My Sang-sang Really Is Beautiful

Princess Yongle was the emperor's younger sister by the same mother, and he doted on her. Everyone took the Flower-Viewing Banquet she hosted very seriously. As it happened to fall on a day off, court officials brought their wives and marriageable sons and daughters, hoping to secure good matches for their children at the banquet. When the carriage from Duke of Ning's Residence arrived at the Chancellor's Residence, they found the street outside almost completely packed with carriages.

After they alighted, someone came to escort the family into the Chancellor's Residence. The brothers Ning Chengxiao and Ning Hui flanked Ning Sang-sang, protecting her as they went inside.

As Ning Sang-sang walked in, she recalled the novel's plot. This Flower-Viewing Banquet was a matchmaking banquet in disguise. Princess Yongle had organized it so that her eldest son, Pei Xingjian, could choose a girl he liked to marry.

But Pei Xingjian was focused entirely on his career and had no wish to marry. He would not attend today's Flower-Viewing Banquet, instead sneaking out of the Chancellor's Residence behind his mother's back. At this banquet, Su Miaoling, the novel's most formidable vicious supporting female character, would steal the limelight with her performance. With her beauty and talents, she would quietly win over a host of devoted lapdogs and become Princess Yongle's preferred choice of daughter-in-law.

If Pei Xingjian had not met an untimely death, perhaps Su Miaoling would have collected him too. After all, her irresistible aura was far too powerful. Besides, Pei Xingjian's romance-addled younger sister was Su Miaoling's close friend and had always wanted to bring the two of them together.

Thinking of this, she could not help griping about the author. What had been going through their head? They had actually given the supporting female character the halo that should have belonged to the heroine, making her universally adored, with romantic prospects blooming endlessly and countless lapdogs mindlessly doting on her. Everything about her was wonderful, and whenever anyone bullied her, everyone would leap to her defense without caring what had really happened.

They had not gone far before they encountered Chancellor Pei and his son, Pei Xingjian, greeting the guests.

"Chancellor Pei, Junior Minister Pei." Ning Xiaotian politely cupped his hands toward them.

Chancellor Pei returned the greeting with a courteous bow and nod. "Duke Ning."

Pei Xingjian also greeted Ning Xiaotian politely.

Ning Xiaotian politely responded.

The brothers Ning Chengxiao and Ning Hui also politely greeted Chancellor Pei and Pei Xingjian.

Once the greetings were exchanged, Chancellor Pei's gaze settled on Ning Sang-sang as he looked her over. The young girl before him wore an exquisite pale-yellow ruqun. Her eyes were lively, her features as delicate as a painting, and a spirited air surrounded her, making her thoroughly endearing. A few days earlier, his son had told him that Duke Ning had found his long-lost daughter, so he immediately guessed Ning Sang-sang's identity.

"Duke Ning, your daughter truly is beautiful." After looking Ning Sang-sang over, he turned to Ning Xiaotian and offered the compliment with a smile.

Ning Xiaotian also thought his daughter was beautiful, so he replied without a trace of modesty, "My Sang-sang really is beautiful."

His voice brimmed with pride, carrying the air of a man convinced his daughter was the most beautiful girl under heaven.

In my father's eyes, I'm probably a heavenly fairy. But honestly, my looks really aren't bad. Big eyes, a little mouth, fair skin-what a fresh, lovely girl I am! Every morning, my own beauty wakes me up.

Hearing this, Chancellor Pei could not help smiling in amusement, and his gaze returned to Ning Sang-sang.

Why is Chancellor Pei looking at me? Don't tell me he thinks I'm pretty and has started considering me as a wife for Pei Xingjian.

If that's the case, I firmly object. The wise never wade into the river of love. I just want to be a happy single dog, munching on gossip and carrying the spirit of nosiness to ever greater heights.

At these words, Chancellor Pei froze briefly, astonishment filling his heart. The young girl before him had not moved her lips. How could he hear her voice?

Hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Pei Xingjian turned his gaze toward her and studied her carefully.

Why is Pei Xingjian looking at me too? Could he have seen how pretty I was at Dali Temple last time and found himself falling for me? Is that why he didn't sneak out of the Chancellor's Residence today, but stayed here greeting guests with his father just to see me?

The corners of Pei Xingjian's mouth twitched at that. This girl really was full of herself. He admitted that the reason he had not sneaked out of the Chancellor's Residence during today's Flower-Viewing Banquet, and was instead greeting guests here with his father, was indeed that he wanted to see her.

But it was not because he had fallen for her. He wanted to hear more of her thoughts. Last time, he had learned from her thoughts that his trusted subordinate Chai Bao intended to harm him. He had sent Qingfeng to investigate, and the findings matched what she had said exactly. This made him suspect that she could foresee the future, and he had become intensely curious about her.

Hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Ning Xiaotian and Madam Jiang immediately began examining Pei Xingjian, their gazes distinctly resembling those of prospective parents-in-law.

Ning Xiaotian thought that Pei Xingjian was handsome, upright, and accomplished at such a young age. He would make a fine candidate for a son-in-law.

But he seemed far too much older than Sang-sang. Sang-sang was only thirteen this year, while Pei Xingjian was already twenty-two-a full nine years older. No, he was too old. They still needed to find Sang-sang a young man of seventeen or eighteen.

Madam Jiang thought that Pei Xingjian was handsome, upright, and steady in temperament, making him a fine candidate for a son-in-law. But as a junior minister of Dali Temple, he was terribly busy every day. If her daughter married him, she would probably be left alone in an empty bedroom night after night. That would not do.

Ning Chengxiao and Ning Hui were also sizing Pei Xingjian up.

Ning Chengxiao frowned and thought, Pei Xingjian is even older than my eldest brother. I won't agree to him marrying Sang-sang.

Ning Hui's face filled with excitement as he thought, If Junior Minister Pei wants to become my brother-in-law, I'm all for it with both hands raised.

Ning Sang-sang had no idea that a casual joke in her thoughts had sent her entire family's imaginations running wild.

Chancellor Pei: "..."

He was certain now that what he heard was this young girl's inner voice. And judging by the reactions of his son and Duke Ning's family, they could all hear her thoughts too.