Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 74 - Brother Yunxiao 2

Chapter 74 – Brother Yunxiao 2

Xiao Wangshu and the other two spent the afternoon wandering several streets in the Capital. Along the way, they stopped to watch young Master Mu Chengyang being escorted by government soldiers to the entrance of the Brocade Gate to offer his apologies.

If anyone claimed he wasn’t speaking through gritted teeth with every word of that apology, no one would believe them.

Ruan Fuxin didn’t mind. He accepted the apology with a beaming smile, though his words were like needles hidden in silk, pricking Mu Chengyang several times.

Mu Chengyang’s arrogant temper flared instantly at the provocation. He lost his temper on the spot and tried to step forward to slap Ruan Fuxin a few times.

However, before he could even stretch out his hand, the soldiers hauled him back to the magistrate’s office to “drink tea.”

The scene was indeed lively and entertaining.

After the three of them finished watching the drama and grew more acquainted through their chatting, they saw that it was getting late. Xiao Wangshu saw Tuoba Xin and Fang Qiluo home one after the other before finally returning to the Chancellor’s Mansion to change for the banquet.

–

Inside Linde Hall, music played and dancers performed in a peaceful, festive atmosphere.

The welcome banquet for the Tuoba Envoy was grand and luxurious.

By the time Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qin’er entered Linde Hall together, Fang Qiluo had already changed and arrived.

Seeing Xiao Wangshu’s arrival, Fang Qiluo said a few words to the young ladies of other official families around her before turning to walk toward Fang Qin’er and Xiao Wangshu.

“Aunt, Cousin,” Fang Qiluo greeted them with a bow.

Fang Qin’er nodded to her, forcing a faint smile as she said, “You two sisters go and play.”

“Alright.” Fang Qiluo stepped forward and took Xiao Wangshu’s arm.

Once Fang Qin’er had walked some distance away, Fang Qiluo asked Xiao Wangshu, “What’s wrong with Aunt today? She looks a bit out of sorts. Is she tired?”

Xiao Wangshu shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

How could she not know? It was simply because the Tuoba Envoy had arrived, and Fang Qin’er was unwilling to let her travel far to the barren northern lands for a political marriage. Yet, for the sake of the overall situation, her mother had no choice but to send her away.

“Forget it, perhaps I’m just overthinking. Don’t take it to heart.” Fang Qiluo had only sensed something slightly unusual, which was why she asked.

“Come on, let’s go sit over there.”

As she spoke, Fang Qiluo led Xiao Wangshu toward the seating area.

Xiao Wangshu glanced sideways at the bright smile on her cousin’s face. It was hard to imagine how tragic it would be if Fang Qiluo also became one of the candidates for the marriage alliance in the near future.

“Cousin, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?” Fang Qiluo raised a hand to touch her cheek.

Xiao Wangshu shook her head again and smiled. “I just noticed that Cousin’s makeup is particularly exquisite today. I couldn’t help but look a few more times.”

Fang Qiluo’s smile brightened even more. She asked, “Why has your tongue been getting sweeter and sweeter lately? Did something happen to trigger this?”

This once-arrogant and overbearing cousin of hers had been praising her every time they met lately, and she was still quite unaccustomed to it.

“Nothing happened. I’m just telling the truth.”

After saying this, Xiao Wangshu saw that there was no one around them, so she leaned close to Fang Qiluo’s ear and mentioned half-jokingly and half-seriously-

“But Cousin, you shouldn’t always dress yourself up so beautifully when you go out. If some man sees you one day and insists on marrying no one but you, that would be a real problem.”

In fact, the two women originally intended to marry the Tuoba Princes were the Xiao Family’s Legitimate Fourth Miss, Xiao Wangshu, and another lady from the Xiao clan.

Fang Qiluo could still smile so happily now because she didn’t need to be part of the alliance, and she had no idea such a thing even existed.

At this moment, she had no way of knowing that she would later become one of the candidates.

And all of this would happen only because the Tuoba Second Prince, Tuoba Jihui, would become obsessed with Fang Qiluo after seeing her a few times. He would repeatedly request the marriage from Xiao Hong, leading to Fang Qiluo being designated as a marriage partner.

“You girl, always talking nonsense!” Fang Qiluo scolded playfully, reaching out to poke Xiao Wangshu’s forehead.

