Chapter 12

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Xie Linxu rose to his feet as he spoke. Song Xingyue, seeing that he was about to leave, quickly got up as well and said to a few elders, “Then I will go ahead with Changzhou. Father, uncles, and aunts, please enjoy your meal.”

Xie Xiu waved his hand grandly. “Go ahead, go ahead. It’s good to get out and move around; staying cooped up at home all day is dull.”

Song Xingyue and Xie Linxu were about to step outside when Xie Jinfei started protesting, “I want to go too! Brother, take me along!”

The two legitimate cousins from the second branch also opened their mouths, clamoring, “We want to go too!”

Song Xingyue’s face showed some displeasure, and a slight frown appeared on Xie Linxu’s brow as well. It was clear they both found these three troublesome.

Before either could say anything, Xie Xiu made the decision for them, waving his hand. “Go on, go on. Since you’re all going out anyway, Changzhou, Xingyue, look after your younger siblings.”

Song Xingyue pressed her lips together, feeling a bit disappointed. She had only planned to go out with Xie Linxu—what kind of arrangement was this? With three grown young ladies tagging along, none of whom particularly liked her, how was she supposed to enjoy herself?

But since Xie Xiu had spoken, there was no room for further objection.

So the five of them went out together.

*

Elsewhere, Jing Xi followed behind the matriarch as they left the Rongming Hall.

She caught up to the matriarch and said, “Mother, let me see you off.”

The matriarch paused at Jing Xi’s voice, waiting a few moments.

They walked side by side beneath the corridor.

Jing Xi wasted no pleasantries and asked directly, “Mother, what did you mean by what you said at the banquet?”

The matriarch knew this was what Jing Xi had come for. She was old and walked with difficulty, leaning on her cane, treading slowly under the moonlight that filtered through the corridor.

She spoke carefully but clearly, “If life can no longer go on, that is another matter. But if it can, then that is best. Changzhou is cold in nature. Do you think he can live harmoniously with just anyone? Xiaoyue is someone who can live peacefully with him. Why hold a grudge over the past? The alliance with the Li family fell through, but I never took it to heart. Why should you bear resentment even to this day?”

Jing Xi replied, “I bear no resentment. I simply cannot tolerate wicked, deceitful people entering the household.”

They were no more than schemers, only skin and bones with no true worth.

She had seen many such women back in the palace—various kinds, all with corrupted hearts. Beyond their charms used to seduce their lords, what was there to admire?

“Wicked and deceitful?” The matriarch scoffed coldly, striking her cane hard. “Why speak so harshly? She’s just a foolish woman. You hold her in such high regard?”

“Su Yiqi, the gate of the Duke of Dingguo’s residence needs no one’s support. When Xie Xiu married you, you knew you were not wronged. The Xie family does not need an heir’s marriage alliance. If a strong alliance can be made, all the better; if not, what harm is done? When young, one pursues ideals. When older, one seeks peace. I am at that age now, having seen much. Xiaoyue is a pitiable person. You truly need not treat her so harshly.”

“Pitiable? What is pitiable about her climbing to a high branch?”

The matriarch leaned on her cane with one hand, holding a string of prayer beads in the other, glancing at Jing Xi. “That branch she climbed is a joke. She does not even have proper clothes to maintain face. Not a single person in the Duke’s household truly regards her as one of the Xie family.”

She shook her head with a sigh, unwilling to argue further. “It’s said a gentleman judges deeds, not heart. She at least gave you two years’ worth of peace. Even if it’s just for appearances, that is true filial piety.”

The matriarch was a generation older, and Jing Xi could not argue with her. She fell silent, unwilling even to keep up appearances any longer, saying only, “Mother, please walk slowly. Your daughter-in-law will not see you off.”

Born a princess and spoiled beyond measure, Jing Xi’s temper was naturally strong. The matriarch had long known this.

Seeing Jing Xi’s attitude, she was not angry but smiled. “Look at your stubborn temper; you get upset just from a few words. Only Xie Linxu’s wife can put up with you.”

Jing Xi’s face flushed at this remark, wanting to retort but found herself speechless. In the end, she turned away in embarrassment.

The matriarch shook her head and sighed, saying nothing more.

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Tonight was the Mid-Autumn Festival. The night curfew was lifted by imperial decree, allowing people to roam freely.

It was already past the hour of the Dog, yet the streets remained lively. After leaving the Xie residence, the group went to the busiest street in the capital, Chang’an Street.

The crowds did not thin, lanterns lit the night continuously, and from high above, the long street resembled a dragon weaving through the city.

The bluestone-paved road was packed with craftsmen selling rabbit-shaped lanterns. The small rabbits had bamboo frames covered with gauze, their eyes painted vermilion, swaying in the breeze as the vendors hawked their wares. Children clutched copper coins, competing to buy sugar paintings. Some toddlers wildly brandished carrot-shaped lanterns, recklessly running about. Young girls traveled in groups, their laughter scattered along the street.

Song Xingyue walked side by side with Xie Linxu. Nearby, Xie Jinfei and the two second-branch cousins bickered noisily. Along the way, Song Xingyue tried several times to speak privately with Xie Linxu but failed.

It seemed as though they were deliberately opposing her. No matter what she said, Xie Jinfei would interrupt repeatedly. Even Xie Linxu grew annoyed, frowning as he looked at her. “Your sister-in-law is speaking to me. Why do you keep interrupting?”

Xie Linxu wore a moon-white brocade outfit today. Under the moonlight, he looked dignified and otherworldly, like an exiled immortal. His gaze was cold and sharp, as if covered by a layer of frost when he looked at others.

Xie Jinfei feared her eldest brother; he was stricter than the Duke himself. A slight cold look was enough to unsettle her.

