Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Xie Yun has changed.
"Who are you?"
Soon, an elder of the Xie clan changed his expression and questioned in a deep voice. They were in Ying County, a place of their own influence. When had they ever been pointed at with arrows? Even Prime Minister Xie had to be polite to them.
"I am a guest, ordered by the Prime Minister to interrogate you all." Zhang Jingxian said calmly without any awe towards them. She only recognized Prime Minister Xie as the one who made the decisions for the Xie family.
"The eldest son is acting behind the Prime Minister's back. Are you all aware of this?"
If you know something but don't report it, or even deliberately conceal it, and if you dare to obstruct them when they come looking for you, "I don't recognize the surnames on your heads, I only recognize the bows and arrows in your hands."
She stood in front of these people, just like when she was shooting wild boars in Xishan Village. She looked serious, but also had a bit of ruthlessness that she herself had not noticed.
When it comes to field mice and wild boars, once she identifies them as troublemakers, this skilled hunter never hesitates or shows mercy.
Shu Jian was amazed to see how she could intimidate several elders of the Xie family with just a few words.
You know what, you wouldn't believe that little Ah Xian, who is usually so quiet, could show such a scary expression and tone at this moment, as if these respected elders of the clan were just a group of lowly beasts.
Taking this opportunity, Shu Jian spoke slowly, his expression solemn. "The eldest son has caught a cold and will likely be unable to appear in public. The Prime Minister sent us here because the eldest son did something unnecessary four years ago, and he's now physically exhausted and unable to handle it himself. Tell us everything you know."
Hearing this, the elders of the Xie clan looked at each other and put down the arrogance on their shoulders.
In the final analysis, they are just descendants of the Xie family's side branch. Because of their seniority and the fact that the main branch is far away in Jiankang, they can be given the title of clan elder.
Even in this ancestral home, they have no say.
"The eldest son is the eldest son of the legitimate family. He will eventually inherit the Xie family. We can't question his decision. Sigh, sit down and talk."
The oldest elder in the clan was the first to speak up, asking Shu Jian to be patient. While drinking tea, he talked about Xie Ping's arrangements in Ying County.
Before Xie Ping entered officialdom, he also followed his uncle Xie Li's example and lived in seclusion in his hometown. Unfortunately, his luck was not so good. In the first year of his official career, Xie Li became prime minister.
Xie Jiawen had reached the peak and did not need a second Xie Li in the short term, so Xie Yun, who was extremely talented in the way of war, came to the fore.
Xie Ping's reputation is not even as good as his sister Xie Fujun. No one knows what he is thinking, but he is unhappy anyway.
As his younger brother Xie Yun was promoted by his uncle and became more and more important, it seemed that there was no place for Xie Ping in Jiankang City, and he spent more and more time in Ying County.
"The eldest son recruited many counselors and guests in an attempt to establish a reputation for virtue, but unfortunately, all attempts failed. The only thing that had some effect was the extra ox carts in the city."
The clan elders were also quite embarrassed when they talked about this. The distinguished son of the Xie family wore a linen robe every day, ate millet and wheat, and rode an ox cart. He was not greedy for wealth and was diligent and polite. He was indeed awe-inspiring.
But what's the use? His talent and knowledge are far from that of Prime Minister Xie.
When Prime Minister Xie was still young, he was already a top expert in the art of conversation. He was friends with many famous people and had a great reputation. At this point, no matter whether his life was simple or luxurious, he would be respected or envied by the people.
"In the end, people have to rely on their real abilities. Status and fame are all false." Shu Jian nodded and suddenly interjected.
Zhang Jingxian found the Xie clan elder's words ridiculous. Wasn't it lucky enough to be born into a life of wealth and prosperity? Why did he insist on becoming a world-renowned figure?
My uncle is right. Greedy people are indeed despised and will not have a good ending.
"What did the eldest son do four years ago?" She was a little anxious and only cared about her cousin and the villagers.
On the surface, he pretended to be a frugal hermit, but in reality, he was involved in the business of intercepting soldiers. Not only that, he also tried to murder his own brother several times out of jealousy.
Zhang Jingxian was extremely disgusted with the son of the Xie family and had no good feelings towards him at all.
The elder who spoke glanced at her and replied in a deep voice, "Four years ago, I remember that on the sixth day after the Seventh Young Master launched a surprise attack on the Di people and was granted the title of Marquis and Governor of Changling for his military exploits, the eldest young master took a wife and brought her back to Ying County."
"The eldest son's wife is from a prominent family in Nanjun." Zhang Jingxian had heard the maid A Luo mention it and had always kept it in mind.
"Of course I know this. Madam Ban who was brought back to Ying County is just the eldest son's concubine." The elder's tone was a little contemptuous, as if he couldn't stand Madam Ban. Zhang Jingxian felt very uncomfortable when she heard it.
But soon, she knew the reason.
"That woman is vulgar, ignorant of etiquette, and loves to make unfounded arguments. She has truly brought disgrace upon the Xie family."
"She is of humble origin, just a dancer!"
The elder of the Xie clan was very angry when he said this. This dancer was lucky enough to become the eldest prince's concubine, but not only was she not grateful and kept to herself, she even took advantage of the eldest prince's absence in Ying County to secretly seduce other men.
"A concubine shouldn't be enough for you, the clan elder, to worry about." Zhang Jingxian half-closed her eyes and calmly interrupted him.
The elder's face showed embarrassment. He stared at her and said, "That's the weird thing. She's just a dancer, but she brought a dowry of over a thousand men, all of them strong men."
Thousands of people? All men.
