Chapter 365 Husband (4200 words)
"Second brother, I've come to see you. I made some new dishes, come and try them!"
In the backyard of the Second Prince Qin Jingyuan's residence, Qin Siyao shouted happily.
"Greetings, Frost King; greetings, Your Highness the Princess."
When the Second Prince's wife, Ji Yue, saw the Frost King and his wife arrive, she quickly put down her pruning shears and went forward to greet them.
"Greetings, sister-in-law." Xiao Mo bowed.
"Sister-in-law, please don't call me princess anymore. You and my brother are getting married next year. Just call me Siyao." Qin Siyao said affectionately, holding Ji Yue's fair wrist.
Although Qin Siyao had only met this princess of Jin once, she and Ji Yue hit it off immediately and took a great liking to each other.
“Okay, Siyao.” Ji Yue’s eyes crinkled as she didn’t refuse.
"By the way, sister-in-law, where's my brother? Where did he go?" Qin Siyao asked curiously.
“My husband has gone out on some business, but he should be back soon. If you’re not in a hurry, Siyao, you can have a cup of tea first,” Ji Yue replied.
"Of course there's no rush, we'll wait for Second Brother to come back." Qin Siyao put down the gift.
"Then, Frost King and Siyao, please have a seat."
Ji Yue led the two to sit down, and then personally started the stove to boil water and brew tea.
Watching Ji Yue's every move, Xiao Mo could only say that she truly lived up to her title as the eldest princess of the Jin Kingdom.
Every movement she made while brewing tea was pleasing to the eye, showcasing her dignified and elegant demeanor.
Qin Siyao and Ji Yue chatted about some customs of the Qin Kingdom and some things about the Second Prince's childhood.
Ji Yue listened attentively, nodding occasionally in response.
When she heard something interesting, Ji Yue would occasionally cover her mouth and chuckle, asking, "And then?"
Xiao Mo sat to the side, drinking his tea without disturbing the two of them.
However, Xiao Mo discovered that this princess of Jin did not seem to be so opposed to the marriage.
After all, the State of Jin was a powerful state, no weaker than the State of Qin.
And this was the eldest princess of the Jin state, so she was undoubtedly very much loved.
Xiao Mo thought that the princess of Jin would have some objections to the marriage between the two countries.
But the princess seemed to have fully accepted the marriage, and even wanted to learn more about her future husband, her eyes full of innocence.
Putting everything else aside, if this princess wasn't an act, then the second prince has indeed found a good match.
About an incense stick's time later, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard, and the Second Prince Qin Jingyuan walked in carrying a wine jar.
Upon seeing his younger sister and brother-in-law, Qin Jingyuan was stunned for a moment before quickly dispelling the smell of alcohol.
"Second brother, where have you been? You reek of alcohol!"
Seeing her brother's drunken state, Qin Siyao frowned.
"Haha, where could I have gone? I attended a poetry banquet, and I couldn't refuse their hospitality, so I drank a bit more than usual," Qin Jingyuan said with a laugh. "Siyao, what brings you here?"
"Isn't it almost Chinese New Year? I'm bringing you some New Year's goods from the Northern Wilderness. Oh, and some food I cooked myself. Come and try it."
When she said the last sentence, Qin Siyao's eyes lit up.
"Okay, I'll try it."
Qin Jingyuan nodded and sat down on the stone bench.
At this moment, Ji Yue had already brought out another coat from the room and helped Qin Jingyuan change out of the coat that was full of the smell of alcohol. She also brought him the hangover tea that had been prepared in advance.
"My lord, have a cup of tea to warm your stomach," Ji Yue said respectfully.
Qin Jingyuan glanced at Ji Yue, smiled, and accepted the hangover tea: "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Xiao Mo watched their every move. Although the two treated each other with respect, for some reason, he felt something was a little strange.
Moreover, seeing how well-prepared Princess Jin was, even having hangover tea ready, it suggests that the Second Prince has been going out drinking quite a bit lately.
I remember the Second Prince shouldn't be a heavy drinker, right?
"Second brother, you really should drink less. I've never seen you like this before," Qin Siyao complained.
"Okay, okay, I'll definitely pay attention next time." Qin Jingyuan nodded quickly, then changed the subject, "Come on, let your second brother try your cooking."
"Then you should try it." Hearing her second brother mention her food, Qin Siyao happily opened the food box and handed him the chopsticks.
Looking at the eggplant with minced meat and braised pork trotters that Qin Siyao had made, Xiao Mo couldn't help but shudder, and a psychological shadow immediately arose.
However, Qin Jingyuan showed no fear whatsoever, taking several bites and savoring each one.
"Hmm, Siyao's cooking skills have improved, but it would be better if there was less minced meat in this minced meat and eggplant dish, and less oil, so that the eggplant's fragrance can be brought out more."
This braised pork trotter is a bit sweet, so you can add less sugar and a little salt.
The second prince commented.