As for Xiao Wangshu’s veiled warning, she merely treated it as a joke and didn’t take it to heart.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Wangshu could only smile back and sigh inwardly.

This was as far as she could go with her warning.

If she said any more-saying things like “don’t dress too beautifully if you don’t want to be noticed by the Tuoba Prince”-and those words spread, it would become an entirely different story.
“Wait, let me peel an orange for you to stuff that mouth of yours,” Fang Qiluo said, reaching for an orange in the fruit bowl on the table.

Before she could pick it up, a eunuch’s high-pitched voice rang out from outside the hall.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”

“The Tuoba Envoy has arrived!”

As the eunuch’s shrill announcement echoed through the hall, the people inside gathered on both sides of the main hall, kneeling in a dense crowd.

“Long live Your Majesty! Long life to the Empress!”

Wei Qixuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe with a somber and gloomy expression, was the first to enter the hall.

Xiao Caiyi followed slightly behind him in her phoenix robe, the jewels and emeralds in her hair looking precious and magnificent.

Xiao Hong walked behind the imperial couple, walking side-by-side with the three juniors. The four of them entered the hall chatting and laughing.

“You may all rise!” Wei Qixuan said, heading toward the head seat without looking back.

“We thank Your Majesty.”

The many court officials and their families rose one after another.

After Xiao Wangshu stood up, she looked toward Xiao Hong’s direction. Tuoba Xin smiled and waved at her.

Beside Tuoba Xin were two young men dressed in exotic attire.

Of the two, the younger man looked at Xiao Wangshu, lifted his chin toward her, and curled his lips into a smile.

The line of his slightly raised chin was sharp and defined, showing pride without appearing frivolous.

“It’s him?” Xiao Wangshu murmured.

It was the man who had been standing on the street yesterday outside the Brocade Gate, staring straight at her.

So he was the Tuoba Prince who had come for the marriage alliance?

Before she could take a closer look, Wei Qixuan reached the main seat, sat down, and announced the start of the banquet.

The officials led their families to their seats. Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo also returned to their respective places, sitting quietly beside their mothers.

Once the guests were seated, cups were raised and toasts were exchanged.

Dancers and singers filed in, marking the beginning of this grand feast.

While the music and dance were in full swing, Tuoba Jihui, who was sitting next to Tuoba Yunxiao, saw him stand up and asked, “Third Brother, where are you going?”

Tuoba Yunxiao looked back at him, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised as he replied, “Second Brother, just keep drinking. Don’t mind me, I’m going to have a chat with that Fierce Girl.”

“What ‘Fierce Girl’? Watch your tongue,” Tuoba Jihui glanced at him with disapproval.

This Third Brother of his!

That was the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Xiao, yet he kept calling her ‘Fierce Girl’. How improper!

Tuoba Xin nudged Tuoba Jihui’s arm from the side. “Second Elder Brother, just let Third Elder Brother go. He’s not a child anymore; he knows his limits.”

“Exactly, I’m not a child. Don’t worry, Second Brother.” Tuoba Yunxiao turned and walked away, raising a hand to wave behind him, his back the very picture of nonchalance.

Tuoba Jihui sighed helplessly and looked at Tuoba Xin. “You two! You should restrain your temperaments at least a little now that we’re in the Capital!”

“I’ve already been very restrained! Besides, I really like Wangshu’s personality; we get along very well. As long as she doesn’t mind Third Elder Brother calling her that, it’s fine. Don’t be so anxious, Second Elder Brother!”

Tuoba Xin believed she had become very refined since arriving in the Great Wei Capital. Was that not enough?

Tuoba Jihui didn’t want to bicker with her, so he simply shook his head and returned to his food and wine.

***

On the other side, Xiao Wangshu was talking to Xiao Fuguang.

Today Xiao Fuguang seemed a bit gloomy. To Xiao Wangshu’s surprise, he had actually touched alcohol at such a young age.

“What’s wrong, Little Brother?” Xiao Wangshu asked in a low voice.

Seeing Xiao Fuguang lift a wine pot with one hand, she reached out and pressed her hand over the lid, forcing the pot back down.

“You’re so young, yet you have quite the temper. Where did you learn to drown your sorrows in wine?”

Xiao Wangshu’s tone was beginning to turn cold.

Xiao Fuguang pursed his lips. He wanted to snatch the wine pot back, but he was afraid of scratching Xiao Wangshu, so he could only endure it.