Chapter Fifteen
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Xie Junyan leisurely smoothed the wrinkles on his garment. Hmm, the floral pattern looked rather ordinary; the bamboo motif seemed to carry more spirit.
“What are you thinking?”
Xie Junting, noticing his brother feigning ignorance, grew impatient and lowered his voice. “Mother and Father! I don’t believe you can’t tell. Mother hasn’t mentioned Father at all; she must still be angry with him and unwilling to return home.”
After speaking, Xie Junting caught his elder brother’s subtle gaze—half admiration, half sigh. Feeling awkward, he asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
Xie Junyan shook his head. “You’re not wrong. That’s precisely why I’m glad.”
He paused, his tone turning more comforting. “Junting, you’re getting smarter.”
Xie Junting fell silent for a moment, then blurted out, “Can you stop talking like Father does?”
Xie Junyan only smiled quietly, remaining silent.
Though the brothers’ relationship was still strained, they now shared a secret.
With Shi Lingyao’s return, the bond between them suddenly intensified in an inexplicable way. Hence, Xie Junyan now looked at his younger brother with a calmer heart than before.
He had promised Mother to take good care of his brother and would not break his word.
“Junting, Mother is our elder; we should respect and protect her,” Xie Junyan said calmly, as if discussing something ordinary. “Mother and Father were once bound by parental arrangement and matchmakers’ words, but now... let Mother live according to her own wishes.”
Xie Junting was stunned. He hadn’t expected his usually cold and indifferent brother to say such things.
“Besides, with the two of us here, Mother is not alone. Whatever she does is fine, as long as she’s happy.”
Xie Junyan’s voice softened, revealing a tenderness rarely seen by others. Xie Junting nodded while feeling a bit uneasy and rubbed his arm.
It was strange to see his elder brother suddenly showing warmth.
Xie Junyan glanced at his silly brother and smiled softly.
He had yet to confront him about secretly wanting to monopolize Mother.
Upon arriving at the Xie residence, Uncle Zhong was already waiting by the door. Seeing the brothers step down together from the carriage, he breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over, worried the young masters might disappear again.
“First Young Master, Second Young Master, why are you just back now? The Grand Matriarch has sent for you several times.”
Uncle Zhong was puzzled. Wasn’t today a break from studies? Not only did the brothers return late, but they came in the same carriage—a rare sight.
Xie Junting laughed off the question. He wasn’t trying to deceive, but if he revealed where they had been and whom they had met, Uncle Zhong, given his age, might faint on the spot.
The brothers entered Shouchun Courtyard, where Aunt Xu, who served the Grand Matriarch, smiled brightly upon seeing the twin boys approaching like matching jade discs. “Look at our First and Second Young Masters, so perfectly matched. There’s no one more handsome in all of Bianjing.”
The Grand Matriarch squinted approvingly. “Indeed!”
The twins greeted the Grand Matriarch and sat on either side, accompanying her in conversation.
With Shi Lingyao’s return, their spirits lifted greatly. Even the usually impassive Xie Junyan wore a smile as refreshing as spring breeze. Everyone was both surprised and delighted.
When the maid joyfully announced that Young Master Lang had returned from duty and was on his way to Shouchun Courtyard, even the Grand Matriarch’s face brightened.
She pitied her grandchildren who had lost their mother early, and her son as well.
Watching her grandson grow while growing distant from her son, the Grand Matriarch silently scolded her son’s stubbornness—he deserved the current state. Yet as a mother, seeing her son so alone after ten years, with his former beloved long gone, and estranged from his own children, her heart ached.
Now that Xie Zongwei had taken the initiative to return early, the Grand Matriarch happily told the two boys, “Your Father finally showed some care, knowing today’s a special day and returning early. Otherwise, I would have given him a good beating!”
As soon as Xie Zongwei entered, he heard the Grand Matriarch’s words and sighed helplessly, “Mother.”
She showed no guilt and chuckled, “Alright, don’t tell me you came empty-handed. If I find out you just brought some ordinary trinkets to send off my two good grandsons, see how I’ll deal with you!”
Her stern words brought quiet laughter from the maids serving inside.
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Xie Zongwei glanced faintly, seeing his eldest son with a gentle smile, and his younger son still fearless and carefree, though looking quite happy, every corner of his eyes and brows smiling brightly, those clear eyes sparkling more than usual...
He stopped his thoughts just in time and accepted two gifts from his attendant. “Here.”
Xie Junting, proud to have received a small handkerchief embroidered by Mother herself, was not particularly impressed by Father’s gift. But then he thought, if it were valuable, he could sell it and give the money to Mother to spend—wouldn’t that be good?
He happily accepted the box and thanked him.
Xie Junyan also politely expressed his thanks. Though not very warm, he treated everyone the same way. Xie Zongwei looked at his sons and gently said, “Open and see.”
Xie Junyan nodded. Inside the embroidered box was a white jade pendant symbolizing longevity and health. The jade and craftsmanship were exquisite.
The red cord holding the pendant faintly smelled of incense, as if it had been offered before a Buddha statue for a long time, imbued with sandalwood fragrance.
He smiled slightly, “Thank you, Father. Your son likes it very much.”
Xie Junting opened his gift and found the same white jade pendant as his brother’s. He couldn’t help but feel a bit dissatisfied.
“Father, you’re really careless.”
