NFBE Chapter 525 Xie Jingxian: His eyes were fixed on her.
Chapter 525 Xie Jingxian: His eyes were fixed on her.
Li Sheng blinked, said nothing more, and simply lowered her head to put away the wooden box.
After finishing their tea, the three of them walked out of the teahouse together.
Petals lay scattered along the path, bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun.
Not far away at the street corner, a carved blue carriage slowly turned out.
Li Sheng walked quickly away, her skirt fluttering in the wind.
But when she got on the bus, she slipped and swayed.
Xie Jing reacted quickly, grabbing her arm with one hand and stabilizing her waist with the other.
The two were very close together.
Li Sheng's hair brushed lightly against his chin, carrying a faint fragrance—the scent of wildflowers mixed with grass.
She looked up at him, her eyes momentarily blank.
Xie Jing instinctively steadied her, but paused slightly before letting go. He gently pressed his fingers against her waist and took a half-step back, saying, "Be careful."
Li Sheng's ears turned red, and she softly replied, "Thank you."
A street corner not far away.
Wei Ning was walking around from the other side of Flower Street.
She was just passing by when she saw Xie Jing standing by the carriage from afar.
A thought struck her, and she quickly walked over.
But just as she turned the corner, she saw that scene.
Li Sheng leaped lightly, missed half a step, and fell into Xie Jing's arms.
Xie Jing looked down at her, his gaze no longer as cold as before.
Wei Ning stood rooted to the spot, his face pale, his fingers gripping his sleeves tightly.
Upon returning to the Wei residence, she remained silent the entire way and closed the door behind her.
Xuezhu chased after her as she entered: "Miss, what's wrong? Miss..."
Wei Ning sat in front of the dressing table, burying her face in her arms, tears falling uncontrollably.
Wei Ning cried so hard she could barely breathe.
She just kept crying and didn't even eat dinner.
Helpless, Xuezhu had no choice but to report the matter to Madam Wei.
Lady Wei's surname was He. The He family originally came from Jiangnan and was extremely wealthy.
She is only thirty-seven years old this year, but she is very well-maintained.
Lady Wei, dressed in a light blue brocade robe and a light brown pine-patterned shawl, sat on the couch and listened to Xue Zhu's report without saying anything more.
She simply waved her hand and said, "I understand."
In the following days, Wei Ning still refused to eat, and seemed completely lost.
On the afternoon of the third day, Madam Wei arrived in person.
When she entered the room, Wei Ning was leaning against the couch, his face sallow and his whole body thin and bony.
"Mother……"
Wei Ning looked up at her, her eyes somewhat unfocused, as if she couldn't even cry anymore.
Madam Wei knew she truly liked her after just one glance.
She walked over and bent down to smooth her hair.
"Since you are so stubborn, then come and see something with me."
Wei Ning was stunned for a moment, then was helped up by Madam Wei herself, and followed her without saying a word.
They walked through the courtyard and turned into a secluded corner in the southwest of the Wei residence.
The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and thick dust covered the surrounding area year-round.
Madam Wei pushed open the door and entered.
Sandalwood incense burned in the courtyard, its fragrance mingled with a subtle herbal scent, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
Inside the room, an oil lamp was dimly lit, and a wooden box was placed in the central hall, covered with a white cloth.
Madam Wei walked over and personally lifted the cloth.
Dinner at the Prince's Mansion.
The family sat around a round table.
After the meal, Qin Jiuwei picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her brows relaxed a little.
She turned to look at Xie Jing. "This tea is quite good. It has a unique aroma and a long-lasting aftertaste. Is it the jar you sent?"
Xie Jing nodded, "It was indeed the jar I sent."
"Where did you buy it?" Qin Jiuwei put down her teacup, her eyebrows curving slightly. "It's better than the ones your father Curry has."
Xie Jing paused for a moment before speaking, "It wasn't bought, it was a gift from Li Sheng."
She said it was tea from the Wuli ethnic group, called "Qingyuchu". It was produced in a high-altitude, cold region, and the sun-drying and baking were all done by the elders of the tribe.
"I thought my mother loved tea, so I chose that can to send over."
Qin Jiuwei seemed to be thinking, "Li Sheng... is that the little girl who gave the wood carving?"
Xie Jing: "Yes."
"That child is quite interesting." Qin Jiuwei said gently, "The last time I saw her, she was very proper in her manners and had a very straightforward personality."
"Invite her to dinner at our residence later. She sent us such fine tea; we should at least meet her."
Xie Jing frowned slightly.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Okay."
A few days later, by the bluestone path outside the palace gate.
Li Sheng stood in the same old spot again.
Today she wore a bamboo-green short jacket with delicate floral patterns, the hem of which was embroidered with stream stones and flying flowers. Her hair was loosely tied up, and a wisteria flower was pinned to her temple.
Holding a small food box, she stood on tiptoe to look around while a plum candy was in her mouth, making her squint from the sourness.
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her: "Are you waiting for Wen Ziyan?"
Li Sheng turned around abruptly and bumped into Xie Jing, who was standing with his hands behind his back.
"Thank you, Lord Xie," she called out instinctively.
Xie Jing's gaze fell on her face. "My mother would like to invite you to the Prince's Mansion for tea."
Li Sheng was stunned for a moment, her mind still reeling.
"……I?"
"Yes." Xie Jing nodded. "She said the tea you gave her was delicious and she wants to meet you."
Li Sheng stared blankly for a few moments, then her eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? Of course I'll go! When?"
Xie Jing looked at her like this and subtly curled his lips.
"Then today."
"today?"
Li Sheng opened her eyes wide, as if she hadn't expected it to come so quickly, but then immediately smiled and her eyes crinkled.
"Alright! I don't have anything else to do today anyway."
"Wait for me to go back and change. Is this really appropriate for me? Oh no, let me go back and comb my hair first..."
"No need," Xie Jing interrupted her with a smile, looking steadily at her. "You're fine the way you are."
Li Sheng turned her eyes and met his gaze.
The surrounding voices seemed to fade away for a moment.
The main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.
A gentle breeze stirs the gauze curtains, casting dappled sunlight and shadows under the eaves.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, Young Master Jing is back."
A maid announced the news, and Qin Jiuwei raised her eyes to look.
Then Xie Jingzheng walked slowly from the corridor, his figure upright and elegant.
A slender figure followed closely behind him.
Li Sheng stared ahead with bright, sparkling eyes, a hint of restraint in her expression, yet her unique charm was undeniable.
Qin Jiuwei's gaze swept between the two of them.
Suddenly, she turned her head and glanced at Xie Yanli, raising an eyebrow and winking at him.
Xie Yanli lowered his eyes and smiled, immediately understanding the meaning in her eyes.
It seems the Prince's mansion will soon be bustling again.
After entering the room, Li Sheng bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness."
Qin Jiuwei helped her up personally, her voice gentle, "The tea you sent is excellent; I haven't been able to drink it too quickly these past few days."
“Jing-ge’er said you know about tea, so he invited you to come and sit down. There aren’t many people in my house, so it will be more lively.”
Li Sheng smiled and said, "I'm glad that Your Highness likes it. That tea is something our tribe often drinks. I was worried that it wouldn't suit the tastes of the Central Plains, but I didn't expect it to suit your taste so well."
"If Your Highness likes them, I will send some more over tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuwei smiled and said, "You are so thoughtful and considerate. I thank you in advance."
As she spoke, she beckoned to the maid and gave her instructions.
"Go and fetch that jar of Jade Snow Bud Tea, and brew a pot of tea."