Xie Wanqing paused slightly while holding her chopsticks, giving face by taking some food and placing it into her bowl.
However, she felt a bit puzzled inside.
... Did he know she liked sweet dishes, or did he randomly choose a dish?
Just as she was unsure, she heard him instruct the servant standing nearby, "Have the kitchen prepare a sweet soup and bring several plates of dessert."
Xie Wanqing was taken aback: "Is this teahouse your business?"
This was the largest teahouse in the Capital City.
Pei Yuqing nodded slightly and smiled, "This meeting was quite sudden, and I didn't prepare a gift for you. How about you visit frequently, and I'll cover your bill?"
"..." Xie Wanqing was silent for a moment, glancing at him and then at her brother with a peculiar expression, dryly saying, "That doesn't seem very appropriate."
Why did she feel he...
Just as her thoughts ran wild, she saw him with a smile that was... kindly?
"Miss Xie, there's no need to feel shy," he said warmly. "I've been friends with your brother for many years, so in my eyes, you're no different from my sister."
"Speaking of which, my younger sister is about your age, it seems you two have some fate in common."
His sister?
Princess Pingning from the Duke Pei Mansion?
Xie Wanqing had met her a few times and indeed remembered her as a clever and lively young lady who even sent her an invitation for her coming-of-age ceremony.
However...
Because she's the same age as his sister, he naturally considers her a sister?
Look at him, speaking with the tone of an elder.
Just as Xie Wanqing felt a bit upset, Xie YanYu suddenly coughed lightly, changing the topic: "Did you suffer grievances at the Lu Family today?"
Otherwise, why would she leave without having lunch at this hour?
Xie Wanqing paused slightly, then replied nonchalantly, "I wasn't wronged; I have quite a temper, who would dare wrong me?"
Xie YanYu glanced at her, not believing her at all.
He knew that his sister was completely under Lu Ziyuan's thumb, utterly helpless.
At home, she acted like a little tyrant, but as soon as she entered the Lu Family, she became an obedient little wife.
If she had to leave during a meal, it was certainly more than a grievance — it would be a serious grievance.
Since there were outsiders present, he didn't plan to ask further and was about to change the subject when his friend suddenly said, "I've heard that Lu Ziyuan returned to the capital today, and by this time should have left the palace."
... So, it was Lu Ziyuan who wronged her.
Both siblings understood the implication behind his words.
Xie Wanqing immediately turned her head and looked at him: "The Heir's sources are quite informed."
Even the Lu Family only knew when Lu Ziyuan entered the door.
Pei Yuqing's expression subtly paused, and he lowered his eyes: "I just happened to hear about it."
... So he had to mention it here, afraid that her brother wouldn't know that Lu Ziyuan had wronged her.
Xie Wanqing silently criticized him in her heart, but on the surface, she smiled: "Stop questioning me, would you? You should talk about whatever you need to talk about."
She had no intention of exposing her scars in public.
Xie YanYu gave his friend a thoughtful look, unsure what he was thinking, and didn't continue the topic.
Until lunch was finished, neither of the two focused on Xie Wanqing anymore, and she was happy to enjoy the peace, quietly holding her tea and listening to their conversation.
They didn't talk about court matters, just shared their experiences from different places and discussed the recent examination results in the capital.
When she heard the name Duan Cheng, she instinctively raised her head and asked: "What is this person's talent, character, and appearance like?"
Xie YanYu frowned: "Why do you ask that?"
Xie Wanqing blinked and naturally replied, "They say the third-place scholar is handsome; the last one was you, brother, and I've seen you, so now I'm curious about what the new scholar looks like."
She remembered that in her dream, her cousin Xie Ruyu was engaged to this Duan Cheng, but at that time, she was already married into the Wuyuan Marquis Mansion and it was inconvenient to inquire about her cousin-in-law, and the scenes in the dream were fragmented, not clear, so she didn't know if the marriage was good or not.
Now that she was awake from the dream, and able to take the initiative, she naturally had to do her best to help her family.
If the person wasn't good, she could prevent the marriage from the start.
She worried a lot, but Xie YanYu didn't know, seeing his little sister showing keen interest in an outsider, he was helplessly rubbing his brows: "You've been used to Lu Ziyuan's face since you were little, others would hardly catch your attention, so don't be curious about others' appearances."
The way he said it, Xie Wanqing felt dissatisfied and looked at the young man pouring tea for them, muttering, "Why is it hard? Isn't there one right here?"
Just as she finished, there was a loud "clatter!" at the table.
The young man she had casually praised nearly lost his grip on the teapot, spilling some tea onto the table, his clean and unperturbed face silently turning red.
He looked like a well-behaved boy blushing after being flirted with by a ruffian.
Xie YanYu's brow jumped abruptly: "Wanwan!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tease anyone," Xie Wanqing had not expected such a big reaction from the heir and quickly feigned obedience: "I see Heir Pei as a brother."
Saying that, she looked at Pei Yuqing and blinked: "Right, didn't you just say I'm no different from your sister?"
"..." Pei Yuqing lowered his lashes, not looking at her: "That's right."
Xie Wanqing figured, this newly-acquainted brother was quite interesting.
Much more interesting than her own old-fashioned brother.
If it weren't the wrong time, she would have said more, but upon seeing the half-blackened face of Xie YanYu, she sensibly held her tongue.
As for information on Duan Cheng, it was naturally unobtainable.
She only knew that he was born into the direct line of the Liangzhou Duan Family, talented in his studies, but as for his private affairs and character, it was not yet clear.
The three of them stayed in the private room of the teahouse until the sun shifted, and as the hour grew late, Xie YanYu got up to leave with his sister.
Pei Yuqing took a palm-sized jade pendant from his waist and handed it over with a gentle smile: "I can't accept it for free just because the young lady calls me brother, take this."
Xie Wanqing took the jade pendant in her hands and looked down at it.
It was a piece of mutton fat jade, lustrous and translucent, of excellent quality, carved with a pattern resembling a crescent moon.
Pei Yuqing said, "In all the major shops in the capital, as long as you have this mark, you can enter with the jade pendant and be exempt from bills."
Xie Wanqing was startled, feeling inexplicably that this thing was somewhat hot, and instinctively looked at her brother.
"Why are you looking at me," Xie YanYu said casually: "Your recognized brother is willing to give you a welcome gift, you decide whether to accept it."
"..." Xie Wanqing was caught in a dilemma.
While hesitating, Pei Yuqing added, "If you truly regard me as a brother, then accept it."
With words like these, Xie Wanqing had no choice but to put the jade pendant into her sleeve, acknowledging this newfound brother.
After a moment's thought, she couldn't find a return gift and awkwardly said, "I only have girl's things with me..."
But Pei Yuqing seemed prepared for this, smiling, "No matter, if you have the heart, you can prepare something for me next time."