Chapter 34
After not having been here for a few days, Wang Shuhuai discovered that the decoration of the house seemed different. He had replaced the window screens with new soft smoke screens, and the carved partitions that originally separated the room were removed. The room became spacious and grand, which was the decoration that Wang Shuhuai liked.
"Have some tea, Second Master." Xie Yunchu poured him a cup of West Lake Longjing tea. The lingering fragrance diluted the awkwardness in the room.
The couple sat opposite each other at a high table. Wang Shuhuai drank tea while Xie Yunchu ate lotus seed soup. She had eaten a few more lychees recently and her teeth were inflamed. There were some chilled fruits on the table, including a few bright red lychees, grapes, and refreshing cucumbers. Xie Yunchu didn't eat ice at night, so this was prepared for Wang Shuhuai.
Wang Shuhuai doesn't eat either, he wants to stay healthy.
The man lowered his eyebrows and pursed his thin lips. He fiddled with the teacup in his hand. The mist gathered around his eyebrows, making him look as bright as jade. He turned his face slightly and happened to meet Xie Yunchu's gaze. Xie Yunchu did not feel embarrassed about being caught. He smiled and asked, "Second Master, do you have anything to do today?"
Wang Shuhuai choked up after hearing this, "Ke'er went to bed so early?"
It means to see the children.
Xie Yunchu smiled, "She didn't take a nap today. She asked the nurse to carry her to the back garden. She watched Mei Jie'er pick flowers. She drank some milk for dinner and then fell asleep."
Wang Shuhuai didn't know how to respond. Just when Xie Yunchu was wondering if he was anxious to have an heir and wanted to stay overnight, Wang Shuhuai took out a piece of letter from his arms and handed it to her, "Your brother will return to Beijing tomorrow."
Xie Yunchu was stunned when he heard this, and took it impatiently, "Thank you, Second Master."
He quickly opened the letter. There were only a few lines of words on it, and the handwriting was very sloppy. The book she asked him to copy had been ready, and he was asking for a reward. Through the ink, she could imagine him cheating. Xie Yunchu's eyes were wet unconsciously. "Thank you, Second Master..." She was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently.
Wang Shuhuai looked at her in confusion, "Isn't it just a few months since we last met?" Why is it so?
Xie Yunchu put away the letter and said, "No, I'm just worried about his Autumn Examination..." His younger brother came back to prepare for the Autumn Examination.
Speaking of imperial examinations, that is Wang Shuhuai's forte. "When he comes back, let him stay at my house for a few days and I will teach him."
Xie Yunchu smiled at him and said sincerely, "Thank you for your trouble, Second Master." He then asked Wang Shuhuai, "By the way, has the date for Second Master's trip to the south been decided?"
Wang Shuhuai finally felt relieved. "In early July, I'll go after Lord Liu's mother's birthday celebration."
Liu Qiliang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, will go south with him. After taking the lead, the rest will mainly depend on Wang Shuhuai. Implementing national policies is a big project, and Wang Shuhuai will face unprecedented pressure. Xie Yunchu knows that her husband will succeed in the end, so she is not worried. "Then I will pack your luggage for you one by one during this period of time."
He didn't look worried at all.
Wang Shuhuai drank the tea, tapping the table with his slender fingers intentionally or unintentionally, thinking to himself, is it just to prepare luggage for him?
It’s not that he wants to break the rules, it’s really for the sake of offspring. He doesn’t know when he will be able to come back. Isn’t Xie Yunchu anxious?
Wang Shuhuai was really puzzled by his wife's calmness.
It's not that Xie Yunchu hadn't thought about it. The couple had sex more often before Wang Shuhuai left. The 22nd was really her daily routine, and today was the 18th. There was no point in having sex during this period of time. Since he was leaving in early July, there was still a chance.
Besides, she still had some hope that her period would not come. If the child was already born, she would have to be even more careful, so Xie Yunchu didn't say anything.
