Chapter 539 - 538: You’re Not Allowed to Like Her
Chapter 539: Chapter 538: You’re Not Allowed to Like Her
Miss Meng, the daughter of the Minister of War who had once been introduced to Xu Jingxi as a potential match, was now pursuing him with even greater intensity.
She often invited Xu Jingxi out on spring excursions. Knowing his great love for poetry, she would spend her own silver to host poetry gatherings and invite him to attend.
However, Xu Jingxi had no intention of marrying and had already formally rejected Miss Meng on one occasion.
He had made it perfectly clear that he would not marry before his eldest and second brothers did.
Unexpectedly, Miss Meng was not discouraged and continued to send him gifts every few days.
One day, Second Master Xie was heading out.
Before he even reached the end of the street, he was stopped by Miss Meng.
"Greetings, Uncle Xie. I am a friend of Third Young Master Xie, and my surname is Meng," the young woman called out in a sweet, delicate voice.
Second Master Xie was taken aback and a bit confused. "May I help you? Yuan’er is not home today."
Miss Meng quickly waved her hands. "I came to pay my respects to you and Chancellor Xie."
As she spoke, the maids behind her presented four exquisitely wrapped brocade boxes.
"Spring has recently begun, so my family had someone purchase these Snow Lotuses. They can help strengthen the body and will be particularly beneficial for your recovery, Uncle Xie. These others are some cordyceps and some secret remedies from foreign lands, which can help improve circulation and disperse blood stasis in the legs."
Second Master Xie paused for a moment. "Thank you for your kindness, but I can’t accept gifts for no reason. Please, Miss Meng, take them back."
Miss Meng beamed. "Please, just accept them. They’re just inexpensive little things. It would be wonderful if you could make use of them."
Her maids were clever and had likely planned this. Seeing Second Master Xie’s refusal, they directly thrust the gift boxes into the hands of the attendant standing behind him.
Fearing that Second Master Xie would refuse again, Miss Meng quickly took her maids and made a hasty retreat.
Watching her retreating figure, Second Master Xie frowned in resignation.
The face of the attendant behind him was completely obscured by the gift boxes. "Second Master, our Third Young Master is truly a man of extraordinary charm!"
Second Master Xie pressed his lips together. "We’re not related, nor are we close friends; we shouldn’t be accepting things from others. Take these to Yuan’er’s courtyard and let him decide what to do with them when he gets back."
「That evening.」
Xu Jingxi returned home with Ye Shangyi.
Xu Jingxi had been invited by Grand Tutor Ye to the Ye Mansion to attend a lecture by a literary master, so he was returning a little late.
Having heard that the Xie family possessed a piece of calligraphy left behind by the late First Mistress, Shen Siyi, Ye Shangyi had come along specifically to admire it.
The moment Xu Jingxi stepped through the door, a servant, not noticing Ye Shangyi behind him, quickly said, "Third Young Master, you’re finally back! Miss Meng sent many things for the First and Second Masters during the day. The Second Master said to have you decide what to do with them."
Xu Jingxi turned his head and saw four brocade boxes arranged on the table in the main hall.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Return them. Thank her for me, but please tell her there’s no need to send anything more in the future."
Just then, Ye Shangyi spoke up. "Aren’t you even going to look at what’s inside?"
Xu Jingxi shook his head. "I have no intention of accepting them, so what’s the point in looking?"
Only then did the servant notice that Ye Shangyi had come back with him and hastily bowed in greeting. "Miss Ye, you’re here! I’ll go prepare some tea at once."
Xu Jingxi had someone bring out the calligraphy piece from the master.
"I just asked my uncle. Feel free to take it home to admire."
Ye Shangyi thanked him and prepared to leave, but then she suddenly remembered something.
"My grandfather’s big birthday celebration is in a few days. He asked me to invite you, so don’t you forget."
Xu Jingxi’s first instinct was to refuse.
’Grand Tutor Ye has been inviting me over so often lately. I’m getting too close to the Ye Family. But I remember my uncle, Xie Suzhi, telling me that if I want to pursue a career as an official, it’s best to maintain a certain respectable distance in my friendships. Because of that last incident, Grand Tutor Ye is now so grateful to me he’s practically ready to claim me as his god-grandson.’
