Chapter 223

When Xie Chen came back on horseback, he saw a man peeking outside the mansion. When he got closer, he found out it was Lin Qingyuan.

"Ayuan? What are you doing here?" Xie Chen asked after getting off the horse. Seeing Lin Qingyuan looked flustered, was his brother still angry?

"Erlang, come quickly. My elder brother is very angry this time. I don't even dare to go find him. You go and try to persuade him." Lin Qingyuan was so anxious that his nose was sweating. He pulled Xie Chen and walked straight into the mansion.

Xie Chen thought about it. According to his brother's personality, it shouldn't be his fault. So he followed Lin Qingyuan indulgently, "What's going on?"

Lin Qingyuan said with a bitter face: "I don't know either. Big Brother was very fierce today. He locked up A Xuan and told the servants not to let her out for the next few days."

who? A Xuan?

Xie Chen had an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?" and said, "You made my brother angry, didn't you?" How could it be A Xuan? Xie Chen simply couldn't imagine it. Even if it was him, it wouldn't be Lin Xuan.

"Oh, it's true. Why would I lie to you?" Lin Qingyuan said anxiously when he saw that he didn't believe it.

His expression did not seem fake. Xie Chen was full of doubts. He pulled him aside and said, "What happened? Tell me first."

Lin Qingyuan himself was not quite sure, so he could only tell Xie Chen what he heard today. Xie Chen then summoned his servants to ask questions one by one.

"Ayuan, go and give Axuan some food first. I'll go see my brother." Xie Chen said, rubbing his brows.

"Okay, okay, I'll go right away." Lin Qingyuan, who had been in a state of panic for the entire day, finally calmed down and quickly agreed.

The door was closed, and almost all the servants walked around. Xie Chen knocked on the door outside the house, and Lin Shuge's voice came from inside, "I told you not to bother me."

This is really infuriating, Xie Chen thought to himself, and he said, "Brother, it's me."

There was no more movement in the house. Xie Chen pushed open the door and saw the mess on the floor. Xie Chen carefully avoided the broken porcelain pieces and walked to the person who had been sitting there without moving. He didn't know how long he had been doing this. "Why don't you turn on the light?"

Lin Shuge didn't say anything, so Xie Chen said, "Brother, you haven't eaten yet, right? I asked someone to cook a few dishes that you like."

"No, I don't want to eat."

Xie Chen smiled and said, "I heard about what happened today. Ah Xuan..."

"Are you here to be a lobbyist?" Lin Shuge glared at him. Even you are here to persuade me.

"No, of course I share the same sentiment with my brother, but Axuan has grown up. Even if the young eagle misses home, it will have to fly to the clouds one day." Xie Chen squatted beside him and said.

"Flying to the clouds? With Axuan's intelligence, wouldn't she know that you and I are preparing to return to the northwest? If she were in the northwest, she could do whatever she wanted, and I would protect her. But in Yandu, she is going to the harem, what kind of place is that? How could I bear to let her go there?"

"Brother, everyone has ambitions. Axuan is very ambitious, so there is a reason for her to do this." Xie Chen held his hand and said.

Lin Shuge broke free from him and said in a sad voice, "What's the logic? She wanted to reassure His Majesty, so she used herself as a hostage in exchange for my freedom in the northwest. I, Lin Shuge, actually have to sacrifice my own sister to survive."

"Do I have to wait until the future and watch her waste away in the harem, getting hurt by the open and secret attacks, while I can't do anything. What kind of brother am I?"

"Brother, don't say that." Xie Chen saw that his eyes were full of sadness and he was about to collapse, so he quickly hugged him and said.

Lin Shuge gently pushed him away, but his eyes were fixed on him, as if he wanted to see through him. "Zhongxuan, even if I die, I will not let Xuan go to that kind of place. Please help me keep an eye on her these few days. I will never agree to let her go to select female officials."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Xie Chen could only say a few words of comfort in a gentle voice. The brother and sister both had the same stubborn temper, so he could only persuade them slowly and take it step by step.

In the next two days, the meals sent to Lin Xuan's room were always brought out as they were. Lin Shuge remained silent, but Xie Chen knew that he felt worse than Lin Xuan and had not eaten anything in the past few days.

Lin Qingyuan was anxious every day. He naturally knew that Lin Xuan was going to select a female official, but he didn't dare to persuade Lin Shuge. His brother had always been gentle and was even better to A Xuan, but this time it was A Xuan who acted first and reported later. No wonder his brother was so angry.

But he also understood Lin Xuan and knew that once she made a decision, she would not change it.

So he could only place his hopes on Xie Chen. Xie Chen also knew that wasting time like this was not a solution, so he could only continue to persuade Lin Shuge.

"Brother, you are actually blaming yourself, right?" Xie Chen walked towards the man sitting still in front of the desk, took the book in his hand aside and said, "You blame yourself for not being strong enough, so A Xuan took this bad approach, and you blame yourself for being busy with other things all day and not knowing when A Xuan had such thoughts."

Lin Shuge pursed his lips and said nothing. Xie Chen leaned over and looked at him. "Brother, you have punished her these days, but she still insists on her own ideas. Given her temper, why don't you have a good talk with A Xuan?"

A complex emotion flashed across Lin Shuge's eyes, and then he said, "I'll go see her."

He hesitated outside the house for a moment before knocking on the door, but there was no response from inside for a long time, so he had to push the door open.