From this perspective, she truly admired Song Xingyue’s thick skin—no matter how her brother spoke to her, she pretended not to hear.

After Xie Jinfei was coldly reprimanded by Xie Linxu, she quieted down and dared not interrupt Song Xingyue again.

At last, Song Xingyue had time to chat casually with Xie Linxu.

Well, at least they were out. Even if it was noisy, it was better than staying in.

Song Xingyue pointed at the rabbit lanterns by the street and said, “Changzhou, buy a few lanterns. They’re so pretty.”

Xie Jinfei chatted with her cousins while eavesdropping on their conversation. She was about to interrupt and belittle Song Xingyue but remembered she had just been scolded by Xie Linxu and held back.

They were adults—playing with lanterns?

Her brother surely wouldn’t agree.

Sure enough, Xie Linxu said, “Those are children’s toys. You are already eighteen.”

Xie Jinfei thought, of course, someone like her brother wouldn’t let her play with such things.

But Song Xingyue was persistent. “Oh, come on. Look at the street—everyone’s carrying them. It’s just one lantern. Why should only children play with them? Mid-Autumn Festival is about the festivity, that’s all.”

Xie Jinfei thought Song Xingyue was good at coaxing people, but her brother wouldn’t fall for it. She often tried to act coquettish with Xie Linxu, but he always shooed her away with a cold face.

Still, as they walked, they reached the stall selling lanterns.

Shou Yuan took out a coin purse and bought four lanterns in total. Song Xingyue took one, and Shou Yuan handed the other three to the other young ladies.

Xie Jinfei awkwardly accepted a lantern, then after a while muttered, “So it turns out brother is someone who judges by appearances.”

It wasn’t that coaxing didn’t work—it was that coaxing him didn’t work!

Shou Yuan found her remark strange and grumbled silently, ignoring her.

Thus, Xie Jinfei watched as her brother bought sugar figurines, sweet cakes, and little clay dolls for his wife.

Walking with Xie Linxu, Song Xingyue found everything new and exciting. She ate sugar figurines and sweet cakes. Beside her, Xie Linxu frowned repeatedly and couldn’t help but say, “You had a big dinner, then ate a mooncake after. If you keep eating, you won’t digest it tonight and will have trouble sleeping.”

Once before, Song Xingyue had eaten too much at night, causing indigestion and restlessness. Xie Linxu had reproached her, and she had sighed plaintively, “Changzhou, I’m so full, it’s uncomfortable, I can’t sleep.”

Xie Linxu said, “Eat until you’re seventy percent full. Haven’t you eaten before? Why stuff yourself to be comfortable?”

Song Xingyue felt aggrieved, “I wasn’t stuffed. I just didn’t know why I felt so uncomfortable later at night.”

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Xie Linxu disliked hearing her make excuses. In the end, he frowned and had someone bring her digestion pills. After taking them, Song Xingyue tossed and turned in bed and baked a few cakes before finally falling asleep. That night’s ordeal caused both of them to sleep poorly.

Hearing Xie Linxu’s admonition reminded Song Xingyue of past events. She smiled awkwardly, put away the sweet cakes, and stopped eating.

The group wandered the street until they came to a well-known tavern on Chang’an Street.

Fengxiang Tower was a century-old establishment, famed since the previous dynasty.

Just then, a group of young gentlemen, having finished drinking, emerged in small groups.

They walked together, their forms showing signs of having drunk. The young men’s laughter was full of youthful spirit and joy.

Song Xingyue looked up, and in that single glance, she felt her blood rush to her head, making her dizzy.

He was looking at her, too.

The young man wore a black long robe. His eyes were like bright stars, pupils like drops of lacquer, full of reckless charm. Two years in the northern border had made his features colder than before, his skin less pale than in the capital, more composed and restrained. Yet his youthful vigor remained unmistakable.

They exchanged a single glance that felt as if they had traveled countless miles and years to meet.

Song Xingyue looked away first.

When she looked at him, she could only barely restrain her emotions, never revealing them.

To him, she was just a stranger.

And could only ever be a stranger.

Ji Jianyun also carelessly withdrew his gaze, as if seeing an irrelevant person.

He resumed laughing and talking with his companions, no longer looking at them, passing by without a second glance.

His two friends were close to him and knew Song Xingyue and their relationship. Once they were far enough away, one finally asked, “Mingyan, are you alright?”

Everyone knew how good their past relationship had been. But after he went to fight in the northern border and returned, she had become another man’s wife. How could he be at ease?

Ji Jianyun’s smile vanished completely. His thin lips pressed into a sharp line, yet he still smiled lightly. “What could be wrong with me?”

Was he the one who should have a problem?

She acted as if nothing had happened. Why should he?

Though he thought this, his hand reached again for the wine flask, trying to drown the woman’s image from his mind. But even after a deep drink, her face lingered stubbornly.

Two years.

Two years had passed.

That face had flashed through his mind every day and night, fading then sharpening again with just that one glance.

His friends saw his indifference and said, “Hey, I heard she’s not doing well in the Xie family. She lost you and climbed to a higher branch. She’ll regret it. Don’t hold on to her goodness. She’s just a sycophant. Why bother? Young love is like the wind—let it go. You have military honors now, a bright future. You can marry whoever you want…”

Ji Jianyun shot a glance at him. Seeing his expression, the man dared not continue, only saying, “Alright, I said it. You don’t have to like it.”

The three said no more and parted ways near their carriages.

Ji Jianyun watched them leave but then got down from his carriage.

His attendant hurried after him, asking, “Young master, where are you going?”

Without turning back, Ji Jianyun returned to Chang’an Street. The attendant sighed repeatedly but followed him.