Chapter 457: Chapter 441 Heart-to-Heart Big Brother
Xie Xun was infuriated by what Fang Chuning said, yet he saw his Second Brother pressing his fist to his lips, seeming as if he was laughing. Xie Xun had rarely seen Xie Jue laugh since childhood, so he was utterly bewildered.
Second Brother was immensely clever; why was he laughing when Fang Chuning said he liked foolish yet beautiful people?
His anger was mitigated when he saw Xie Jue laughing, like fire encountering ice, so Ruyi struggled down and ran to Xie Jue’s side, where he was picked up by him. The sweet potatoes in Fang Chuning’s plate were already cut open, releasing an enticing aroma. Ruyi, feeling tempted, licked his lips and looked at Xie Jue with longing eyes, pointing at the sweet potatoes, vividly expressing his desire to eat them through his gaze and gestures.
Fang Chuning smilingly pushed the sweet potatoes over, but Xie Jue blocked him, "You eat it; he has his own."
Why eat sweet potatoes, then?
Fang Chuning was not picky but had a bad habit; when injured, he didn’t like to eat and only wanted to drink. No matter how much he liked the food in front of him, he would lose his appetite, so his injuries, lighter than Xie Xun’s, healed more slowly. It was winter, and his bones were lazy, wishing only to lie down. But Xie Jue couldn’t stand his frail appearance and asked him what he liked to eat. Who would have thought he wanted sweet potatoes roasted by Xie Jue himself?
The very thing he had eaten to the point of nausea back then, injured now, he wanted it again.
Xie Xun took the sweet potato, cut it open, and started scooping it to feed Ruyi. The roasted sweet potato was fragrant and soft, which Ruyi loved immensely. He couldn’t wait for Xie Xun to feed him; he used his hand to scoop it up, even offering some to Xie Jue, feeding him a small piece with his chubby hands.
Xie Jue looked at his damp little hand and refused his son’s goodwill very coolly, taking a towel to wipe his hands. Seeing Xie Jue not eating, Ruyi fed it to Xie Xun instead.
Xie Xun, however, didn’t mind at all and was very supportive.
Ruyi laughed happily, stood up from Xie Jue’s arms, and reached out for Xie Xun to hold him. Xie Xun picked him up to feed, and watching his practiced actions, Fang Chuning was clearly not a stranger to feeding him.
Fang Chuning observed Xie Xun and Ruyi. If he took Ruyi out for a stroll, strangers would certainly think they were father and son, as Ruyi resembled the Xie family too much.
"When Duchess Marquis An Yuan helps you find a girl and you get engaged, I’ll definitely give you a grand gift," Xie Xun didn’t forget to talk about Fang Chuning’s engagement.
"Sure, when I get engaged, remember to gift me," Fang Chuning said leisurely. "Considering I’ve saved your life three times, giving me a mountain of gold and silver wouldn’t be too much, right?"
Xie Xun gritted his teeth, "Haven’t I saved you too? I’ve also taken an arrow for you."
"There’s still two lives left!"
Xie Xun, "..."
A debt of gratitude weighed over him, and Xie Xun felt a surge of anger, yet with a lack of confidence. Fang Chuning, in fact, had saved him many times. Xie Xun was a young lad when he first went to the battlefield—only fourteen, newly emerged from the opulent nest in the capital, passionate and reckless. With such a powerful brother, the former Young Marquis charged fearlessly, longing to be a great hero who killed enemies.
Marquis Zhenbei was truly ruthless, letting him rush and charge on his own, even while facing the stout cavalry and archers of Beiman. Xie Xun always led the charge, never daunted.
Fang Chuning joined the vanguard after Xie Xun was injured several times, always by his side, cutting down arrows aimed at him, blocking spears targeting him, protecting the Young Marquis, who knew little of the battlefield, through countless brushes with death—all saved by Fang Chuning.
"Who asked you to save me?" retorted Xie Xun ungratefully, truly believing that even without Fang Chuning, he wouldn’t have died just based on his martial prowess—at most, he’d have suffered a few injuries.
"After every battle, you’re covered in injuries, making your Second Brother unhappy for several days. What could I do?" Fang Chuning replied casually, "You got your thrill, I had to console him."
Xie Xun, "..."
Xie Jue frowned, "Why do you talk so much?"
"Second Brother, did you let him protect me?" Xie Xun asked in surprise. He hadn’t realized this at all, only wondering why Fang Chuning, who was in the Right Wing Camp, suddenly joined the vanguard.
