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

Rumors about the Xi family's daughter and the Zhou family's son kept circulating.

In the marketplace, people gossiped about it during their leisure time: Young Master Wang, in a fit of rage for a beautiful woman, never imagined that he would end up benefiting someone else.

Besides the main branch of the Xi family, several other branches of the Xi family also had members who held official positions and resided in the capital.

Taking this opportunity, they visited the mansion one after another, intentionally or unintentionally advising their elder brother Xi Jian to reconsider, as the Langya Wang clan was the pinnacle of Chinese nobility, holding the power of appointment and dismissal in the central government and the right to speak on culture.

The Xi clan sought to transform from a military powerhouse into a cultural elite, and a marriage alliance with the Langya Wang clan was undoubtedly the best choice.

If the Wang family had someone else in mind and didn't want to arrange a marriage, that would be fine. But coincidentally, their Xi family produced a daughter who was as beautiful as a fairy and caught the eye of the Wang family's eldest son. Such a good thing that fell from the sky was hard for the other heads of the family to understand why Xi Jian hesitated.

Several aunts, cousins ​​and other female relatives also came to the backyard to personally persuade Xi Lingxian.

Wang Qingyu, with such character and appearance, and such a family background, is someone many people would kill for. What is she hesitating for?

Just as a person knows best whether the water is hot or cold when they drink it.

Xi Lingxian knew that her aunt and cousins ​​meant well, but there were some things she couldn't say.

She and Wang Jue were completely incompatible; their personalities were worlds apart, each with their own pride, and neither was willing to compromise for the other.

Madam Wang also disliked her, and her heart was always with her own niece, Xie Wanyi.

Her youngest cousin, Xi Yan, asked her, "Sister, if you don't want Young Master Wang, who could be better than him?"

The little girl is only nine years old, and she only has a vague understanding of many things.

Xi Lingxian gently stroked the little girl's twin buns. "People don't necessarily have to have the best of everything, and getting the best isn't necessarily a good thing."

"Huh?" Xi Yan was stunned.

"Think about it, if you have a treasure that everyone wants, everyone will be jealous and want to take it from you. Over time, even the most precious thing will become a burden."

Xi Yan understood.

The older women, however, understood the deeper meaning behind the words.

My niece didn't want Wang Jue because she thought he was too dazzling?

What kind of logic is this?

Why pick the worst if not the best?

The aunties spoke earnestly and patiently, while the uncles in front of them were also spitting as they spoke.

Xi Jian was in a real predicament.

The second master, Xi Lang, happened to be working in the Secretariat, which was the Wang family's territory. He was hoping that his family could get on the Wang family's good side so that he could rise in status as well.

"Brother, it's fine if you spoil your daughter all the time, but you can't make a mistake at a crucial moment and treat the family's future as a joke."

"Yes, brother, my niece is just being childish. You can just coax her. Let her spend more time with Young Master Wang. He's like a god, no niece could dislike him."

After seeing off his cousins, Xi Jian went to Qiluan Pavilion.

In his view, Wang Jue was also an excellent son-in-law candidate, but his daughter refused him without hesitation, and he couldn't bear to force her.

"Banfan."

"Father...are you in a difficult position?"

Xi Jian remained silent for a long time, then asked, "Does Fanfan really dislike the second son of the Wang family?"

Thinking of her past life, her face showed sorrow. "Father, I don't want to live such a tiring life."

Marrying into the Wang family meant facing countless people and situations.

She wanted to live a freer, more relaxed, and selfish life.

Xi Jian patted his daughter's hand, "Once you've made up your mind, your father will take care of everything."

His daughter was born a bird of the forest, vibrant and beautiful; since she did not wish for it, no one could force her.

……

Since the crown prince was deposed, the emperor's health has deteriorated.

The court assembly was once again presided over by Grand Commandant Wang Dun.

Whether the emperor appears or not seems to make no difference.

After the court session, Xi Rui strolled after Wang Jue.

