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The Eldest Young Master?
Sorry, Xu Qingyi hadn’t even thought about the Eldest Young Master’s clothing.
She figured that since the Eldest Young Master was the legitimate heir of the Marquis’s family, under the watchful eyes of the Old Madam and the Marquis, he certainly wouldn’t lack for clothes.
Today was the usual meeting day.
Tomorrow, she would be returning to her family, so she focused on reporting that matter.
As for the clothing issue, she hadn’t brought it up once.
Just as she was about to leave, Zi Xiao suddenly grew anxious and called out, “Young Madam…”
“Mm?” Xu Qingyi stopped and asked, “Is there something else?”
Zi Xiao had no choice but to bring it up, saying, “The Eldest Young Master’s seasonal clothes wear out quickly. If you happen to see any suitable fabrics next time, you could make a couple of sets for him as well.”
“Ah?”
The Eldest Young Master really needed clothes?
Well, that’s fine—it’s the wife’s duty.
Xu Qingyi nodded and said, “Alright, when I return tomorrow, I’ll go check the warehouse.”
Xie Yunzhi almost wanted to block Zi Xiao’s mouth. Why bring this up?
As if he didn’t have clothes to wear.
Everyone else had clothes; did he need to be treated any differently?
Who cared? As long as the children were taken care of, that was enough.
He really didn’t care.
“The Young Madam has been so busy these past few days,” Ming Yu noticed Xu Qingyi coming and going in a hurry. He sighed quietly, “Once things settle down, she’ll come by to spend more time with the Eldest Young Master, right?”
Zi Xiao chimed in, “Of course. With the Eldest Young Master in his condition… it won’t be easy. Good things take time.”
They were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the little master.
If the Young Madam didn’t spend time with the Eldest Young Master, there would be no little master.
Xie Yunzhi still didn’t understand the cryptic words they were speaking.
“Good things take time…” That was a bit confusing.
He didn’t need Xu Qingyi to come and be affectionate with him.
What was the point of that?
It would be fine if she didn’t come to talk to him, he didn’t mind.
As the head of the household, Xu Qingyi had access to more information, and he could only learn about the outside world through her.
*
Now, the entire capital knew that Xu Qingyi and Xie Huaian had gone through the wedding ceremony but had been given in marriage by the Emperor to Xie Huaian’s elder brother.
That was the renowned General Xie Yunzhi of the Kingdom.
As for Xie Yunzhi, everyone knew his name.
He came from a noble family, with the appearance of a jade crown, exceptional martial skills, and a talent for writing, a true gentleman well-versed in the Six Arts.
Originally, he had the potential to pass the highest imperial exam and become a top scholar, but he chose to abandon the civil examination at seventeen to fight on the battlefield. In eight years, he earned numerous military achievements.
He was known as the “Jade-faced General.”
Unfortunately, just six months ago, Xie Yunzhi was injured on the battlefield, falling into a coma from which he still hadn’t woken, leaving him a cripple.
Those with clear eyes knew that Xu Qingyi had married Xie Yunzhi to try and bring him back to life.
If Xie Yunzhi hadn’t been injured, the position of the heir’s wife would never have gone to someone as unknown as Xu Qingyi.
But now that Xie Yunzhi was in this state, any girl who married him would only be wasting her life.
When the news reached the Yong’an Marquis’s household, the Marquis and his wife were both quite upset.
Xie Yunzhi was a confirmed invalid. What good was it for their daughter to marry him, live as a widow, and be treated as a stepmother?
Besides, the children weren’t even Xie Yunzhi’s biological ones. Once Xie Huaian inherited the title, there was little chance he would look after them and their mother.
But since it was the Emperor’s decree, they had no choice but to accept it.
The evening before Xu Qingyi’s return to her family, the Marquis of Yong’an, concerned that his wife, Madam Qi, might be upset, specifically spoke to her. “Madam, Marquis Xie’s eldest son is loyal and brave, having sacrificed his life for the country. He is widely praised by the people. His marriage to our daughter was arranged by His Majesty. We should just accept it.”
Madam Qi looked at him coldly without speaking.
Her daughter, once living a good life, now had her future ruined like this.
Xie Yunzhi was worthy of respect, but why didn’t the Emperor choose another girl to “bring joy” to him?
