Father's Plan
The next morning.
Just as Xie Sili finished his breakfast and was about to take Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan to Longmen Academy, he happened to meet Xie Zhun, who had just finished court, at the gate.
Xie Zhun was dressed in court attire, his face showing obvious fatigue. She bowed to Xie Zhun respectfully, leaving him no room for criticism.
Are you feeling better?
Hearing Xie Zhun's voice, Xie Sili glanced at the two siblings beside him and said, "Thank you for your concern, Father. My health has improved."
"Where are you going?" Xie Zhun frowned. "Third Sister, you shouldn't be taking these two children around like this. What if someone sees them?"
“Chang’an is not like Yuzhou. You may not care about gossip, but you must consider your father’s reputation. All the young ladies in our household are still unmarried,” Xie Zhun said earnestly.
"Father, you may not know this, but they are going to Longmen Academy to register today. I thought they were unfamiliar with Chang'an, so I planned to take them with me. I..."
"Nonsense!" Xie Zhun pulled her aside. "How can we let them enroll in Longmen Academy so easily? Do you know where that academy is? It's not a place anyone can enter, let alone someone from Yuzhou City." His voice rose slightly, and his tone was laced with sarcasm, as if he didn't care about their existence at all.
Their gazes were full of contempt, as if their very origins had created a vast disparity between them.
This is probably the difference between the gentry and the common people.
With the aristocratic families now in control of the government, it is very difficult for scholars from poor families to rise in the ranks. Even with the support of the current emperor, it is difficult to give important positions to scholars from poor families. The students who are enrolled in Longmen Academy today, even if they have a smooth career, are just wasting their talents and have no opportunity to show them.
This is the reason for the rise of Longmen Academy.
One person can do very little, but a group of people, people from all over the world, can easily accomplish something when they come together.
"Father, you may not know this, but in Yuzhou City, the two siblings are very popular with the teacher." Xie Sili said, patting their heads. "Father, don't worry, they are qualified to study at Longmen Academy."
“Third girl, I suppose you don’t know much about the Yuzhou City Gate Academy. At this time, you need a letter of recommendation to enroll in the academy. Without a letter of recommendation, it will be very difficult to get in.”
Hearing Xie Zhun's words, Xie Sili took out something from her sleeve and handed it to Xie Zhun. She looked at Xie Zhun and whispered, "Father, this is a recommendation letter from Longmen Academy in Yuzhou City."
Xie Sili glanced at Xie Zhun, taking in their emotions. "Father, you may not know this, but there is also a Longmen Academy in Yuzhou City. These two siblings are the last disciples of Master Zhuge and are deeply loved by him."
Xie Chun glanced at the letter of recommendation in his hand. In addition to the seal of Longmen Academy, it also had Mr. Zhuge's personal seal. Every line and every word on it spoke of the child's excellence.
Upon receiving the letter of recommendation returned by Xie Zhun, she clearly sensed a slight change in Xie Zhun's mood.
"Then you should hurry up and go, so as not to be late." Xie Zhun said, waving to them.
Even as Xie Sili boarded the carriage, she could feel Xie Zhun's gaze upon her.
Xie Zhun had an excellent reputation in the court. Just how good was it?
He was a man of many talents, able to speak to people in a way that suited them perfectly. Although Xie Chun himself only became the Left Prime Minister because of the Xie family's status, it must be admitted that he originally had some ability.
For example, it was because he chose the right side in time that he was able to rise to the position of Left Chancellor. However, the country respected the right side, and although everyone knew Xie Chun's position as Left Chancellor, no one knew who this unseen Right Chancellor was.
The emperor once said that many of his good policies for governing the country were proposed by the Right Chancellor. More importantly, every suggestion put forward by the Right Chancellor was very practical, which is why he was able to occupy the position of Right Chancellor.
"Auntie, is that man really your biological father?"
Hearing Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan's voices, Xie Sili glanced at them and said, "Yes, he is my biological father; although he occupies the position of father, he has never fulfilled his responsibilities as a father."
“He despised my mother for her humble origins and let her bleed to death during childbirth. My poor mother didn’t know that her husband, who loved her dearly, wanted to kill her before he died.”
Xie Sili looked out the window at the scenery, his voice tinged with an unprecedented sadness, "I have never met my mother. All the things I know about her are from my grandparents. My grandmother frankly said that she has felt guilty towards my mother all her life."
"She's gone now, what's the point of saying these things?" She leaned back on the cushion and slowly closed her eyes.
"Don't worry, Auntie," the brother and sister's voices rang out again. "Auntie raised us from childhood, so she is like our mother. We will protect her in the future."
