You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Shen Cong'an caught a glimpse of his senior brother's hand on Xie Wanru's shoulder, and a sudden flutter of emotion stirred within him. He wished he could be this close to Xie Wanru...

But he dared not make such a move, for fear that Xie Wanru would notice his unusual behavior.

After deciding on their respective tasks, the group dispersed.

Xie Wanru brought her eldest brother back to the manor; she wanted to show him the princess's residence where she had just moved in.

This mansion was bestowed by the Emperor and belongs solely to her. If she didn't earn it with her own hands, then she must have cheated it out of good fortune.

Since the Empress could not bestow too many rewards upon the men of the Xie family, she proposed to make an exception and bestow upon her the title of Princess, so that she would have a title.

The Princess's Mansion is magnificent yet elegant, with every detail showcasing the imperial favor and Xie Wanru's unique taste.

The servants in the mansion were respectful and moved with light steps, weaving through the winding corridors and creating a tranquil and orderly atmosphere.

Xu Ning was somewhat unaccustomed to having so many servants, but he tried his best to act naturally.

Afterwards, Xie Wanru led her senior brother on a stroll through the garden, where the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and fish played among the lotus leaves. She introduced the place in a soft, gentle voice.

The eldest brother listened quietly, occasionally nodding in approval, his eyes full of tenderness and appreciation.

“This is the stargazing platform that I specially had built,” Xie Wanru said, pointing to a small pavilion not far away. “Looking up at the starry sky in the quiet of the night is quite a pleasure.”

Xu Ning looked up and said, "Junior Sister certainly knows how to enjoy life. This beautiful scenery is truly rare."

Xie Wanru smiled slightly, "Then, Senior Brother, would you be willing to accompany me to admire this beautiful scenery?"

Xu Ning nodded gently, "Of course I'm willing. It's a great honor to be able to enjoy the stars with Junior Sister. If Third Brother knew, he would definitely regret it. Originally, he was the one who discussed it with you, but he was afraid of losing face in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, so he refused to come no matter what, and missed the beautiful scenery of your residence."

The two slowly stepped onto the observatory. As the night deepened, the starlight began to shine brightly, shimmering with a mysterious and alluring light, as if sprinkled on black silk.

"Next time, let my third senior brother come, and I'll bring him to admire the moon and stars too."

Xie Wanru had someone bring out a pot of warm wine and two small wine cups, and she handed one to Xu Ning.

"Senior Brother, this is peach blossom wine that my mother brewed herself. There's not much left, so I only dared to secretly take a pot here. Please try it."

Perhaps because of the mention of her deceased mother, Xie Wanru's voice sounded particularly gentle in the night breeze, unlike the cold and resolute tone she had used during their earlier discussion.

Xu Ning took the wine glass, took a small sip, and the wine had a faint peach blossom flavor, which was sweet but not cloying, making people feel refreshed.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent wine! Auntie's cooking skills are truly exceptional."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanru smiled even more brightly. The two drank a few more cups, and slowly the effects of the alcohol began to spread. She looked up at the starry sky and felt an unprecedented sense of peace and contentment welling up in her heart.

But after that initial burst of energy subsided, she became somewhat melancholy.

She said softly, "It's a pity that I didn't learn any of my mother's skills. She can't see my life now, and I haven't been able to... take care of myself."

Xie Wanru rarely thinks about her mother. Most of her memories of her mother come from her father and brothers. She can't even remember what her mother looked like because she was too young when her mother died.

Perhaps it was because she had been drinking, or perhaps because she was being more unrestrained in front of her senior brother, that Xie Wanru behaved this way.

A feeling of pity welled up in Xu Ning's heart. He gently patted Xie Wanru's shoulder and said tenderly, "Junior Sister, if your aunt were alive, she would be extremely gratified to see how strong and independent you are now, and how you are deeply loved by the Emperor and Empress, who have bestowed upon you the title of Princess. You have done very well, so don't blame yourself anymore."

Xie Wanru turned her head, her eyes slightly red, and said softly, "Really? Senior Brother, have I really done enough?"

She seemed more vulnerable than ever before, always like a warm little sun.

Xu Ning nodded firmly, her eyes full of encouragement and warmth: "Of course, you are not only smart and brave, but also compassionate, and you always try your best to help those in need. You have exceeded the imagination of many people, including me. I never thought that you, who are always mischievous, would think of things like distributing porridge. If your aunt knew, she would only be proud of you."

Xie Wanru sniffed, a slightly bitter smile appearing on her lips: "Thank you for your comforting words, Senior Brother. I feel much better now."

The pressure she felt was invisible to others. She usually pretended to be nonchalant, but after drinking some wine in front of her senior brother, she couldn't help but want to let it out.

The two continued to sit quietly on the observatory, enjoying the rare tranquility and each other's company.

A gentle night breeze caressed the twinkling stars, and the cool air only accentuated the warmth and harmony of the scene.

The next day, before Xie Wanru was fully awake, Dongzhu told her that Lin Qing had arrived.

Mother Xie's wine was so delicious that she and her eldest brother got a little drunk. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed and slept so soundly that she didn't even feel like getting up until the sun was high in the sky.

"Let her eat first, or let her play as she pleases. I'm not fully awake yet, I'll sleep a little longer."

Xie Wanru didn't even open her eyes and continued sleeping.

Dongzhu didn't bother her anymore. Anyway, Miss Lin would definitely be coming often in the future, so it would be good for her to get more familiar with the home environment.

But they all forgot that there was another man in the princess's mansion, the eldest brother, Xu Ning.

Xu Ning also drank quite a bit last night, but his skill was profound and his alcohol tolerance was much better than Xie Wanru's, so he woke up as soon as it was light.

He would practice his martial arts in the mansion’s large garden as soon as he woke up, and he never slacked off every day for so many years.

When Lin Qing arrived, he saw a man with extraordinary figure dancing with a sword in the morning light. The sword light was as smooth as water, full of power, and blended into the surrounding flowers, plants and trees, forming a moving picture.

The painting was so captivating that Lin Qing couldn't help but stop and admire it quietly.

She had never seen such a handsome and extraordinary man. Most of the young men from the aristocratic families in Xuancheng were arrogant and she rarely gave them a second glance. But the man in front of her was completely different from them. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his temperament was both aloof and gentle.

After Xu Ning finished practicing a set of sword techniques, he sheathed his sword and turned around, where he saw Lin Qing standing not far away.

He was slightly taken aback. In fact, he had noticed Lin Qing's lingering presence not long before, but he knew that there were many people in the Princess's residence, so it was not surprising that a few idle people were observing.

He hadn't expected her to be a beautiful woman. Just by looking at her robes, he knew she wasn't a servant in the manor. He then nodded politely as a greeting.