The mistress was reborn and broke off the engagement, the regent cried and begged to marry into the

There are precious medicinal materials, gold, silver and jewelry.

Li Sirong scoffed at such behavior, but accepted all the items.

at the same time.

A handsome and well-mannered man visited the Xiao residence. It was Nie Huaiqing.

Xiao Feng and Haoqi meet him. Although they are engaged, they are very unfamiliar with each other.

Shangguanfu.

Shangguan Haitong paused while drinking tea: "He wants to cancel the engagement?"

Xiao Fenghe nodded gently: "My father saved his father back then, and out of gratitude, we have this engagement. He said that he would repay the life-saving grace with his own life, not with his own body. He also said that we have never been together and do not understand each other at all. We should not obey our parents' orders and get married blindly."

Something like Huaiqing would say.

Shangguan Haitong always felt it was strange because she had never heard that her best friend had an engagement with Miss Xiao in her previous life.

It turned out that they retired just after arriving in Beijing, and then each got married. Shangguan Haitong put down the teacup and asked: "What do you think?"

Xiao Fenghe pondered for a moment: "From what I have seen so far, he is handsome and talented. If he passes the imperial examination, he will be a man of many dreams. I know that if I don't want to cancel the engagement, he will abide by the agreement and marry me. But I don't want to do that."

"I don't know if Miss Shangguan can understand. In the past, I only thought about what kind of husband I would marry in the future and how to live a good life with my husband and children. After the forced marriage, I am a little reluctant to get married. It's not that he is bad, it's my problem."

Understood.

Shangguan Haitong asked Huanshuang to bring the storybook: "Perhaps after you read this, you will have a clearer idea in your mind."

Xiao Fenghe took the book hesitantly.

Because her father is strict, she seldom reads books of this kind.

What your mother taught you is to be well-mannered and to read the right books. You should not be tempted by unconventional ways to do things that would damage the family's reputation.

Shangguan Haitong smiled and said, "Some things can only be understood but not expressed in words. You will know after you read it."

Xiao Fenghe accepted the book and stood up to say goodbye: "Thank you Miss Shangguan, I should leave now."

"I'll take you there." Shangguan Haitong walked the person to the door.

Watching the carriage go away, Huan Shuang sighed: "It sounded like Miss Xiao and that guy were a good match, but I never thought..."

Shangguan Haitong smiled nostalgically: "Go check where Huaiqing is staying."

It’s been a long time since we last met. Are you still as good as ever, my friend?

Huan Shuang was stunned for a moment, then responded. When did the girl know Miss Xiao's fiancé?

Inn.

Nie Huaiqing was reading quietly.

Shi Jifeng came with two friends to visit: "Brother Huaiqing, how are you?"

Nie Huaiqing stood up to greet him: "Brother Jifeng, please sit down. The tea is simple, please forgive me."

Everyone took their seats.

Shi Jifeng was quite helpless: "Huaiqing has arrived, why didn't you tell me? I was thinking of welcoming you back."

"Yes. Brother Jifeng has been waiting for you day and night, and finally got you here. What's the matter with you staying in the inn all day?"

"If I hadn't seen you accidentally, I wouldn't have known you were here."

Nie Huaiqing smiled and said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I like quietness and am not good at dealing with lively occasions."

Shi Jifeng didn't want to force it: "Today I plan to discuss articles with the teacher, would Huaiqing like to go with me?"

"This, isn't good." After walking together for a while, Nie Huaiqing knew who the teacher Brother Jifeng was talking about.

Minister of Works, Lord Shangguan Wei.

Shi Jifeng invited him warmly: "Teacher has heard of Brother Huaiqing for a long time and has always wanted to meet him. You must not refuse."

Nie Huaiqing nodded: "Okay then."

They drank tea and chatted, then set off for Shangguan Mansion.

Shangguanfu.

Shangguan Haitong learned that her good friend was coming and went to greet him.

At this time, her uncle and cousin had not yet left the court, so it made sense for her to be responsible for receiving the guests.

garden.

Several young men recited poems while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Shangguan Haitong saw from afar that the familiar figure was particularly outstanding.

It's not about being cool or standing out from the crowd, but about having a kind of charm that attracts everyone's attention at first glance.

They were already quite old when they met in their previous life. This was the first time she had seen him look so young.

Aside from the calmness he displayed after working in official circles, his friend at this moment was immature and sharp.

Shangguan Haitong's gaze was so fiery that several young masters turned their heads away.

Shi Jifeng was a little nervous.

The two young masters were curious and confused.

Nie Huaiqing was stunned. Who was this woman? Why did he feel such an inexplicable sense of nostalgia and intimacy?

Shangguan Haitong approached with a smile and bowed: "Haitong greets the gentlemen. Please come to the hall to chat."

"Okay, let's go." The two young masters went ahead.

Shi Jifeng wanted to say something but stopped himself, then turned around and followed.

Only Nie Huaiqing stood still: "Miss, have we met before?"

Before he had gone far, Jifeng stopped and looked back. He seemed to have had the same feeling before.

"Maybe I've seen him in my previous life." Shangguan Haitong smiled.

In her previous life, she had met countless people, but Huaiqing was her best friend. They shared the same views on most things.

But since her cousin became the empress dowager, she became the person in charge of the Yong'an Marquisate.

There is always an indelible sorrow between Huaiqing's brows, and every time we meet, he seems to be hesitant to speak.

He refused to speak even when asked. That moment was the most distant moment since they met.

Later, Huaiqing resigned from his post without warning and retired to the mountains. She went to see him off, but he was unwilling to see her across the carriage.

She has never been able to figure it out, and she still doesn't understand it now. What is Huai Qing thinking about?

Nie Huaiqing smiled: "The talk of past lives is illusory, but the feeling is real. We must have known each other in our past lives."

Shangguan Haitong joked: "Maybe we not only know each other, but we are also close friends. But we just become strangers in the end."

Hearing this, Nie Huaiqing was slightly surprised. He carefully looked at the woman in front of him, and in an instant he seemed to understand something.

The two people seemed to have a common secret, and Shi Jifeng unconsciously clenched his hands.

Nie Huaiqing wanted to verify: "Brother Jifeng, please go over first. I have something to say to this girl."

Shangguan Haitong turned around and ordered, "Huan Shuang, take Master Shi to the main hall. Treat him well and don't neglect him."

"Yes. Mr. Shi, please come in." Huanshuang stepped forward to lead the way.

Shi Jifeng had to leave.

The two young masters who were waiting in the distance left together.

There were only two people left in the garden.

Nie Huaiqing got straight to the point: "Miss, can you please tell me why you are strangers?"

Shangguan Haitong shook her head: "I want to know the answer more than you do. A pair of close friends, after going through hardships, finally live a good life. For what reason, they used to talk about everything but now frown and treat each other coldly. Even before leaving, they don't want to see each other again."

The questions that I didn’t understand in the previous life, I ask in this life.

She knew that she might not get the answer, because the Huai Qing of today was not the Huai Qing of the future.

"Maybe it's because of different ideals. The girl wants to be rich and prosperous and live in peace. Huaiqing wants to contribute to future generations." Nie Huaiqing smiled confidently. He was confident that he could accomplish that seemingly impossible goal with his talent.

The merits will last for generations...

Huaiqing in his previous life had already done this. Huaiqing's achievements will surely go down in history.

Even so, his face was still full of sorrow.

Unless Huaiqing's true ideal has not been achieved...

Suddenly, Shangguan Haitong was inspired and said in disbelief: "You, you are..."