Before Chapter 12, he dreamt of his brother's wife, sheltering him from the cold all night...
Having just parted ways with Shen Xi at Wangxian Tower during the day, Xie Chengyan dreamt of her past life that very night.
That night, which happened to be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Duke of Wei's mansion was brightly lit.
Shen Xi and Madam Xue stood anxiously outside Xie Wenlang's bedroom. Crimson blood stained basin after basin of water, which was brought out one after another by the servants, and the stench of blood filled the entire courtyard.
Madam Xue looked away, unable to bear watching any longer: "Second Brother, please don't let anything happen to him. If something happens to him, I won't be able to live either..."
On this day, Xie Wenlang encountered bandits on his way back to the capital. While trying to save someone, he was seriously injured by the bandits and is now on the verge of death. The Duke's Mansion inquired everywhere and finally found this legendary doctor to treat him.
Shen Xi gently comforted her, "Mother, don't panic. With Doctor Wen here, the young master will be fine."
Madam Xue held the string of beads in her hand and prayed with her eyes closed: "May the gods and Buddhas protect me, may the gods and Buddhas protect me, please protect my son and keep him safe and sound."
The Duke's family kept watch outside until midnight before the doctor finally came out of the room and gave his answer: "Although the second young master's injuries are serious, fortunately, no vital organs have been damaged. If he can survive tonight, his life will be saved."
Madam Xue breathed a sigh of relief, nearly collapsing to the ground due to her weak legs.
Fortunately, Shen Xi, who was beside him, reacted quickly and helped him up.
Madam Xue held onto Chen Xi's hand and watched the doctor enter the room again before belatedly wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
After a while, thinking of Shen Xi beside her, Madam Xue remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly and earnestly: "You and Erlang have been married for three years, and he has never taken a concubine. The two of you are deeply in love, which is wonderful, but it is time for you to have children."
"You've had a tough time all these years. Once Erlang wakes up and recovers, let's hurry up and have a child as soon as possible."
Shen Xi helped Xue Shi walk back slowly: "Alright, I'll listen to Mother. But right now, Erlang is unconscious and his condition is uncertain. Even if you're heartbroken, Mother, you must take care of yourself. Otherwise, you'll be heartbroken when Erlang wakes up."
His words were so pleasing and agreeable that Madam Xue nodded repeatedly.
Xie Chengyan stood by and witnessed the whole thing.
It seems that although this sister-in-law is weak, she has successfully won over her mother's favor over the past three years. With Xue's approval, things will surely go smoothly for her in the future.
Without anyone's help, she established herself firmly in the Duke's mansion, so all the work he had done in secret before was really unnecessary.
After seeing Xue off, Shen Xi turned around and noticed him, then slowly bowed and said, "Brother."
She never called him "elder brother" like Xie Wenlang did, always using the more difficult and obscure form of address.
However, it was just a form of address after all, and he didn't care; he let her choose as she pleased.
"Um."
He responded, but remained silent for a moment.
Finally, Xie Chengyan managed to come up with a comforting remark: "Sister-in-law, there's no need to worry."
Seemingly surprised that he would speak first, Shen Xi paused for a moment before replying.
"Yes, my lord is blessed by the heavens and will surely get through this."
Then, there was another long silence.
The two were hardly acquainted; this was only their second formal meeting, and they couldn't find anything suitable to talk about.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Xi took out a peace charm from her sleeve and handed it to him: "I heard that you don't like celebrating your birthday, so please accept this peace charm as a belated New Year's gift. It's nothing valuable, please don't find it offensive."
His gaze fell on her palm. The amulet was ordinary in design, nothing special, and certainly not something valuable.
He was slightly taken aback. After years of fighting, everyone wished him great achievements and a great victory over the enemy, but no one had ever thought of his safety.
Even if it's just superficial.
This sister-in-law always does things unexpectedly.
Xie Chengyan didn't take it, but looked away and said, "Given the current situation, it's better to keep it for Wen Lang."
