He sat back up, feeling unnatural.
With a sullen face, he used his elder brother's stern voice and said, "I'm your brother, it was just a small kiss, no need to abstain."
Nan Baoyi nodded her head in a daze, "I understand, my Cousin Brother also liked to kiss me like this."
Cousin Brother?
Xiao Yi furrowed his brows slightly, feeling unhappy.
Men and women were separated from the ages of seven. Nan Jiaojiao was already so old and her Cousin Brother actually dared to kiss her, does he not know how to maintain a distance?
"Oh yes, why did you come back so late?" Nan Baoyi coyly squeezing his wide sleeves, "I've waited for you for a long time."
The little girl's neckline was slightly opened, her long black hair spread around her waist.
The candlelight shined upon the screens. Her exquisite brows looked a little tired but more tender and alluring.
Somehow Xiao Yi had a feeling that this scene felt like a wife waiting for her husband to come home late at night.
And so his unhappiness earlier on disappeared and he caressed her head gently, "I was talking to Grandmother in Songhe Yard. She is happy today so we had more drinks together."
He paused and said, "Yu Wei mentioned you have a present for me?"
Nan Baoyi was taken aback and waved her hands quickly, "No, don't have!"
"Nan Jiaojiao."
Nan Baoyi was afraid of Xiao Yi's stern face. After hesitating for a long time, she said softly, "I can perform so well in the Spring Flower Festival is all because of Second Brother's effort. This lucky coin is the prize given at the event. This is for you… you must not look down at it!"
Xiao Yi received the bronze coin.
The coin was carved with patterns of the sun, moon, and stars on one side and a small Han writing of "Good Luck and Success" was engraved on the other side. It was being gripped by the little girl for a long time so it felt sweaty to the touch.
Nan Baoyi rubbed the blanket guiltily, "I know that other people are giving you very expensive gifts but I think none of it has my auspiciousness. Second Brother, do you like this lucky coin?"
Xiao Yi smiled a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Last year for Nan Baozhu's birthday, you gave her a pearl necklace. When it was Grandmother's birthday, you gave her a picture of the Eight Immortals from the previous dynasty that was worth tens of thousands of gold. When your Fourth Brother got the last in his class, you actually gave him a brush pen made out of pure gold. Why is it when it's my turn, you only gave me a bronze coin?"
Nan Baoyi felt even more guilty.
Indeed, her present was looked down upon by the powerful minister…
She clutched the blanket tightly and did not say anything for a while.
Very quickly, she went all out again, "If you don't like it then give it back. I'll find you an expensive gift tomorrow and give it to you."
Xiao Yi flipped the bronze coin lazily, "I'll hold on to it temporarily."
Nan Baoyi suspected, "I can see that you actually like it…"
She stopped talking when the young man's sharp gaze landed on her.
It was late, she got off the bed, "Second Brother, I'm going back to my room to sleep."
Xiao Yi looked at her from behind, "Grandmother plans to have a banquet in Endless Snow in honor of my promotion three days later. Nan Jiaojiao, you can properly think of what to give me then."
Nan Baoyi looked back, stunned, "What, I need to give you another present?!"
The young man raised his brows, "What do you think?"
Nan Baoyi dared not negotiate and ran away.
Xiao Yi sat cross-legged.
The smell of the little girl's scent still remained within the bed screens.
He twirled the bronze coin around. After a while, he strung it with the gold and red hairband and then carefully wrapped it around his wrist.
...
There was an ancient saying:
From my window, the snow-capped western mountains were seen; beyond the door, the east-bound ships at anchor lay.
The snow-capped western mountains were located on the outskirts of Jinguan City and it was covered with snow all year round with bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain. In the spring, there were azaleas as far as the eye can see and even a few hot springs. It was a famous mountain in Shu County.
"Endless Snow" was built at the foot of the western mountain and it was Shu County's most famous restaurant and villa.
