Lu Jing naturally wanted to respond, tapping the fan against his palm in anticipation of echoing her sentiment.
But before the word “good” could escape his lips, the crowd around them began to stir.
“Ah here he comes!”
“He truly lives up to the Jiang family’s reputation. Look at his bearing and demeanor, he’s unlike ordinary people.”
Praises filled the air as everyone turned their attention to the stone path leading to the main hall.
At the end of the path, Jiang Yan strode forward. His red embroideChi Jinen collar, black cloud boots, and a jade-inlaid crimson belt neatly cinched his snow-white brocade robe, accentuating his fine physique. Even though his ink-black hair was casually tied behind his back, his extraordinary aura and noble presence were undeniable.
“The Jiang family truly has excellent Feng Shui, raising such spirited children,” Lu Jing remarked with a smile.
Li Huaiyu nodded in agreement. “That’s the truth.”
Jiang Yan was perhaps the most promising among the younger generation of the Jiang family. Being close to Jiang Xuanjin, the flatterers outside often praised this uncle and nephew duo together. Phrases like “Jiang Mansion’s Double Jade, Yan, and Jie, eagerly awaited in my dreams, never to be underestimated” were enough to give anyone goosebumps.
Despite the flattery, it did hit the mark with many young ladies in the capital. Jiang Yan’s approach towards Jiang Xuanjin had the young ladies who came to the banquet blushing, especially Bai Xuanji, who stood prominently at the front of the main hall entrance. Her eyes shimmered with delight.
Earlier, she had exchanged pleasantries with the elders of the Jiang family and was now standing beside Jiang’s family members, with a demeanor that suggested she was almost a hostess herself.
As Jiang Yan approached, Bai Xuanji stood even more gracefully, her eyes glancing elsewhere but still hoping for a glance from him.
However, Jiang Yan was focused on his greeting, his gaze fixed on his younger uncle, without even a glance elsewhere.
“The timing is just right,” Jiang Chong reached out, handing Jiang Xuanjin a jade crown paired with a woven brocade headband. “Once this ritual is done, I’ll go invite Father to commence the banquet.”
Jiang Xuanjin nodded, taking the items and walking over to Jiang Yan.
The hair-binding ceremony was a tradition for men in their eighteenth year in Northern Wei. The highest-ranked uncle or elder in the family would tie up the young man’s hair, symbolizing his transition from childhood to adulthood, ready to take on responsibilities.
Among the uncles of the Jiang family of this generation, Jiang Xuanjin held the highest status. Li Huaiyu stretched her neck to watch as he helped Jiang Yan tie up his hair and don the jade crown, suddenly reminded of her coming-of-age ceremony.
When the late emperor passed away, she was only twelve years old. At fifteen, the only uncle left in the imperial family died at her hands. Thus, it was Jiang Xuanjin who conducted her coming-of-age ceremony.
Back then, Jiang Xuanjin was very serious, despite his young age, his face was as stern as an elder statesman in the court. Holding the jade hairpin to tie her hair, his grip was heavy-handed and she winced in pain.
But now, looking at him, it seemed he knew how to handle the ceremony with gentleness and gravity.
Rolling her eyes, Li Huaiyu sighed inwardly, thinking this person simply had no regard for her.
The hair-binding ceremony was soon completed, and the patriarch Jiang came out to host the banquet, and the guests took their seats.
Ba Dezhong ng led Bai Xuanji directly to the top three seats.
“Is this Miss Bai?” Patriarch Jiang looked at Bai Xuanji with a benevolent smile. “All grown up now.”
Bai Xuanji performed her greetings with proper etiquette. “Greetings, Patriarch Jiang.”
“Very well, please take your seat,” the patriarch said. “After lunch, I’ll have Yan accompany you for a walk in the garden.”
Feeling elated, Bai Xuanji quickly replied, “Yes.”
That settled it. If even Patriarch Jiang nodded, then her marriage was surely going to happen. Bai Xuanji lowered her head with dignified composure, suppressing her smile, but her hand holding the handkerchief trembled uncontrollably.
After all these years of anticipation, her marriage was finally settled upon her!
Jiang Xuanjin quietly picked up his food, not particularly invested in the conversation. However, between setting down his chopsticks, he glanced in the direction of Miss Bai.
Li Huaiyu sat with Lu Jing in the middle of the courtyard, unable to resist the temptation of the delicious dishes laid out on the table. Unused to such luxuries in the Bai residence, she skillfully maneuvered her chopsticks between the dishes.
Lu Jing, somewhat resigned, held up his jade fan to shield her from embarrassment. He couldn’t help but comment, “You didn’t use to enjoy meat this much before.”
“If you had to eat plain porridge and vegetables for a few days, you’d love meat as much as I do,” Huaiyu retorted with a sniff. “The life of a concubine in the Bai residence is unbearable!”
Sympathetically, Lu Jing picked up some meat for her with his chopsticks.
With a detached gaze, Jiang Xuanjin thought to himself that the relationship between these two was quite extraordinary as if they had known each other for many years. If Bai Xuanji’s marriage to Jiang Yan fell through, she might just marry into the Lu family with a turn of her head.
He couldn’t afford to overlook her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Er Gongzi, Jiang Shen, was happily indulging in his meal when he suddenly felt a chill beside him.
“Third brother?” he asked, puzzled. “Why do you seem upset again?”
Jiang Xuanjin continued to pick up his food with his chopsticks. “I’m not.”
With a calm demeanor and steady gaze, he hardly looked like someone upset.
Jiang Shen examined him seriously. “Ever since you finished dealing with the Princess’s funeral, you’ve been acting strange. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Right, eldest brother?”
Jiang Chong, mentioned by name, glanced at Jiang Xuanjin and nodded. “There’s something to it.”
“See? Come clean,” Jiang Shen set down his chopsticks with a smile. “Is it because Yan is about to get married, and you still don’t have anyone by your side, so you’re feeling anxious?”
His face darkened, and Jiang Xuanjin replied in a deep voice, “I have no intention of getting married.”
“Nonsense!” Patriarch Jiang’s eyes narrowed. “Earlier, you said you had no interest in settling down until the important matters were resolved. Now that everything is settled, are you thinking of extinguishing one of the few incense sticks I’ve managed to keep burning?”
Jiang Xuanjin remained silent.
Patriarch Jiang grew slightly irritated. “You’ve never caused me any worries since you were young. Can’t you just commit to something for once? Do you want me to worry about your marriage too?”
“Father, please calm down,” Jiang Chong intervened. “To be honest, there are few women in the capital who are truly worthy of Third Brother. If he hasn’t found a suitable match, we can’t force one upon him.”
“Even forcing a match is better than extinguishing the family line!”
Seeing the patriarch getting angry, Jiang Shen quickly reassured him, “Please don’t worry. A few days ago, I went to the temple fair and had a fortune teller read Third Brother’s fortune. They said his Red Phoenix Star is in motion, indicating that good things are coming soon.”
Upon hearing this, the patriarch’s mood lightened slightly. “Is that so?”
“As true as gold,” Jiang Shen chuckled. “You can rest assured. Third Brother has always been decisive. Let him decide his marriage.”
In other families, children would typically obey their parents’ orders and follow the matchmakers’ arrangements. But Jiang Xuanjin had been obedient and capable since childhood, excelling in everything he did. Later, he was even bestowed the title of Lord Ziyang, bringing glory to the family.
The patriarch didn’t want to demand too much from him. He even felt a bit sorry, thinking that as long as Jiang Xuanjin was willing to marry, he would spare no expense, even if he married a beggar from the street!