Chapter 40: Before Returning to Beijing (Part 2)

  Xiao Chengyan asked herself, but Yuan Dai remained silent, smiling slightly as she turned to look at her. After all, the two of them were just acquaintances like Rong Zhi, and she didn't believe that she could see things that Xiao Chengyan couldn't see at all.

  Seeing her like this, Xiao Chengyan could only purse his lips and smile, but his words still revealed a few hints of carelessness: "Even if he is loyal and righteous, what's the point? With his status, let alone becoming a scholar in the future, even if he becomes a champion, later on, it will only be our family who takes care of him!"

  Yuan Dai heard this and smiled slightly. Although she felt that Xiao Chengyan's words were too absolute, since they didn't seem to be wrong at the moment, she didn't bother to argue with him about it: "The man's surname is Luo, Luo Qidong!" she said casually.

  Xiao Chengxian was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "How did you suddenly bring this up!"

  Yan Dai replied leisurely: "If he fails the exam and really becomes a slave in your household, you'll at least have to give him food to eat, won't you?"

  Xiao Chengxian couldn't help but laugh and said, "Alright! I'll go back and talk to my older brother about this. But it can't be a waste of that jade pendant!" It turned out that on that day, after the two had discussed it, since they didn't have much silver on them, Yuan Dai casually handed over the jade pendant that Ling Yuqing had redeemed from the pawnshop to the shopkeeper at Wen Xuan Hall, instructing him to sell it himself and use the money to offset the cost of food and lodging for Luo Qidong and others in the future.

  That jade pendant was originally obtained by Xiao Chengxian from someone else, and she didn't care much about it either. This time, she hung it on her waist because the pendant was relatively neutralized, and wearing men's clothing suited her perfectly, so she casually flipped it out. Moreover, she also didn't know the true relationship between Yuandai and Wenshuang Pavilion, seeing Yuandai arrange things this way, she didn't object either.

  As for Yuandai, this arrangement is actually intended to extricate herself from the situation, so as not to entangle future favors and debts.

  As for this matter, Xiao Chengyan obviously didn't have much interest in discussing it. With a lazy expression, she kicked her legs and smiled: "At this time next year, I don't know where I'll be, but at this time next year, my sister will definitely be here. The world is unpredictable, nothing more than that!"

  Smiling and gazing at the clear pool in front of her, Daiyu said: "Being able to stay here for a long time would indeed make one's heart yearn for it!"

  Xiao Chengxian playfully teased: "Being able to move into Shu Ying Mountain Villa is actually more delightful for younger sister than marrying Rui Qin Wang!"

  Suddenly hearing this, she couldn't help but burst out laughing with a "heh" sound, and then nodded seriously saying: "Sister is absolutely right!"

  Xiao Chengxian's words were originally meant to tease her, but unexpectedly she took them seriously. Accidentally glancing at her, Xiao Chengxian smiled and said: "You really dare to admit it! Aren't you afraid that he'll hear about this later and make a fuss with you?"

  She bent down to scoop water from the clear pond, and smiled faintly: "In the future, if I really treat him with respect as a guest, he will only pretend not to know when he hears this, what can I do about it?"

  Xiao Chengxian was silent. From Yu Dai's words, she couldn't understand how he didn't get it. If in the future husband and wife were not harmonious, according to Bai Lixiao's temperament, even if someone mentioned it to his face, he might not care at all. But if the couple got along well, today's words would be even less of an issue.

  "It's also worth marrying..." After a long time, Xiao Chengyan suddenly muttered a sentence. In fact, this sentence has been turning around in her mind for several days, making her feel a sense of loss for no reason. Sighing, Xiao Chengyan finally asked: "Speaking of which, my sister has met quite a few people these days, but I don't know who else can live up to this phrase?"

  "After a faint smile, Yuan Dai said calmly: 'All right!'"

  Unexpectedly, she spat out these three words. Xiao Cheng's slender eyebrows rose: "All of them? Including Lu Weiying?"

  She originally thought that Yuandai was very disgusted with Lu Weiying, and as soon as she heard this, she would immediately deny it. She could also take the opportunity to tease Yuandai a few words. But unexpectedly, Yuandai smiled freely: "Sister looks down on people, but outside, there are countless people staring at them! Think about Lu Weiying, he is indeed a talented person, and his family background is good too. Why isn't he worth marrying?"

  Dazed for a moment, Xiao Cheng suddenly realized that Yuan Dai's words were not referring to her, but to all the women in the world. Glaring at Yuan Dai with annoyance, she said: "Sister, if you want to pretend to be stupid like this in front of me again, don't blame me for turning against you!"

  Yan Dai wouldn't be afraid of her threats, but upon hearing this, she just smiled. After a long while, she said in the midst of Xiao Chengyan's threatening gaze: "Sister is actually thinking too much! In my opinion, those who can be married are also divided into three six nine grades! Sister should understand that if I hadn't accidentally met sister and couldn't choose a husband, then Lu Weiyin this kind of person, in my eyes, is actually not a bad choice!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and suddenly thought of the situation Yu Dai and her mother were in at the Ling's house before, but she also fell silent. Yu Dai's words were actually not wrong, if it weren't for the coincidence that brought them to this point, with Mrs. Lu's attitude towards her and her mother, Yu Dai's future was truly uncertain.

