"Two days ago, my cousin secretly asked me to help him pick out the new jewelry from Jizhen Tower. That jade orchid hairpin inlaid with purple pearls really made Di'er so envious!"
"Really?" Zheng Yan looked up, a glint of light in her eyes.
Bai Zheng casually glanced at Bai Di. At the moment their eyes met, Bai Di gave her a gentle smile, looking exactly like an elder sister protecting her younger sister.
Bai Zheng felt a strange feeling welling up inside. This cousin who usually couldn't wait to tear her apart, why was she suddenly so kind as to help her out today?
Su Muxiao, sitting beside them, also laughed and said, "Miss Zheng, please rest assured. No matter how many beautiful girls there are outside, the heart of the Fourth Prince is only yours! Just wait. The Fourth Prince will surely present that jade orchid hairpin inlaid with purple pearls in front of you."
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Bai Zheng's eyelids twitched involuntarily. For some reason, she always felt that there was a hidden meaning in Su Muxiao's words.
"I could hear your laughter from afar. What funny things are you talking about behind my back?" Feng Jingyang, dressed in gorgeous brocade and with a handsome face, stepped into the room. His clear voice was filled with laughter. As he walked into the hall, his long and slender phoenix eyes scanned the room. When they passed by Zheng Yan, her face blushed even more.
"We were just saying that our fourth brother is handsome and talented, and he and Miss Zheng are a match made in heaven." Feng Jingxuan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke with a smile.
The moment he heard the words "a match made in heaven", Feng Jingyang's eyes dimmed for a split second, but he quickly regained his smile and said, "What third brother said is right."
That trace of dimness flashed by so quickly that almost no one noticed it, but Zheng Yan, whose eyes had been lingering on Feng Jingyang, still caught it.
Zheng Yan was about to get angry when she suddenly remembered what Bai Di had said just now. She began to doubt if she had seen it wrong.
At this moment, Feng Jingyang's eyes had stopped on Bai Zheng.
"Third Miss." As Bai Di's cousin, Feng Jingyang had met Bai Zheng several times before. He was not unfamiliar with her. And because of Bai Di, he was used to calling her "Third Miss" directly, omitting the surname Bai, which showed a bit of intimacy different from others.
Bai Zheng returned the greeting, "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince." Before she could bow down, Feng Jingyang's hand supported her. "There's no need for such formalities."
Bai Zheng squinted her eyes and looked up at Feng Jingyang, who was looking at her with a gentle smile. She stood up and took a step back.
Feng Jingyang quickly withdrew his hand. The slight embarrassment on his face made people believe that he had just realized that he shouldn't touch a woman's body casually in public.
But his action of supporting Bai Zheng just now was too smooth, as if he had done it many times habitually.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became strange.
The expressions of the Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang were both a bit unpleasant. Zheng Yan pursed her lips and stared at Bai Zheng coldly.
Feng Jingxuan watched all this coldly. Suddenly, he let out a laugh and said coolly, "Fortunately, our fourth brother is already engaged. Otherwise, if he wanted to propose to Miss Bai, considering their long - standing relationship, no other young master could compare."
"I wonder if this marquis can compare?" As this gentle voice fell, a man wearing a half - mask walked into the hall. He was wearing a high jade crown and a plain white robe embroidered with silver patterns. His eyes emitted a bright and serene light like the moonlight. His gaze was calm, exuding an elegant and refined air.
The Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang were both shocked. Almost immediately, they stood up from their chairs and said to the man, "We didn't know that the Marquis of Dingyuan was coming. We failed to greet you properly."
Although Feng Jingyang was the Fourth Prince, according to the rules, the Marquis of Gaochang should have saluted him when he came in. But because the marquis had made great military achievements and was the husband of the princess, and now was also going to be his future father - in - law, it was okay not to salute.
But Feng Linyuan was also a marquis, and in terms of seniority, he was of the same generation as the current emperor, Feng Linche. So the Marquis of Gaochang and the princess both needed to salute when they saw him.
Seeing him come in, Feng Jingxuan was stunned for a moment. Then he asked, "Why did the Marquis of Dingyuan come? Could it be... you're also here to propose to Miss Bai?"
Feng Linyuan nodded slightly as a reply. He glanced at Bai Zheng standing at the upper position, and then turned his gaze to Feng Jingxuan and replied, "The graceful Third Miss Bai is naturally a lady for a gentleman to court."
A lady for a gentleman to court? This Marquis of Dingyuan really didn't blink when he told a lie. Bai Zheng lowered her head as if shy, but in her heart, she was complaining.
Feng Jingxuan lowered his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.
Why did Feng Linyuan suddenly step in?
Originally, compared with those young masters outside, the eldest young master of the Censor's Mansion, Liu Zhixuan, whom he had recommended, still had a good chance of winning. Except for the fifth prince, Feng Jingyi, who had inexplicably joined later and didn't come today after being instructed by him, among the remaining people, who had a higher status than the person he had recommended?
Previously, because Bai Zheng had discovered his affair with Bai Di, Feng Jingxuan had wanted to kill her. But now...
He naturally knew about Bai Zheng's bet with the Prime Minister Chu a few days ago. The 200,000 taels of silver that Feng Jingye had presented afterwards must have something to do with this shy - looking woman in front of him.
Such a person would be a pity to kill. It would be better to recruit her to work for him. Therefore, since Feng Linche said that he would arrange a new marriage for Bai Zheng, he had made up his mind to win this marriage.
Whether it was Feng Jingye or Feng Linyuan, no one could compete with him!
Thinking of this, Feng Jingxuan couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. Flames seemed to be dancing in his eyes. "Even if the Marquis of Dingyuan wants to marry, I'm afraid the Bai Mansion won't agree!"
Everyone knew that since the battle six years ago, Feng Linyuan's appearance had been completely ruined and he had been seriously ill. His lifespan was only up to twenty - five. Even though he had inherited the marquis title later, no one was willing to let their beloved daughter marry him and become a widow. Otherwise, with Feng Linyuan's once peerless appearance, why would he still be unmarried at the age of twenty - one?
The Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang looked at each other. A trace of embarrassment flashed across their faces simultaneously. Today's banquet was originally entrusted by Feng Linche to choose a marriage partner for Bai Zheng. They had almost sent invitations to all the unmarried young masters of the right age from the official families above the fourth rank in Yongding City, but they had only missed Feng Linyuan.
Indeed, speaking of it, Feng Linyuan fully met the two conditions of "the right age" and "unmarried". It was just that he had not appeared in people's sight for the past six years and had never attended any banquets. Naturally, the couple of the Marquis of Gaochang had habitually ignored him this time.
Moreover, with Feng Linyuan's physical condition, even if he came, Bai Zheng wouldn't choose him, would she?
Feng Linyuan smiled faintly and sat down gracefully on a chair beside him, completely ignoring Feng Jingxuan's ridicule. "Whether they agree or not depends on Miss Bai's nod, doesn't it? I believe Miss Bai has a unique vision and will give this marquis a chance."
A person who had almost disappeared for six years actually walked into the public's sight for Bai Zheng today. And even though he knew the hope was slim, he still fought hard for it. In the eyes of outsiders, didn't it just become...
"The Marquis of Dingyuan really has deep affection for Miss Bai." The Princess of Pingyang couldn't help but sigh.