Entering the Garden
The Huang family had been paying close attention to the Si Garden project since its inception.
About two or three years ago, I heard that the land next to their Prime Minister's residence was bought at a high price. Although the Prime Minister's residence is in a very good location, the land next to it is the best.
Although it had been abandoned for decades, the buildings inside were rare, and with the later renovations and artificial decorations, they became even more unique.
The pavilions and towers evoke the feeling of small bridges and flowing water in Jiangnan. It is said that the artificial lake in the courtyard draws water from the moat, and it is a living water source.
Although she didn't know the overall structure inside, she would occasionally hear the maids say that there was a huge hot spring below the Si Garden, and they had dug a standing pond on the basis of that hot spring to keep the temperature constant all year round.
Listen to the rain in spring, admire the lotus in summer, appreciate the chrysanthemums in autumn, and walk in the snow in winter.
①The scenery changes with the seasons, and the joy is endless.
She had imagined who possessed the financial resources to purchase such a plot of land and even decorate it so lavishly. She had considered many people, but she had never thought that this garden was related to them.
"Father, do you have a relationship with Si Yuan?"
Back when the Si Garden was being renovated, he secretly ordered people to find out who the owner of the garden was, but to no avail. He never expected that the garden would be related to Xie Ling.
Xie Ling did not answer Xie Zhun's question, but instead instructed them to move the things from the car into the garden.
"Father, I am your biological son." Xie Zhun's voice was slightly dissatisfied. "Are you really going to ruin the relationship between us for the sake of a woman?"
"Who are you?" Xie Ling turned to Xie Zhun and asked without thinking, "Excuse me, you're blocking my way." He then pushed Xie Zhun aside.
When the guards carrying the goods heard this, they all wore suppressed smiles, but their hands never stopped moving.
Xie Zhun watched their retreating figures, his anger flaring, and stormed off.
As Huang watched Xie Zhun turn and leave, a calculating glint appeared in her eyes.
Si Ze carried the unconscious Xie Sili to her courtyard. Bai Lian, who had been waiting nearby, shook her head helplessly, "The young lady is courting death again."
Si Ze glanced at Bai Lian but did not answer her question. Instead, he placed Xie Sili on the couch.
"Si Ze, is the young lady alright?" Green Bamboo stepped forward and asked with concern. "It's good that you left that awful place, so you won't suffer any more grievances."
Si Ze nodded to them and automatically disappeared, as if he had never appeared.
Bai Lian casually placed her hand on Xie Sili's wrist, then looked up at Si Ze in the shadows. "Doesn't the young lady know how to restrain herself when drinking?" Her words carried a slight hint of accusation.
“I can’t control it,” Si Ze retorted without hesitation.
"Why are you scolding Aze?" Xie Sili, who had just woken up, glanced at Bai Lian and pinched her cheek with interest. "He can't beat me."
“Girl, Du Kang said before that excessive drinking is harmful to health, but you just wouldn’t listen.” Bai Lian’s tone was somewhat reproachful. “Even if you are in good health, you can’t ruin it like this. If Grandmaster sees this, she will point her finger at you and scold you.”
“Then let Du Kang send him a few jars of wine.” Xie Sili looked at Bai Lian with a smile in her eyes. “Although the old man and I are master and disciple, we are also friends.” She leaned back on the cushion behind her and looked at Bai Lian sitting on the edge of the bed.
Bai Lian was her doctor in Yuzhou City. She came with Xie Ling and his wife this time and took care of them along the way.
Bai Lian comes from Qihuang Valley, so by calculation, she should be Bai Lian's junior uncle.
"On our way back to Chang'an, we met our master." Bai Lian sighed softly as she mentioned the old man. "The old man was destitute and was setting up a fortune-telling stall."
Upon hearing this, Xie Sili laughed, glanced at Bai Lian, and then remained silent.
During the conversation, Luoju's voice rang out, saying that Xie Sinan had come to visit him.
