Chapter 93: Reconciliation Because I already like someone else. ...

The moonlight makes people's shadows mottled and long.

Xie Yuchao walked alone in the alley, his steps slow and his eyes dull. The white robe he had worn today was already stained, and the wound on his arm, which had not been properly treated, was bleeding again.

He walked aimlessly, looking lost.

Suddenly he heard the sound of hurried footsteps, he looked up and frowned slightly.

A dozen people dressed similarly suddenly appeared and surrounded him.

It came really quickly, Xie Yuchao thought.

There was a gap directly ahead, unobstructed, and he figured it wasn't meant for him to escape. Sure enough, not long after, Steward Lin himself, holding a lantern, came towards him from that direction.

Behind him, there were two servants escorting Xiao Si.

Now that he has the hostages, he can't escape even if he has the chance, otherwise it would be too unrighteous.

"Uncle Lin."

Steward Lin walked up to him and blocked the last gap in this human-shaped "fence".

"Master."

Looking at the man before him, Steward Lin felt a mixture of emotions. Their precious young master had never been so embarrassed and lost before.

"It's only been a short time, how could you have gotten yourself into this state?"

Xie Yuchao lowered his head, speechless.

"Go home, young master." Steward Lin sighed silently, "The master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Xie Yuchao clenched his fists, seeming to be very unwilling.

He didn't know when they would meet again after he returned. But he had no choice, because as he had said that day, he was too incompetent.

"Uncle Lin." He raised his head. "I will go back with you, but can you give me another day?"

"Why?"

"I have something very important that I must do."

Butler Lin didn't look surprised.

He advised earnestly, "Master, when you grow up, some things will look back and realize they are not that important."

Xie Yuchao shook his head. "Uncle Lin, I'm already nineteen years old. There are many people younger than me who have already served in the imperial court and made great achievements. Even someone as useless as Du Yuan, Uncle Du let him go out and gain experience. As for me, how much do I have to memorize those books? How many more years do I have to be locked up at home like a child by you before I can be considered grown up?"

Steward Lin disagreed and patiently explained, "Other families send their sons into the government early to consolidate family power, but the head of the family sees no need for that. Those who enter the court at a young age, especially without a strong backer, may seem to enjoy a glorious life, but in reality, they face immense hardship. But young master, you are different. Wait until the head of the family paves the way for you, and everything will go smoothly for you from now on."

"What if I want to suffer?"

Butler Lin couldn't answer this question.

"Forget it." Xie Yuchao knew that arguing would be fruitless. "Uncle Lin, please give me one more day. I beg you."

Steward Lin frowned, "Young Master, you are the only child of the patriarch. You are born noble and will surely rise above everyone else in the future. In this world, you are the only one who asks for favors."

"This isn't the Xie family." Xie Yuchao laughed self-deprecatingly, "Look at me now. Without the Xie family, I'm nothing."

Fearing that he might lose his spirit, Steward Lin hurriedly said, "It's not that bad. I was at a teahouse on Dongqiao Street a few days ago and heard people there say that there's a young master named Xie who is incredibly talented and has unparalleled talent. Even without the name of the Xie family, hasn't the young master earned recognition from many people on his own?"

Xie Yuchao scoffed, "What's the use of those empty reputations? When disaster strikes, you can't even... can't even protect yourself."

"Master, whatever happens, just go home."

"I'll go back!" Xie Yuchao felt a little aggrieved and annoyed. "I only need one day! I'll go back immediately after I finish what I want to do!"

"But Master, what you want to do will not mean anything to you in the future."

Xie Yuchao was not sure how much the person in front of him knew about his whereabouts and what he had done during this period.

But he is certain, "For me right now, nothing is more important or meaningful than this."

*

Another sleepless night.

There were many confusing things in Song Baoyuan's mind. First, she was afraid of what happened tonight, then she was confused after hearing what Aqi said, and she was filled with endless worries.

On the one hand, there is Achao.

Qiaoyin said that when she crawled out of the snow, she was only thinking about coming back to ask her husband for help and did not notice Achao.

