Chapter 62: A Small Meeting

Xu Qingyi was oblivious to Xie Yunzhi’s complaints. She had someone carefully examine the gifts from Princess Zhenyang.

They found no problems.

She pondered, could the Princess be trying to use her wealth to break the still-fragile bond between her and her sons?

The three children were quite sensible, handing over the gifts immediately upon receiving them.

However, if this continued, coupled with other inducements, it was difficult to guarantee that some of the children, with their unstable personalities, wouldn’t be tempted.

Xu Qingyi decided to have a frank conversation with them; the location was the eldest son’s study.

“Come, Mother wants to talk to you about something.”

Seeing Xu Qingyi’s serious expression, the three children also became serious.

“Mother, what is it?” Zhen, unable to contain his curiosity, asked.

“Mother wants to ask you first, what are your thoughts on Princess Zhenyang?” Xu Qingyi asked.

She felt this was a valuable teaching opportunity, a chance to understand how her children currently perceived people and things.

If there were any inappropriate thoughts, she could guide and correct them in time.

“Mother, she’s not good, she’s bad, I don’t like her,” Heng answered first.

Xu Qingyi wasn’t surprised by the youngest’s opinion.  “Alright, Mother understands.”

She simply smiled and stroked his hair. At four years old, he was still too young to think beyond his immediate perception.

Zhen furrowed his handsome brows, saying with a frown, “I don’t like her either.  She acts superior because of her status as a princess, showing no respect for our Marquisate, not even for Great-Grandmother.”

“Yes, indeed,” Xu Qingyi nodded.

After losing weight, Zhen’s face had the features of a young boy, but his age limited his perspective.  He was essentially an upgraded version of Heng.

With anticipation, she looked at her eldest son, “Lin, what do you think?”

Lin, well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, preparing to take the Xiucai examination, and possessing some social experience, offered a different perspective from his younger brothers: “The Princess didn’t marry Second Uncle out of genuine affection. She used various methods to marry into the Marquisate, partly because of my father…”

He paused, glancing at Xu Qingyi.  Seeing her nonchalant expression, he lowered his gaze and continued, “She’s also a pawn of the Emperor, and a handle willingly offered to the Emperor by Prince Su.  Lately, Prince Su has been too successful, and the Emperor might suspect him.  Marrying the Princess into the Marquisate is a way for Prince Su to self-incriminate.”

The second and third brothers were completely dumbfounded.  What?

What was he talking about?

They understood each word individually, but together, it made no sense!

Lin noticed his brothers’ bewildered expressions and rolled his eyes.  These dimwits dared to compete with him?

A waste of effort.

“Excellent, Lin has observed very carefully,” Xu Qingyi beamed.  (She had originally wanted to use “investigated,” but Lin had his unique methods of gathering information.)

Lin remained impassive, as if this were nothing unusual.

Being involved in these matters, if one didn’t understand this much, they would be considered foolish.

“Did you hear what your brother said?” Xu Qingyi looked at her two younger sons, speaking seriously, “Princess Zhenyang is an enemy.  She clearly loves your father, yet married Xie Huaian, indicating a deal between them.”

“Although I don’t know the details of this deal, it certainly won’t benefit us.”

“Therefore, we must be more vigilant against her in the future and not give her a chance to harm us, understand?”

The second and third sons looked indignant. Princess Zhenyang was trying to steal their father!  That explained her aggressive behavior and her insistence on seeing him despite being refused.

“How dare she try to steal our father?  She’s shameless,” Zhen said disdainfully.

He suddenly regretted accepting her gifts; they felt disgusting.

“This is nothing,” Xu Qingyi sighed. “There are too many people who want to steal your father.”

It was like countless fish swimming upstream.

Just think, there are this many now, while he’s incapacitated; how many more will there be once he recovers?

Therefore, Xu Qingyi’s plan was clear: divorce the national heartthrob once he wakes up; she didn’t want to be a target.

Later, once her children become successful, money would pour in from all directions.

After becoming a wealthy and powerful woman, she would only date young men under 25.  The thought made her smile happily.

“Mother, don’t worry, I won’t let them steal Father away!” Heng clenched his small fist.

“Good, Mother believes you can do it.” Xu Qingyi was always touched by her son’s protectiveness.  She smiled and told a white lie.

It was too early to tell the children about the divorce.

“But she is a princess after all. You brothers need to be polite to her. Don’t give her any opportunity to use your mistakes against you,” Xu Qingyi instructed.

“Got it, Mother. We won’t cause you any trouble,” Zhen nodded.

The youngest nodded too, “Mm!”

“She won’t be able to see me easily,” Lin’s reply was unexpected. Meeting Xu Qingyi’s questioning gaze, he added, “I’m preparing for the examination, so I won’t be eating in the front courtyard anymore.”

Xu Qingyi understood, smiling, “Alright, I’ll have the small kitchen arrange something for you.”

Lin nodded, “Thank you, Mother, for your consideration.”

