The Xie clan of Dongyang—the Crown Princess’s cousin, Third Young Master Xie.

Unlike the Yang and Zhao clans who were illustrious, imposing, and ostentatious, the capital rarely spoke of how the Xie clan was. However, this cousin of the Crown Princess had a great reputation.

Outstanding in learning, handsome in appearance, and most importantly, upright in conduct.

The Xie clan was a great family in Dongyang, so naturally they couldn’t avoid some arrogant behavior. Third Young Master Xie’s father was the clan head, and from a young age he had managed affairs on his father’s behalf, never showing mercy to clan members who used their position to bully others.

Because of his restraint, the Xie clan’s prestige in Dongyang grew heavier. Not only did they not exploit the Crown Princess’s position, they actually added to her good name.

After exchanging a few words with the attendant, Third Young Master Xie lowered the carriage curtain. The attendants bowed, took their leave, and went ahead first. Only after they had left did Third Young Master Xie’s carriage slowly proceed.

The common people before the city gate recovered their breath, their expressions shocked yet admiring.

“So it was the young master of the Xie family,” the people murmured. Thinking of what had happened earlier, they clapped their hands with an “Aya!” “Just now he really could have played the hero and severely taught those arrogant servants a lesson.”

Those servants were arrogant, and Young Master Xie’s servants were equally qualified to be arrogant.

Throughout history, those who could truly play the hero still needed confidence backing them up.

The person beside shook his head: “But that’s not how Third Young Master Xie acts. He’s modest and gentle—he would never do such a thing.”

True—if he really wanted to be arrogant, he wouldn’t have entered the capital with just one carriage and one servant. Look at that earlier group—just some young ladies going out of the city to play, yet they put on such a display.

The common people looked ahead. Third Young Master Xie’s carriage and horse merged silently into the bustling marketplace and disappeared from view.

Third Young Master Xie’s carriage didn’t go to the Eastern Palace. Although he was a cousin, he was still a subject and couldn’t enter and leave the Eastern Palace at will.

The Xie clan’s residence in the capital was also in a remote location. The gate was quite inconspicuous, with only two old servants to greet him. When the carriage drove in, seven or eight young people were already standing in the courtyard. Seeing Third Young Master Xie get out of the carriage, they all rushed forward, some calling him Third Brother, some Third Younger Brother, some Uncle, and so on.

A plump man wearing brocade robes that stretched so tightly the patterns on the fabric seemed about to burst pushed aside the others and stood beside Third Young Master Xie: “Third Uncle, why didn’t you let us know earlier so we could come meet you—”

Third Young Master Xie reached out and drew his finger across his forehead, looked at the powder on his finger, and said, “Is this the capital’s fashion? A’Xiao, you learn quite fast.”

The plump nephew Xie Xiao looked embarrassed, rubbed his face vigorously with his sleeve, and muttered, “How come it didn’t wash off clean? These useless little hussies.”

Third Young Master Xie didn’t pursue it further, wiped his finger on his shoulder, and walked forward at a leisurely pace.

“Third Uncle, Third Uncle,” Xie Xiao followed up. “The Crown Princess has asked several times—when will you go see her?”

“Third Brother,” someone else asked, “Minister Liang also wrote a letter wanting to see you. We intercepted it.”

Others also held out name cards—many families wanting to see Third Young Master Xie.

Third Young Master Xie’s steps didn’t stop, nor did he accept the name cards: “Who told you all to tell others I was coming to the capital?”

Xie Xiao chuckled: “Third Uncle, we didn’t tell others. As soon as you left Dongyang, the news spread. Everyone is watching. We’ve been very low-key in the capital—we hardly go out or socialize.”

Third Young Master Xie had already walked to the inner courtyard. Compared to the simple and narrow main gate, the inner courtyard opened up expansively. Buildings connected in rows, and pavilions and towers sat among them. In the spring, green shade and red flowers abounded, with beautiful maidservants in groups.

Third Young Master Xie glanced at the young people beside him.

The young people grinned at him.

Third Young Master Xie said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the name cards in their hands without lingering.

“Where is Yanlai?” he asked. “Have him come see me.”

With that, he stepped inside.

