Xylira, with a spirit of growing stronger through setbacks, spent every afternoon in the study, trying to understand this society as quickly as possible. Her determination surprised Xiyan.
One evening after dinner, he even joked for once, "What, Xylira, are you really planning to take the imperial exam? You're so serious." Even though Xylira nodded sincerely at the time, it was clear that Xiyan did not take it seriously.
He forgot about it soon after. In the main courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, about fifteen minutes away from the siblings' courtyard, Lord Edgar lifted the lid of his cup and gently stirred the warm tea before taking a sip.
"Where is Madam staying tonight?" "At Third Master's place," answered a man in his forties who had an ordinary appearance and kept most of his body hidden in the shadows.
His voice was slightly deep. "I heard Third Master has made her very happy recently. Madam has even agreed to give him a daughter."
The motion of putting down the teacup paused slightly. Though nearing forty, Lord Edgar's face was still as handsome as before.
A trace of sarcasm flickered in his long, narrow eyes. "A daughter? If she can really give birth to one, it would be good for the Prime Minister's household. Still, just like I always say, let Third Master and the four young masters make a fuss in the residence if they want to.
As long as they don't embarrass us outside, it's fine." His voice grew colder at the end. "Second Young Master and Second Young Lady are quite well-behaved.
However," the man hesitated for a moment, "at the General's residence, there's a big commotion. Now that Marshal Han is gone, a few men are pushing Madam Cai to claim what belongs to her."
"Though the news hasn't spread yet, the General's residence has started building a wall. Probably to leave the western half to Caelen."
"Heh," Lord Edgar let out a cold laugh. "Short-sighted fools. That Caelen is no simple man. His face is ruined, he can't gain love or affection, so all his energy will be focused on his future.
Luckily, I still have a second daughter. I'll add fuel to the fire for their family." The man nodded to himself.
"But if this news gets out, Second Young Lady may resist the marriage even more. If she truly threatens to die over it, Master" "She won't.
Isn't there still Xiyan? Those two siblings are very close. Didn't Xiyan give up a major business deal that had been negotiated for six months and rush back just for her?"
Lord Edgar replied with a blank expression. After thinking for a moment, he stood up. "Send word.
Tomorrow's family banquet, everyone must attend, including Second Young Lady and Second Young Master." The man paused, then quickly understood.
The master wanted to act first before the Caelen family's affairs were exposed. So the next morning, before heading out, Xiyan received the news.
His good mood was instantly ruined. How could he not understand? In more than ten years, they had never been invited to the family banquet.
This sudden invitation had to be about Xylira's marriage. "Oh," upon hearing the news, Xylira was not surprised.
This day had to come eventually, right? Calmly, she pulled Xiyan into her room and whispered, "Brother, get me the best makeup supplies."
"Xylira, do you know what tonight's family banquet is really for?" Fortunately, Xiyan had a cool personality.
Even if he was angry, he wouldn't lash out. He only frowned and said coldly. "Of course.
It's to settle my marriage with Caelen, right?" Xylira reached out and smoothed the crease between his brows.
These past days, the siblings had spent a lot of time together and had gotten used to it. "My dear brother, don't worry.
Whatever our father says, just let him talk. Don't forget, an engagement involves both families. And you frown too much.
Do you want to get old faster?" Xiyan fell silent, but inside, he was shocked.
"Brother, you've been investigating Caelen lately. You must have found something, right?" Xylira grinned playfully.
"Aside from his ruined appearance, you couldn't find anything wrong with him, could you? That's why you haven't said anything to me?"
"How did you know?" That was far beyond what he expected from a young woman.
Though he didn't know many women, his own mother was a princess with brains, but they were used only for spending silver and competing with other women.
Xylira was different. "Because you're jealous. You keep looking for flaws in him."
Watching Xiyan blush at her words, she clicked her tongue. So handsome, just like how her family would investigate any boy she got close to back in school, then proudly show her all the boy's bad habits.
"Then, Xylira," he looked at his confident and composed sister. Her poise impressed him so much that he treated her like a man when speaking.
"Why do you need makeup?" "That's a secret. And besides, walls have ears."
Xylira had a mysterious look on her face. "Heh," this time, Xiyan laughed happily.
He was sure now. After what happened last time, his sister had truly changed.
"You're full of clever words, little girl." At that moment, Xylira was enchanted by her brother's smile.
She truly hoped he could smile like this every day. Yes, now she had another reason to work hard.
She wanted to make her brother smile like that every single day. That afternoon, Xylira left the study half an hour early.
She took the bundle her brother handed her, entered her room, and started getting ready in front of the bronze mirror.