Wang Jue sensed something was wrong and turned around to look. "Brother You'an, do you have something to say?"

Xi Rui closed his eyes; what was bound to happen was bound to happen.

After a moment's thought, he hesitated and said, "Brother Qingyu, I am deeply grateful for your punishment of the deposed crown prince to avenge my sister."

"It's nothing to worry about, it's just a trivial matter."

The deposition and installation of a crown prince is a trivial matter in the eyes of the royal family.

Having already been quite satisfied with the glory of his family, Xi Rui, upon hearing these words, deeply realized that there are always people more capable than oneself.

"Brother Qingyu, to be honest, my younger sister... is carefree and capricious, and is really not up to the responsibility of being the matriarch of the Wang family. Brother Qingyu, matters of the heart cannot be forced. She is my only sister, and I really can't bear to pressure her."

Wang Jue said in a deep voice, "I only want Xi Lingxian."

"...Why? When she liked you, you were cold and aloof, acting like you didn't like her at all?"

"Brother You'an, you've spoiled your daughter a bit too much."

"The imperial power is waning, yet it has never ceased to suppress the aristocratic clans; even my Langya Wang clan dares not say how long our family's glory can continue. How can you and your uncle indulge your daughter's willful and reckless behavior?"

"The glory of the Xi family today was earned by you and your uncle through countless life-or-death struggles. Can you bear to see it buried by the scheming of emperors and the infighting of other aristocratic families? Our two families, one in charge of the central government and the other in charge of a regional region, support each other and forge ahead together. What can't we achieve?"

Xi Rui felt a heavy weight in his heart and couldn't say anything for a moment.

Wang Jue's words made perfect sense, but his sister was also his only sister; he couldn't bring himself to force her into the bridal sedan chair.

"The Xi family assists the Wang family, and the Wang family reciprocates by supporting the Xi family. Does Brother You'an find anything wrong with this?"

"It's not that it's bad, it's good in every way, but the problem is..."

Xi Rui was at his wit's end, so he blurted out, "Fanfan doesn't want to marry you. She has someone else she loves."

The surrounding air suddenly fell into a deathly silence. The passing officials looked at the pale-faced second son of the Wang family and couldn't help but wonder what General Xi had done to make the second son of the Wang family, who would remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, look like this.

Xi Rui, in a fit of desperation, said, "The rumors have been spreading like wildfire lately. Although Fanfan didn't say it explicitly, she didn't deny it, so I understand what she meant."

"The one from the Zhou family?"

Xi Rui nodded.

Wang Jue scoffed, "What family would give money as a dowry when their daughter gets married?"

Even ten Zhou families couldn't match the current Xi family, unless Xi Jian has gone mad.

Xi Rui choked, "Father loves Fanfan dearly and is reluctant to let her marry out, so he wants to find a husband for her to marry into his family."

A vein throbbed on Wang Jue's forehead.

His wife, who had returned to him, really did things on a whim.

"Marry into the family?" Wang Jue laughed angrily.

"Spoiling a child is like killing him. Do you and your uncle know what you're doing?"

Xi Rui shrugged, ignoring him: "Oh, you don't understand. This is what it means to be the apple of someone's eye!"

"I can come up with a whole bunch of reasons with you, but when I get home and face my sister's eyes, I'm completely helpless."

"Well then, Qingyu, I admire your talent and political achievements, and I sincerely wish to befriend you. We're a scholar and a warrior, respectively; together we can build a great enterprise. Even if our families don't arrange a marriage, I can draw up a contract for you: the Wang and Xi families will be on good terms for generations, never betraying each other. What do you say?"

"She provoked me first." The man's eyes were filled with a calm obsession.

"Yes, yes, but she's changed her mind now." Xi Rui followed up, feeling slightly guilty.

"Changed heart?"

"A fallen noble family, and a collateral branch at that—what could the Zhou family possibly offer her?"

"Could your entire family afford just one of the dresses she's wearing?"