Chapter 102 He Must Break the Stalemate
"Yes, and someone has to be the bride."
Fu Qinghuai raised an eyebrow smugly, leaned in to kiss him again, but Xie Xun blocked him with his hand before he said in a green tea-like tone, "Besides, we can have a wedding ceremony here, wouldn't that be great?"
"Stop fooling around." Xie Xun frowned slightly.
He has always been dismissive of marriage; what can two pieces of paper and a ceremony prove?
Is the depth of feelings measured by this?
Upon hearing this, Fu Qinghuai's eyes dimmed instantly, and he could barely maintain his feigned cunning. He forced a smile and said, "Oh."
Just that one word stung Xie Xun's heart for no apparent reason.
He suddenly realized that this ancient ghost might have some obsessions etched into its very bones that even it itself might not be aware of.
Look at the elaborate black robe he wore when he first broke free from the seal, his unconscious pickiness about food, clothing and daily necessities, and the occasional air of arrogance that was out of step with the times.
This guy was probably from a very prestigious family who valued rules and traditions.
But ironically, he had even forgotten who he was.
They don't remember where they came from, they don't remember how they got home, and even how they died is a blur.
Perhaps the only thing that is clear is this soul, and that almost instinctive obsession with status.
No wonder... when I first proposed dual cultivation, I insisted on having him give me a formal title before I would agree.
Xie Xun remained silent, his initial disdain for formalism slowly replaced by a more complex emotion.
Looking at Fu Qinghuai's profile, which was trying to appear nonchalant but couldn't hide his disappointment, he suddenly felt that this old ghost seemed a little... pitiful.
In the end, pity outweighed disdain.
Xie Xun sighed, reached out, and hugged Fu Qinghuai, gently patting his back.
"I didn't say I wouldn't do it."
His tone was still calm, but with a hint of indulgence, "If you want to do it, then do it."
Fu Qinghuai suddenly looked down at him, the starlight in his peach blossom eyes brightening again, revealing a gossipy heart.
"It's possible, but don't even think about wearing the phoenix coronet and wedding gown. If you want to wear it yourself, then it's fine."
Xie Xun turned his face away, his ears burning slightly, but his tone was deliberately stiff, "Also, don't make things too complicated."
"Okay! I'll do whatever Xunxun says!"
Fu Qinghuai instantly came to life, like a big dog whose fur had been stroked, and happily came over to rub against him again.
Xie Xun couldn't help but raise his hand to block him again, but a hint of tenderness, which he himself didn't even notice, flashed in his eyes.
If you forget about it, then forget about it.
He thought to himself.
He was powerless to fill the void in his past, but at least... he could give her this title.
After cuddling for a while, Xie Xun decided to explore the place and got out of bed.
He had just finished dressing when a respectful voice came from outside the door.
"General, Master Xie has arrived with the dowry list, saying... there are some terms that need to be discussed further."
Fu Qinghuai clicked his tongue in annoyance and said to Xie Xun in a low voice, "Look, the troublemakers are here."
Then, raising his voice, he said to the outside, "Tell him to wait in the side hall."
"yes."
Before long, Xie Xun followed Fu Qinghuai to the front hall.
From afar, Liu Xiuyuan could be seen rubbing his hands together, bowing and scraping as he approached, followed by a reluctant-looking A-Can and a meek Lin Huairou holding an account book.
"General,"
Liu Xiuyuan forced a smile, but his eyes secretly glanced at Xie Xun. Seeing the marks on Xie Xun's neck, his face paled, and he looked rather uneasy. "This...this betrothal gift...the shop in the west of the city we agreed on, the land deed, isn't it..."
Fu Qinghuai sat imposingly in the main seat, his eyes cold and sharp. "So, Master Xie is not satisfied with the conditions I, Fu, have offered?"
"No, no!"
Liu Xiuyuan broke out in a cold sweat. "But... but that shop is ancestral property. Could we... could we exchange it for cash?"
"that is!"