Seeing Xu Jingxi’s hesitation, Ye Shangyi quickly added, "But this is my grandfather’s seventieth birthday. Ningning will be there, too."
Only then did Xu Jingxi agree. "Alright then."
Afterward, as Ye Shangyi was leaving, Xu Jingxi personally saw her to her carriage.
The carriage rumbled away. When he turned back, he saw Xie Ming’an leaning against the doorframe, watching him with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow.
"So, is it almost official?" Xie Ming’an asked.
Xu Jingxi’s brow twitched. "What’s almost official?"
He walked past Xie Ming’an with an indifferent expression, but Xie Ming’an pressed him, "Your marriage, of course! Many of my colleagues have been asking if you’re about to become the Ye Family’s grandson-in-law."
Xu Jingxi stopped in his tracks.
He looked at Xie Ming’an and gave a slight smile. "Second Brother, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I’ve told everyone the same thing: I will only consider my own marriage after you and Eldest Brother have both settled down."
With that, he swept his robes aside and departed, leaving Xie Ming’an frozen in place.
"You—! Are you even my brother?!" Xie Ming’an’s enraged roar echoed from behind him.
「The next day.」
Shen Ningning went shopping with Ye Shangyi. She wanted to pick out a birthday gift for Grand Tutor Ye, whose celebration was fast approaching.
The two of them also invited Qi Xiuwei to come along.
The three young women spent the entire morning shopping, first scouring the jewelry stores and silk boutiques.
They ended up buying many things for themselves, but they still hadn’t found a gift for Grand Tutor Ye.
Shen Ningning had looked everywhere but wasn’t satisfied with anything.
Growing tired, they found a teahouse to sit down and rest.
The main hall was bustling with people. Outside, the bright spring sun cast the shadows of flowers everywhere.
"I think I’ll just bring something from the mountain," Shen Ningning said. "Hmm, how about I give Grandpa Ye ninety-nine stalks of Spirit Grass?"
Ye Shangyi took a sip of tea and clicked her tongue. "Anything you give him, my grandfather will love. Honestly, even if you showed up with nothing, he’d be happy just to see you."
Qi Xiuwei smiled warmly. "I’ve already decided what I’m giving. I’m going to give him the century-old ginseng my family has been saving."
As they were talking, a cheerful voice suddenly sounded from beside them.
"What a coincidence! Princess, Miss Ye, Miss Qi, you’re all here."
The three of them looked over and saw Miss Meng approaching with several maids in tow.
Ye Shangyi’s eyes flashed when she saw her. She pursed her lips and said nothing.
It was Shen Ningning who smiled and waved. "Miss Meng, are you here for tea as well?"
"I was just passing by and saw that you were all here, so I thought I’d come say hello."
Qi Xiuwei scooted over a bit and was about to ask the waiter to bring another stool for Miss Meng, but Miss Meng stopped her.
Miss Meng smiled warmly. "I won’t sit, I still have things to attend to. Princess, my brother recently returned from Huizhou and brought back some of their famous Taihu Brushes and a Purple Sandalwood Inkstone. Since you’re here, could I ask you to pass them along to Third Young Master Xie for me?"
Shen Ningning was taken aback and quickly waved her hands in refusal. "Miss Meng, I can’t accept gifts on my third brother’s behalf. If you want to give them to him, wouldn’t it be much better to do it in person?"
Miss Meng’s smile faltered for a moment before she nodded. "You’re right. It’s just that he mentioned them to me a while back, so I was eager to get them to him. Well then, I won’t disturb your tea any longer."
With that, she exchanged a few brief pleasantries and departed.
Watching her retreating figure, Qi Xiuwei couldn’t help but comment, "She’s certainly very attentive when it comes to Mr. Xu."
Shen Ningning chimed in, "Yes, and I heard she’s always bringing gifts to the house. Of all the young women the matchmakers have introduced, she’s the only one who has kept up contact with my third brother. Maybe he actually likes her?"
"No!" Ye Shangyi, who had been silent until now, suddenly slammed her hand on the table. The sound was so loud it silenced the entire bustling teahouse.
All eyes, filled with confusion, turned to her.