Chapter 21 Xie Yunyu Returns to the Capital
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling put down his chess piece and looked at the Crown Prince with displeasure.
Seeing that Xiao Ling was unhappy, the Crown Prince quickly smiled and coaxed him:
“I was talking about you when you were a child. You’ve been cultivating in the mountains for so many years, you must have matured by now.”
Xiao Ling picked up the chess piece again after hearing this: "That Zhang fellow offended me, but the Grand Tutor did not, so don't worry."
The prince looked at the chessboard, casually placed a piece, and then asked:
"How could someone surnamed Zhang, who lives far away in Jiangnan, have offended you?"
Xiao Ling remained silent.
The Crown Prince pursed his lips and said, "I know even if you don't tell me. Anyway, he's already in the capital and I heard he's studying at Nanshan Academy."
I've sent someone to keep an eye on him, to see what you're planning to do.
Xiao Ling raised his eyes and gave the Crown Prince a cold look:
“I advise you not to meddle. If you ruin my plans, I might really have to become a monk for the rest of my life.”
The prince, looking helpless, placed a piece on the chessboard:
"Here we go again. You always use the same trick to threaten us. Can't you come up with something new?"
Xiao Ling said matter-of-factly, "This is the most effective way to deal with you, why would I change it?"
"Ah, yes, yes, you're right. Let's play chess, let's play chess."
The crown prince was too lazy to even bother with him now.
"The Grand Tutor must have received the news by now. If nothing unexpected happens, he should arrive in the capital within a month at the latest."
If you don't want to talk about it now, that's fine. I'll wait another month at most, and then we'll see what you come up with.
The prince placed a piece and collected several white pieces.
...
Spring comes quickly in Jiangnan; it can be said to arrive in an instant.
It was still chilly today, but after two days of southeasterly winds, the temperature has risen.
The forsythia has already sprouted lovely buds on its branches.
Xie Yunyu was very happy to see the weather getting warmer. She went out every day and bought a lot of local specialties to bring back as gifts for her family.
Grandpa Xie watched as Xie Yunyu tidied up here and there like an ant carrying food.
When it was time to leave, I packed two large trucks full of stuff.
They say that if you go out on the 3rd, 6th, or 9th of the month, good things will happen every day.
Grandpa Xie chose the auspicious day of the third day of the third lunar month to leave.
Instead of informing Old Man Zhang, Grandpa Xie went directly east to the dock and headed north by waterway.
Parting is always painful.
Unlike his earlier trepidation upon arriving home, Grandpa Xie felt this was probably the last time he would return to his hometown, so he stood at the bow of the boat for a long time.
Familiar scenes of my hometown gradually recede from view and eventually disappear.
Grandpa Xie returned to his cabin, looking dejected.
People say that one should go south of the Yangtze River in the third month of spring, but Xie Yunyu went north in the third month of spring.
The surrounding scenery gradually changed from vibrant to desolate and decaying, which Xie Yunyu disliked very much.
They traveled by water for more than half a month, and then switched to land routes.
As we approached the capital, we could still see thick layers of snow that hadn't melted on the shady slopes of distant hills.
When they were still thirty miles from the capital, Xie Yunyu saw Xie Yuntang, who had come to pick her up.
The group entered the capital through the East Gate and headed home.
As they walked into the familiar streets, they saw Madam Zheng and Xie Yunman standing at the door with their servants, waiting for them.
After the carriage stopped, Xie Yunman stepped forward and helped Old Master Xie down from the carriage.
The people at the door bowed to Old Master Xie: "Greetings, Grandfather."
"No need for formalities, don't stand there, let's go back to the manor first."
With Xie Yunman's help, he walked into the mansion.
The people from the second and third wives followed them inside.
Only Madam Zheng was still waiting. When she saw her daughter get out of the car, she looked her up and down.
Xie Yunyu seemed to have lost some weight, grown taller, and matured, with her eyebrows and eyes appearing more relaxed.
Xie Yunyu stepped forward with a smile and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Mother. How are you, Mother?"
Zheng rolled her eyes at her and said, "I feel terrible whenever I see you."
