Chapter 45 "Yaoyao is shy".
After leaving the palace, the two boarded a carriage and headed to the Xue residence. According to custom, a married woman must have at least one meal with her husband at her parents' home before her return visit is considered complete. Fortunately, Xue Mingyao's menstrual cramps had lessened, and her body could handle it.
"I can go back to my parents' home by myself. When we pass by the Xie residence later, you can get off the carriage directly," Xue Mingyao suggested again from inside the carriage.
She had sent someone to speak to Xie Zhuo about this the day before, but Xie Zhuo refused.
Xie Zhuo pointed to his robe above his knees. "Why don't you want me to go?"
Xue Mingyao glanced at him, "My brother might fawn over you if he sees you, and I don't want to see him do that."
Xue Xingtai's pride came and went quickly; the frustration of being dismissed by Xie Zhuo was long overshadowed by the joy of marrying into the Xie family.
Another reason was that Xue Mingyao didn't want Xie Zhuo to act arrogantly in the Xue household, nor did she want her family to witness their hostile and sarcastic remarks towards each other. Xie Zhuo would actively pretend to be a loving couple with her in front of the Emperor, but he wouldn't do that in the Xue household.
Xie Zhuo still insisted on going, adding, "If only you had even a fraction of your brother's pragmatism."
"Wouldn't that give you even more freedom to do whatever you want? I'm not that easy to bully."
"Not necessarily," Xie Zhuo said. "If you were more obedient, I might treat you better."
Xue Mingyao opened her eyes wide. "You're dreaming. Have you forgotten how you humiliated me? You used to say that a gentleman's character is to be unyielding, and my character as a princess is the same."
Xie Zhuo chuckled to himself. He had always thought that he and Xue Mingyao were two completely different people, but now he realized that they were actually similar in temperament. However, he was unyielding and she was arrogant and unruly.
Neither of them spoke again.
After passing the Xie residence, the carriage arrived at the Xue residence in no time and entered through the side gate. The other carriage sent by the Xie residence earlier, carrying gifts, had also arrived, and Lüzhi directed the servants to unload the items from the carriage. Xue Mingyao's elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger sister, having received the news, came out to greet them, giving Xue Mingyao and Xie Zhuo ample face.
Xie Zhuo was about to get up and get out of the carriage when Xue Mingyao hesitated for a long time, but still reluctantly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother doesn't know that you used him to blackmail me into marriage. He thinks I'm very willing to marry you. You, you shouldn't make things too ugly for me in front of him."
Xie Zhuo turned to look at her, a ripple seeming to rise in his dark eyes. He didn't say whether it was good or bad, but instead bent his waist and jumped off the carriage with a nimble movement. Then he reached out and presented his hand to Xue Mingyao.
Xue Mingyao reacted for a moment, then slowly placed her hand in his palm and let him lead her down from the carriage.
Upon seeing this, Xue Xingtai immediately smiled and said, "Yao Niang, General Xie, please come inside and talk."
Xue Mingyao stopped, but Xie Zhuo still held her hand tightly. She tried to pull away, but couldn't; Xie Zhuo only tightened his grip. Xue Mingyao then gave up and walked with him to the main hall.
His hands, once long and slender, now seemed wider and thicker, able to completely envelop hers. They had also become rough, covered with hard calluses. A slight warmth emanated from where their palms touched, and when Xue Mingyao realized it, she felt even hotter, almost sweating.
Fortunately, the main hall was not far away. When they reached the corridor, Xie Zhuo returned her hand.
A maidservant served hot tea, and the group took their seats one after another. Xue Xingtai and his wife took turns inquiring about their well-being, asking if they were settling in well at the Xie residence and how they were getting along. Her brother's conversation was quite appropriate, without being overly enthusiastic.
Nevertheless, after giving a hasty reply, Xue Mingyao quickly shut him up, saying, "Alright, brother, stop asking so many questions. You're just worrying too much, as if you want to crawl under our bed."
Xue Xingtai said awkwardly, "Yaoniang, your brother is just concerned about you."
