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

Both sides felt they were talking to a brick wall, and Xi Lingxian felt there was no need for them to continue wasting their breath.

In the three years of her past life, she couldn't remember how many times they had argued;

It's always the same. He thinks she's immature and not a good wife and mother, while she thinks he's inconsiderate and doesn't act like a husband.

He thought she was being pretentious, and she thought he was being cold.

He slammed the door and left, and she threw things around in response.

Arguing with him will never lead to anything.

He wouldn't understand, nor did he want to understand. All he ever wanted was a suitable wife, a virtuous helper who could manage his household, and a pawn to bind the interests of the Wang and Xi families together.

It was like this in my past life, and it's like this in this life too.

"Get out of the way." There was already anger in the corner of her eyes.

Wang Jue stood there, motionless.

Xi Lingxian reached out and pushed him away, then ran past him.

Her skirt billowed in the night wind, and she flapped her wings as she rushed into the darkness.

One lantern after another passed by her under the eaves, their dim yellow glow forming a line.

He never looked back.

Wang Jue felt she should be angry.

He had never been treated like this in his entire life.

They don't know how to appreciate kindness or good fortune.

He deposed the crown prince to avenge her, just so that the whole world would know that no one could bully her.

But she didn't appreciate it.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, causing a slight pain.

The pain brought him to his senses.

The Wang family needs the Xi family. Military power in Jingkou, influence in the court, and checks and balances between Yu Liang and the emperor all require Xi Jian's 100,000-strong army.

Arranged marriage is the most direct and convenient method.

It has already been proven in the past that the marriage between Wang and Xi is beneficial to both families.

He recalled what she had just said—"In my heart, it's enough that I'm better than you."

She actually thinks that a commoner from a fallen noble family is better than him?

Absurd. Utterly absurd.

……

Xi Lingxian didn't want to pay attention to that madman.

She stopped offering herself to him, so he couldn't do anything about it; he could only talk a big game.

This time, it was probably because he lost control. The person who was so clingy and obsessed with him in his past life suddenly didn't want him and stayed far away from him. Anyone would feel uncomfortable, especially a man with a strong desire for control like him. He must have felt that the woman had embarrassed him and made him lose face.

That would actually make things easier. She wouldn't mind telling people that Wang Jue dumped her, as long as she could stay far away from him for the rest of her life.

She didn't want to argue every day anymore, and she didn't want to be suspicious anymore.

I don't want to turn myself into a shrew anymore.

But she couldn't reason with Wang Jue about these things, because they simply couldn't communicate properly.

She wanted to ask her older brother to pass on her message.

Xi Rui went crazy upon hearing this, "You two stop messing with me, he won't listen to anything I say."

Xi Lingxian sighed helplessly, "Alright, I won't say anything then, but please make sure to strengthen the security at the manor."

Seeing that she was dressed casually, Xi Rui said, "You're going out again. It's not with Zhou Shuhuai again, is it?"

"Yes," she nodded and smiled, "I think he likes me."

"Liking you and marrying into your family are two different things. Have you told him that?"

She frowned. "They haven't even confessed their feelings for me yet, how could I possibly bring up the idea of ​​marrying into their family first? What if they're not interested in me? Wouldn't I be just imagining things?"

"What if he expresses his feelings but doesn't want to marry into the family? Wouldn't you have wasted your time?"

Xi Lingxian disagreed, "Let's take it one step at a time. I don't want to think about it too much right now."

She went out on horseback as always, followed by Zhao Tieshan and Zhou Wu.

The word spread throughout the guards that there was plenty of food and fun to be had with the ladies, and the work was easy. Whenever someone heard that they were going out with a lady, they would raise their hands and line up.

Unless she was going out to a banquet, Xi Lingxian would ride a horse whenever she went out, as long as the weather was fine.

