The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 202: Settling Accounts After the Autumn Harvest
Xie Yunxuan was shocked by his insolence.
He kicked the table leg angrily, "Enough."
"Really enough?"
Xie Yunzhen looked skeptical, "Are you going to hand them over yourself, or should I check?"
Xie Yunxuan put his hands on his hips, taking deep breaths, "Can you be reasonable?"
"So there’s more."
Xie Yunzhen got up and leisurely walked towards the shelf holding the scrolls.
His posture showed that he truly meant to check them.
Xie Yunxuan’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly followed along, "Don’t mess with my things."
"You think it’s reasonable to paint my wife?"
Xie Yunxuan was about to go crazy, "At that time she didn’t know you, she wasn’t your wife!"
"I’m settling scores after the act, any problem with that?"
Xie Yunxuan was too angry to speak.
Those portraits were made previously, he didn’t fear outsiders seeing them.
Since Mingzhu came of age and got entangled with his older brother, he stopped secretly painting.
He only occasionally took out past portraits to reminisce, was this excessive?
Xie Yunzhen gently brushed aside the person blocking the shelf, his sharp gaze scanning the rack.
He meticulously observed the placement, the box materials holding the scrolls...
Reaching out a hand, he took a new scroll.
Xie Yunxuan wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.
In the portrait, it was still Mingzhu, differing from the earlier painting, this time her features were carefully depicted.
She leaned on the window, her gaze vacant, unclear what she was thinking.
Her delicate hands casually hung outside the window, her body soft, a posture that elders would admonish.
Even each strand of hair was painted with remarkable realism.
"Need me to continue searching?"
By this point, blocking was futile.
Xie Yunxuan energetically took a few boxes down from the shelf, placing them heavily on the table before Xie Yunzhen.
"Satisfied now?"
Xie Yunzhen calmly sat back in the chair, inspecting them one by one.
The more he looked, the colder his expression became.
One of them depicted Mingzhu asleep on the table...
"She sees you as a brother, and this is how you spy on her?"
Xie Yunxuan dryly replied, "Not spying."
He watched openly!
Yet faced with his brother’s cold gaze, he dared not utter these words.
He cleared his throat with a fist against his lips.
"This is all there is, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do."
Xie Yunzhen rolled up the paintings, commanding a Hidden Guard to send them to his study.
He warned Xie Yunxuan, "From now on, you are forbidden to paint her, or even think of her."
Xie Yunxuan was choked up.
"You can seize my paintings, but can you control my mind?"
Xie Yunzhen remained silent, simply staring at Xie Yunxuan expressionlessly, his dark eyes calculating.
His distinct fingers tapped the tabletop.
Again and again.
It was as if the tapping was on Xie Yunxuan’s body, making him feel suffocated.
In the end, he was the first to concede.
He paced to the desk, his eyes carrying a bitter smile.
"Whether you’re my brother or she marries Yuan Changan or another man, once she’s married, I won’t disturb her, nor reveal my feelings, placing her in the public’s crosshairs, subjected to rumors and slander."
Xie Yunxuan felt somewhat defeated.
Perhaps Mother was right, his feelings for Mingzhu weren’t so deep.
Why didn’t he, like his brother, regardless of everything, try to win Mingzhu back?
Now that Mingzhu is married, he feels uneasy but can manage his emotions.
Compared to his brother’s obsession, his feelings for Mingzhu don’t seem so profound.
Xie Yunxuan began to doubt himself.
Even suspecting that the men of the Xie family’s fickleness might have been inherited by him.
Just thinking about it made him feel uneasy.
Xie Yunzhen seemed satisfied with his realization, "Don’t cause trouble for Mingzhu."
"I won’t!"
Xie Yunxuan gritted his teeth slightly.
She was someone he always held dear; how could he bear to see Mingzhu hurt!
He snapped back, "If you don’t believe me, then banish me from the Xie family, and I’ll stay far away, never to be seen again!"
After all, Xie Yunzhen had used this tactic before!
He sent him to the border to reward the troops, under the guise of paving the way for him.
And the result?
When he returned, everything had changed!
Anger was evident in Xie Yunxuan’s eyes, yet Xie Yunzhen was oblivious.
Maintaining a lukewarm disposition.
He fiddled with the jade pendant at his waist, "How’s your scholarly work, bring me your recent strategy essays."
The change in topic was too swift, Xie Yunxuan was momentarily stunned.
A nuanced expression crossed his face, "You want to guide me?"
Though others praised his extensive learning and literary talent, he hadn’t entered the officialdom and lacked depth in his perspective.
If his brother guided him, it would be beneficial.
Xie Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, "Otherwise, what do you think I came for, truly for trouble?"
Xie Yunxuan had indeed thought so.
After all, his brother was undeniably petty.
No longer dwelling on the earlier matters.
He respectfully handed the strategy essay to Xie Yunzhen, standing before him as if receiving instructions from a teacher.
Xie Yunzhen frowned, "Don’t hover around me."
Xie Yunxuan eased his mood, believing his brother still cared for him.
He was about to pour a cup of tea for him to read leisurely.
Only to hear him say, "Blocking the light."
Xie Yunxuan: "..."
He took a few deep breaths before restraining his urge to lash out.
Sitting at the desk, coldly staring at Xie Yunzhen.
Awaiting his critique.
Xie Yunxuan studied diligently, his previous travel years outside being not in vain.
Though the strategy essays had minor flaws, the questions posed and solutions offered were grounded.
Not superficial, which was his advantage.
Xie Yunzhen read swiftly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
Xie Yunxuan couldn’t see his gaze, unable to fathom his thoughts from his expression.
Only anxiously awaiting judgment.
"Very good."
Xie Yunzhen took a sip of tea, pointing out the shortcomings to Xie Yunxuan.
Xie Yunxuan was still in a daze over the compliment.
A brother who can actually praise!
Seeing his dissatisfaction, Xie Yunxuan composed himself, focused on listening to his guidance.
In different positions, the perspectives on issues differ.
Compared to Xie Yunzhen, Xie Yunxuan was still quite immature in understanding government paths.
The more he listened, the more focused he became.
By the end of the discussion on strategy, an entire hour had passed.
Xie Yunzhen stated, "Next year’s examination, you must succeed at the first attempt."
He glanced at Xie Yunxuan, "Otherwise I’ll truly expel you from the Xie family, the Duke Mansion won’t support incompetents."
As for those byblows, they must be sent away in the future, otherwise, they’ll be a hassle for Mingzhu.
Xie Yunxuan learned a lot, not confronting him now.
He was confident about next year’s examination.
With considerations, he honestly voiced his plans, "When the time comes, I’d like to take an official position outside."
Xie Yunzhen curled his lips, "Mm, acceptable."
Next year, court situations will drastically change, it’s uncertain how long until stabilization.
Then, surely some powers will be purged.
The transition is an opportunity for many.
Yunxuan has outside experience, if he achieves political success, the future path will be smoother.
