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“What you said makes sense,” The Marquis, hoping for his eldest son to wake up, didn’t hesitate long before handing his daughter-in-law his son’s weapon.
“Thank you, Father,” Xu Qingyi beamed, feeling that the spear wasn’t too imposing. Compared to the large swords, tridents, and other weapons commonly used by generals, it seemed much more elegant.
However, when she reached out to take it, she almost dropped it.
Only then did she realize how heavy Xie Yunzhi’s usual spear was.
The Marquis smiled kindly, but then his expression turned serious. He asked, “Second daughter-in-law, has she been bothering you again?”
“Replying to Father, I saw her in the garden the other day. The Princess seemed to have come specifically to see the Young Master. She said some things that were neither true nor false, insinuating and veiled. She implied that Qingyi wasn’t worthy of the Young Master,” Xu Qingyi sighed. Since the Marquis had brought it up, she might as well report it.
“Don’t listen to her nonsense,” The Marquis’ face darkened. “Humph, she’s the last person who should have married into this household.”
He had heard that Princess Zhenyang and his second son had already separated their rooms. To be so blatant, it was outrageous! She was treating everyone in the Marquis’ household like fools.
In recent days, the Marquis had been subjected to subtle and overt teasing during his social engagements.
Xie Huaian had made him lose face.
He only hoped that his wayward son would achieve a good ranking in the upcoming academy examinations at the end of the month.
Xu Qingyi returned to Danhuai Courtyard with the spear. Entering Xie Yunzhi’s room, the servants exclaimed upon seeing the familiar weapon, “The Young Master’s spear!”
The servants’ sudden excitement startled Xie Yunzhi. He wondered what was wrong with his spear.
“Young Madam, how did you get the Young Master’s spear back? Wasn’t it being kept by the Marquis?” Mo Yan said excitedly.
Xie Yunzhi was also surprised. Xu Qingyi had retrieved his spear?
“Yes, the Marquis said the spear had too much murderous aura and was afraid it would be detrimental to the Young Master’s recovery,” Xu Qingyi explained with a smile, walking to Xie Yunzhi’s bed and stroking the spear. “But I thought, since it’s the Young Master’s weapon, even if it has murderous aura, it’s meant to protect him. Perhaps if the Young Master touches the spear, he’ll have some kind of reaction.”
That’s right, the servants nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Xu Qingyi. “We thought the same. The Young Master must miss Huo Yun.”
“Then give it to the Young Master,” Xu Qingyi offered the spear.
However, the servants didn’t take it, daring to refuse their master’s instructions. They smiled, “The Young Master doesn’t like others touching his weapons. He usually maintains them himself. So, Young Madam, would you please do the honors?”
Was there such a detail?
“Alright,” Xu Qingyi smiled.
She didn’t force them and brought the spear to Xie Yunzhi herself.
It felt like a superstitious ritual. She took his hand and placed it on the weapon, murmuring, “Young Master, this is your weapon. Do you feel anything?”
Touching his weapon, Xie Yunzhi was indeed excited. Of course, he felt something, but he couldn’t express it.
Under Xu Qingyi’s expectant gaze, he tried hard to grasp the weapon, ultimately failing, as expected.
Seeing the Young Master’s serene expression, Xu Qingyi didn’t feel much disappointment.
It was the servants who felt the most frustrated.
They had grown accustomed to disappointment, and in that moment, they were worried that the Young Madam might not be able to bear it.
“It’s alright. It seems that good things take time. It’s just not the right moment yet; we should be patient,” Xu Qingyi comforted them instead, her smile bright without a hint of gloom.
Instantly, they felt consoled, their spirits lifting.
At the same time, they were quite impressed. The Young Madam’s mindset was remarkably steady, like a stabilizing anchor. Upon reflection, it was quite similar to the unyielding nature of the Young Master.
Indeed, like attracts like.
*
At the Prince Su’s residence, Princess Zhenyang returned home.
“I’m going to the back courtyard to speak with Mother. Second Young Master Xie, feel free to make yourself at home,” Princess Zhenyang said, leaving with the Princess Consort.
Xie Huaian didn’t mind at all; he quickly seized the opportunity to speak with Prince Su.
After all, he was the nominal son-in-law of Prince Su. Having provided cover for the Prince’s daughter, there were still some benefits to be gained from this relationship, and he wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you get your wish? Why are you still so gloomy?” Princess Consort Su was puzzled. “Is General Xie’s condition very bad?”
Had his divine appearance faded, causing her daughter’s disappointment?
“Mother, don’t talk nonsense. General Xie is fine.” Mentioning Xie Yunzhi, Princess Zhenyang’ eyes softened for a moment, then sharpened again. She coldly snorted, “It seems I misjudged her. His hastily chosen wife is quite formidable.”
“Oh? In what way?” Princess Consort Su asked, but inwardly, she didn’t believe it. She was just an unfavored daughter from a Marquis’ household. How could she compare to her own daughter?
Princess Zhenyang had grown up in the Princess Consort’s inner courtyard. She had seen countless schemes, and there was no reason why she couldn’t handle a mere Marquis’ daughter.
“Humph, I don’t know what tricks she’s used, but everyone in the Marquis’ household listens to her every word. She’s only just married in, yet she’s already taken full control of everything regarding the General,” Princess Zhenyang felt a pain in her chest, clenching her teeth in anger. “Even I, a Princess, need her permission to see General Xie.”
Recalling their confrontation that day, Princess Zhenyang continued angrily, “And she, relying on her status as General Xie’s wife, shows no respect whatsoever to this Princess. It’s hateful.”
Princess Consort Su frowned. That was indeed quite a feat, and she had quite some nerve.
She had already investigated Xu Qingyi for her daughter, finding her unremarkable. It turned out they had misjudged her. She was a seemingly gentle woman with a hidden sharp edge.
“It seems she knows your intentions, hence her disrespect,” Princess Consort Su couldn’t help but chide. “You really should be more discreet in your affections.”
If she had been more subtle initially, things would have been much easier now. At the very least, it wouldn’t have made the Marquis’ household suspicious.
Princess Zhenyang retorted, “Even if I’m high-profile, I’m not as high-profile as my imperial aunt.”
“But your imperial aunt doesn’t have such intentions,” Princess Consort Su, who had disagreed from the start, exclaimed, “What is this all about?”
But her daughter had cried, made a fuss, and even threatened suicide. She and Prince Su couldn’t talk her out of it, so they had to agree.
“Fortunately, her household isn’t entirely united,” Princess Zhenyang said thankfully. “General Xie’s three adopted sons; the eldest son only maintains a superficial relationship with her as his adoptive mother. I think he can easily be bought.”
Princess Consort Su nodded, not taking Xu Qingyi seriously. She instructed her daughter, “In the inner court, you don’t need to be so soft-hearted. Some things need to be done decisively and thoroughly.”
“This…” Princess Zhenyang looked at her mother in surprise, hesitant. She tentatively asked, “Mother, do you mean… kill her?”
“You fool, why would you kill her? Do you want everyone to know it was you?” Princess Consort Su set down her teacup. “By ‘thoroughly,’ I mean to have her divorced, and the Marquis’ household will not dare to arrange another wife for General Xie.”
That would be an excellent outcome!
Princess Zhenyang eagerly asked, “Mother, tell me quickly, how should I do it?”
“It’s simple,” Princess Consort Su sneered. “Just ruin her reputation. Spread rumors of her adultery, and the Marquis’ household will naturally divorce her from General Xie. They won’t dare marry him off again.”
A woman with a ruined reputation can’t keep a husband. Even if they marry again, the result will be the same.
The Marquis’ household wouldn’t want to lose face again.