Chapter 35: Night Talk (2)

  Yan Dai nodded slightly, speaking in a soft tone as if explaining or just chatting with Xiao Xian: "Although I was born with a weak constitution, my health has been well taken care of since then. My body is not strong, but it's not that fragile either. However, in my opinion, pretending to be ill can help me avoid some things and save myself from many awkward situations, so I've been 'ill' all these years."

  Xiao Cheng looked at Yuan Dai with a thoughtful expression, for a moment she couldn't understand what Yuan Dai wanted to say. Yuan Dai's situation in the Ling family, she wouldn't fail to notice, and she didn't think that Yuan Dai was complaining to her.

  It seemed that she had sensed her doubts, and Yuandai lightly laughed and said: "Well, let sister know, in fact I am the same as sister, I have been studying medicine since childhood!"

  Xiao Chengyan was taken aback, then suddenly exclaimed: "So to speak, when I diagnosed your pulse and prescribed medicine for you at the Miaofeng Mountain villa, I was actually wielding a big axe in front of Luban's gate!" Although Xiao Chengyan had not known Yuandai for long, she had already roughly grasped her temperament and knew that since Yuandai had said so, her medical skills would certainly not be too bad.

  Yuandai just smiled and didn't respond to her words. Xiao Chengyan saw that she was like this, obviously acknowledging what she had said, and couldn't help but feel annoyed, raising her hand to pinch Yuandai's cheek: "You little girl, no wonder my brother always says you're cunning!"

  Yan Dai smiled and dodged away, saying: "Others can say what they want about me, I don't mind, as long as sister doesn't settle accounts with me after autumn!"

  Xiao Chengxian finally understood after hearing this, and she looked deeply at Yuan Dai. She said: "The more I interact with my sister, the more I feel that my sister is extraordinary. But there are some things that my sister doesn't say, and I think there must be a reason why she doesn't say them. I don't dare to ask...". As she spoke, she couldn't help but sigh: "Although I'm really curious!" The last sentence already carried a hint of complaint.

  Yuandai also knew that Xiaochengxian was making a probing inquiry with a retreat, but because of Xiaochengxian's roundabout questioning, she simply went down the hill and smiled foolishly: "Sister is magnanimous, I'll thank you first here!"

  Xiao Chengyan saw that she was like this, and was even more certain that there must be some hidden reason. As for Yuan Dai bringing up this topic at this time, it seemed that Yuan Dai had acknowledged her as a friend and did not want the two of them to lose harmony in the future because of these things. After thinking about this, Xiao Chengyan's heart felt slightly better, and she smiled, deliberately changing the subject: "I came over tonight to discuss with my sister about choosing a husband after the list is released, but I didn't expect to bring up so many topics!"

  Yan Dai smiled as she listened, and from the moment she heard Qiao Lan knocking on the door, she suspected that Xiao Xian would come over tonight, there must be a reason. Now it seems, she didn't guess wrong after all. She thought for a moment, then said: "Don't hide from sister, I used to have a maid who grew up with me since childhood. Although I let her go, the emotional bond of many years can't be broken off. Nowadays, there are many things outside that she is still taking care of for me!"

  Xiao Chengyan was taken aback, and exclaimed: "You can't be telling me that you've also handed over the matter of choosing a son-in-law to her?" Seeing Yuan Dai's nod as if it were only natural, she couldn't help but shake her head repeatedly, her tone almost exasperated: "Nonsense! How can such an important lifelong matter be casually entrusted to someone else? I really don't know what you're thinking!"

  Yuan Dai couldn't help but smile when she saw how much she cared about herself: "Yuanyu is to me what Xiaolan is to my sister, both are the most trustworthy people. Besides, I also trust Yuanyu's judgment..." As she spoke, Yuan Dai suddenly thought of Ling Yuexian and sighed, saying: "Did you see tenth sister's expression today?"

  Xiao Chengyan didn't evade and asked, "I heard that tenth sister has been engaged to the fourth old master of the Lu family since childhood?"

  Yuandai nodded slightly and asked: "Sister, have you ever heard of that person?"

  Xiao Chengyan shook her head and said, "The Lu family's ancestral home is in Tanzhou, and the one in the capital is just a long house with a legitimate branch. However, I did hear my elder brother mention that the third house of the Lu family has produced some talented people in recent years!"

  Yan Dai furrowed her brow and thought for a moment before suddenly saying: "I wonder if Lu Si, the fourth son of the Lu family, will come to the capital to take the imperial examination this spring?"

  Xiao Cheng smiled slyly and said, "If you want to know this, it's simple. Tomorrow I'll go ask my big brother about it. He has a wide range of connections in the capital and is also familiar with some members of the Lu family's main house. If that Lu Laosi enters the capital, he will definitely know!"

  Yuandai thought of Ling Yuexian, but couldn't help sighing and saying: "I just hope that Lao Si won't disappoint people too much!" From Ling Yuexian's actions, Yuandai could see her anxiety. After all, she was going to marry a man she had never met, let alone understood in the slightest, and after getting married, she would have to face an almost completely unfamiliar family.

