Chapter 17: Singing the Same Song
Wang coughed lightly, glanced at the man, and then introduced him to Xie Rongying, "Rongying, this is Junyi's uncle. He wasn't in Bianjing on the day you and Junyi got married. He came to see me today after hearing that your mother was having a banquet. I figured since we're family, you shouldn't mind having this uncle, a stranger, here."
In a kind tone, he explained why a stranger like Jiang Yin was present at such a gathering, adding the fact that he was his uncle and an elder.
Even though Xie Rongying had lived two lifetimes, she could not find any fault in Wang's words.
"Why would I mind?" Xie Rongying smiled faintly and bowed to Jiang Yin again: "My little uncle is well."
Jiang Yin was thirty-five years old and looked like a pale-faced scholar, but the bruises under his slanted peach-shaped eyes made him look more sinister. In the city of Bianjing, most men of his age had children almost reaching the age of tying their hair, but he had no children.
At this moment, he took out the attitude of an elder: "My niece-in-law is very polite."
"Hurry up and sit down." Jiang asked Xie Rongying to sit down with a smile, and looked in the direction of Jiang Yin again, her eyes full of warning.
Xie Rongying sat down opposite Wang, a subtle smile on her lips as she asked, "Why didn't father and the young marquis come?"
"Your father and Junyi have been leaving early and returning late these past few days. I heard there are signs of fighting at the border." Jiang glanced at Wang and continued, "If there is unrest at the border, your father and Junyi will probably have to go there again."
After saying this, Jiang sighed deeply.
Wang also sighed and said, "It's not easy to be the mistress of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion. Your father is away on military campaigns all year round, and your mother has been worried sick about the mansion all these years. If you marry into the family, you must be more filial to your mother on Junyi's behalf. After all, Junyi will also go to war like his father. When a man is away, as a woman, you have to take care of the whole family for him, just like your mother did."
Xie Rongying listened to these words, and the smile on her lips deepened slightly: "Aunt is right. If there is anything I don't understand in the future, I hope you can give me more guidance."
The words were well-behaved and sensible, but they sounded harsh to Wang's ears. She looked at Xie Rongying with a deeper look in her eyes.
"Sister-in-law, please don't make things difficult for Rongying. I just hope that Rongying can help with some of the affairs in the mansion in the future. A young person shouldn't worry too much. She still has to give birth to more children for Junyi." Jiang said.
Wang smiled and nodded: "Look at my brain, the most important thing now is Junyi's offspring. After all, you are still in this mansion."
Xie Rongying listened to the echoes of Jiang and Wang, her eyelids half-closed, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
Seeing that Xie Rongying had no intention of responding to them, Jiang looked at Wang.
Wang understood and said, "The war here is urgent, and Junyi needs an heir as soon as possible. Little sister, why don't we go to Kaibao Temple in a couple of days to pray for blessings? The weather is suitable, and after a whole winter of cooped up in the mansion, it's time to go out for an outing."
"Very good, very good." As Jiang spoke, her eyes fell on Xie Rongying: "Rongying, you come with us. It would be best if you could make a wish and have children when you come back."
Xie Rongying laughed: "Okay."
What followed was a conversation between Jiang and Wang about family matters and interesting stories about families in Bianjing City. Xie Rongying occasionally talked about irrelevant topics.
It was not until three quarters past noon that Mother Yuan came to invite us to go have lunch.
As a junior, Xie Rongying had always been following behind the Jiang family. She was wary of Jiang Yin who was following beside her. Although he was at some distance from her and had a maid following behind him, she felt that Jiang Yin's eyes were on her most of the time.
Xie Rongying attributed all the bad feelings to the other party's bad intentions.
She followed closely behind Jiang and soon arrived at the dining area.
During the meal, Jiang and Wang were still talking, and Xie Rongying still occasionally joined in. Half an hour later, Mother Yuan ordered someone to remove the food, and Wang said goodbye.
Jiang's tone was filled with reluctance as he personally saw them off.
When they reached the hanging flower gate in the front yard, Wang asked Jiang to stay, and Jiang Yin said, "Niece-in-law, please accept this gift. Consider it an apology for your absence at your wedding to Junyi."
Xie Rongying glanced at Jiang, and after Jiang nodded, Xie Rongying gestured to Yunniang to come forward and take the brocade box.
"Thank you very much, uncle." Xie Rongying's eyes were gloomy.
Jiang Yin's gaze lingered on Xie Rongying's face for a moment, and with a slight curl of his lips, he said to Jiang, "Eldest sister, I'll take my leave now."
After Wang and Jiang left, Xie Rongying also said goodbye to Jiang.
Jiang didn't stay long and spoke in a gentle tone, as if the previous matter of coveting the dowry no longer existed.
The sun set, casting a layer of dim yellow over the Yongyi Marquis’s mansion.
When Xie Rongying passed by the winding corridor beside the garden, she stopped and looked sideways at the brocade box in Yunniang's hand and opened it.
Looking at the white jade hairpin placed in the brocade box, Xie Rongying's eyes darkened.
"Why did Mr. Jiang Liu give a man's jade hairpin to a girl?" Cuizhi said with a frown.
Yunniang said coldly: "You have no manners and are so rebellious!"
Xie Rongying closed the brocade box with a bang and sneered, "Keep it."
Yunniang was originally thinking about putting this thing away, but when she saw the anger in Xie Rongying's eyes, she said, "Yes, I will definitely put it away."
——
In the evening, Xie Rongying received a letter from Xie Yi, saying that he wanted to meet at the inn where they met last time.
A quarter of an hour later, Xie Rongying changed into light clothes, put on a veiled hat, and left the Marquis' Mansion with Yunniang through the side door of the East Garden. It was two quarters of an hour later when they arrived at the inn where they had met last time.
"Fourth Uncle, what do you want to talk to me about?" Xie Rongying walked into the lobby and saw Xie Yi sitting in the same seat as last time.
This time, Xie Yi was different from the unkempt appearance last time. The Fourth Master Xie in front of him was dressed neatly, with a clean and handsome face. He smiled and said, "Can't I see you if there's nothing wrong?"
Xie Rongying still sat in the same seat as last time, raising an eyebrow: "Even if you are my fourth uncle, it's not a good reputation to have a private meeting with a man other than you."
Xie Yi chuckled softly, "The war has indeed broken out at the border. I've discussed it with your father and second uncle, and they all think your proposal is a good one."
Xie Rongying was momentarily dazed when she heard the word "father." The feeling of being separated from her closest loved one, from never being able to see them again to being able to see them at any time, made her subconsciously ask, "Is my father okay?"
Xie Yi was stunned by this, and then he chuckled, "Your father is so well off, with a house full of beautiful girls. Since you got married, the house has become much more lively without anyone to control it."
Xie Rongying raised her eyebrows and was about to say something when a clear and mischievous boy's voice was heard from the door of the inn.
"Thank you Rongying!"
The young man's delicate face was sprinkled with spots of light, and when he walked into the lobby, the light spots also flickered on his face. He clearly had a noble and handsome look, but his actions revealed a rebelliousness.
Xie Rongying watched the young man sit down beside her, raised her eyebrows and scolded him, "Call me elder sister, and you're the one who calls me Xie Rongying?"
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