I don’t know how he is doing now.

On the other hand, Pingyuan Hou was of noble status, and it was impossible that no one would pursue the matter after his death.

Even though Jiang Keyu holds the power of the Dali Temple, it is impossible for her to let such a matter go lightly.

Song Baoyuan turned over in bed and her palm accidentally rubbed the pillow, causing a slight pain to spread.

This reminded her of the bandage wrapped around Jiang Keyu's hand.

Now, two people can’t put together a pair of good hands.

It was a mess, and all these things in her mind prevented her from sleeping.

As I was thinking, daybreak came.

Because she sprained her ankle, although it was not serious, Song Baoyuan would have to wait two or three days before she could try to get out of bed. For now, she could only lie down or sit.

After washing her face in the morning, Qiao Yue brought a comfortable chair over, covered it with cushions, and placed it near the door. She helped Song Baoyuan over and sat down. She also placed a charcoal stove and a small table nearby, with snacks on them, so she could pass the time.

"Mom, get up!"

Song Baoyuan looked outside and saw her daughter, who looked like a glutinous rice ball, wearing a small flowered jacket and a warm hat, making snowballs in the yard.

"Sui Sui? When did you come here?"

Jiang Suisui ran into the house in small steps, "I've been here for a long time! But Daddy said that I can't talk until Mom wakes up."

Her face was a little red, and Song Baoyuan quickly reached out to touch it to prevent it from being red from the cold. But as soon as she reached out her hand, she dodged.

"What's the matter? You won't let me touch you after just one day of not seeing you?"

"No!" Jiang Suisui explained anxiously in a baby voice, "It's Daddy! Daddy said I'm not allowed to touch Mom's hand."

She didn't seem to understand why, so she looked a little aggrieved, but she was very obedient.

Song Baoyuan was slightly stunned, and it took a while before she remembered to ask, "Why are you alone?"

Jiang Suisui took a half step back and squatted beside the charcoal stove.

As she roasted snowballs, she replied, "I want to eat sugar-roasted chestnuts, and my brother wants to eat candied haws, so Daddy rode out to buy them."

She gestured with her arms outstretched. "That horse is so tall and big. My brother wanted to ride it, so Daddy let him sit in the front and took him along."

Song Baoyuan couldn't help laughing as she looked at her daughter. She was so small, yet she spoke at length, gesticulating and moving her hands as if she were acting out a story.

"You don't want to ride?"

"I want to!" Jiang Suisui pouted, "But I lost in rock-paper-scissors."

She scratched her hands, very unconvinced, "I should have used the stone!"

Song Baoyuan couldn't help but poke her chubby little face.

"mother!"

A clear voice came from outside.

Song Baoyuan glanced sideways and paused for a moment before she saw the figure.

Jiang Chengyou held a paper bag in each hand, opened his arms like an eagle spreading its wings, stepped over the white snow, and ran towards her.

Behind the child, the tall and straight Jiang Keyu strolled over, his dark blue robe wrapped in a dark blue cape. The two strings of bright red candied haws in his right hand were particularly eye-catching.

Song Baoyuan looked at him in a daze, unable to remember when he started to get used to wearing dark colors.

"Mom!" Jiang Chengyou ran over and raised his hands. "Do you want almond cake or candied date cake?"

He tilted his head, "If you're willing to kiss me, you can have both!"

Song Baoyuan laughed and bent down to kiss him on the right cheek.

"Where did you learn that?"

Jiang Keyu, who walked into the house a step slower, could not hide her confusion.

Is this okay?

Jiang Chengyou twisted his body proudly.

Jiang Keyu snorted, "Go, bring a chair over for your father."

"Why don't you go yourself?" Jiang Chengyou asked, looking up.

"Not happy? Then I won't take you riding next time."

"I'll move it!" Jiang Suisui jumped up and said, "I'll move it for Daddy! I'll move the most comfortable chair for Daddy!"

Jiang Chengyou got anxious as soon as he saw it, "I didn't say I wouldn't go!"

The two children were vying for the first place and making a lot of noise.

