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

The girl in the pavilion turned her head to face the setting sun, her eyes and brows radiant with smiles.

Wang Jue stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes concealing his true feelings.

As the late autumn evening grew cooler, Xi Lingxian, having delivered the gift, wrapped her cloak tighter and prepared to return to Qiluan Pavilion. As she rounded the corner of the corridor, she was confronted by someone who shouldn't be in her house.

He leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, and upon hearing footsteps, he slightly lifted his eyelids.

"What are you doing here?"

He said, "Do you have time? I'd like to talk to you."

They've already blocked the door; how can she say no?

As evening fell, the corridor was bathed in golden light, and the two strolled along it against the backdrop of the golden glow.

As they passed the plum grove, Wang Jue stopped, and Xi Lingxian subconsciously stopped as well.

The two were separated by half a wall, and their shadows, cast on the wall, overlapped perfectly.

"Say what you have to say here. It's getting windy; I need to get back to my room quickly."

"Now I can't even say a few more words to you?"

He thought that things would calm down after the storm, and that their relationship would improve, but it seems he was wrong.

Xi Lingxian closed her eyes briefly, then sighed helplessly, "I told you, I'm not throwing a tantrum, and I won't throw one again. Why won't you believe me?"

"You've changed so quickly, how can I believe you?"

Xi Lingxian scoffed, "With your skill in maneuvering, whether or not you marry into a powerful family will not affect your influence in the court. Stop obsessing over those unfounded things."

"Isn't that incredibly heartless of you to say?"

Xi Lingxian was taken aback. "How can you say I'm heartless? You're stirring up trouble in the court for your own Langya Wang clan. Our family being dragged into this is an undeserved disaster."

"But that's cruel to me."

"Don't pretend to be so affectionate, I won't be fooled by you again."

"cheat?"

"A person's true nature is revealed in times of crisis. Don't you think the one you like is Xie Wanyi?"

"Is that what you think?"

"What else could I think? On the Dragon Boat Festival, when everyone else was drowning, you chose Xie Wanyi first. In our previous life, many of our arguments were because of her. She's your cousin from your maternal uncle's side. Your mother likes her, your sisters are close to her, and you've praised her repeatedly, haven't you?"

"Isn't it good that I'm granting your wish now?"

She became so magnanimous, talking about these things with a nonchalant air.

Wang Jue took in her rejection and for a moment thought of his past life.

Back then, she always followed him like a little tail, impossible to shake off.

She is always stingy and extremely possessive, always forbidding this and that;

He becomes inexplicably suspicious of every woman who appears in his life.

One minute she's saying this person has ulterior motives towards him, the next she's suspecting that person is targeting her.

They had argued about this several times, and when she spoke without thinking, he complained about her unreasonable and irrational behavior.

I felt that she was always irrational and childish.

She always has her own reasons, she's sharp-tongued, and after arguing and making a scene, she never changes.

Later, he simply accepted his fate, thinking that Xi Lingxian would probably never grow up.

What are they arguing about?

But it turned out he was wrong, because she didn't have a lifetime.

He died young at the age of nineteen.

Later, he adopted a very intelligent child from his second wife and raised him himself.

He had never been interested in matters of love, and after she left, he never once considered remarrying.

When he first noticed he had gray hair, it suddenly occurred to him that if she were still alive, she would definitely look much younger than he did.

After all, she loves beauty so much that her vanity is always full of bottles and jars.

-

"This floral water is for my back, can you help me with that?"

"...I'm reading a book."

"Wang Qingyu, are you even a man? How could you refuse something like this?"

"Apply it to me! If you don't help me apply it, believe me, I'll find another man to do it for me!"

-

"Could you please stop getting so close to that Xie Wanyi? I'm your wife."

"She's my cousin, it was just a casual chat, what are you thinking about?"

"Only a fool would believe that. Her eyes were practically glued to you; she likes you."

"Even if you're right, Wan Yi Biao would never become someone's concubine. Don't worry unnecessarily."

