Chapter 141

Chapter 141

After Ren Fengjue finished writing his congratulatory message, he set down the brush and turned to glance at Xia Ximo, only to see her brows faintly furrowed.

So, naturally, he reached for her brush to write it for her, but the servant in front of them stopped him.

“Honored guest, to show sincerity, no one may write on another’s behalf. If this young lady does not know how to write, she may speak her blessing aloud instead.”

Ren Fengjue was momentarily put in a difficult position as well.

Based on his understanding of Xia Ximo, “speaking” would probably be even harder than “writing.”

Inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern, Wuyou could not help offering her suggestions.

“Human wedding blessings are easy. Things like, ‘May you grow old together,’ or ‘May your hearts be in harmony’-any auspicious words will do.”

“If nothing else, just write, ‘May you soon have a child,’ ‘May your descendants flourish,’ ‘May you enjoy a hundred years of harmony,’ ‘May your house be filled with children and grandchildren’…”

Xia Ximo’s ears buzzed from listening. Seeing that everyone beside her had already finished writing and she was the only one left, she finally picked up the brush with great reluctance and wrote four characters: May you soon have a child.

Ren Fengjue, who was closest to her, saw those four characters, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile despite himself.

Xia Ximo set down the brush, raised her eyes to look at him, and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Come to think of it, this was the first time Ren Fengjue had ever seen her write.

Her characters, though neatly formed, carried an undeniable childishness.

They looked almost like a child’s handwriting.

Even so, Xia Ximo did not feel embarrassed.

She had always been straightforward. She never concealed anything about herself, nor did she often explain.

Ren Fengjue could only explain himself. “Nothing. I just thought the blessing Miss Xia gave was very… simple and honest.”

“…”

Of course, he had no way of knowing that among the phrases Wuyou had just listed, those four characters had the fewest strokes.

Xia Ximo narrowed her eyes slightly but did not reply. She simply followed Yu Lang into the villa.

The reception hall of the villa and the courtyard before it were filled with wedding banquet tables. At a glance, there were at least a dozen or twenty tables.

Because they had arrived late, only the table in the farthest corner was still empty.

After they took their seats one after another, the banquet officially began.

And everything was just as that passerby had said. Not only was Yuelai Villa grand and impressive, but the Old Master was also extremely generous.

The feast was lavish, with every delicacy one could ask for, from mountain treasures to seafood. They were also served a jar of aged fine wine-sixteen-year-old Daughter’s Red.

To be honest, none of them were good drinkers, but the aroma of this Daughter’s Red was truly tempting.

Once the servants filled each of their cups, the fragrance of wine immediately spread in all directions.

Yan Zhengchu could not help leaning in and sniffing again and again. “This is the first time I’ve ever smelled such fragrant, mellow wine.”

As he spoke, he picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and savored it carefully with the tip of his tongue.

All at once, his eyes lit up, and he raised his thumb.

“Mm! It really is good.”

Hearing him say that, Yu Lang also wanted to try it. After taking a sip, he smacked his lips and savored the aftertaste, then echoed, “This wine really is something special!”

He turned to look at Ren Fengjue, intending to have him try some as well, but then remembered something.

When Lord Ren was away from home, he would never drink lightly.

Trying to persuade him to drink was practically asking for a lecture.

Yu Lang hurriedly swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and turned instead to Xia Ximo beside him. “Miss Xia, you can try it too.”

No sooner had he said this than Ren Fengjue swept a swift glance at him, frightening Vice Minister Yu into quickly lowering his head and quietly taking another sip.

However, to his surprise, Xia Ximo actually picked up her cup at that moment and drank straight from it.

Ren Fengjue was visibly startled.

Yu Lang’s courage immediately returned, and he seized the chance to ask, “How is it, Miss Xia? Isn’t it quite good?”

Xia Ximo glanced at him. Though her expression was as cool and indifferent as ever, she still gave her approval.
“Mm.”

