Watching Liu Ling'er dash away, Liu Cheng couldn't help but smile.
"Over here!"
The banquet was held indoors. Of course, Liu Cheng had learned some Da Li customs previously and had arranged outdoor activities like ice hockey, polo, and javelin throwing.
Qin Mo saw Nan Shiying and hurried to greet her.
"Feng Luan, you're here!"
Nan Shiying nodded at Qin Mo, then glanced at Wang Qiancheng. Wang Qiancheng, with a cold expression, still walked over and greeted her.
Liu Cheng had also sent an invitation to the Liu residence, but Liu Ling would likely not be able to attend. That was for the best, to avoid any conflict with Feng Luan.
Guests arrived in twos and threes. Mu Baiyu, having a day off, came with Mu Xiaoxiao.
Upon reaching the entrance, Mu Xiaoxiao stopped, gazing at a figure not far away. Mu Baiyu followed Mu Xiaoxiao's gaze and immediately spotted the man surrounded by Liu Cheng and Qin Mo.
Mu Baiyu turned and saw the blush on Mu Xiaoxiao's face and the mist gathering in her eyes. She grabbed Mu Xiaoxiao's arm. Mu Xiaoxiao looked up, stunned by Mu Baiyu's gaze.
"Xiaoxiao, is that Feng Luan?" Mu Baiyu asked.
Mu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, suppressing the flutter in her heart, and slowly nodded.
Mu Baiyu added, "Don't forget, he already has a wife!"
Mu Xiaoxiao bit her lip and drooped her head dejectedly. Sensing a gaze, Nan Shiying turned and saw Mu Baiyu and Mu Xiaoxiao, especially Mu Xiaoxiao, and her scalp tingled.
A miscalculation. How could she have forgotten Mu Xiaoxiao!
Nan Shiying, steeling herself, walked towards Mu Xiaoxiao and greeted her openly, "County Princess Jiacheng, it's been a while!"
Hearing her distant tone, Mu Xiaoxiao's nose immediately stung. The sorrow she had just managed to suppress surged back. Liu Cheng watched the two, sensing something between them, but seeing Feng Luan's calm demeanor, it didn't seem likely.
Mu Baiyu squeezed Mu Xiaoxiao's arm and said, "You must be Feng Luan, the divine doctor Feng, right? Thank you for taking care of Xiaoxiao back then."
Nan Shiying dared not look at Mu Xiaoxiao, unsure why she felt guilty. The teasing from Xuan Yi and Poison Elder made her feel uneasy.
"You're too kind."
Mu Xiaoxiao looked at Feng Luan, who was so close, and finally suppressed her personal feelings. She asked softly, "Feng Luan, is your wife well?"
Liu Cheng turned his head in surprise upon hearing this, looking at Feng Luan.
Feng Luan was married?
Having told one lie, she had to continue it. She could only nod and reply with a smile, "She's very well."
Yes, exceptionally well, so well that she even got jealous of other women.
Speaking of which, if Ji Jinmo knew Mu Xiaoxiao was here today, he probably wouldn't be jealous enough to come to the Liu residence!
A tender affection graced her face, as if thinking of her wife, her smile almost uncontrollable. She must truly love her wife!
Mu Xiaoxiao lowered her gaze, not daring to speculate how much she loved her wife.
Mu Baiyu's impression of Feng Luan improved significantly. It seemed that her sister hadn't been deliberately approached by this person, but rather that her sister had misplaced her affections on someone she shouldn't have.
"Brother Feng, you're married?"
She didn't look like a married person at all.
Nan Shiying nodded noncommittally, "I am married, but my wife is not in the capital!"
Liu Cheng was somewhat disappointed. He had intended to introduce his sister to Feng Luan. The status of a direct disciple of the Medicine King Valley was no less than that of ordinary princes and nobles.
It was a shame, though; the legitimate daughter of his Liu residence would never become a concubine.
"Brother Feng, you're actually married!"
Qin Mo exclaimed in disbelief. What kind of extraordinary woman could possibly be worthy of Feng Luan, this combination of a living Bodhisattva and a living Yama?
Nan Shiying glanced at Qin Mo, who let out a sheepish chuckle.
Mu Xiaoxiao wanted to ask about Old Qin, but with so many people watching, she didn't feel comfortable saying too much to Feng Luan.
"Brother~"
Liu Ling'er, holding Liu Lan's hand, ran in.
She went to Liu Cheng's side.
"Third Brother!"
Liu Lan called out to Liu Cheng and then subtly glanced at Wang Qiancheng.
Wang Qiancheng looked down at Liu Lan. This was the young lady who was to marry him. Her appearance was decent, not overly stunning, but she looked as elegant and serene as a chrysanthemum. However, Wang Qiancheng had seen her dancing on the ice earlier, and her personality might be more lively than she appeared now.
Seeing Wang Qiancheng staring at her, Liu Lan lowered her head slightly.
Liu Ling'er, however, raised her head and glared at him.
Wang Qiancheng rubbed his nose, thinking that Liu Ling'er was indeed Liu Cheng's sister.
Nan Shiying looked at Liu Ling'er and then at Liu Lan. Seeing Wang Qiancheng's gaze, she understood. This must be the girl the Liu family had promised to Wang Qiancheng.
Seeing Nan Shiying look at them, Liu Cheng introduced, "Brother Feng, these are my two younger sisters, my own sister Liu Ling'er, and my cousin Liu Lan."
"Greetings to both Miss Liu!"
"Greetings, Divine Doctor Feng!" Liu Ling'er and Liu Lan said in unison.
Mu Xiaoxiao glanced at Liu Ling'er and, for some reason, felt a sense of rejection. Liu Ling'er noticed Mu Xiaoxiao's gaze and looked at her, "Greetings, Sister Mu!"
"Greetings, Sister!"
Mu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, suppressing the annoyance in her heart.
After a moment's thought, she said to Feng Luan, "Feng Luan, what does your wife like? You left in such a hurry, I didn't have a chance to ask."
Liu Ling'er's expression immediately changed, and she looked up at Liu Cheng.
Liu Cheng twitched his mouth, feeling as though a scene of carnage was about to unfold before him. Fortunately, Feng Luan was already married; otherwise, the situation might have been even more bloody.
Nan Shiying didn't understand why Mu Xiaoxiao was asking, merely saying, "Her preferences are rather unique and might be hard to find. Why is County Princess asking?"
Mu Xiaoxiao replied, "It's just that Brother Feng took such good care of me then. I wanted to buy something for sister-in-law as a thank you!"
Nan Shiying: "..."
It was completely unnecessary!
Nan Shiying thought of Ji Jinmo's face, and then imagined handing him the gift Mu Xiaoxiao bought. He would probably accept it with a shallow smile, then pretend to lose his grip and drop it on the ground, perhaps even losing control of his legs and stepping on it.
Picturing that scene, Nan Shiying couldn't help but shiver.
"In that case, it's even more unnecessary. During the flood in Yuzhou, the county princess traveled thousands of miles to the disaster-stricken area. Her compassion for the people and her devotion to Lin Yuan filled me, and the people of Yuzhou, with respect and admiration. Besides, the care the county princess mentioned was more of a mutual support between friends. Why should the county princess undermine that friendship and insist on thanking me?"