He was really afraid that Xue Mingyao might do something rash and not live a good life with Xie Zhuo.
"Don't worry, brother-in-law, Yaoyao is fine and hasn't been wronged," Xie Zhuo said gently.
When Xue Xingtai heard him call his brother-in-law, he was deeply moved and repeatedly said "good" before inviting people to lunch.
Xue Mingyao suspected that there was something wrong with her ears.
What did Xie Zhuo call her?
She looked at Xie Zhuo with disbelief, but Xie Zhuo didn't even look at her. At the banquet, he continued to chat and laugh with Xue Xingtai, raising his cup in merriment. Her brother did most of the talking, while Xie Zhuo did less, but the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.
Is this person really that good at pretending?
After observing for a while, Xue Mingyao felt that Xie Zhuo was not faking it. He was not only friendly to Xue Xingtai, but also very kind to her sister-in-law and younger sister Yuniang who were sitting at the table. It was as if he had joined her family.
She sat there blankly to the side, seemingly out of place among the others who were enjoying themselves.
"Yaoniang, why aren't you saying anything?" Xue Xingtai asked her with a grin.
Xue Mingyao downed a cup of hot tea and said, "You're all having such a good time, I can't get a word in edgewise."
Xie Zhuo personally poured her tea and said with a faint smile, "Yaoyao is shy."
Xue Mingyao glared at him, but Xie Zhuo ignored her.
She suddenly remembered that everyone said Xie Zhuo was a gentle and kind-hearted scholar-general, and that was how he usually acted in front of others. She had seen so many of his fierce and ruthless side that she had almost forgotten this side of him.
The bad guy suddenly became a good guy, and Xue Mingyao felt extremely uncomfortable. The room was filled with laughter and chatter, but she felt all alone. Xie Zhuo shouldn't have come; whether he behaved well or poorly, it made her feel uneasy.
"Sister, you're so lucky," Xue Mingyu whispered to her.
Xue Xingtai considered Xue Mingyao's affair with a lover in Xichuan a disgrace to his family, and despite the rampant rumors, he refused to acknowledge it publicly. Therefore, he never revealed Xie Zhuo's true identity to his wife or sister. In Xue Mingyu's eyes, her elder sister had truly captivated the young, high-ranking general, leading to her second marriage to her ideal husband.
"Bad luck, Xie Zhuo died poor," Xue Mingyao said heavily.
Xue Mingyu disagreed.
"When you choose a husband, remember to find one from a wealthy family. Don't just focus on the person," Xue Mingyao complained, then noticed her younger sister suddenly blush.
"Yuniang's marriage is almost settled. The groom's family will send a matchmaker to their home in a few days," the sister-in-law said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingtai cheerfully continued, "Our Yuniang is engaged to Feng Sheng, the youngest son of the Feng family. The Feng family is a rising power in Zhongjing; Lord Feng is an official in charge of salt and iron, Feng Sheng has an elder brother who works in the Ministry of Personnel, and an elder sister who is the Emperor's favorite concubine—"
"Cough, cough!" Xue Ming almost choked.
Xue Mingyu is going to marry Feng Wan's younger brother? What a tragic fate!
"Yaoniang, I know you're happy for Yuniang, but don't get too excited," Xue Xingtai said with a smile.
Xue Mingyao turned to look at Xie Zhuo, whose smile was also forced.
“I’m not happy. What’s so great about the Feng family? They only got their position through nepotism. Just a few years ago, they were still in the poor, remote Xichuan. They’re not good enough for us.” Xue Mingyao couldn’t bring herself to talk about her connection with the Feng family, so she could only bring up their social standing.
The Xue family was taken aback when they didn't expect Xue Mingyao to so vehemently oppose the marriage.
Xue Xingtai said, "You can't say that. The Feng family is very powerful right now, and many people want to form a marriage alliance with them. Besides, if Yuniang were to marry into such a prestigious family with a long history of officialdom, she wouldn't be able to handle those rules. Look at Cousin Ying, she's a princess, yet she still has to behave very properly in the Chen family..."
