Xie family
Beside the pond in the courtyard, Xie's father and Liu Xu chatted happily. On a whim, Xie's father even picked up a large brush and wrote a painting entitled "Ode to Willow".
Liu Xu was flattered and overwhelmed, but clearly found it difficult to reconcile his feelings.
After all, the Xie Minister he imagined should be stern and unsmiling, quite different from the "old rascal" in front of him.
Moreover, Xie Yuan is not old; he is in his prime. When he smiles, he is full of energy, and one can still vaguely see the elegant gentleman who was famous throughout Chang'an twenty years ago.
No wonder she was able to give birth to such a beautiful and ethereal daughter.
Liu Xu smiled and chatted with Xie Yuan about farming in his hometown. Unexpectedly, Xie's father jumped up from his wooden chair and wanted to take Liu Xu to see a small cluster of vegetables in his garden.
"My dear son-in-law, I love you so much... Let me show you the cabbages I've grown."
Liu Xu was taken aback upon hearing this, and explained for the third time: "Sir, I have only known Third Sister for a short time, and we are just friends, not as they say."
Xie Yuan frowned, revealing an overwhelming air of authority that even he himself was unaware of, truly intimidating: "Why are you calling me 'sir'? That's too formal!"
"Don't you like Lingxi? But I don't have any other daughters."
Liu Xu quickly denied it: "No, no... I don't dislike it."
Xie Yuan raised an eyebrow, slowly savoring the words: "'If there's no dislike, then it must be liking.'"
Seeing Liu Xu's face turn red and his lips tremble as he tried to explain, looking every bit the innocent young man, Xie Yuan chuckled inwardly. He thought to himself that when looking for a son-in-law, he would have to see him take charge. On the other hand, thinking of his cabbage that he hadn't seen all morning, he said anxiously, "Enough nonsense, come with me quickly!"
He quickened his pace and finally arrived at the vegetable garden, but Xie Yuan stared blankly at the vegetable patch, "Eh...? Where are my vegetables?"
The three plump, fresh cabbages simply vanished without a trace.
Recalling the day before when Xie Heng had led several young men around his vegetable garden, he suddenly realized, his beard bristling: "Xie Heng!"
The sound startled a swallow, which fluttered its wings and flew to Xie Lingxi's roof to catch spring insects.
In Zhuozhi Garden, Xie Lingxi had just rested when she suddenly heard the sound of chests and cabinets being rummaged through outside. Then something was slammed heavily on the floor, and a quarter of an hour later, her father stormed in, shouting, "Lingxi!"
Xie Lingxi combed her hair, put on her outer robe, and went out. She saw her father standing in the courtyard with a cold look on his face, and Liu Xu standing beside him, looking bewildered.
"What's wrong?"
Father Xie: "The vegetables in my garden?"
Xie Lingxi thought for a moment: "Those three cabbages that barely survived? I just watered them not long ago."
Father Xie nodded with satisfaction, then realized halfway through: watering? Lingxi hated trouble, why would she go out of her way to fetch water to care for his cabbages? Then it could only be…
What kind of water?
"The water jug you put in the garden."
Father Xie flew into a rage: "That's Xie Heng's inkstone-washing water! Where is Xie Heng? He must have pulled up my vegetables, I'll settle the score with him!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Xie Lingjun entered the house, carrying a rough lantern as he strode into Xie Lingxi's courtyard, exclaiming with great joy, "Lingxi! Look what this is!"
Fortunately, he still had some sense and stopped right in front of the door, where he suddenly saw a fierce-looking face.
"Dad, are you trying to scare me?"
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Liu Xu. This man had handsome features and a tall, upright figure, possessing the appearance of a refined and elegant gentleman. However, since they were not related, it was disrespectful and improper for him to stand like this in front of his sister's courtyard.
Xie Lingjun began, "And this young man is..."
This must be the second brother of the third sister.
