Chapter 32

When Chang Feng returned after escorting Xie Changning,

Xie Qingya and Mei Xuezhen were already having their meal. Lingji guarded outside, but the windows remained closed, and they avoided sitting near them to prevent any prying eyes from seeing inside.

Xie Qingya faced the doorway directly.

Seeing Chang Feng enter, he lowered his cup from his lips and asked, “Something to report?”

If there were no issue,

Chang Feng wouldn’t have come in at this time.

Mei Xuezhen turned his head when he heard this, glancing at Chang Feng.

Chang Feng confirmed, “Yes,” then stepped forward to inform Xie Qingya of a message just delivered to the gatehouse: “The princess consort sent someone to deliver a letter just now.”

The mention of a letter made Mei Xuezhen immediately frown. “To whom?”

Xie Qingya remained silent, watching Chang Feng expectantly.

Chang Feng did not withhold the information and responded, “It was sent to the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence.”

“The Marquis of Wu’an’s estate?”

This answer surprised Mei Xuezhen. “I thought the estate only housed a few old servants now. Why would she send a letter there?”

His face was full of confusion as he spoke.

“Did you retrieve the letter?” he asked Chang Feng.

Chang Feng replied, “It’s still being held at the gatehouse.”

The gatekeeper was one of their men, so intercepting a letter wasn’t difficult.

However, upon learning of the situation, Chang Feng didn’t immediately have the letter brought over. Instead, he first sought the prince’s instructions.

He wanted to see how the prince would handle it before deciding the next step.

Understanding Chang Feng’s caution, Mei Xuezhen turned his gaze back to Xie Qingya.

By now, Xie Qingya had resumed drinking.

With wine flowing down his throat, he spoke calmly, “Don’t bother with it. Have someone deliver it as instructed.”

Chang Feng left to carry out the order immediately.

Mei Xuezhen frowned, clearly dissatisfied. “You’re just going to send it without even looking at it? What if it contains something important? If we knew in advance, we could be prepared.”

“What kind of message do you think she would send to the duke’ estate?” Xie Qingya glanced at him before lowering his eyes. “And do you think she would be that foolish?”

Mei Xuezhen pondered his words.

He had a point.

The Grand Princess Jia Shun had brought many people with her. If she wanted to send a message, she certainly wouldn’t use their people to do it.

Thinking this, Mei Xuezhen relaxed and resumed drinking.

“Any new developments in the household?” he asked, referring to the people Xu Duanyi had brought with her.

Xie Qingya simply answered, “No.”

Mei Xuezhen remained cautious. “Stay vigilant. Don’t lower your guard.”

Xie Qingya nodded. “Don’t worry. Lingji has been stationed in the study these days. As for her people, I’ve had them watched. If anything happens, I’ll be informed immediately.”

…Unless she herself is the problem.

That thought remained unspoken as Xie Qingya tilted his head back and downed more wine.

Mei Xuezhen noticed his somber mood, more clouded than before, though the cause was unclear. Not wanting to pry, he simply kept him company in silence.

—

Elsewhere,

Xie Ping’an and Xie Changning had already begun eating.

Xie Ping’an had arrived earlier, and when he didn’t see Xie Changning, he grew concerned until he heard from Fuqu that she had gone to visit the princess consort.

He frowned but refrained from stopping her as he would have in the past.

Nor did he immediately send someone to fetch her.

As dinnertime approached,

When Changning still hadn’t returned, Ping’an’s concern grew. He sent someone to look for her while glancing outside repeatedly, though he wasn’t sure what he was waiting for.

At last,

A flicker of light appeared in the darkness outside.

He peered closely and saw two figures, one tall and one short, moving toward the house. His body tensed, fists clenched, and his eyes remained fixed on the doorway as if he couldn’t look away.

Moments later, as if realizing he was giving too much away, he turned his face away, sitting with his back to the door to conceal his feelings.

He had assumed it was Xie Qingya.

Not wanting to see him,

He didn’t want anyone to notice his mood.

When Fuqu went out to greet the newcomer, however, she called out Chang Feng’s name instead.

Only then did Xie Ping’an realize his mistake.

Xie Qingya hadn’t come at all.

His tense posture deflated, though the frustration in his chest only grew heavier.

Before Changning entered,

He curled his lips into a cold smile, quickly masking his emotions with an indifferent expression.

No one else seemed to notice the subtle shift, but how could Xie Changning, being his twin, remain unaware?

