The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Entanglement

Pei Lingyi followed behind Pei Qingyan, no longer displaying the gentle and delicate demeanor she had shown at home. Now, every move she made exuded elegance and refinement.

Her posture was poised and beautiful to behold.

As they made their way to the banquet, many eyes were drawn to the siblings. The more people looked, the more they felt envious. How could one family produce such stunning children?
The crowd’s hearts fluttered, especially since neither of them was married.

Before long, they arrived at the grand hall for the night’s festivities. Pei Lingyi wasn’t new to the palace, so with the palace maid’s guidance, she quickly found her seat.

Her seat was relatively close to the front, and the people around her hadn’t arrived yet. Across from her, not far away, were the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince’s group.

County Lord Changle was seated diagonally to her left, and when she saw Pei Lingyi, she smiled warmly and greeted her. Pei Lingyi was sipping tea from a purple sandalwood table, but her mind was occupied with the night’s events.

She had made some progress with Xiao Yan, and the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince had developed different feelings for her.
However, she had yet to figure out the Fifth Prince.

Not only had she not managed to make him like her, but they hadn’t even met. This made it difficult for her to devise a plan. Despite having many strategies, without an opportunity to meet him, everything was futile.

Therefore, her main task for the night was to get acquainted with the Fifth Prince, who was known for being reclusive but hiding his true abilities.

She hadn’t known much about the Fifth Prince before, as he rarely appeared in public. If it weren’t for tonight’s banquet, she wouldn’t have had the chance to meet him.

As she was lost in thought, a sudden fragrance wafted over, and she slowly raised her head to see a handsome and sharp-featured face.

Was it her?
She hadn’t expected to see Jiang Shuyan, the person her brother was trying to avoid, sitting right next to her.

As if sensing Pei Lingyi’s gaze, Jiang Shuyan glanced over and met her eyes. Pei Lingyi’s face was delicate and beautiful, like a flower.

Was it her?
Both women saw each other’s reflection in their eyes, but they didn’t know that they had already recognized each other.

Jiang Shuyan’s tall figure was dressed in a dark red brocade robe, cinched at the waist with a golden belt. Her eyebrows were sharp, and her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, showcasing her heroic and valiant demeanor, fitting for a general’s daughter.

This Miss Jiang was known for her preference for martial arts over makeup, and her skills were said to be on par with men.
The rumors in the capital were likely based on this.

However, in Pei Lingyi’s opinion, such a woman was truly a role model for their generation. Perhaps one day, the Great Ye dynasty would produce a female general.

The two women didn’t exchange many words, as they weren’t familiar with each other. Although Pei Lingyi had heard that General Wei Yuan intended to marry his daughter to her brother, seeing her up close made her think that Jiang Shuyan wasn’t the type to be confined to the inner chambers.

Before long, the emperor arrived with his empresses and concubines, and the dancing girls began to perform.
The banquet officially started.

Pei Lingyi gazed at the figure on the dragon throne from afar. He wore a bright yellow dragon robe, and despite his age, his face still showed traces of his former handsomeness. However, the emperor’s old age was evident, and even his imposing aura couldn’t resist the passage of time.

The princes had grown up, and it was unclear who would eventually sit on the throne that commanded the world.

The wine had been flowing for a while, and Emperor Jiawu gazed at the crowd below, his eyes half-closed.
Today’s banquet was meant to reward General Wei Yuan.

“General, you’ve served the border with great merit. What reward would you like?” he asked.

General Wei Yuan hurried forward, kneeling down. “Guarding the Great Ye is my duty, Your Majesty. But since you’ve mentioned it, I would like to ask for a favor. My daughter is of marriageable age, and I humbly request Your Majesty to grant her a good marriage.”

The emperor’s interest was piqued. “Oh? Does General Wei Yuan have someone in mind?”

Pei Qingyan’s eyebrows twitched, and he felt a bad premonition.

“I do have someone in mind, Your Majesty. It’s Prime Minister Pei’s son,” General Wei Yuan replied.

As he finished speaking, the men in the hall seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, Jiang Shuyan might be beautiful, but who would want to marry a fierce woman like her?

“What does Prime Minister Pei think? When General Wei Yuan returned to the capital, he praised your son highly. I suppose he had this in mind,” Emperor Jiawu said with a smile.

“If it means forming a connection with General Wei Yuan, it would indeed be a good match. However, this matter should be decided by Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Pei said, his words carefully chosen.

You old fox, Emperor Jiawu thought to himself.

The emperor then casually issued the decree. Pei Lingyi looked at the woman beside her, who didn’t show any emotions. However, her brother’s face was as black as coal, and he drank cup after cup of wine to vent his dissatisfaction with the marriage.

Her brother’s fate was sealed, but she had a more important task at hand.
She pretended to be drunk and wanted to go out to clear her head, which wasn’t unusual.

However, someone noticed and followed her.

Xiao Huaijin felt like he had gone mad, secretly following the woman he was interested in. After being scolded by his mother, he had suppressed his feelings and stayed in the palace. When he heard that she was attacked at Yunhua Temple, he was anxious and wanted to send the imperial physicians to the Pei mansion.

But he eventually gave up, knowing that he had favored Li Miaozhu at the Gentlemen Gathering, and he didn’t have the face or qualifications to care about her.

Until he heard that she wasn’t injured, he finally felt relieved.

But the longing grew like vines, and after parting at the Gentlemen Gathering, the memories of that night lingered in his mind. Her tears like a tide made him feel guilty.

“Does the Crown Prince not know that following someone at night goes against the principles of a gentleman?”

The woman’s soft voice brought Xiao Huaijin back to reality.
He walked out from behind the tree calmly.

“Jiaojiao… I…” Before he could finish, Pei Lingyi interrupted him.
“Your Highness should be careful with your words. I’m still an unmarried woman, and you shouldn’t call me by my given name so casually.”

The moonlight illuminated her face, making her look like a goddess from the heavens. However, her words were ruthless, as if the passion from that night was just his imagination.

She was about to turn around when Xiao Huaijin couldn’t help but grab her. He wanted her to look back, to see him in her eyes.

With a swift movement, Pei Lingyi’s slender waist fell into his arms, and then he kissed her deeply. The kiss was intense and possessive, leaving her breathless.

The girl’s voice was fragmented, and the man swallowed her sounds, his arm holding her waist tightly, refusing to let go.

He kissed her fiercely, as if he couldn’t get enough of her taste.

He was usually gentle, but this kiss was domineering, with an air of authority that refused to be denied.

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Author’s note – To know what happens next, let’s wait for the next chapter to unfold.