Liu Xu was about to answer when Xie's father interrupted him, his smile vanishing as he glared at Xie Lingjun with stern eyes: "This is the young friend I invited—"
He didn't want to say much, but immediately started to criticize: "Where did you put my vegetables?"
"vegetable?"
Xie Lingjun racked his brains and finally remembered the few bunches of cabbages that had been gnawed by insects and riddled with skull-like holes. He and Cui Zhi had later boiled water and stewed them. He felt a little deflated, but he remained calm on the surface. He looked up and saw a round black and white swallow. He immediately pointed at it and said, "It ate them."
Startled, the swallow jumped up, grabbed a piece of his clothes, and flew away in a flash.
"have eaten?"
Xie Yuan stared at the scapegoat swallow that had already flown far away, and the culprit in front of him, his face grim: "You really are something!"
Xie Lingjun lowered his head to wipe the lantern and readily agreed: "Otherwise, how can we say 'like father, like son'?"
The two were on the verge of a fierce battle, as if a brutal fight was about to break out.
Zhuozhi Garden was unusually quiet. The swallows that had just flown away returned, their round eyes staring at everyone, as if trying to figure out what the current situation was.
Xie Lingxi leaned against the painted pillar, quietly watching the stubborn father and son. Just as she was about to shoo them away, Liu Xu spoke with a gentle, persuasive tone:
“In my hometown, swallows are often regarded as the gods of welcoming spring. If a swallow is willing to eat the grain of a family, it will bring good fortune to that family. In this light, the fact that the swallow ate my uncle's vegetables is an omen of continuous blessings tonight.”
He paused, then said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "If Uncle doesn't mind, I still have some vegetables at my home in Chang'an, which I will transplant over in a few days."
Father Xie was a vegetable killer; he could never grow vegetables, yet he loved to grow them. Not only did he forbid everyone from eating them, but he also treated them like treasures, praising them to everyone he met.
These words struck a chord with Xie Yuan, who grasped Liu Xu's hand and repeatedly said "good."
Seeing that the two were getting along quite well, and considering that they had already met, and that the sun was setting, Xie Lingxi said, "Father, it's getting late, so let Liu Lang go back first."
Xie Yuan shook his head: "It's not safe to go back now."
Xie Lingxi knew that this matter had indeed caused quite a stir in Chang'an, but in the capital, the top scholar's reputation was still resounding. Would anyone really dare to openly harm Liu Xu?
Yes, there really is.
It was none other than the Third Prince, Yan Sheng.
Yan Sheng was born to the Empress. From a young age, he was protected by the Empress and felt that the best things in the world should be given to him, including the throne and women.
The Emperor delayed in appointing a Crown Prince, and the princes were all secretly making a huge fuss. Only Yan Sheng glanced at them and turned the tables.
He is the eldest son and the legitimate heir. If he is not the crown prince, then who is qualified?
As for how his younger brothers caused all sorts of trouble, in his eyes they were nothing more than the insignificant struggles of ants, completely unaware of how many times the Emperor's brother's faction had secretly protected him.
In the third month of spring, on the Shangsi Festival, he took a liking to Xie Lingxi.
He had long heard of Xie San Niang's extraordinary talent and refined elegance, but he had only scoffed at it, thinking it was just a petty trick played by a noble family. However, upon seeing her that day, Xie San Niang, like a graceful white lotus leaning against the railing, smiled like a flower in the spring dawn, and captivated him. Back in the palace, he thought of her day and night, unable to sleep.
In his previous life, he had entangled with Xie Lingxi for a long time. Although he did not pose any threat, he was still annoying.
But Liu Xu was different. He had no support when he first arrived in Chang'an, so he was harmed by him without anyone knowing. Who could seek justice for him?
Thinking of this, Xie Lingxi coughed lightly: "Father is right, Liu Lang, why don't you stay here for the night?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingjun understood. Liu Lang, Liu Lang, isn't that Liu Chengzhi, who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations?