The Marquis continued, “Anyway, our second daughter is quiet and dull. Even if she married Xie Huaian, she might not be loved. But now, marrying Xie Yunzhi, she will be praised by the people, and her life won’t be too bad.”
Only women truly understood the hardships of other women. Madam Qi sighed and said, “It’s all empty praise. What good is that? Do you think that without a husband’s support, our second daughter will have an easy time in the Marquis’s household? Once Xie Huaian inherits the title, she’ll suffer.”
The wife’s words weren’t without merit.
The Marquis of Yong’an thought for a moment and helplessly said, “We’ll see how it goes. If the three children turn out well, they can live independently.”
After all, they were Xie Yunzhi’s descendants, and His Majesty wouldn’t ignore them.
Madam Qi wasn’t so optimistic. She poured cold water on her husband’s thoughts, saying, “Being a stepmother is no easy task. The eldest is already twelve. It’s hard to nurture them properly. The youngest one is the only hope.”
Marquis of Yong’an: “…”
They had never considered that Xie Yunzhi might one day wake up.
After all, this possibility was far more uncertain than their three children treating Xu Qingyi as their biological mother and honoring her.
On the day of the return visit, cartload after cartload of gifts arrived at the Marquis of Yong’an’s residence.
Yet there was little cheer in the house.
Everyone knew that the second young lady had married a man who had been lying in bed for half a year, and was still a helpless invalid. Plus, she was burdened with three half-grown children.
It wasn’t exactly a cause for celebration.
As for Xu Qingyi, she didn’t feel any attachment to her original family; she was merely going through the motions.
“Heng, let’s go.”
Heng, on the other hand, was a bit nervous. His little hand tugged at Xu Qingyi’s skirt, afraid that her family wouldn’t like him.
“Don’t worry. We’ll have a meal and leave,” Xu Qingyi reassured him, then simply picked him up.
Heng relaxed significantly in his mother’s arms.
“Second Sister?”
Xu Qingyi turned toward the voice. A young, noblewoman adorned with a head full of pearls and jade ornaments was smiling at her.
From the way she was addressed, it seemed to be Xu Qingyi’s eldest sister, Xu Tingjun.
This sister, known for her beauty and flamboyance, had married well—her husband was the heir of the Duke of Yongguo’s family.
Their relationship hadn’t been great; she liked to flaunt her advantages over Xu Qingyi, sometimes even belittling her.
Over time, this had led to Xu Qingyi developing a more introverted and reserved personality.
Today was Xu Qingyi’s return visit to her family, but Xu Tingjun had specifically come back to join the occasion, and her intentions were all too clear.
If it had been the original Xu Qingyi, she would have been frustrated and upset—after all, even after marriage, she couldn’t escape her eldest sister’s shadow.
But she wasn’t the original Xu Qingyi and was already in her thirties.
Such trivial mental attacks no longer affected her.
“Ah, it’s Eldest Sister?” Xu Qingyi smiled naturally and greeted her.
“Mm.” Xu Tingjun looked Xu Qingyi up and down, noticing that her second sister had changed.
Xu Qingyi, who had dared to wear bright, luxurious clothes, adorned with precious and exquisite jewelry, was a sight to behold.
Xu Qingyi was already a beautiful woman, and with a little bit of dressing up, she was even more enchanting, like a delicate flower in full bloom.
Compared to the well-known beauties among the noble ladies in the capital, Xu Qingyi didn’t fall behind at all.
In the past, when she was in the bedroom, Xu Tingjun had always taught her that a woman should be low-key and simple, reading more and speaking less, so that her reputation would be good.
As a result, Xu Qingyi had earned the reputation of being gentle and elegant.
In reality, in the inner courtyard, men didn’t like such stiff and dull women—only the elders would appreciate them.
Who would have thought that after some time apart, Xu Qingyi had become so refreshing?
Xu Tingjun was taken aback, her heart full of doubt and surprise.
Then, thinking of Xu Qingyi’s situation, she couldn’t help but smile sincerely.
“Why has Eldest Sister come back?” Xu Qingyi asked.
After sizing her up, Xu Tingjun said, “I heard that you’re returning to your family today. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I thought I’d come back and visit.”
Such sweet words.
Xu Qingyi thought to herself, ‘She must have heard that I married a husband who’s bedridden and paralyzed. She came back just to see the spectacle.’