Xie Sili glanced at the brother and sister, a slight smile appearing on her face.
They happened to meet Xie Sinan's carriage at the entrance of Longmen Academy. Xie Sili glanced at Xie Sinan as he got out of the carriage but did not say anything.
"What are you doing here?" Xie Sinan frowned. "You're not feeling well and you're still running around like this. You're really asking for trouble."
Xie Sinan's words made Xie Sili glance at him again, and he patiently spoke to him, "Second brother, you don't know, I brought these two children here to register, and they don't know the way since they are new to Chang'an."
Xie Sinan watched her leave without saying a word, then turned back to look at them after walking a short distance, saying, "Hurry up and follow me."
Xie Sili, along with Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan, followed Xie Sinan toward Longmen Academy.
In case they couldn't find their way, Xie Sinan specially led them to the dean's office. Looking at him, Xie Sili suddenly felt that his older brother might not be the "dull and domineering" figure he appeared to be.
If he's not "Dumb King", then what's going on with him looking like this now?
Or is it that he, like Liu Shan, was "wise in appearance but foolish in reality"?
"Dean Murong and Vice Dean Shangguan should both be in the administration office right now. If you follow this wisteria-covered corridor to the bamboo grove, you'll see the administration office in the bamboo grove." Xie Sinan pointed to the wisteria-covered corridor with a slightly awkward expression.
Xie Sili glanced at Xie Sinan, then feigned a cough, "Thank you, Second Brother."
Before Xie Sili could react, she felt a warmth on her shoulder. She looked at the portly Xie Sinan standing in front of her and was about to speak when she heard Xie Sinan's voice, "Hurry up and go. You're just wasting your body. Be careful no one will collect your corpse."
Xie Sili, holding the cloak over her shoulder, glanced at Xie Sinan's departing figure, then lowered her head with a slight smile on her lips.
At the end of the wisteria-covered pergola is a bamboo grove, and deep within the grove is a bamboo house. The house is surrounded by all sorts of trinkets, which look quite interesting.
"Ache, Yan Yan, you two go find Murong and Shangguan. I'll sit here in the bamboo forest for a while." Xie Sili patted their heads as he looked at them.
After watching the two of them go to the bamboo house, Xie Sili was about to go deeper into the bamboo forest when he heard a familiar voice.
"The young lady has arrived, yet she didn't even let us know."
She looked up and saw a slight smile on Murong's face.
"I'm leaving A-Che and Yan-Yan in your care." Xie Si-Li looked at the two children standing next to Shangguan behind her. "You also know Mr. Zhuge's thoughts."
"Is Mr. Zhuge the young lady's true love?" Murong asked with a pained expression. "Mr. Zhuge is more learned than us, but that doesn't mean the young lady is so biased."
"I feel at ease leaving them in your care." Xie Sili looked at Murong calmly. "Although the academy is basically full of my people, this is Chang'an after all, and I can't reveal my identity here."
As she spoke, she took out a flask of wine from her sleeve and handed it to Murong, saying, "This is a new type of wine that A-Kang has recently developed."
Seeing Murong open the wine pot, Xie Sili was about to speak when he heard his voice, "This is osmanthus wine? No wonder he's a top favorite among girls. He never runs out of wine. He can come up with all kinds of wine all year round. He truly lives up to his name, Du Kang."
“I remember there are golden goblets in Chang’an too. You can go and buy some then.” Xie Sili glanced at him. “① What can relieve sorrow? Only wine.”
"Does the young lady intend to stay at the Prime Minister's residence indefinitely?" Murong asked, frowning. "The Prime Minister's residence is a place that devours people without spitting out their bones; it is not suitable for the young lady."
“But that’s where my mother lived after all.” Xie Sili’s gaze fell on Murong. “I only know that my mother died from postpartum hemorrhage, but I don’t know the real story.”
"I want to investigate the cause of my mother's death in the Prime Minister's residence." Meeting Murong's gaze, Xie Sili's expression was solemn. "Just as you said, the Prime Minister's residence is indeed a place that devours people without spitting out their bones. I was also fortunate enough to be taken to live in Yuzhou City by my grandparents."
"girl……"
"No need for further words, I have my own plans." Xie Sili said, waving his hand at Murong. "Ache and Yan Yan are in your care. If anything happens, just let me know."
A gust of wind blew through the bamboo forest.
After entrusting Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan to Murong and Shangguan, Xie Sili left Longmen Academy on foot.
She strolled leisurely along the road, enjoying the beautiful scenery around her.
Every building around seems to be telling its own history, recounting untold stories of the past.
