Wen Ning nodded and spoke softly, "It's just that since entering the manor, I've made many mistakes in my duties, which has led me to overthink and worry Nanny Xue."
Upon hearing her words, Nanny Xue assumed she was anxious due to her insecurities and did not press further.
On the day of the Wanwei Jiahui, Xie Jinglan noticed Wen Ning was still dressed in servant's attire and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Is the manor lacking in clothing for you?"
Wen Ning lowered her head and whispered, "This servant only needs to follow behind the Marquis. Dressing this way makes it more convenient to carry out tasks."
Although her simple cloth garments could not conceal her ethereal grace, Xie Jinglan would not allow it.
Wen Ning was attended by two maidservants to change her clothes. In the side room, over a dozen sets of garments had been prepared at some point—azure silk robes embroidered with cloud patterns, indigo brocade skirts woven with gold thread, autumn-spice-colored satin pleated skirts…
And all manner of gold, silver, and jade ornaments: kingfisher-feather hibiscus jade hairpins, gold wire lotus-root bracelets, emerald dewdrop earrings…
At a glance, each piece exuded luxury.
She selected only a slightly less conspicuous outfit and was about to finish when Nanny Xue arrived, insisting that the two maidservants dress and style her hair, thus delaying them for nearly half an hour.
Xie Jinglan stood beside the carriage with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly and rhythmically turning a white jade thumb ring on his finger.
Qing Feng stood awkwardly nearby. He had never seen his master wait for someone with such patience. Throughout the capital, aside from the one in the palace, he truly had never seen anyone who could make his master wait like this.
"Master, perhaps you should enter the carriage first."
"No matter," Xie Jinglan said in a deep voice.
The white jade thumb ring paused abruptly between his fingers as he caught sight of a graceful figure emerging from within the vermilion corner gate.
Wen Ning lifted the hem of her skirt as she stepped over the threshold. Clad in a moon-white silk dress, her otherworldly beauty was even more pronounced. A gentle breeze brushed past, revealing the faint, scattered osmanthus blossoms embroidered along the inner hem of her skirt.
The hair gathered in twin hanging buns was styled loosely and naturally, like light clouds framing her temples, delicate and understated.
A few stray strands fell softly from her temples, hinting at an unconscious, unique charm.
A silver hairpin carved with jasmine flowers was tucked diagonally into her hair, and a single grain-pearl earring adorned each earlobe. Without the deliberate adornment of excessive jewels, she appeared even more delicate and captivating, making it difficult for anyone to look away.
Xie Jinglan's gaze deepened abruptly until she stood before him, curtsying respectfully.
"My apologies for keeping the Marquis waiting…" Wen Ning kept her eyes downcast, not daring to look up under his intense stare.
Xie Jinglan reached out and brushed aside a stray strand of hair near her temple, his fingertips inadvertently grazing her flushed earlobe. "Why choose something so plain? Did you not like the others?"
Wen Ning trembled slightly. "This servant likes them all, but I feel more suited to these simpler colors."
Those brocades and jeweled hairpins were meant for the dignified aura of a properly wedded wife. She was a servant and should not overstep her bounds.
"This marquis did not know your preferences, so I entrusted the female proprietor of Zhenbao Ge to make the selections. It seems it would be more appropriate to take you along in the future."
The carriage moved slowly along the long street.
Through a gap in the carriage curtain, Wen Ning watched as the twilight seemed to be gradually stained with ink in an inkstone.
She wondered if she could escape once darkness fell.
A light breeze swept in, causing her long lashes to tremble. A few loose strands of hair brushed against her fair neck before gently falling back.
Feeling guilty, she dared not look at the person beside her, her handkerchief already twisted and wrinkled in her hands.
Xie Jinglan reached out and clasped her waist, easily pulling her into his embrace.
"Is the scenery outside that captivating?"
"Hmm?"
When she did not respond, Xie Jinglan slightly bent his knuckles, gently lifted her chin, and brushed his thumb over her crimson lips, pretending to kiss her.
