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If Xu Qingyi knew how worried her two sons were about their financial situation, she would certainly comfort them, telling them not to worry.
As a young lady of the Marquis’s residence, even if she wasn’t very favored, she wasn’t that poor.
She had received a good amount of cash upon her marriage, plus two well-performing shops as her dowry.
With careful management, she could sustain her daily expenses.
At present, money was not a concern.
Afterward, Xu Qingyi kept a close watch on Princess Zhenyang for several days and noticed that there was no movement on her part.
It seemed she had reconsidered and dismissed any thoughts of taking action against them.
She let out a sigh of relief, but remained vigilant.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Lady of the Marquis’s residence informed everyone that a troupe of actors had been invited to perform in the evening. The residents were all invited to enjoy the moon, eat and drink, and listen to the show.
The children, having not had such a relaxed time in a while, were all quite excited and looking forward to it.
“Mother, will Father go?” Although Zhen liked his mother more now, he hadn’t completely forgotten Xie Yunzhi. He was still a very filial child.
“He’ll go. Let your father listen to the opera too,” Xu Qingyi said casually. “Maybe the singing will wake him up.”
“That would be great!” Zhen hoped so too.
The servants attending to the Eldest Young Master were also excited when they heard the news. They quickly helped him wash and dress.
Usually, the Young Master dressed casually in his own room.
On this special Mid-Autumn Festival, when he was going out to reunite with his family, he naturally needed to dress more formally and appropriately.
A brocade robe, a jeweled belt, a gold-gilded crown—everything was in place.
He even specially wore a jade ring on his long fingers.
When Xu Qingyi came to fetch him, she was stunned by the sight of the transformed Xie Yunzhi. It took her a long time to recover.
Ah, no wonder people say that clothes make the man. Once the Young Master was dressed up, he was even more captivating.
It didn’t make her heart flutter, but she was genuinely amazed and thoroughly satisfied.
Zi Xiao and Ming Yu, standing to the side, suppressed smiles. They had been waiting for this moment.
It was the first time the Young Madam had seen the Young Master dressed up so formally.
Their reactions reminded them of the reactions of others who had seen the Young Master before—far more enthusiastic than the Young Madam’s.
The Young Madam’s reaction was relatively calm.
Xu Qingyi noticed the servants’ amusement and didn’t feel embarrassed. Instead, she laughed openly, “Wow, our Young Master, all dressed up, is truly dashing and charming.”
As she finished speaking, Xie Yunzhi felt a fragrant breeze.
Lady Xu’s soft fingers touched his face again, the movement as skilled and natural as if it had been honed over thousands of times.
Zi Xiao and Ming Yu both smiled.
They loved seeing the Young Madam’s honest and straightforward reaction. It was worth all the effort they’d put into dressing the Young Master so handsomely.
After enjoying a moment of playful intimacy with Xie Yunzhi, Xu Qingyi laughed, “Let’s go. Everyone hasn’t seen the Young Master in a long time. Let’s take our charming Young Master out to meet everyone.”
Hearing this, Xie Yunzhi felt a stir in his heart.
It was a day for reunion, and he hadn’t appeared in public for a long time. However, he was worried that his presence might spoil the atmosphere.
Unknowingly, Xie Yunzhi began to develop a desire to avoid his other relatives.
He no longer wanted to face anyone outside of Danhuai Courtyard. It had become a burden for him at some point.
Only when he was with his wife and children did he feel at ease.
“Father?!” This surprised exclamation came from Zhen.
It had been a long time since he had seen his father dressed so formally; he was quite startled.
“Father.” Lin and Heng were much calmer. They called out to him as well, then looked at their father a few more times.
Father was really handsome.
Xie Yunzhi: “…”
He remembered that in the past, he hadn’t liked people paying too much attention to his appearance. He had even grown a beard to cover his face.
But now, he felt a subtle sense of delight in pleasing his family.