"They are not even as tall as the chairs." Song Baoyuan muttered softly.

Jiang Keyu turned around and saw that she looked unhappy. She asked, "Why are your eyes still dark? Didn't you get enough rest last night?"

Song Baoyuan didn't know if it was her own illusion, but he asked in an unusually gentle manner, "Is everything okay? Don't you have to go on duty today?"

"I've taken two days off."

While they were talking, the two children had already pushed a chair over together.

"Daddy, sit down!"

The two children were so attentive that Song Baoyuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Jiang Keyu sat down with satisfaction and distributed the candied haws to them. "Go and play."

Song Baoyuan followed the two children's eyes and watched them run back to the yard, eating candied haws and rolling snowballs.

It was not until Jiang Keyu's hand was spread out in front of her and the peeled chestnuts in her palm exuded fragrance that she withdrew her attention.

Sugar-roasted chestnuts.

Song Baoyuan suddenly thought of Ah Chao who was unaware of the situation.

She glanced at the person beside her, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Keyu noticed her hesitation.

Song Baoyuan took the chestnut and after some hesitation, she finally asked, "Did you go to Hongconglin when you came to see me yesterday?"

"Um."

"Then have you seen Achao?" Song Baoyuan paused after every few words, her voice getting lower and lower.

Jiang Keyu froze for a moment.

Ah, Chao?

He slowly raised his eyes and asked knowingly, "Who?"

Song Baoyuan felt that at a certain moment, the gentleness that enveloped him disappeared.

"That's right, Mr. Xie."

"I don't know him."

Song Baoyuan: "..."

Jiang Keyu remained calm.

"Ahem." Song Baoyuan cleared her throat and said seriously, "He was accompanying me out of the city, and was trying to protect me when he was thrown from the carriage by thieves. The thieves were coming for me, so it was an unprovoked disaster for him. If he gets into trouble because of me, I will definitely be blamed."

“Not dead.”

Jiang Keyu said concisely.

He lowered his head and peeled chestnuts, his face expressionless.

Song Baoyuan was stunned for a moment, "So you saw him?"

Jiang Keyu not only didn't answer, but also snorted.

Song Baoyuan: “?”

"A Chao?" Jiang Keyu smiled wryly, "You call him A Chao?"

Song Baoyuan: "..."

Why does it feel so eerie?

Jiang Keyu was furious and tried her best to hide it, but she could still hear some annoyance in her tone, "You call him Ah Chao, what did you call me?"

Song Baoyuan lowered her eyes and thought for a moment.

"Call him so intimately, and just care about me..."

"elder brother."

Suddenly there was silence.

Jiang Keyu's unfinished complaint was stuck in her throat, unable to be swallowed back or spit out.

The long-lost address made his eyes dazed.

Song Baoyuan felt uncomfortable being stared at by him, so she turned her face away and bit her lip awkwardly.

"Why, why did you suddenly call me like that?" Jiang Keyu came back to her senses and asked softly.

Song Baoyuan lowered her eyes and spoke in a low voice, "I, I asked Ah Qi about some things in the past last night. That is, some things you didn't tell me."

Jiang Keyu didn't understand.

"Anyway, I, I just..." Song Baoyuan spoke with difficulty and stammered, "I just, I just want to ask, can we, can we even things out?"

She tightened her grip, struggling for a long time, and finally mustered up the courage to look up and ask, "Can we make peace?"

Jiang Keyu's eyes paused slightly, "What do you mean by reconciliation?"

"Back to the old days."

"Which one?"

"Of course it's at the beginning." Song Baoyuan said as a matter of course, and frankly, "Didn't you say it before? Let's be brother and sister again."

If only time could go back, Jiang Keyu thought.

He turned his face away, hiding his disappointment.

"Since you want to reconcile, why can't you go back to us, us..." He was unwilling, "When we were closest."

This time, Song Baoyuan did not dodge or stutter.

She said honestly: "Because, I already like someone else."

It was such a gentle sentence, but it was deafening to Jiang Keyu.

It's raining again.

Heavy rain was pouring down in his heart.