He had originally heard of this top scholar and intended to befriend him, but Cui Yi kept nagging him for days, which forced him to rebel: "Fine, this Liu Chengzhi is good, but your brother Heng, who I grew up with, is not so good."
Today I finally met Liu Xu, and indeed the world is right, he is a gentleman of noble character and integrity.
He had recently heard some rumors about his younger sister and the top scholar having an affair... This gave him a chill; how could this be? Lingxi was too young to understand; what if this man was a sycophant trying to curry favor with the powerful?
Thinking about it, Xie Lingjun frowned and looked Liu Xu up and down: "It's not good for a single man to spend the night in a woman's house."
What... a single man.
Seeing that his speech was extremely incoherent, Xie Lingxi covered her face and wondered what had gotten into the whole family today. She quickly changed the subject: "Where did this lantern come from? Was it for me?"
Xie Lingjun immediately stepped in to protect her: "Ayi gave it to me!"
In fact, it was just a preliminary product made by Cui Yi when she was learning to make lanterns.
He humbly sought advice from his sister: "Lingxi, what should I do next? Should I take her to my study and let her choose whatever she likes?"
Xie Lingxi's lips twitched: "As far as I know, Ayi gets sleepy when she sees a book."
"Then shall I take her to Xiaoyao Tower to listen to storytelling and have tea?"
Xie Lingxi: "..."
Liu Xu then leaned over, guessing that the 'Ayi' they were talking about must be Xie Lingjun's beloved wife, and slowly said, "If you don't like poetry and literature, why go to Xiaoyao Tower to listen to storytelling? I've heard that Xiaoyao Tower's Beijing cuisine is superb. Let's have a meal together first, and then stroll around the streets and alleys. We can pick out some jewelry and hairpins that she likes. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Xie Lingjun, who had harbored some hostility towards Liu Xu, immediately exclaimed, "Chengzhi! What you said is brilliant!"
The two immediately became sworn brothers, and Xie Lingjun put his arm around his shoulder, wanting to have a detailed talk with him.
He loves my sister, what's wrong with that!
We're all just people in the same boat.
...
Dinner.
Mrs. Xie specially set up a round table that was only used during festivals, and the whole family sat down neatly.
Xie Xian had just been discussing scholarship with someone in the schoolhouse when he was called back. Seeing the crowd of people, he was momentarily stunned.
"This is……"
Before he could ask, Xie Lingjun naturally pulled him down to sit, "Brother, this is Chengzhi, Lingxi's good friend."
He then said to Liu Xu, "This is my elder brother; you can call him Lingyin."
Upon seeing that this was the older brother he had impersonated, Liu Xu smiled guiltily, realizing that Pei Zhao's story hadn't quite covered up.
Xie Xian had no idea that he was going to take the imperial examination next year. Upon seeing Liu Xu, he excitedly said, "Brother Chengzhi, I have long admired your name!"
Liu Xu immediately stood up: "You're too kind."
It was a simple family dinner, and these people were being "polite" and "overly complimentary" until Mother Xie slammed her hand on the table and said, "Sit down and eat."
The young men immediately lowered their heads and remained silent, like chickens in a cage.
Xie's mother was born into the Wang family. Her given name was Jing. Before marrying Xie's father, she was a heroic and spirited woman. She once disguised herself as a man and went to war with her brother. After marriage, she became much gentler, but she was definitely a woman of her word.
At this moment, her stare made Liu Xu feel uneasy, and after a long while, he heard her say softly, "He is a good child."
"Eat vegetables, eat vegetables."
The whole family had a knowing smile in their eyes.
Xie Lingxi finally realized what a mistake it was to bring Liu Xu home today. Clearly, she only wanted to make an ally from the beginning!
but……
She remembered the hidden arrow she saw in the tree when she got off the carriage earlier that day. Oh well, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.
Just as everyone was happily raising their glasses, Chun Tao rushed in from outside, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Third Sister! Someone covered in blood has collapsed in front of the house. This is something he specifically asked to give to you!"
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