Zhang Jingxian suddenly raised her eyes and clenched her fingertips tightly. She knew that she might really be able to find her cousin and the villagers.
"...Are these people all in Ying County now?" She took a deep breath and asked.
"You need to ask the dancer Ban Jiang for details."
Ban Jiang, Zhang Jingxian wrote down this name.
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Jiankang City, the study in Hemingyuan.
Xie Yun and his uncle Xie Li were playing chess across the chessboard. He lowered his eyes to watch the game, and the black piece in his hand fell carelessly to one place.
On the chessboard, the black and white pieces are evenly matched, and it seems impossible to tell which side has the advantage.
But when this move was made, Prime Minister Xie on the opposite side could not help but raise his eyebrows and rolled up his sleeves happily.
"Qillang, you were careless in this game." As he said that, he placed a white piece next to the black piece. The situation on the chessboard suddenly changed, and most of the black pieces were eaten by the white pieces.
"Well, uncle won." Xie Yun responded lightly and put all the chess pieces back.
Afterwards, he bowed respectfully and said frankly that the matter had been properly handled. His elder sister Xie Fuyun also asked the holy hand to look at his leg again, and the injury had completely healed.
"Uncle, I need to return to Changling with Yue."
Xie Yun and Xie Li said goodbye, and there was no abnormality in their expressions, as if a few days had passed and the peasant girl who escaped and stabbed him with an arrow had been forgotten by him.
Xie Li looked at him gently. Among his more than ten nephews and nieces, he was the one he was most proud of and the one he felt most at ease with.
"Qi Lang, you've been an adult for several years now. Have you ever planned to get married?"
Hearing this, Xie Yun smiled casually, his voice slightly mocking, "Uncle never asked about these things before, and never opened his mouth to ask."
They will just notify you after they have made a decision.
"I misjudged Fuyun's marriage. I thought the prince was straightforward, amiable, and talented. His son, though not a perfect likeness of his father, would be good at least if he resembled him a little bit."
Xie Li seemed a little regretful. A marriage between the Xie and Wang families was necessary, but the candidate might not necessarily be Xie Fujun's current husband, Wang Yan.
Compared to his niece, Wang Yan was too mediocre and hardly looked like a son of the Wang family.
"Since uncle feels guilty, please take my sister home more often." Xie Yun said softly that he would not consider his own marriage for the time being. "I am too busy with work to take care of other things."
Both he and his uncle knew that a more prolonged war was waiting for them.
"At most, it will only last until after the war, Qilang, you should keep this matter in mind." Xie Li's eyes were deep. He not only had to balance the power of the aristocratic families, but also had to protect his own family while maintaining the orthodoxy of the dynasty.
Xie Yun was too outstanding and nearly lost his life when he was young. In order for him to go further, an arranged marriage was inevitable.
If a marriage can clear the obstacles for Qilang's future and get rid of a covetous enemy, it would be a good deal, isn't it?
"Marriage is indeed a matter of great importance. Uncle, please do not worry, but it is not as far away as after the war."
Xie Yun's dark eyes closed slightly, and he pursed his thin lips to make a rare joke, "If the Di people remain silent for eight or nine years, how can I wait eight or nine years without getting married?"
When Xie Li heard him say that, his elegant face smiled. It was impossible for a man from the Xie family to not get married after he turned thirty.
He looked at his nephew and said gently, "Go, Qilang, it's a smooth journey."
Xie Yun slowly lowered his head and stepped back.
Then he said goodbye to his parents again, still with simple and indifferent words, and no one noticed anything wrong with him.
Only Gong Chengyue, before leaving, smiled and asked him why he was so anxious, "You should also tell your sister and see her again."
Xie Yun looked at him, his black pupils were bottomless, as if swallowing up Gong Chengyue's shadow.
"Hide your thoughts. Do you think your uncle and the others can't see it?"
He said coldly, Gong Chengyue fell silent and the smile on his face disappeared completely.
Xie Yun had always known that he had some different feelings for Xie Fujun, but at this moment she ruthlessly exposed him and told him that he was a self-righteous fool.
Perhaps among these people in the Xie family, the only one who truly knew nothing was Xie Fujun herself. She only treated him as a younger brother.
"By now, Madam Zhang and Lord Shu Jian should have arrived in Ying County."
Gong Chengyue shook his feather fan, lowered his eyes and said, at this moment he looked like a submissive counselor.
Xie Yun looked at him quietly, as if he didn't hear anything.
The heart that had been stabbed lost all feeling as it became cold and hard again. Only a delayed feeling of weightlessness kept hitting him.
Xie Yun no longer needed to restrain himself, but in front of Gong Chengyue he was no longer the same Xie Shijun. No one could tell whether he was true or false.
Only he knew the arrow was still lodged in his heart. Yet, he remained calm and unmoved, saying, "Leave immediately and return to Changling."
Hearing this, Gong Chengyue's breathing stagnated slightly, and he stopped waving his feather fan. He asked again, "Just... going back to Changling?"
"The autumn tax is about to begin. If you don't go back to Changling to deal with it, where do you want to go?" Xie Yun raised his thin lips slightly, and the curve of his lips was neither more nor less.
"...Yes, Lord."
Gong Chengyue looked at him closely, and after a long time he was surprised to find that he couldn't help but feel a little chill on his back.
He had to admit that Xie Yun had become unfathomable.
Even though his expression and tone were exactly the same as before, Gong Chengyue was still...afraid.
This is human instinct.
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The author has something to say: Mmmmm, happy Qixi Festival, I will try to update more tomorrow~
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