Chapter 63 Chapter 63 You just have a mistress?
As soon as the words of "secret meeting with the young master" came out, Yuan Wangshu's eyes were immediately fixed on Xie Tingyu like a knife.
Before Xie Tingyu could speak, Yuan Wangshu's tone suddenly darkened. "A secret meeting? What secret meeting? Which young man? Xie Tingyu, you are from the Xie family of Chenjun. How could you hang out with those young men of unknown origin?"
Cui Yuanying shouted unhappily, "Why would you mind my business? I've seen that young man before. He has a very beautiful figure."
She leaned over, put her arm on Xie Tingyu's shoulder, and said with a wink, "But is it the one hiding in the manor?"
Hearing that it was a man kept at the farm, Yuan Wangshu looked as if he had eaten a fly and couldn't help but exclaim, "A concubine? Xie Tingyu, you haven't even gotten married yet, and you have a concubine?"
"What's wrong with keeping a mistress? Xie Er is so charming and beautiful. Even if I can only stay with her without any status, it's worth it." Cui Yuanying retorted immediately.
"What's Cui Yuanying got to do with you? Shut up!" Yuan Wangshu slammed the teacup in his hand, spilling a few drops of scalding tea. "Xie Er has a mistress before he's even married. That's…"
It would be very detrimental to her third brother, Yuan Fuxue! If the concubine got pregnant first, how would Fuxue cope with the situation after marrying into the family?
"...it's even more disrespectful to Grand Tutor Xie." Yuan Wangshu was silent for a long time before he managed to come up with a decent excuse.
"...What does this have to do with my mother?" Xie Tingyu looked at Cui Yuanying with a puzzled expression, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. "Besides, I don't have a mistress."
Cui Yuanying's eyes widened. "No?! That young man is really not your concubine?"
"No." Xie Tingyu shook his head.
Yuan Wangshu breathed a sigh of relief. "It's just a nameless thing. Your future ruler must come from one of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses."
Among them, Yuan Fuxue from the Runan Yuan family is the best.
Cui Yuanying saw through Yuan Wangshu's little trick at a glance and couldn't help but sneer.
Xie Tingyu yawned, his eyes dimmed. "Now that you have seen me in person, you can go back to your homes. I won't see you off."
She had just taken a few steps when she heard a rustling sound and her skirt was caught on something. Looking back, she saw the tip of Yuan Wangshu's cane was picking up the corner of her clothes.
"What's up?"
Yuan Wangshu feigned a cough, her fingertips rubbing the carvings on her cane. "It's true," she said, glancing at Cui Yuanying. "Xie Tingyu and I have something important to discuss. You, the intruder, please get out of here."
Cui Yuanying tugged at Xie Tingyu's arm, not letting go. Three parts fear and seven parts jealousy, "When will you be able to tell your little secrets to Yuan Wangshu?"
Xie Tingyu was so sleepy that his eyelids kept drooping. He mumbled, "Ah? What are you talking about? Yuanying, why don't you go first..."
Cui Yuanying looked indignant, "Xie Er, am I your best friend? Can't I listen?"
Yuan Wangshu stared at Xie Tingyu quietly, his eyes expressing "Can you please get this lunatic out of here?"
Here, Cui Yuanying had already started shaking Xie Tingyu frantically.
"Don't shake it..." Xie Tingyu shook his head and held Cui Yuanying with one hand. "Mother Wangshu, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. Yuanying won't say anything nonsense."
"But Xie Er, you haven't told me who is your best friend between me and Yuan Wangshu." Cui Yuanying grumbled sourly.
"Shut up!" Yuan Wangshu could no longer bear it. "Who would argue with you about this?"
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them again, and after brewing her words in her mouth for a while, she said solemnly: "Xie Tingyu, my wedding is coming soon, please be my bridesmaid."
A bridesmaid is a person who greets guests at a wedding and is a gift to only close friends.
However, in the eyes of outsiders, the relationship between Xie Tingyu and Yuan Wangshu could definitely not be called that of good friends.
"puff--!"
