Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 162: Exchange

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Exchange

Fengyu saw Xie Xun smile and felt a bit baffled. What was he smiling about?

Marquis Zhenbei was shocked. He originally thought Xie Xun was deliberately provoking him, but he hadn’t expected the Third Miss to genuinely want to seek a husband. Marquis Zhenbei, having weathered countless storms, maintained a calm expression, though he inwardly cursed Xie Xun multiple times.

"Seeking a husband is a good idea," Marquis Zhenbei said with a smile. "Get someone obedient and well-behaved."

Fengyu nodded earnestly, "Ayu thinks so as well."

Marquis Zhenbei laughed heartily. "Changqing, your daughter has character. This marquis likes her!"

Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao, though they hadn’t considered Ayu would seek a husband, had no objections to the idea—especially Su Yuejiao, who even thought it excellent. If her daughter stayed by her side instead of marrying into another family, she wouldn’t have to worry about her facing grievances from in-laws.

Feng Shu, on the other hand, felt somewhat helpless. Ayu was resolute by nature; once she’d made up her mind, it was difficult to turn her back. It seemed she and the young marquis were fated to have no chance together. Xie Xun’s smile faded slightly, his gaze fixed on Fengyu’s face all along.

The elders were discussing marriage arrangements, needing to deliberate on the details. Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao were very fond of Xie Zhang, having cared for him greatly during his time at the border. Regarding the wedding arrangements, they followed the lead of the Marquis Mansion, with the Feng Family simply cooperating. Both families wanted to host a grand celebration that was elegant without being overly ostentatious, to avoid inciting envy or alarm. Balancing the scale was essential.

The marquis, however, couldn’t care less. For his eldest son’s marriage, he was determined it should be as grand as possible, the more extravagant the better. He didn’t give a fig about the royal family’s concerns.

The royal family’s unease about the Marquis Mansion wouldn’t change over one more event.

While the elders discussed marriage affairs, Fengyu found it dull. She was sincerely happy for Feng Shu, believing her match with Xie Zhang was one of mutual affection and destined happiness. It was unquestionably a joyous occasion.

Yet she relied on Feng Shu too much; thus, her mood was inevitably dampened. Her elder sister was about to get married, meaning they couldn’t be together all the time. Once she became the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marquis Mansion, Fengyu wouldn’t be able to see her sister every day.

Overjoyed yet irritable, Qiuxiang and Chunlu only dared to follow from afar.

When she walked to the riverside, she saw Xie Xun. He was tall, dressed today in a moon-white robe, with a jade belt at the waist, adorned with a jade pendant and sachet. His figure upright and handsome, he exuded an indescribable air of noble charm.

"Why are you wandering out here?" Fengyu stood on the arch bridge, her expression languid. Seeing him made her simultaneously happy and sad. She had already publicly severed his delusions—why was he still coming to find her?

"Come here!" The young marquis, standing by the willows, beckoned her with a crooked finger.

The spring breeze wafted gently, and though the Third Miss knew boundaries should not be crossed, she followed, as if bewitched. Xie Xun noticed her low spirits and asked, "Didn’t sleep well?"

Fengyu curiously asked, "Xie Zhang has come to discuss wedding matters—why have you come?"

"To see you," Xie Xun replied, gazing at her intently. Having declared his feelings, he made no effort to conceal his fondness.

Fengyu’s ears turned slightly red. She wasn’t used to his candor, yet her heart raced uncontrollably. Xie Xun mused silently that the Third Miss wasn’t entirely indifferent.

As a maiden of the inner chambers, Fengyu rarely went out. If he wanted to see her, he had to come to the Feng Mansion. Since she had rejected him, she wouldn’t visit the Marquis Mansion either. She wasn’t one for lively gatherings, so even during spring banquets, she was unlikely to attend. Xie Xun had few legitimate chances to see her.

Meeting his profoundly focused gaze, Fengyu didn’t want to utter words that went against her heart. Xie Xun stated, "I visited you for an important reason."

"What reason?"

"Has your injury healed?"

