Chapter Sixteen

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Xie Yongxi seemed oblivious to the sudden stillness that had fallen over the room. She took the bashful Meng Siyen by the hand and brought her forward to stand before the matriarch, smiling brightly. "Mother, look at Siyen—so graceful and well-mannered, and she's family too. With the two children, she’ll surely be devoted and bear no ill will."

Some might call Xie Yongxi foolish, but at times she felt she was shrewd beyond measure. Over the years, she had come to see clearly that their mother’s heart belonged completely to her two grandsons, leaving little space for a daughter married out of the family.

This time, she had her own little schemes in mind when she set her sights on Meng Siyen as the new sister-in-law. First, to please the matriarch and strengthen the ties between the Xie and Liang families; second, since the new sister-in-law owed her a kindness and was of a timid nature, she would cause no trouble. Later, when she returned to her natal home, life would remain comfortable.

She had resolved to return to her mother’s home at the appointed time. Yet, unexpectedly, Xie Zongwei came home early today, and the meal was advanced accordingly. The two groups met, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

The matriarch’s face was stern and silent.

Seeing her daughter and son-in-law enter, followed by a young woman of marriageable age, the matriarch’s heart sank, sensing that this would surely lead to trouble.

Annoyed by her daughter’s repeated foolishness and feeling sorrow for her two grandchildren, she refused to show her daughter any favor and merely said coldly, “Guests have arrived, Zhu Tiao, set another place at the table.”

Hearing this, Meng Siyen lowered her head in shame.

The hosts had only prepared two sets of bowls and chopsticks, assuming only the cousin and his wife would visit—not anticipating an uninvited guest like her.

Meng Siyen was not an ambitious woman, but sensing the undertone in the matriarch’s words, she blushed fiercely, almost burning up.

Inwardly, she felt a twinge of resentment toward her cousin’s wife. Hadn’t they agreed to coordinate with the matriarch, and hadn’t the latter shown a favorable attitude? How had it turned into her willingly walking into this trap?

The matriarch’s words were deliberate; none of the staff in the Xie household lacked discernment enough to fail to see how many guests had arrived. Yet, Xie Yongxi’s actions had evidently hurt the children’s feelings. The matriarch barely dared to turn her gaze to the two well-behaved grandsons at that moment.

As for her son…

The matriarch was even more troubled. She spoke gently, “Xi Niang, your brother knows his own affairs well enough. If you still heed my advice, sit down with Yunxian for a meal with me and apologize to your two nephews. After that, we shall put this matter behind us.”

She meant to smooth things over, but Xie Yongxi was ungrateful. She widened her alluring eyes and, just as she was about to protest, her thoughts shifted, and she looked at Xie Zongwei. “Brother hasn’t said anything, which means he’s pleased with Siyen! Mother, you should respect your brother’s choice.”

With her words, the eyes of all present quietly fell upon the dignified, aloof man.

Meng Siyen’s face reddened further.

She had long known that this young man from the Xie family had entered the cabinet at a tender age and was destined to become prime minister in his early thirties. He was strikingly handsome, and gossip in the city whispered he was the most chaste widower in Bianjing—a notion she once found hard to believe.

How could a man so powerful remain untainted by the world?

But today, having seen him in person, she felt, almost dreamily, that the rumors were not wrong.

He was like a lofty mountain and bright moon—forever high above, untouchable.

But if the one who could pluck this rare flower from the mountain peak was her…

Enduring this humiliation now was nothing.

Her cheeks flushed and breath quickened, radiating a charming shyness.

Xie Zongwei still sat rigidly upright, his face expressionless. Hearing Xie Yongxi's words, he said nothing.

To others, his demeanor spoke volumes.

Xie Junyan restrained his irate younger brother, who nearly leapt from his seat, signaling him with his eyes to calm down.

Xie Junting glared at Xie Zongwei with a dark, brooding gaze, like a fierce beast ready to pounce and tear him apart should he even smile or speak to that woman.

Seeing that his usually cold brother had not risen to leave, Xie Yongxi felt hopeful. She hurriedly nudged Meng Siyen and whispered, “Come on, go talk to my brother.”

Meng Siyen was at a loss, pushed closer to the man who seemed almost godlike in his beauty. She was so nervous her mouth felt dry and tongue tied.

Seeing her timid demeanor, Xie Yongxi sneered inwardly. “Brother, Siyen’s just shy. But she really cared about today’s meeting—she even specially bought the most popular perfume in Bianjing, called Peach Blossom Veil. Look, isn’t it pretty?”

Peach Blossom Veil.

Hearing this, Xie Junting’s anger flared further.

Peach blossoms were their mother’s favorite flower!

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No one was allowed to use perfume named after peach blossoms—not allowed, no exceptions!

He said nothing, only darkly fixed his shining black eyes on them.

Xie Junyan, sitting beside him, felt as if his ears were being pounded by the roaring anger emanating from his brother’s soul.

Under the hopeful gazes of the two women, Xie Zongwei had reached his limit.

If possible, he did not wish to interrupt this family feast or add the memory of a cold, departing father to his twelve-year-old children’s birthday.

“I do not like peach blossoms.”

More than that—he detested them.

He rose to his feet, tall and lean with the refined bearing of a scholar-official. His height was surprisingly imposing, making it easy to discern which family the two tall, young boys belonged to.

Standing there, his aura suddenly radiated authority and strength, causing a momentary catch in everyone’s breath.

Liang Yunxian, who had been standing aside helplessly watching his wife manage everything, suddenly felt a chill as the powerful elder brother-in-law fixed his gaze upon him. His heart tightened. “Brother-in-law…?”

“You are mediocre in your official career, and you can’t even manage your own wife?” Xie Zongwei’s anger simmered—not at his brother’s wife, so he felt no need to restrain himself.

