Chapter Seventeen

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Father probably wouldn’t recognize it—it must be the handkerchief Mother embroidered, right? After all, Father was so unlikeable; Mother surely wouldn’t deign to make anything for him personally.

Xie Junting comforted himself with this thought, maintaining a calm expression as he stepped forward and extended his hand toward Xie Zongwei. "Thank you, Father. Please give me the handkerchief."

The young man’s tone, expression, and movements were all perfectly natural.

Xie Zongwei’s deep gaze fixed on the square of silk in his palm.

The fabric was not of the finest quality; a simple embroidery of green mountains and white clouds adorned the lower right corner, the pattern unremarkable. Yet, Xie Zongwei instinctively felt a faint sense of familiarity.

He intended to examine it more carefully, but before he could, the handkerchief was swiftly taken away by his youngest son.

Xie Zongwei’s brows furrowed slightly. Xie Junting feigned displeasure. "Father, do you not want me to wipe my mouth? Or do you just want to see me make a fool of myself?"

Xie Zongwei replied deliberately, "Oh? Then wipe it."

Xie Junting was momentarily stunned.

...He was reluctant to do so!

But his father’s scrutinizing gaze was like the restless sea under nightfall, carrying an imposing authority that made one tremble instinctively.

Xie Junting had no choice but to bear the pain and nonchalantly wiped the corner of his mouth with the handkerchief. "Clean now?"

Xie Zongwei said nothing. The events of the evening were hardly pleasant. Seeing the two boys’ lack of enthusiasm, he thought for a moment and said, "In a few days, His Majesty will go hunting at Lishan. Prepare yourselves in advance; you will accompany me."

Though the boys were tall, their faces still bore unmistakable traces of youthful innocence. Perhaps they would enjoy the horseback hunting game.

Consider it a compensation for today.

Xie Zongwei was thorough in his planning, but Xie Junting wrinkled his nose, unwilling to go.

If he had free time, he’d rather spend it with Mother.

Yet, Xie Junyan had already accepted on his behalf. Enduring his frustration, Xie Junting shot his elder brother a glare of annoyance after Xie Zongwei had returned to his study. "If you want to go, go ahead. I’m not going!"

Xie Junyan glanced at his brother. "Being too deliberate only arouses suspicion."

"Junting, do you think that with your temperament, you’d refuse an invitation to go horseback riding and hunting at Lishan? Acting out of character will only draw Father’s attention."

"That way, he’ll watch us even more," Xie Junyan smiled as he looked at his brother, who realized the truth and wore a face full of regret. "Have you forgotten how you gave yourself away and I found out you wanted to monopolize Mother?"

Monopolize Mother!

Xie Junting nearly jumped up. That was exactly it! He just wanted to spend a few more days alone with Mother! It wasn’t like he intended to claim her forever and deny their relationship...

Xie Junyan shot a glance at his irritable yet guiltily bashful younger brother and warned, "Keep your little thoughts to yourself. Also, remember to carry an extra handkerchief next time."

The handkerchief Mother had painstakingly embroidered despite her frail health was now used by his brother to wipe his mouth. Xie Junyan saw it and felt a pang in his heart.

Xie Junting grumbled in response, signaling he understood.

...

Upon learning that the two boys would accompany their Father to hunt at Lishan, Shi Lingyao was happier than the reluctant Xie Junting. "Lishan is so much fun! If you catch something, you can roast it yourself. There’s a kind of fruit tree there; you pick the fruit and drip its juice on the roasted meat. It cuts the grease and makes the meat taste even better."

She looked at her youngest son, who was unknowingly listening with a serious expression, and smiled. "But you two are still young. Horseback hunting is good for your health, but don’t play too much. Otherwise, you’ll be too sore to get up the next day."

Hearing Shi Lingyao speak so earnestly, Xie Junyan offered her cherries with the stems neatly picked off, his tone full of filial affection. "Mother, have you been to Lishan before?"

