After people dispersed, the water pavilion emptied, leaving only Xie Zhifei unmoved, staring thoughtfully at the table of cold dishes.
Footsteps approached.
He looked up: “Why has Elder Sister-in-law come?”
“I wanted to congratulate Third Brother—you and Miss Yan have cleared the clouds to see the blue sky.”
Zhu Weixi smiled as she approached: “From Old Ancestor’s meaning, the matter is pretty much settled.”
“I think not necessarily!”
A voice interjected from behind.
Zhu Weixi’s expression changed slightly. She turned and smiled: “Eldest Master has come. How is Madam?”
“She’s rested.”
Xie Erli stepped forward, his gaze pausing for a moment on his wife’s profile, revealing a trace of tenderness.
After the Zhu family’s heart demon was resolved, the relationship between the two had become more subtle than before.
He could tell she had been secretly exerting effort, wanting to push their relationship forward a step.
Zhu Weixi, seeing the man’s gaze fall on her, quickly tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
Her profile in the lamplight became even softer. Xie Erli struggled to shift his gaze away.
“Old Third’s marriage—Madam’s words don’t count, Old Ancestor’s words don’t count either. Father’s word is final.”
The saying goes ‘no one knows a son better than his father,’ but the reverse is also true—no one knows a father better than his son.
Second Brother had one thing right today—Old Third’s status was different now from before. He already stood openly at the Crown Prince’s side.
In the future, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, his prospects would be immeasurable.
And Miss Yan was personally raised by Yan Xing. Her temperament and manner were too much like Yan Xing’s.
Yan Xing couldn’t establish himself in official circles, and Miss Yan couldn’t establish herself in the capital’s circle of noble ladies.
That circle had a personality she couldn’t integrate into.
Unable to integrate meant she couldn’t help Old Third.
If Old Third wanted to climb to high positions step by step, Yan Sanhe wasn’t a good match. His good match should be a worldly-wise daughter from an aristocratic family who deeply understood official circles’ rules.
“These days I’ll have your sister-in-law watch Old Ancestor’s courtyard. I’ll watch Father’s side.”
He sighed softly: “Rest assured, I’ll help from the sidelines in your matter. But whether it succeeds depends on her fate.”
What’s wrong with her fate?
It’s perfectly fine.
I’m the crude one who doesn’t match her.
Xie Zhifei felt repulsed by these words, his jet-black eyes especially indifferent.
Today, Mother’s and Old Ancestor’s reactions were all within his expectations. Only Father…
Father, from beginning to end, hadn’t revealed half a trace of his attitude.
“Elder Brother, if I mention Yan Xing’s matter a bit, what do you think the chances are?”
Xie Erli pondered deeply for a long time. “Old Third, different times call for different measures.”
From when Yan Sanhe first came to the capital, a year and a half had already passed.
Hearts change easily, worldly affairs are unpredictable. No one knew whether in Father’s heart, Yan Xing was still his deepest regret.
Hearing the man speak such words, how could Zhu Weixi have half a trace of joy left in her heart? A perfectly good pair of lovers—don’t let them repeat her mistake.
Xie Erli cleared his throat: “Don’t look so glum. There’s still hope.”
Zhu Weixi, slightly dazed, then smiled: “If Eldest Master says there’s hope, there must be hope. Old Third, don’t worry either.”
“I’m not worried.”
Xie Zhifei: “I never expected this matter to succeed today. I just wanted everyone to have an idea first, then slowly work toward it later.”
Zhu Weixi: “How do you plan to work toward it?”
Xie Zhifei’s voice was very light, but his tone exceptionally firm.
“Left and right, it’s just meeting force with force, blocking water with earth. But from childhood to now, there’s never been anything Third Master Xie couldn’t accomplish!”
…
On the other end of the stone path walked mother and son Xie Daozhi and the old lady.
The two walked wordlessly all the way into Bi’en Hall.
Xie Daozhi personally helped the old lady remove her outer garment and let down her hair, supporting her to sit on the bed.
A maid brought the medicine cup. He tasted it first before offering it to the old lady’s lips.
After finishing one cup of medicine, the old lady waved at her son: “My son may go.”
“Mother, rest well.”
Xie Daozhi bowed respectfully and turned toward the bead curtain. His steps stopped and he turned to look back.
Just then, the old lady also raised her eyes to look at her son.
Their gazes met.
Both saw a certain deeper meaning in each other’s turbid eyes.
This deeper meaning needed no words—it was mutually understood.
The old lady withdrew her gaze. “This time, the master truly must take this to heart. No matter what, he must choose a good family for Old Third.”
Xie Daozhi quickly answered: “Yes!”
…
After casting a large stone into the calm waters of the Xie family, Third Master Xie disappeared again.
Manager Xie Xiaohua was dying of anxiety inside.
Young rascal, oh young rascal, at this critical juncture, you should at least ingratiate yourself before Old Ancestor and coax her a bit.
If that won’t do, at least visit Father’s room more frequently, bringing up Yan Xing’s matter from time to time, so Father remembers old affections and agrees to this match.
In this world, there are no walls without cracks.
In just one night, all the high-status families in the capital spread the news with embellishments—
Third Master of the Xie residence had taken a liking to some wild girl from who-knows-where, quarreled with his elders, and didn’t even live at home anymore.
The news reached the villa at top speed.
“What’s this? Earlier, everyone in your Xie family was kneeling before Yan Xing, kneeling before Sanhe, looking like they’d die for her—have you all fucking forgotten?”
Li Buyan was furious, hands on her hips, cursing in the courtyard.
“Now you despise our Sanhe’s lowly status? Do you have the standing to despise her?
Take a piss and look at yourselves—what are you Xie family people?
Forty-some years ago, you were still begging on the streets! A bunch of ungrateful dog bastards!”
“Rather than waste energy cursing, think about how to deceive His Highness.” Xie Zhifei entered in gray robes, his face ashen.
Oh, he heard?
“Third Master.”
Li Buyan blocked his path, deliberately raising one eyebrow: “Give me the bottom line—if the Xie family doesn’t agree, you plan to…”
“Fight to the death.”
“What if fighting to the death still doesn’t work?”
“Flee far away.”
“What if the Xie family blocks and won’t let you leave?”
“Isn’t there you? Are you just for show?”
Having said this, without looking at Li Buyan’s expression, Xie Zhifei went straight to the study.
Li Buyan looked at his upright back and grinned.
What’s this about?
Compared to before, this surname Xie was becoming more and more manly.
…
In the study.
Yan Sanhe looked at the man’s clean, youthful air between his brows and eyes, suddenly recalling their first meeting when he was thoroughly dissolute.
How had he changed into a different person?
The transformed Third Master Xie stood before her: “Heard about the rumors outside?”
“Mm.”
“What do you think?”
“The Xie residence truly differentiates between legitimate and illegitimate children.”
Xie Zhifei burst out laughing.
This statement alluded to the old lady’s previous attempt to match her with Second Master Xie.
“No helping it—who told this master to be favored?”
He looked at her sideways: “Besides that, no other thoughts?”
Yan Sanhe: “Third Master’s courage is commendable.”
That’s the sentence he was waiting for.
Xie Zhifei brought his face closer: “Any reward?”
“No reward.”
Yan Sanhe’s tone shifted: “Only punishment.”
Xie Zhifei was surprised: “Why punishment?”
Yan Sanhe’s expression turned grave. “At this critical juncture, you shouldn’t have confessed our matter to your family elders. It’s a waste of your energy.”
“No waste. I’ve figured out how to deceive Huairen.”
—
Today just one update. Yiran is ill and seeking medical treatment.