Chapter 25 Grabbing Pastries
The maids and servants serving in the room were all nervous and even wanted to close their eyes and dared not look.
The two masters stared at each other, their eyes meeting in the air, like the collision of cold weapons and the splashing of fireworks like artillery fire.
Although the two of them did not quarrel loudly, the desolate silence alone could make the house look like it was frozen into ice, which was frightening.
Jiang Si's unyielding attitude shocked everyone in Xian Yi Ju.
The lady was so beautiful, but she was the most fiery woman they had ever seen.
Moreover, she is one of the few people who does not give Xie Yunshuo any face.
Not only did she not care about him, she also went against him and spoke to him to irritate him.
Looking at Xie Yunshuo's expression, Leng Ning was like an ice sculpture, terrifyingly quiet.
Everyone knew that with his decisive character, the more silent he was, the more angry he was.
It is often the calmest before the storm.
If you only look at the young master's appearance, you would think that he has experienced something difficult, or a serious accident that has damaged his foundation and made him full of resentment.
Who would have known that the dispute was actually caused by a piece of cake, and the incident could not be more trivial.
If I tell this to outsiders, they might think I'm lying.
How could the eldest grandson of a first-rank general's mansion have such a huge fight with a woman over a piece of cake?
But for Xie Yunshuo, who was involved in the incident, it was precisely such a small matter that made him confused and resentful.
Because these two people have their own concerns, they are destined not to cause any major trouble.
Fighting over cakes in the house seems like a game between children, but if you look beyond the surface, you will find that it is of great significance.
After being told that by Jiang Si, Xie Yunshuo was once again speechless with anger, not knowing what to say.
Jiang Si ignored him and ate her own food with her plate.
The piece of pastry that Xie Yunshuo had bitten was picked up by her two slender jade fingers, only touching the edge.
Jiang Si frowned slightly, looking disgusted, and handed it to Ningshuang.
"It's a shame, but I can't let all my hard work go to waste. Take it and see if there are any wild cats or dogs. Feed them. Or break it up and put it on a tree trunk for the birds to eat."
Xie Yunshuo thought that she was deliberately telling a lie to irritate him, but he never expected that she could actually do it?
"You...!" He felt a mess of anger in his chest.
I have never seen such a prickly and irritating woman.
Xie Yunshuo was so angry that his eyes turned black. He watched helplessly as her maid took the damaged osmanthus cake with both hands, left the house, and went to feed the cats, dogs, and birds.
Only Jiang Si could do such an absurd thing.
Xie Yunshuo gritted his teeth and squeezed out every word from his throat.
"Jiang Si, what did I do wrong to make you hold such a grudge against me? You're so heartless and ungrateful. You don't even give me a shred of respect, and you're deliberately trying to piss me off. Do you really think I'm after a piece of your osmanthus cake?"
Xie Yunshuo was puzzled.
He didn't know why he was so bothered by Jiang Si when he clearly didn't care about her.
According to his original plan, the two should live their own lives and not interfere with each other.
He had no feelings for Jiang Si, and whatever she did had nothing to do with him.
But inexplicably, she was still being led by her by the nose.
Nothing she said or did made him feel good.
If you think about it carefully, the past where the two of them had coincidental interactions and refused to give in to each other was actually not a big deal.
And Xie Yunshuo suffered more losses.
Why did Jiang Si treat him like an enemy and make things difficult for him?
Xie Yunshuo thought he could stay out of it and not care. He clearly thought in his mind that it was none of his business whoever she gave the things to, but he still couldn't help but come here.
Since he asked, Jiang Si told him the truth.
"You think it's nothing, but I don't think so. You brought this upon yourself."
Xie Yunshuo's words were as arrogant and contemptuous as he was.
Does he think it’s nothing if he thinks it’s nothing?
To put it in a broader sense, he had caused her to be punished by the teacher, had opposed her, and ruined her reputation.
Because the Xie family made a wrong decision, they implicated her, causing her to lose her freedom to marry and unable to marry her ideal husband.
Come to the Xie family to make up for their mistakes.
Although Jiang Si chose to marry into the Xie family out of her own considerations of choosing the best, the emperor's will was in the forefront, and the influence of the Duke's Mansion's marriage proposal was only a small part of it.
Without the Duke's Mansion, the Jiang family cannot refuse the Xie family.