Xylira's features were even more delicate and gentle than Xiyan's. Her skin was soft and fair, her eyes big with long lashes.
The dimple on her right cheek formed a lovely swirl whenever she smiled. Even without expression, the slight upward curve of her lips gave her a gentle charm rather than a cold air.
After learning that this world had many handsome men but few beautiful women, and knowing that even without makeup she looked fresh and pretty, she still decided to make herself even more beautiful for the banquet tonight.
When she finally finished, she called out, "Brother, you can come in now." The two siblings each took a servant and left their small courtyard.
On the other side, in the main courtyard dining hall, the decorations were grand, steady, and subtly luxurious. Two medium-sized round tables were already set.
The secondary table was full. At the main table, Lord Edgar and Lady Mei Lin sat at the head.
With General Renyu and Jiang Yueqiu on either side. Next to General Renyu were two empty seats.
"Master, isn't this a family banquet? Why are there two empty seats?" asked Third Master Tao Jingming.
Unlike Lord Edgar's calm handsomeness, Tao Jingming had softer features. As a well-known scholar, he didn't look close to forty.
His scholarly elegance blurred his age. Lord Edgar shot him a warning look and said nothing.
He knew why the siblings were late. They lived the farthest, had no sedan chair to pick them up.
It was their first time attending such a banquet. It was not surprising they made the elders wait.
The family sat around the delicious-smelling dishes for almost fifteen minutes. Just as the younger children were about to lose patience, a servant outside announced loudly, "Second Young Master, Second Young Lady have arrived."
Instantly, all attention turned to the entrance. As soon as Xylira entered the hall, she felt everyone's gaze sweep briefly over her brother, then fix firmly on her.
Forcing away the anger from hearing servants call her brother a cripple on the way, she relaxed her body.
She cleared her mind, and walked in gracefully and confidently.
The entire dining hall fell silent the moment Xylira appeared. Everyone present, whether seated at the table or standing nearby as servants, had their eyes glued to her, following her graceful movements.
"Uncle, Third Uncle, Mother." Following Xiyan's bow, Xylira also bent her knees. She had spent the whole afternoon studying this greeting, repeating it dozens of times until she was satisfied with her execution.
To others, her actions were like flowing water, natural and elegant. It was clearly just a simple greeting, but none of them had ever seen a woman perform it so pleasingly to the eye.
"Rise, we are all family, no need to be so formal." Lord Edgar glanced subtly at Lady Evelyne as he spoke calmly, showing no emotion. As the head of the family, his words matched his status perfectly.
After the siblings thanked him in unison and stood up, everyone noticed that Xylira wore a sky-blue veil matching her outfit. Her slim waist framed by the embroidered long dress had already left a deep impression, but the hidden face now made many frown in confusion.
"Hehe, this must be our second sister. I'm your eldest sister," Lady Evelyne smiled brightly. "What's with the veil?"
No matter how she masked it, the jealousy in her eyes was easy for the men present to notice.
Xylira had already scanned the main table when she looked up. Upon seeing how the two women were dressed, she couldn't help but twitch her lips again. What she read in books could not compare to seeing it in person.
Lady Mei Lin, seated next to Lord Edgar, had her hair completely pinned up. Though her skin was fair, her features were not beautiful, with slightly thick lips and a small downward tilt to her eyes. Her face was oval-shaped like Xylira's, but her small eyes and dreamy gaze made her appearance average.
Lady Evelyne had inherited her mother's thick lips. Once she started speaking, her wide mouth made a striking impression. Her large, bright eyes made her look more attractive than Lady Mei Lin. Both women carried themselves with pride and boldness.
Yet, even as they remained seated, one glance at their revealing upper garments was enough to kill any appetite. What kind of society was this? Were they not aware of the many men in the room? Their sheer robes were practically transparent, making the inner garments clearly visible.
Their half-exposed chests caused Xylira to inwardly criticize them without end. She blinked her large eyes twice and did not answer Lady Evelyne's question, causing the latter to grow irritated. Just as she was about to speak again, General Renyu interrupted.
He stood up, his handsome features a perfect inheritance from Lord Edgar. When he smiled, he exuded a warmth that made people drop their guard. However, a slight furrow in his brow revealed his displeasure over the earlier disrespectful servants and the carefully arranged seating.
"Second Brother, Second Sister, please sit." His cheerful invitation was warm without being overbearing. He extended his hand to support Xiyan.
"Thank you, Big Brother." Xiyan subtly avoided him, his cold expression chilling the air around him.