Lying in bed, Xie Sili instructed Luzhu to prepare snacks and pastries.
Why did you argue with your father?
Hearing Xie Sinan's voice, she looked at him. "He wants to sever our father-daughter relationship." She said it casually, not forgetting to put an orange in her mouth.
Before she could get a reply from Xie Sinan, she was about to speak when she felt him pull her into his arms. “You’ve suffered so much these years. He really wasn’t a good father.”
Xie Sili reached out and patted Xie Sinan on the back. "In his eyes, only Xie Siyu is his son."
Thinking about the big exam tomorrow, she turned her gaze to Xie Sinan, "How are your preparations for the big exam?"
"I'm confident I can surpass Xie Siyu, but it's hard to say about my fourth brother." Xie Sinan scratched his head sheepishly at this point. "My fourth brother is very intelligent, and his learning pace is a bit different from ours. When the teacher asks questions in class, he can always offer deeper insights."
Because of their relationship with Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan, Xie Sichuan and Xie Sichu can be considered as half disciples of Master Zhuge. As disciples of the dean of the main academy, their learning is indeed different from others.
In addition to learning the knowledge imparted by their teacher, Mr. Zhuge would also give them special tutoring. As a literary sage, his observations and experiences always aroused the interest of the four of them, and his insights were profound.
“Fourth Brother is half a disciple of Master Zhuge, so he is naturally different from you.” Xie Sili raised his eyes to look at Xie Sinan. “You don’t need to compare yourself to him, just surpass Fifth Brother.”
After observing Xie Siyu during her time at the academy, she discovered that he was indeed very intelligent, but that was about it.
He was merely enjoying the privilege of being the center of attention and being the center of attention because he was Xie Chun's son.
The Longmen Academy here is indeed far inferior to the one in Yuzhou City.
"What instructions did Madam Huang give you before you came today?" Xie Sili mentioned the key figure. Xie Sinan's departure a step later than theirs was simply because Madam Huang had some matters to explain.
Xie Sinan took out the powder packet from her sleeve as she spoke, "She said it's a good thing and told me to add it to your daily meals."
Xie Sili glanced at Bai Lian sitting next to him, then handed her the item in his hand, saying, "Take a look, what kind of medicine is this?"
Bai Lian sniffed, frowning, "Miss, she not only wants to kill you, but she also wants you to die without anyone knowing."
"Perhaps she didn't expect that this Si Garden is related to me." Xie Sili said half-jokingly and half-seriously, and she felt that Huang Shi probably wouldn't think that this was her garden.
Not to mention the Huang family, even Xie Zhun couldn't find out that this was his garden.
“Miss, Seventh Brother just wrote to say that Ninth Saint is on his way, Mr. Zhuge has also returned this time, and Second Master is also traveling with him.”
Si Yi, who appeared at the window in a handstand, startled Xie Sinan.
Looking at Xie Sinan's expression, Xie Sili glanced at him and said, "Get lost."
Si Yi slunk away from them again.
"Prepare well for the big exam tomorrow, and don't worry about the rest." Xie Sili's gaze fell on Xie Sinan. "Just remember that you are different from others."
"Alright, I will certainly not let my sister down."
After the brother and sister exchanged some private words, Xie Sili instructed Green Bamboo to personally escort him away.
"Si Yi, come out here!" Xie Sili changed her tone and looked at the figure guarding outside the window.
Not getting a reply from Si Yi, Xie Sili's tone turned dangerous, "Aze, give Si Yi a good beating."
Not long after, Si Yi's screams echoed from the courtyard.
Meanwhile, Madam Yang led Xie Sichuan and Xie Sichu to the courtyard that had been arranged beforehand. As soon as they opened the door, they felt a wave of warmth wash over them.
Madam Yang instructed Xie Sichuan and Xie Sichu to carefully pack their things, and then she remembered Xie Yi's instructions before she left.
Xie Yi has always listened to Xie Sili over the years, and that respect comes from the inside out.
