Chapter 121 Only his entire being was shrouded in shadow, unable to conceal the gentle, gentlemanly face. ...

"I urge the Second Young Master to do his best to comfort your brother, to help him take things easy and not be too attached to anything. You must know that everything in this world, in excess is as bad as deficiency, and people will suffer if they think too much. When the mind is at ease, the breath is smooth, and the blood and qi are in harmony, this is the foundation of health preservation and disease prevention."

Xie Lianquan replied, "Yes, I will certainly keep that in mind."

No sooner had the old physician left than Xie Lianquan revealed his true colors, unleashing a furious tirade in the courtyard: "What are all the people in the Frostbite Courtyard good for?! Didn't anyone notice that the young master was unwell? Did they only call someone to come after he collapsed in the house?!"

Xie Yunying watched Xie Lianquan angrily berate the servants and felt speechless: "What's wrong with him? This is Xie Qingyu's courtyard, not his. How dare he act so arrogantly?"

The servants in the courtyard were all scolded and knelt down on the ground, trembling and afraid to speak.

The maid at the front, steeling herself, answered in a low voice, "Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master was perfectly fine this morning, nothing wrong with him. The physician said that his fainting was due to a sudden attack of anger, perhaps because... because..."

Seeing the maid hesitate and not dare to speak, Xie Lianquan grew impatient: "Why? Just say it, are you trying to hide it?"

"Yes. The eldest young master met with Lord Yue at noon. Not long after Lord Yue left, the eldest young master was found unconscious in the house."

Xie Lianquan frowned: "Yue Yining? Isn't she someone sent by the Third Prince? Why would she come to see Xie Qingyu?"

"Could it be that she spoke rudely to Xie Qingyu, which angered him and made him sick?" Xie Lianquan found it hard to believe.

After Xie Lianquan got angry, the woman in yellow who had been standing silently to the side finally spoke softly. It was Xie Yueshuang: "I have heard that the Yue people have made the greatest contribution in this Qinghuai disaster relief effort. I heard that she is an extraordinary woman."

"Recently, it has become fashionable for noble ladies in Yanjing to hold literary gatherings. If a group of people talk about the most popular young officials in the capital, they can't avoid mentioning her."

"They're all just daughters of officials. How many of them have ever really been involved in the court? What do you know about discussing important political matters?" Xie Lianquan scoffed at Xie Yueshuang's talk of a literary gathering, and didn't notice the smile on Xie Yueshuang's face gradually fading.

Speaking of Yue Yining, Xie Lianquan's eyes revealed contempt. "Yue Yining is just a sixth-rank official, and she got her position through the recommendation of the Princess. If she is so talented, why doesn't she enter officialdom through the civil service examination? She is just a commoner, and the master she relies on is only the son of a palace maid who is destined to never rise to high office. In terms of talent and ability, she is just a mediocre person. The current emperor is old and the change of dynasty is imminent. She has chosen the wrong side and is destined not to go far."

Xie Lianquan offered a string of insightful opinions, while Xie Yueshuang listened without saying a word. Even though Xie Lianquan subtly and overtly suppressed her with his words, she maintained her respectful and gentle demeanor as a well-bred young lady.

Instead, her personal maid curtsied and spoke in a clear voice: "What the Second Young Master said is true, but the Eldest Miss and the other young ladies were just discussing things, just like sisters chatting about everyday gossip. It's just that the Eldest Miss and her friends weren't talking about cosmetics and men, but about national affairs and politics."

Xie Lianquan: "It's fine to just talk about her, but if you really treat her as someone important, then you'll really make a fool of yourself."

Xie Yunying was already stunned when Xie Lianquan started belittling Yue Yining. Seeing that Xie Lianquan had no intention of stopping, she didn't care about anything else and rushed forward to stop him, shouting, "Second brother, please watch your words!"

Xie Lianquan was interrupted by her sudden action and frowned: "Second sister?"

Xie Yunying hadn't forgotten that she couldn't be out of character. She tried to show a fierce look, staring intently at Xie Lianquan with a frosty expression: "What do you know about Yue Yining? Gossiping and criticizing people behind their backs, is that your kind of manners?"

