Chapter 74 Chapter 74 "Don't default on your debt." ...

On her first day at the Xie family's, Zhang Jingxian accepted the thank-you gift, ate a hearty evening meal, and practiced archery. Afterward, she asked A Luo to take her to the stables, where she personally fed the foal. Only after returning did she bathe and go to bed.

It's rare to have a good night's sleep without dreams.

After waking up, Zhang Jingxian shook off the fatigue of the journey, changed into a green dress, and pushed open the inner door.

It was early morning, the height of summer had passed, and the chill was growing stronger. She walked along a wooden path to the courtyard's clear pond. The fish in the pond, sensing the presence of humans, began to wag their tails and flee.

There was a clean staircase nearby. Zhang Jingxian sat down, took out Prime Minister Xie's collected works, and read them word by word.

The fish, perhaps out of curiosity or perhaps without noticing any danger, gradually gathered towards her position, some golden, some silver, some black.

Apart from the swimming fish, she was not sure if there were any human eyes observing her in the dark, but she sat on the steps for most of the hour.

In the end, Zhang Jingxian was really mesmerized, immersed in the unique fantasy atmosphere of the text.

Until, a fragrance like that of orchids pulled her back from the magnificent world of words. She looked up as if realizing something, and found that a woman was standing quietly beside her.

She was dressed in a long skirt with flowing colorful brocade shawls adorning her shoulders, and a white jade pendant at her waist. Her beautiful face made her look like a goddess. Noticing Zhang Jingxian staring at her, she smiled and asked, "Are you admiring the fish or the calligraphy?"

“But I see fish appreciating people.”

As she spoke, she stretched out a hand with slender fingers and extended it to the woman who was sitting there and had not yet come to her senses, pretending to support her.

"I am Xie Fuyun, Xie Yun's elder sister. Madam Zhang, I heard that it was you who saved Qilang. I am deeply grateful."

Zhang Jingxian's cheeks gradually became hot. Hearing the familiar name Xie Fuyun, she felt a little dizzy. She stood up and whispered, "I dare not."

But her eyes were fixed on the woman in front of her, and almost instantly, she noticed the similarities between the brother and sister.

The first impression he gives people is always that he is not an ordinary person.

While she was looking at Xie Fujun, Xie Fujun was also looking at her carefully.

Xie Fujun admired her clear and clean eyes, her unattractive but attractive face, and her light and ethereal temperament as if shrouded in a layer of mist. He felt very comfortable and it must be very comfortable to stay with this woman.

"The fish in the pond are the ones I raised when I was at home. They like you very much."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingxian shifted her gaze unnaturally and looked at the fish swimming in the water. She couldn't help but say, "Third Lady, actually, I'm better at fishing."

She let down the fish.

Hearing this, Xie Fujun laughed happily. She was a straightforward person and immediately asked someone to bring a fine net.

"Go ahead and catch them, Madam Zhang. They've eaten too much ink, but they're very cunning."

Zhang Jingxian pursed her lips in embarrassment, closed Prime Minister Xie's collection of essays, and said again, "I dare not."

Seeing this, Xie Fujun shook her head and went to the clear pond to fish herself. As she said, the fish that had eaten too much ink became very cunning. She fished for a long time but only caught a piece of fish scale.

This group of fish is so hateful, it seems like they did it on purpose.

Zhang Jingxian thought about it and asked Xie Fujun to give her the fine net.

Her eyes were fixed on the water, her face tense with seriousness. In just two breaths, she quickly and accurately fished out the most unruly black fish in the pond.

The black fish thrashed unwillingly, and she casually broke off a pine branch and pointed it at the fish. If she didn't want to hurt it, she would have a wooden arrow in her hand.

The black fish immediately became obedient, and Xie Fujun laughed wildly, revealing his white teeth.

The maids around watched silently, thinking that they hadn't seen Sanniang smile so relaxedly in a long time.

The laughter attracted Gong Chengyue and... Xie Yun. Seeing Xie Fujun laughing so hard, they bowed and called her, "Sister."

"Seventh brother, Eleventh brother, come and see, this fish that eats the most ink is no match for Madam Zhang after all." Xie Fujun was really happy. Not only did he see his brother who was intact, but his dull life was also injected with a bit of fun. How could he not smile?

"Sister, you are right. I wonder how much ink this fish must have eaten to become so black." Gong Chengyue joked while waving his feather fan. His eyes lingered on Xie Fujun's laughing face for a few times, then retracted their gaze without a trace.

"Sister, you came here alone? I wanted to greet you at the door." Xie Yun glanced at the peasant girl who was still foolishly catching black fish, and asked Xie Fujun if she had had breakfast since she came so early.

"No, I'm worried you won't be in the mood to eat. Qilang, your brother-in-law will be here with Shou later."

Xie Fuyun and her husband Wang Yancheng had been married for several years and had a son, nicknamed A Shou.

Gong Chengyue clenched his feather fan with his fingers and said softly, "It's been a long time since we last met. I'm afraid A Shou has grown a little taller."

"Of course." Xie Fujun replied casually. Noticing the confused look on the woman's face, he told her softly that A Shou was his three-year-old son.

Zhang Jingxian nodded and put the snakehead fish in the net back into the clear pond. As if in revenge, the snakehead fish shook its tail as it entered the water, creating a few waves.

Just as the pool water was about to splash on her face, a tall figure quickly stepped forward, picked her up and turned her around.