Wen Ning did not push him away as she usually did. Instead, she extended her delicate, jade-like hands, her cool fingertips unconsciously touching his jaw before slowly moving upward. Then, she cupped his face, turned her head, and kissed his lips.
The moment her lips touched his, soft and trembling, Xie Jinglan’s heart melted completely.
“Wen Ning, forget the past and try to like me, alright…”
He could disregard the deceased Young Master Liu and overlook the childhood scholar. As long as she stayed by his side, he was willing to give her time to slowly grow fond of him.
The tears trembling at the corners of her peach-blossom eyes had already gathered there, but upon hearing these words, they instantly fell onto her moon-white silk skirt.
Perhaps thinking they might never meet again, her cool fingertips traced along his brow, moving slowly until they brushed over his tense jawline. The newly sprouted stubble lightly pricked her fingerprints, making his features feel distinct beneath her touch.
Their lips and tongues intertwined, sweet breaths mingling, their intertwined breaths alternating between urgency and gentleness…
When the carriage arrived at Wanwei Jiahui in the western part of the city, the coachman gently gathered the reins in his palm. Qing Feng, riding alongside on horseback, called toward the carriage, “Master, we’ve arrived.”
Their lips parted, noses still touching, both catching their breath simultaneously.
“Wait farther away,” Xie Jinglan’s voice still carried a hint of hoarseness.
Upon hearing this, Qing Feng signaled the attendants to dismount immediately, taking the coachman with them as they retreated to a distance.
Xie Jinglan rested his jaw against her forehead, his broad palm slowly stroking her jade-like neck, over and over, soothing the passion that had been abruptly interrupted.
Within moments, the two stepped out of the carriage one after the other, using the footstool.
Before them unfolded a grand culinary festival.
On both sides of the bluestone-paved street, various eateries stood in orderly rows, their steam and aromas intertwining overhead into a web of culinary delights.
Stalls lined the street in an orderly fashion, with vendors’ calls rising and falling in succession.
There were also playful activities carefully prepared by the eateries: arrow-throwing, lantern riddles, guessing games, tea competitions…
At the end of the street lay a clear blue lake, where several large painted boats floated leisurely on the water.
Most of these boats were rented by wealthy merchants and magnates, who used the pretext of tasting rare delicacies to invite high-ranking officials and nobles to banquets.
While the common people on the shore reveled in merriment, the nobles on the painted boats savored exquisite dishes, creating a lively and bustling scene.
“Look at that beautiful couple…”
“It seems like some noble has brought his wife for a stroll…”
As the two walked down the street, passersby frequently turned to look.
Xie Jinglan was tall and exceptionally handsome. Today, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, his demeanor exuded a sense of steadiness and nobility.
Young women couldn’t help but steal glances at him, blushing shyly when his gaze swept over them.
Beside him, Wen Ning moved with graceful elegance. Her small face, fair as snow and lovely as a flower, held eyes like autumn water and lips tinted cherry red, coupled with an air of innocent purity. Wherever she went, the street lanterns seemed to pale in comparison.
Halfway down the street, Wen Ning found no opportunity to escape. Xie Jinglan stayed close by her side, almost as if he wished to keep her attached to him.
She simply lingered frequently at stalls offering delicacies and novelties.
Stopping before a stall labeled “Yinzhuan Huixin,” Wen Ning asked the owner with interest, “What kind of game is this?”
The owner smiled and handed her a brush. “This game requires two participants. One person knows the dish name I provide in advance and draws a picture of it, while the other guesses the dish name based on the drawing. If guessed correctly, they receive a small snack as a reward.”
In essence, it was drawing recipes.
Wen Ning's eyes lit up as she turned to Xie Jinglan and said, "With the Marquis's Danqing Guishu, this snack is surely within our grasp."
Danqing Guishu!
Upon hearing this, Xie Jinglan was startled. He had never painted in front of her, so the only possibility was that she had seen that portrait.