In the two days following Chapter 22, "I Am My Brother," Xie Pan began to avoid her somewhat.
Thank you twice in one summer
Xie Pan truly understood his elder brother; a single sentence was enough to arouse Xie Dang's suspicion.
After thinking it over, Xie Dang summoned some people, whispered something to them, and then waved his hand, and the people dispersed.
After all that commotion, Xie Dang could no longer sleep and stood outside the military tent, robes draped over his shoulders, enjoying the breeze.
His heart ached whenever he thought of the blood on the snow that day.
He was filled with deep regret. If he had known this would happen, he would never have been so kind in the first place!
Jia'er is still alive, but where is she?
Xie Dang had always been extremely confident that he could find her, but now more than a year had passed, and despite secretly sending out so many people, there was still no trace of her. His heart sank.
Jia'er, where are you?
Lost in thought, his lieutenant arrived in haste under the cover of night.
He carried a food box in one hand and a letter in the other.
He walked quickly to him.
Xie Dang glanced at the thing in his hand, frowned, and asked with his eyes what kind of nonsense it was.
The lieutenant swallowed hard: "General, this was sent from over there, and they asked me to give it to you."
Although Xie Dang is now the Minister of War, his former subordinates still casually call him General.
Xie Dang's face darkened upon hearing this.
With an angry wave of his hand, he said, "No, send it back."
The lieutenant stammered, "But she's already gone..."
Xie Dang glared impatiently: "Then throw it away!"
The lieutenant had no choice but to agree.
This lieutenant had served Xie Dang for many years, often acting as Xie Dang's henchman. Therefore, he knew things unknown to others, including Xie Conglin's mysterious mother.
This food box was delivered from the other side.
But the lieutenant didn't know what was going on here. It wasn't exactly an outer chamber. The general rarely went there, and whenever he did, he always left the door open and never sat alone with anyone.
But if she's not a mistress, she's quite protective...
He had known about this for a long time and thought that if his wife found out, she would definitely be angry.
Later, when the lady found out, the consequences were far more serious than just being angry.
The lieutenant glanced at the general discreetly, sighing inwardly at his pitiful state of being abandoned.
Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable for a man to be unable to control his belt!
The deputy general had received kindness from the lady and greatly admired her. Besides, who among the general's men hadn't received kindness from her?
But these words cannot be spoken aloud.
Do your job as you see fit.
The lieutenant pretended not to know and handed over the letter again.
Xie Dang impatiently unfolded the letter and began reading it before even entering the military tent.
The response from above was nothing new or the usual: how unwell he was and how much he needed to see a doctor.
"If you're not feeling well, go see a doctor. I don't know how to treat illnesses!"
After uttering these words, Xie Dang suppressed his anger and turned back to his military tent.
Xie Dang paced back and forth in his military tent, annoyed.
Speaking of the Lin family...
Lin was the wife of his sworn brother. At that time, his brother was poisoned and would not live for more than a few days, so he sent his wife to him and asked him to take care of her. He asked for nothing more than to keep her alive.
That Lin family member was cautious and timid, with a gentle and mild temperament, quite different from Jia'er. It seemed as if she couldn't survive without protection.
At that time, he had been alone for a long time, which aroused suspicion. Some people inquired why he hadn't brought his wife over.
Lin then pretended to be his wife to facilitate his actions outside.
But later...
Thinking about what would happen later, Xie Dang frowned in annoyance. Back then, when he was hiding among the people in the Northern Rong to gather information, he was originally quite free.
This is the thing Xie Dang regrets most today!
Just thinking about Jia'er's shocked and devastated expression at that time makes her feel like a leaf falling from the sky with nothing to rely on.
The look in her eyes was one of utter disappointment, as if all their past love had vanished into thin air, leaving him breathless whenever he thought about it.
If he had known this would happen, he definitely wouldn't have been so soft-hearted!
Xie Dang clutched his chest and closed his eyes tightly.
Jia'er, Jia'er, where are you trapped?
Why can't anyone find you?
For more than a year, Xie Dang was unable to eat or sleep properly, and for a while he became emaciated. However, his deputy persuaded him that his wife liked men who looked like gentlemen, so he reluctantly ate a little more.
It's just forcing it down.
Xia Rushi was unaware of Xie Dang's bitter sorrow.
She was nestled in Xie Pan's arms, sleeping soundly.
I vaguely felt something cool next to me while I was half asleep. I grabbed it and hugged it, and it felt really comfortable.
The herbal soup also had a calming effect, and before I could think clearly, I fell into a deep sleep.
When I gradually woke up in the middle of the night, a thought came to my mind, but it was quickly suppressed by sleepiness.
The next day, Xia Rushi woke up feeling refreshed.
Perhaps it was because of my good mood, or something else, but my illness completely disappeared.
When I came to my senses, I realized that I was covered in sweat.
She realized something was wrong and looked to the side. She was clinging tightly to someone's chest, her arms wrapped around his waist in a possessive manner. As she looked over, Xie Pan also looked down at her. His silent eyes were bloodshot, and there was a gray patch under his eyes. His cheeks, however, were unusually flushed.
It's obvious he stayed up all night.
His lying posture was rather awkward, with his waist twisted outwards.
No matter how much she twisted and turned, she couldn't hide what she wanted to conceal. The thin quilt revealed everything.
I don't know what I was thinking; maybe I just lost my mind.
She must not be fully awake yet? Before her mind could process it, she flicked that spot with her hand.
Xie Pan froze instantly. Their eyes met, and Xie Pan felt as if his head was turning into a steaming kettle.
He panicked and fell off the bed, then scrambled out of the bedroom in a disheveled state, using both hands and feet.
