Chapter 9: If you lick your lips, will you poison yourself?

The heir of the Yan Prince's Manor, Xiao Jingyuan, is the ideal husband sought after by noble ladies in the capital.

At this time, many women still secretly glanced at him.

Shen Shuangning froze, never expecting to meet her husband from a past life at this moment.

At this moment, the conversation between Shen Ling and Shen Miaoyun reached her ears.

Shen Ling softly said, "Elder sister, do you know why the Song Manor is holding a banquet?"

Shen Miaoyun said, "You wouldn't know this, but the banquet is held so everyone can get a look at the future son-in-law's face."

"Son-in-law?" Shen Ling hurriedly asked, "Whose?"

"Naturally, it's your elder sister's."

Shen Shuangning understood at once.

No wonder the Song Manor didn't invite outside guests, but specially invited the heir of the Yan Prince's Manor.

As it turns out, Xiao Jingyuan and Song Xizhi had already become involved this early, and they were so close that it's no wonder people in her past life said she had stolen Song Xizhi's husband.

Shen Shuangning felt a bit uneasy, and glanced at Song Xizhi again.

She wasn't a clueless girl; how could she not know Song Xizhi's intention in inviting her over?

Perhaps letting them catch up with Shen Miaoyun was just a pretense; the real goal was to kill her desire to cling to Xiao Jingyuan.

She really wanted to say she was overthinking; Shen Shuangning would never again set her sights on Xiao Jingyuan.

Seeing Xiao Jingyuan made Shen Shuangning lose her appetite; after just two bites she excused herself to get some fresh air.

"Miss Shen the Fourth."

A sharp, sarcastic voice sounded.

Shen Shuangning turned her head in doubt.

The person was Song Xizhi's younger sister, Song Yao.

Song Yao glared at her with hostility, gave Shen Shuangning a once‑over, then coldly said, "How shameless of you to chase after the Heir, following him all the way to the Song Manor, looking all fox‑like—do you really think the Heir would like you?"

Those words were truly harsh; it had been a long time since anyone dared to speak to Shen Shuangning that way.

Her brows slowly furrowed as Shen Shuangning calmly sized her up: "Who are you?"

Song Yao lifted her chin proudly and said, "It doesn't matter who I am; I'm warning you—the Heir is my brother‑in‑law, so wipe that fox‑like look off your face!"

Shen Shuangning faintly saw Song Xizhi's reflection in her brows and eyes, realizing she was Song Xizhi's younger sister, Song Yao, a girl who had just come of age.

Shen Shuangning didn't know whether Song Xizhi had sent her to warn her, but she felt no anger—only an inexplicable urge to laugh.

"Which of your eyes saw me seducing the Heir?"

Song Yao, however, took her smile as an open provocation and grew angrier: "Naturally, both my eyes saw it! You clearly threw flirtatious glances at the Heir just now!"

Shen Shuangning then understood: in that little girl's eyes, anyone who glanced at Xiao Jingyuan was considered interested and trying to steal her sister's husband.

Moreover, the Duke's Manor had once considered arranging a marriage between her and Xiao Jingyuan, which is why Song Yao paid her special attention, even twisting her gaze.

Good heavens, she had only glanced at Xiao Jingyuan twice, yet she absolutely harbored no thought.

Furthermore, she wasn't the only one secretly looking at the Heir; their gazes weren't exactly pure either.

Shen Shuangning's heart had long been still; she helplessly said, "I came to the Song Manor only to express thanks, not for anything else—you're overthinking it, and I didn't even know the Heir would be here."

Song Yao looked at her sincere expression, half‑believing, half‑doubting.

Perhaps it's simply because Shen Shuangning is too beautiful, making her jump at shadows, fearing that her future brother‑in‑law might have his soul stolen.

Song Yao thought for a moment and said, "The Heir said his heart holds only my elder sister, leaving no room for others; he once promised to return to the capital and marry her, and she has been waiting for him all along—so give up that hope."

In fact, these words were told to her by Song Xizhi; they were not spoken by Xiao Jingyuan himself.

Song Yao hadn't even exchanged two sentences with him, so how would he utter such mushy words to a future sister‑in‑law?

Knowing she couldn't reason with Song Yao, Shen Shuangning gave a casual reply.

Only then did Song Yao leave, satisfied.

When Shen Shuangning returned to sit beside Shen Miaoyun, Song Xizhi glanced at her without changing expression, unsure what she was thinking.

Afterward, during the flower‑throwing game, Shen Shuangning did not participate, as she never liked being the center of attention.

Besides, this was the Song Manor; if she spoke a few more words she might be misconstrued, so she simply kept quiet and focused on eating the pastries on the table.

Yet even with her utmost low‑key demeanor, that face of hers was still extremely eye‑catching.

"Whose young lady is that?" the Old Lady Song asked, eyeing Shen Shuangning's face curiously.

Song Xizhi sat properly beside her grandmother, glanced at Shen Shuangning, and replied, "That's the Fourth Miss of the Rong Guogong Manor."

The old lady looked toward the men and said, "I see they're all looking at her."

Even the young men of the Song family were stealing glances at her; the old lady couldn't help but notice.

Song Xizhi's expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled faintly and said, "Ningning is as beautiful as a flower; naturally, many people like her."

The old lady frowned, disagreeing: "Too much allure loses dignity; a woman as virtuous and lovely as you is what a gentleman seeks. Did you invite her?"

Song Xizhi said, "She came to see me for another matter; coincidentally, her paternal aunt is here too, so the granddaughter invited her over to liven things up."

