Chapter 19

Time seemed to have treated him exceptionally well. A decade had passed, yet his appearance remained unchanged—still as solemn as a deity, as clear and pure as the moon after a rain.

Only the aura around him had shifted, becoming colder and more commanding, instilling a sense of awe in those who looked upon him.

A mere glance was all it took for Ling Yao not to dare look any longer. Fortunately, the elegant room they occupied was separated from the staircase by winding columns, blocking most of the view. She silently breathed a sigh of relief, quickly straightening her posture and stepping back, not forgetting to pull Xie Junyan along with her.

“Why is your father here...”

Xie Junyan was also surprised. His father had sent word to the residence that night and was not coming home for dinner, so he had planned to dine with his brother and mother instead. He had assumed his father would be busy handling affairs at the government office, but unexpectedly, he had run into him here.

Xie Junyan gently reassured his somewhat uneasy mother, whispering, “Father hasn’t noticed us. Mother needn’t worry; we’ll leave through another door shortly.”

Ling Yao was about to nod when an unexpected voice called out, “Father!”

It was Xiao Bao’s voice.

Outside the door, Xie Junting stood on the stairs, holding a large bundle of snacks and three skewers of candied fruit, locking eyes with his elegantly poised father, the chief minister.

Xie Zongwei furrowed his brow slightly. “Junting, what are you doing here?”

His gaze fell on the snacks and the three skewers in the boy’s arms.

Three skewers.

Xie Junting felt a chill creep up his spine under his father’s intimidating, piercing gaze. He snorted, “Just because you’re here for dinner doesn’t mean I can’t have something nice too.”

Those following Xie Zongwei exchanged glances.

They had long known that the chief minister’s household had a wayward youngest son prone to trouble, but seeing father and son practically at odds before exchanging two words was awkward for all present.

Xie Zongwei regarded his youngest son’s bluster with a calm tone: “Of course you can. But I must remind you, you must accompany me on the journey early tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

He glanced at the items in the boy’s hands. “Eating so much variety, Junting, I worry whether you’ll be able to depart on time.”

“And Junting, can you finish all three skewers by yourself?”

His voice was steady but carried a chill as sharp as cracking ice, causing Junting’s heart to tighten.

He instinctively raised his voice as if to bolster his courage, “Father knows I have a bigger appetite...”

But the rest of his words were silenced under Xie Zongwei’s cold glare.

He had wanted to say they were just dining out with friends, but worried his father would pry and demand to meet those friends, risking exposure.

“Father.”

A striking young man approached from behind, immediately drawing their attention.

Junting breathed a quiet sigh of relief. For the first time, he realized his elder brother’s voice was like a heavenly melody.

Xie Zongwei looked at his eldest son. “It’s rare to see you two brothers dining out together.”

His tone was light, betraying no particular emotion.

Xie Junyan smiled and nodded slightly. “Just a coincidence. We’re preparing for the journey to Lishan tomorrow. With many people and much to arrange, it’s better not to trouble others and have some snacks ready in advance.”

He glanced at his brother clutching the three skewers. “Grandmother hasn’t been eating well recently. Junting noticed and must be worried. Seeing someone selling candied fruit on the street, he wanted to bring one back for her to try. Would you like to try one, Father?”

His words were flawless, earning appreciative glances from those behind Xie Zongwei, admiring the remarkable young man.

“A good bamboo produces fine shoots.”

Xie Zongwei withdrew his gaze. “No need. Return early.”

The brothers answered in unison.

Watching Xie Zongwei and the others enter the elegant room, Xie Junting cast a glance at the guards stationed outside. Anxiety gnawed at him, but his brother pulled him down the stairs.

“Let’s go. Go back early and pay respects to Grandmother.”

Junting didn’t know what his brother was scheming and hesitated to ask directly for fear of drawing the guards’ attention. So, he followed him downstairs.

Seeing Xie Junyan heading straight for the carriage, Junting grew anxious but lowered his voice, “What about Mother? Are we just leaving her?”

Xie Junyan shot him a cold glance, clearly showing disdain.

The carriage curtain fluttered slightly, revealing a pair of lively eyes.

“Da Bao, Xiao Bao, come up quickly.”

Mother...? When had she gotten into the carriage?

---

Dazed, Xie Junting climbed into the carriage. Ling Yao, caught in his ‘Mother, you truly are the flower spirit’ gaze, helplessly pinched his cheek.

“What are you daydreaming about now?”

“I reserved a room connected to another staircase, so it won’t attract attention.”

Xie Junyan’s tone was calm. Junting snorted, “Seems being cunning has its advantages.”

“Indeed,” Xie Junyan agreed with a nod. “Better than not being clever enough.”

Junting nearly leapt up to hit him.

Glancing sideways at Ling Yao, he saw her lowering her eyes, lost in thought.

Junting’s heart ached. Mother must have been scared, right?

“Mother, what are you thinking about?”

His gentle tone made Ling Yao unconsciously voice her true feelings. “I’m thinking I shouldn’t call him ‘old bastard’ anymore...”

How was it that after ten years, Xie Zongwei hadn’t changed at all and had only become more captivating?

No wonder he attracted so many admirers...

Lost in reverie, the twins exchanged a glance that was slightly odd.

Fortunately, the children were considerate and did not press further.

Before parting, Xie Junyan squeezed his mother’s soft hand and told her he had sent people to Jiangzhou, so she could rest assured.

Ling Yao did not ask the twins why Mother had taken their younger brother back to Bianjing or whether her brother-in-law’s distant assignment had anything to do with Xie Zongwei. To her, though the twins now towered over her, they were still just children.

Such heavy matters were better left for her to understand alone, no need to involve them.

