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

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), the kitchen delivered the afternoon meal.

Xi Lingxian glanced at Xi Song, who was sitting with his back to her, hugging his knees. "We're eating in my courtyard today. Come here."

Xi Song's heart is still pounding from the shock of her saying "stabbed Xi Yao in the back".

He always thought his sister was shrewish, but he never expected her to be so fierce.

The afternoon meal at Qiluange was naturally plentiful, including water shield and perch soup, braised bamboo shoots, crystal sashimi, roasted goose, steamed cakes, and a side dish of wood ear fungus and mustard greens.

The siblings each had a food table in front of them, and then a square brocade rug on each of them, where they sat on the floor.

Despite her shock, Xi Song's appetite didn't suffer. She ate a steamed bun and then a fish soup, not forgetting to criticize Ling Xian across from her for being so picky about everything, "Sister, why are you eating so little? You need to eat more so you'll have the strength to fight those bastards!"

Lingxian: "Even eating can't shut you up."

"You clearly want to eat it, so why are you suppressing your desire?"

Ling Xian curled her lips and looked at Xi Song, who was eating heartily across from her, feeling increasingly annoyed.

This dynasty values ​​slenderness as beauty; how could she indulge in gluttony and abandon her appearance and figure?

This is simply not possible.

Xi Song is a man, how could he understand?

She refused to eat, but Xi Song didn't stand on ceremony. He had been so frightened today, he needed to eat more to replenish his body.

After finishing his own portion, he casually swept up the rest in front of Lingxian.

Xi Lingxian stared in disbelief. "Are you an idiot?"

"At my age, I'm still growing, so I need to eat more."

Lingxian picked up an invitation and threw it over, "In that case, I'll take you to a banquet tomorrow and let you have a good meal."

Xi Song took the post and opened it to take a look.

"The second branch of the Xie family?"

"Yes, on the Dragon Boat Festival, I rescued five daughters from official families, including Xie Wanting, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Xie family."

Xi Song's gaze shifted repeatedly.

"Speak your mind."

Xi Song: "Is Sister going?"

"The Xie family is no ordinary family. If I don't go, wouldn't I be ungrateful?"

"Haven't you done enough ungrateful things before?" Xi Song muttered. "You don't still want to see Wang Jue, do you?"

Xi Lingxian was taken aback.

Xi Song realized she had hit the nail on the head and said urgently, "Sister, if you really like that appearance, I'll go to the brothel in the city and find you a few handsome young men so you can look at them to your heart's content. Why put up with that humiliation? You've always been proud and arrogant, and vindictive. How come you've suddenly become so mild-mannered?"

Even before the siblings had spoken, Xi Song already disapproved of his pampered older sister chasing after a cold-hearted man. What was so great about Wang Jue?

So what if she's a little good-looking and comes from a powerful family?

So what? He's just a bit more eloquent and a bit more skilled in martial arts.

He's just a bit better at being an official than others.

Does it matter?

What others find rare, the Xi family doesn't.

Lingxian's head throbbed from his calling her name. "No, I didn't. My interest in him has long since faded. You know me, I've never liked anything for more than a month. This time is an exception."

Xi Song was skeptical. "Really?"

"If you don't believe me, follow me closely and see if I'll give that man another second glance."

Whether someone is a man or not is not the most important thing now; the key is the situation with Madam Yu and Xi Hui.

"Sister, what should we do now?"

"Hold your positions and don't act yet. The situation is still unclear, and it's not time to break off relations. On the surface, continue to act as if nothing has changed, but if Xi Hui asks you to do those things again, just push the blame onto me and say that I won't allow it."

"Also, you must catch up on your studies, as you've fallen behind in the past."

"Ah Song, you have to be strong yourself to forge iron. Even though you and I both dislike Wang Jue, there is one thing you have to admit: you are both from noble families, so why is he so outstanding and respected by everyone? And elder brother, you are my own brother, born of the same mother. You were deceived by thieves before. If you are willing to work hard, your elder sister believes in you. In time, you will definitely surpass your elder brother."

Xi Song pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and seemed somewhat unable to look Ling Xian in the eye. "Does Sister really think I can compare to Eldest Brother?"

Lingxian looked at the dejection in her younger brother's eyes and sighed silently.

Having a brother like Xi Rui was undoubtedly an immense honor for her as a younger sister, but for her brother Xi Song, while he felt honored, it was also a mountain weighing on his head.

No matter how well he did since childhood, there would always be a voice saying, "You're doing well, but there's still a gap compared to your older brother back then. With your brother as a shining example, you need to work even harder."

If the Master were an outsider, he wouldn't take his words to heart, but at home, it was his father who said these things the most.

Hearing these words so often, even from his own father, was enough to annoy Xi Song, so he simply became more and more rebellious and arrogant.

She gradually came to understand these principles after marrying into the Wang family in her previous life, amidst the daily scheming and intrigue within the inner quarters.

Xi Lingxian sighed, "Ah Song, Mother passed away early, and Father single-handedly upheld the honor of the Xi family. As the eldest son, it is only natural that Father had high hopes for you. But you are also Father's son, so how could he really not care about you?"

"If you feel that your father said something hurtful before, when he returns, I will discuss it with him and have him apologize to you."

Upon hearing this, Xi Song was terrified and waved his hands repeatedly, saying no.

He knew the old man said this for his own good, and that he loved him no less than his elder brother;

But sometimes, the closer you are to someone, the more sensitive they are to their thoughts.

She feared he didn't love her, and that he loved her less than others.

The next morning, the side gate of the Xi residence was opened wide.

A magnificent carriage with a canopy was waiting at the gate. Gilded incense balls with bells hanging from the four corners of the carriage jingled melodiously as the carriage moved.

Xi Lingxian and Xi Song passed through the moon gate and met the brother and sister Xi Hui and Xi Yao.

"Eldest sister, second brother."

Xi Huisheng had gentle features, and when he saw Xi Lingxian and the other woman, he quickly greeted them with a smile and a cupped hand.

Lingxian glanced at his face and saw that gentle, harmless smile and humble, polite demeanor.

In her past life, she had also been deceived by this appearance, and told Xi Song that Xi Hui was better than him.

When other people are around, Xi Yao always acts like a proper person.

"Sister, you look so beautiful in that dress today. If Young Master Wang sees you, he'll definitely love it."

Fine.

They look somewhat human, but not many.

Xi Song said unhappily, "Even at home, she dresses herself up in a flamboyant way. What does that have to do with the man surnamed Wang?"

Xi Yao smiled gently: "Second brother is a man, how could he understand a girl's thoughts? A woman dresses up for the one who appreciates her. Sister, you are so beautiful, wouldn't it be a pity if there was no one to appreciate your beauty?"

"Third brother, don't you think so?"

Xi Hui paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Sister's beauty is unparalleled, like a goddess or fairy, that's for sure."

Xi Yao was unhappy.

She was trying to get her third brother to talk about Xi Lingxian chasing men, not because she wanted to hear him praise her.