Xia Ru covered her face, and after realizing it was the hand that had just caused the trouble, she switched to the other hand. Usually composed, her ears turned red this time.
She sighed softly, "What kind of situation is this?"
For the next two days, Xie Pan started avoiding her.
It wasn't exactly hiding; he still returned to this little courtyard every day and slept on her footstool, but he just kept his eyes down and refused to look at her.
Every time she looked over, he didn't even lift his eyes, but his whole face turned red.
Now that they've spent more time together, even though his face is dark, she can see a hint of red in it.
She burst out laughing, startling the burly man so much that he trembled slightly and flew away like a dragonfly on a leaf.
Xia Rushi laughed at first, but then she thought about how he was still so innocent at his age and couldn't help but feel a little sad. When she looked at him again, her gaze was filled with pity.
But before this pity could blossom and bear fruit, she couldn't hold back any longer in the courtyard.
One time, when there were few people in the mansion, I took a stroll in the garden and saw Qingqing.
She watched it carefully for a while.
Qingqing has grown up, blossomed into a beautiful young woman!
It was a good thing for her foolish son.
When Qingqing looked over, she darted behind the red pillar and quietly covered her lips.
I wonder if Qingqing saw her?
She returned to Tingzhuxuan, and perhaps because she had been recuperating well there recently, she thought about serious matters for the first time.
When will she tear open this false calm?
After much deliberation, she realized that since no one else knew, she had to let Qingqing know first.
Her son was a stubborn mule who hadn't yet developed romantic feelings; everyone else had someone to protect them, but Qingqing only had her.
She went out to test the waters a few more times, thinking she should take it slowly and not scare Qingqing all at once.
Once, they were almost discovered, but Xie Pan caught her by the waist and brought her back to the courtyard.
He leaned against the high wall, and after leading her into the courtyard, he lowered his arms. He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving, a clear indication of his turbulent emotions.
Xie Pan had many questions he wanted to ask, but he couldn't bring himself to ask them.
What did he say? In what capacity did he say it?
I wanted to slap myself twice for being so stupid!
If he had been more charming from the start, would she have chosen her brother instead?
But his eyes dimmed again in an instant. What good was his sweet talk?
He was merely a lowly illegitimate son.
Xia Rushi pressed against his chest, listening to his pounding heartbeat, and caught a glimpse of his hands opening and closing out of the corner of her eye.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged and spread upwards along his arm.
Objectively speaking, Xie Pan was more physically fit than Xie Dang.
She reached out and touched the veins on the back of his hand with her knuckles, then moved upwards.
Xie Pan remained motionless, like a strange rock in the garden. He could feel her curiosity and admiration, and he could feel her body heat scorching him.
He clearly didn't want to give his brother another chance by confining her in Tingzhuxuan, but now he was cowardly and hesitant again.
He was afraid she would regret it.
Xie Pan closed his eyes, his last remaining rationality and humanity struggling, which was even more vulnerable under the warmth of her body.
Suddenly, she raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist, her soft cheeks pressed firmly against his chest.
Xie Pan’s throat bobbed rapidly. At first, he struggled violently as his large hand, which was gripping her narrow waist, lifted and then lowered.
Finally, he mustered his courage and opened his arms to embrace her.
Not only that, he lowered his head, just like when he used to steal glances at his older brother, pressed his cheek against her shoulder, and hugged her tightly, even tighter.
His body was trembling with tension.
After a while, Xia Rushi finally couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder.
Xie Pan froze, realizing he had woken up from his dream.
"Loosen your grip, you're going to strangle me."
Xie Pan was slightly taken aback.
The next moment she pulled down his cold hand, glanced at him in surprise, and looked up at the blazing sun.
"Did you go into the river today?"
Meeting Xie Pan's puzzled and hesitant gaze, Xia Ru sighed, "Why are your hands so cold?"
Xie Pan: "...Nervous."
"What are you nervous about?" Xia Ru asked.
Xie Pan licked his dry lips. "I'm afraid you'll leave."
Xia Rushi glared at him playfully, "Where can I go with you here?"
After saying that, she grabbed his hand and led him towards the dormitory, saying, "Hurry up, I'm starving."
It was clearly the ground where Tingzhuxuan had walked, but every step felt like walking on clouds.
Xie Pan was in a daze and prayed to the heavens, "If this is a dream, then let it last a little longer."
That night, after Xia Rushi washed up and got into bed, she moved inside.
When Xie Pan carried the bedding to the bed, he looked into Xie Pan's eyes and patted the bed.
Xie Pan blinked, stunned, and then his hand loosened, causing the quilt to fall to the ground with a dull thud.
His silly look made Xia Rushi chuckle softly.
That idiot.
Xia Rushi discovered a new flavor in this dish.
He also got in touch with Qingqing.
Qingqing, that kind-hearted child, was always worried that she might lack money or things, so she would secretly throw things into the yard for her.
Didn't you ask her why at all?
There was no reproach in her eyes, only deep affection for her child; she simply said that it was enough if Aunt Jia thought it was good.
What a wonderful child.
As the days went by, Xia Rushi watched and couldn't help but sigh.
As a mother, she can do many things for her child, sheltering him from the wind and rain, but the path of love must be paved by the child himself.
She gave Lang'er many instructions, but she also knew many things that she could only understand after experiencing them herself.
Therefore, she was not surprised at all when Qingqing came to ask her for help.
Although Qingqing's face was normal and her eyes were not red, she could tell from her eyes that Qingqing was suffering from the bitterness of tears.
Xia Rushi looked up at the sky.
The situation in the Marquis's mansion may be about to change.
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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:
His gaze was extremely gloomy.
Xie Dang pointed to the courtyard gate of Tingzhu Pavilion, "Second brother, may I come in for a cup of tea?"
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