Under such circumstances, Xie Yunshuo ignored her and maintained the same attitude as before.
The girl has several prime years of her life ahead of her. Xie Yunshuo is too embarrassed to treat her attentively, so she naturally doesn't have to care about him. She can just follow her heart and live a good life.
She was just treating him in his own way and didn't do anything out of the ordinary.
Jiang Si actually hadn't thought about these ideas carefully, they were just buried in her shallow consciousness.
She felt that Xie Yunshuo should treat her well.
For example, if you cut her hair incorrectly, soften your voice and apologize sincerely instead of shutting her up with a few harsh words.
For example, when talking about Xie Qinghan, he should humble himself and talk more to her instead of denying it outright and evading responsibility.
For example, if she accidentally walked into his room and saw him taking a bath, don't chase her away as if she had suffered a great loss.
He should do better.
Because he is a man and she is a woman, if they do not divorce, she can only have him as her husband in this life, and she will remain a widow for him even if he dies on the battlefield.
On the other hand, as long as Xie Yunshuo was willing, he could have three wives and four concubines, and he wouldn't have to spend his whole life on her, the person who had a grudge against him.
The two of them are not equal.
Since there was no equality, Jiang Si felt that she should be treated better.
But Xie Yunshuo treated her as nothing and never spoke to her in a gentle voice.
Arrogant and cold.
Since he is like this, Jiang Si will naturally treat him with a corresponding attitude, which is fair.
If she were to be in such a situation, and treat Xie Yunshuo with gentleness and consideration despite his indifference towards her, Jiang Si would be unable to accept it.
Since they both have other intentions for this marriage, then let it be.
She didn't mean to anger him or take revenge on him, but she used the way Xie Yunshuo treated her as a mirror.
Whatever he is, she is.
All Jiang Si wished for was for herself to live an open and transparent life, without loss or failure, without hurt or fear.
Furthermore, Xie Yunshuo was so angry, had she done something unforgivable again?
She simply didn't prepare a portion of her own food for him, leaving four pieces of cakes without him. It wasn't something that was against the law.
Even if the incident was brought to her parents-in-law, Jiang Si didn't feel that she was in the wrong.
She neither beat or scolded Xie Yunshuo, nor did she do anything to wrong him or violate women's virtues.
After Jiang Si said that he asked for it, she ignored Xie Yunshuo and turned away to let Xie Yunshuo out of her sight. She then went on to taste the cakes and eat the cheese with osmanthus honey.
Her emotions calmed down and her complexion quickly returned to normal. She was immersed in the moment, smiling, and completely ignored Xie Yunshuo.
Xie Yunshuo watched her like this and for the first time he knew what it meant to punch cotton.
It makes people feel helpless and powerless.
He was clearly a powerful general who could pull a six-stone bow, but in front of Jiang Si, he was completely powerless.
He couldn't even make a fist, and his chest was filled with a thick fog that was difficult to dispel.
The woman seemed to be enjoying herself and was not affected at all, which made Xie Yunshuo look like a petty and narrow-minded person.
Xie Yunshuo came to his senses, confused and unable to accept it. He stood up and left.
As he stepped out of the main room, he made up his mind not to talk or interact with Jiang Si unless it was necessary.
No matter what she said or did, he would no longer feel at ease.
He must have taken the wrong medicine and was too sleepy to think straight, which is why he couldn't figure out these little things and argued with her.
Looking back, Xie Yunshuo couldn't understand why he was dragged into this and couldn't stop thinking about it.
He shouldn't have done this. Since he had already made up his mind to keep a clear distance from Jiang Si and not interfere with each other, he should have done so in everything.
He left without Jiang Si even looking at him, she was still happy and at peace.
Seeing Xie Yunshuo sitting opposite her, Jiang Si felt that the soft and delicious osmanthus cake had lost some of its sweetness.
It’s good that the person is gone. She doesn’t care whether he left in anger or left with relief after figuring things out. It’s good that he’s gone.
Not only did Jiang Si not care about him, she also said to Wu Chan: "Originally, four pieces were not enough for me to eat, and he destroyed one piece. I didn't ask him to compensate me with osmanthus cake. I was already very kind."
At this time, Xie Yunshuo had not walked far, and he heard roughly what was happening through the doors and windows.
The heart that had just made the decision and was determined to be calm and composed was suddenly gripped hard.
