Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 400: Birds Disappear Over a Thousand Mountains VS Inhumane (2)

Beitang Xuan originally intended to refuse, but then he thought about his sister’s thin skin, and if she couldn’t bear the rejection and returned with him... The very thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"Then I’ll trouble the princess to persuade her, I’m afraid she might not be able to take it..." Beitang Xuan clasped his hands and bowed as he spoke.

Feng Xuxu nodded, "This princess will do so."

Xiu Bingxi and Zongzheng Zehang exchanged a glance; with the matter thus settled and both parties silent about what had just happened, they were left to enjoy some peace.

"My lord, my lady, it is getting late; your subordinate will take his leave."

Dugu Chen lifted his eyelids to glance at Xiu Bingxi and nodded, "Mm, everyone may leave now."

One by one, they all stood up and bid farewell.

After following them out for a bit, Baihe flipped over and landed in front of Qinmeng, "Miss Beitang, our princess requests your presence."

Qinmeng looked down in contemplation for a moment before finally deciding to follow the maid leading the way to the princess.

Brought by Baihe through the back garden to the rear courtyard’s pavilion, there sat a Luminous Pearl with its bright light casting a dazzling radiance on the pavilion’s surrounding pink gauze curtains—it was truly mesmerizing and brilliant.

"Go ahead, the princess is waiting inside." Baihe lightly ascended the steps, lifted the curtain, and signaled for Qinmeng to enter.

Seeing the princess sitting inside the curtain sipping tea leisurely, Qinmeng steeled her heart and stepped inside.

Baihe let down the curtain and stepped aside to stand guard.

"Won’t you speak?" After the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, with Qinmeng still silent, Feng Xuxu helplessly spoke up first.

With her swollen eyes, Qinmeng looked at Feng Xuxu, opened her mouth, but still didn’t manage to say anything.

"Don’t you like my cousin?" she asked, setting down her cup and looking at her.

Qinmeng shook her head frantically, "No, it’s not that."

"Since you like him, and you two have... then why wouldn’t you marry him?"

"Sister, it’s you that Jueqing loves. Even just now... when he was intoxicated, he kept uttering your name intermittently." Tears silently fell as she spoke; even drunk, Jueqing couldn’t forget you.

Feng Xuxu handed her own handkerchief to her, sighing inwardly.

"Qinmeng, I have absolutely no romantic feelings for my cousin; if anything, what I feel is merely the affection of a sister for a brother, do you understand?"

Qinmeng wiped the tears from her face, nodded, and in a heavy nasal voice replied softly, "Yes, I understand, but in my heart, there’s always that one shadow!" Looking up at Feng Xuxu, she clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

"If you truly like my cousin, why not make him fall for you? Once my cousin falls for you, that shadow will cease to exist."

Qinmeng lifted her eyes, her gaze hazy with hope as she asked Feng Xuxu, "Really?"

"You have to ask yourself."

Qinmeng looked down and fell silent for a long while, "I’ll marry, I must make him fall for me." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Feng Xuxu revealed a slight smile, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and felt happy for her cousin.

The next day, as promised, Feng Xuxu sent people to escort Qinmeng back. By noon, Qinmeng and her elder brother Beitang Xuan left in a carriage. Feng Xuxu wrote a letter urging a swift delivery to Jueqing Castle, telling them to prepare the betrothal gifts and come for the bridal procession, confident that her aunt would be overjoyed.

On the 20th of July, early in the morning, the streets were filled with spectators crowding Vermilion Bird Avenue, all eager to catch a glimpse of the beauties’ faces.

Soon, a rumble of carriage wheels approached from afar, and one after another, the carriages rolled by, their surroundings shrouded in sheer curtains. Through these veils, onlookers caught glimpses of the beauties inside, their hazy allure further sparking the crowd’s curiosity. The common folk knew well these women were destined for the emperor, merely providing entertainment was acceptable, and no one dared approach to court discomfort.