Yu Lang was overjoyed. Without waiting for anyone else, he promptly helped himself to another reckless gulp.

Ren Fengjue’s brows drew together slightly. With a strange look on his face, he could not help saying, “Vice Minister Yu, you mustn’t overindulge…”

He had only just finished speaking when, from the corner of his eye, he caught Xia Ximo draining the rest of the wine in her cup in one go, then pouring herself another.

“…”

Yu Lang tried hard to hold back his laughter and muttered under his breath, “My lord, look how straightforward Miss Xia is.”

Ren Fengjue did look.

But what could he say?

So he snapped, rather irritably, “You still have to drive the carriage first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t let the drinking delay our business.”

Yu Lang hurriedly replied, “Of course, of course…”

As they were speaking, the butler led over an elderly man with a tall, straight bearing. Behind him followed a handsome young man with refined features.

“Honored guests, this is Old Master Shen of our Yuelai Villa.”

Then he gestured to the young man behind him and introduced, “And this is our son-in-law at Yuelai Villa-Young Master Qin Shu.”

At this, the people at the table rose one after another and offered the appropriate courtesies.

Only Xia Ximo merely inclined her head in acknowledgment.

Since she was a female guest, Old Master Shen did not take offense. His gaze swept over Ren Fengjue, Yu Lang, and the others before he raised his cup and said, “I heard from the butler that you have all come from afar. This old man is deeply honored that you were willing to attend my daughter’s wedding banquet.”

Though his hair and beard were completely white, his voice was resonant and full of vigor. He seemed very much like a trained martial artist who had cultivated both inner and outer strength.

The others raised their cups as well. “Congratulations, Old Master Shen.”

Old Master Shen took a small sip, then instructed the butler at his side, “Old Chen, arrange for these guests to stay in Moon-Gazing Courtyard later. See that they are well attended to.”

Then, smiling warmly, he said to them, “If this is your first visit to Kaiming, why not stay at my Yuelai Villa for a few days?”

Seeing how hospitable Old Master Shen was, Ren Fengjue quickly said, “Thank you for your generous hospitality, Old Master Shen. We are only passing through and will be leaving tomorrow.”

As he spoke, he signaled for Axia to take out two ingots of gold to present as a wedding gift.

Old Master Shen, however, refused them outright and said with righteous firmness, “Since this old man has said I will not take a single coin, then I will not accept even the smallest amount in gift money. Young sir, please take back the gift. Do not make this old man break his word.”

Seeing this, Ren Fengjue had no choice but to have Axia put the gold away. He said, “In that case, we offer our congratulations to Miss Shen and Young Master Qin. May your bond last forever and your union be blessed by heaven.”

“Congratulations, congratulations…”

The others echoed a few words of blessing.

Old Master Shen then returned the courtesy together with his son-in-law before turning to leave.

Watching their backs, Yu Lang rubbed his chin and said, “Who would’ve thought? The Old Master is already so advanced in years, yet he’s still so hale and hearty. He must be a martial artist too.”

At that, Xia Ximo also glanced in the direction the two had gone.

Yet beneath the bright moonlight, she saw that at Young Master Qin’s feet, an extra shadow had somehow appeared for no reason.

But it lasted only an instant before the shadow vanished.

Her brows drew together slightly.

“Taoist.”

Yan Zhengchu, who had been carefully savoring his wine, immediately lifted his head at the form of address. “What is it?”

Xia Ximo said, “You didn’t notice anything wrong?”

Hearing this, Yan Zhengchu quickly raised his head and looked all around, seemingly at a loss. “Wrong how?”

From the look of him, he had not sensed anything.

Could it be that it was not a ghost?

Xia Ximo glanced again toward the corridor outside the main hall. Qin Shu, the son-in-law, was standing by the doorway, and this time, under the glow of the corridor lanterns, that shadow appeared again on the wall-only to vanish in the blink of an eye once more.