Xie Yanfang’s voice carried amusement, but no one thought he was joking.

The nephews and cousins around looked at Xie Yanfang without any mockery, only admiration and awe. When Xie Yanfang was still a teenage boy, what he had accomplished, no one in the entire Xie family could match.

He could do as he pleased because he had that capability.

The Xie family’s current fortune was also something he had fought for.

“I had you go from the Imperial Guards to the courier soldiers’ camp to experience the difficulties of life,” Xie Yanfang looked at A’Jiu and said. “But I forgot—your life was already difficult. These things are nothing to you. Perhaps in your eyes, those days were quite comfortable.”

He sighed lightly.

“Yanlai, one cannot live only seeking one’s own comfort. Since that’s the case—”

A’Jiu interrupted him, his expression indifferent: “What I mean is, marriage is the most useless thing. You can let the nephews and cousins who don’t have much ability do it. I don’t need to.”

Xie Yanfang was startled, then laughed heartily and pointed around: “Like A’Xiao, for example?”

Xie Xiao and the others had been listening to their conversation. Xie Xiao couldn’t help cursing: “Xie Yanlai, you mother—”

“How dare you speak to me like that!” A’Jiu cursed back, turning to point at Xie Xiao. “Is this how the Xie family taught you manners? Do you have no respect for your elders?”

Xie Xiao grew even angrier, cursed profanely, and was about to rush over: “What the hell—who has no respect for elders? To the Xie family, besides adding disgrace and becoming a laughingstock, what are you? And you have the face to say you’re capable! Who are you more capable than?”

The other young people also made a commotion.

“Enough!” Xie Yanfang tapped his fishing rod. The fish in the stream scattered, and the noisy young people fell silent.

He first looked at A’Jiu and said, “You can’t speak of family members like that. The family isn’t about who’s more capable.”

He turned around and looked at everyone.

“Not everyone in the family needs to strive for excellence or be learned and talented. Since we’re born as people, we all have our purpose for existing. The Xie family’s descendants are especially so. No matter what kind of person, the family has a responsibility to ensure everyone has food and clothing without worry. You must treat your own children this way in the future too. This is the meaning of the family’s existence.”

The young people were excited and happy. Xie Yanfang was strict yet tolerant. He sincerely treated everyone and never looked down on anyone. This was something those elders who only put on airs couldn’t do. This was the head of household in their hearts.

Xie Xiao pointed at A’Jiu: “I, Xie Xiao, am indeed worthless, but I haven’t eaten or drunk at your expense. It’s not your place to look down on me!”

Facing the young people’s even more hostile gazes, A’Jiu showed no fear and sneered: “If you’re worthless yourself, you still won’t let people look down on you?”

Just as the clamor and argument were about to rise again, Xie Yanfang tapped his fishing rod once more.

“Enough, enough,” he said. “I don’t need you to pretend to be brotherly and respectful. But I’m warning you.”

At this point, his gaze swept over everyone.

“You can quarrel however you like at home, but don’t embarrass yourselves outside.”

“Third Uncle, don’t worry,” Xie Xiao immediately shouted, patting his fat belly. “I won’t stoop to his level outside.”

The others also expressed their positions one after another.

A’Jiu rarely followed suit and also called out “Third Brother”: “Don’t worry. I’ll test them outside to see if they really do it.”

Damn it! Xie Xiao glared angrily. What did that mean? Was this kid going to deliberately cause trouble and provoke them outside?

Xie Yanfang looked at A’Jiu and was amused.

“Alright, since you’re unwilling about this matter, forget it,” he said with a slight smile. “Then as you said, we’ll save you for other more important things.”

His smile was like a spring breeze, but A’Jiu’s hands at his sides clenched, and he looked away.

“Go rest. From now on, live at home,” Xie Yanfang said. “You don’t need to go to the courier soldiers’ camp anymore. Return to the Imperial Guards and train properly.”

A’Jiu grunted in acknowledgment, turned, and left. Several maidservants who had been retreating to the distant pavilions and towers saw this and immediately rushed out.

