Chapter 224 Pink Beads

Chapter 224 Pink Beads

Arranged marriage!

Shen Nanzi was surprised. She could do such a thing now?

What if I point to the wrong thing?

I can't point it out, I can't point it out at all.

Shen Nanzi said, "Let's see first! If any girl takes a liking to Liefeng, it's not too late to arrange the marriage after Liefeng agrees."

“Yes, Auntie, no rush. Marriage is a major event; we should think it over carefully,” said Yang Wenhui.

Auntie was worried about Lie Feng, fearing that the previous events would make Prince Jing wary. She also understood that the Princess was afraid of arranging the wrong marriage and delaying the two of them.

None of them spoke.

The situation remained at a stalemate. When Shen Nanzi saw a slender figure, she couldn't help but think of Xie Yu.

Tu Xinya.

Shen Nanzi then said to her sister-in-law, "I'm going to see someone, I'll be right back."

“Mmm, mmm!” Yang Wenhui responded.

Shen Nanzi slowly walked towards that figure.

Her status was now so high that Tu Xinya noticed her even before she got close and immediately came over to greet her.

"Tu Xinya, the younger sister of the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well."

Shen Nanzi recalled that Consort Wei had planned to betroth this girl to Xie Yu as his wife last year.

With so many things happening afterward, their relationship was probably put on hold, and it's unknown whether she and Xie Yu still have that connection.

Then she thought of Prime Minister Li's daughter. She heard that Consort Wei had made it clear that she was breaking off her marriage with Prime Minister Li's youngest daughter.

Prime Minister Li will be dealt with by Xie Yan sooner or later, and Consort Wei is not someone who cannot see the situation clearly.

Seeing the girl's proper manners, clean and pretty appearance, and impeccable etiquette, Shen Nanzi inexplicably felt a fondness for her.

"I don't recall inviting you?"

Tu Xinya turned pale with fright and immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, I really didn't receive an invitation. I came with my sister."

Then, cautiously, fearing being blamed, she honestly said, "This subject is guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty."

"You all know that this Spring Festival banquet is held for General Liefeng's marriage. Aren't you afraid that General Liefeng will take a liking to you?"

Shen Nanzi deliberately tried to scare her; a young girl insisting on coming along must have ulterior motives.

Sure enough, Tu Xinya's face flushed red instantly, and she stammered before finally revealing the truth.

"Your Majesty, I have spoken the truth. Could you please not laugh at me and not tell anyone else?"

This is the first time Shen Nanzi has ever met such an honest girl.

"you say."

Tu Xinya's face was as red as the sunset. "This humble woman came to steal a peek at her beloved."

Shen Nanzi glanced at the other men in the room and asked, "Who is your sweetheart?"

Tu Xinya shook her head, "This humble woman does not wish to speak."

A young woman's reputation is as important as her life. If she can get married in the future, that will be good. But if she can't, it will be difficult to find a husband.

Shen Nanzi nodded slightly, "Go!"

Since they both have someone they love, wouldn't Xie Yu's relationship with her be over?

Shen Nanzi felt a pang of regret. She clasped her hands together and touched the red beads on her wrist.

She walked slowly, and people came up to greet her along the way.

Being the Empress Dowager was also troublesome; it was difficult to find peace and quiet. So, Shen Nanzi simply walked behind the artificial hill.

The weather is excellent today, with plenty of sunshine.

Here, there is a lake in front, and artificial hills surround it on three sides. Standing here and breathing in the cool lake water is refreshing and invigorating.

Outside the artificial hill behind them, the occasional chatter of girls could be heard, but none of them noticed this wonderful spot.

Shen Nanzi leaned casually against the artificial rockery wall, her mind completely empty, enveloped by a profound sense of desolation.

Despite the hustle and bustle outside, she lost interest and preferred to while away the time here.

Looking at her wrist, the pink beads with tiny gold flecks were quite beautiful.

It feels slightly cool to the touch, round and bouncy, and slides between your fingers.

A shadow blocked the light, and when she looked up, Xie Yu's figure appeared before her.

His dark blue robe was half-open at the collar, revealing a section of his fair neck.

She was slender, but not weak; on the contrary, her relaxed posture made her appear even more graceful.

The wind billowed her robes, revealing glimpses of her long legs, and her well-defined fingers played with the jade pendant at her waist.

His eyes were half-closed, and his whole being exuded an air of nonchalant laziness and elegance.

As if she had stumbled in unintentionally, her eyes held a hint of surprise, along with a touch of bewildered delight.

"It was a bit hot, so I said I wanted to find some shade, but it turns out this great spot was already taken."

He smiled and took two steps closer.

Shen Nanzi looked at him, smelling the alcohol on his body and the redness from the alcohol on his earlobes.

"Have you been drinking?" Shen Nanzi reached out to help him, but then withdrew her arm, remembering her current status.

Make room for me.

It's cramped here, and it's a bit crowded to accommodate two people.

"So, you still remember this spot?" Xie Yu smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

She had visited the royal gardens twice before, and was secretly admired by the concubines of the imperial harem.

"Back then, when I knew you were coming, I foolishly ran up to you, deliberately teasing you and luring you over so you could see me fishing here."

"But little did you know, you were being chosen." He laughed, his breath reeking of alcohol.

Shen Nanzi knew he was a little drunk, and it wouldn't be good if the two of them were seen here.

She looked at the lake outside and worried that if she left, he might fall into the lake while drunk.

"Xie Yu, you've had too much to drink. I'll have someone take you away."

Shen Nanzi was about to leave when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back inside.

"I'm going fishing, and you have to stay here and watch me. You're not allowed to leave!"

He braced himself against the artificial rockery wall with one hand, forcing Shen Nanzi in front of him, his eyes glazed over, gazing at her with intense passion.

Shen Nanzi's heart skipped a beat; Xie Yu had never looked at her like that before.

If she had seen it, she would have understood his feelings long ago. He is drunk now and cannot distinguish the current situation.

"Okay, you go fishing, I'll watch. You can leave for a bit."

Shen Nanzi went along with him, thinking that if someone saw her like this, she would definitely be misunderstood.

Xie Yu was still Xie Yu, obediently taking half a step away, but his hand was still holding her arm.

Shen Nanzi pushed his arm away, "You have to let go of me, I'll go find you a fishing rod."

Xie Yu smiled, but his gaze fell on her wrist, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "You're wearing that?"

Then, feeling somewhat aggrieved and regretful, she said, "I've never seen you wear it before, so I thought you didn't like it."

Shen Nanzi frankly admitted, "Of course I like it, how could I not like it?"

This style is exactly what she likes; even if she doesn't wear it, she'll still glance at it a few times.

This morning, on some inexplicable impulse, she felt it suited the spring weather, so she put it on.

Xie Yu looked at her; on her snow-white wrist, there was a pink tourmaline, with gold flower settings on both sides, just like her, so beautiful that it was dazzling.

Shen Nanzi suddenly thought of Tu Xinya. Could her sweetheart be Xie Yu?

As if in response to her words, Tu Xinya's voice came from behind the artificial hill.

"Sister, I saw the Sixth Prince walk here, why is there no one here?"

"This place is open, where did he go in such a short time? Why is no one here!"

Another girl's voice asked, "Could it be inside this artificial hill?"

Shen Nanzi panicked immediately. If they saw this, rumors would spread all over her and Xie Yu.

It seems that Xie Yu is the one Tu Xinya loves. If she were to see this, the young girl's heart would probably break.

"Let's go around and take a look!" The voice from behind the artificial hill drew closer.