"Mmm-hmm." Qin Siyao quickly wrote it down. "Okay, Second Brother, I'll improve it tomorrow and make it for you again."
"Okay." Qin Jingyuan nodded with a smile.
Seeing the Second Prince's composed demeanor, Xiao Mo was taken aback, wondering if Si Yao's cooking skills had truly evolved to the point of being edible in recent days.
"Oh? Madam, I remember someone sent over a few azure carp a few days ago. I had the servants raise them in the lotus pond of the mansion. I recently heard that Siyao is tinkering with the Frost Prince's Mansion. Madam, why don't you take Siyao to see them? If Siyao likes them, she can take a few with her."
Qin Jingyuan said to his fiancée.
"Yes, my husband." Ji Yue bowed slightly.
"Let's go, let's go, please take me to see it, sister-in-law," Qin Siyao said happily.
"No trouble at all." Ji Yue smiled and shook her head. "Siyao, this way."
Before long, Qin Siyao and Ji Yue left the courtyard, leaving only Xiao Mo and the Second Prince behind.
Xiao Mo looked at the food on the table, wanting to take a bite and see how it tasted.
But a white jay in the courtyard landed, took a bite of the eggplant, and then suddenly collapsed.
Xiao Mo immediately dismissed the idea, and looked at the Second Prince with even more admiration.
It seems the Second Prince has developed a resistance to Si Yao's cooking.
“Come on, brother-in-law, those two have gone to play, the two of us will have some tea.”
Qin Jingyuan smiled and filled Xiao Mo's cup with tea.
Xiao Mo nodded and accepted it: "Second brother seems to have a good relationship with sister-in-law."
"It's alright." Qin Jingyuan smiled. "I'm with her only because of a marriage contract. Unlike you and Siyao, who are in love and have known each other since childhood."
“Sometimes a marriage contract can lead to meeting the right person,” Xiao Mo said slowly. “I believe that Second Brother and this Princess will definitely be a perfect match.”
"Hahaha." Qin Jingyuan laughed. "Then I'll take my brother-in-law's good wishes."
"Speaking of which," Qin Jingyuan asked Xiao Mo, "I heard that my brother-in-law has already assembled his own team?"
"We found some people and also took in a few guest retainers, so it's barely manageable."
"That's good." Qin Jingyuan took a sip of tea. "I also know that it has not been easy for you to get to where you are today, brother-in-law. And this is just the beginning. The future of Qin depends on you, brother-in-law."
"Second brother, you are too kind. Both eldest and second brothers are outstanding talents. It is a blessing for Qin to have two of them."
"A blessing for the Qin state? Hahaha!" Qin Jingyuan laughed loudly, not continuing the topic, but simply raising his head to look at the winter sky.
Looking into Qin Jingyuan's forlorn and somewhat complicated eyes, Xiao Mo remained silent.
The entire court has now almost decided that the eldest prince will be the crown prince, and His Majesty also has this intention, and has even begun to choose a fief for Qin Jingyuan.
Perhaps after the marriage, it won't be long before Qin Jingyuan leaves the capital.
Those who had been around the Second Prince also left one after another and joined the First Prince's faction.
The heir apparent of the Qin state has almost been decided.
"Let's not talk about that." Qin Jingyuan put down his teacup. "I've heard that my brother-in-law is an unparalleled marksman and is even a disciple of the Gun God. I haven't had a chance to spar with him yet. Shall we have a go?"
"Of course, no problem. Then I apologize for any offense I may have caused," Xiao Mo replied.
"Why are you being so polite with us, family? Come on!"
Qin Jingyuan casually picked a tree branch and tossed a stick to Xiao Mo.
The two sides used tree branches as swords and wooden sticks as spears, and began to spar in the courtyard.
Two incense sticks later, Qin Siyao and Ji Yue returned to the courtyard and found Xiao Mo and her second brother sparring.
"Alright, alright, stop fighting. It's almost Chinese New Year, what if you get hurt?"
Qin Siyao quickly went over and pulled Xiao Mo and her second brother apart.
"Since Siyao has said so, then let's leave it at that for today." Qin Jingyuan threw down the branch. "Truly worthy of being the world-renowned Frost King, my brother-in-law's marksmanship is indeed superb."
"Second Brother, you flatter me. Your swordsmanship has truly broadened my horizons." Xiao Mo clasped his hands in a salute.
"Come on, if you hadn't been holding back, I would have been knocked unconscious within twenty rounds."
Qin Jingyuan waved his hand, looked at the five blue glass fish in his sister's glass bowl, and said with a smile.
"There were only six in my pond, and you took five?"
"Didn't I leave one for you, Second Brother? If it weren't for your sake, Second Brother, I wouldn't have left you any at all," Qin Siyao snorted.
"Oh, by the way, I found that you have quite a few good things in your courtyard, such as the Thousand Mountains Jade, the Moon Flower, and the Pure Heart Snow Cicada. I want them all. I will have someone come and pack them up and move them to the Frost King's Mansion. Thank you in advance, Second Brother."
