Chapter 430: Chapter 414: Urging Marriage
As the New Year approached, West State City was bustling with trade and commerce, but Xie Jue wasn’t keen on joining the crowds since there was nothing much for him to buy. Fengyu had already prepared all the food and necessities for the celebration. Xie Jue had brought a set of jewelry for Fengyu from Jiaozhou, and Xie Xun wasn’t fond of shopping either. He wasn’t particular about food, clothing, or living conditions, nor did he pretend to be refined. Apart from basic needs, Xie Xun had almost no extra expenses throughout the year. Fengyu jokingly said that he was easy to care for, unlike Xie Jue and Fengyu, who were particular about everything.
These days when they went out, they didn’t dine outside; they would always return home to have meals with Fengyu. Today, Fengyu had gone to the chamber of commerce early and wasn’t coming home for lunch, so Xie Jue and Xie Xun took Ruyi to the restaurant to eat.
Xie Xun and Xie Jue took Ruyi out to play, roaming the streets of West State without needing a large entourage. Only Ying Qi followed them discreetly. Everyone in West State City recognized Xie Xun, and many citizens gathered at the city gates to watch when he entered the city. Now, seeing the brothers bringing Ruyi to eat, the restaurant, which was owned by Fengyu, quickly invited them to Fengyu’s exclusive private room.
After being frightened by a sugar-coated hawthorn, Ruyi listlessly lay in Xie Jue’s arms, looking sickly. When they sat down, Xie Xun tried to tease him, but he couldn’t lift his spirits. As Xie Xun and Xie Jue focused on their conversation, little Ruyi glanced longingly at the sugar-coated hawthorn on the side. He licked his lips, wanting to eat, yet was hesitant due to his previous fright.
Xie Jue and Xie Xun, chatting casually, didn’t miss Ruyi’s expression, yet neither offered him the sugar-coated hawthorn.
The dishes in West State were quite salty and flavorful. Xie Xun specifically instructed the shopkeeper to use less oil and salt, making the dishes a bit more bland. Xie Jue also instructed the kitchen to prepare a bowl of bone porridge for Ruyi without any salt.
Ruyi couldn’t sit still; he jumped down, holding a small windmill Xie Xun bought, playing as he walked. After a while, feeling tired, he glanced longingly at the sugar-coated hawthorn. He quietly shuffled over, hesitantly reached out his chubby little hand to take a stick of sugar-coated hawthorn, blew on it, and licked it.
Xie Jue, "?"
Xie Xun, "?"
The brothers couldn’t comprehend the thought process of a one-year-old child. The fact that he even blew on it was surprising. Although the indoor temperature was slightly higher than outside, the sugar-coated hawthorn still stuck a bit to his tongue. This time, Ruyi didn’t cry. After pulling it off, he blew on it again, licked it, and happily ate it.
Xie Xun found this increasingly delightful. What a courageous child, desiring something so much that even after being frightened to tears, he’d still reach out for it, prepared for another possible upset, cautiously exploring without giving up. Xie Xun’s heart softened. Though he had never seen his older brother as a child, he imagined he must have been just like Ruyi.
No wonder everyone coveted him; who wouldn’t want such a well-behaved son!
"Second Brother, how about I take Ruyi back to Ningzhou for a few years?" Xie Xun proposed, feeling tempted.
Xie Jue, "Don’t even think about it!"
"Why not?"
"Because I’m the father, and you’re just the uncle."
Xie Xun was indignant, "I underestimated that!"
If Xie Xun raised him, Ruyi would most likely grow into a little tyrant, which would give him quite a headache!
"Ruyi, is the sugar-coated hawthorn tasty?"
Ruyi nodded. The fruit was a bit sour, but the syrup was very sweet, something all children liked. Seeing him run around licking the sugar-coated hawthorn felt somewhat dangerous to Xie Jue, so he held Ruyi on his lap, "Sit down while eating, don’t move around."
Ruyi complied, swinging his legs carelessly. Xie Xun watched him and thought about his second brother’s lifelong affairs, "Second Brother, are there any ladies you fancy in Jiaozhou or Ningzhou?"
Xie Jue’s voice turned cold, "No!"
Xie Xun rested his chin on his hand, engaging in casual conversation, "Ayu and I have discussed getting married next autumn."
"Hmm."
It was a naturally progressive matter, and Xie Jue’s response was lukewarm, as he could guess what Xie Xun was about to say.
"Seniority has its order. If you don’t marry, how can I?" Xie Xun stated confidently, "What kind of woman do you like? Do you want Xue Yu to keep an ear out for you? She probably knows many noble women from high-ranking clans. Xue Yu mentioned that the ladies of the clans in Jiaozhou and Jinzhou had discreetly asked her to introduce their daughters to you."
Xie Jue silently sipped his tea, saying nothing.
Xie Xun continued, "The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry has some female generals as well. If you’re fond of valiant women from military families, General Xu Zhou knows them well and can make introductions."
In short, whether curvaceous or slender, whatever kind of woman second brother prefers, they can find it, even a heavenly beauty if needed.
"No hurry!"
"I’m in a hurry!" Xie Xun said, bewildered by the lack of urgency, "You’re already twenty-three!"
Perhaps due to the turbulent times, it was common for young men of the Yanyang Clan to marry late in recent years, especially those from military families. It seemed no one worried about their marital affairs except for those engaged early on.
"Xue Yu has sent portraits of many eligible young women from Jiaozhou and Jinzhou to Ayu’s desk, hoping Ayu would help choose one for you. She found it awkward to come out personally, so she tasked Ayu with it." Xie Xun had also seen the portraits on the desk — over a dozen portraits, all featuring ladies proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea. Xue Yu had exercised discretion, filtering out unsuitable ones early on. Those remaining were truly exceptional, excellently disciplined young women. "What do you like? Want to go back and have a look?"
Xie Xun’s purpose for taking his second brother shopping today was to discuss this matter. Ayu felt embarrassed to bring it up, leaving it to Xie Xun to speak.
Xie Jue took a deep breath, his expression slightly cold as he looked out at the falling snow. What kind of woman did he like?
"Why get married?" Xie Jue asked, "What’s the benefit of marriage?"
Xie Xun’s eyes brightened; this was something he could speak about, "I like Ayu. Whenever I see her, I want to smile. Thinking about her makes me smile. Whatever she does, I find it cute and interesting. No matter where I am, I’m concerned about her. No matter how hard or exhausting things are, as long as I see her, fatigue and troubles vanish. Even if I’m in danger, thinking of Ayu gives me endless courage. Although we seldom meet, each reunion is filled with joy."
"I don’t like worrying about others, prefer solitude, and don’t want anyone disturbing my life," Xie Jue said, "This topic, let’s stop here!"
"Are you planning to stay single forever?"
"I call the shots at home. There’s no interference from clan elders, and I already have a son. You might as well consider me widowed young." Xie Jue was growing impatient, reminding Xie Xun again, "This topic, ends here!"
"Just a bit more, Second Brother, reconsider!" Xie Xun couldn’t stand the thought of his brother being lonely, "Surely there’s an ideal lady for you?"
Xie Xun thought, though the three brothers went to war early and avoided women, with few friends in the capital, the eldest had found Feng Shu, and he had found Fengyu. Surely the second brother could find someone he liked too.
Xie Jue coldly laughed, "Third time’s the charm, Xie Zhixu. If you insist on investigating to the end, fine... I like someone taller and better at fighting than me. If you can find someone like that, I’ll reconsider, alright?"
Xie Xun, "?"