Sensing that Third Brother was clearly in a bad mood today, Xie Changning assumed it was because she had visited her sister-in-law, making him unhappy. Not wanting to see him sulking alone, she set down her chopsticks, looked at Xie Ping’an carefully, and asked cautiously, “Third Brother, are you… upset because I went to see Sister-in-law?”

“What?” Xie Ping’an frowned.

Although he heard her question, he was puzzled by her assumption. Upset? He didn’t like it, but it hadn’t reached the point of anger. If he were truly upset with her, he wouldn’t be sitting here quietly — he’d have told her outright.

Looking at her worried expression, he remained silent for a moment before deciding to have a proper talk. He disliked seeing Changning acting so timid around him.

He put down his chopsticks and met her gaze. Before yesterday, he would never have approved of her visiting that person alone. However, thinking of her unguarded smile when she mentioned her, and the warmth she radiated today when they interacted — the same warmth as before — he felt a bit less opposed.

His protectiveness stemmed from fear of her being hurt. If this person truly remained as kind as she seemed, he wouldn’t mind. He wanted more people to care for his sister. But… was she really that good? Could she always stay this way?

Xie Ping’an wasn’t sure. Over the years, he had witnessed too many changes. Old friends, respected elders, and flattering sycophants had all turned away when misfortune struck.

Some ignored him; others openly mocked him. The worst were those who, thinking the Nan’an Prince’s family had fallen, took every chance to humiliate him.

He once had a friend he deeply trusted — the only one who hadn’t cut ties after their downfall. That friend had been his solace when Changning faced trouble and Xie Qingya seemed lost in his own world. But that same friend betrayed him.

The memory of being taken to a place where people jeered, forced him to kneel, tried to make him bark like a dog — the humiliation of it all still burned. Only his martial training had saved him from utter disgrace. He fought his way out, bloodied and exhausted.

He never told anyone about it.

Since that day, his last vestiges of trust in human nature vanished. He’d gone from defiance to tolerance, then to anger. Now, he fought back. Anyone who tried to belittle him would face his fists.

This was why he worried so much about Changning getting close to others. He feared she might be hurt by those she trusted most. Deep down, he wished she wouldn’t grow attached to anyone. No attachments meant no heartbreak.

But when he looked into her hopeful eyes, he wondered — could he really ask her to live that way?

He hesitated. For the first time in years, uncertainty crept into his heart.

“Do you like her that much?” he asked.

Changning nodded without hesitation.

Xie Ping’an fell silent, finally conceding. “You can go if you want. But from now on, take Fuqu with you.”

Fuqu, her maidservant, was skilled in martial arts. Having her around would give him peace of mind.

Just this once, he told himself. He would trust again, even if it hurt.

Seeing he wasn’t upset about her visits, Changning’s joy spilled over. Her eyes curved into crescents, her smile impossible to hide. “Second Brother said the same thing,” she chirped happily.

She didn’t notice the brief stillness in Xie Ping’an’s hands when she mentioned Second Brother. Whatever thought crossed his mind, he kept it to himself, returning to his meal.

Changning, however, had more questions. If visiting her sister-in-law wasn’t the reason for his unhappiness, then what was?

“Third Brother,” she called again.

“Hmm?” He kept his head down.

“Why are you unhappy today?”

Xie Changning asked him a question.

This time, she saw Xie Ping’an pause his movements. She didn’t speak further, but continued looking at him expectantly, waiting for his response.

She wanted to share her third brother’s worries and help him.

But how could Xie Ping’an tell her? In fact, even he was a bit unclear about his emotions at the moment.

He knew he was upset because Xie Qingya didn’t come.

But why should that make him angry?

If he came, it wasn’t as if he’d get along with him anyway.

Yet if he didn’t come…

Xie Ping’an’s sharp brows furrowed even tighter with the conflicting feelings in his heart.

Still, not wanting Xie Changning to worry, he suppressed his emotions.

“It’s nothing. Yesterday at school, I couldn’t answer the teacher’s question, and it’s been bothering me,” Xie Ping’an said, brushing off her concern with a casual excuse.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Xie Changning let out a long sigh of relief, clearly reassured.

She had no doubt that her third brother was telling the truth.

“Oh, so that’s what it was.” She knew her third brother took his studies seriously.

Her worried expression disappeared, replaced by a bright smile. She beamed at him and encouraged, “Third brother, you’re great. You’ll do even better next time.”

“Don’t be upset.”

Xie Ping’an looked at her innocent, radiant smile, and the irritation in his heart began to fade.

His voice softened.

