elder brother thought
Having experienced Xie Zhun and Huang Shi's affair, she vaguely guessed that someone would come to persuade her to agree to the marriage with Jun Qiyu.
But she never expected that the person who came would be her biological brother, Xie Sinan.
In Huang's eyes, Xie Sinan was probably only of this use. After all, in Huang's eyes, her brother was probably just a dog, someone she could summon and dismiss at will. More importantly, Xie Sinan would definitely go through fire and water for her.
"Girl, should we get rid of that idiot?"
Hearing the voice coming from inside, Xie Sili kept his eyes closed. "It's alright, after all, he's my brother."
She would never lay a hand on her brother unless absolutely necessary; he was the only person in the world she was connected to by blood.
Even if he may have long forgotten his biological mother.
After the other party concealed themselves, Luo Mei's voice was heard at the door.
"Miss, the second young master said he wanted to visit you."
Having composed himself, Xie Sili instructed, "Let Second Brother in."
As Luo Mei pushed open the door, Xie Sinan walked out from beside her.
He was dressed in a brightly colored long gown, and he looked radiant. It was a pity that he hadn't become like this because of his mother's doting, but rather because Huang Shi had done it on purpose. Huang Shi didn't want anyone to hinder her son's future.
She leaned against the headboard, looking at Xie Sinan with an expressionless face, "I'm not feeling well, and I hope my second brother will forgive me."
"you……"
She didn't get a reply from Xie Sinan. Instead, he sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at her intently for a long time. His eyes changed from anger to calm and restraint, with a hint of concern in them.
The inheritance of bloodlines is indeed a wondrous thing.
"What brings you here, Second Brother?" Xie Sili coughed a few times as she spoke. "I saw you walk in all angry and thought your maid had offended you." She responded by downplaying the seriousness of the matter.
"Why is your health so poor? Your grandparents haven't been able to..." Xie Sinan gripped the fan in her hand, unsure of how to begin. The words she had been pondering remained unspoken.
"Second brother, you don't know, my health has always been like this. When I was five years old, I caught a cold and almost died. Since then, it has been recurring and never getting better." Xie Sili coughed a few times as he spoke, and finally his face turned pale and bloodless.
Xie Sili didn't give Xie Sinan a chance to speak, and continued, "What does Second Brother want with me?" She looked away at the potted plant on the windowsill, "Does Second Brother also want to persuade me to marry Prince Yan in place of Sixth Sister?"
Perhaps not expecting her to point this out so bluntly, Xie Sinan blushed and lowered her head without answering.
“I know, I was taken to Yuzhou City by my grandparents when I was young. My brother and I are not close. Compared to me, your second brother cares more about your sixth sister. After all, you grew up together…” Xie Sili’s voice choked with emotion as he spoke. “It’s so good. I really envy your sixth sister for having a brother like you.”
Xie Sili lowered her head and nodded. "Second brother, don't worry. His Highness the Prince of Yan is the number one playboy in Chang'an, and I'm sickly too. I might die before I even marry His Highness the Prince of Yan." She coughed the whole time she was talking to Xie Sinan.
She had barely finished speaking when Xie Sinan's voice rang out, "Don't talk nonsense..." He didn't finish his sentence.
Looking at Xie Sinan's appearance, Xie Sili secretly curled his lips. Even though he had been spoiled by Madam Huang and had long forgotten who his mother was, no one could take away bloodline.
Even though Xie Sinan wanted her to marry Jun Qiyu, he didn't say it aloud when he saw her half-dead state.
"Are those two outside really your children?"
Following Xie Sinan's gaze, her eyes fell on Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan. She nodded to him, "Yes! I watched them grow up. They're very likable, aren't they?"
Not receiving a reply from Xie Sinan, she turned her gaze to him again.
Xie Sinan sat by his bedside, vaguely feeling that he was concerned about her.
Unfortunately, her elder brother is a brainless fool who has been completely manipulated by Madam Huang, and has even turned into the spoiled brat he is today.
"Didn't Second Brother enroll at Longmen Academy?" Xie Sili changed the subject and asked. "I saw that Fifth Brother seemed to be a student at Longmen Academy before."
“I’m a student there too,” Xie Sinan explained, unusually good-natured. “It’s just that I don’t like those things; they annoy me.” He waved his hand as he spoke, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
"Second brother, go back and tell our stepmother that if His Highness the Prince of Yan doesn't mind my frail health, I'm willing to take his place in the marriage." Xie Sili said, picking up a handkerchief and coughing a few times. When he removed the handkerchief, he saw a pool of blood on it.