Seeing that his wife didn't say a word, Wang Shuhuai felt a little melancholy, so he got up and went back to the study.
The next day, Xie Yunchu got up early and prepared some new clothes for her brother while preparing his favorite food. Since he was returning to Beijing today, he might come to see her in two days.
At three quarters past the hour of the si Dynasty, the third wife sent someone to invite her to the Glazed Hall.
Xie Yunchu had no choice but to put down her work and go over. Unexpectedly, the third wife smiled and invited her in. She pointed at the shy Wang Shuqin and said, "Someone came to propose marriage today."
Xie Yunchu's expression brightened slightly, and he sat down, "Whose young master is this?"
The third wife sighed a little, "He is not from a high family, but I think he has good character..."
Before the Third Madam could finish her words, she was interrupted by Wang Shuqin. She said to Xie Yunchu, "Isn't it the man I met in the palace that day?"
Xie Yunchu became more interested after hearing this and asked where the third wife came from. The third wife told him that she was the young master of the Wen family in Hedong. The Wen family was considered noble in the early years, but unfortunately it had declined in recent years. The highest official in the family was only of the fifth rank, which was really not worthy of the Duke's family status.
"The young lady from the Wen family is trembling with fear, afraid that I will dislike her, but the young master is shy and sincere, and very enthusiastic. I can see that the boy must have taken a fancy to our Qin'er and forced her family to propose marriage, but her family may not agree." The third wife sighed.
Wang Shuqin immediately responded, "See? They may think that Qi Da is not a good match and are unwilling to marry us. If I marry him eagerly, my parents-in-law may think that I am giving myself away to their son and treating their son as a treasure, and then look down on me. I won't marry him."
The Third Madam and Xie Yunchu looked at each other and clicked their tongues, "Look, you're quite capable. But what you said is true. If you don't like it, I can't force you to do it." The Third Madam didn't think much of the Wen family. After all, they had to be well matched.
Wang Shuqin returned to her room angrily.
The Third Madam thanked Xie Yunchu, "Thanks to your guidance, I think she is different this time, not so stubborn, and she didn't refuse outright, but also gave some reasons, which shows that she is seriously considering marriage."
Xie Yunchu was also very pleased.
During this period in the previous life, the Duke was seriously ill, and the various families were fighting against each other. Even the usually strong Third Wife could not resist the Third Master and fell ill. After the Duke's death, the family fell apart. Seeing this, Wang Shuqin was disheartened and rode alone to the ancestral temple outside the city, never marrying for the rest of her life.
Xie Yunchu always remembered the day she left in her previous life. It was pouring rain, and the frail girl sat alone on the horse's back, letting the wind and rain blow on her, neighing in grief and anger, "Why did a good family become like this? Isn't it just a title and some property? Is it necessary to fight to the death and make the family restless?"
Afterwards, she whipped the horse and left, never to return to the capital.
Wang Shuqin didn't know that the chaos in the Duke's Mansion was just the beginning. Later, the dispute affected the imperial court and marked the beginning of the struggle for succession in the imperial court. In the following years, the people suffered in dire straits and the imperial court was also in turmoil.
Fortunately, fortunately this life is different.
Seeing that Wang Shuqin showed signs of enlightenment, Xie Yunchu was happy for her.
After sitting for two quarters of an hour, Chunqi hurried to Chunjingtang and called her happily, "Second Madam, please go back quickly and see who is here."
Xie Yunchu knew that it must be his younger brother who had come to the house, so he quickly apologized to the Third Madam and strode back to Chunjing Hall.
Just as I walked up the steps in front of me from the corridor, I saw a pair of figures coming through the moon-shaped door.
Xie Yunchu didn't bother to look at Wang Shuhuai, but instead cast his eyes on his younger brother.