Cui Yuanying sprayed a mouthful of tea all over Yuan Wangshu's face, and drops of water rolled down her forehead.
"Cui Yuanying, come here!"
Yuan Wangshu was disgusted and angry by the spray, and was about to pounce on him with his crutches, while Cui Yuanying circled around Xie Tingyu nimbly.
Xie Tingyu, feeling dizzy from being distracted by the two, grabbed Yuan Wangshu and asked, "Do you really want me to be your bridesmaid?"
Yuan Wangshu turned away, pounding her cane on the ground. She had been contemplating the selection of this bridesmaid ever since she returned to the capital. If Xie Tingyu hadn't rescued her on the battlefield, she would never have considered this candidate.
"I saw you last time at Chunzhenlou, you were quite a drinker. Why don't you come and hold a few more glasses for me?" Yuan Wangshu's eyes wandered, the tip of his cane unconsciously scratching the ground. "You're pretty good-looking, so you're barely qualified to be my best man."
"Okay then. I'll do it."
"Hey, no, Xie Er, don't... um..."
Yuan Wangshu finally caught Cui Yuanying this time. He covered her mouth with his hand and used his crutch to drag her out. Without even turning his head, he shouted, "Tomorrow at 9:00 PM, someone will come to measure you."
At 9:00 a.m. the next day, Wei Fenghua stood in the corridor with his sleeves folded in his hands, and watched through the plum blossom window as Yuan's maid carried a suitcase into Changhao Courtyard.
The bridesmaid must wear the same red round-necked silk dress as the bride and a flower crown on her head.
This round-necked silk skirt is the most popular layered gauze style nowadays. It needs to be cut with the best Wu silk and the craftsmanship is extremely complicated, so there is no room for error when measuring.
"Madam, please raise your arms."
The tailor held the measuring rope around Xie Tingyu's waist, double-checked the size, took notes, and said with a smile, "Madam, let me measure your shoulder width again. Please stand up straight."
After a lot of trouble, the tailor wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't worry, my lady. The bridesmaid's dress will be delivered two days before the wedding." After saying that, he bowed and hurriedly left with the box.
Wei Fenghua walked to the door, raised his hand and saluted, lowering his eyes and frowning, "Madam, the master of the family invites you."
Xie Tingyu straightened her clothes and followed Wei Fenghua through the corridor, across the bluestone path, and across the bamboo bridge, finally stopping in front of the bamboo forest in the main courtyard. She bowed and said, "Mother."
Xie Qingyan raised his eyes to look at the newcomer, and gently put down the teacup in his hand, "Sit down."
Xie Tingyu sat down as he was told. "I wonder what mother wants to talk to me about?"
Xie Qingyan's eyes swept over Xie Tingyu's face. She knew Xie Tingyu had returned home late at night, and she had also heard about Yuan and Cui's subsequent visit. Seeing her daughter's vibrant spirit, she couldn't help but sigh, "It's good to be young. Even after a sleepless night, you can still be so energetic."
Xie Tingyu raised his hand and filled Xie Qingyan's tea. "Mother, please don't make fun of me."
"Just the day before yesterday, General Huan returned to the imperial court, and he immediately presented the report of his victory in suppressing the bandits at Fengge." Xie Qingyan pushed the report of victory from the rosewood table over to him. "It highly praised you for your strategy to outsmart the Black Mountain Army and even persuaded the bandit leader to surrender and be recruited into the army. You did a great job on this matter."
Speaking of the word "very good", Xie Qingyan couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh.
Xie Tingyu unfolded it, glanced at it briefly, and put it down again. "Mother, I have something important to discuss with you."
"As mother said, our Chenjun Xie family is renowned for its refined discussions of metaphysics, and with mother at the helm of government, we have furthered this legacy. However, I believe the Xie family could also achieve great things through military exploits."
"This time, I will recruit the Black Mountain bandits. After they surrender, I will allow them to become the personal soldiers of the Xie Mansion, and I will still lead them personally."
"Mother." Xie Tingyu looked directly at Xie Qingyan with a burning gaze. "My Chenjun Xie family is a century-old prestigious family. Mother holds the title of Grand Tutor, and enjoys the power to establish a government and military base. How about you submit a petition to establish the Xie Family Army?"