Ah, those words were like heavenly music to her ears.  Xu Qingyi was stunned.

Zhen waved his hand in front of her face, “Mother, snap out of it. Don’t let me make fun of you.”

“…” Xu Qingyi glared at him, slapping his hand away, then smiled, “Alright, alright. Let’s go back to our rooms and not disturb your brother’s studies.”

“Mother, I want to pick lotus pods to eat. Can I?” Heng, having the day off, was focused on the lotus pods in the pond.

“Have your second brother take you in a small boat. He doesn’t mind the sun,” Xu Qingyi smiled, leading him out.

Zhen patted his chest, promising, “Okay, I’ll pick a big bowl of lotus pods and make lotus seed soup for Mother.” He paused, “And give some to Great-Grandmother too.”

“Your father can eat some too,” Xu Qingyi casually mentioned.

The two children were even more motivated.  For the sake of their father’s food, they excitedly set off.

Fearing the children might be in danger, Xu Qingyi naturally had someone watch over them.

That evening, Xie Yunzhi ate fresh lotus seed soup, fed to him by Xu Qingyi herself.

“Young Master, this was picked by the second and third sons. They said they wanted you to try it,” Xu Qingyi, who happened to have some free time, came to help.  While feeding him, she smiled, “They’re so filial.”

Xie Yunzhi was surprised. Hearing that the second and third sons had picked them personally made the lotus seed soup taste even sweeter.

He did have taste preferences, but his daily meals were bland, focusing on mild and nourishing ingredients.

An occasional change was exciting.

Since Xu Qingyi had entered the household, the variety of his meals had increased significantly, and the kitchen had been instructed to make them tastier.

He could also enjoy some fruit every now and then.

This year, he even tasted a few lychees.

Occasionally, in the quiet of the night, Xie Yunzhi couldn’t help but think, if he had regained consciousness before Xu Qingyi entered the household, his life would have been incredibly difficult.

He used to think that having a wife was useless, only a burden.

This was because, in Xie Yunzhi’s experience, most women were emotional and disregarded the bigger picture.

Actually, he knew there were many outstanding women.

Xu Qingyi, with her boldness and carefulness, was one of them.

*

Princess Zhenyang learned that Xie Yunzhi was wheeled out to the garden for a stroll every evening.

She was overjoyed.

However, she wasn’t in a hurry. She instructed her nursemaid, “Keep a close watch for a few days, but don’t alert them.”

The priority was to win over the people in the Marquisate.

Princess Zhenyang wasn’t naturally inclined to curry favor, but she was wealthy.  By showering them with gifts and using a combination of rewards and punishments, she could achieve her goal.

No one dared refuse the princess’s gifts, naturally accepting them.

Madam Qin was the happiest. She received a jade Guanyin statue and beamed, immediately taking it to a master for consecration.

She flattered, “The Guanyin statue from the Princess must be even more valuable!”

“Just call me Zhenyang, Mother-in-law,” Princess Zhenyang gave a forced smile, seizing the opportunity to inquire, “Why does the Marquisate obey your elder daughter-in-law so implicitly?”

Madam Qin didn’t like this question, maintaining a forced smile as she corrected, “That’s not the case. Your elder sister-in-law only manages her own courtyard. I’m still in charge of the rest of the Marquisate.”

“That’s precisely what I’m asking,” Princess Zhenyang said seriously. “General Xie is such an important figure, crucial to the nation’s fate. How can the Marquisate entrust him to a newlywed?”

If someone had praised Xie Yunzhi in front of her before, Madam Qin would have been angry.

But now Xie Yunzhi was a thing of the past, a spent force. She smiled, “Your elder sister-in-law is Yunzhi’s wife. Who else should manage him?”

Remembering Princess Zhenyang’ intentions, she secretly scoffed, ‘You want to manage him? You’re eyeing another woman’s husband.’

Where’s your shame?

Madam Qin was practical; she was interested in Princess Zhenyang’ status.

Princess Zhenyang frowned, “General Xie is so important.  His treatment should be overseen by the entire family.”

In short, she hadn’t given up on interfering: “Mother-in-law, I can find a better physician. Why won’t the Marquisate agree? Don’t you all want General Xie to recover?”

Madam Qin rolled her eyes inwardly, sneering.  ‘Why won’t we agree? Don’t you know why?’

If you were allowed to find a physician, wouldn’t that give you an excuse to sneak into Danhuai Courtyard at night?

“Zhenyang, you don’t understand. Physician Chen was appointed by the Emperor,” Madam Qin sighed, explaining carefully, “If we rashly replace Physician Chen, wouldn’t that be accusing the Emperor of appointing an incompetent physician?”

Besides, Physician Chen was currently doing a good job, and Yunzhi’s condition was stable.

If things worsened after a change, who would bear the responsibility?

Madam Qin didn’t necessarily want Xie Yunzhi to wake up. She just wanted stability and to avoid any mistakes.

As long as the blame didn’t fall on her, she was fine.