Qin Siyao placed her hands in front of her and gracefully bowed.
"You silly girl," Qin Jingyuan said with a smile, pointing at his younger sister. "You're not even married yet, and you're already going to empty your second brother's house? Oh well, you don't need to bother calling people to move it. I'll have the servants deliver it to the Frost Prince's Mansion later."
"Hehehe, then I'll accept your offer without hesitation." Qin Siyao's eyes curved into a smile. "Then, Second Brother, Sister-in-law, Xiao Mo and I won't bother you any longer."
"Hurry up and leave," Qin Jingyuan said with a wry smile. "If you don't leave soon, you'll take my bed with you."
"I'll see you off," Ji Yue said with a smile.
"No need, no need. Sister-in-law, you can stay with my second brother. We're all family, no need to be so polite." Qin Siyao hugged Xiao Mo's arm.
"That's true. Sister-in-law, please don't see us off. Siyao and I will take our leave now."
Take care.
After they said their goodbyes, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao left the courtyard.
As Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao gradually disappeared from Qin Jingyuan's sight.
The second prince, who had been smiling, slowly lost his smile, his joy gone.
Seeing her husband's indifferent expression, Ji Yue stood respectfully to the side, looking somewhat frightened.
But in the end, Ji Yue stepped forward and said softly, "Husband, it's cold, let's go inside."
"It's none of your business."
Qin Jingyuan slapped Ji Yue's slender hand away, picked up the wine jar that was lying to the side, tilted his head back and drank it down, then walked into the room and closed the door tightly.
Outside the Second Prince's residence, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao did not take a carriage. Instead, they had their servants take a few blue glass fish back with them. The two of them strolled along the street and slowly walked back to the Frost Prince's residence.
Seeing Qin Siyao's happy expression, Xiao Mo smiled and asked, "What's making you so happy?"
"It's nothing, I just felt that I got along very well with my sister-in-law."
Qin Siyao shook her head.
"My sister-in-law told me a lot about the State of Jin. She is also proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In addition, I can feel that she really cares about my second brother."
Xiao Mo, to be honest, I wasn't optimistic about this marriage at first. It wasn't because my second brother took our wedding date, but because I felt that forcing them together would be inappropriate.
But now, I don't think so anymore.
My sister-in-law is a very good woman.
The second brother also seems to like his sister-in-law.
Look.
Although they are not yet married, they have always addressed each other as husband and wife.
“It’s quite good,” Xiao Mo replied.
However, Xiao Mo felt something was off when he recalled the way the Second Prince looked at the Princess of Jin.
Just as Xiao Mo was pondering, Qin Siyao turned her head and glanced at him.
Immediately afterward, Qin Siyao looked away, her mind drifting back to her earlier conversation with her sister-in-law—
"Siyao, why do you and the Frost King still address each other by their first names?"
Beside the lotus pond, Ji Yue asked curiously.
According to the customs of the Qin state, once an engagement is made, the bride can change her address to the groom even if she has not yet officially married into the family.
"I...I didn't want to either!"
Qin Siyao picked up a stone, threw it into the lotus pond, and said resentfully.
"We've known each other since we were little, and we're used to calling each other by our first names. That blockhead Xiao Mo doesn't seem to realize it either, and I'm too embarrassed to tell him."
"Well, I do have a plan. Do you want to hear it?" Ji Yue thought for a moment and smiled.
"What method?" Qin Siyao's eyes lit up.
“That’s it,” Ji Yue whispered in Qin Siyao’s ear.
As Qin Siyao listened, a faint blush rose to her cheeks, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Siyao, Siyao, Siyao".
"Huh? What's wrong?" Qin Siyao came back to her senses.
"You even asked me what's wrong?" Xiao Mo flicked her forehead. "What's wrong with you? Why are you spacing out?"
"I'm fine," Qin Siyao said, trying to cover it up.
"The market is just ahead. Do you want to buy anything?" Xiao Mo asked.
"No need," Qin Siyao shook her head. "We can just walk back slowly."
"OK."
Xiao Mo had a feeling that this girl seemed to have some ideas.
"Xiao Mo," Qin Siyao said, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, "shall we play a little game?"
What to play?
"I will call your name, and you can respond."
"What game is this?"
"Oh, don't worry about it, come and play, come and play." Qin Siyao shook Xiao Mo's arm.
"Alright," Xiao Mo said helplessly, "Let's play then."
"Xiao Mo," Qin Siyao called softly.
"Mm," Xiao Mo replied.
"Xiao Mo".
"Um."
Qin Siyao called Xiao Mo's name again and again, and Xiao Mo responded each time.
I don't know how many times he responded.
"Xiao Mo".
"Um."
Finally, Qin Siyao pursed her lips, raised her head, and softly called out, "Husband, husband."
Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, while the woman beside him lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to drip water.
Xiao Mo smiled gently and replied:
"Yes, madam."
(End of this chapter)
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