"Grandmatriarch intends to matchmake you two. You have no such intention in your heart?"
Helian Duo's tone was as usual. Perhaps only he himself knew the trace of probe hidden in his tone. After asking this question, his gaze never left Cheng Xiran's small face. He carefully captured any flicker of emotion on her face and magnified it for speculation.
Seeing Cheng Xiran smile helplessly, he hurriedly continued, "I know what Grandmatriarch is thinking. When the late emperor was alive, he also tried to recruit Feiyu Villa. But the Xue family has always been used to being free. Although they occasionally do things for the court, they rarely get involved in worldly affairs... Your grandmother thinks that if you marry Xue Lianyu in the future, even if you're not happy, you can live a peaceful life, right?"
Seeing his serious expression, Cheng Xiran stopped joking with him. Twirling the silk handkerchief in her hand and pouting, she said, "Yes, that's exactly what grandmother thinks. But I'd rather fight alongside the one I love than marry someone I don't love and be a shrewish old woman for a lifetime, never knowing what love is even before I die."
A blatant surprise flashed across Helian Duo's eyes.
Noticing that they were still at the gate of the Cheng Mansion and afraid that others might think too much, Cheng Xiran walked further along the long street.
She didn't know that just because she had circled around to find Helian Duo earlier, all the topics in the Cheng Mansion later shifted to speculation about their relationship. Liu Shi, seeing that the situation was out of control, naturally looked ugly.
Not to mention Cheng Zhiyue. She hated Cheng Xiran, hated her for currying favor with the powerful. Although she said she didn't care about status, secretly she deliberately showed off with Helian Duo.
So when Cheng Xiran and Helian Duo just took a casual stroll outside, bought some snacks and then returned to the Cheng Mansion, most of the guests at the banquet had already left. Those who remained were mostly the trusted aides of Prime Minister Cheng, as well as Chu Liyin and Xue Lianyu who were playing around in the corner.
Cheng Xiran walked towards them. After sitting down beside them, she yawned several times in a row. "I'm so sleepy. This noon's event is finally over. I can take a good nap."
As soon as Xue Lianyu saw Cheng Xiran, he stopped and took two steps closer to her. Teasingly, he said, "Xiran, you don't know. Just now during the banquet, all they talked about was you and the blockhead..."
Cheng Xiran glanced at Liu Shi whose face was turning green following Helian Duo's gaze, and said lazily, "Blame me? I'm just naturally beautiful. No wonder I stole the limelight from Liu Shi."
Xue Lianyu laughed without any restraint, "You didn't see it. Just now, every time Prime Minister Cheng went to a table to propose a toast, he was asked about your relationship with the blockhead. The scene was really funnier the more you think about it."
Cheng Xiran sensed something was wrong. Immediately, she whispered a reminder to Helian Duo, "You go back directly later. Don't come tonight."
Helian Duo nodded first, then looked at Xue Lianyu and said as if giving an order, "You come back with me."
"Anyway, I'm half a member of the Cheng family now. It's reasonable for me to stay!"
Xue Lianyu said brazenly. As soon as he finished speaking, he received disdainful looks from the other three.
He had to shut up, but still couldn't help muttering a few words in a low voice. In the end, he was coaxed by Chu Liyin to leave.
After seeing the three of them off, Cheng Xiran returned to her own courtyard to take a nap. But before she even entered her yard, she felt a strong murderous aura inside. When she got closer and saw the furious Cheng Zhiyue, she immediately understood everything.