How else to plan?
“Marry her properly with three matchmakers and six rites, making her the legitimate and proper Third Madam of the Xie family.”
Xie Erli: “I’ve already discussed this matter with your sister-in-law. We’ll start handling things slowly. Once the three years of deep mourning pass, we’ll marry immediately. You’re both getting on in years—can’t afford to delay!”
Xie Zhifei: “What about Mother’s side?”
Xie Erli: “With me here, with your sister-in-law here, put your heart back in your belly.”
The emotions that had been calm and steady a moment ago suddenly surged with waves. Xie Zhifei forcibly suppressed the choking in his throat and grinned like a scoundrel.
“Elder Brother, you’re truly good.”
“Enough—stop with the glib tongue all day long. Never a serious word.”
The unserious person extended his hand palm-up and split his mouth in a grin. “I’m out of silver to spend lately. Share some with your younger brother!”
Just a moment ago Xie Erli had wanted to praise this person, but now he wanted to strangle him.
“The manor held two funerals—how much of the family fortune was spent? Not only do you not contribute silver to the family, you’re always taking it out. How much family wealth does the Xie family have that can withstand your squandering?”
“If you won’t give, then don’t give—why scold?”
Xie Zhifei felt around in his chest, pulled out several more banknotes, and slapped them heavily on the table. “Look—aren’t I contributing to the family?”
“Where did you get so much silver?”
“Earned it!”
Xie Zhifei stood up and walked out. Reaching the doorway, he turned back, still fuming:
“From now on, scold me less. How old am I already? You really are addicted to scolding me. If you want to scold someone, scold your own son.”
“Xie Laosan!”
Xie Laosan’s steps paused. He turned his head, glared, and complained.
“Elder Brother, you’re the family patriarch now. Don’t raise your voice at the drop of a hat. Be gentle as the wind and rain, be composed and dignified, make people unable to fathom your depths—that’s what the head of the family should be like.”
This little brat dared to lecture him now?
Xie Erli ground his teeth in anger: “Get out, get out, get out! Don’t dangle in front of me!”
“I’m going!”
Xie Zhifei took a deep breath and reached for the door.
The instant he pulled the door, he said extremely softly: Elder Brother, once Laosan goes far away, he truly can never come back again!
Is it that when people grow up, they all remember childhood things?
That year when he was eight, just a few days after becoming Third Master Xie, still so weak he could only lie in bed—sleeping too much during the day, naturally he couldn’t sleep at night.
In the middle of the night, a clean-featured youth quietly came in, eyes red, looking at him.
“Laosan, get better quickly. Once you’re better, Elder Brother will take you to walk by Beihai. The osmanthus flowers are all blooming there—so fragrant.”
The youth sighed as he spoke. “As long as your health is good, Elder Brother will yield everything to you.”
All big talk.
Once his health improved, Elder Brother not only didn’t yield to him but was extremely strict with him, punishing him to kneel at the slightest provocation.
But he knew in his heart—he knelt inside while Elder Brother waited outside. However long he knelt, Elder Brother waited that long.
Xie Zhifei closed his eyes, turned to look at the study door one last time, and strode away.
Zhu Qing, who had been waiting in the distance, came forward. “Master, where to next?”
Xie Zhifei looked at him deeply. “I won’t go to Elder Sister’s place. Her eyes aren’t good, but her mind is more delicate than anyone’s. You—”
“Third Brother.”
A voice came from the side.
Xie Zhifei glanced in the direction of the voice and saw Second Brother Xie Buhuo approaching gracefully.
In fact, Xie Buhuo had inherited Concubine Liu’s looks and was handsome, but his handsomeness, like his talents, was deliberately concealed by three parts.
Xie Zhifei smiled. “Oh, it’s Second Brother. You’re…”
Xie Buhuo glanced at the account books in his hand. “Accounts from several shops outside, being sent to Elder Brother for review.”
“As long as Second Brother hasn’t tampered with them, whether Elder Brother reviews these accounts or not makes no difference.”
Xie Buhuo’s face darkened.
But Xie Zhifei acted as if he didn’t see it, deliberately bumping him with his shoulder.
“Second Brother, there’s an old saying: ‘On the battlefield, father and son are soldiers; to fight tigers, rely on brothers.’ Our Xie family can’t hope for the battlefield, but we must still hope to fight tigers together. Don’t you agree?”
Xie Buhuo staggered from the bump and turned to look—
Meeting his eyes was a pair of black, deep eyes like a well, with something flashing through them. When Xie Buhuo tried to look more carefully, all he saw in those eyes was mocking disdain.
“Second Brother, if I’ve spoken wrongly, feel free to scold me.”
Xie Zhifei smiled carelessly and wickedly: “But you must scold me behind closed doors. Outside, we must still be affectionate brothers—don’t let people laugh at us!”
Every word was a warning. Did he think he was too stupid to hear it?
Xie Buhuo only felt nauseated. He flicked his sleeve and strode away.
After walking several steps, chewing over the words carefully, he felt something wasn’t quite right. He turned around and found Xie Laosan still standing in place, watching him with a half-smile.
Getting arrogant again because of his good relationship with the Crown Prince?
What character!
Xie Buhuo felt angry in his heart, turned his head and walked on.
Xie Zhifei waited until he’d gone far, slowly withdrew his smile. “Let’s go. First let’s visit Sister-in-law.”
“Master, you didn’t finish speaking just now.”
Xie Zhifei stared at Zhu Qing and smiled lightly: “Never mind. I’ll save those words to tell you at the end!”
Zhu Qing’s expression changed. Ding Yi at the side quickly said: “The First Madam is managing the household in the flower hall.”
“Let’s go see!”
…
In the flower hall, dozens of servants stood with heads properly bowed.
First Madam Zhu shi sat upright in the main seat, looking at the account book in her hands.
Spring Peach behind her, seeing First Madam swallow, quickly handed over warm tea.
Zhu shi took the warm tea, drank half a cup, and slowly opened her mouth:
“The kitchen’s accounts are somewhat vague and need to be more detailed…
The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. This year the manor won’t host banquets. Each branch and person should get two more new outfits. The sewing room people should pay attention—the new clothes’ colors should be plain and subdued…”
Item by item, orderly and methodical.
Xie Zhifei listened quietly for a while, then gave Zhu Qing and Ding Yi a look. Master and servants silently returned to the Shijia Courtyard.
In the courtyard, everything remained as before.
Xie Zhifei entered the main hall and sat in the seat of honor.
Zhu Qing knew it was his turn. He quickly stepped forward and knelt on the ground. “Third Master?”
Third Master’s gaze sank thoroughly, no trace of smile remaining on his face.
“Your heart is here. I imagine you won’t follow me, and I won’t let you follow anymore either.”
“Master?”
“Let me finish speaking.”
Xie Zhifei said indifferently: “We’ve been master and servant for some time. How much sincerity I’ve shown you, how much you’ve shown me—we both know in our hearts.
People can’t be right at every step. Everyone has weak spots, everyone has their vulnerabilities. If I were in your position, I couldn’t do better than you.”
Zhu Qing’s tears flowed down in a rush.
“Meeting Yan Sanhe was my destiny. Your liking her was also destiny. Inescapable.”
Xie Zhifei’s tone softened somewhat.
“Zhu Qing, I have no other requests of you—only hope that for the sake of our master-servant relationship, you’ll properly protect my elder sister and protect my Xie family.”
“Master?”
“Zhu Qing, we master and servant can only walk this far. We cannot walk forward one more step. From now on, let each accept Heaven’s will!”
“Master—”
Zhu Qing let out a mournful cry and collapsed on the ground, sobbing silently.