Xie Yunshuo took a deep breath and told himself to ignore it and pretend he didn't hear it.
He walked away, leaving Jiang Si, all these things, and her words in the main room that originally belonged to him.
It's a pity that tomorrow is the day when Jiang Si returns home after three days of mourning, not the day before he goes on an expedition away from home for many days.
No matter how good the decision is, on the day of returning home, there will be many things he doesn't want to do but has to do.
Xie Yunshuo returned to the study and Yan Qing was waiting for his instructions on how to arrange dinner.
None of the servants dared to say anything about what had just happened. Judging from the situation, the situation between the eldest son and his wife had become even more tense.
Not only will everyone eat their own dinner, but it probably won't even have to be served in the main room.
Therefore, Yan Qing asked Xie Yunshuo softly, "Master, is dinner served in the study?"
Xie Yunshuo was so angry in front of Jiang Si, how could he eat?
He said in a deep voice: "No need."
He was in a bad mood and didn't want to talk much. Yan Qing judged that this meant that there was no dinner, so she tiptoed out.
After going out, Yan Qing asked the waiter to stew some soft porridge and bird's nest and so on, so that the young master would be prepared to eat at any time in case he had an empty stomach at night.
In addition, she asked the maids to make some tea to clear away heat and liver and send it to him to help clear his temper.
Yan Qing was worried that such a statement would displease Xie Yunshuo, so she specifically instructed the maids: "Just serve the tea, no need to say anything more. If the young master asks, just say that this is for clearing the eyes and calming the mind."
The maids responded tremblingly.
Everyone in the yard knew that the young master and the lady had a big quarrel today, and the situation in Xian Yi Ju, which was already full of turmoil, changed even more.
Everyone seemed busier than usual, coming in and out, working diligently, until night fell and the two masters were about to go to bed, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The porridge that Yan Qing prepared carefully and thoughtfully was ultimately of no use.
Xie Yunshuo usually had to have some meat and vegetables for his three meals a day to sustain his body. However, today, contrary to his usual practice, he skipped a meal and did not even say that he was hungry until he went to bed.
The old lady sighed with worry.
It wasn't because Xie Yunshuo skipped a meal, but because his condition was so abnormal. It was obvious that he had suffered a severe trauma, so he didn't care about anything and didn't even feel hungry.
But Xie Yunshuo himself was unaware of this.
He was very calm, calmer than he had been in recent days. Before falling asleep, he thought of nothing, his mind was empty, his spirit relaxed, and he had a good sleep.
But things did not go as he wished. He thought he had thought it all through, but then he had a strange dream.
He dreamed that Jiang Si had changed her expression and appearance and was gentle and considerate to him.
I gave him the prepared osmanthus cake to eat first, and made tea for him with osmanthus honey myself.
I toasted the moon with him and drank osmanthus wine together.
Logically speaking, this dream should be a nightmare for Xie Yunshuo.
But because it is too real, just like what happened in reality, people don't notice it.
He was puzzled. Why did Jiang Si seem like a different person?
But because everything was fine in the dream, he slept until dawn the next day.
When I opened my eyes, I realized it was all an illusion.
Xie Yunshuo stared at the ceiling of the tent, his heart churning with mixed emotions.
He didn't know why he had such a dream, and he felt that the dream was harming him.
Because I have experienced the beauty of life in my dreams and the gentle treatment of Jiang Si, when I opened my eyes, the reality was connected with yesterday's dispute, and the contrast was like heaven and earth.
It's hard to accept.
Close your eyes, and the lingering sound of the dream is still there.
Xie Yunshuo lay flat on his back, his expression indifferent yet indescribable.
Because of this dream, he always felt that the emotions in his heart that had obviously calmed down were rolling and tangled again, and he couldn't let go.
If it weren't for this dream, Jiang Si would not be important to him.
However, the sharp contrast to his dream where everything was fine always made him feel a little unwilling.
He closed his eyes tightly, sat up, and persuaded himself not to think about it anymore. According to the decision he made yesterday, he would ignore Jiang Si's existence.
But Xie Yunshuo had never experienced it, nor had he thought about it. Human nature is greedy, and the less you get, the more likely you are to feel resentful.
Sometimes it's not that you really care about it, and it's not that you can just do what you decided as usual.
A dream cannot be controlled by the human mind and can easily become an obsession that cannot be controlled by the human mind.