The slender young man was tall, thin and straight, with a pair of bright eyes as dark as stars, and a flamboyant smile on his eyebrows, enjoying the autumn moon and spring flowers. Thinking back to Xie Yunyou in his previous life, he was gloomy, stubborn, and like a wild bull, he didn't listen to anyone. Looking at the energetic young man in front of him, Xie Yunchu couldn't help crying.
The person who treated her the best in both lives combined, even though he was lame, still climbed mountains and waded through rivers to find ways to hire famous teachers for her. He repeatedly brushed the account books in her hands to the ground, not allowing her to work hard, hoping that she would take better care of herself.
Whenever anyone blamed her, she would rush up to that person with anger and would not allow anyone to neglect her sister.
If there is anyone in this world who would stand up for her without hesitation and regardless of life and death, it is only Xie Yunyou.
Unable to hold back any longer, tears welled up in his eyes and Xie Yunchu covered his mouth and cried.
"You'er..."
Xie Yunyou was frightened by the crying. The childish boy pointed at his sister who was crying like a tearful person and asked Wang Shuhuai,
"Brother-in-law, are you bullying my sister?"
Wang Shuhuai was also confused and looked at his wife who had lost her composure without saying a word.
Xie Yunyou came to Xie Yunchu with full of suspicion and said to his sister, "Sister, don't just cry. Tell me, who bullied you? Was it your brother-in-law who treated you badly, or was it the old man at home who bullied you? Tell me the name."
Xie Yunchu looked at the boy's aggressiveness, and the aura that he would fight if she said a name, and couldn't help but laugh, "What nonsense, I'm just worried about you."
Xie Yunyou felt relieved, "Why should you worry about me? Look at me, I'm fine." He smiled at Wang Shuhuai behind him, and the group entered the house.
Xie Yunchu cleaned his face and talked with the two of them.
"Did you come straight to the Wang family from the academy?"
Xie Yunyou said as a matter of course, "Otherwise, you think I would go back to see that old man first, but I will definitely come to see you first." He looked fearless and partial.
Xie Yunchu couldn't help but wet her eyes again, "Okay, then don't go, whatever you want is fine." In her previous life, she always hoped that her brother could stand up again, and she thought it was all for his own good. Gradually, her brother was unwilling to tell her his true feelings. It would be great if he could have a bright future in this life, but if not, as long as he could live a healthy and safe life, she would be satisfied.
Xie Yunyou was surprised when he heard this. He looked at Xie Yunchu with more intimacy, "Thank you, sister."
Wang Shuhuai has always been a man of few words, and it was mostly Xie Yunyou who talked nonstop, telling about his experiences in the college.
Xie Yunchu suddenly saw that it was getting late and said anxiously, "Hey, you stay and talk to your brother-in-law. I'll go to the kitchen and cook you some of your favorite dishes." Without waiting for Xie Yunyou to react, the slender and tall figure quickly walked out.
When Wang Shuhuai heard this, his eyes followed his wife's back and finally fell on the bead curtain, where he remained silent for a long time.
He hadn't tasted her cooking for several months, so as soon as her brother-in-law came back, she couldn't wait to go into the kitchen.
At noon, Xie Yunchu prepared a large table of dishes, most of which were Xie Yunyou's favorites. Naturally, there were also Wang Shuhuai's dishes. However, Wang Shuhuai chewed the food several times and always felt it tasted bad. Later, he repeatedly told himself that he could not and did not need to care about these trivial matters, and then forced himself to finish the bowl of rice.
Wang Shuhuai was a reserved person, and neither Xie Yunyou nor Xie Yunchu noticed anything unusual about him.
After dinner, Wang Shuhuai invited Xie Yunyou to take a nap in the study, but Xie Yunchu politely declined, "Second Master's injury has not healed yet. If you like quietness, You'er won't disturb you."
Xie Yunyou also knew that Wang Shuhuai was a big rule-abiding person, so while he was playing with his little niece in his arms, he replied, "Brother-in-law, go and do your work. I'll stay here to tease Ke'er for a while...Uncle hasn't seen Ke'er for a long, long time. My Ke'er has grown up so well!" He held the child high up, and Ke'er grinned. Children like new things, and their attention was immediately attracted to Xie Yunyou.