The bright red cherries, like polished agate beads, were pleasing to the eye in their white porcelain bowl. Xie Junting looked longingly at them, glancing from his brother to Mother, practically writing "I want some" across his face.

Xie Junyan shot his brother a sharp look.

Why had he never seen him so greedy before? He only acted spoiled when Mother was around.

Shi Lingyao nodded approvingly. "Such a good boy."

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Seeing a faint blush rise on her elder son’s jade-like face, Shi Lingyao suppressed the urge to nuzzle him one by one. She picked up a cherry and ate it, savoring the sweetness.

"I used to go with Ye-niang and… a few times. Actually, you two went even when you were still in my belly."

These cherries were excellent. Shi Lingyao picked two bright red ones and fed them to the twins, smiling as she asked, "Sweet, right?"

Xie Junting nodded repeatedly, eyes curved with joyful tears. "We went even when we were still in Mother’s belly? No one ever told us."

Xie Junyan quietly glared at his brother.

Shi Lingyao smiled. She understood; Xie Zongwei was always a rational man. To him, since his wife had passed, frequently mentioning her in front of their young sons would only make it harder for them to let go.

Since she was absent from their lives, there was no need to dwell on the past.

"Back then, you two were about this small," Shi Lingyao gestured with her hand. "The journey from Bianjing to Lishan, you behaved so well and didn’t trouble me."

Xie Junting straightened his chest, proud.

Xie Junyan listened carefully, his serene, handsome face softening like the moon surrounded by a hazy halo. "We were probably just happy to go out with Mother and dared not be mischievous."

Xie Junting thought: ...He’s just showing off how eloquent he is.

Xie Junyan was pleased with himself. Seeing no response, Xie Junting sulked and withdrew his gaze.

Shi Lingyao continued to share anecdotes from Lishan, then added, "If you get tired, your Father has a villa at Lishan with a hot spring drawn from underground. You two can soak there to relax your bodies."

In their early days of marriage, the young couple had stayed in a single tent for the first time. Perhaps something special happened then; Shi Lingyao’s memory was somewhat hazy now.

Yet, under the cold moonlight, the image of her weak hand resting on his swelling chest flashed unseasonably before her eyes.

The young couple secretly went to the hot spring villa at night and returned before dawn.

Such a reckless act would have been scolded by elders had it been known. Shi Lingyao never told anyone, keeping it to herself, sometimes recalling it with a secret smile when she was annoyed by Xie Zongwei’s coldness.

Noticing the two boys still watching her, Shi Lingyao quickly forbade herself from thinking further.

The brothers, however, did not notice the unusual blush coloring their mother’s face.

They only wondered curiously, "Father has property at Lishan?"

The twins exchanged a glance and obediently nodded.

Little did they know that this hot spring would unravel a great upheaval.

...

The twins were busy preparing for the Lishan trip these days and seldom came over. Shi Lingyao was also occupied researching new fragrances.

To put it simply, Shi Lingyao admitted she was fond of enjoying life, but she didn’t want to always rely on her sons to buy things for her. It was more comfortable spending her own earnings.

After working all afternoon, her palms tender and stained red from pounding flower petals, she mixed two versions she was somewhat satisfied with. Stretching, she realized her stomach was empty.

Thinking it over, she stepped outside, gazing at the garden’s flowers, her expression easing.

A young maid squatting in the yard watering plants saw the lady in green and red garments emerge, eyes wide with admiration. Though she had served this noblewoman for several days, every encounter left her breathless.

"Madam, are you hungry? What would you like for dinner tonight?"

The maid’s name was Lü Qiao. Worrying about Shi Lingyao’s care, Xie Junyan had specially sent her along with a cook and two housekeepers.

Shi Lingyao felt such a large retinue unnecessary, but Xie Junyan insisted rare as it was: "Mother, please listen to me this time. Junting and I don’t come often. You’re usually alone here; how can we feel at ease? More people bring vitality to the yard, which is good for your health."