Seeing Liang Yunxian’s face pale, Xie Zongwei looked down on him with innate arrogance. “Ji Heng, if you want to act as my champion, then prove yourself in the officialdom. Simply allowing the Liang elders and your wife to meddle in my affairs is utterly boring.”

Liang Yunxian, though gentle, had pride. His face flushed with anger at this slow but humiliating rebuke. He muttered twice, then swept his sleeves and turned, storming out without even apologizing to his mother-in-law.

Due to his demeanor, Xie Zongwei refrained from harsh words toward women. Still, he was visibly displeased with Xie Yongxi’s presumptuous actions today.

“Uncle Zhong, have the kitchen set another table in the Changting Courtyard. Junyan, Junting, help your grandmother there first.”

His tone brooked no refusal, yet his glance at the two boys held a gentle warmth.

Hearing “Changting Courtyard,” Xie Junyan hesitated briefly.

Their father had lived alone in the study room for some time.

The Changting Courtyard where their mother once lived had been neglected for long.

Aside from the daily sweepers and incense burners, the masters of the house rarely set foot there.

Though distracted, Xie Junyan showed no sign of it and replied, “Yes.” Reluctantly, Xie Junting rose to follow his brother.

Uncle Zhong privately approved, visibly relieved. “Alright, I’ll handle it now.”

When their eldest son lost his temper, it was bad enough, but when he did, the son-in-law was chased off!

Xie Yongxi stood frozen, startled by the sudden turn of events. Recovering, tears welled in her eyes with anger. “Brother, how can you say such things about my husband? This was my idea alone! How dare you humiliate him like this!”

Xie Zongwei disdainfully refused to waste words on a fool—even if she was his full sister.

“Xie Yongxi, be thankful you are a woman,” he said coldly, his gaze a biting wind that made her clutch her arms, seeking warmth amidst the chill creeping over her.

“Before Mother’s birthday, I do not wish to see you again.”

With that, he turned and soon his tall figure vanished into the moonlight.

Meng Siyen remained stunned. Only when the household began to stir did she wake as from a dream, covering her face as she fled in tears.

Xie Yongxi could not understand how things had turned so disastrously when they had started out well.

She looked at the matriarch with reddened eyes. “Mother…”

The matriarch was reluctant to go. She felt she had made a foolish mistake today, ruining the grandsons’ birthday feast and losing face. Seeing her daughter crying and acting as if wronged enraged her further.

“Grandmother, let’s go. You’re used to sleeping early; if dinner drags on too late, your stomach may suffer,” Xie Junyan said gently, soothing the matriarch into forgetting her irritation with her foolish daughter. Smiling, she was led by the two grandsons toward the Changting Courtyard.

Xie Yongxi had been a favored daughter since childhood, always smooth sailing. She had never suffered such humiliation, especially being ruthlessly rebuked by her own mother and brother before her husband and cousin from the Liang family. She felt both wronged and enraged. When Aunt Xu tried to comfort her, she refused to listen, turning away angrily.

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Outside the Xie residence, a carriage was waiting. Flustered, Xie Yongxi climbed in without much thought.

To her surprise, her husband and cousin were already inside.

“Husband? Aren’t you riding your horse?”

After being harshly humiliated by her brother, her first question upon arriving was whether he was riding or not?

Liang Yunxian closed his eyes and, for the first time, felt some dissatisfaction with his wife’s innocent, carefree nature. Glancing at the quiet, bowed cousin, he felt a pang of sympathy.

They were both castaways in the world—perhaps that described him and his cousin at this moment.

Xie Yongxi did not notice her husband’s unusual silence. Having caused such a commotion and missed dinner, hungry and angry, she quickly ordered the horses back to the Liang residence.

If she wasn’t going home, so what?

...

Xie Zongwei shared a birthday meal with the two boys. Though no one seemed particularly cheerful, seeing Xie Junting eat voraciously, Xie Zongwei pursed his lips and said gently but with resignation, “Junting, chew slowly. Don’t eat so fast.”

Surprised, Junting noticed his father’s tone was remarkably like his little dad’s. He glanced at Xie Junyan.

Xie Junyan gave a faint look. “Father is right.”

... So it was only him being singled out!

After the meal, the matriarch declined their offer to escort her back to the Shouchun Courtyard, smiling instead, “The moon is bright tonight. The three of you should take a walk together. Consider it digestion.”

Junting sneered.

Digestion? Just not feeling bloated would be an improvement.

But when he saw Xie Zongwei and Xie Junyan rise almost simultaneously and stand at the doorway, turning to look back at him with calm but urging expressions, a shiver ran through him.

He had no choice but to obediently rise and follow his father and brother outside.

Junting only wanted to accompany his old father for a brief walk, then slip away.

But...

He looked up in displeasure. “If you have something to say, just say it. Why keep glancing at me like that?”

Under the moonlight, Xie Zongwei stood tall and majestic, like a towering jade mountain. His gaze naturally carried meanings that Junting could not help but perceive.

Seeing his bewildered yet still angry younger brother, Xie Junyan sighed and pointed to a speck of rice on Junting’s face. “Junting, there’s some rice here.”

Embarrassed, Junting exclaimed, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

He instinctively reached to take a handkerchief, but as his fingers touched the soft cloth, he suddenly stopped, deciding to use his brother’s handkerchief.

Their mother had embroidered this little handkerchief with her own hands—he couldn’t bear to use it.

But his movement was too quick and abrupt; as he withdrew his hand, something floated lightly out and drifted to fall at Xie Zongwei’s feet.

The night breeze was cool, stirring the soft silk handkerchief as it fluttered down.

Watching Xie Zongwei’s slender fingers pick up the delicate cloth, Junting’s heart tightened like a taut string, and his breath involuntarily caught for a moment.