Xie Wanqing saw the situation, and she gave a soft hum. In truth, she was quite unconvinced, though she only dared to grumble secretly in her heart and didn’t dare to say more.

Instead, Xie YanYu glanced at her, scrutinizing slightly, and said, "You have been married for some time, aren’t you worried about yourself..." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Stop!" Xie Wanqing quickly interrupted him, clasping her hands together in a negotiating manner, "Can we stop bringing this up?"

Xie YanYu’s gaze paused, recalling the things he heard on the day his sister returned to her parents’ home for the third-day visit after marriage. His expression gradually turned somber. After a while, he slowly nodded.

As an unmarried girl, Xie Ruyu wouldn’t be told such matters by the Yang Family, so she couldn’t hear anything amiss in their conversation.

After finishing a cup of tea, Xie YanYu stood up, looking at his sister, he said, "Let’s go."

Xie Wanqing knew he had something to say to her, so she obediently got up to bid farewell to her cousin.

By then, the sky had become increasingly dusky, with red clouds painting half the sky. The siblings walked side by side on the bluestone path, their long shadows overlapping. Xie Wanqing was reminded of her childhood.

They were four years apart. From a young age, Xie YanYu had always been steady in temperament. At five or six years old, he could already quote classics and discuss rules and principles like a little adult.

Xie Wanqing was the first girl in the mansion, receiving endless pampering, but back then, their father was young. As the heir to the Xie Family, his focus was on the court. Their mother was a virtuous assistant, naturally busy as well. She could be said to have grown up on her brother’s back.

As she became sensible, she grew closer to her brother than to their parents. A few years later, she met Lu Ziyuan and thought he was perfect in every way. Before the age of ten, not worrying about propriety between boys and girls, she roamed the Capital City with Lu Ziyuan.

After turning ten, they were betrothed, becoming an engaged couple, and were even more justifiably always together, hardly considering their elder brother’s worrying parent mentality...

Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing suddenly felt a bit guilty.

She tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her, smiling as she asked, "During those years when I chased after Lu Ziyuan every day, were you, my brother, almost driven to frustration because of me?"

"That’s all old history," Xie YanYu turned his head slightly to look at his sleeve, and said calmly, "What’s the point of bringing it up?"

Indeed...

Xie Wanqing also did not know what came over her, she inexplicably started recalling the past.

When she was very young, she judged people by their looks. Before meeting Lu Ziyuan, her brother was, in her eyes, the most handsome person in the world. After meeting Lu Ziyuan, she realized that the term ’handsome’ was multifaceted.

In short, facing Lu Ziyuan’s face, which seemed attractive even when frowning, she felt she could eat an extra bowl of rice.

"Changqing is not in the Capital, why don’t you return home to stay? Father and Mother often miss you," Xie YanYu said, "Duke Pei Mansion is managed by the Eldest Princess, taking a short break at home shouldn’t interfere with anything."

Xie Wanqing was indeed tempted. She thought for a moment but still shook her head, "Xuan’er is in the midst of marriage negotiations. As the eldest sister-in-law, I cannot retreat to my parents’ home for leisure."

Xie YanYu paused slightly, "Is it still that person?"

"..." Xie Wanqing hesitated for a moment, carefully observing his expression, but unfortunately couldn’t discern anything, so she simply said, "Yes."

Xie YanYu turned to look at her.

"Those two cousin girls who have come seeking asylum are indeed interested in Zhao Rui," Xie Wanqing explained, "But the Zhao family has said, that’s all a one-sided wish, and they definitely won’t be kept as concubines for their son."

With Princess Duan Yang’s status laid before them, even if they were given the courage, the Zhao family dared not deceive her into marrying her daughter off, then turn their backs on them.

What’s more...

Xie Wanqing paused, perceiving that her brother might not understand the insistence on the Zhao family, she continued to explain, "It was the Commandery Princess who has taken a liking to Zhao Rui."

After receiving the rose, Zhao Rui visited several times to invite Pei Yuxuan out for excursions, which she attended with pleasure and returned in high spirits. It seemed they genuinely developed some feelings, now they were in the process of matching the eight characters; once matching, they would set a date and make the engagement official.

The image of the Little Princess, gleaming with light talking about her brother on that day, still lingered in front of her eyes, yet now she had already begun discussing marriage with someone else.

Xie Wanqing was in the midst of her emotions when she subconsciously tilted her head, just in time to see her brother’s expression slightly freeze at the mention of ’the person I have taken a liking to.’

Her heart suddenly began to pound, "My brother, you wouldn’t have feelings for the Commandery Princess, would you..."

"Wanwan!" Xie YanYu reprimanded, "Concerning a lady’s reputation, do not speak recklessly."

"..." Xie Wanqing gritted her teeth, smiling, "You are just being stubborn, I’ve long noticed you are somewhat different towards the Commandery Princess, yet you refuse to admit it!"