Wang Shuhuai glanced at Xie Yunyou, stared deeply at Xie Yunchu, and said "OK" in a light voice.
Xie Yunchu's polite words made him seem like an outsider.
Wang Shuhuai didn't want to speculate about his wife, nor was he a petty person, but all the signs from his wife did not allow him to be optimistic.
Xie Yunchu probably also noticed that Wang Shuhuai was in a low mood, so she just let him be. What did she get in return for devoting her heart to him in her previous life? Did he ever care about her once?
Xie Yunchu sat down and watched his brother and Sister Ke play without distraction.
In the afternoon, someone came from the eldest wife Qian's place and asked her to come over. It turned out that Qian's family had sent a few baskets of fresh seafood, and they wanted Xie Yunchu to pick some to take back as a token of gratitude for what happened the day before.
Just when Xie Yunchu was away, Wang Shuqin was bored and came to visit Chunjingtang.
She walked lightly, bringing only a small maid with her. When the master and servant reached the door, they saw a tall young man with a child in his arms, standing on tiptoe to catch insects on a tree in the northeast corner of the courtyard.
Wang Shuqin never saw strangers, and guessed that the man Xie Yunchu kept in the yard must be his mother's brother. She planned to turn around, but when she saw the young man holding Ke'er with one hand, the fierce little Ke'er was like a rag doll in his arms, letting him carry her up and down. Wang Shuqin was so anxious that she was afraid that the child would be hurt by him. She didn't care about avoiding suspicion, picked up her skirt and rushed into the yard, and scolded Xie Yunyou,
"Who are you? Put Ke'er down!"
Wang Shuqin was a rebellious person, and so was Xie Yunyou. The handsome young man noticed the unfriendly tone of the person coming and turned his gaze coldly. He caught a glimpse of a young girl with red cheeks staring at him. He was amused and angry at the same time.
"Who are you? I'm holding my niece, so why should you be so bossy?"
No one had ever spoken to Wang Shuqin like this before. She was very angry, but considering Xie Yunchu's face, she decided not to argue with him. She pointed at Ke Jie'er and
"I'm warning you for the last time. Give my sister back to me."
The girl, who was usually so fierce, was held in Xie Yunyou's arms, with her legs hanging down and her little head drooping. She was too well-behaved. Wang Shuqin was worried that Xie Yunyou would abuse the child.
Xie Yunyou is a man after all, with rough hands and feet, how can he know how to raise a child.
Xie Yunyou glanced at the baby in his arms. Ke Jie'er looked at this and that with her big watery eyes. He had no idea why they were quarreling.
Xie Yunyou pointed at Wang Shuqin and asked, "Do you know her?"
Sister Ke raised her little arm out of courtesy and giggled.
Wang Shuqin enjoyed it very much and rushed over to hug the child forcefully. Xie Yunyou was afraid of hurting the child and was forced to give him to her.
Wang Shuqin immediately carried Ke Jie'er to sit on the Luohan bed under the corridor, and ordered the maid to get wet wipes to wipe the places where Xie Yunyou had hugged her bit by bit.
Xie Yunyou: “…” I’ve never been despised like this before.
In line with the principle that a good man does not fight with a woman, Xie Yunyou supported himself with a pair of long and straight legs, leaned against the tree with his arms around his chest, and stared at Wang Shuqin with interest.
Wang Shuqin wiped Sister Ke's arm while cursing, "There are so many bugs on that tree. If one of them lands on you, you'll probably get a rash."
Xie Yunyou refused to give in and retorted, "The child has been spoiled since she was young, and she is full of diseases. Let her exercise. I will make sure she will be invulnerable in the future."
After hearing these unorthodox words, Wang Shuqin said anxiously, "Do you think she is you? She is the eldest daughter of our Wang family. She should be raised with great respect. Besides, she is so young and a girl. How can she compare with you?"
