An ugly girl starts off, then becomes a beauty

Nie Ce never went to the Qingshan Temple dormitory to take a nap. From noon to noon, he would either take a nap in the study room, leaning against the table, or go to the stable to look at the jade lion, or else he would find a clean place in an empty corner to lie down.

Today, I heard that the old osmanthus tree in the backyard of Qingshan Temple was in bloom, and I couldn't help but take a look out of curiosity. The osmanthus flowers didn't seem to be anything special, but an old locust tree next to the old osmanthus tree was just what I wanted. It had curved and thick branches and many leaves. Isn't it a good place to rest?

Unexpectedly, before he lay down for a while, someone came over. Aren't they all resting in the dormitory? Why is there someone running here? Fortunately, his area was hidden by layers of leaves and could not be seen at a glance. So he casually glanced down.

Only then did I realize that she was the daughter of the Sang family.

Just as he was about to say hello to scare her, he saw her sitting down on the wooden couch, closing her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed, and a hint of pain on her fair face.

This face was truly eye-catching. Compared to some of the girls in the school who had already put on makeup, she looked effortless. With a slight smile, the two dimples at the corners of her lips were faintly visible, making her bright and charming. Yet at this moment of sorrow, she was as cold and pure as a lotus in the mist, making people feel that they were being defiled if they took one more glance at her.

It was the first time that he felt that it was really indecent for him to watch someone secretly like this, so he prepared to jump down from the tree and say hello seriously.

I heard someone coming from behind the sycamore tree.

People who have practiced martial arts for many years are accustomed to listening to all directions and watching all directions. With just a glance, they only need to see the corner of Tu Bai's sleeve to know who is coming.

Xun Jin, the son of Donghou.

Nie Ce couldn't help but smile teasingly. Earlier, at the horse race, the two walked side by side on the grassland, and later went to the East Marquis Mansion alone. I'm afraid that the Xun and Sang families are planning to get engaged.

He lay down quietly again. How could others disturb a beautiful woman when she was meeting her?

Sang Ling calmed down his gaze, and when he saw the person clearly, his emotions, which had just calmed down, fluctuated again - if this marriage was finally decided with A-Mei, the two of them should avoid suspicion.

She stood up, smoothed her skirt, and prepared to leave.

"I heard that Gao's eldest son is sick." Xun Jin's voice came.

Lin Zhongfeng's voice gradually calmed down. Sang Ling narrowed his eyes, thinking that he probably asked this because of the good relationship between the two families.

Then he replied softly, "Yes, thank you for your concern, my Lord. I am fine now."

After saying this, she was about to take a step forward, but paused for a moment, then politely performed the usual greetings. She thought she had shown enough courtesy, and leaving in this way would not be considered an insult to him.

"Why--" the voice behind her came again. Sang Ling looked back in confusion. Her dark eyes slid slightly, but she saw Xun Jialang's hands tightening his sleeves. She raised her eyebrows secretly and withdrew her gaze without a sound.

The man seemed to swallow, "Last month, when Madam Sang came here, why didn't she bring you along?"

What does this mean? In June of the year, Sang Feng'e went to visit the East Marquis' Mansion and did not bring her with her. Didn't Xun Jin know this? Didn't he first say that he wanted to marry his sister instead, which made Sang Feng'e unhappy, and then he did not bring Sang Ling with him?

Even if she wanted to get engaged, Sang Ling was a girl after all. If she was despised like this, even if Sang Feng'e wanted to arrange a marriage for her, she would not rush to send her niece to make her look bad.

Prince Xun took a small step closer to her, his thin shoulders trembling in the wind, and his expression finally changed, "My mother is going to propose marriage to the Sang Mansion in winter."

Oh, marriage proposal, she smiled sarcastically in her heart, and then frowned, "Amei is only eleven years old this year!"

Even if he liked her, he would have to wait until she was 15 years old. If he really wanted to pick her, Sang Wu and Ma also agreed that the earliest she could be would be 13 or 14 years old. At this age, she didn't even know whether Sang Mei's period had come, and she was going to get married. Wasn't this illegal?