When Xie Lianquan faced Xie Yunying, he didn't have the same confidence he had when facing Xie Yueshuang.

Ultimately, Xie Yueshuang was a weak woman who would never break off relations no matter how much she was suppressed. However, Xie Yunying was the type to whip people at the slightest disagreement. Although he was theoretically her half-brother, Xie Yunying did not care about such morals and ethics. She would still whip those who deserved it!

Xie Lianquan felt a little guilty, but in front of so many people, he was unwilling to bow his head to Xie Yunying. He still maintained the air of an elder brother and said, "I forgot that my second sister was on good terms with her. So naturally she can't stand me saying these things. Please forgive me, second sister. The truth is always hard to hear."

Xie Yunying was practically spitting fire: "Damn it, you idiot! I'm saving you, okay?! How dare you talk so loudly about the person he likes right in front of his house! If Xie Qingyu, that scheming guy, holds a grudge against you, you won't even know how you died!"

System: "......." *chuckle*

Xie Yunying cursed him in her heart, but kept her mouth tightly shut, her face turning a deep purplish-red. She could never say these words out loud.

Before she could figure out how to shut Xie Lianquan up, a soft sound came from not far away, and Xie Qingyu's door was pushed open from the inside.

The silver-clad guard stepped out with light steps, his inorganic eyes devoid of any superfluous emotion. He approached the group, gave a slight bow, and said in a low voice, "The eldest young master has just woken up. He sent me to invite the second young master into the room for a chat."

Xie Yunying: "......." That's it.

Xie Lianquan was completely unaware of the danger that was about to strike. He was overjoyed, thinking that his attentive behavior outside had touched Xie Qingyu, who had just woken up. He cleared his throat to hide his smile and followed Yin Yi into the house.

Once the door closed, the sounds inside became indistinct, and those outside could only guess what Xie Qingyu and Xie Lianquan were saying.

A moment later, a sharp "slap" was heard, the crisp sound of a slap echoing throughout the house, clearly audible even through a solid wooden door.

The crowd outside fell silent instantly, except for the birds on the branches that kept chirping in alarm as the wind blew and the leaves swayed.

Within a few breaths, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Xie Lianquan, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, covered his chin, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and strode out.

He didn't even glance at Xie Yueshuang and Xie Yunying outside the house. He shouted at the servants guarding the door, "Go!" and then left the Spray Frost Courtyard in a huff.

Xie Yunying: "......."

Xie Yunying: "See? I told you!" Never mess with a petty, cunning, and treacherous man!

System: "The host is incredibly insightful."

Yin Yi did not close the door, but glanced at Xie Yunying and bowed slightly: "Second Miss, the eldest young master wants you to come in, saying that he has something to talk to you about."

Xie Yunying paused for a moment before realizing what she meant, then pointed to herself: "Me? Oh, oh."

She hurriedly went upstairs, entered the room, and closed the door.

When Xie Yueshuang saw Xie Qingyu call Xie Yunying into the room first, the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. She didn't say anything, but she also showed no intention of leaving. Her two white arms, which were hidden in her pale yellow silk sleeves, tightened their grip, but her expression remained unchanged.

In the Frost-Spraying Courtyard, most of the servants Xie Lianquan brought had already left with him. Xie Yunying only brought two personal maids, and the rest of the servants in the courtyard were the maids brought by Xie Yueshuang.

Yin Yi turned around, his indifferent gaze sweeping over them, meeting Xie Yueshuang's eyes.

He moved over and bowed to Xie Yueshuang.

Yin Yi: "Young Miss, please move aside."

Xie Yueshuang looked at him, her brows relaxing slightly: "I appreciate Guard Yin's kindness, but I'll just wait here; it's not tiring. Moving around is too much trouble. Once my second sister comes out, I'll go straight in to see my eldest brother—"

“Miss, you misunderstand. I didn’t mean for you to move to a private room to wait.” Yin Yi replied calmly, his expression unchanged. “The young master just instructed me to tell everyone waiting outside to disperse. He is not feeling well today and does not wish to see anyone.”

Xie Yueshuang's gentle expression froze on her face.