Xie Zongwei, scolded by his youngest son, didn’t argue but said, “Who only gave me one big character painting on my birthday every year?”
The handwriting was messy, clearly hastily written before rushing out to play.
Just as father and son were about to bicker again, the Grand Matriarch sighed, “Enough, enough. Today is the two boys’ birthday. Why quarrel? I also think your gift was careless. When Mother Lingyao was alive, she—”
Never give twins identical gifts; choose something each would like.
Shi Lingyao had said this several times, and the Grand Matriarch remembered.
She had just spoken thoughtlessly, and seeing the sudden quiet in the room, she regretted her words.
Aunt Xu quickly said, “Young Master Lang has returned, and the dishes are ready. I’ll hurry the kitchen.”
The Grand Matriarch nodded quickly, “Go quickly.”
Today was the twins’ twelfth birthday. The Grand Matriarch had specially instructed the preparations be done well. The kitchen staff had been busy since early morning, and by dinner time, the stoves were bustling.
Eldest Young Master loved delicacies like shredded tofu, egg-white fish slices, and eight-treasure winter melon cups; Second Young Master loved clear crab meat lion’s head meatballs, pickled yellow croaker, and sweet and sour pork ribs—all were prepared.
The enticing aroma filled the room, easing the earlier awkward silence.
Just as everyone was about to sit down, the maid announced visitors.
It was Aunt and Uncle, plus a guest.
Why were Xie Yongxi and Liang Yunxian visiting her maternal home at this hour, and bringing another guest?
The Grand Matriarch recalled her daughter’s confusing words a few days ago, fearing she might have stubbornly caused trouble today, angering her son and ruining the twins’ birthday banquet, upsetting everyone.
She wanted to send her daughter away but hesitated out of respect for the uncle.
The Grand Matriarch always felt her daughter’s lack of children left the Liang family indebted.
She only had one son and one daughter; the son was clever and needed little care.
Naturally, she spent more effort on the crying, fussing little girl.
Though she knew her daughter had grown with her own thoughts and sometimes felt hurt by her daughter’s cold selfishness, after all, she was still flesh from her own body. Sometimes, she couldn’t be so harsh.
Her hesitation made everyone understand her meaning.
The Grand Matriarch slowly turned her gaze to her son sitting nearby.
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Xie Zongwei’s expression was indifferent, and his tone as bland as clouds after March rain. “Today is the twins’ birthday ceremony. If they agree, I naturally won’t object.”
The Grand Matriarch was struck silent.
She could see that both grandsons did not get along with their sister, which was troubling...
While she was worried, Xie Junyan stepped forward. “No matter. I imagine Aunt and Uncle came specially to pay respects to Grandmother. We younger ones are merely having a simple birthday. There’s no need for Aunt to come all this way.”
At first, his words seemed very humble, but the discerning could tell something was off.
If Xie Yongxi truly intended to bring her husband to her maternal home to celebrate her nephews’ birthday, why would she arrive only at mealtime?
Even if Liang Yunxian had official duties and couldn’t come earlier, Xie Yongxi didn’t have to manage her children or the Liang household affairs. If she really cared, why didn’t she come sooner?
Subtle, strange expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.
The Grand Matriarch sighed; old age had muddled her thoughts.
Xie Junyan maintained a smile.
After learning from his younger brother about the Liang family’s scoundrel nearly harming Mother when drunk and recklessly riding a horse, Xie Junyan had developed unprecedented resentment towards the Liang family.
Not to mention Aunt Yuanfang once let slip that Mother and Aunt were not on good terms.
Xie Junyan lowered his eyes; the depths of his pupils resembled a half-dried inkstone, flowing with cold hues.
Xie Junting was a bit annoyed; he just wanted to eat.
“Grandmother, let Aunt and the others come in,” Xie Junting grumbled. “If we delay any longer, your favorite steamed mandarin fish will get cold.”
The boy’s awkward yet endearing tone softened the Grand Matriarch’s heart immediately. She turned and ordered the maid to let them in, eager to embrace and shower affection on her good grandsons.
Xie Zongwei sat upright, his features sharp and refined, glancing occasionally at his youngest son. After a few times, Xie Zongwei finally raised his eyes to meet his gaze.
Xie Junting hadn’t expected his father to look over, froze for a moment, then stiffened his neck to hold his gaze, his beautiful eyes full of defiance.
Defiant about what? How had he displeased him?
Xie Zongwei furrowed his brow slightly; he truly couldn’t understand children these days.
“Put the scallop and cabbage dish in front of Junting,” he ordered.
Xie Junting’s eyes widened; he wasn’t craving food!
He just wanted to observe how father had aged and whether he matched the beautiful, youthful-looking mother.
The two had been estranged for years. Xie Junting had rarely studied his father closely. Today, cautiously watching him, he was misunderstood as eyeing the food!
Father was truly unlikeable. No wonder Mother didn’t want to return to him.
Muttering to himself, Xie Junting heard footsteps approaching the corridor and ignored them until the voices of greetings and bows sounded one after another. He finally looked up.
Behind Xie Yongxi and Liang Yunxian stood a graceful young woman, dressed brightly yet demurely, looking obedient. But Xie Junting, having been approached by many who wished to become his stepmother since childhood, had already trained his eyes well.
When Xie Yongxi smiled and spoke, Xie Junting’s heart flared with anger.
It was truly outrageous! The father was introducing a future bride at his two sons’ birthday banquet?!