There is a temple fair in the city today, and Zhou Shuhuai sent an invitation the day before yesterday. The invitation was very tactful and elegant, saying that the autumn sky was high and the air was crisp, and that she had always disliked being restrained and loved being in a lively place, so he thought she would like a temple fair. At the end, he also said that if she did not wish to go or had other plans, they could reschedule for another day.

Regardless of Zhou Shuhuai's character, Xi Lingxian herself wanted to have fun, and when a pillow appeared out of her sleepiness, she naturally had no reason to refuse.

This opportunity also provides a chance to observe Zhou Shuhuai's character further, killing two birds with one stone.

Zhou Shuhuai was at the age of youthful infatuation and genuinely liked the beautiful and vibrant Xi family girl. He had been preparing for today's trip for a long time.

Fearing that she might feel awkward being alone with him, Zhou Shuhuai also invited Ji Ruchuan and Shen Qingdai.

All three were from Yixing, and they spoke quite intimately.

Shen and Ji realized that his real intention was not what he was talking about; he agreed more to help Xi Lingxian investigate Zhou Shuhuai.

The four met in front of the Confucius Temple.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Zhou Shuhuai asked the other three.

Ji Ruchuan shook his head: "I opened my eyes this morning and it was almost time. There will definitely be fresh food at the temple fair today, so we must save our stomachs."

Shen Qingdai slapped him. "Was she asking you? She wanted to ask Fanfan."

Zhou Shuhuai's ears were slightly red.

Xi Lingxian was quite frank, "I overslept today and didn't get up until later, so I didn't have time to eat."

Zhou Shuhuai took out an oil paper package from the carriage behind him. "This is jujube paste cake from a very famous shop in the west of the city. Would you like to try it, young lady?"

Xi Lingxian picked up a piece of jujube paste cake and said, "Thank you."

Ji Ruchuan tilted his head and said to Shen Qingdai, "Very thoughtful, that deserves extra points."

Shen Qingdai remained noncommittal.

The autumn sky was clear and cloudless.

The group was in high spirits. They handed their horses over to the guards behind them, chatted and laughed, and rode side by side.

There were many pedestrians and ordinary people on the street, and they were surging towards the temple fair in waves.

Several children, holding candied hawthorns, emerged from the crowd, laughing and joking, and dashing through the throng.

Xi Lingxian sidestepped several figures.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her a step to the side.

Before she could react, Zhou Shuhuai, with his back to her, stretched out an arm to shield her.

Until the children who were laughing and playing and the dense crowd went far away.

He then turned around and looked down at her.

"These children are so naughty, Miss Xi, are you alright?"

Xi Lingxian raised her head and met his gaze.

Those eyes were like mountain spring water, clean and clear.

She was momentarily dazed.

"It's nothing." She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Zhou Shuhuai nodded, stepped back half a step, and stood back beside her.

Ji Ruchuan and Shen Qingdai walked over from a distance, both noticing the subtle atmosphere between the two just moments before.

The four of them stopped in front of a wonton stall, and each of them ordered a bowl of water shield and pork wontons.

"Fanfan, I heard from my father that your uncle intends to find you a husband. Is that true?"

"Yes, Father is interested in this."

Zhou Shuhuai stared at her in a daze.

Lingxian took a sip of tea.

The tea from the street stalls was not as good as the tea at home; it was so bitter that she frowned repeatedly.

Shen Qingdai quickly took out a piece of osmanthus sugar from her purse and gave it to her, saying, "If you don't like the tea here, don't drink it. Taozhi has prepared a water pouch for you."

Lingxian held the candy in her mouth, and it took her a long time to swallow the bitter taste.

"Your uncle really loves you, he agreed to this."

Shen Qingdai rested her chin on her hand. She also wanted to find a son-in-law, but her father said that no good man would want to be a live-in son-in-law.

Xi Lingxian glanced at Zhou Shuhuai out of the corner of her eye and saw his long eyelashes tremble slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

It's not immediately clear what's going on.