She moved her lips and whispered, "I see. I understand that my brother isn't feeling well today. Too many people wanting to see him might be bothering him."

"...But we were all waiting outside for him to wake up, so why did he call my second sister in by herself?"

"I was unaware," Yin Yi said. "I was merely following the orders of the eldest prince."

"Young Miss, please leave."

Xie Yueshuang dug her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, deep into her palm.

She remained silent, nodded slightly, turned around, and softly called to her maid, "Cuiping, let's go."

Xie Yunying entered the house and closed the door, only to find that there was no one serving her, except for Xie Qingyu.

Xie Qingyu, who should have been lying in bed, was sitting at her desk with her eyes downcast and a pen in hand, seemingly already handling official business.

He didn't tie his hair up; he removed his crown and ribbon, and his long hair, draped behind him, was as messy as dark clouds. It was late autumn after all, so he wore a light, plain-colored robe, with only a black brocade fur coat with a red fox fur trim embroidered around the collar casually draped over it.

Upon closer inspection, if it weren't for his pale complexion, he wouldn't look like a patient who had just been found unconscious not long ago.

In fact, Xie Yunying did not expect Xie Qingyu to teach Xie Lianquan a lesson in person.

Based on her limited understanding of Xie Qingyu, she knew that he was a man of deep and unpredictable character, and was most adept at using others to do his dirty work.

When facing Xie Lianquan, she speaks kindly and acts like a gentle and kind elder brother, but behind his back, she secretly sets a trap for him, luring him into a deadly mess. This is the kind of thing Xie Qingyu would do.

Instead of resorting to direct action, which is quick but easily leaves others with ammunition against them.

Xie Yunying, sensing Xie Qingyu's current mood, remained silent and deliberately walked over quietly. She felt she had tried her best to minimize her presence, but Xie Qingyu still immediately stopped writing, raised her long eyelashes, and swept her gaze over her.

Xie Yunying's breath hitched.

Xie Yunying: "...My God, why do I feel like he's even more terrifying than before?"

System: "Great minds think alike."

Xie Yunying was both extremely curious and terrified of offending him. After much internal struggle, she finally couldn't hold back and cautiously asked, "Um... are you alright?"

Xie Qingyu looked up and stared at her intently, the usual slight smile on her face completely gone.

He was never a gentle person to begin with, and once he stopped smiling, the gloom that was deeply rooted in his bones gradually seeped out.

He said casually, "Do I look bad?"

Xie Yunying: "..."

It's not just bad, it's absolutely rotten.

But she didn't dare say it; she could only give a vague answer: "Haha, I was just showing concern for you."

"So why did you suddenly faint? The old doctor said it was due to a sudden surge of anger, but I find that strange; it sounds like you fainted from anger—"

Xie Yunying laughed and pretended to be stupid, but Xie Qingyu's words exposed her pretense: "Don't you know why I fainted?"

Xie Yunying's smile froze on her face.

"ah??"

“My guards said you were the first one to arrive, and you came very quickly, as if you had been waiting outside the Frost Spray Courtyard.” Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes. “You heard that Yue Yining was here, so you came here specifically to wait for her, didn’t you?”

Xie Yunying: "..."

System: "He guessed everything correctly, host."

Xie Yunying: "That..."

She hesitated for a long time before daring to say, "So, you suddenly fainted because of Yue Yining?"

There was no response.

Xie Yunying probed again, "...Did you two have a fight?"

Xie Qingyu pursed her lips, her aura becoming even more oppressive.

Xie Yunying clicked her tongue. Although Xie Qingyu didn't answer her, she already knew the answer, since he almost completely dimmed his expression whenever Yue Yining was mentioned.

His appearance was still that of a celestial being; his attire was still that of a splendid splendid man, but he was dejected and dispirited, and even the finest gold and jade could not diminish his former brilliance.

Xie Qingyu said in a low voice, "It has nothing to do with her."

Xie Yunying: "..." Even after all this, you're still being stubborn.

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Author's note: Xie Qingyu has turned evil and is on the verge of going berserk.

An extra chapter suddenly appeared [poor thing]. Although it's short, it still counts as an extra chapter, right?