"No!" Xie Jue coldly denied it.
Fang Chuning’s sudden move to the vanguard was also unexpected to Xie Jue. Initially, he hadn’t realized Fang Chuning went for Xie Xun. Fang Chuning first came to the Ningzhou Military Camp in the vanguard. During that time, the Right Wing Camp had no combat duties, and he wasn’t the main commander there; Fang Chuning, just like Xie Xun, was passionate and fierce, merely wanting to achieve meritorious deeds in the vanguard.
Therefore, whenever the vanguard had combat tasks, Xie Jue would be very anxious. The battlefield changed in an instant, and the vanguard faced Beiman’s cavalry, the strongest of the Beiman attack force.
On the surface, he remained calm, but every time he waited anxiously at the front line for the troops to triumph.
Only seeing Fang Chuning and Xie Xun safe and sound set his mind at ease.
It was only some time later that he understood the reason Fang Chuning joined the vanguard.
When Xie Xun first arrived at the military camp, in three battles, he was wounded three times. Marquis Zhenbei was both furious and distressed, telling Xie Zhang to talk to Xie Xun and advise him against being too aggressive.
Or suggest to Xie Xun to become a supply officer.
Xie Xun had a natural admiration for Xie Zhang and listened to him since childhood. If Xie Zhang said east, he would never go west—only that one time, he was very stubborn, insisting on staying in the vanguard.
Xie Jue didn’t like him getting injured frequently either, though his approach was not as gentle as Xie Zhang’s. He would pull him by the riverbank to lecture him. Xie Xun was stubborn and had a fiery temper, and during that period, the brothers’ relationship was very tense.
Xie Jue was emotionally restrained—he was afraid Xie Xun might have an accident on the battlefield, yet his approach was unconventional. Young Xie Xun couldn’t comprehend his brother’s concern; the more Xie Jue stopped him, the more rebellious Xie Xun became.
Fang Chuning didn’t want Xie Xun to die in battle, causing Xie Jue grief. It happened that the Right Wing Camp had no combat duties, allowing him to go keep an eye on his brother on behalf of Xie Jue.
Otherwise, as the Right Wing Camp was the core force of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry against the Beiman, Fang Chuning wouldn’t leave without a good reason.
"Your Second Brother is just shy, feeling hard to express his love directly, but he does everything he should," Fang Chuning said meaningfully, "He cares about you very much."
"Second Brother..." Xie Xun was somewhat moved, "I’m sorry, I was unappreciative and even cursed at you back then."
Xie Jue rubbed his temples, "It’s all in the past."
He never minded Xie Xun’s rebelliousness.
Xie Xun had learned many lessons from him; now, with Fang Chuning bringing it up, Xie Jue felt a bit uncomfortable. He often did things quietly without liking to explain why he did them.
Others’ misunderstanding was their business, irrelevant to him.
After being moved, Xie Xun then thought of the obviously deeper-than-childhood friends relationship between Fang Chuning and his brother, a storm stirred in his heart. The vanguard was no easy place.
The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry was the army with the highest battle damage; the vanguard was a suicide squad. Soldiers without courage and guts wouldn’t be chosen for the vanguard. After every battle, casualties were high. The Beiman possessed red sand armor and bows made from red sand, which were formidable. The vanguard used its blood and bodies to pave the way for the middle forces.
When Fang Chuning joined the vanguard, had he thought about what if he died?
Since Fang Chuning’s arrival, in every charge, he was almost always by his side.
It was to ease Second Brother’s worries, so he came to protect him.
What childhood friend would risk life and death just because the other was upset, and do it repeatedly on a battlefield where swords and arrows had no eyes? Who knew when King Yama would call one’s name?
"Wow, are you so moved that you’re crying?" Fang Chuning teased, seemingly indifferent to matters of life and death that were once so perilous.
Something heavy as a mountain, in his view, was like a feather.
"Who’s crying!" Xie Xun’s hair stood up, "I won’t accept your favor!"
"Who wants you to accept?" Fang Chuning couldn’t help but shake his head, "Ting Feng, clearly I’m trying to comfort him, so don’t be jealous because I favor you, and yet he doesn’t see it at all."
Xie Jue frowned, "Why do you bicker with him?"
"I’m just trying to be a caring big brother for once."
Xie Xun, "..."