Shen Xi pursed her lips, but did not insist, and put the peace charm back.
The two remained silent for a long time in the cold night, gazing at the courtyard shrouded in darkness. Only the rustling wind swept away the dense winter snow, startling a few people who shivered slightly.
She stayed up all night for her husband.
He stood in the wind, wearing a cloak, to shield his sister-in-law from the cold all night.
*
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as Xie Chengyan said, Shen Xi's hand injury healed precisely at the right time, with new tender red covering the burn. It only occasionally itch a little in the middle of the night, but otherwise it was fine.
On this day, Shen Xi went to Wangxian Tower as scheduled, not because of Xie Chengyan's previous threat.
After all, she didn't believe Xie Chengyan at all that he would come to pick her up in person. There was no need for Xie Chengyan to go to such lengths for a future sister-in-law who was not even close to being a couple yet.
Over the years of spending time with Xie Wenlang, Shen Xi gradually figured out his temperament. He might forget half of what the Duke of Wei and his wife said, but he cared deeply for his elder brother.
Now that her marriage to Xie Wenlang is stalled, with the Duke and Duchess of Wei not readily agreeing, Xie Wenlang can still defy them with impunity. But if Xie Chengyan is added to the list of those who are obstructing them, this marriage will truly be a pipe dream, a mirage.
Since we can't avoid him, we might as well go with the flow.
No matter what method is used, if it can please Xie Chengyan, even if it cannot help him, it can at least make him not oppose the marriage.
She came here for this selfish reason.
She just couldn't see through Xie Chengyan. Was it really worth him taking such a big deal out of Xie Wenlang's completely absurd request?
But if it wasn't for Xie Wenlang, then what was it for that made such a busy person like him waste his time here with her?
Shen Xi was completely baffled.
Moreover, Xie Wenlang was not present this time; only she was learning to ride a horse with her future husband's elder brother, which can only be described as absurd.
Perhaps Xie Wenlang and Xie Chengyan both meant well, but putting aside her impure motives, in the eyes of outsiders, her close relationship with Xie Chengyan was not a good thing.
Shen Xi could understand this concern, and Xie Chengyan naturally could as well.
It must be said that Xie Wenlang only mentioned it to Xie Chengyan verbally when he asked him for help, but he did it very thoroughly.
Shen Xi entered Wangxian Tower but did not see Xie Chengyan. Only his deputy, Liang Tuo, was waiting in the room.
“Miss Shen, the general is waiting for you at the horse farm. Please follow me through the back gate.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Xi instantly understood that the Wangxian Tower was just a cover to avoid attracting attention, so that outsiders would know that she was spending half a day here in peace.
She followed Liang Tuo around the crowd and left; carriages and horses were already prepared at the back gate of Wangxian Tower.
With that in mind, Shen Xi gradually felt at ease, thinking that she might as well learn from a teacher who had come to her door.
It snowed a few days ago, and the sky hasn't cleared up yet; it's gloomy all day.
The racecourse was deserted, making it seem even more spacious. As Shen Xi looked around, his gaze was instantly drawn to a figure.
The man was riding a chestnut horse across the field, dressed in a black outfit, braving the fierce north wind as he recklessly cut through it.
Unlike the scions of noble families in the capital who always tried to show off their horsemanship and appear elegant when riding, he didn't care about such a posture. He simply urged his horse over obstacles with ease, leaping across puddles and kicking up mud and dust with each bound.
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze fixed solely on the road ahead. Compared to the refined elegance that Xie Wenlang and the others deliberately pursued, he appeared sharper and more dashing.
Shen Xi stared at the scene for a moment, only coming back to her senses when he slowed down and rode his horse toward her.
Those familiar, calm, and dark eyes belonged to Xie Chengyan.
He strolled up to Shen Xi and slowly reined in his horse: "How is the injury?"
Ah, you know the answer already.
