0063 71 All rejoiced
Zhong Lingxi was somewhat taken aback. "Of course, little brother, aren't you also in the system? Don't you know about this unspoken rule?"
Zhou Pei then asked, "Aren't there any exceptions?"
"Of course there are exceptions. If someone comes from a good family and is capable, they don't need to get married. But such people are a minority. Ordinary people need a strong background to rely on. Ask your sister, isn't it normal for people with red bloodlines to be intertwined and consolidate their positions? It's always been like this since ancient times!"
Zhou Xiye smiled. "It's normal. People strive for higher positions, and having a strong support is very important." She turned to look at Zhou Pei. "These are all unwritten rules of the system. You train in the army every day. General Jiang likes you. How could he let you be bound by these formalities?"
Zhong Lingxi nodded. "That's right, Xiao Zhou will definitely find a good girl. If he doesn't have the chance to meet one, the organization will definitely arrange one for him."
Zhou Xiye exchanged a knowing smile with her, while Zhou Pei smiled calmly to the side, not interjecting. The two chatted for a long time, and as night fell, Zhong Lingxi didn't have anything she wanted to ask Zhou Xiye to do; she had only come to cultivate and maintain their relationship.
After seeing the guests off, Zhou Xiye picked up a few teacups, poured out the water, and threw them into the sink. Just as she turned on the tap, Zhou Pei reached out from behind her and slammed it off. The tap wasn't turned off completely, and a thin stream of water still flowed out.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Xiye turned to look at him.
Zhou Pei cut to the chase, "You're getting a promotion after the Two Sessions, so are you going to get married? Who are you going to marry? Will Ye Lifeng arrange it for you?"
Zhou Xiye looked up at him, the sound of running water and the faint sound of the television in the living room filling the silence between them.
"Mayor of Hangzhou"
In just five simple words, the cause and effect are clearly explained.
“Then you’ll marry me,” Zhou Pei said, gripping Zhou Xiye’s arm so tightly his fingers almost dug into her flesh.
Zhou Xiye looked at him without saying a word.
"You think I'm not strong enough to be your support, so you're going to abandon me?" Zhou Pei's face showed a self-deprecating expression, and his words were trembling.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Xiye replied, "No, you are the closest person to me, how could I abandon you?"
"Then why do you want to marry someone else? I don't agree."
"Marriage is just a transaction."
"Which is more important, my career or yours?"
Zhou Xiye opened her mouth, but couldn't say it. She changed her approach and said, "Zhou Pei, you're with General Jiang. He's capable and can protect you..."
"Zhou Xiye, if that's what you're thinking, you might as well have let me die on the battlefield back then..."
"Smack—"
Zhou Pei turned his head away.
"I won't allow you to say that!"
Zhou Pei turned to look at Zhou Xiye, whose eyes were already red. Zhou Pei herself felt wronged, and her nose suddenly stung with tears. "You can't do this. You gave me a home and then abandoned me. I'd rather have never had anything at all."
Zhou Xiye took a deep breath, took two steps closer, and hugged Zhou Pei. "I got married only for my future. Our relationship will not change. You are my family and my closest person. I will get a divorce when I am able to. Marriage and love are completely different things."
Zhou Pei gently hugged her.
“I know… I know marriage and love are not the same thing, but…” Zhou Pei’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he didn’t continue. Early on the second day of the Lunar New Year, when Zhou Xiye woke up, Zhou Shen was completely silent, with only birds chirping outside the window. Zhou Pei was gone. Zhou Xiye wandered around the room but couldn’t find him. He only went to the kitchen and saw a note on the refrigerator magnet: “Sister, I’ve gone back to Tibet. I know your decision to get married is impeccable, and I have no right to ask you to do anything, but… I can’t accept it.”
"I cannot accept this."
Zhou Pei also expressed his dissatisfaction with a simple five words. Zhou Xiye looked at the words on the note over and over again, almost as if he couldn't recognize the words anymore.