Especially those unspeakable things are dormant in the heart, like a handful of seeds sown in barren land, densely packed together, blending into the soil and disappearing without a trace. However, as long as they experience a breeze and a few drops of spring rain, they will rise up against the wind and grow wildly.
The next day, you need to get up early.
After the newlyweds said goodbye to General Xie and his wife, Xie Yunshuo had to accompany Jiang Si back to the Jiang family.
The bride is returning to her parents' home. Because the marriage between the two families is special, Xie Yunshuo couldn't help but wonder whether she is willing to go.
Not only did he want to go, but he also wanted to prepare the most generous gifts, personally ride a horse to lead the way, and escort Jiang Si home safely.
She also needed to show up in public to prove to those people in the capital who were interested in watching the fun that Jiang Si was highly valued in the Xie family.
We must treat her with dignity and not let any bad rumors spread.
We cannot allow others to take advantage of this opportunity to blame the Xie family.
Among these people, there are many who are wary of the Xie family's power, including relatives, civil officials, and other military generals.
They were just waiting to find fault with the Xie family, so that they could spread rumors in front of the emperor and bring them down.
The Xie family is full of talented generals who are loyal to the emperor and patriotic. They do not form cliques for personal gain, do not keep their own troops, and are cautious in everything they do. However, they still end up being feared by the emperor.
There is no need to explain it too clearly. Everyone in the Xie family, from top to bottom, knows that there are many eyes watching them in the dark.
As a result, due to various considerations, Jiang Si's identity as the eldest grandson's wife was given many meanings.
Because of the checks and balances from all sides, she is almost invincible.
The Xie family cannot neglect her, and Xie Yunshuo has to give her face. By chance, he found that she is more special than any other girl who married into a wealthy family.
Jiang Si was sitting in the carriage, Xie Yunshuo was riding a horse outside, and her personal maids were on her left and right in the carriage.
Jiang Si was in a good mood as she would be able to go home and see her family soon.
From the moment she got up this morning and left the house until now, she and Xie Yunshuo have not spoken a single word.
The two of them had breakfast together, greeted their parents-in-law good morning, and went in and out together, all relying on mutual understanding.
However, both of them looked normal and no one could tell anything was wrong.
In private, both of them were like dumb and unable to speak.
The servants didn't dare to say anything and naturally treated it as normal.
During this period, because there was no need for dialogue, their indifference was not actually obvious, and people who were not in the know could not tell that they were deliberately ignoring each other.
When the carriage returned to the Jiang family and stopped in front of the main gate, You Lu lifted the curtain and Jiang Si stepped out. She was greeted by a slender arm reaching out and an upward-spreading palm.
Jiang Si could see the alley where the Jiang family lived from the corner of her eye. The servants of the neighbors and the common people were all watching from a distance.
This situation was different from the general's mansion which was alone on a street. When they left the general's mansion before, there were no outsiders around except the Xie family's guards and doormen, so there was no need to put on a show.
But here, the situation is quite different.
With so many eyes staring at them, Xie Yunshuo got off the horse, walked to the front of the carriage, stood beside the footstool placed by the servant, and personally reached out to help Jiang Si get off the carriage.
Under the watchful eyes of the public, one has to act and the other has to take over.
Two people who don't want to care about each other have to act like a loving couple without any prior preparation.
Jiang Si's heart was in turmoil, and she was so awkward that she almost couldn't stand.
She stared at Xie Yunshuo and found that his eyes were dull.
Although the corners of his lips were slightly raised, pretending to smile, his face, which was neither smiling nor honest, looked strange and abrupt.
She gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him, and laughed too.
Two people who can't stand each other stare at each other's fake smiles, feeling unhappy and not wanting to look at them.
But due to the situation, Xie Yunshuo looked up at Jiang Si. Jiang Si smiled shyly and slowly placed her slender hand on his palm.
The two held hands, and Jiang Si, supported by Xie Yunshuo, stepped on the pedals and came to the flat ground.
The two men's hands touched and separated immediately, impatiently, as if a poisonous sore would appear if they let go of their hands even a moment later.
The palms of each other's hands still retained the warmth of each other. The uncomfortable touch of the enemy's skin made people feel goosebumps all over and extremely uncomfortable.
Those who gathered at the foot of the wall to watch the fun were servants and children from other houses.
