grew increasingly angry. She had long known that he hadn't been truly in love with her when he married her in her previous life, but she hadn't expected him to be so shameless.

Wang Jue didn't understand what she was angry about.

That's exactly what she wanted to hear.

"Young Master Wang, Miss Xi, the banquet is about to begin. Please take your seats and we can discuss this further."

Upon hearing the words of the Princess of Huainan, Xi Lingxian felt as if she had been granted a pardon, turned around and left quickly without looking back.

Wang Jue noticed her tense and wary gaze, which inexplicably stung him.

Women are a hassle; just a few months ago they were tender, affectionate, and clingy, but in the blink of an eye they become cold and aloof, avoiding you like the plague.

Even flipping through a book doesn't happen this fast.

"Young Master Wang, it seems you have frightened Miss Xi?"

Zhou Shuhuai stood not far away, holding a folding fan, with a faint smile.

Wang Jue's eyes were cold. "The Zhou family has been silent for many years. Young Master Zhou's return to Jiankang, could it be that he intends to seek a new future?"

"What if it is, and what if it isn't?"

Wang Jue scoffed lightly, then turned and left leisurely.

……

Wangfu Banquet Hall

Xi Lingxian sat with the noble ladies from the Wang, Xie, Huan, and Yu families.

For some unknown reason, Xie Wanyi actually switched places with the Huan family girl next to her.

"Miss Xi, you look kind to me, and I'd like to talk to you a little longer. You don't mind, do you?"

Xie Wanyi smiled gently and gracefully.

"Miss Xie, please do as you please."

They had barely exchanged two sentences when a loud voice announced, "Your Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Nankang have arrived."

Wang Jue entered through a side door at some unknown time, and his seat was right next to the Crown Prince.

No matter how powerful a noble family is, the emperor symbolizes legitimate authority, and the respect and etiquette that should be shown on the surface must not be wrong.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Nankang."

Empress Yu and Princess Consort of Huainan appeared very close, holding hands and exchanging pleasantries about everyday matters.

The Crown Prince Xiao Jing and Princess Kangning, brother and sister, also met the Crown Prince and Princess Nankang in turn.

Both pairs of cousins ​​were of excellent appearance; the crown prince was somewhat frail, while the heir apparent was relatively robust.

Before she could take another look at the princess and the county princess, she felt their gazes sweep over her.

Xiao Jing glanced at his cousin, the Crown Prince, beside him and smiled wryly.

The Crown Prince's gaze and Xiao Jing's smile both made Xi Lingxian feel uneasy.

At this time in her previous life, the marriage alliance between the Wang and Xi families was already established, and no one dared to risk offending the two powerful families by provoking her.

But in this life, she avoids Wang Jue like the plague, and the marriage is put on hold. Given this, it's hard to guarantee that no one will take the risk.

With that thought in mind, she hesitated to take a bite of the delicious food and wine that filled the table.

Shen Qingdai, on the other hand, was enjoying her meal immensely. She held out a piece of candied plum and offered it to Shen Qingdai, saying, "Try this, it's quite unique."

Lingxian looked at the ladies at the table enjoying their food and drinks, and thought that even if someone wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't be able to openly tamper with the food and drinks.

If you really cause harm to several noble ladies, you might even replace the emperor.

Princess Huainan spoke eloquently to express her gratitude for the guests' presence and the honor bestowed upon her humble abode. She then raised her cup in a toast, urging everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest.

"elder sister."

Xi Lingxian raised her head.

Xi Yao held her wine glass, bit her lip, and her eyes reddened slightly. "I was young and ignorant before, and I offended you a lot, sister. Now that I'm older, I feel ashamed when I think back. We are sisters, blood relatives, and I shouldn't have become estranged from you over such trivial matters. Today, I take this opportunity to apologize to you. From now on, let's be sisters and never have any grudges against each other again."

Xi Lingxian looked at her and rolled her eyes inwardly.

In front of so many people, in public.

If she doesn't accept this drink, she'll be seen as petty and disregarding sisterly affection;

She remained silent for a moment.

The whispers around them gradually grew louder.

Xi Yao's hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

"Sister, can't you forgive me?"

"Sister, you're too kind. Since we're sisters, there's no question of forgiveness."

Xi Yao's eyes lit up for a moment.

"I appreciate your kind offer, sister. However, I'm not feeling well today, so let's skip the wine."

Xi Yao's smile froze slightly.

"Sister," her voice softened, carrying a perfectly measured hint of grievance, "it's just a glass of wine. I've come sincerely to apologize, can't you even give me this much face?"

Lingxian's lips curved slightly.

"Sister, that's strange. I'm not feeling well and can't drink, but you insist I drink. Is this an apology, or forcing me to drink?"

"Miss Xi, you are mistaken." A voice came from the male guests' section. Zheng Lun strode forward. "Your sister is so sincere, lowering herself to apologize to her elder sister. What a great show of sincerity! Even if Miss Xi is angry, she shouldn't embarrass others in public. If word gets out, others will think that the Xi family's daughters don't even have this much tolerance."

Before Xi Lingxian could speak, another person stepped forward.

Zhao Heng smiled warmly, but his tone carried a hint of barbed sarcasm: "Miss Xi, Second Miss is still young. Even if she did something wrong in the past, she knows it now. Between sisters, there's no such thing as holding a grudge overnight. This cup of wine is just a small token of Second Miss's appreciation. If Miss Xi refuses even this, wouldn't she become a laughingstock in front of outsiders?"

When he said the words "close sisters," he emphasized them, as if reminding everyone.

If Xi Lingxian doesn't drink this cup of wine, she'll be disregarding sisterly affection, petty, and bringing shame to the Xi family.

Xi Yao stood in the middle, tears trembling on her eyelashes, looking pitiful.

"Stop talking," she said, her voice trembling with tears, desperately trying to hold them back. "It's my fault for being so tactless; I've made my sister angry again."

"I'm sorry, sister... It's all my fault, it's all my fault... I'm so bad at talking, I didn't know how to speak properly. I just wanted to apologize to you, but I've made a mess of it..."

Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

She looked exactly like a pitiful younger sister who sincerely repented but was publicly humiliated by her own sister.

Zheng Lun and Zhao Heng exchanged a glance, both seeing heartache and indignation in each other's eyes.

"Alright."

She looked at Xi Yao, her gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

"Sister, I told you I'm not feeling well and can't drink. If you're truly here to apologize, what does it matter whether you drink this glass or not? Forcing me to drink only makes it seem like you have ulterior motives."

Xi Yao's tears clung to her eyelashes, and for a moment she forgot to let them fall.

Xi Lingxian turned her gaze to Zheng Lun and Zhao Heng.

"Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zhao, I was talking to my sister, and you two jumped out in such a hurry," she paused, "as if you care about my sister more than I, as her older sister."

Zhao Heng's expression changed.

Zheng Lun's face flushed red. "Miss Xi has a bad temper. We're just—"

"What did I say?" Xi Lingxian interrupted him. "I only said a couple of words, and two men immediately spoke up to protect me. Are you afraid that Xi Yao's reputation is too good?"

Zheng Lun gritted his teeth, "You, you're simply unreasonable."

"Same to you."