It's just a transactional wedding, is it really that important?
Zhou Xiye understood Zhou Pei's fear that she wouldn't have time for him after marriage, or that they wouldn't be able to live together. But if this marriage was a transaction, why couldn't they negotiate? Holding the note, Zhou Xiye slumped onto the sofa, closing her eyes in deep thought.
“I have been dead for my lord for a long time, yet the heavens and earth, and the four seasons, still have their cycles; how much more so should a man?”
The harm that marriage caused Zhou Xiye was far less than the harm that Jiang Yunpeng caused them to sever ties.
Zhou Pei needs time to think it through.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Xiye, following tradition, called Ye Lifeng to wish him a Happy New Year. Ye Lifeng's voice sounded warm and welcoming. However, some things couldn't be said over the phone. After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Xiye prepared to head to Ye Lifeng's house for a small gathering.
As Zhou Xiye passed the Imperial College next to the Yonghe Temple, he noticed a significant increase in pedestrian traffic and drove more cautiously. The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was a brilliant blue, like a sapphire. This time, there weren't as many people from Ye Lifeng's family as on the 30th, but they were still all discreetly parked in a row.
This type of banquet is usually held in the hall inside the second door after entering the main hall. When Zhou Xiye arrived, there were already many people inside. Ye Lifeng's gatherings emphasize casualness, and all the attendees are like-minded people. The atmosphere is harmonious, and many national-level artists also participate.
Taking off his coat, Zhou Xiye grabbed a dessert and sat down on the sofa by the window, listening to the other people's discussion.
"If you ask me, the gathering at Minister Ye's house was much more interesting. I heard that the Imperial Advisor went to the Ling family's banquet, and the movie was taken off the screens the next day. That's terrifying..."
"That's right, who would dare go to his house..."
"Is it true or false? If I go there, won't I be able to even get through the door?"
A group of people burst into laughter. Zhou Xiye took a bite of her dessert and listened intently to the gossip.
"By the way, Ling Xingxi's wedding is in a couple of days. Have you invited her?"
"I received an invitation, I should go. It wouldn't be appropriate not to attend such a grand event..."
After finishing a dessert, Zhou Xiye put down his plate and was about to stand up when he was pressed down by a pair of hands. Then, the smell of aftershave wafted over; it was Ye Rouxin.
"What's wrong?"
Ye Rouxin came out from behind the sofa and sat down next to her. "Are you surprised to see me?"
Zhou Xiye nodded. "A little. Did your dad let you attend a party hosted by his friends?"
“This isn’t an illegal gathering, so why can’t I come?” Ye Rouxin smiled and leaned closer to Zhou Xiye, saying, “Someone’s watching us. They’re probably wondering why I haven’t made a move on you, this fickle woman.”
Zhou Xiye smiled and said, "They must be very curious as to why you went to Ling Xingxi's engagement party."
Ye Rouxin crossed her legs, her knees leaning towards Zhou Xiye, their legs touching. He reached out, one hand gently around her shoulder, the other in front of his mouth, and said, "When I got back, I discovered a secret."
Zhou Xiye leaned closer to him, "What secret?"
Ye Rouxin chuckled, moved slightly away from Zhou Xiye, and narrowed her eyes, "Beg me."
Zhou Xiye immediately rolled his eyes. Ye Rouxin laughed like an old fox, her eyes narrowed, a glint of light reflecting off her glasses quickly disappearing, and the curve of her mouth was cunningly sly.
As the two were exchanging pleasantries, a large crowd suddenly clapped, followed by the sound of music. They looked over and saw a girl dancing in the open space of the hall. Zhou Xiye stared for a few seconds, then Ye Rouxin sneered in his ear, "This is a gift they gave to my grandfather."
Where's your mom?
