novelraw Chapter 756 - 735: Marriage Affairs
Chapter 756 - 735: Marriage Affairs
When Xie Xun returned to the palace, Fengyu was playing spinning tops with Ruyi and Mingzhu.
Xie Jue would be leaving for Sannan in half a month and had already begun preparing. Meanwhile, Ruyi and Mingzhu were staying in the palace under the care of Xie Xun and Fengyu. Ever since Xie Jue acknowledged Mingzhu, she had been living in Prince Yan Mansion, though occasionally she would want to visit Lan Ningzhen and stay at the Lan Family for a few days. Lan Ningzhen also thought it would be good for Mingzhu, now a Princess, to learn Beining’s cultural customs, so she entrusted Fengyu with her upbringing.
Fengyu naturally didn’t mind. With Mingzhu and Ruyi around, her days were filled with activity. The Changshou Palace was lively with laughter, and as Xie Xun stepped inside the hall, he was immediately greeted by Ruyi’s excited cheers.
Ruyi had won this round and was shouting gleefully, basking in Fengyu’s praise. Not one to take defeat lightly, Mingzhu insisted on another match. The two children were completely absorbed in their spinning top battle, so much so that they didn’t notice Xie Xun’s return to the palace.
As Fengyu saw him approach and planned to call for attention, Xie Xun chuckled, gestured for her to hold back, walked up to her, casually pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her lightly on the lips before turning his eager gaze toward the children playing.
He hadn’t bothered with this game since the age of four. Ruyi, on the other hand, was at the perfect age to be curious about everything, utterly engrossed in the play. Xie Xun didn’t interrupt their fun and instead, arm around Fengyu, led her into the hall.
This kind of ordinary domestic warmth was precisely what the palace lacked, and recently it had become Xie Xun’s favorite indulgence.
"Is Ruyi particularly mischievous? The attendants said you’ve been playing with him for an hour."
Fengyu, who naturally preferred peace and quiet, didn’t enjoy these games. If not for accompanying Ruyi and Mingzhu, she wouldn’t have even touched something so boring to her.
"It’s Mingzhu and Ruyi who are playing together. I’m just watching them from the side, so it’s not tiring. What about you? Is Second Brother still upset?" Fengyu knew that Xie Jue was still unsettled about Fang Chuning joining the diplomatic mission to Sannan. But she also understood that Xie Jue would only take his frustrations out on Xie Xun privately and wouldn’t start any conflict in the Jinluan Palace.
"Ignore him. Second Brother has been indulged since childhood. Everyone’s been spoiling him all along, and now he’s just a cocky little brat!"
Fengyu: "..."
Who exactly is the spoiled one here? Do you even realize how hypocritical you sound?
"Yes, yes, yes. Everything you said is absolutely right!" Fengyu couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the absurdity. Xie Xun lecturing about Xie Jue being spoiled—how utterly hilarious! She then said, "Today, the two Commandery Princesses from the Jingbei Royal Family came to the palace."
"The Third Princess and the Fourth Princess?"
"Mm. They brought me a chest of gemstones to apologize for losing their temper at the riding and archery field the other day, which embarrassed me. The two of them are very thoughtful. The gifts they pick are always perfect—truly clever young ladies." Fengyu chuckled softly.
"Ah, but what a shame. They’re naïve little rabbits and fell right into the trap you set for them, handing over that chest of gemstones. Clearly, you were just waiting for them to mess up. You’ve probably known for a while about the isolation they’ve faced at the Imperial College, haven’t you? You deliberately let the situation escalate, planning to give the noble families a lesson."
"And who was I doing it for?"
Xie Xun smirked cunningly. "The Empress reads the Emperor’s intentions with unparalleled accuracy."
Seeing him looking so smug and self-satisfied, Fengyu felt he deserved some disciplining. Unfortunately, these days, few could rein him in—for this Xie Xun was now the Emperor. With pointed wit, Fengyu remarked, "Lin Yunong fainted from anger after being caught in the crossfire that day. The Fourth Princess even took the chance to lash her with a whip. Didn’t Lord Lin file a complaint?"
She was referring to Lin Yunong’s father. As for Lin Helin, he surely wouldn’t trouble himself with petty disputes among his children.
"As luck would have it, Uncle did come to lodge a complaint. He accused you of lax oversight and of condoning the Beiman Woman’s aggressiveness. He asked you to keep them in line moving forward—after all, this is Beining’s territory, and those Beiman Women have gotten far too unruly, even bullying their own people." Xie Xun mimicked his uncle’s tone with near-perfect humor.
"Do you also think the Commandery Princesses are too unruly?" Fengyu’s tone carried a dangerous edge.
After years of knowing her, Xie Xun understood her temperament well. "You seem very fond of the two Commandery Princesses. Are you that willing to defend them and see them as friends?"
"Can’t I be friends with them?"
"I couldn’t be happier! More friends mean a richer, more colorful life for you. The two of them are clever and charming—if they can bring you joy every day, I’d even reward them for it. As for Yunong’s injuries, they’re not serious. I checked with Uncle, and he confirmed it’s only superficial. He actually told me not to worry and remarked that Yunong has been spoiled by her elders and could use a little discipline."
Since Lin Helin himself had said so, Xie Xun naturally didn’t pursue the matter further.
To him, Uncle’s complaints were nothing more than an elder venting frustrations—he’d listen, then leave the concerns behind.
Fengyu said, "Lin Helin is set to marry this summer. His engagement was relatively late. But has anyone been decided for Lin Yunong? I haven’t heard Mrs. Lin mention it."
"Now that you mention it, I haven’t heard anything either." Xie Xun seemed unconcerned and far more curious about the lady Lin Helin had chosen for himself than anything else.
Watching Xie Xun’s carefree demeanor, Fengyu felt a flicker of irritation, akin to holding precious treasure coveted by the whole world—except the treasure itself, oblivious to its worth, neglected its own rarity.
"Lin Yunong is already eighteen. Most noble women her age have their engagements arranged early. From engagement to marriage, it takes at least a year or two. Why has the Lin Family delayed arranging her betrothal?" Fengyu’s tone was as casual as idle chatter, but Xie Xun, slow to catch on, began to sense an underlying tension.
Ayu seemed upset!
Very passive-aggressively upset!
"How should I know why she isn’t engaged?" Xie Xun tried to extricate himself. "Since when did you care so much about the Lin Family? If you want to know, ask Aunt Xuan—she should have the answer."