  Xiao Chengyan gazed at Yuandai for a moment before shaking her head and sighing, "Ninth sister, don't forget, she's tenth sister, you're ninth sister!" These words were actually reminding Yuandai that the Ling family now only had two daughters left, and the one who got married before Ling Yuanshu was none other than Yuandai herself.

  Yuandai smiled faintly and said, "I naturally understand these things!" After talking for half a day, Yuandai also felt that she had been meddling in other people's business. She shook her head and asked Xiaozheng Xian, "Earlier, I heard my sister say that she wanted to choose the right person herself?"

  Xiao Chengyan nodded, with a determined look on her delicate face: "My husband, of course, should be chosen by myself!"

  As for Xiao Chengxian's stubbornness, Yuan Dai had seen it before and naturally wouldn't have any intention of persuading her. After smiling wryly, she said: "Sister won't think that just one time would be enough to choose someone who meets your heart's desire, right?"

  This is what she was most curious about.

  Although it is said that the Spring Imperial Examination is held in the second month of spring, many candidates from far away from Pingjing will come to Pingjing as early as possible. Firstly, to avoid the fatigue and discomfort of traveling and affecting the imperial examination; Secondly, also to see the talents of the world and measure oneself.

  Every time the spring arrives, after the previous year's spring, there will be candidates coming to the capital one after another. By the beginning of winter, most of the candidates who should have arrived would have done so. Because of the large number of candidates being referred, it is inevitable that there are mixed fish and dragons, making this matter of selecting a son-in-law like panning for gold in the waves. If luck is not good, it will be even more impossible to find someone satisfactory. Moreover, looking at the current situation, Xiao Xian has no intention of relying on the power of the Xiao family. She doesn't doubt Xiao Xian's vision, but she doesn't believe that Xiao Xian can deceive her parents and go out every day, even if she can persuade Xiao Xian, it's still unlikely.

  Xiao Chengyan blinked at her with a sly smile, saying: "Sister is worried that I won't be able to go out, right?" Seeing Yan Dai nodding, she proudly said: "Don't worry, sister, I've already thought of a plan for this!"

  Yan Dai smiled and said: "Looking at you like this, it seems like you have a plan!"

  Xiao Cheng smiled and lowered her voice: "I came over this time, just to ask if my sister is willing to join me in making a big deal?"

  The meaning of Shao's words made her even more surprised: "Could it be that my sister actually has a way to take me out with her?" As for choosing a husband herself, she wasn't particularly interested. For her own marriage, she had never had too many extravagant hopes, just hoping to get what she wanted and not being manipulated by others. However, these days she had been thinking about going out to meet Yuan Zhen and discuss some things, so she was very interested in Shao's proposal.

  Xiao Chengyan couldn't help but furrow her brow, and after a long while, she said: "Originally, it was just you alone, and there wouldn't have been any problem. But tenth sister is a difficult issue; if we don't bring her, she might not agree, and if we do bring her, and something happens, how can that be good?"

  Ling Yu had always been clever and understood the meaning of Xiao Chengyan's words as soon as she heard them. Xiao Chengyan had this thought in mind, sneaking out of the door to select a son-in-law under the list, while Ling Yu was already engaged and only waiting for the other party to choose a date to come and welcome her. If she brought Ling Yu along, it would be unavoidable that Ling Yu might take a liking to one of the scholars and cause a big disturbance.

  "What was sister's original intention?" Yuandai threw away those questions and asked directly.

  Xiao Chengyan nodded and said: "Sister, have you ever heard of Pingjing Green Lian Ridge?"

  Yuandai nodded slightly. Luoyun was a famous variety of white plum blossoms, and Luoyun Ridge, as the name suggests, was a mountain ridge for admiring plum blossoms. In fact, Mei Ridge was the best place to admire plum blossoms around Pingjing. Every time the red plum blossoms were in full bloom, there would be a constant stream of people coming to admire them on Luoyun Ridge. Furrowing her brow slightly, Yuandai asked: "Sister is using admiring plum blossoms as an excuse, which is fine, but I'm afraid it can't be done every day, right?"

  Xiao Chengyan said: "Sister only knows that the Ling family has a villa on Miaofeng Mountain, but I'm afraid you don't know that my Xiao family also has a villa on Lü'è Ridge?"

  As soon as this was said, Yuandai suddenly realized and smiled: "So that's it!" She thought for a moment and said, "Now the plum blossoms on Lüyè Ridge are probably not yet in full bloom, right?"

  Xiao Chengyan said: "The other day, someone from the Green Lotus Ridge villa returned to the mansion to listen to the difference. I heard it and hastily sent someone over to inquire. They said that this year's plum blossoms are very good. Although they have not yet fully bloomed, the trees already show scattered flower buds. It seems that full bloom is not far off. After receiving this news, I hurriedly came to your mansion to stay for a few days. When I return, I will report to Madam and ask you to go to my family's villa to stay for a few days. I think Madam won't refuse. Now I'm just thinking about how to explain things to Tenth Sister."

  …………

  Well, I'm going to say it with a blush on my face, this book will be PK next month, and I'd like to ask everyone to continue supporting me, thank you all in advance!

  Run away!