"No need to trouble Big Brother." Xylira's clear and gentle voice rang out. It held a softness unique to young women and a coolness like spring water. She quickly stepped forward to hold Xiyan's arm. "Big Brother, please sit first."
"Uh." Caught off guard by her watery eyes reflecting his image, General Renyu found himself briefly dazed, his heartbeat seeming to stop for a moment.
"Alright, everyone sit down," said Lord Edgar. "If you two continue to dawdle, the food will go cold. You have plenty of time to bond in the future."
His last words were delivered with a gentle smile, and whether it was a joke or serious, depended on how one chose to interpret it.
"Yes," Xiyan and Xylira responded together and finally took their seats. The food on the table was far better than what the siblings were used to.
"Oh my, Xylira, are you hiding your face because you're too ugly and don't want to spoil our appetite?" Lady Mei Lin said sarcastically.
Among her three husbands, her favorite had been the second one. He was handsome, lacked the vulgarity of merchants, and never pandered to her like other men.
She had liked that coldness, but such a beautiful husband had died at the hands of Xylira, the bringer of misfortune. Thinking of the hardship of giving birth to this daughter only deepened her resentment.
"Mother," Xylira replied without emotion.
"Stop wasting time and take off the veil," Lady Mei Lin said impatiently.
Lady Evelyne's eyes lit up at her mother's words. Her smile grew even more "gentle," but her gaze at Xylira was full of malice. "Yes, Second Sister, take off your veil. We are family, who would look down on you? Besides, eating while wearing it is inconvenient."
Such a caring elder sister. Xiyan sneered in his heart as his cold gaze swept across the room.
"It was my oversight." Xylira appeared docile, even timid, as she reached up and removed her veil.
Even Lord Edgar showed a rare moment of surprise, not to mention the others who stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Such a stunningly beautiful woman, with flawless skin and delicate features. Her long lashes fluttered with unease, and her blushing cheeks made the onlookers stare in awe.
Xiyan felt a surge of pride and satisfaction at the stunned expressions around the room. The two women who had spoken so smugly earlier now looked pale and embarrassed.
The only slight disappointment was that Lord Edgar's shock passed quickly, and his face soon returned to its expressionless state.
"So pretty," a six-year-old boy at the side table finally said, pulling everyone back to reality.
Everyone completely forgot about questioning the siblings' tardiness.
The dull family banquet continued under frequent glances at Xylira. No one had the appetite to enjoy the food.
They grew more amazed the longer they observed her. Even her eating was elegant.
Such a woman would be desired by nearly any man.
Later, everyone moved to the flower hall. They knew the true purpose of the gathering was coming.
Everyone took their seats in the same order as before. Once tea was served, the servants quietly withdrew.
Once all the sons and daughters were seated, Lord Edgar's calm voice filled the room. "This banquet is mainly to discuss the marriage matters of our two daughters."
"The emperor spoke to me two days ago about the marriage between the third prince and Lady Evelyne. I expect the imperial decree will arrive soon."
Lady Evelyne's face lit up with joy. Once she married the third prince, she would become a prince's consort. Her status among women in the entire kingdom would surely rise to the top five.
This glory thrilled her. She could not hide her joy as she glanced proudly at Xylira.
Unfortunately, Xylira had her head bowed slightly and did not see the smug look, leaving Lady Evelyne frustrated.
Everyone had expected this matter. The strong wave of discontent from Xiyan did not surprise them.
They eagerly awaited what would follow. "Xylira, you know that Caelen, General Caelen, saved your brother's life, correct?"
"Yes," Xylira nodded.
"You are a good child. Naturally, you would not want our family to bear a reputation of ingratitude, nor would you want to ruin your sister's marriage to the third prince, right?" Lord Edgar's tone turned uncommonly gentle.
"Yes," Xylira nodded again.
"I plan to request an imperial decree tomorrow. The betrothal edicts for both you and your sister will be issued together. It will be a joyous double celebration, don't you think?"
As he spoke, a smile crept into Lord Edgar's voice.
"Yes." To everyone's surprise, Xylira agreed without hesitation.
"With you and Mother making the arrangements, everything will be fine." Her face turned bright red with shyness as she finished.
Under the warm candlelight, such a beautiful and bashful girl left everyone breathless.
Even General Renyu thought Caelen was unworthy of such a bride.
As if hearing their thoughts, Lord Edgar continued, "I know this feels unfair to you, but we are one family. We rise and fall together. You must understand the importance of unity."
"Yes." The blush faded from Xylira's face.
"I understand."
Everyone in the room knew those words were not just meant for her.
They were directed at Xiyan. A warning not to cause trouble.