“Ninth Young Master!” “Young Master Yanlai!” They happily came over. Some supported his arm, some grabbed his hand, and one who couldn’t catch anything simply grabbed the hem of his robe from behind. “Hot water is all prepared!” “The dishes you love are all prepared too!” “Young Master, how did your hands get so rough? Let me apply fragrant balm for you quickly!”

Chattering and bustling, they escorted A’Jiu away.

The young men were both angry and jealous. They also had beautiful maidservants who were obedient and compliant, but somehow they all seemed different from Xie Yanlai’s maidservants.

So genuinely happy, pouring out their affection without concealment.

“Bah!” Xie Xiao spat, saying bitterly, “It’s just relying on that face.”

“What good is just having a face?” another person also spat. “Without the status of Xie family young master, I don’t believe anyone would still want to follow him to the death.”

Someone else felt this statement was wrong and looked back at Xie Yanfang sitting in the pavilion. The Young Master wore plain robes, his black hair like ink, his face white as jade, graceful as a startled swan—

Although Xie Yanfang was just a tiny bit inferior to Xie Yanlai, in temperament and character, ten A’Jius couldn’t compare to him.

He said firmly: “Even without the status of Xie family young master, women would still want to follow Third Brother to the death.”

The young men immediately all chimed in agreement. Xie Xiao shouted the loudest: “My wife often says she was willing to marry in because she could frequently see Third Uncle.”

Xie Yanfang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and shooed them away, telling them not to speak nonsense here.

The nephews and cousins withdrew, and the streamside returned to quiet.

An old servant walked in from behind the crowd and asked, “Young Master, regarding the betrothal with the Liang family, should we select someone else?”

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “No need. Changing people wouldn’t create an alliance but create enmity. This marriage alliance would lose its meaning.”

The old servant frowned and complained: “Then what should we do? Young Master shouldn’t indulge him. He really thinks he came here to be a young master.”

“It doesn’t matter. If he’s unwilling, forget it. Some people seem unrestrained, but about their lifelong companion, they’re very particular,” Xie Yanfang said. “Probably the type who doesn’t easily develop feelings, but once they do, they’ll never part in life or death.”

The old servant laughed: “That’s truly quite ridiculous.”

How could people never part in life or death?

“Don’t laugh,” Xie Yanfang said, his expression quite reflective. “You and I are not that kind of person. Not being able to experience it is also a kind of regret.”

The old servant found it even more amusing and laughed heartily: “Young Master, stop joking.”

Xie Yanfang smiled.

“Even if he’s disobedient, he’s still useful,” he said. “Moreover, Minister Liang just angered His Majesty and had tea splashed on him. I originally thought he could hold on for two more years, but now it seems it might be less than a year. This marriage alliance is no longer suitable.”

The old servant was surprised. He hadn’t heard about this in the capital yet, but the Young Master had just arrived in the capital and already knew. After his surprise came some shame: “This old servant is useless and didn’t find out.”

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “You’re all at the Crown Princess’s side in the capital. You really can’t be too well-informed about palace affairs.”

The old servant acknowledged this, then thinking of Minister Liang, said: “Minister Liang was rebuked because of Chu Ling’s daughter.”

He recounted the recent events of Miss Chu getting into a fight with Miss Liang.

This was a small matter that originally hadn’t drawn attention. Unexpectedly, in the end, it was Minister Liang who was punished.

He looked at Xie Yanfang again, his eyes unable to hide his admiration: “Chu Ling is indeed extraordinary in His Majesty’s eyes. Young Master sent him that letter—I wonder how he’ll respond.”

“I expressed the Xie family’s goodwill. How he responds is entirely up to General Chu to decide,” Xie Yanfang said.

The old servant acknowledged this, then asked: “Regarding Miss Chu Zhao, do we need to learn more about her?”

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “No need. This girl is merely Chu Ling’s daughter.”

The one he wanted to befriend was Chu Ling. A young girl didn’t yet warrant his attention.