Shi Lingyao was slightly embarrassed by her son’s gentle words.

...She was truly human—not some flower spirit or a ghost possessing a corpse. Why would she need vitality?

"Mother, please agree to Brother’s plan. He’ll cover the monthly expenses; he has the money anyway."

Xie Junting snorted beside her, unaware of what Xie Junyan had done behind his back. He also wanted to be like his brother, spending freely on Mother without batting an eye.

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Shi Lingyao was not one to suffer self-denial if conditions allowed, so she nodded to accept her son’s kindness, but insisted on paying from their monthly allowance to ease her mind.

Xie Junyan reluctantly agreed, meeting Mother’s pursed lips and the familiar stubbornness in her clear, beautiful eyes.

Lü Qiao was clever. When chatting with Shi Lingyao, she reminded her of the black and white magpie they once raised at Changting Courtyard.

Shi Lingyao smiled. Still undecided on dinner, she saw Xie Junyan and Xie Junting walk in side by side.

At sunset, the sprawling rosy clouds dyed the courtyard in a dreamy, enchanting glow. The two tall, slender youths bathed in the splendid light approached slowly, stirring her heart.

They were truly a sight to behold.

Seeing the young gentlemen approach, Lü Qiao obediently withdrew.

"Mother."

As soon as Xie Junting reached her, he eagerly linked arms with Shi Lingyao. "Let’s go out for dinner tonight!"

Xie Junyan’s cold gaze swept past his brother’s intrusive hand and softened as he looked at Shi Lingyao. "Mother, Junting and I will be hunting at Lishan for several days and won’t be here to keep you company. I remember you said the clear soup with qilin duck at Songfeng Pavilion was quite good. How about we go there again today to try it?"

Shi Lingyao nodded. "Sounds good. I didn’t really eat properly today. With you two by my side, I’m sure I’ll eat more."

At this moment, she was still young, dwarfed by the two sons towering on either side, making her figure seem delicate and petite.

She was too thin and didn’t eat on time.

Xie Junyan frowned, quietly resolving to find a way to strengthen Mother’s health.

The three of them happily went to Songfeng Pavilion. The dishes there had not changed in years, and after the meal, not only Shi Lingyao but also Xie Junyan and Xie Junting were fully satisfied.

Seeing Xie Junting starting on his third bowl of rice, Shi Lingyao worried, "Little treasure, you’re eating so much; will you be able to sleep tonight?"

Xie Junting shrugged carelessly, "Of course I will!"

Noticing Mother’s concern, he looked out the nearby open window and saw someone selling candied hawthorns on the street. Smiling, he said, "I’ll buy a few sticks of candied hawthorn. Eating them afterward helps digestion. Mother, Brother, do you want some?"

Shi Lingyao looked at Xie Xiaobao’s sparkling eyes and nodded with a smile. She took silver from her purse and handed it to him, ruffling his hair. "Go ahead."

She vaguely understood why Xiaobao had grown so tall.

It was all from eating well!

This was Xie Junting’s first time experiencing Mother giving him pocket money.

She only gave it to him, not to Brother.

Xie Junting proudly glanced at his brother and dashed out.

Xie Junyan didn’t care about his brother’s petty feelings but was unusually taken aback when he saw the soft, pale palm extended before him.

Looking up, he saw Mother’s smiling face.

"Xiaobao has some, and Dabaobao has some too." Shi Lingyao thoughtfully placed money in his hand and gently curled his fingers inward. "Save it to buy sweets."

Xie Junyan chuckled; Mother was treating him like a three-year-old.

But then, looking into her soft, bright eyes, he understood.

...Mother, like him, regretted that in the past ten years, they had not been part of each other’s lives.

Xie Junyan swallowed the sting in his eyes and took Shi Lingyao’s hand.

"Mother, I want to talk with you."

"Talk about Father."