"Moreover, Feng Sheng is handsome and brave, and Yuniang is very fond of him," the sister-in-law added.
"I don't believe it," Xue Mingyao said irritably. "What good people could the Feng family raise? Yuniang must have been fooled."
Xue Xingtai scratched his head. "Do you know anything about the Feng family?"
I had dealings with him when I was in Xichuan.
What kind of dealings are you two having?
"...There's nothing more to say. Anyway, Feng Sheng is no good, and Yuniang can't marry him," Xue Mingyao said decisively.
"Why do you say I can't marry him? Is my marriage any of your business?" Xue Mingyu suddenly spoke up.
Xue Mingyao replied without hesitation, "I'm your older sister, why can't I interfere?"
"I don't need your help." Xue Mingyu's nostrils flared, her pent-up emotions from Chen Liangqing surging within her. She shouted, "What do you know? You're not lacking in admirers, you can get whatever you want, and you don't even cherish it. I'm not like you!"
After being berated by Xue Mingyu, Xue Mingyao was stunned. Just as she was about to retort, Xie Zhuo pressed her hand down and whispered, "Don't say anything."
Xue Mingyao glared angrily at Xie Zhuo. Why should she listen to him?
Xue Mingyao's eyes were watery, and Xie Zhuo actually saw a hint of grievance in them. He hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of dragon and phoenix crystal cake from the table and put it into her slightly open mouth.
Xue Mingyao was stunned again. She couldn't spit it out in front of so many people, so she hesitated and took a bite. The soft and sweet flavor enveloped her tongue, and she ate it quietly, bite by bite.
Her brother and sister-in-law were also trying to persuade Xue Mingyu. Xue Mingyu bowed to Xie Zhuo and left the table. Her sister-in-law chased after her.
Xue Xingtai said awkwardly, "General Xie, I'm sorry you had to see this."
Xie Zhuo laughed and said it was alright.
"Yaoniang, no matter how much you dislike the Feng family, you can't stop Yuniang from liking them. Please don't object anymore," Xue Xingtai advised.
Xue Mingyao asked, "How much does Yuniang like him?"
"Just like how you liked General Xie back then, haha."
Upon hearing this, Xue Mingyao's expression immediately turned sour, while Xie Zhuo lowered his eyes and quietly took a few sips of wine.
Xue Xingtai realized that the atmosphere was not right and was puzzled. He had meant to make a joke and change the subject, but Yao Niang did not blush as he expected. Instead, she became even more unhappy.
He glanced again at Xie Zhuo, who was engrossed in drinking.
Could it be that these two haven't talked things out and still have lingering resentment about what happened back then?
Xue Xingtai could only try to salvage the situation by saying, "Just like how I like your sister-in-law."
"Anyway, brother, you should think it over carefully, lest Yuniang meet the wrong person," Xue Mingyao said sullenly.
"Of course."
Xue Xingtai changed the subject and continued drinking and chatting. When they had talked enough and drunk enough, he said to Xue Mingyao, "Go to Yuniang's courtyard and say a few nice words to her. You rarely come back, so don't leave with your anger towards her."
Xue Mingyao didn't want to move, but Xue Xingtai urged her a few more times, so she reluctantly went to find Xue Mingyu.
Only Xue Xingtai and Xie Zhuo remained in the hall.
"General Xie," Xue Xingtai said, taking advantage of his drunkenness, as he raised his cup to Xie Zhuo. "I dare to call you brother-in-law. You have managed the Imperial Guards with unwavering integrity and without fear of powerful figures. Although I have been demoted by you, I still admire you."
Xie Zhuo nodded. "Thank you for your understanding."
Xue Xingtai continued, "Yaoyao has a bad temper, so I'll have to be patient and understanding. The things she did to you before were all because she liked you so much, so don't take it too hard. You don't know, after we broke up, she cried for days, her eyes were swollen like walnuts..."
Xie Zhuo paused as he was offering the wine to Xie Zhuo.
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