Fengyu nodded. Her internal wounds had mostly recovered. Xie Xun said, "That’s good. Starting every day after 3 a.m., have Qiuxiang break the Soul Suppressing Pearl."

Fengyu watched him warily. "What are you planning?"

"Grandpa Zhang said your qi and blood are depleted. You need warming and nourishment, supplemented by fitness training to strengthen your body. Since you dislike exercise, I’ll help. Every day at 3 a.m., practice swordsmanship, archery, and train your body."

"Are you crazy?" Fengyu gaped at him, feeling he had just made an absurd statement. "You hate losing control more than anything—why would you be willing?"

"Would you wake at 3 a.m. every day to train, then?"

"Don’t even think about it!"

"Then I will." Xie Xun was firm. "You said you wouldn’t live past eighteen, so you wouldn’t marry me. In that case, I’ll work hard to make sure you live past eighteen."

"How long would you train every day?"

"Two hours—enough time before heading to the Kyoto Capital Guard Office."

"Have you considered that if I woke at 3 a.m. every day to train, my father, mother, and sister would think I was possessed?"

"Don’t worry; I’ll come up with a good excuse."

"No excuse will convince them!"

"I’m not discussing this with you." The young marquis had long been annoyed with the Third Miss’s lazy habits. Feng Shu pampered her, allowing her to sleep until late morning—a degree of indulgence rarely seen among aristocratic daughters in Capital City.

Fengyu: "..."

From afar, Qiuxiang and Chunlu watched the Third Miss and the young marquis argue over something by the riverside. The usually calm young marquis seemed uncharacteristically excited, with a mischievous smile, saying something that left their lady fuming. She turned and walked away angrily, only to turn back after a few steps, seeming to leave behind some sharp words. Xie Xun laughed heartily.

Infuriated, Fengyu lifted her leg and kicked him. The young marquis took her kick lightly and declared decisively, "It’s settled. If you don’t remove the Soul Suppressing Pearl, you’ll deal with the consequences yourself."

Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince’s shadow guard emerged from the darkness, handing him a note. After reading it, the Crown Prince’s face showed momentary gloom, which quickly dissipated.

"June 6th..." He chuckled softly. "Indeed, a fine day for a wedding."

The mansion bustled with preparations for two weddings, brimming with festive joy. Fengyu, however, couldn’t care less. The young marquis’s threats lingered in her ears, leaving her no choice but to comply. Every day, Qiuxiang removed Fengyu’s coral bracelet after 3 a.m.

Xie Xun, possessing Fengyu’s body, felt a heavy burden. Resting at 9 p.m. and waking at 3 a.m., her spirit and body grew weary. Despite his exceptional self-discipline, after washing his face with cold water, he performed a set of swordsmanship routines in the courtyard. Fengyu’s frail body lacked stamina; within the time it took to burn half a stick of incense, Xie Xun was already panting heavily.

Abandoning plans for archery or swordsmanship practice, he resorted to the most basic physical exercise: horse stance, punching drills, and jogging around the courtyard. After an hour, he was exhausted, dizzy, and nearly collapsed. Realizing haste wouldn’t help, he adjusted to running intervals around the courtyard.

Running ten steps, panting ten, relentlessly struggling!

"Useless!" Xie Xun scolded himself between pants, remembering his days leading soldiers in overnight raids, yet he’d never been this tired.

Qiuxiang and Chunlu drowsed on the stairs; the young marquis’s relentless efforts were too much for them.

One exercise session left Fengyu’s legs trembling and aching terribly. She wasn’t accustomed to physical activity; her pampered body, used to riding in carriages, couldn’t handle such exertion. In agony, she lay in bed the entire day, cursing Xie Xun, yet utterly powerless.

"I’ll kill Xie Xun!!"

Qiuxiang and Chunlu massaged her sore thighs and hips. Due to Xie Xun’s horse stance practice, her leg and hip muscles ached unbearably.

Qiuxiang pitied her lady, "Miss, shall we continue tomorrow at 3 a.m.?"

Despite the pain, Fengyu figured Xie Xun must be suffering as well. "Continue!"

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