Chapter 527: Why Aren’t You Wearing Clothes
Chapter 527: Chapter 527: Why Aren’t You Wearing Clothes
The moment they heard the clan elders were forcing them to attend a matchmaking banquet.
Xie Mingxu immediately petitioned the Emperor to repair the Imperial Mausoleum. The task would take him three to four months, and he would only be able to return briefly for the New Year.
Xie Ming’an took it even further, insisting that a strange murder case had occurred in Shu State.
At a friend’s request, he was heading to Shu State to investigate.
He wouldn’t even be back for the New Year.
Before leaving, he monopolized Shen Ningning for two whole days, taking his little sister out for fun. He only departed yesterday.
With both of them gone, only Xu Jingxi was left.
He currently held no official post and was still waiting to graduate from the National Academy, so there was no escape for him.
So the clan elders simply cornered him, intending to settle his marriage first.
Crucially, both Xie Suzhi and his own father, Xie Dizhi, approved of the plan.
Daughters could be pampered forever, but sons needed to get the hell out and start their own families.
Shen Ningning covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Third Brother, you’ll just have to bear it. Find me a new sister-in-law soon!"
Xu Jingxi sighed in utter resignation.
He already had a plan to just go through the motions.
...
It was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a most auspicious date.
Xu Jingxi was dressed in lavender-blue robes, looking every bit the elegant and refined gentleman.
The one the clan elders had arranged for him to meet today was Miss Meng, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of War.
Miss Meng was seventeen, with a lovely, full face and peach-blossom eyes that seemed to be perpetually smiling, giving her an air of joyful friendliness.
Her face flushed red the moment she saw Xu Jingxi.
"Third Young Master Xie..." she called softly.
Xu Jingxi clasped his hands in a formal greeting.
The two of them walked near a pavilion in the bamboo grove, surrounded by a scene of verdant green and white snow.
This was a public bamboo garden, a perfect spot for appreciating the winter scenery.
A small, babbling brook also ran through the garden, adding a touch of elegance to the scenery.
"Third Young Master Xie, may I ask what you enjoy doing in your spare time?"
"Reading," Xu Jingxi answered simply.
Unexpectedly, this made Miss Meng even more pleased with him.
"Reading is wonderful. My four older brothers all hold scholarly titles, and my father is particularly fond of erudite men like you."
A blush crept onto Miss Meng’s face as she spoke.
She introduced herself, "I mostly enjoy embroidery and playing the zither. I’m not skilled in much else. As the youngest at home, my older brothers always dote on me."
"I hear Princess Funing is also quite pampered at home. As a brother yourself, Third Young Master Xie, you must understand, right?"
Miss Meng’s tone was somewhat probing.
Xu Jingxi’s tone was mild, and it was clear he hadn’t given it much thought.
"It’s alright if you don’t know how to do much. The most important thing in life is to be happy."
’It wasn’t as if he intended to marry anytime soon.’
’Even if he did marry, he wouldn’t require his wife to do anything.’
’Xu Jingxi had never even considered what sort of wife he wanted.’
’Perhaps someone dignified and poised would suffice.’
’Nothing else mattered.’
’No, that’s not right. There was one very important condition: she had to be good to Shen Ningning.’
But his words sent Miss Meng’s heart fluttering.
’Xu Jingxi was so gentle and handsome, with the warm air of a scholar as perfect as jade.’
’He was also incredibly talented—a genius the Emperor himself had praised on three separate occasions!’
’He was also the sole son of the second branch of the Xie family. His future prospects were limitless.’
’Most importantly, the Xie Mansion had no matriarch. If she married into the family, she would only have to deal with her young sister-in-law, Princess Funing, who seemed like she would be easy to get along with.’
’There would be no difficult mother-in-law to deal with. If she married him first and became the Third Young Madam while the eldest and second young masters of the Xie family were still single, she would be the one to manage the entire Xie household.’
Xu Jingxi continued to calmly admire the snowy bamboo grove, wondering when he could make a polite excuse to go home.
Little did he know, Miss Meng had already decided he was the perfect candidate for a husband!
"Third Young Master Xie, let’s go take a look over there... Ah!" Pointing to a spot nearby, she pretended not to watch her step. Her ankle twisted, and she fell straight into Xu Jingxi’s arms.
Miss Meng’s face flushed red, her eyelashes trembling. "I’m so sorry... I didn’t mean to."
Xu Jingxi steadied her. He instinctively wanted to frown but suppressed the urge.
"As long as you’re all right." He released her.
Miss Meng was already feeling giddy.
’Such a handsome and gentle man.’
Just then, a rock was suddenly thrown into the stream next to Xu Jingxi.
SPLASH! Water sprayed up, soaking the hem of his robe.
Miss Meng gasped and looked to the side.
Two mischievous little boys were chasing each other, tossing rocks into the water.