But Shen Xi didn't forget her purpose for coming. She forced a very appropriate smile and spread her hands to show him: "The medicine you gave me is of course excellent. It is said to be effective in seven days, and it is effective in seven days. My hands are still capable enough to not ruin the reputation of this medicine."
Xie Chengyan had been involved in both military and court politics for many years, dealing with shrewd and cunning people. He could tell without even trying that she was being insincere. He glanced at her hands indifferently and didn't care: "Since you're better, then practice on your own."
Having said that, he leaped down, handed the reins to Shen Xi, and the horse was also brought to her view.
Shen Xi then realized that the horse that had been galloping across the field was actually Zhuiyun.
Last time she practiced riding, she thought that Zhuiyun was naturally docile. But after seeing her today, she realized that it was because of the different riders that Zhuiyun was being used to her slow and leisurely pace.
Shen Xi smoothed the mane on Zhuiyun's neck and said softly, "Thank you. I'm sorry to have to trouble you to accommodate me again."
Just then, a servant brought another horse and handed it to Xie Chengyan. He took it, glanced at her with an ambiguous expression, and suddenly asked, "Didn't you wear a veil last time to avoid outside men? Why aren't you wearing one today?"
Shen Xi was surprised that he would suddenly bring this up. Turning around, she saw that he had already mounted his horse, his eyes slightly lowered, his brows calmly pressed down, looking down at her for an answer.
After a moment's thought, she carefully spoke: "The Buddhist scriptures say that all phenomena are illusory. In my heart, General, you have reached the realm of gods and Buddhas. How can ordinary people compare to you?"
rhetoric.
Xie Chengyan raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly not expecting her to be able to come up with these theories about the formless and intangible deities.
Meanwhile, as soon as Shen Xi finished speaking, he hurriedly mounted his horse and turned to leave. If he stayed with him any longer, who knows what kind of trouble he would cause him.
There happened to be a pine forest next to the racecourse, and a narrow path led straight into the depths. To avoid being seen from behind, Shen Xi turned around with Zhui Yun without thinking.
Xie Chengyan did not stop her, and Shen Xi was relieved, focusing on exploring this hidden corner.
The path was separated by low bushes on both sides, and as she got closer, the fragrance of pine trees became more and more pronounced. She just kept walking forward.
After Zhuiyun had just galloped away, Shenxi wasn't in a hurry to urge him on. Last time she came, she was only focused on how to avoid Xie Chengyan and didn't pay much attention. This time, she could take a good look at the scenery around her.
A man and a horse leisurely ventured into the pine forest. Shen Xi looked around but didn't notice that he had slightly swerved the reins, and Zhui Yun followed suit and rode along the side of the road.
As she swayed, her skirt got caught on a low bush by the roadside, but Shen Xi was completely unaware and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, Xie Chengyan, who had fallen far behind, rode up to her and in the blink of an eye was riding alongside her. He decisively turned to the side, grabbed her reins with one hand, and stopped Zhuiyun in time.
Shen Xi was startled by his sudden approach and unconsciously leaned back slightly, pulling her hand back as well. Zhui Yun was thrown off balance by this movement.
Is it wrong to praise him as a god? Why be so petty?
As she looked at him, puzzled, Xie Chengyan spoke in a slightly cool voice: "Let go, give it to me."
Shen Xi subconsciously complied and let go.
Xie Chengyan took the horse, calmly brought it to a stop, and then dismounted from his own horse. He reached into the bushes with his other hand to untangle her clothes that had gotten caught.
"Don't move."
His voice was very low, and his fingertips deliberately avoided touching her, only pinching the piece of fabric and slowly pulling it away from the splinter.
Shen Xi sat upright on the horse without moving. From this angle, she suddenly realized that their positions had been reversed, and she was now looking down at him.
Xie Chengyan's lowered eyes made his emotions unreadable, but the subtle sound of his fingers rubbing against the fabric was amplified and fell with unusual clarity on Shen Xi's ear.
A note from the author:
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Xiao Xi: What are you asking?! The answer is you're my god!! [Question mark]
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