Ah-Can couldn't help but interject, her tone sharp, "Everyone knows my brother is going to marry into another family to bring good luck! And his health isn't good, what if... you have to provide adequate guarantees!"
Before Fu Qinghuai could speak, Xie Xun spoke first, his voice not loud but very clear.
"Father, Ah-Can, stop talking."
He looked at Fu Qinghuai, his eyes calm, "Since the Marshal has agreed to the marriage, he will naturally not mistreat the Xie family. Everything... should be done according to the rules."
His words seemed compliant, but in reality, they were meant to appease his family and prevent them from angering the unstable Fu Qinghuai.
Seeing this, Fu Qinghuai gave Xie Xun a deep look, a half-smile curving his lips.
"Madam is indeed reasonable."
He emphasized those two words, and seeing Xie Xun's ears turn slightly red, he said to Liu Xiuyuan with satisfaction, "If that's the case, then add another land deed, and add 30% in cash. Lieutenant, take them to the accounting office."
"Yes, Commander." The adjutant gestured for them to proceed.
Liu Xiuyuan was overjoyed and quickly pulled Ah Can, who still wanted to say something, to leave.
Lin Huairou glanced at Xie Xun with concern, and after a long while, she lowered her head and followed him away.
"Wait a minute."
Suddenly, Fu Qinghuai called out to the group, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lin Huairou and pointed at her, saying, "You stay here and serve your young master."
Lin Huairou was a little scared when she was called upon, but when she heard that she was to serve Xie Xun, she was overjoyed and said, "Yes!"
For the next few days, Xie Xun was arranged to stay in the most spacious courtyard of the Marshal's Mansion.
Fu Qinghuai would visit Xie Xun's courtyard without fail for eleven out of ten days, making Xie Xun a very popular figure at the Marshal's Mansion.
Everyone says that the Marshal, who has been abstinent for many years, has finally blossomed, and that Xie Xun has become another male master of their Marshal's Mansion.
That's what others think, but some people don't.
In the past few days, Xie Xun has been trying to break the deadlock with his magic power, and even tried drawing talismans.
The result was that the brush was incredibly heavy in my hand, and the lines I drew were crooked and lacked any spirit.
Well, now he's truly a sickly weakling, unable to even kill a chicken.
Fortunately, Lin Huairou is a clever girl.
Although I don't remember the past, I'm very efficient at my work. I can always find a way to get some good stuff out of that shrewish old woman in the kitchen. Sometimes it's a plate of osmanthus cake, and sometimes it's a few steamed buns with fresh meat.
"Young master, please try it."
Lin Huairou pushed the pastries in front of him, saying, "I secretly slipped some money to the young man who was buying them."
Xie Xun was moved, but also felt a bittersweet feeling.
He watched Lin Huairou bustling around, thinking that this girl was still just a teenager herself.
He tapped on the table. "Sit down and eat with us."
Lin Huairou was so frightened that she waved her hands frantically, "How can this be! Young Master, this is against the rules..."
"I don't have that many rules here."
Xie Xun pushed the plate of osmanthus cake directly in front of her, saying, "Since you're invited to sit, then sit down."
A modern soul simply cannot stand this hierarchical system.
Having lived in a modern society for so many years, where everyone is born equal, how can he feel at ease ordering others around?
They would never have done anything to oppress others in a feudal society.
Seeing that Xie Xun didn't seem to be joking, Lin Huairou cautiously sat down next to the stool, taking small bites of the pastries, her eyes lighting up.
Seeing her like this, Xie Xun felt even worse.
"Don't secretly slip money to me anymore,"
He ladled out another half bowl of porridge and said, "Eat whatever they give you."
"That won't do! Young Master, your health is already weak..."
"As long as I can eat, I won't starve."
Xie Xun interrupted her, "But you are still growing, don't neglect yourself."
He looked out the window at the imposing courtyard walls, and even in this illusory world, he felt very uncomfortable.
He really didn't want to stay in this cannibalistic old society for even a moment longer, and he couldn't let Liu Xiuyuan and his apprentice, as well as Lin Huairou, be implicated and trapped here.
He must break the deadlock.
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