  "My sister is exceptionally clever, I don't believe you'll just sit and wait for death!" She managed to say after a good while.

  She nodded calmly, and Yu Dai smiled faintly: "Sister is right! If it's really like that, I won't just sit and wait for death!" She sighed again: "It's just... some methods, unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to use them. Besides, sister should know me, I'm actually very lazy, always wanting to find someone who can share the burden with me!"

  Xiao Chengxian was shocked when she first heard the phrase "some means" and immediately thought of the pill that Lu Weiying had taken that day: "My sister trusts me so much, but I don't know what to say next!" It took her a long time to speak up in a soft voice.

  With a calm smile, Yuan Dai said: "In this world, there are few people I can trust, and sister is one of them!"

  Xiao Chengxian was about to say something else, but suddenly a faint footstep sound came from the left side. The sound was not loud, but it seemed a bit complicated, obviously more than one person was coming, and they were still some distance away. However, since both of them heard this sound, they naturally wouldn't continue talking. At this moment, both of them stopped speaking and looked in the direction of the sound without saying a word. After a while, three familiar figures really appeared vaguely in the distance. Yan Dai was taken aback at first, but then couldn't help but laugh to herself.

  It turns out that the two of them had forgotten, this morning Xiao Chengyan and three others didn't they just bid farewell to Bai Lichao at Pusu Shadow Mountain Villa? Now that it's been figured out, it was also around the time when the three of them returned after having lunch at Pusu Shadow Mountain Villa. Unfortunately, the road through Zhaoshui Forest is the closest route from Xiao family's detached house to Pusu Shadow Mountain Villa.

  The two had not yet reacted, but from the other side came Ling Yuancheng's calm and collected voice: "Jiū Mèimei, what are you two doing here?" It was clear that Ling Yuancheng had already discovered their tracks.

  Yuandai and the other two had no intention of avoiding him, but when they heard this, they naturally stood up. Yuandai even smiled and called out: "Sixth Brother!" Ling Yuanqing and the others quickly walked over.

  As he wasn't particularly familiar with the two of them, Lu Weijie didn't see Ling Yuexuan, but his face involuntarily revealed a look of puzzlement. Fortunately, at this moment, Ling Yuanqing asked ahead of time: "Where's tenth sister? Why isn't she with you guys?"

  With a faint smile, Yuan Dai said: "When we came, we originally called her to come together. But she just refused, saying that she was tired and wanted to go back to the house to rest for a while. We saw that she was determined, and it wasn't good to force her, so we had to let her go!"

  Although what she said was true, when it came to Ling Yuexuan, her expression seemed to be smiling but not quite. Although she didn't intentionally make a gesture, Ling Yucheng and others understood at a glance. After a haha laugh, Ling Yucheng pushed Lu Weijie beside him: "Still stunned, go quickly!"

  Lu Weijie's face also turned slightly red, and he awkwardly nodded at Yuan Dai and the others before quickly leaving.

  After Lu Weijie left, the four people in the room fell silent for a moment. However, it was still Xiao Chengyan who spoke up first and asked, "Did Rui's uncle say anything about going to Pusu Shadow Mountain Villa?" In fact, she was asking this question for Yuan Dai, and also to remind Xiao Chengyan not to hold onto any hope in his heart. She was very clear that this marriage had already been settled, and Xiao Chengyan had no chance at all.

  He took a deep look at his sister and responded indifferently: "It's just some polite words, whether you listen or not makes no difference!"

  Ling Yuancheng hastily added, "I specifically mentioned Mrs. Ning and said she would return to Beijing with us!"

  Madam Ning's return to the capital with everyone was something that Ling Dai and others had already learned from Madam Ning's mouth, and they had also told Xiao Chengye and others. At this moment, after hearing these words, they were naturally not surprised. However, Ling Yuanqing's next sentence still made the two slightly astonished: "Not only that, but Prince Rui also said that Madam Ning's mansion is being renovated, his intention is to let Madam Ning stay in our mansion for a few days!"

  Yuan Dai's eyes widened slightly as she turned her head to glance at Xiao Chengyan, who also looked astonished, clearly not having expected Bai Li Zhao to make such a request. After a moment of silence, Yuan Dai asked, "Did Sixth Brother agree to it?"

  Ling Yuancheng couldn't help but smile wryly and asked, "Sister, do you think I can refuse?" As for Ling Yuancheng himself, he didn't want Mrs. Ning to move into the Ling household, because he was very clear that Mrs. Ning's intention was to get close to Yuandai. And his mother, Madame Lu, was the greatest enemy of Yuandai and her daughter in the Ling household. However, he understood even more clearly that if he refused Baili Zhao's request, when he returned to the manor, not to mention others, he would first have to face Old Lady Xiao. In the end, Mrs. Ning would still move into the Ling Manor.

  But what he did would thoroughly infuriate Bai Li and Mrs. Ning, making things even more unfavorable for Lu's wife.

  How could Yan Dai be so quick-witted, seeing him like this, how could she not know what he was thinking in his heart? However, the more she knew, the more she couldn't speak up, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Just as she was hesitating about what to say, Xiao Chengye, who had been cold-faced all along, suddenly spoke up: "I have a few words I'd like to say to Ninth Sister alone, but I don't know if Ninth Sister is willing?"