Although she had never been to Chang'an and her impression of the place was rather vague, there must have been important reasons why it became the capital of the country.
She had heard her master mention some past events. Although they were from years ago, they seemed to her master as if they had happened yesterday. He could clearly remember his master, his fellow disciples, and everything he had experienced.
She thought that there must be many unknown historical stories hidden in this ancient city.
She stopped in front of a tavern, stood at the door, glanced at the waiter, and smiled as she handed him her wine gourd. "Waiter, fill this gourd. I want your new osmanthus wine."
The waiter took the wine jug from her and said with a smile, "Alright, please wait a moment, sir." As he spoke, he turned around and went to fill Xie Sili's wine jug.
Half an incense stick's time later, the waiter looked at her with a bitter face, holding a wine pot, "Miss, we're out of osmanthus wine."
Hearing his words, Xie Sili placed a silver leaf into his hand. "Thanks." She took the wine flask from the shop assistant and casually tossed it into her sleeve.
Seeing the waiter's expression, Xie Sili smiled, a rare moment of good mood. "What can relieve sorrow? Only wine."
After leaving the tavern, she took another route.
This road leads to a small gate of the Prime Minister's residence. Next to it, a garden is under renovation. Xie Sili wanted to go in and see how far the renovation was going, but then he heard a familiar voice.
"Isn't this Sister Li?"
Upon hearing this voice, Xie Sili looked up and saw Huang standing not far away. The smile on her face was gone, replaced by a blatant contempt and disdain, as if she didn't want to take Huang, the daughter of the first wife, seriously when no one was around.
"I have met my mother."
“Sister Li, you probably don’t know that this whole plot of land next to us has been bought by a wealthy family.” Madam Huang glanced at the garden that was being renovated and looked expectant. “I reckon the owner of the garden is a person with ideas. I’ve never seen the decorations in this garden before. They’re very rare.”
When Xie Sili made her choice, she deliberately chose a place adjacent to the Prime Minister's residence. There was even a place in Siyuan that was separated from her Liju by only one wall.
Everything displayed in this garden is something that does not exist in this world, which is why it feels so rare.
But she felt that this mortise and tenon structure was the crystallization of the working people, and she couldn't help but admire its beauty.
"Don't worry, Sister Li, you'll never have the chance to stay in a place like this in your entire life," Huang said, covering her mouth and chuckling.
“What my stepmother says is true. After all, I won’t live much longer. I’ll enjoy every day I can. Don’t you agree, stepmother?” Xie Sili coughed as he looked at Madam Huang. “I lost my mother at a young age. Unlike my sixth sister, I don’t have a mother’s love and brotherly affection. For me, being alive is already a blessing. How could I dare to hope for anything else?”
Just then, a figure walked out of the garden, avoiding her gaze. She heard the person look at Madam Huang and speak.
"I remember you are the wife of the Prime Minister. Is this the kind of quality the Prime Minister's family has? To criticize others outside their garden?"
He didn't give Madam Huang a chance to speak, pressing her aggressively, "Or is it that Madam did this on purpose?"
Xie Sili stood there watching as Huang was rendered speechless by his words, and in the end, she could only turn around and leave dejectedly.
Xie Sili glanced at the man, nodded to him, and then turned and walked into the Prime Minister's residence.
She had just followed Madam Huang into the Prime Minister's residence when she heard her voice, "Xie Sili, you're happy to see me in such a sorry state, aren't you?" Her gaze was like a sharp blade, seemingly piercing through her. "As a child of the Prime Minister's family, you just watched your mother being bullied."
"What are you saying, Mother?" Xie Sili looked at her and said in a low voice, "Just now it was clearly Mother who disregarded the face of the Prime Minister's Mansion, so why are you blaming me now?"
Xie Sili didn't give Huang a chance to speak, "As Mother said, I really can't live in such a garden, but Mother can? Since Mother can't live there either, what's the difference between us?"
Seeing Huang's outstretched hand, Xie Sili took a step back. "Mother, you are the mistress of the Prime Minister's mansion, the face of the mansion. Don't always lose your composure just because you see my face. Your current state makes me think that you caused my mother's death back then."
As Xie Sili spoke, she kept her eyes fixed on Huang's face, not missing a single expression. She could vaguely sense the fleeting guilt on Huang's face.
After Xie Sili withdrew his gaze, he heard Madam Huang's voice rang out, "Don't talk nonsense! Everyone in this Prime Minister's residence knows that the late Madam died of postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to you. What does that have to do with me?"
Moving closer to Madam Huang, Xie Sili met her eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately, his words both seductive and alluring, "Mother, do you dare to swear?"
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