Xie Yunyu pouted and playfully stepped forward to take Zheng's arm, saying:
"Mother, it's been so long since I've been back. I haven't done anything to upset you. Did my older brothers do something to upset you?"
As Zheng was being helped inside by Xie Yunyu, she grumbled as she went:
"All three of you have offended me."
"None of them are getting married; your father and I are too ashamed to show our faces in public."
Xie Yunyu whispered, "Mother, look at how it looks that my eldest brother isn't getting married, but my second brother and I are getting married first."
In my opinion, it would be better to find a husband for my eldest brother first.
Zheng then smiled slightly: "Is there already progress in your elder brother's marriage?"
Xie Yunyu genuinely knew nothing of this matter, and upon hearing it, she glanced sideways:
"Oh, which family's young lady is she?"
"Your elder brother's calligraphy is very popular with their superiors, and they are planning to marry their daughter to your elder brother."
Xie Yunyu asked, "From the Hanlin Academy? Which superior?"
"Zhou Jinlin, a scholar-in-waiting."
Xie Yunyu knew nothing about this person, and simply asked Zheng Shi:
Does my second brother know about this?
"I haven't had a chance to tell your second brother yet, but he seems to be in a bad mood these days. He's been spending the last month at Nanshan Academy with your father."
Xie Yunyu listened without saying anything.
First, Zheng was sent back to the main courtyard, and then he returned to his own Yingyue Courtyard to wash up and rest.
Xie Yunman arrived in a menacing manner as soon as she finished washing up.
"I have met you, Second Master."
On the morning of Grain Rain, we pay our respects to the full moon.
After Xie Yunman came in, Xia Zhi quickly served her tea.
Xie Yunman frowned and said, "You all go out. My sister and I have something to talk about."
Gu Yu had no choice but to take Xia Zhi and Mang Zhong out with him.
Only the brother and sister remained in the room. Xie Yunyu looked at her brother's expression and gave an awkward, apologetic smile.
He said ingratiatingly, "Second brother, this is tea I brought back from Jiangnan. The locals call it 'frighteningly fragrant.' Please try it."
Xie Yunman picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Hmm, not bad."
"Tell me about it."
Xie Yunyu sighed upon hearing this.
Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway; what's coming will come.
The only way to keep this a secret is to silence my second brother first.
Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and said, "Well... Second Brother, you know I don't want to get married."
The matter concerning the Prince of Shou'an was purely accidental.
That night he was floating in the water, and I thought he was going to die. I was thinking of saving him, which is why that happened.
Fate played a cruel trick on us; we had no choice.
Don't worry, I won't marry him.
Xie Yunman continued to ask with a dark face: "Now that person has come to your door, insisting on marrying you."
He's been coming to see my older brother a lot lately; it seems like he's been bribed.
Xie Yunyu replied nonchalantly, "My grandfather has already promised me that I can decide my own marriage."
"You think you can decide for yourself? Humph! Our mother didn't agree to this."
"And what if Xiao Ling really comes to propose marriage, or even gets His Majesty to issue a decree? What will you do then?"
“I had already thought about it on my way back. I’ll go see him and dissuade him from this idea.”
Xie Yunyu said calmly.
Xie Yunman looked at Xie Yunyu, who had a calm and composed expression, and said nothing.
He knew his sister's abilities; since she said that, she must have a plan in mind.
"Do you need me to come with you?"
Xie Yunyu frowned upon hearing this: "Second brother, isn't it inappropriate for you to go along for something like this?"
Xie Yunman sighed and said, "If you don't want to get married, then don't. Our Xie family can support you."
Besides, the farmland and shops your mother gave you have been managed very well over the years, and they are more than enough for you.
But this Prince of Shou'an seems difficult to deal with.
People say he's renounced all worldly desires and is preparing to become a monk, but from my few interactions with him, that's not the case at all.
"What kind of person is he?" Xie Yunyu asked.
"You're asking me? Shouldn't you two be more familiar with each other?" Xie Yunman retorted.
"Us? We're not familiar with each other. We've only met twice."
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