"Ayuan, I'm fine, don't..."

The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, and Lin Xuan could only see a slender shadow. She closed her eyes, and was stunned when she saw that it was Lin Shuge.

"Brother." She stammered.

She usually looked calm and composed, but now she was half leaning on the bed, her face pale, her hair disheveled, and her expression listless.

Lin Shuge whispered, "Are you really going?"

Lin Xuan nodded, her expression still firm, "Brother, it's my fault, but I still want to go."

Lin Shuge stood in front of her, his slender figure seemed to be able to shield her from all the wind and rain.

"Zhongxuan and I have already discussed this with His Majesty. Axuan, I don't need you to sacrifice anything for me. Wouldn't it be good for us to go back to the northwest as a family?"

"Brother, I know how good you have been to me over the years, but I am not entering the palace just to reassure Your Majesty. I have my own plans. I have read a lot of books and seen a lot of scenery with you. I don't want to live a life of taking care of my husband and children, with no end in sight."

Lin Shuge said anxiously: "Axuan, how could I force you to do something you don't like? It's not easy for women in this world. I have never thought of forcing you to go this way. In the northwest, whether you want to do business, travel far, or even become an official, I will follow your instructions, but why do you want to enter the palace? The palace is extremely dangerous. I am far away in the northwest. If something happens to you..." He suddenly stopped, as if he was afraid that something would come true.

"Brother, if that's the case, I will always live under your protection. Besides, since I've lived this life, I don't want to be unknown for the rest of my life."

Lin Xuan smiled and lowered her head, then looked up at her brother who was full of sadness, "Women cannot be officials. At that time, my eldest brother only had Sister Chen under his command, and she was recommended by my eldest brother. But if it were in Yandu, this path would not be feasible."

"So you came up with this idea?" Lin Shuge said sternly, "You've thought it through. This road is full of dangers. We are not with you. You have to bear the hardships alone."

"I have already thought about it, big brother. I have made up my mind. Please support me." Lin Xuan leaned over and knelt down in front of him.

An elder brother is like a father. Lin Shuge suppressed the bitterness in his eyes and said, "If that's the case, you can go. I'm afraid we won't see each other many times in the future. You..." Lin Shuge bent down and wanted to touch her head as usual, but his hand stopped in mid-air and then dropped again, "Remember to write a letter."

Lin Xuan burst into tears and stood up to catch up with him, but she only saw the edge of a light blue shirt passing by the door.

"Brother." Lin Xuan half-knelt on the ground and cried out to the outside. At this moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps at the door. Lin Xuan was overjoyed, "Brother, you..."

"Ah Xuan, what are you kneeling on the ground for? Big Brother has already agreed. Hurry up and get up and eat something. Hey, don't cry." Lin Qingyuan panicked and wiped her tears. Lin Xuan's eyes were tearful. "Big Brother, don't you want to forgive me?"

"How could that be? Eldest brother loves us the most, how could he bear to ignore you? But this time, hey, get up, I will accompany you to see him later." Lin Qingyuan supported her and said.

When Lin Shuge returned to his bedroom, Xie Chen immediately stepped forward and asked, "Why do you look so bad? Are you done with the conversation?"

"Zhongxuan, do me a favor. My aunt has been in Yandu for many years and is familiar with the ladies of various families. Please ask her to take care of Axuan on a daily basis. I will go to Lord Ruan's house now and ask him to inform Madam Ruan." Lin Shuge grabbed Xie Chen's hand and said.

"Okay, I know. Brother, take a rest for a while before going." Xie Chen shouted outside, and immediately a servant came in with food.

"Go and bring some food to my wife as well." Xie Chen ordered.

The servant responded, then stepped back.

"Brother, have a bowl of porridge first." Xie Chen picked up the hot porridge and blew on it, "Here."

Lin Shuge opened his mouth and swallowed it, then took the porridge from him and drank it in a few gulps.

"Zhongxuan, what do you think of Axuan in the future..." Lin Shuge's face was as pale as snow, and his heart was filled with panic. He had never been afraid of wind and snow. The stronger the wind and snow, the more determined he would be. But now he didn't know what to do to be thorough.

"Brother, we all know how smart Axuan is. People in the palace may not be her match. Besides, you forgot that Axuan saved many people that day, including Madam Ruan and the little prince. Even if these things didn't happen, you and I are still here. I don't think anyone dares to touch Axuan."

As soon as Xie Chen came in, he knew what the two had discussed. The brother and sister both cared about each other, but they had similar personalities. Once they made up their minds, nothing could change them, so one side had to compromise.

But this compromise is not peaceful either. I have to think of a foolproof plan for my sister so that I can help her if she really encounters any problems in the future.

"Really?" Lin Shuge murmured in a low voice.

"Brother, Axuan is not a child anymore. Since she has the courage to make this decision, she must also have the courage to bear the consequences. You naturally know all this." He was just too concerned.

Xie Chen stared at him and said slowly, "Let's pack up after A Xuan enters the palace. How about accompanying me to Xie Mansion to relax in the next few days?"

Lin Shuge agreed, and Xie Chen stood up and held him in his arms, "Meetings and separations, life is like this. If Xuan has great luck in the future, we will meet again."

Lin Shuge hugged him with his backhand and buried his head in his shoulder. Xie Chen felt the wetness on his shoulders, lowered his head and kissed his hair, "Brother, I will always be with you."