Xie Qingyan stood up suddenly, her wide sleeves sweeping across the table. She stood by the pond, hands behind her back, watching the koi carp swimming in the water, lost in thought.
A long silence stretched between mother and daughter.
While the Chenjun Xie clan, as a prominent aristocratic family, enjoyed numerous privileges, if they were to establish their own private army and overextend their power, they would undoubtedly draw the Ji clan's suspicion. The current situation with the Wang clan of Langya serves as a precedent. While Wang Hengyan held the title of General Zhenyuan, his military authority had long been stripped away by the previous emperor, and the majority of the Wang clan's Iron Blood Army had been brought under direct imperial control.
But if this request is approved, the Xie family will be able to make progress in both military merit and influence in the court, and may even have a chance to become the leader of the Jiankang gentry.
Who can resist such temptation?
Who wouldn't want to be remembered for generations to come? Who wouldn't want to leave their name in history? Who wouldn't want to achieve something that will last for generations to come, even if they've been in charge of a powerful family for centuries and have reached the pinnacle of officialdom?
Xie Qingyan picked up the celadon food box with bird patterns and threw some bait into the pond, attracting koi carp to flock to it. "Recently, a memorial stated that the emperor's daughter is growing up and a young tutor should be appointed to teach her riding and archery. I'm considering you to go."
She waved her sleeves and turned around, "Since you have made great contributions this time, you should be promoted to the rank of Senior Cavalry Captain."
Xie Tingyu stood up and bowed deeply, "Thank you very much for your cultivation, mother. I will not let you down."
Xie Qingyan nodded. "I will ask His Majesty to establish a new army. Do you have a preferred army name?"
Xie Tingyu pondered for a moment, "Personally, I think this name for the Northern Army is very good. When they march north, the Hu horses will surely not dare to cross the Yin Mountains."
Xie Qingyan closed her eyes, rubbing her fingertips in her sleeves repeatedly. "Hmm, that's a good name." A smile appeared in her eyes. "It's rare for us mother and daughter to have some personal conversations. Why did Yuan Wangshu suddenly come to visit last night?"
Xie Tingyu briefly told the story of the bridesmaid.
Xie Qingyan was a little surprised. "I thought you two were enemies, but you've become so close?"
"She said she wanted her daughter to help her block more alcohol."
"You've been a Taoist priest at Shangqing Temple for a long time. How could you possibly be so drunk?"
Xie Tingyu's throat choked, and he immediately began to make up a story. "On the way back to Jiankang, I met a master who said he had a good impression of me. He gave me a hangover pill and said that if I took it, I would be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."
"That sounds interesting." Xie Qingyan stroked the wrinkles on her sleeves. "You haven't really seen the men from different families since you returned to Jiankang. You should pay attention to this wedding banquet." She waved her hand. "Go ahead."
After Xie Tingyu disappeared, Xie Qingyan called out "Fenghua". The bamboo shadows moved slightly, and Wei Fenghua came over gracefully, with her wide sleeves hanging down and bowing, "Master."
"Did Tingyu really hide a young man in a farm on the outskirts of the city?"
Wei Fenghua folded her hands and said, "I heard from the people in the village that my lady brought a young man from outside one night. Everyone who has seen him says that he is very handsome, but I don't know which noble family he comes from."
"If she were from a legitimate family, why would she come here so late at night? I think she's just a random girl." Xie Qingyan picked up the teacup. "She's been in the Taoist temple for a long time, so she's a bit unfamiliar with marriage. Pay attention and see which gentlemen she stops to look at during the banquet. Remember, they have to be legitimate sons of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses, not some illegitimate son from a humble family."
"Yes." Wei Fenghua bowed and retreated gracefully.
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The author has something to say: The Beifu Army, also known as the Beifu Army, was an army founded by Xie Xuan during the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. [The inspiration for this article comes from here]
Don't Let the Hu Horse Cross the Yinshan Mountains - Two Frontier Poems by Wang Changling
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