The fishy-smelling pond water splashed onto Xie Yun's sleeves. He glanced at the fish in the pond with a cold face. The fish felt the cold gaze and sank to the bottom of the pond and escaped.

"Ah Xian, hide earlier next time, okay?" He spoke in a low voice, looking down at the peasant girl in his arms, not remembering that she was now his guest.

It would have been fine if only Cheng Yue was present at the scene, but his elder sister Xie Fujun was watching intently.

Zhang Jingxian didn't know whether to thank him or... blame him, so she had to pretend nothing happened and broke free from his arm, saying goodbye to him and Xie Fujun.

"My dear, please talk to the third lady. I will go back to my room and tidy up my appearance."

Her expression was calm, without a trace of abnormality, which made Xie Fujun think that he had seen it wrong. He looked at Gong Chengyue with a slightly questioning look.

Gong Chengyue paused for a moment, nodded imperceptibly, and then sighed meaningfully.

A nod showed that Xie Fujun was not wrong. The usually cold and arrogant Envoy Xie was willing to block the fishy-smelling pool water for a woman.

Sighing implies that the two of them are not in love with each other, but as for who is the one-sided one, the situation just now is clear.

Now, Xie Fujun understood, and his cheerful mood suddenly became quiet.

It seems that this Madam Zhang is not just Qilang's savior. If they are in love with each other or she prefers Qilang more, it would be fine and they can be together.

However, Madam Zhang had no feelings for Qilang, and the situation became much more complicated.

"Qillang, you should treat Madam Zhang well and not force her to do anything she is unwilling to do, understand?" After seeing Zhang Jingxian walk away, Xie Fujun spoke softly to his younger brother.

Xie Yun raised her eyelids and looked at her sister with a faint smile on her lips. "Ah Xian has always done what she wants. I never force her."

Learn to read, ride a horse, go to a wider world, see more magnificent scenery, and gain more knowledge.

This must have been what she had dreamed of in the past. How could she say she was unwilling, or be forced?

"Qilang didn't force her, that's good. Sister heard that she is a high-ranking guest around you, so she can't always stay at home. I will invite her to visit Jiankang City someday, is that okay?" Xie Fujun was not easily fooled by his words. She stared into his eyes and asked again.

The atmosphere suddenly became cold. After a while, Xie Yun smiled and sighed, "I thought Sister would be concerned about my injury first."

Xie Fujun's face darkened, and he whispered, "Qilang, uncle has told me everything. Sister will stand by you."

She avoided talking about his injuries because after learning the cruel truth, she couldn't help but want to escape.

"Don't be sad, sister. With Madam Zhang's help, Qilang's injuries have healed nine-tenths. It's only a matter of time before the remaining one-tenth is completely healed."

Gong Chengyue spoke to comfort her in a gentle tone.

"With Shiyilang speaking up, I feel relieved. But this time, I have invited a medical expert from the city to examine Qilang. He should have arrived at the mansion now." Xie Fujun asked Xie Yun to go with her to the front hall so that the medical expert could examine his injuries again.

"Sister, I'll go change my clothes first." After hearing her say that she had invited a master, Xie Yun's eyes moved slightly and she agreed.

He took his steps calmly, but Xie Fujun and Gong Chengyue watched him go in the direction...where Madam Zhang had returned.

Xie Fuyun's expression changed slightly, but she couldn't go up to her brother and ask why he chose to take that path.

"Sister, everyone has their own destiny. You don't need to worry too much. Qilang will need some time to change. Yong Bo said there's some wine warming in the thatched cottage over there. Sister, why don't you come sit with me?"

Gong Chengyue gently waved a feather fan, and the smile on his face made people feel like a spring breeze.

It just so happened that Xie Fujun wanted to know about Xie Yun's recent situation from him, so he nodded in agreement.

The two men walked towards the simple thatched huts, and the maid behind them stood outside the door tacitly, her face as usual.

There is nothing to worry about. Mr. Gongcheng and Mr. Qilang are good friends. To some extent, Mr. Gongcheng is also regarded as a younger brother by Sanniang.

…

Zhang Jingxian returned to the room and closed the inner door tightly.

She couldn't even imagine the look in Xie Yun's eyes when she saw Xie Yun blocking the water for her. What would the third wife of the Xie family think? She must think that she and Xie Yun had an unclear relationship!

Zhang Jingxian was very upset, and felt like something was weighing on her heart, making her feel depressed and uncomfortable.

If she had known this earlier, she would not have deliberately gone to the Qingchi Pond to read Prime Minister Xie's collected works. She did this all to secretly leave a good impression on Prime Minister Xie.

However, the third lady of the Xie family is indeed worthy of her reputation... Suddenly, there was a knock on the inner door. Zhang Jingxian looked over vigilantly when she heard the noise.

The knock on the door continued, and she hesitated and went forward to open it.

Xie Yun lowered his eyes and stared at her, then slowly walked in and closed the door behind him.

"My dear, what's the matter?" Zhang Jingxian frowned, not wanting to see him, and stood motionless by the door.

Seeing her reluctance, Xie Yun smiled, raised his soaked sleeves, and said word by word, "Ah Xian, what should we do? It's wet."

Her masterpiece, of course, was handled by her.

"Don't default on your debt, or I will write a letter to your uncle." When Zhang Jingxian was reluctant to move, he lightly pulled out a letter from his sleeve.

The rough and yellowed paper can be seen at a glance where it comes from.

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The author has something to say: Muah, second update. Ahhh, I have a terminal procrastination problem, begging for forgiveness!

This chapter is kind of sweet.