He wasn’t one to smile often, but seeing Xie Changning now, his expression grew gentler.

“Let’s eat.”

As he spoke, he picked up a meatball and placed it on her plate.

Xie Changning didn’t refuse and continued eating happily.

When they had nearly finished their meal, Xie Changning finally brought up what she had on her mind.

“Third brother, will you be in a hurry to leave later?”

Xie Ping’an looked at her and asked, “Why?”

“I have a book I don’t understand. Could you teach me?” Xie Changning asked him.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Xie Ping’an didn’t think much of it and nodded. “Alright.”

Since it was his rest day, he’d already finished his homework and would have only been reviewing if he returned home.

But when they sat facing each other on the couch and Xie Ping’an saw what kind of book she handed him, his expression shifted.

“How did this book end up with you?” he asked, frowning.

Afraid her third brother might misunderstand or become angry with her sister-in-law, Xie Changning hurriedly stammered an explanation, “I… I saw it at sister-in-law’s place. She said she didn’t need it, and since I liked it, I took it.”

Xie Changning rarely lied.

Under Xie Ping’an’s gaze, her heartbeat quickened, and her face grew hot.

Especially since her third brother kept staring at her.

Her heart pounded as though it would leap from her throat.

Just as she panicked and considered saying more, her third brother finally lowered his gaze.

“Xie Changning, do you even know what you look like when you lie? You still want to deceive me?” His tone was calm.

Hearing this, Xie Changning’s heart tightened, and her face turned pale.

She feared upsetting her brother.

“Th-Third brother!” she called out nervously.

Just as she was about to apologize, Xie Ping’an interrupted, “Enough. I know what’s going on.”

He wasn’t a fool.

If he didn’t fully understand that person, he at least understood his own sister.

There was no way timid Changning would ask someone for something on her own—it had to be that person’s idea. But clearly, she agreed it was a good one.

Honestly.

Xie Ping’an hadn’t experienced this kind of situation in a long time.

It left him feeling a bit awkward.

But he couldn’t deny it—this move was quite effective, making refusal difficult.

The chess manual in his hands was something any chess lover would find irresistible.

With a sigh, he held the book without setting it aside.

“…Tell her thank you for me,” he said while studying the book.

Xie Changning blinked in surprise, needing a moment to react. Then, as if finally realizing what had happened, she looked at her brother with wide eyes.

“Third brother, you… you agreed?”

Embarrassed, Xie Ping’an raised his head and shot her a look. “Are we playing or not?”

Now there was no doubt.

Overjoyed, Xie Changning couldn’t stop nodding. “Play! Let’s play!

—-

The next morning.

Aunt Deng personally brought Xiuyu to visit. Xiuyu was left under Xu Duanyi’s care to begin her service.

Since Xu Duanyi needed to visit the Duke Protector’s residence, she arranged for Xiuyu to learn from Bixi while taking Shiyu along.

Baozhu’s wedding was approaching.

As her cousin, Xu Duanyi naturally had responsibilities to help with the preparations.

That night, Xu Duanyi returned late.

By coincidence, she and Xie Qingya arrived at the house at nearly the same time.

They met by the screen wall.

Xie Qingya had just stepped down from the carriage, intending to head to his study.

He had spent the day at Shuntian Prefecture.

The prefect’s official robe was red, as befitting his third-rank position.

Just as Xie Qingya was about to leave with Chang Feng, he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him. At this hour, Changning and Ping’an should have already returned.

Sensing something, Xie Qingya turned around.

He saw a carriage come to a stop. The martial-skilled maidservant accompanying Xu Duanyi jumped down first, then extended her hand toward the person inside the carriage.

“Master.”

Shiyu hadn’t noticed Xie Qingya standing there.

At first, neither did Xu Duanyi.

It was late at night.

Although lanterns illuminated the wall screen, it wasn’t as bright as daytime.

She hadn’t expected to encounter Xie Qingya in this part of the residence. Only when she placed her hand on Shiyu’s arm, preparing to step down from the carriage, did she suddenly feel someone watching her.

Through the glow of the lanterns on either side, Xu Duanyi spotted Xie Qingya standing there.

He was looking directly at her.

When Xie Qingya realized she had noticed him so quickly, it was already too late to avert his gaze.

“My lord?”

Xu Duanyi called out to him.

At this point, turning his head away would seem too contrived, so Xie Qingya stiffened slightly but didn’t look away. Instead, he continued to gaze at her, responding with a soft, indifferent “Mm.”