Xie Yunyou simply moved a brocade stool and sat down under the tree. "What's wrong with the girl? Girls should know how to protect themselves. I tell you, I will teach her kung fu later."
"Puh, puh, puh, don't lead my Ke'er astray." Wang Shuqin said anxiously to Nanny Lin beside her, "Mammy, kick him out quickly, I don't have such a brother."
When Xie Yunchu entered the yard with a lot of bags, he saw the two men arguing fiercely with each other.
Wang Shuqin was so angry that her pretty face turned red. When she saw Xie Yunchu coming back, she immediately stood up to greet him, "Sister-in-law, your brother is so unreasonable. He is talking nonsense." Then she walked around Xie Yunchu and left.
Xie Yunchu was confused. Meanwhile, Xie Yunyou pointed at Wang Shuqin's receding figure and grumbled to his sister, "Sister, who is that girl? She is so rude."
Xie Yunchu ordered Xia An to move the things to the back kitchen, and came in to ask the nanny what happened. The nanny told her the quarrel between the two of them, and Xie Yunchu scolded Xie Yunyou, "You are still a little girl, I am older than you."
Xie Yunyou was full of disdain and even gestured with his hands, thinking that the girl was about as tall as his chest. Xie Yunchu was also annoyed by his brother's reckless look and said, "How can she be that short? At least she should be as tall as your shoulders."
Xie Yunyou looked at the setting sun and decided not to stay any longer. "Sister, I'm going back."
The smile on Xie Yunchu's face faded, "If you don't want to go back, just stay here for a few days. Your brother-in-law still needs to guide you in the imperial examination."
Xie Yunyou shook his head. "No hurry, wait a while. That's my home, I must go back. Am I afraid of the old man?"
His younger brother had grown up and had his own ideas, so Xie Yunchu told himself to relax.
"Then drive slowly." He told the nanny to take a few bundles and put some handmade clothes in them for him. Xie Yunyou carried the bundles and was led by Xia An to the outer courtyard. When he passed by the study, Wang Shuhuai heard the news and came out to see him off. The two met in the small flower hall in front.
After some politeness, Wang Shuhuai's eyes fell on the bag on his shoulder. Xie Yunyou noticed his gaze and explained, "Oh, my sister made some clothes for me."
Wang Shuhuai kept smiling and pretended not to care, "Very good, I will go south in early July, and I will have some free time before then to come here, and I will pass on some of my experience to you."
Xie Yunyou thanked him, turned his head to glance at Xie Yunchu who was standing at the moon cave door looking at him, and gently approached Wang Shuhuai, "Brother-in-law, there is something wrong with my sister."
Wang Shuhuai's heart skipped a beat, and he asked calmly, "What's wrong?"
Xie Yunyou didn't know how to say it directly. In the past, no matter what his sister did, she was always thinking about Wang Shuhuai. But at lunch today, she didn't even look at Wang Shuhuai. When Wang Shuhuai finished his bowl of rice and put down his chopsticks, his sister didn't react at all. This was not right.
Xie Yunyou looks careless, but he is actually very meticulous.
Thinking of the scene where Xie Yunchu burst into tears as soon as he saw him, Xie Yunyou looked at Wang Shuhuai seriously.
"Brother-in-law, have you offended my sister?"
Wang Shuhuai felt mixed emotions and he didn't know how to explain it to Xie Yunyou.
In Xie Yunyou's eyes, this hesitation was proof that there was discord between the couple.
Xie Yunyou could not help but understand his sister's character. The only possibility was that Wang Shuhuai ignored her.
"Brother-in-law, are you too busy with official duties and neglecting my sister? No woman does not want to be in love with her husband. No matter how virtuous my sister is, she must be looking forward to you treating her well. Brother-in-law, aren't you going south? Please spend some time with my sister during this period of time."
Xie Yunyou stopped talking and turned to leave.
