“If they don’t like it, we can just take it back home and admire it ourselves.”
Xie Yuantang patted the floral-patterned small bag at her waist and said with a smile, “Husband, don’t worry. I promise Father Emperor and Uncle will be delighted with the gifts you’ve chosen.”
“But…”
Si Tu Yan hesitated. He had never personally given gifts before. Aside from Yan Mo and Yan Feng, no one had ever smiled at him, let alone appreciated his presents.
Noticing Si Tu Yan’s nervousness, Xie Yuantang thought for a moment and used Si Tu Ye as an example: “The thought behind the gift matters most; its value is secondary. Whether the recipient likes it or not is their own affair. Just like when Fourth Imperial Brother gifted us the Wu Zhui Horse, he didn’t ask whether we liked it or not.”
Si Tu Yan listened attentively, his Peach Blossom Eyes lighting up as he said, “So, my wife means that regardless of whether Father Emperor and Uncle are happy or not, I should still give the gifts because they represent me. Is that right?”
Xie Yuantang nodded with a smile, poking his handsome cheek with her finger. “Husband, you’re so clever!”
Praise made Si Tu Yan’s face flush slightly. He grinned sheepishly, his earlier anxiety gradually fading away as he began discussing with Xie Yuantang where they should ride Xiao Guai later.
Seeing that his earlier lack of confidence had vanished, Xie Yuantang breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She could create more opportunities for him, guide his gradual growth, and compensate for his intellectual shortcomings, but she could never replace his own demeanor.
A person might lack ability, but they must never lack self-confidence or courage. Otherwise, no matter how much she did, the imperial family would never truly regard them with respect.
It was almost noon by the time Xie Yuantang and the others arrived.
The royal hunting grounds were heavily guarded. The soldiers were surprised to see Si Tu Yan, never expecting the Fifth Prince to attend.
Xie Yuantang ignored their stares and instructed Hong Qu to handle the luggage while she and Si Tu Yan went to see Situ Qing.
On their way, before they could meet the Emperor, they ran into an acquaintance—Situ Ye.
“Well, well! If it isn’t my fifth brother and his wife!”
Situ Ye was chatting with a few others when he spotted Xie Yuantang and Si Tu Yan approaching. He immediately adopted a mocking tone: “So Fifth Brother actually came! Could it be you couldn’t wait and decided to personally collect wedding gifts from your other siblings?”
As he spoke, he patted the shoulder of a youth in brocade robes beside him and said to Si Tu Yan, “Look how convenient—Sixth Brother, you haven’t given your wedding gift yet, have you?”
“Better be careful! Our fifth sister-in-law here has quite the sharp tongue!”
Situ Xu raised an eyebrow, casting a disdainful glance at Si Tu Yan before sweeping his eyes over Xie Yuantang beside him. He sneered, “This little bean sprout? Fourth Brother, when did you start favoring such bland fare?”
“Something so fragile you could crush it underfoot—and you traded the Wu Zhui Horse for it? Tch.”
Xie Yuantang studied the Sixth Prince. Admittedly, the Situ family had good genes—the sixteen-year-old Situ Xu was quite handsome. However, a faint shadow of malice lingered between his brows, and the slight droop at the corners of his eyes made him look unruly.
He was clearly the rebellious type, always looking for trouble.
“Tch.”
Xie Yuantang curled her lip and muttered under her breath, “Another edgy teenager with a middle-schooler complex!”
She had no desire to engage with someone like him and immediately took Si Tu Yan’s hand to detour around them.
Seeing that the two were completely ignoring him, Situ Xu froze for a moment. When he realized what was happening, he grew even angrier and roared, “Hey! Can’t you hear me talking to you? Who said you could leave?”
Xie Yuantang rolled her eyes and glanced back at him. “I can’t hear you. I’m just a bean sprout, and bean sprouts don’t have ears.”
Situ Xu: “…”
“Pfft—hahahaha!”
Watching his even more unruly sixth brother being left speechless, Si Tu Ye laughed heartily without restraint. “I told you she’s sharp-tongued!”
His face darkening, Situ Xu glared at Si Tu Yan. “Fifth Brother, if she didn’t hear, are you deaf too?”
“But…”
Si Tu Yan furrowed his brows, his one-of-a-kind Peach Blossom Eyes blinking in confusion as he looked at him. “Weren’t you just talking to Fourth Brother?”
Situ Xu: “…”
After speaking, Si Tu Yan seemed to notice Situ Xu’s unpleasant expression and thoughtfully added, “Don’t worry, Sixth Brother. I won’t ask you for a share of the money anymore.”
“Worry?” Situ Xu’s voice cracked as he strode over. “Why would I worry? What do you mean by that? Are you saying I can’t afford it?”
Si Tu Yan hesitated, still not quite daring to confront his brothers head-on.
Xie Yuantang, however, showed no fear at all and said directly, “Isn’t that the case? You don’t want to give us money, and you said the Wu Zhui Horse is too expensive. Doesn’t that mean you’re broke?”
“Don’t worry, my husband and I aren’t that petty. You’re like a little brother to me, and as your sister-in-law, I won’t hold it against you!”
She waved her small hand magnanimously.
But given that she only reached Situ Xu’s waist, her little arm waving back and forth seemed more like mockery!
Situ Xu took a sharp breath, feeling as though his chest was about to explode. He stared down at Xie Yuantang, gritting his teeth. “What did you say?”
He was the little brother?
She was the sister-in-law?
Situ Xu’s fists clenched with audible cracks as he sneered, “Xie Yuantang, you’ve got some nerve.”
No one had ever dared to step on his head like this!
Tilting her small head, the bells on her Double Buns Hairstyle gently swayed, emitting crisp chimes. As if completely oblivious to Situ Xu’s threat, she beamed brightly and said, “Don’t be upset, Sixth Brother. You’re still young—you can earn money later. If it really doesn’t work out, when you get married, your Fifth Brother and I will help you out.”
Help you out…
That phrase pushed Situ Xu over the edge. He exploded, roaring, “Who needs your help! Do you think I’m a beggar?”
“What are you yelling for?” Si Tu Yan frowned deeply, pulling Xie Yuantang behind him and glaring displeasedly at Situ Xu. “Don’t yell at my wife. She’s your sister-in-law!”
Situ Xu: “…” A stab to the heart!
A surge of bitter blood rushed up his throat, but he forced it back down!
“Si Tu Yan, you’d better run before I beat you up,” Situ Xu snarled, glaring at him hatefully.
Si Tu Yan looked even more puzzled. “But I was already leaving. You’re the one who stopped me.”
Situ Xu: “…”
Seeing his face turning green, Si Tu Yan kindly advised, “We’re leaving now. Don’t be angry. My wife says anger harms the body, and in severe cases, it can kill you.”
“You’re cursing me to die!”
First, they called him poor, then they called him the little brother, and now they were cursing him!
Situ Xu felt he had never been this furious in his life!
“Both of you, stop right there!”
Situ Xu strode up to the two, his hands trembling.
Trembling…
As he pulled out money.
“Who said I’m broke? I’ve got plenty of money!”
“It’s just a contribution gift, isn’t it? Take it, take it, you can have it all!”
Situ Xu first pulled out silver notes then produced a jade pendant, throwing them all into Xie Yuantang’s arms in such a frantic rage he seemed to have gone mad.
“Look carefully! This jade pendant comes from the springhead beneath Tianshan Jade Spring, the only one of its kind in the entire world. It’s no less valuable than the Wu Zhui Horse—if anything, it’s even more precious!”