"Yes, yes, yes, if you don't want me to be a concubine, then divorce me and marry her, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"You—you're being completely unreasonable."

-

"My mother-in-law doesn't seem to like me. She's complaining that I haven't gotten pregnant yet and wants me to arrange two maids to serve you. What should I do?"

"Since Mother has given the order, she will be even more dissatisfied with you if you don't do as she says."

"What do you mean? You really want a concubine to serve you? No way, I won't allow it!"

"Even if you utter the most outrageous accusations, I will not agree unless you divorce me."

……

Memories instantly became distorted and blurred, and all the scenes shattered into fragments in an instant.

Her cold words echoed in my ears.

"Whether you believe it or not, I am truly willing to grant your wish and blessings."

"Having learned from my past life, I know even better what kind of life I want in this one; marriage is not a necessity, but if I were to marry, I would definitely marry someone I love."

Is she just throwing a tantrum, or has she really changed her mind?

A sense of powerlessness inexplicably arose in Wang Jue's heart.

"Young Master Wang, Miss Xi? What are you doing here?"

Sweating profusely, Xiao Yun was standing on one side of the moon gate, looking at them with some surprise.

"Miss Xi, the plum blossoms have successfully bloomed. Would you like to come and take a look?"

Xi Lingxian deliberately avoided Wang Jue, forcing a smile, "Okay."

Xiao Yun, with considerable poise, asked, "Would Young Master Wang like to join us?"

Wang Jue did not refuse.

In late autumn, October, all the trees in the courtyard withered, but in one corner of the east wing, several plum trees were in full bloom.

The bright red petals trembled slightly in the bleak autumn wind, and the clear fragrance of plum blossoms drifted out in wisps, making it all the more breathtaking in this season when flowers shouldn't be blooming.

Xi Lingxian stood in front of the flowers, stretched out her finger, and gently touched a petal.

it is true.

"How...how did you do that?" She turned her head, her eyes filled with undisguised amazement and curiosity.

Xiao Yun stood beside her and smiled slightly upon hearing this.

He stepped forward, raised his hand and pointed vaguely to the roots of the plum tree. "This method is called the 'flower-inducing method,' also known as 'hall flower.' I had people dig ditches around the greenhouse, filled them with warm water, and spread sulfur in the soil to ferment and generate heat. By doing this continuously, we created the atmosphere of spring, and the plum blossoms thought that spring had arrived and naturally bloomed."

Xi Lingxian listened intently, her expression showing surprise, curiosity, and a touch of genuine admiration.

She said sincerely, "I thought this flower bloomed naturally, but I never imagined there was such a wonderful and amazing thing about it."

Xiao Yun's voice softened slightly: "I'm glad Miss Xi likes it. I've heard that you love plum blossoms the most, so my efforts haven't been in vain."

With such a thoughtful and affectionate demeanor, if he hadn't deliberately used her safety to arrange that heroic rescue, she might have actually believed him.

Xi Lingxian lowered her eyes and smiled without saying a word.

Xiao Yun looked at Wang Jue, "What does the Second Young Master think?"

Wang Jue solemnly replied, "Your Highness's thoughtfulness is truly admirable."

"I originally intended to have my servants make artificial flowers out of silk gauze, but upon closer reflection, how could artificial flowers be worthy of a celestial being like Miss Xi? It's better to put in some effort than to be perfunctory."

Wang Jue nodded, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Your Highness is truly meticulous in every aspect. From Qing'an Temple to now, this thoroughness must have taken a lot of effort."

Xiao Yun's expression stiffened for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Young Master Wang, what are you saying? Compared to your ability to manipulate the court with such expertise, I am far inferior."

The atmosphere was tense, and at one point, the tension was palpable.

Xi Lingxian felt that both men were abnormal.

"It's getting late, so I won't keep you two any longer; Uncle Zhong, please see them out!"

What do you take her for?

She doesn't want any of them!