Sisterhood
Xie Sinan is now twenty-three years old. He already had memories when Xie Sinian passed away, so it's not surprising that he would be so familiar with Xie Sinian's eyes.
Noticing Xie Sinian's slight pause in holding the glass, Xie Sili raised her own glass and looked at the two of them. "How about we become sworn siblings today?"
Noticing Xie Sinian's gaze, Xie Sili smiled at him, while Xie Sinan, without much thought, said, "Okay, I'm willing."
Because of Xie Sinan's words, Xie Sinian nodded in agreement and expressed his willingness.
"Heaven above, Earth below. I, Lu Ciyuan (Xie Sinan, Xie Sili), hereby swear an oath of brotherhood and sisterhood. We do not ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year."
After saying this, the three men drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp, and then threw the bowls on the ground and smashed them.
Xie Sili first glanced at Xie Sinian, then looked at Xie Sinan. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a familiar voice.
"Girl, hurry, hurry! The Sage of War and the Sage of Medicine are both looking for you. Those old men are no match for Master Zhuge." Green Bamboo's figure appeared in front of her as she spoke. "Let's go, let's go. But the Sage of Poetry is really amazing~ He can compose poems on the spot."
Xie Sili glanced at Xie Sinian and Xie Sinan behind her and was about to speak when she heard their voices rang out almost in unison, "Sister, hurry up and go."
When Xie Sili arrived at the table, he found them playing a game of musical chairs. The zither master was playing music for them, while the others played games. Their cups were constantly filled with wine, which was poured by Mei Lanzhu Ju.
After a sumptuous feast, both hosts and guests were delighted.
Xie Sili only drank a few cups today, not a large amount. She instructed the guards to take the Nine Saints to rest and also ordered a bowl of hangover soup to be cooked for each of them.
"You usually have a huge capacity for alcohol, so why are you drinking so little today?"
Hearing Bai Lian's voice, Xie Sili turned his gaze to her, a smile playing on his lips. "As long as they enjoy themselves, that's fine. I need to take charge, so I can only have a little to drink. But with alcohol, it's not the alcohol that makes you drunk, it's the person who gets drunk."
"girl……"
Hearing a familiar voice, Xie Sili turned around and saw Du Kang walking towards them. His steps were steady, and it was clear that he hadn't drunk too much.
"I remember you drank quite a bit today, is that alright?" Xie Sili raised an eyebrow at him, "It would be incredibly embarrassing for a wine connoisseur like you to say you can't drink."
Du Kang smiled faintly, "It's just empty fame that people gain. It's fine if others say it, but why does the young lady feel the same way? I don't know who I brewed this wine for in the first place."
Xie Sili laughed and quickly apologized, "Yes, yes, yes, Du Kang, you brewed wine for me back then, so I'm apologizing to you here."
Just as she was about to bow and apologize, she heard Du Kang's voice rang out, "Girl, I'm going to have to shorten my lifespan!"
Xie Sili glanced at the green bamboo beside her and instructed her to prepare some fruit and snacks for the pavilion, where she planned to sit and chat with Du Kang for a while.
Inside the pavilion, Xie Sili poured tea for Du Kang, saying, "This year's new tea leaves were sent from over there. Try them; they're pre-Qingming Longjing."
Du Kang picked up his cup and took a small sip. "Excellent tea. It's no wonder it was sent from Lin'an."
He didn't give Xie Sili a chance to speak, "I've already heard about what happened to you, Miss. You are clearly the legitimate daughter, but now you've become like this."
"Xie Zhun doesn't love me." Xie Sili said almost without thinking. "He doesn't love our mother, and he doesn't love us either, which is why he didn't hesitate for a moment when he killed my brother."
At this point, leaning against the pillar behind him, his tone was somewhat cold, "When I learned the truth, facing Xie Zhun there, I really had the urge to kill him with my own hands, but that would make me become like him, so I must ruin his reputation and make my mother famous for all time."
At this point, Xie Sili turned his gaze to Du Kang, "I believe that Jun Qiyu will definitely be a good ruler in the future, and he will surely be able to bring peace and prosperity to this country."
"And what about you, young lady?"
Xie Sili smiled and shook his head. "Myself? I've never thought about my own affairs. What I want is a carefree and unrestrained life. After I've settled things in Chang'an, I want to continue traveling the world. I want to go to Zhao to see my master, and I also want to visit other countries."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "I'll only feel at ease leaving the affairs of Yuzhou City to you."
Upon hearing this, Du Kang gave a helpless smile. "Yuzhou City is the young lady's Yuzhou City, right? Why does it feel like it's become our Yuzhou City?"
Xie Sili smiled again, "Of course, it's everyone's Yuzhou City." She raised her wine glass and gently touched Du Kang's glass to the glass, "Because of you, Yuzhou City has become more meaningful. It is your existence that will give Yuzhou City a better future."
