Chapter 415 - 218: Seeing Nie Yuanliu Again and the Twin Lotus Plot

Chapter 415: Chapter 218: Seeing Nie Yuanliu Again and the Twin Lotus Plot

Nie Lingxi pursed her soft lips, a thoughtful look flickering in her eyes.

She naturally trusted her aunt’s judgment.

Her aunt’s words sparked a genuine curiosity about Chen Sheng, a man she had never met.

’For her notoriously discerning aunt to call someone "quite good," he must have some extraordinary qualities.’

In truth, the sisters had already reviewed the clan’s dossiers and evaluations on Chen Sheng, Wei Jing, and the other two candidates. But the descriptions were too general and formal, revealing little of their true character.

Naturally, they wouldn’t place their full trust in such cold assessments.

After all, their entire lives were at stake.

Marriage alliances, in Noble Families with a thousand-year lineage like the Nie Family, were never a trivial matter.

Once an engagement was set, it signified an almost unchangeable destiny and a lifelong responsibility.

Since they were powerless to resist this predetermined path, their most realistic course of action was to choose the best possible future partner from the limited options—someone more to their liking, with whom they could perhaps find mutual understanding.

At her side, however, Nie Lingshan was not convinced. Her beautiful eyes widened as she looked reproachfully at Nie Xiangjun.

"Aunt, you’re being so biased! How is that Chen Sheng more suitable for Lingxi? Am I, Nie Lingshan, not good enough for him? And weren’t you supposed to be evaluating them for both of us?

Why is everything you say about Lingxi’s future? What about me? Where’s my perfect match?"

Nie Xiangjun was all too familiar with Nie Lingshan’s childish theatrics.

The twin sisters had been like this since they were children, wanting the exact same things and competing over everything.

Sometimes, what was best for one wasn’t what she liked most. But if the other sister got to it first, it would instantly become the most desirable thing in the world, something to be fought for at all costs.

Even now that they were older and had each grown a little more mature, this nature, etched into their very bones, had never truly changed.

"What’s the rush? I’m just analyzing the situation and offering you both some advice, aren’t I?"

Nie Xiangjun rubbed her temples in exasperation.

"In that case, Aunt, who among the other three do you think would be a better fit for my sister?"

Nie Lingxi quickly snapped back to the present and deftly changed the subject. She brought up Wei Jing, Qi Heng, and Ouyang Ke by name, but made no further mention of Chen Sheng.

’Since Aunt said he might be a good match for me, I should find a chance to meet him and see for myself.’

’If I don’t feel any aversion to him after we meet, and he’s also interested, then the foundation for this marriage alliance can probably be set.’

"The other three each have their own merits, it’s true."

Nie Xiangjun’s expression grew more serious.

"Wei Jing is from a distinguished family, and both his aptitude and temperament are top-tier. From what I know, he seems to have taken a liking to you, Lingshan. As for Ouyang Ke... the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s power has been on the rise in recent years, to the point where they are poised to dominate the entire Nanzhao region. If he could be brought to fully ally with our Nie Family, the benefits would be enormous. The family elders might lean toward him for that reason.

"As for Qi Heng..."

She paused to think for a moment, then shook her head.

"He is meticulous and calculating, and he prioritizes personal gain above all else. Therefore, I suggest you focus your consideration on Wei Jing and Ouyang Ke."

"I won’t choose either of them!"

Upon hearing this, Nie Lingshan’s delicate brows knitted together, her face a mask of reluctance.

"That Wei Jing is unbearably arrogant—I can’t stand him. And Ouyang Ke... I may not have met him, but the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect deals with snakes, insects, and poisons all day. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl!

In short, I don’t like either of them, and I won’t marry them!"

"So... you want to choose Qi Heng?"

Nie Xiangjun asked tentatively.

’If Lingshan really was set on him, she couldn’t very well stop her, despite her own misgivings.’

"Didn’t you just say yourself, Aunt, that his motives for the marriage are impure and that he just wants to use the Nie Family’s influence? Of course I don’t like him either!"

Nie Lingshan blurted out without a second thought.

"You find all three of them unsuitable. So who, exactly, do you want to choose?"

Nie Xiangjun’s brow furrowed slightly; she already had an inkling of the answer.

"I... I don’t know."

Nie Lingshan lowered her gaze, her voice dropping, tinged with a sulky, aggrieved tone.

"What do you think, Aunt?"

"You’re just trying to say that you want to choose Chen Sheng too, aren’t you?"

Nie Lingxi, watching from the side, saw right through her. She couldn’t help but give her sister a slight eye-roll as she cut to the heart of the matter.

Nie Lingshan kept her head down and her lips pressed together. She didn’t admit it, but she didn’t deny it either.

Her silence was as good as a confession.

Nie Xiangjun felt a headache coming on.

"Lingshan, it’s not that I’m playing favorites. It’s just that from my perspective, Chen Sheng’s disposition would be a more complementary match for Lingxi’s quiet, reserved nature. You’re so lively and spirited, and with him..."

"I don’t care!"

Nie Lingshan suddenly looked up, the rims of her eyes slightly red. Without waiting for Nie Xiangjun to finish, she abruptly spun around and ran out of the courtyard without another word.

"Lingshan!"

Nie Xiangjun called out, but all she saw was a flash of a blue figure disappearing swiftly through the moon gate.

She could only sigh helplessly, massaging her brow before turning to the ever-composed Nie Lingxi beside her.

"Lingxi, you..."

"Since you said he might be suitable for me, Aunt."

Nie Lingxi’s voice was gentle, yet it carried an unshakeable resolve.

"Then I... want to see him for myself."

"But what about Lingshan...?"

Nie Xiangjun felt the situation becoming increasingly thorny. She couldn’t help but regret praising Chen Sheng so highly, as it had only stoked Lingshan’s rebellious and competitive spirit.

"I’ll go talk to her."

Nie Lingxi gave a faint smile, stood up, and walked in the direction her sister had gone.

"Sigh... I suppose that’s the only way."

Nie Xiangjun watched her niece’s graceful back, shook her head, then tilted her head back and took another gulp of Spirit Wine.

...

A faint, sweet fragrance permeated the air of the exquisite boudoir.