She caught a glimpse of Xie Sinan out of the corner of her eye, and she secretly put her handkerchief away and looked at him. "Don't worry, I won't die. I'm already used to this kind of life."
She glanced at Xie Sinan before looking away. "Second Brother, I'm tired and want to rest for a while. If there's anything else, could you come find me again tomorrow?"
After saying "Get some rest" he quickly disappeared from Liju.
It's impossible to make Xie Sinan believe what she says so easily, so we must treat Xie Sinan step by step. At least from a certain perspective, Xie Sinan still cares about this sickly younger sister.
"Why did the Second Young Master leave all of a sudden?" Luo Zhu stepped forward and asked, "By the way, Miss, the maidservant from Madam's side came to inform us that we'll be having dinner together tonight. Would you like to eat in the courtyard, or would you like to eat with them?"
"The Huang family is just making an invitation as a formality, so we won't disturb their family reunion." Xie Sili sneered. "She probably doesn't want me to go at all."
Xie Sili said, her gaze falling on the potted plant outside the window. "Luoju, I want to eat steamed sea bass tonight. There should still be some sea bass in the tank we brought earlier."
"Yes, we raised them using your method, Miss, and we didn't expect them to live for so long." Luoju smiled, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "It just so happens that the young master and young lady also like this dish. We'll make the other dishes as we see fit, or is there anything else you'd like to eat, Miss?"
"You guys do it however you like," Xie Sili casually instructed. "Since A-Che and Yan-Yan like it too, steam a few more and we'll eat something else tomorrow."
As she spoke, she picked up the copy of "Guiguzi" and continued reading.
Night falls.
After dinner, Xie Sili accompanied them for a walk in the courtyard to digest their food, but unexpectedly they ran into Huang Shi and Xie Siyao, who were also digesting their food.
"Greetings, stepmother." Xie Sili spoke first, looking at them.
"Greetings, Grandmother and Aunt." Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan bowed respectfully to them.
Madam Huang glanced at the two of them indifferently, but Xie Siyao seemed to like them very much, and her actions made Madam Huang frown.
"Since Sister Li wants to go for a walk, we'll head back first," said Madam Huang, pulling Xie Siyao away.
Before they had gone far, Xie Siyao's voice rang out, "Mother, what are you doing? Such adorable children! They call me aunt, and their manners are just as good as those of the children in Chang'an."
"So what?" Madam Huang said dismissively. "He's just a country bumpkin. How can he be more noble than the children in Chang'an? To put it bluntly, he's just a wild child..."
“Mother, please be careful with your words.” Xie Sili interrupted Huang Shi, her voice slightly stern. “Ache and Yan Yan were raised by my own hands. They have never lacked anything that others have. They have indeed lived in Yuzhou City, but their knowledge is no less than that of the children in Chang’an City.”
"Is that so?" Huang's eyes revealed a hint of sarcasm. "Li'er, it's not that I look down on you, it's just that you don't understand the rules of Chang'an. Take Longmen Academy for example. Although there is no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children in the academy, who doesn't know that everyone is currying favor with these high-ranking officials and nobles?" Huang raised her head slightly, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
“Since you’ve come to Chang’an, you should abide by the rules of Chang’an, shouldn’t you?” She said, covering her mouth and chuckling. “However, you’ve never lived in Chang’an, so how would you understand these things?”
"I see." Xie Sili said casually, glancing at Madam Huang standing in front of him out of the corner of his eye. "Thank you for informing me, stepmother."
She could tell that Madam Huang didn't want to have much interaction with her, so after nodding to her, she moved away, but she could still clearly hear Madam Huang's sarcastic and mocking words behind her.
Seeing Xie Jingyan trying to turn away, Xie Sili stepped forward and hugged her tightly, gently comforting her.
She was naturally well aware of the situation at Longmen Academy in Chang'an.
Several Longmen Academyes had done the same thing before. High-ranking officials and nobles tried to bribe the dean and vice-dean. When that failed, they bribed the teachers in the academy in the hope that they would treat the children better.
Just as there are honest and upright people, there are also those who embezzle and offer bribes; not everyone can resist the temptation of money and benefits.
Thinking of this, she glanced at Xie Jingche standing beside her, and then at Xie Jingyan in her arms.
She may be difficult to deal with, but there will always be people within the academy who want to deal with Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan, and this is the best way to rectify the situation.
Back at Liju, Xie Jingche couldn't help but complain, "Why does Aunt have to swallow her anger? We can just not live in the Prime Minister's residence!" He puffed out his cheeks and looked angry, "Aunt has never suffered such grievances in Yuzhou City."
