Chapter 163: Chapter 163: At Last
After performing "Three Battles with the White Bone Spirit," the actors were tired and took a break.
This was the time for songs and dances to take the stage.
Everyone gradually relaxed their emotions.
In a private booth, a few young men were sitting. One of them laughed and nodded his chin toward a certain direction.
"Sichen, is that your fiancée? You’ve truly found a gem."
Wen Sichen turned back to look and happened to lock eyes with Third Miss, who was glancing over casually. He then smiled at her, prompting another round of laughter from his group of friends.
Wen Sichen felt somewhat embarrassed, "You guys, stop fooling around."
"Oh, why are you acting shy like a young girl now?" a friend teased.
Wen Sichen shook his head, ignoring these chatterboxes.
"I heard you send people over to inquire several times daily, shower her with gifts. Why not marry her sooner?" another friend asked.
"Her family wants to keep her for another two years," Wen Sichen explained.
"You sound a bit displeased, hahaha."
His friends teased him again.
Wen Sichen poured himself a drink and, this time, chose not to explain further.
"Hey, is that the sachet your fiancée made for you? It’s so exquisite."
A friend with sharp eyes noticed the sachet around Wen Sichen’s waist and quickly grabbed it to look.
Wen Sichen treasured this item immensely and immediately snatched it back, checking it over repeatedly before finally relaxing, "Talk it out next time. If you mess with my things again, I won’t be so nice."
Another friend gave a playful slap on the other guy’s head, "Always touching things? Want one? Find a wife yourself!"
"All the good ones are taken, and what’s left are the domineering ones. I don’t want them."
"Oh, you’re getting picky now."
Amidst this play, elsewhere.
"Ancestor, what’s Second Brother busy with today? Such a big event and he’s not coming to watch." Fang Yuan lamented for Second Brother while enjoying some snacks.
"Second Brother deals with important matters; how could they be disclosed easily?" Third Miss replied.
"We may never know, but someone surely should. Too bad she’s too busy today to be seen," Cheng Ru added.
Third Miss and Fang Yuan understood whom she referred to and thought Fulan indeed might know some things. Even if Second Brother tells her, it’s just to reassure the Ancestor, providing an explanation.
The old lady said, "Fulan is indeed busy today, managing so many tasks alone."
"Sister Fulan is truly capable. Whoever marries her in the future would be unbelievably fortunate," Fang Yuan remarked.
Anyway, she couldn’t be as capable, and while her family groomed her as the mistress, she found it troublesome, so she hid away at the Pei Mansion.
Third Miss laughed, "Who wouldn’t admire that? Even I must learn from her whenever possible."
Fang Yuan teased her, "Don’t worry. Even if you can’t match Fulan, there will be someone who deeply cares for you."
Third Miss blushed intensely, scolding, "You chatterbox, if you seek my help in the future, don’t expect I’ll oblige."
"Dear Sister, I was wrong. I promise I won’t say such things anymore," Fang Yuan quickly pleaded.
Cheng Ru watched their playful interaction and said to the old lady, "Look, Madam, how could these grown-ups still act like children?"
Mrs. Pei loved such scenes and chuckled, "You three are the same; stay lively around me for a few more years, that’d be great."
"Then I shall stay by your side forever. Don’t dislike me," Fang Yuan immediately declared, wishing to live at Pei Mansion eternally.
Cheng Ru noticed the old lady’s tea had cooled; she replaced it with a hot cup and did the same for Third Miss and Fang Yuan.
Her meticulousness surpassed even the maids at her side.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Heir Pei and Prince Xiao finally escaped a dire situation. Both appeared disheveled and very embarrassed.
Fortunately, they hadn’t brought their aides, or their dignity would have been lost.
They washed up and then visited the emperor to report the circumstances.
The emperor learned another den of villains had been destroyed, naturally he was pleased and rewarded them both before they returned home.
Pei Ji’an didn’t return to Pei Mansion; instead, he picked an item from the rewards given by the emperor, allowing the guards to transport the rest home, while he headed straight to the palace.
Upon reaching the gate, he first encountered some guards of his family, inquiring if Fulan was inside. After getting confirmation, he prepared to enter but was stopped by Prince An’s guards, who informed him of their whereabouts.
Pei Ji’an nodded and climbed the steps, walking in with a clear and bright expression.
Qu Fulan was extremely busy today. Looking for her required some effort, so Pei Ji’an sent people to find her and sat himself in Prince An’s booth.
Prince An, with sharp eyes, noticed the fine item in Ji’an’s hand and immediately said, "What’s that good item? Give it to me!"
"Clearly, it’s for Miss Qu, don’t flatter yourself," Wei Xu mocked him.
Prince An regrettably clicked his tongue.
Pei Ji’an took a sip of tea, smiled, but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Xiao Shiqing had just reached his doorstep when informed that Mrs. Xiao was at the royal residence hosting the opera event, specifically asking him to pick her up.
Of course, Xiao Shiqing wouldn’t refuse, so he turned his horse around.
Esteemed guests had the privilege of entering and securing tickets later.
Led by an attendant, Xiao Shiqing walked a bit further, casually glancing up and spotting a familiar face faintly appearing thirty feet away behind some bushes.
Xiao Shiqing stopped in his tracks, and the attendant, noticing the Prince not following, paused to ask why. Xiao Shiqing waved him off, then promptly walked toward that direction.
This wasn’t the first time something like this occurred; he had encountered similar situations earlier at a wedding hosted by the Pei Mansion. Even if it turned out not to be true, he needed personal verification.
Meanwhile, someone reported seeing Miss Qu to Heir Pei, mentioning she was organizing matters in the east courtyard.
Pei Ji’an didn’t say anything, but got up and headed over there.
Qu Fulan was instructing people and had just finished, telling everyone to do their tasks before she exhaled deeply, intending to check things backstage. But as she took a step, someone grabbed her hand.
She instinctively turned around, stunned upon recognizing the person.
Xiao Shiqing looked at her, the emotions rushing through him were complex and profound, tinged with disbelief.
Perhaps even now, Xiao Shiqing couldn’t explain why, after years apart, he could depict her current look without having seen it.
She was identical to the portrait.
How many times had he dreamed of her suffering?
Finally, he had found her.
Someone who rarely smiled actually lifted his lips now.
Conversely, Pei Ji’an’s smile slowly faded away.
He stood at the other end.