Chapter 1059 Do I Know Him?

Song Chunxue was inevitably surprised.

The Xie Zheng she knew was completely different from the Xie Zheng she saw in front of others.

In front of outsiders, Xie Zheng's appearance is not only different from before, but his aura is also completely different.

Moreover, Song Chunxue couldn't understand a word he said.

That's true. She's a self-taught person with limited literacy, and she rarely reads proper books, let alone political intrigue. Even a slightly convoluted explanation can make her dizzy.

He thought Princess Anyang would threaten his family's lives, but Xie Zheng spoke eloquently and mercilessly, causing Princess Anyang to lose repeatedly and finally slump into a chair, unresponsive for a long time.

After a long time, she finally let out a weary voice.

"Never mind, I underestimated you. It turns out that your transformation from a civil official to a military general wasn't because you were disregarded by the emperor and demoted to the border, as outsiders perceived it, but because you wanted to go there yourself and devised a plan to have him exile you there."

Princess Anyang gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I thought you had a hard time down there these past two years, but now that I've seen you, I realize that my bold idea was clearly a scheme you set up a long time ago."

Xie Zheng gave a light snort, "You flatter me. It's nothing but a trivial trick. Are you royals allowed to use your brains, but we commoners aren't allowed to be clever for a while?"

Princess Anyang suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

The carefree, cheeky voice came from behind.

[This woman is flawed; she's still hopelessly infatuated with Lord Xie and can't forget him.]

However, Lord Xie has a discerning eye and unique taste, especially when it comes to you, this widowed old lady... umm...

Song Chunxue retorted irritably, "I know that without you reminding me. If you're not happy about it, then keep it to yourself."

[Hmm... You're despicable and shameless. What's so great about bullying a sword? Your skill... oh, hehe, how did you suddenly untie it without a word? That's so abrupt. Hehe, I'm praising your strong heart, your fearlessness in the face of worldly opinions. Your spirit is commendable, haha.]

Wuyou became listless as she spoke, quietly waiting for Song Chunxue's reaction.

"Sigh, well, there's nothing I can do about it. I was never some kind of prodigy; I just got lucky in middle age. If you hadn't been lonely for so many years, and if Senior Brother Zhang Chengxuan hadn't been going through a period of bad luck, how could you have chosen me? I've always been self-aware; you don't need to constantly remind me that I'm not arrogant, hmph!"

Wuyou, who never lets a word slip by, suddenly didn't know how to answer.

[I just said it in a moment of spouting nonsense, please don't take it seriously. Everyone's past is unchangeable, but your future is set to surpass eight or nine out of ten people in the world. Although you're considered old among mortals, in front of so many spirits and demons, you're still a greenhorn, a naive and inexperienced brat.]

Besides, Master Han went to great lengths to give you both the youth-preserving pills, and you look much younger now, don't you? You were quite pretty when you were young, though not as alluring as Lord Xie in his youth, but you had a timeless beauty. Lord Xie isn't the superficial kind of person; he valued your inner cultivation, your simple and unpretentious heart…

Song Chunxue: ...

You could tell that Wuyou had almost exhausted all the compliments she could muster in her life, and it must have been quite a struggle for her.

It's quite a challenge for a sword.

The more she explained, the more she felt that she was not good enough for Lord Xie.

But so what? Once you're on a pirate ship, you can't just let people leave.

She was just feeling a little upset. Was she really that bad?

She felt that Wuyou meant that Xie Zheng wouldn't have fallen for her if she hadn't been so shameless.

This is also Xie Zheng's fault. He repeatedly showed kindness to her, an old woman from the countryside. She's only human, after all; how could she not get carried away?

Hmm, they always so insensitively interrupt their time alone together. Could it be that they think she...

Bah! Why bother boosting others' arrogance and diminishing your own prestige?

The truth is that this seemingly ordinary and unremarkable woman, the one even Princess Anyang had her eye on, was the one who insisted on becoming her Daoist partner.

She made a fortune.

That's enough.

Whether someone is good-looking or not, there are always people better than them. After thirty, it's all about manners.

"I'll take my leave now."

Xie Zheng's movement of getting up to say goodbye brought Song Chunxue back to her senses.

Take care.

Princess Anyang's voice carried a hint of vicissitude and helplessness, as well as a trace of reluctance.

"Are you really going to follow that Taoist nun and travel the world, abandoning your daughter altogether?"

She still couldn't give up and asked another question.

"This bustling capital city can't hold you back at all?"

Xie Zheng smiled. "Is it bustling?"

"What I see is devastation and a facade of peace. You know better than I do that this edifice is about to collapse, and even ants cannot stop it."

Princess Anyang remained silent for a long time, simply standing up and looking at him silently.

"I, Xie, will take my leave."

"Wait." Princess Anyang stepped forward. "Could I have another piece of your calligraphy?"

"..." Song Chunxue raised her hand to touch her chin, thinking to herself, "That's not what she meant to say."

However, due to my current age and position, I have to change my wording.

"My hands, covered in calluses, can no longer write properly, and my handwriting is not as good as before. Please forgive me, Princess."

“In that case,” Princess Anyang returned to her seat, “you may now return.”

"Yes." Xie Zheng cupped his hands, took a step back, turned around, and strode out.

Song Chunxue took the opportunity to follow.

Silently, she followed Xie Zheng's footsteps until they reached the outside of the mansion.

"Ah Xue?"

Xie Zheng looked around. "Aren't you here too?"

Song Chunxue removed the invisibility talisman. "How did you know?"

Xie Zheng smiled. "I guessed."

Wuyou returned from Xie Zheng's ring to Song Chunxue's waist.

"Hmph, they already knew you were there, they just didn't want to call you out," Wuyou scoffed. "This is boring, I'm going to sleep."

The Emperor neither refuted Xie Zheng's post nor intended to detain him. Xie Zheng has now been restored to his status as a commoner.

For some reason, quite a few people went to visit the Xie residence.

No, the Xie family's plaque changed from "Xie Mansion" to "Xie Residence".

Because Xie Zheng was frequently demoted, he never had a chance to move into the mansion.

Therefore, even though he has now regained his status as a commoner, he does not need to move out of the house.

Xie Dong went to the estate to retire, while Liu Chunshu and his wife stayed at the Xie residence, continuing to follow Xie Lingyun, their responsibilities growing heavier and heavier.

Two weeks later, Senior Sister Fangyue returned to Beijing.

They gathered at the Zhao residence.

Fangyue was very happy to learn that they would stay until June or July.

"Junior sister, you finally have a chance to see the most beautiful capital city. Don't just stick to Xie Zheng anymore. Let's go out for a walk and I'll introduce you to more interesting people."

Fangyue asked directly, "I heard you two are getting married. Has the date been set?"

"Not yet, I still need to ask Master's opinion." Song Chunxue also wanted to go out and broaden her horizons with her senior sister. "Where are you taking me?"

"Attending a wedding banquet? Bai Caiwei's wedding banquet. She even asked about you, because she couldn't find anyone to send you a wedding invitation. Oh right, there's another fellow Daoist who really wants to meet you. He has a favor to ask of you. This person is extraordinary, you must go."

"Who are you referring to?" Master Han asked abruptly. "Do I know them?"