“Third Uncle,” Xie Xiao lifted his foot to follow. “About the Crown Princess, when—”

The others also held up their name cards to follow, but Du Qi stepped over, holding his long sword and blocking the doorway: “The Young Master needs to rest.”

Xie Xiao and the others immediately stopped, not daring to go forward. They craned their necks to look inside, but in the end could only shout loudly, “Third Uncle, rest well!”

The group walked out reluctantly, looking at the name cards in their hands.

“What’s going on with Third Young Master?” one person muttered. “So many important people wanting to see him, but first he wants to see Yanlai.”

“Exactly,” another person said with displeasure on his face. This displeasure was naturally not directed at Third Young Master, but at A’Jiu. “That little bastard didn’t even take the initiative to come see Third Brother.”

Another person looked at Xie Xiao and teased, “You should go invite your Ninth Uncle.”

The flesh on Xie Xiao’s face jumped: “He’s worth nothing! If it weren’t for Third Brother being kindhearted, that bastard—”

Someone nearby coughed: “Enough. After all, he also calls Third Brother ‘Brother.’ Calling him bastard this and bastard that—you’re cursing Third Brother too.”

Xie Xiao gritted his teeth and swallowed his words back, fiercely flicking his sleeve: “I’ll go find him and ask if, after being taught a lesson, he knows what’s good for him yet.”

……

……

The wind outside the Capital Garrison no longer carried the cold, nor was it like the wind on the road and in the border commanderies that cut painfully into one’s face.

But Zhang Gu and the others who had finished handing over their duties still wrapped their heads and faces with scarves. Only after walking out of the military camp did they howl as they unwrapped them, tossed them up, and flung them into the air.

“A’Jiu,” Zhang Gu looked back at A’Jiu, who still had his head and face wrapped. “This is our custom.”

Our custom—A’Jiu hated hearing the word “custom” most, but at this moment he felt no aversion at all. Smiling, he reached up to unwrap it, threw it, and it flew high into the air.

“I’m going to see my mother first.”

“My wife is sure to love this fur coat I bought her.”

The courier soldiers spoke one after another of their expectations for returning home. The usually noisy A’Jiu was silent.

“A’Jiu,” a courier soldier called out. “What are you going to do later?”

Before A’Jiu could answer, another courier soldier winked and said, “Miss Chu arrived in the capital long ago. Isn’t A’Jiu going to pay her a visit?”

The previously quiet A’Jiu’s phoenix eyes immediately flashed: “See her for what? I don’t even know who she is!”

The courier soldiers all laughed heartily.

Zhang Gu also laughed along, then said, “Right, we don’t know any Miss Chu. We only know A’Fu.”

A’Fu had already vanished into thin air. Miss Chu was not someone they could tease, joke about, or discuss.

The courier soldiers all understood and stopped joking about this.

A’Jiu snorted: “So what if we talk? She did what she did—can’t others talk about it?”

Zhang Gu glared at him: “Your temper hasn’t improved one bit. Today you’re coming home with me, and letting my mother give you a good scolding.”

This was kindness—knowing he had no home to return to, he deliberately brought him home. A’Jiu understood this too. Just as he was about to say something, a guard from the military camp called out loudly, “A’Jiu, A’Jiu, Captain Zhu is looking for you.”

This was the leader of the courier soldiers’ camp. Normally, these low-ranking soldiers rarely got to see him. Hearing him call for A’Jiu, everyone’s faces showed some sympathy.

Captain Zhu’s attitude toward A’Jiu was very respectful. At first, this had startled everyone, but every time he summoned A’Jiu, nothing good came of it.

This was arranged by A’Jiu’s family relatives. No matter how respectful Captain Zhu was, there was nothing he could do about it.

Just back and already being summoned again—who knew what troublesome assignment it would be this time.

What on earth had this kid done to incur such wrath? Was it just for not being obedient?

A’Jiu’s expression was calm. He jumped off his horse and started walking. Zhang Gu grabbed his arm and urged him: “Bow your head, admit your mistake, stop being stubborn. What’s the point of suffering like this!”

A’Jiu smiled, didn’t respond, waved his hand, and walked away with long strides, swaying as he went.