The Old Lady Song didn't press further; she glanced at the group of young nobles, then patted her granddaughter's hand and said, "I see the Heir hasn't even glanced at that fourth young lady."

Beside her, Madam Song remarked with relief, "The Heir is naturally not so shallow."

Song Xizhi smiled at the words and said nothing more.

Shen Yingcai sat among the young nobles; he already disliked those who harbored designs on Shen Shuangning, and now someone clueless came over to inquire about the fourth sister.

"Shen Er, what kind of husband does the fourth young lady like? How about someone like me?"

Xiao Jingyuan and Shen Er both lifted their heads to glance at him.

This person had a respectable appearance, but a large mole sat on the corner of his lip, from which a curl of hair sprouted.

Shen Er's eye twitched; he suppressed the urge to punch and bluntly said, "Go piss and look at yourself—do you even deserve Ningning?"

"The fourth young lady won't do; what about the other one?" he said, unfazed, with a thick‑skinned face.

Before Shen Er could retort, someone said: "I actually think the Fifth Miss is not bad either—petite and lovely jade, gentle and virtuous, suitable for home and family."

Wei brother has good taste.

Shen Er gave a cold snort, "You bunch of toads still dare to have designs on them? The Fourth and Fifth Misses wouldn't fall for any of you."

Yet he also thought that Shen Ling wasn't in a hurry, but Shen Shuangning had indeed reached marriageable age, and grandmother and mother had already started making plans...... Shen Er couldn't help wondering what kind of husband Ning Ning would have in the future.

Last year she was still an immature girl, and in the blink of an eye she was to be married; Shen Er felt uneasy inside.

But speaking of it, he still didn't know what Ning Ning intended.

Shen Er looked around and increasingly felt that everyone around were misshapen melons and cracked dates.

Actually, among the heirs of the Song mansion there are also quite a few outstanding young masters, but Shen Er felt none of them were worthy of his sister.

After careful consideration, he felt only two or three were barely acceptable, but unfortunately they all seemed to be taken.

Xiao Jingyuan sat upright in his seat, and from the corner of his eye noticed Shen Er's slightly assessing gaze, and he frowned.

He knew the Rongguo Gong Fu was selecting a husband for the Fourth Miss, and the Yan Wang Fu had already clearly refused the Shen family, making it impossible for him and Shen Shuangning.

Last time he had unintentionally rescued Shen Shuangning at the Zuiyun Lou, and the reason he chose to hand her over to Xie Lin was not only because he feared getting entangled, but he also had other considerations.

Shen Er is after all a son of the Rongguo Gong Fu; if Xie Lin hit him and the Rongguo Gong Fu pursued the matter, it would also be trouble for Xie Lin.

But Xie Lin also rescued Shen Shuangning, which could be seen as offsetting the fault; thus the Shen and Xie families would not become enemies.

As for how Shen Shuangning would view Xie Lin and what would happen afterward, Xiao Jingyuan didn't really care.

Even if he had previously had such an amorous dream, it would not affect him in any way.

"That Fourth Miss is truly a national beauty." Su Chen said from the side, "What does the Young Master think?"

Xiao Jingyuan said in a bland voice: "Ordinary."

Su Chen was somewhat surprised: "This is called ordinary?"

He then laughed as if relieved: "Indeed, you only have eyes for Miss Song, so there's no room for anyone else."

Xiao Jingyuan expressionlessly said: "Just a skull of rouge and powder; no matter how beautiful the face, after a hundred years it's just a white skeleton—what meaning does it have?"

Su Chen fell silent for a moment, then said: "If you lick your lips, wouldn't you poison yourself to death?"

Xiao Jingyuan: "No."

Su Chen shook his head: "Boring beyond boring; if you were a husband, you would certainly be torment to women."

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't be bothered to reply to that idle talk.

Shen Shuangning originally didn't want to play the flying flower order, but someone insisted on prompting her.

Refusing too many times would also be bad, lest they say she wasn't giving face, so Shen Shuangning casually answered with two lines, not putting any heart into it.

Who would have thought the young masters opposite would praise her without cease, mindlessly flattering her.

Shen Shuangning felt the hostility around her suddenly increase, especially Miss Song Yao's expression, as if she wanted to eat her alive.

Shen Shuangning sighed inwardly, and her expression also showed a waning of interest.

Shen Miaoyun worriedly asked: "What's wrong?"

Shen Shuangning didn't want to worry her, forced a smile: "Nothing, just a bit tired."

Shen Miaoyun said: "If you're uncomfortable, just go back first; don't mind them. I'll come see you in a few days—we sisters have plenty of time to catch up......"

As they spoke, a servant boy brought a plate of delicate snacks to Shen Shuangning's front, his face showing a fawning smile.

"Fourth Miss, this is what my young master ordered me to bring to you; the young master noticed you seemed to have little appetite."

Shen Shuangning lowered her hand that had been propping her cheek, and stared blankly.

Shen Ling saw this, with a melon‑eating expression, came over and said: "Who is your young master, and why is he showing affection to my elder sister?"

The servant boy fawningly smiled: "The young master said, the Fourth Miss will know later."

Shen Ling pursed her lips: "So mysterious—could your young master be a son of the manor?"

This place isn't big to begin with; sometimes speaking a little louder draws attention.

The servant boy didn't deliberately lower his voice, openly approaching Shen Shuangning; at first a few people fell silent, then it spread.

All around fell silent, and everyone looked over.

Thus everyone knew that a young master was showing affection to Shen Shuangning.

Originally intending not to pay attention to unrelated persons, the Young Master Xiao now looked over as well.

The servant boy said: "My young master does not bear the surname Song."