"It's about proposing a marriage with you." Xun Jin also frowned.

Oh, it seems that I still couldn't convince Mrs. Donghou in the end, but why did Mrs. Donghou insist on her? Sang Mei is also a daughter of the Sang family, and there is also Ma above her, who is now the eldest lady of the Taiwei Mansion and a legitimate wife in charge of the family. If she marries Sang Mei, she will be more valuable in their eyes. Besides, compared with Sang Mei in the past, perhaps these people think that the elder sister is not even as good as a finger of the younger sister.

Could it be that there is something in me that is more valuable than Sang Mei? Is it related to my aunt? Yes, if the Gao family and the Zhou family are married, this is another layer of relationship. The head of the Zhou family is also a Chang'an County official. With these connections in hand, it will definitely benefit him more.

Isn’t this how the noble ladies in Beijing like to make friends?

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Xun Jin asked again, "Why do you think she is your sister?"

She pulled herself out of her contemplation and looked him over with a puzzled look, "Didn't you bring it up first?"

Xun Jin was stunned when he heard this - he originally thought that Madam Sang would be concerned about hurting Sang Ling and would not bring it up. Could it be that she already knew about it?

"How could that be?" He denied it flatly, "I never mentioned it."

Seeing the girl's eyes scanning his face, a suspicious blush appeared on his face.

This Xun family boy was actually quite good-looking, with the image of a gentle gentleman. Moreover, when he was in school and had a conversation with the teacher, Sang Ling admired him. After all, there were not many boys in the school who could study seriously. For someone like her who was devoted to studying, she naturally could not look down on him. But in just two or three months, she saw that this man's attitude changed again and again, and he was fickle. Now it was difficult not to look down on him.

At the horse race, she had noticed his aloofness, but she didn't take it too seriously because he was polite. Later, when he sent her back to Gao's house, he would rather sit outside with the driver than come in with her. She could see what he was thinking, but she didn't take it too seriously because he was polite enough to lend a hand. Even when she heard her aunt say that he was going to replace Sang Mei, she was a little hesitant at that moment, but she didn't look down on him. Instead, she respected him for daring to express his true thoughts in front of the two families.

If she could change Sang Mei, she would be happy to do so; if she couldn't, she could still accept her fate.

But she couldn't be so fickle. Could it be that he had seen a big change in her and changed his mind because of her appearance? Then this man was really not worthy of her appreciation.

"I'm going back to the study." He replied in a cold voice.

"I'll go with you." Unexpectedly, Xun Jin followed quickly. He was slightly taller than her, and he walked side by side with her. He continued, "I saw you reading Zhouyi this morning. I have been reading this book since I was a child. If there is anything you don't understand——"

The flattery in Xun Jialang's tone was so obvious, and his humble attitude seemed to be deliberately intended for her to notice.

"It's okay." She had to interrupt abruptly, pausing, "Sir, it's already noon, and the classmates are all out. If you and I go out together, I'm afraid it will be suspected of being a traitor."

Now that things have come to this, a smart person should understand. After all, he is a young master from an aristocratic family, so Xun Jin certainly understood what Sang Ling meant, and he also saw the disgust that flashed across the face of the man in front of him.

He just felt that if he didn't clear up the misunderstanding, it would be even more difficult in the future. His mother's analysis was correct. If he married Sang Mei, he would have to wait for three or four years before getting married. This was indeed too late for him to prepare for his career. He was still hesitating whether to choose Sang Ling again. Who would have thought that when he saw her today, she would look like this? Not only her sister Sang Mei, but also the entire Menguan and the entire capital, there was no such outstanding girl.

"I'm with you..." Xun Jin hadn't finished his words when he heard a loud laugh from above. The two of them were shocked at the same time and raised their heads in surprise.

Then a black shadow was seen jumping down from the top of the locust tree. The young man patted his skirt, laughed twice, and strode towards the two men.