Jiang Si just glanced at them with a smile, then without looking away, was led into the door by the Jiang family and servants.
Loads of gifts were carried into the Jiang family. The new son-in-law was handsome, attentive and considerate. He brought so many gifts to his father-in-law's house that no one, including those who were just watching, could find any fault with him.
No one knew that the two people who had just been affectionately holding hands and getting off the car were making a fuss yesterday and didn't want to talk to each other anymore.
Neither of them planned to show that to the Jiang family. Xie Yunshuo couldn't, and Jiang Si didn't want to.
What she thinks is her business, and she can't let her family worry about her.
Even if she was acting, she just wanted to show her good side to her parents and siblings.
Therefore, after entering the door, she reminded in a sweet voice as if she had taken a mouthful of nectar.
"Yun Shuo, watch your step."
The door of their Jiang family was one step higher, so she reminded them.
Her affected voice made Xie Yunshuo's heart skip a beat.
No, two jumps, three jumps.
He resisted the urge to frown and look at Jiang Si, and replied, "Thank you, Madam, for reminding me."
The Jiang family members were all paying attention to this scene, intentionally or unintentionally, and everyone had subtle expressions.
I thought that after these two enemies got married, there would be chaos and chaos, but after only two days of marriage, they already showed words and actions of cherishing each other like husband and wife. Not bad, not bad.
Feng Qingzhi felt very relieved.
Father Jiang glanced at her, his eyes clearly saying, "See, there's no need to worry. The young couple should spend more time together after they get married. There will be no conflicts, and everything will be fine."
Since they have become husband and wife, they see each other every day and spend more time together, so all the things that happened in the past no longer matter.
Seeing that the two of them really looked like a real couple, the two elders' uneasy hearts gradually calmed down.
Feng Qingzhi thought to herself that she was indeed worrying too much.
When the two of them had arguments in the past, they were not earth-shattering events and did not lead to hatred.
It’s different after marriage. There’s no more fighting or arguing, and you slowly get used to it.
Besides, the daughter she gave birth to was kind and straightforward, and her beauty was no less than that of Diao Chan and Xi Shi. What was there for Xie Yunshuo to be dissatisfied with?
Xie Yunshuo was also a handsome man, tall, strong and muscular. He was a leader among men and a perfect match for Jiang Si.
If the two of them look down on each other, it will be even worse for others.
The more Feng Qingzhi thought about it, the more at ease he felt. His smile, which had been a little tense at first, gradually relaxed.
Jiang Si noticed that her deliberate performance of harmony reassured her parents, and she felt satisfied.
She was confident that she could handle her affairs well, and there was no need to let her family know about any storms or turmoil.
Now that she is married and has become someone else's wife, she is a member of the Xie family. There is no need to tell her parents about bad things.
She just wants her family to feel at ease and happy, without having to worry about her.
She didn't want to be the unfilial daughter who made her parents worry and unable to sleep at night.
Fortunately, Xie Yunshuo was sensible.
She didn't tell him to do it, but he knew to cooperate.
Jiang Si knew that Xie Yunshuo also had a need to perform, and she couldn't let outsiders think that the Xie family treated the Jiang family's daughter badly.
In this way, the two of them unexpectedly reached a consensus on what they wanted, and temporarily cooperated with each other like allies.
Even though they hadn't said a word before.
Jiang Si was neither surprised nor grateful, because she knew that Xie Yunshuo needed this illusion more than she did.
Thinking of this, she inadvertently turned her eyes and swept her gaze over Xie Yunshuo.
Seeing him standing straight, one arm stretched out horizontally, the other hand behind his back, walking slowly with a smile on his face, he looked both dignified and aloof, as if he had become a different person.
Jiang Si felt relieved.
She held Feng Qingzhi's arm and spoke with a smile.
"There is a beautiful old osmanthus tree in the courtyard of Xian Yiju. My maid and I made many good things and brought them back to honor my parents."
The family chats with each other and has a lot of fun.
Jiang Suian said, "Why does osmanthus wine have to be kept for three to five months? I'll open a jar today and try it. Waiting three to five months is really unbearable."
Xie Yunshuo looked straight ahead and thought silently in his heart that his father-in-law was a humorous man.
It's a pity that he gave birth to a daughter who is invulnerable to swords and guns and covered with spikes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com