His children…and his wife liking it was all that mattered.
The members of the various courtyards in the Marquis’s residence had gradually gathered in front of the stage. The family from Danhuai Courtyard arrived neither too early nor too late, but instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
The uncles and aunts who hadn’t seen the Eldest Young Master for a long time immediately led their families over to greet him.
Although they lived in the same residence, the Marquis’s residence was vast, and the Eldest Young Master had been recuperating, so they hadn’t dared to disturb him in Danhuai Courtyard. They hadn’t seen him for a long time.
“Oh my, the Young Master looks so well! Qingyi is truly skilled at taking care of people. Look at him,” the Second Aunt said with undisguised admiration, also enjoying the sight of her handsome nephew.
The Third Aunt added, “That’s right! I was so surprised. At first glance, I thought he was just resting with his eyes closed.”
Everyone echoed in unison, “Qingyi is amazing!”
Xu Qingyi modestly replied, “You’re all too kind. It’s not my credit. It’s all thanks to the capable people around the Young Master. I just helped a little.”
When she said that, Zi Xiao and Ming Yu were anxious on her behalf!
The Young Madam was just too modest.
She had put so much thought into the Young Master; she should be taking more credit in front of the Marquis.
“Qingyi is indeed very attentive,” the Marquis affirmed, adjusting the blanket for his eldest son, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
But since today was a day for reunion, he didn’t want to say anything that would dampen the mood, so he kept a smile on his face.
Zhen stood to the side and thought, since my mother takes such good care of Father, why doesn’t she get a share of Father’s wealth?
‘Hypocritical.’
He nudged his older brother with his elbow to express his dissatisfaction with their family dynamics.
Lin shot him a glance, indicating that he understood.
It was indeed quite hypocritical, and he felt the same dissatisfaction.
“Yunzhi is here? Come let me have a look,” the Old Madam, who had also come in her wheelchair, said anxiously when she saw everyone gathered around Xie Yunzhi.
At the Old Madam’s words, everyone immediately made way.
Xie Yunzhi was quickly wheeled to the Old Madam by the servants, allowing the grandmother to see her grandson.
“Yunzhi, you seem even more energetic than the last time we met,” the Old Madam said with a delighted smile after looking at her grandson for a moment.
“Yes,” Xu Qingyi smiled. “The Young Master is getting better and better.”
The Old Madam loved to hear this and praised Xu Qingyi, “With you taking care of Yunzhi, I’m completely at ease.” Then, holding Xie Yunzhi’s hand, she said, “Today, Yunzhi will sit beside me and accompany me to watch the opera!”
“Of course, if the Young Master isn’t accompanying you, who else would he accompany?” Xu Qingyi said.
She didn’t care where she sat, so after arranging the Young Master beside the Old Madam, she quietly moved to sit with her children.
The seat on the other side of Xie Yunzhi was taken by the Marquis.
At this moment, Princess Zhenyang arrived late.
Because she had been in a bad mood lately, she hadn’t wanted to come, but hearing that Xie Yunzhi was there, she naturally had to come.
She wanted to sit close to her beloved. Since both sides were impossible, she sat directly behind him.
“Zhenyang is here?” Madam Qin, seeing her esteemed daughter-in-law deigning to attend, quickly put on a smile. “Why are you sitting at the back? Come to the front; the view is better here.”
She had specifically reserved a seat beside her for Princess Zhenyang.
Unexpectedly, Princess Zhenyang refused. “No need, Mother-in-law. I’ll sit here.”
As soon as her voice sounded from behind, Xie Yunzhi felt a jolt. He immediately calculated the distance between himself and Princess Zhenyang—very close.
If he wasn’t mistaken, she was sitting directly behind him.
Xie Yunzhi immediately felt uncomfortable. Where was Lady Xu?
Lady Xu was his wife; why wasn’t she sitting beside him?
Instead, Princess Zhenyang was so close.
He was about to get angry.