Xie Sili chatted with Du Kang in the pavilion for a while. As Du Kang turned to leave, she heard Si Ze's voice, "Miss, the Second Master is already waiting for you over there. He is going to the palace to report on his duties tomorrow."
Xie Sili listened to Si Ze's words and went directly to the courtyard where Yang Shi and the others were.
Looking at his wife and children whom he hadn't seen for a year in the courtyard, Xie Yi suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.
"Father, this time when we return to Chang'an, you won't be going to Suzhou, will you?" Xie Sichuan said to Xie Yi without much thought. "My exam results this time should be pretty good."
“Alright, your third sister has mentioned your affairs in her letter.” Xie Yi’s eyes were filled with a gentle smile. “As for whether or not to go to Suzhou, it depends on His Majesty’s decision. We cannot presume to know His Majesty’s mind.”
“Madam, you’ve had a hard time these past few days. I heard about what happened on the way here. It’s very good that you and your parents move to Si Garden. You were already living together in Yuzhou City.”
Madam Yang nodded at Xie Yi, "It's Li Jie'er who is very thoughtful. I also stayed at Li Jie'er's place when I returned to Chang'an before."
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Xie Yi, "Sister Li is a thoughtful child, it's just a pity that her older brother is heartless and can't see Sister Li's goodness. He loves Xie Siyu and Xie Siyao wholeheartedly." She then gently shook her head.
“Li Yatou has her own ideas, you don’t need to worry about her.” Xie Yi said, taking Yang’s hand. “She is our core.”
Before Yang could speak again, she heard Si Yi's voice, "Second Master, the young lady is waiting for you in the study, waiting for you to come over."
Xie Yi glanced at Si Yi in front of him and nodded, "Alright, I'll go over after I get my things." He then looked at Madam Yang, "Madam, I'm going to see Li Yatou first. It'll probably be quite late. You and the others should go to bed first. I have to go to court with them tomorrow morning."
Although Yang was a little worried about Xie Yi's condition, she still nodded to him, "Then husband, you should go quickly, so as not to disturb your rest."
After Xie Yi took the things, he went to Xie Sili's study with Si Yi.
Inside the study, Xie Sili looked at the intelligence report that had been delivered earlier. In front of him were two cups filled with steaming hot tea.
Hearing the door open, Xie Sili looked up and saw Xie Yi walking towards her.
"Second Uncle (Li Yatou)." The two voices rang out at the same time.
"Second Uncle, please sit down." Xie Sili said, gesturing for him to sit. "You must have suffered these past few days of running around."
“What are you saying, Miss Li? We should rest for a day and go to the palace to report for duty tomorrow.” Xie Yi said, taking a small sip from the cup in front of him without any hesitation. “It’s a pre-Qingming Longjing tea sent from Lin’an.”
Xie Sili nodded at Xie Yi, "Exactly."
"Although it has been a long time since I returned to Chang'an, I have heard all about it on the way here. My elder brother..." Xie Yi pursed his lips and did not finish his sentence.
"Second Uncle, there's no need to worry. He wasn't truly sincere towards us to begin with, so why should we have any concerns?" Xie Sili looked up at Xie Yi sitting in front of him. "The Fang Ye incident has shocked the entire court and the public. The position of Grand Secretary has been temporarily put on hold, and you are the best candidate."
Meeting Xie Yi's gaze, Xie Sili continued, "Now that His Majesty is unlikely to entrust this position to any official serving in the court, and among those serving outside the capital, you are the most popular, so naturally this position will be given to you." Xie Sili explained clearly and logically.
“But if I were to serve as an official in the court…” Xie Yi’s gaze fell on Xie Sili, “the secret that I am my father’s son would be impossible to keep.”
Xie Sili nodded at Xie Yi. "That's right. Over the years, you've worked diligently, and no one has ever known that you are your grandfather's son, Xie Zhun..." Xie Sili glanced at Xie Yi when she said the name, and after seeing that he didn't react, she continued, "Xie Zhun has never acknowledged that you are his brother. He thought to himself, how could my brother be better than me? That's why everyone thought that my grandfather only had one son, Xie Zhun. But now the situation is different."
“You and Xie Zhun served in the same court. Although he was the Left Chancellor, he was a smooth man. Last time, he even believed that Fang Ye was innocent. But your personality is the opposite of Xie Zhun's. You are upright, courageous and honest. You have qualities that Xie Zhun does not have.”
"Therefore, His Majesty needs a chess piece to balance the court and prevent him from tilting to one side," Xie Sili said, uttering the most crucial sentence.
"You see, His Majesty only has four princes now, but he has not appointed a new crown prince since the death of the former crown prince. Why is that?"
"Li girl, you mean..."
Xie Sili and Xie Yi simultaneously wrote the words "decentralization" on the table.
“Indeed,” Xie Sili spoke again. “Although His Majesty is the supreme ruler, he still fears having his power taken away. The death of the former Crown Prince is the best proof of that!”
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