Although he was not in Chang'an, he still made some achievements in his administration. The towns, cities, and villages of Suzhou were quite well-governed under his management, and he was a clean-handed, upright and incorruptible person.
Although there were some corrupt officials, he resolved them all. Although he didn't have many connections over the years, he won the hearts of the people.
The people of Suzhou all know that there is a just and upright official in Suzhou who shares joy with the people.
"Mother, I think Father won't leave this time since he's back to report on his duties." Xie Sichuan thought about the teachers' analysis at the academy and looked at Madam Yang.
Madam Yang paused slightly. "Why? Your father has worked diligently in the local area for many years and has made considerable achievements. Those people in the court can't possibly want to go against your father." Her tone was tinged with worry, and her eyes held a hint of lingering fear.
“Mother,” Xie Sichuan said, taking Yang’s hand. “These days I’ve heard from the teacher in the office that Father might be promoted.”
Hearing Xie Sichuan's words, Yang's mood did not relax.
She knew Xie Yi's character well; he was upright and incorruptible. In the early years after he arrived in Suzhou, although he was the prefect, there were always people who didn't respect him. It was said that several things happened later before he was able to secure his position as the prefect of Suzhou. She didn't know exactly what those things were.
After securing his position, Xie Yi began instructing her to take good care of Xie Sili in Yuzhou City, as she vaguely felt that those events were somehow related to Xie Sili.
But Xie Sili is a woman, and a sickly one at that. Even though she has been traveling and enjoying herself all these years, how could she possibly be so good at giving advice and guidance?
"Brother Chuan, what do you think of Third Sister?" Madam Yang asked, turning her gaze to Xie Sixian.
“Third Sister is a very capable person.” Xie Sichuan looked at Yang Shi and said with a smile, “Mother has seen how Third Sister has treated us over the years. She is our family, and we are her support.” As he spoke, he patted Yang Shi’s shoulder with great seriousness.
Yang's expression relaxed. "That's true." A hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.
"What did Mr. Shangguan and Mr. Murong say?" Madam Yang then turned her gaze to Xie Sichuan.
Xie Sichuan nodded, "Mother must have heard about the case of the Grand Secretary. Besides the Grand Secretary, there are other official positions that have become vacant. The person who appears in this major examination may be able to fill the vacancy."
"I know my son's goals." As she spoke, Madam Yang raised her hand and stroked Xie Sichuan's head. "It would be good if he could make a name for himself, or it would be excellent if he could learn from your grandfather and father."
"I heard that there are vacant positions in the Jingzhao Prefecture. If I can get the top score in the exam, I would like to join the Jingzhao Prefecture."
"I heard from your sister that the winner will be promoted to a position of official rank of fourth grade or above. If they can't get into the Jingzhao Prefecture, they can go to the Dali Temple. I heard that the Dali Temple Minister, Lord Guan, is also an upright and incorruptible person."
"The Dali Temple was among the three judicial departments involved in the joint trial of Fang Ye's case this time. Lord Guan is indeed very capable." When mentioning Guan Lingsong Xie Sichuan, there was a hint of admiration in his words. "Lord Lu of the Jingzhao Prefecture is also very capable."
As soon as Xie Sichuan finished speaking, he noticed Yang's hand on his head. He scratched his head sheepishly and gave a smile.
"Lord Guan, Lord Lu, Lord Wei, as long as they are from respectable families, they are all acceptable. Although our Xie family can also be called a powerful and noble family, your grandfather and your father both built their empires on their own." Madam Yang took Xie Sichuan's hand and patted it.
“Your mother’s family has been in business for generations, and now your uncles are doing very well in Yuzhou City. We can’t help you in that area anymore, so we can only let you learn more from Sanya.”
"Mother, there's no need to belittle yourself. In your son's eyes, you are the best." Xie Sichuan raised his head and gave Yang a bright smile. "Mother, rest assured, I will definitely win first place and bring glory to the Xie family."
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