Chapter 4653 — Seeking a Son-in-Law
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Wei Zhao rubbed his head in some puzzlement. What did she mean by "have that kind of strength"? And for some inexplicable reason, he kept feeling that Ning Xuefei's gaze had been a little odd. What were those two, mother and daughter, trying to convey?
Ning Shanghe and Ning Xuefei departed, but Shangguan Lan'er and Han Jingyi stayed behind. Rather than trailing after Ning Shanghe to offer toasts from table to table, they preferred to remain at Wei Zhao's side—it was far more comfortable that way.
"Do you two get the feeling that Feifei's expression was a bit strange?" Wei Zhao could not help asking. Shangguan Lan'er and Han Jingyi had been with Ning Xuefei all along, so they ought to know a thing or two.
"Strange? Not at all!" The two answered in perfect unison. Then, after a brief pause, Han Jingyi said thoughtfully, "Though now that you mention it, I do think Feifei has something weighing on her mind. She just won't tell us..."
"She's always been like that. On the surface she seems carefree, but when something is truly bothering her, she carries it all on her own shoulders and never takes the initiative to confide in us. I'm quite used to it by now." Shangguan Lan'er shook her head helplessly.
Carefree? Wei Zhao could not help glancing at Shangguan Lan'er. That description seemed rather better suited to her, didn't it? Though Ning Xuefei's rank and standing were not vastly different from hers, the circumstances the two found themselves in were in truth entirely distinct.
Shangguan Lan'er was the precious pearl in Shangguan Tianxia's palm, cherished and protected in every way. She had never known any pressure since childhood, had never once spoken of succeeding to the Chongtian Pavilion—and besides, being a woman, it would be very difficult to achieve such a thing on North Island anyway. That was why she could remain so utterly without care.
But Ning Xuefei was different. Though her temperament was not far removed from Shangguan Lan'er's, she was the future heir to West Island. To claim she bore no pressure would be pure self-deception. However lenient Ning Shanghe might be with her, she would never relax her comprehensive training of the girl. A princess of West Island raised in such an environment had to be, at her core, an exceedingly resolute being—otherwise how could she one day bear the whole of West Island upon her shoulders?
After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere had settled fully into its proper course. The various masters, who had been somewhat reserved at first, now moved among one another with noticeably greater frequency. Ning Xuefei's birthday banquet was merely the occasion; the real reason these great personages had traveled ten thousand li to West Island was to cultivate connections.
And in a setting such as this, they had the chance not only to foster good relations with West Island, but even more to make contact with other great figures of the Cloud-Tier Islands! Under ordinary circumstances, so many eminent personages would never gather in one place—and in particular, one could never hope to encounter a top elder of the spirit beast clan.
As cups crossed and toasts flew, and the mood was at its warmest, Ning Shanghe, who had returned to the seat of honor, suddenly rose to her feet once more. The crowd fell silent of its own accord in an instant—out of courtesy to their host, yes, but even more out of awe for this mistress of West Island. Even Qinglong, that unruly spirit beast elder whose strength defied the heavens, now looked at Ning Shanghe with great tact, waiting for her to speak.