Chapter 526: She’s World-Famous, But No One Dares to Marry Her?
Chapter 526: Chapter 526: She’s World-Famous, But No One Dares to Marry Her?
He had been leaving a teahouse with a colleague when he happened to see Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning enter a jewelry shop, which was why he’d followed them to take a look.
He never expected to hear something like that!
His normally composed, dark, narrow eyes instantly filled with alarm.
"What? Why is this the first I’m hearing about this?" His astonished gaze darted between Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning.
Shen Ningning never imagined she would run into a family member here.
She stomped her foot, flustered and annoyed. "His Highness is always making jokes like this! We’re just teasing each other."
Mo Lingwei pursed his lips. ’Was I just teasing her?’
’Fine. I’ll go along with whatever she says.’
"Yes, I was just teasing her." Mo Lingwei’s gaze was cool as he looked at Xu Jingxi, feeling he had shown up at an inopportune time.
Xu Jingxi’s suspicious gaze lingered for a moment.
He decided to believe them, for now.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Ningning, one must not overstep their bounds. The Crown Prince’s status is exalted..."
Mo Lingwei’s brows furrowed, and he cut off Xu Jingxi’s admonition.
"She didn’t overstep any bounds. *I* was the one who insisted on joking with her. What is wrong with you Xie family people? Every single one of you, with your stuffy, antiquated rules, you always make her feel ill at ease."
Especially when she was with him. Shen Ningning was always worrying about whether this was proper or that was appropriate.
’Why are there so many pointless rules?’
’All I want is for her to be happy.’
Xu Jingxi cupped his hands helplessly. "Your Highness, my sister has already come of age. Propriety must be maintained between men and women. It has been so since ancient times."
Any further, and Mo Lingwei would lose his temper.
He didn’t want to argue with the Xie family in front of Shen Ningning.
So he simply flicked his sleeve. "Enough."
He looked toward Shen Ningning. "I will come to bring you to the palace in a few days."
With that, he departed with his retinue, not forgetting to put down a silver note to purchase all the jewelry in the shop.
Only then did the shopkeeper realize that the two were the famous Crown Prince and Princess Funing.
’To think he’d just arrived in the Capital City and failed to recognize such distinguished figures!’
While putting on an apologetic smile, the shopkeeper asked, "Actually, in the warehouse out back, we have a ruby headdress set with a ’twin blossoms on a single stalk’ motif. If the Princess likes it, this humble one can bring it out for you to see."
Twin blossoms on a single stalk—a motif for newlyweds.
Before Shen Ningning could refuse, Xu Jingxi had already furrowed his brow and said curtly, "That won’t be necessary."
They watched as the jewelry shop’s staff transported the jewelry Mo Lingwei had bought for Shen Ningning by carriage, moving it into the mansion box by box.
Xu Jingxi sighed. On the way back, he asked, "Ningning, what are your feelings toward the Crown Prince?"
Shen Ningning, standing in front of a sugar figurine stall, was taken aback by the question. She blinked her large, bewildered eyes.
"Feelings? The Crown Prince is very nice. I like him, just as I like Brother, that stinky Second Brother, and you, my third brother. Why do you ask?"
Xu Jingxi chuckled helplessly. "You silly girl. Don’t you understand the feelings between a man and a woman?"
As they spoke, Liang Yici was passing by behind them. When she heard his words, she stopped dead in her tracks.
At that exact moment, Shen Ningning shook her head. "I don’t."
Xu Jingxi raised his hand and patted her on the head. "Such a child."
Seeing his affectionate gesture and recalling what she had just heard, Liang Yici’s eyes went wide.
’Xu Jingxi... actually has those kinds of feelings for his own cousin?!’
’That’s disgusting!’
Ever since the truth about the Changliu Country affair came out, Liang Yici had known that Shen Ningning’s actions had all just been part of a stratagem.
She had been looking for an opportunity to apologize to Shen Ningning.
But her prideful personality kept her from lowering her head and opening her mouth to do so.
She never thought she would stumble upon something like this.
’Shen Ningning is so naive. She needs me to protect her.’
Liang Yici departed, her expression dark.
...