She would wait patiently a little longer.

Unaware that her younger brother was already en route to Bianjing, Ling Yao smiled softly, hugged the twins goodbye, and gave them a long list of reminders about not rushing on horseback. Seeing them obediently nod, she finally turned back to the small courtyard.

The carriage rumbled off toward the Xie estate.

Junting bit into a candied fruit skewer, the translucent crimson sugar crackling under his teeth, and nudged his brother with his shoulder. “Brother, what do you think Mother meant just now?”

Not calling Father ‘old bastard’ anymore? So Mother usually called Father that?

Then he and Brother would be little bastards?

Xie Junyan glanced at his younger brother, whose furrowed brows were about to tie themselves in knots, and affectionately ruffled his hair. “None of your business. Just eat your skewers.”

Such a silly boy.

But... did Mother really fancy Father’s looks that much?

Xie Junyan pondered quietly.

For the first time, he was glad that he resembled their father.

---

As the lanterns were lit, Xie Zongwei left the gathering early, refusing any escorts, and strode directly out of Songfeng Pavilion.

Before mounting his carriage, he paused. “Check the room Junyan and the others used. See if there’s anything unusual.”

Shan Fan nodded.

Xie Zongwei climbed into the carriage. The sound of the wheels rolling over the cobblestones mingled with the lively street noises—somewhat noisy.

Tonight was not meant for drinking, yet for some reason, an inexplicable restlessness stirred within him. He drank a little to suppress the nameless frustration.

But it seemed useless.

The fragrance outside the window shifted suddenly—a sweet, cloying scent of rose powder.

He knew they had reached Chunsha Street.

His sharp features looked even more austere in the dim carriage light. He rubbed his aching brow, surrendering to memories with a trace of self-abandonment.

She had loved wandering Chunsha Street, eager to dress up three times a day just to let the treasures on her dressing table shine in the daylight.

Over the past ten years, the few rosewood cabinets inlaid with mother-of-pearl birds and flowers she had brought as dowry had been filled with new clothes for every season.

Xie Zongwei had not brought them to burn at her tomb.

She loved beauty so much—going so long without new clothes would surely anger her.

---

The night breeze was cool, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain. A hazy light fell into his glassy eyes, casting a dreamy radiance.

He wondered, if she were angry, why had she never entered his dreams?

Not once in ten years.

Not once.

Xie Zongwei wearily closed his eyes.

---

On the journey to Lishan, Xie Zongwei’s mood was far from good. Though he usually wore a stern face, betraying little emotion, everyone inexplicably felt that the chief minister’s aura was exceptionally cold today.

Now holding high office, he no longer had to hunt alongside other ministers, merely standing on the platform watching the generals and noble sons ride the hunting grounds with Emperor Yongjia.

After a lively day, Emperor Yongjia retired early to his tent. Xie Zongwei declined Duke Zhen Guo’s invitation to join a bonfire barbecue, choosing instead to return alone to his camp.

Shan Fan was waiting inside.

After a busy day, he finally had a moment to relax, signaling Shan Fan to wait. He then had the guards assigned to the twins report in.

He inquired about the twins and instructed the guards to keep a close watch on them, forbidding them from eating venison or drinking deer’s blood. He also ordered some muscle-relaxing ointment to be applied to them once they returned to the tent.

Shan Fan remained expressionless but inwardly sighed. When the usually taciturn lord cared for his sons, he could be quite fussy.

After all these instructions, why hadn’t he gone to see the two young masters himself?

Having said too much, Xie Zongwei sipped his tea, the bitterness giving way to a subtle sweetness. He looked up at Shan Fan. “Speak.”

Shan Fan’s expression turned solemn as he reported the results of the investigation into the unusual room from the previous day.

Xie Zongwei’s long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the table.

“There’s a passage leading to another staircase?”

He knew his son well. Xie Junyan was not one to do unnecessary things. Whatever he planned, it was always well thought out.

The special room arranged for an easy, discreet exit was no accident.

It seemed the third skewer of candied fruit was intended for the person who made this arrangement.

“Did anyone see who left the room?”

Shan Fan shook his head apologetically. “Only that it was a woman. As for others, the elder young master is sharp-eyed and cautious; he didn’t want to alert anyone. Besides, there was simply no more information to be found.”

Whoever tidied up had done so thoroughly. If not for the kitchen maid inadvertently noticing a fleeting figure darting along the seldom-used staircase, no one would have known.

A woman.

Unaccountably, Xie Zongwei recalled the fleeting glimpse of a shadow among the crowds on Chunsha Street a few days ago.

That thought stirred an uncontrollable mixture of pain and desire within him. He pressed his fingers hard against his brow.

Shan Fan held his breath, waiting a long moment before receiving permission to leave.

The cold, lonely night scattered the candlelight on the desk in disorder. A few streaks of light traced the sharp contours of his face, like a solitary mountain shrouded in eternal night.

The silence lingered until a voice outside requested entry.

Xie Zongwei recognized it as one of the guards assigned to the twins.

“Let him in.”

Tired, he half-closed his eyes, his expression indifferent. But when he heard the words “hot spring villa halfway up the mountain,” his eyes snapped open, the dormant jade mountain within him suddenly veiled in a dangerous mist.

“What did you just say?”

The guard felt a chill down his neck under the chief minister’s suddenly cold, perilous gaze and instinctively repeated the words as ordered.

“Sir, the two young masters said they’re exhausted from riding all day and sent me to inform you they wish to soak at your hot spring villa halfway up the mountain...”

Halfway up the mountain. Hot spring villa.

The guard dared not look again at Xie Zongwei’s sudden smile, quickly bowing his head.

Why did the lord’s smile feel so... eerie?