After soiling his robe, the two just made a face, giggled, and ran off.
"Oops, sorry!"
"These children are so...!" She was about to lose her temper but stopped herself when she remembered Xu Jingxi was present.
"Third Young Master Xie, are you all right? Your clothes are soaked! You must be freezing!" Her eyes shifted as an idea came to her. "Why don’t I help you to my carriage? You can dry your clothes by the warmer."
Xu Jingxi had come on horseback today.
Hearing her offer, his frosty expression was a clear rejection.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Meng. There’s a Warm Pavilion over there for guests to rest. I’ll go take care of this. You should head back first."
With that, he lifted his soaking robe and strode toward the Warm Pavilion.
Miss Meng felt a pang of disappointment. She wanted to follow him but feared it would be too forward.
’I’ll just have to arrange another meeting.’
Inside the Warm Pavilion, Xu Jingxi removed his outer robe, revealing a toned upper body.
He draped the damp robe over a screen.
Someone pushed the door open and came in.
Xu Jingxi thought it was his attendant. "Ah Ren, go back to the mansion now and fetch me a fresh robe."
No one answered him.
Xu Jingxi paused in the middle of adjusting his trousers. When he looked back, he was shocked to see that his robe had been taken from the screen!
Startled, he heard the door swing open and slam shut.
Xu Jingxi’s brows knitted together. He immediately pushed open the window in front of him.
He saw Liang Yici, who had stolen his robe and was about to make a run for it.
"Liang Yici!" Xu Jingxi roared. "What are you doing with my robe?"
Liang Yici turned back and glared at him hatefully.
"You know full well what you’ve done. Taking your robe this time is just a warning. If you ever again have those unnatural feelings for your sister, what I do next won’t be as simple as just embarrassing you."
"Third Young Master Xie, you can figure out how to get back on your own!" With that, she scrambled away.
"Get back here!" Xu Jingxi yelled, but she paid him no mind.
In a flash, Liang Yici had vanished from sight.
Xu Jingxi pressed the bridge of his nose. ’Has she gone mad?’
’It seems Liang Yici had sent his attendant, Ah Ren, away on some pretext.’
’If I go back like this...’
Xu Jingxi looked down at his bare upper body.
’I’ll surely be seen as some sort of degenerate.’
He could already imagine the sting of the whip from his father, Second Master Xie.
But the bamboo garden was nearly empty at this hour, and he couldn’t find anyone to ask for help.
Just as he was pondering what to do,
he saw two people approaching in the distance.
One of them was not just familiar; he knew her well.
Ye Shangyi’s imperious voice drifted over. "Let me make one thing clear: don’t even think I’m going to marry you. The only reason I’m here is to humor my grandfather."
The young man beside her was too intimidated to speak, merely nodding with a forced smile.
Ye Shangyi’s hair was elaborately decorated with pearls and gems, and her face radiated the confidence of someone who had always been doted upon.
"I’m incredibly lazy. If I were to marry you, you’d have to help me with my hair and clothes morning, noon, and night. I sometimes have trouble waking up, so I won’t be paying morning respects to your mother."
"Oh, and after we’re married, I’ll need to buy four new outfits and four sets of jewelry every month. Also, if I don’t like your family members, don’t expect me to respect them."
"And most importantly, children. As long as our relationship is unstable, if I say no kids, I mean no kids. I’m absolutely terrified of pain."
"And you have to spend at least fifteen days a month with me back at the Ye Family residence."
Her barrage of demands had long since scared the young man pale.
This was practically like marrying a matriarch he’d have to worship!
The young man immediately clasped his hands and made an excuse.
"Er... Miss Ye, I just remembered I have some urgent business at home. I must be going."
He beat a hasty retreat.
Ye Shangyi watched his retreating back and huffed. "I scare off every single one. Let’s see who dares marry me now."
Just then, she thought she heard someone call her name.
"Ye Shangyi." The voice was cool and remote, seeming to come from far away, yet also as if it were right beside her.
She jumped.
She looked all around but saw no one.
There was only the bamboo grove in the snow, casting faint shadows under the dim sunlight.
’A ghost?!’
Ye Shangyi’s face went pale.
Just then, the voice sounded again.
"Ye Shangyi, I’m over here."
This time, she followed the sound and finally located its source.
Xu Jingxi’s upper body was fair and well-built. The lines of his collarbones and muscles were lean and smooth, yet full of strength.
’He always looked so slender in his robes. Who knew he’d be this toned underneath?’
Ye Shangyi stared, dumbfounded.
Leaning against the windowsill, Xu Jingxi frowned. "Come over here. I need your help."
Ye Shangyi snapped back to reality, let out a shriek, and covered her eyes. "You’re disgusting! How dare you be shirtless in broad daylight!"
Xu Jingxi: ...