Lately, the National Academy was preparing for the graduation of all its students.
The students in Shen Ningning’s cohort had reached the required age.
After the New Year, they would no longer have to attend classes.
Thus, whenever Mr. Han saw Shen Ningning recently, he couldn’t help but pull her aside for a chat.
"Ningning, this is some lantern shredded chicken my wife made. Take it and have a taste."
"Ningning, an old friend of mine from Nanzhou sent some fine tea. Let’s enjoy some together."
"Ningning, are you free at the moment? Would you sit for a quick game of chess with your teacher?"
"Ningning..."
Helpless, Shen Ningning could only smile and make him a promise.
"Mr. Han, I promise you, even after I graduate, I will still visit you and your wife often."
"Really?" Mr. Han was a tall, strapping man with solid muscles.
Yet right now, his rugged, manly face wore a pitiful expression.
"You must keep your word. Don’t forget me!"
He had been a teacher for so many years, and he had finally met such a promising student. He was truly reluctant to see her go now.
Shen Ningning nodded. "Please don’t worry, Mr. Han. I won’t have much to do after graduation anyway. If I don’t come to see you, what else will I do?"
"Won’t you be busy with marriage arrangements?" Mr. Han asked, a little surprised.
The National Academy’s rules stated that young women could graduate upon turning sixteen and young men upon turning twenty.
This was because, upon reaching this age, the young men would typically take the imperial examinations to enter civil service.
And the young women, of course, would be discussing marriage proposals.
It seemed to be every woman’s destiny.
This was another reason Mr. Han was so reluctant to see Shen Ningning go.
It was said that once a woman married, it was improper for her to be seen in public. Even for a teacher and student, meeting again would be far from easy.
Before Shen Ningning could answer, Xu Jingxi walked up from behind them.
Hearing this, he said with a smile, "My eldest uncle is reluctant to marry her off, and my own father has said the Xie Mansion can support our sister for a lifetime. Why are you in such a rush, teacher?"
Mr. Han paused, stunned, then clapped his hands and burst out laughing. "Excellent, excellent! It’s good she’s not getting married! If you ask me, all the boys in this world are rotten rascals. No one is worthy of my good student."
He looked quite pleased as he spoke. "A weight has finally been lifted from my heart. I’ll have to have a good drink tonight, no matter what."
With that, Mr. Han departed with his Attendant Student, laughing cheerfully.
Shen Ningning couldn’t help but ask, "Did Father really say that? I don’t remember it."
Xu Jingxi’s expression was calm. "I just made that up."
Standing around the corner, Liang Yici listened with a frown, sneering to herself.
’Just as I thought! Xu Jingxi is harboring ill intentions!’
’I’m going to teach that deviant a lesson he won’t forget.’
Liang Yici turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, Shen Ningning said in surprise, "You made that up, Third Brother?"
"How else would Mr. Han have been reassured? Besides, even though our uncle has never admitted it, he definitely thinks so in his heart."
Xu Jingxi smiled, his features gentle and scholarly.
"It’s only been a few years since you returned to the Xie family. How could Uncle bear to let you marry so soon? Besides..."
He thought of something and couldn’t help but press his lips together.
’Besides, with a mountain as large as the Crown Prince blocking the way, who would dare come and propose marriage?’
The doorstep of Grand Tutor Ye’s family had been worn down by matchmakers for his daughter, Ye Shangyi.
But for their Ningning, not a single matchmaker dared to come to their door.
’The world-renowned Princess Funing, and yet no one dared to marry her?’
’Of course not.’
Everyone was afraid they would enter the Xie Mansion vertically, only to be assassinated by the Crown Prince’s Hidden Guards and carried out horizontally.
But Xu Jingxi didn’t say any of this to Shen Ningning.
Instead, Shen Ningning just mumbled, showing she didn’t care.
Then she added, "But I heard the clan elders say all three of you brothers have reached a marriageable age and that they’ve arranged a matchmaking banquet for you!"
Xu Jingxi hated hearing about such things more than anything. It was a huge headache, and his dark brows knitted together.
"Don’t even mention it. Haven’t you seen? Your first and second brothers have already fled."