"A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan." Xie Sili reached out and patted Xie Jingche's head. "You are disciples of Master Zhuge, yet you still don't understand his thoughts."
Receiving no response from either of them, Xie Sili turned his gaze to them. "Ache, I know you are quick-witted and have a brilliant mind, but Chang'an is not Yuzhou City, do you understand?"
After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Xie Jingyan, "Yan Yan is the same. Everyone in Yuzhou City knows your identity, and no one dares to bully you. But people in Chang'an City are treacherous, and there are enemies everywhere. You have to be careful."
"After you enroll in Longmen Academy, you will live in the academy's dormitories. Murong and Shangguan will take good care of you." Xie Sili said, patting their heads.
“I know your good intentions, and I know you are both very smart, but I have also told you a principle: ‘the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.’ When we are on someone else’s turf, we should avoid their sharp edge, understand?” Xie Sili said, pulling the two of them into his arms.
"I'm sorry, Auntie." Both voices rang out at the same time.
"Tomorrow morning, take Mr. Zhuge's letter of recommendation to Longmen Academy. If you encounter any problems at the academy, you must understand one principle: 'When you can no longer tolerate something, there is no need to tolerate it any longer.' No matter what happens, just like in Yuzhou City, I will be your strong support."
After Xie Sili had a private chat with them, they stayed with her for a while to read before going to wash up and go to bed. To make it easier to take care of the two of them, Luo Mei arranged for them to stay in the next room.
"Are they asleep?" Xie Sili looked up at Luo Mei.
“You clearly care about them, yet you still said those things,” Luo Mei teased with a smile. “The two children were worried about whether you would upset them before they went to sleep.”
“Because I care, that’s why I treated them that way.” Xie Sili continued flipping through the book in his hand. “The Prime Minister’s residence is a den of dragons and tigers, a place that devours people without spitting out the bones. I have never met my elder brother or mother, but it was here that they lost their lives.”
She closed the book in her hand, walked to the window, looked at the towering ancient tree standing in the courtyard, and murmured to herself, "Just as you said, what's so good about Chang'an? It's nothing but dazzling prosperity."
"Luomei, do you know what it means to be 'all show and no substance'?" Xie Sili turned to look at Luomei behind him. "They can only see the magnificent and glamorous exterior, but only those involved know the true extent of the rot inside." Xie Sili yawned as he spoke. "You should go and rest early too. I'm going to sleep as well."
"yes."
The candlelight flickered, and after swaying in the wind, it went out.
Inside the bamboo grove, a gust of wind blew past, and a dark figure sat in the empty space in the middle, with a cup of tea in front of him.
"Greetings, young lady." The man sitting beside her looked at the figure in the shadows with a respectful expression. "What are your orders, young lady?"
"I've heard about the Longmen Academy in Chang'an. This is a good opportunity to eliminate any uncertainties," the black-clad figure said in a clear voice.
"What does the young lady want to do?" the young man in the green robe asked. "This kind of atmosphere has existed since the founding of Longmen Academy. Although there is no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children within the academy, those people do not think so."
"Don't the aristocratic families control the government?" The dark figure picked up the cup in front of him and took a small sip. "Although His Majesty intends to cultivate talents from humble backgrounds, he has repeatedly failed, which is nothing more than a matter of vested interests."
“Among them, the most prominent should be the Left Prime Minister,” the black-robed youth said in a low voice. “The Left Prime Minister’s children are all enrolled in the academy and are objects of everyone’s admiration. Xie Sinan is an exception, but that does not diminish his popularity at the academy.”
“Of course.” The man in black’s voice carried a hint of sarcasm. “Everyone knows that Xie Siyu is the son of the Left Prime Minister, while Xie Sinan is nothing more than a dog of the Prime Minister’s mansion.”
"Does the young lady intend to use Xie Sinan to deal with these people?" the man in the green robe quickly interjected. "If so, wouldn't he become the target of everyone's criticism?"
"But who cares whether Xie Sinan lives or dies?" The shadowy figure murmured, rubbing the cup against his ear, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"You guys keep making preparations. Who knows, Xie Sinan might surprise you one day." She finished the rest of her tea in one gulp, and then disappeared after saying "Goodbye."
Watching the departing figures, Murong and Shangguan exchanged a glance and spoke almost simultaneously, "What should we do?"
“Mr. Zhuge from headquarters wrote that A-Che and Yan-Yan are also going to enter the academy. Why not use them to reorganize the academy?” Murong said, opening his fan. “I think this is probably what you’re thinking too.”
"How about this..."
Amidst the flickering lights in the bamboo grove, only whispers remained.
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