Chapter 402: Chapter 390: The Vinegar King
The room was warmed by silver charcoal, akin to the arrival of spring, warding off the invasive cold winds. Fengyu sat on the Luohan bed, covered with a thin quilt while reading a book. Her long hair was simply tied up with a pomegranate hairpin, her beauty radiant and graceful. Her skin was fairer than snow, resembling a painting of a noble lady during the winter. Xie Xun removed his cloak and hung it up, brushing off the snow from his shoulders. He then took off his outer robe, hung it as well, poured himself a cup of warm tea, and deliberately slammed the teacup heavily onto the table, hoping to catch Fengyu’s attention.
Fengyu kept her eyes glued to the book, seemingly unaware of an additional presence in the room. Xie Xun rounded the screen and approached her, his emotions now subdued. Fengyu was reading a book on geographical miscellanies, describing the local customs and culinary traditions of the various counties of Yanyang. Written by a scholar who had traveled the world, it was humorous, lively, and easy to understand.
"I don’t like him!" Xie Xun stood by the bed, getting straight to the point. "Will you send him away?"
"And your reason?" Fengyu closed the book, ready to have a proper talk with Xie Xun.
"I don’t like him — isn’t that reason enough?"
"Zhixu, in my heart, Xiaoqi has always been like a younger brother to me. We share childhood memories and a life-saving bond," Fengyu said softly. "For you to say you don’t like him and demand I send him away — that’s unreasonable. If you dislike him, just turn a blind eye. I’ve never forced you to like him."
"But you’ve placed him in your courtyard, right under my nose?"
"Is the Prince planning to interfere in the matters of my courtyard?"
"What did you just call me?" Xie Xun asked coldly.
Fengyu pressed her lips together in stubborn defiance, unwilling to answer or even look at him. The fire in Xie Xun’s heart burned hotter and brighter, yet with nowhere to vent. "All for an outsider — how long are you planning to quarrel with me?"
"Xie Zhixu, in this matter, have I done anything wrong?" Fengyu’s gaze was firm as she looked at him. "Xiaoqi and I, after being separated for so many years, have only just reunited. I genuinely treat him as a younger brother. Ten years apart, people’s hearts can change. I feared there might be something unforeseen, so I had the Second Young Master investigate him. Xiaoqi’s background is clean, with no blemishes. Why do you dislike him?"
"On the first day I arrived in Jiaozhou, he was stirring up the crowd alongside the commoners. His origins are a mystery, and even his name and surname may not be real. Do you truly know what kind of person he is?"
"He...this matter is not negotiable!" Fengyu knew Xie Xun too well. He was the kind of person who made snap judgments about people, judgments that were hard to change. The only exception was herself.
She didn’t waste more energy debating with Xie Xun. He was free to dislike Xiaoqi.
"Fengyu!" Xie Xun’s temper flared. "Have you ever thought about the possibility that, if he’s a spy sent here to take my life, you wouldn’t care?"
"What is this nonsense, accusing someone of a crime with no evidence?" Fengyu’s eyes reddened. "And how do you determine that Xiaoqi is here to take your life?"
"Instinct!"
"That’s bias!" Fengyu could not convince him, nor could Xie Xun persuade her. Fengyu said, "Xie Xun, you’re just jealous of Xiaoqi. That’s why you’re exhausting all means to drive him away, isn’t it?"
Xie Xun, caught by the truth of her words, wasn’t flustered at all. "So what if I am?"
Fengyu felt a profound sense of powerlessness deep in her heart, though she didn’t show it. Xie Xun wasn’t a careless man, but neither was he particularly meticulous. Yet when it came to matters concerning her, he was always, always extraordinarily perceptive.
"He’s only just turned fifteen. What are you thinking?"
"And? In two more years, he’ll be old enough to marry and have children."
Fengyu, "..."
Talking past each other!
"Do you think I would shift my affections, or is it that you lack confidence in yourself?" Fengyu couldn’t help but laugh, finding him both adorable and infuriating. "Between you and Xiaoqi, if I were to choose a husband, everyone would pick you without hesitation!"