Wang Shuhuai glanced to the side. The flowers were withered, and behind the dense bamboo shadows stood a graceful figure, who was more beautiful than the flowers.
Is it really because he didn't do enough?
Wang Shuhuai specially received Xie Yunyou at his mansion today. After Xie Yunyou left, he continued to work in the yamen. As he was about to go south, the princess summoned him to Changchun Palace several times to discuss the strategy of measuring the land. Wang Shuhuai was busy as a whirlwind. However, no matter how busy he was, when he was sitting on duty in the yamen late at night, he vaguely remembered the words of Xie Yunyou and Master Zhu.
I don't know when I will be able to come back after this departure, so I might as well do something with my own hands to remind her of me.
Wang Shuhuai was good at carving, so he immediately asked Qi Wei to go to his house to get a small piece of Hetian mutton-fat jade from his collection. He cut the piece of Hetian jade in half and cut it into the length of a hairpin. Then he took some time out of his busy schedule and spent two days carving a Hetian jade hairpin for Xie Yunchu.
There is an exquisite magnolia carved on the top of the hairpin, which looks very much like her, as quiet and graceful as an orchid. I'm sure she likes it.
Although there were no complicated or luxurious embellishments, the craftsmanship was very smooth and exquisite. He did not care even though his fingertips were cut by the carving knife several times. In the evening of that day, he took the item back to Chunjing Hall.
It was late summer, the dormant weather was getting worse, and it had just rained. The sky and the earth were covered with fog. Wang Shuhuai, dressed in a deep blue robe, stepped onto the corridor with elegance and dignity.
Xie Yunchu was watching Ke Jie'er playing in the corridor. The child was held by a maid. She playfully stretched out her hands to reach the water drops falling from the eaves, and her giggles echoed in the yard.
Xie Yunchu caught his figure out of the corner of his eye and turned his eyes away. He walked slowly out of the mist and rain, his eyebrows and eyes were like a naturally smudged landscape painting, each color and texture perfectly depicting the unevenness of his eyebrows and eyes. He was like a painting with a desolate atmosphere and clear clouds, so beautiful that it was out of reach.
Xie Yunchu was a little dazed, but quickly regained his composure.
Wang Shuhuai was attracted by the child's laughter. He looked at his daughter for a few seconds, then slowly moved his gaze to his wife. She was wearing a casual jacket, with red lips and black eyebrows. She was leaning against a pillar, looking at him calmly and clearly.
"Second Master is back." Her face was a little paler than usual, as if she was a little weak. Wang Shuhuai was puzzled, but he did not ask any more questions. He just slowly took out the jade hairpin from under his sleeve and handed it to his wife.
"Madam, this is the jade hairpin I carved for you. Do you like it?" His voice was clear and mellow, without too many ups and downs, but very pleasant to the ear.
Xie Yunchu had her period today and felt a little disappointed. Her lower abdomen was already uncomfortable and she was trying hard to stay awake. However, when she heard her husband's words and saw the snow-white and lustrous jade hairpin, she was stunned for a moment.
She took it slowly and placed it in her palm. It was indeed an excellent jade hairpin. She raised her eyes to meet his elegant eyebrows.
"Why did you think of doing this, Second Master?" This is not like Wang Shuhuai's style.
Wang Shuhuai laughed with his hands behind his back, "You'er blames me for not caring about you enough."
No wonder, Xie Yunchu was slightly stunned, and then said, "You are busy with official duties, and important things are more important. Don't take his childish words to heart."
Wang Shuhuai said nothing, but he could see that there was no surprise on her face.
Xie Yunchu's expression was gentle and indifferent, "Second Master, you are very thoughtful." Then he handed it to the maid beside him and said, "Put it in the box."
Wang Shuhuai's heart sank inexplicably. This was the first time he made something for a woman. He worked hard all night and spent two days to make such a hairpin. She just said "you're thoughtful" and sent him away.
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