Ye Rouxin shook her head, remaining silent as she watched the girl's flirtatious dance. The accompanist was Wang Taiping, a renowned young pianist who frequently traveled overseas. After the piece ended, everyone applauded again. Ye Lifeng appeared at this moment, and Zhou Xiye, who was about to stand up, was pressed down by Ye Rouxin.
"Just enjoy the show."
As expected, most people flattered Ye Lifeng, and several younger members of the Ye family were also clinking glasses in the crowd, trying to build their own connections. Only Ye Rouxin was trapped on the sofa by Zhou Xiye, chatting idly.
"The Spring Festival Gala was quite good."
"I didn't see it."
"Cuban cigars are exceptional."
"I'll try it if I have the chance."
"Hawaii girls are hot, but unfortunately I can't get hard."
"You actually look at beautiful women."
"I just don't know how to fall in love, it's not like I'm impotent."
"Then why can't you get an erection?"
"I need a storyline."
Do you prefer Western or Japanese/Korean culture?
"I can choose the director."
"..."
Finally, dinner was served, and Zhou Xiye and Ye Rouxin were able to sit separately. Ye Lifeng then started chatting with her, "Work must be tough, Xiao Zhou, Happy New Year! I hope you'll have a bright future in the new year."
"Thank you, Minister Ye..."
If there was too much, they would put it in the wine, and the two of them drank a glass.
Then Ye Lifeng adopted a superior demeanor, swirling his wine glass as he turned to Zhou Xiye and said, "Little Zhou, I have a piece of jade here. If you have nothing else to do, could you please send it to Teacher Hua for me?"
Zhou Xiye nodded. "Okay."
The real intention wasn't the wine; the jade was merely an excuse. After the meal, a stage was set up in the courtyard, and several guests who enjoyed Peking Opera went to the back to watch the performance together.
Today's performance is a scene from the play where Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng are undermining each other. Even after its adaptation, it's only performed on specific occasions. Ye Lifeng liked it today, so he sang it. Zhou Xiye sat in the last row, his toes tapping to the rhythm.
"You understand?"
Ye Rouxin took a bottle and sat down. There was tea in the seats under the stage. How could you drink alcohol while watching a play?
Zhou Xiye smiled and said, "I'm quite familiar with this period of history, but... it's always better to be well-versed in the Spring and Autumn Annals to know what's going on in the world."
"Then do you know what my father considers himself to be?"
"Zhu Di, your father and son are Yan Song and Yan Shifan."
Ye Rouxin poured her a glass of wine. "Then what are you?"
Zhou Xiye shook his head, "I don't know who I am either. I've been searching for the answer to this question."
Ye Rouxin took a sip of wine. "Then why did you want to become an official?"
"With power comes everything."
"If you become an official for your own benefit, would you betray your principles for your own sake?"
"It depends on the situation. If the temptation is great, they will betray you."
Ye Rouxin thought for a moment, "So, if I were to offer you the position of minister now, on the condition that you personally kill Zhou Pei, would you do it for this position?"
Zhou Xiye almost instinctively said, "How is that possible?"
Ye Rouxin shrugged and looked towards the stage.
Zhou Xiye always knew that she became an official for her own benefit—both materially and spiritually. But compared to the ancients, she was neither Yu Qian, who benefited the world, nor Xia Yan, who fought alone.
Who exactly is she?
After the banquet, Zhou Xiye took the jade that Ye Lifeng had given her. After Ye Lifeng's repeated instructions, Zhou Xiye did not visit Hua Chunyang until the third year of junior high school.
This time, instead of going to Xishan Villa, we went to Wangyue Villa.
Upon entering Huachun Yangding's place, the fragrance of plum blossoms wafts towards you.
Zhou Xiye took a few quick steps, but was stopped by security guards.
Inside, Hua Chunyang was painting. On the paper was a naked man lying among plum trees, in a rough and rugged posture.
Opposite Hua Chunyang lay a completely naked man, nestled among plum trees in the snow.
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