Dignitaries often hosted their banquets here. A meal here would cost a lot, worthy of being considered money squandering establishment.
Nan Baoyi and Nan Baozhu sat in the garden pavilion, looking through a booklet that introduced Endless Snow.
Nan Baozhu excitedly pointed at the booklet, "Panda! There are pandas in the bamboo forest! Jiaojiao, when we reach Endless Snow the day after tomorrow, we must go and see the pandas! Look at them so fat and fluffy, how cute!"
Nan Baoyi was also happy.
She rested her chin on her hand and said, "After seeing the pandas, we could also go to the hot springs… Only I'm not sure who did Grandmother invite to the banquet?"
"I know!" Nan Baozhu's eyes shone brightly and held out her fingers to count, "I eavesdropped on Grandmother and my Mother. Among the people who were invited were not just our relatives but also business friends like the Xia family and the Song family. Of course, there will also be families of officials like the Cheng family and the Zhang family. After all, you and Big Sister would be married into their families."
Cheng family, Zhang family…
Nan Baoyi's enthusiasm gradually turned cold.
She picked up the white jade embroidered fan and covered herself away from the sun.
Her sharp slender eyes narrowed in the shadow, thinking hard.
Although she could not reject her marriage proposal at the moment, she could help Big Sister reject her marriage proposal.
Seeing that Big Sister had yet to marry Zhang Yuanwang and yet to develop deep feelings towards that scumbag, destroying this marriage in time was the most important…
At dusk, she and Xiao Yi sat in a little pavilion having dinner. She was still thinking about this matter.
Xiao Yi saw that she was preoccupied and asked, "We are leaving for the west mountains the day after tomorrow, did you ask the maid to start packing?"
"He Ye will pack my things for me, no hurry." Nan Baoyi rested her chin on her hand, "Second Brother, you always go out of the residence, what kind of person do you think Zhang Yuanwang is?"
Xiao Yi took a sip of wine.
Zhang Yuanwang was Military Officer Zhang's son. On the surface, he was a romantic and talented scholar. In actual fact, he was lecherous, mean, and selfish.
Could it be that Nan Baoyi was interested in him?
His face turned cold, "Good looking on the outside, empty on the inside."
Nan Baoyi stirred her bird's nest porridge, "But he is really talented."
Otherwise, he would not be able to write so many passionate and romantic love poems.
He obviously did not love Big Sister but after divorcing her, he tried many ways to run into her and gave her the love poems he wrote…
But when his maid mistress spread gossip and slandered about Big Sister, framing her for stealing her ex-husband, Zhang Yuanwang did not come forward and clarify things.
He allowed Big Sister's reputation to be ruined, allowed her to become a joke in Jinguan City.
Big Sister had a delicate and noble personality, she valued etiquette and her reputation.
She could not bear all the backstabbing and eventually died of depression.
When she died she was extremely haggard and skinny. She was only eighteen years old, a flower that withered too early.
A hundred years' efforts led to crossing in the same ferryboat, a thousand years' efforts led to sleeping on the same pillow.
[Translation note: This saying refers to a couple having a good fate and life together and efforts of the previous life had something to do with it.]
How cruel does a man need to be, being able to do something like hounding your ex-wife to death?
And yet, everyone praised him for having such deep emotions!
Since he loved pretending to have such deep feelings, she would use this banquet as an opportunity to show everyone how much feelings he had for his maid mistress!
The fire in the girl's eyes was like a hunter who hunted for the first time.
To Xiao Yi, however, it seemed like she was interested in Zhang Yuanwang.
He sneered, "Nan Baoyi, you should think of what present to give me. If I'm not satisfied with it… you know the consequences."
The celadon cup was crushed by him.
Nan Baoyi watched him leave in surprise and glanced at the pile of broken pieces on the table in horror.
She stroked her chest in lingering fear.
Did she make him angry?
The powerful minister was too temperamental!