Jiang Zhixiu and Xie Meiying had just left, and Xie Rongmo was about to return to the guest room in the outer courtyard. Jiang Jiayu, however, smiled and said, “Brother Xie, the moonlight is beautiful tonight. Why don’t we have a candlelit conversation?”
He Fangting’s heart skipped a beat. Had Yu’er and Xie Rongmo already formed a bond after just one day together?
Previously, when they met, she had focused only on observing Xie Meiying and hadn’t paid much attention to Xie Rongmo. Now she noticed that this young man had bright eyes, a handsome face, and a vigorous youthful spirit. His gaze carried a hint of wildness, unlike the usual sons of noble families in the capital.
She looked at Xie Rongmo, and he looked back at her. Nothing could be discerned, but she thought to herself: *Princess Shun’an has such deep scheming.* He smiled at Jiang Jiayu and replied, “It is what I wish for, though I dare not ask!”
Beside them, Jiang Jiaying clapped her hands and laughed, “A candlelit talk, exchanging poetry—how elegant! I want to join too!”
He Fangting pulled her back, frowning, “Ying’er, you’re drunk. Go back and rest.”
Was Jiang Zhixiu even fit to be a father? Why didn’t he care that his daughter was drunk? And outside, if others saw this, what would they think of the Jiang family’s upbringing?
Jiang Jiaying mischievously stuck out her tongue, “Yes, I’m drunk, so I’m speaking nonsense. Of course, I wouldn’t really go. Men and women are different—I know that!”
She said this deliberately to distract her mother, so she wouldn’t stop her brother from befriending Xie Rongmo. Then she bowed to Xie Rongmo with a sweet smile, “Brother Rongmo, I’m going back now. See you tomorrow.”
She had waited seven whole years, finally meeting the Xie family’s aunt and nephew. Her excitement was beyond words.
Xie Rongmo returned the bow, “Take care, little sister.”
Jiang Jiaying looked at him a few more times before leaving under her mother’s urging.
Back at Biqiu Courtyard, He Fangting ordered sobering soup for her daughter and asked, “Weren’t you siblings going to the West Market? How did you end up returning with them?”
Jiang Jiaying laughed, “My brother and I were watching performances when we suddenly met Father. He told us to follow, so we had no choice but to obey.”
This matched He Fangting’s suspicions. She was about to ask for details, but Jiang Jiaying held her head, complaining of pain, so she had to stop.
She personally fed her daughter the sobering soup and tucked her into bed, instructing the maids to take good care of her.
After He Fangting left the room, Jiang Jiaying lifted the quilt and let out a quiet sigh of relief. In truth, the siblings had planned to go to Yunshan Academy with their father the day before. They only pretended it was a chance encounter to avoid making their mother suspicious.
There was something their mother didn’t know: regarding succession, Father had already written to Brother before returning. At first, Brother didn’t understand, but later he came around. In that letter, Father also introduced Xie Rongmo to Brother. Through correspondence, the two had discussed poetry and essays, finding shared interests, and had already become close friends without ever meeting.
Moreover, Xie Rongmo had keen insight and unique perspectives and had endured hardships that made him steadfast. His words carried weight, and Brother deeply admired his talent. The other day, if Mother hadn’t been entirely focused on Father and Xie Meiying, she would have noticed that Brother and Xie Rongmo were like old friends reunited.
To Jiang Jiaying, this was wonderful. Her mother would never understand: only by sincerely accepting Xie Meiying and treating Xie Rongmo kindly would things end well.
He Fangting, surrounded by her maids, walked out of the courtyard gate. Looking back at Biqiu Courtyard, her eyes were filled with confusion. Her daughter deliberately avoided her questions—she could see that clearly.
But why?
When Ying’er was little, she relied on her so much. Even if a butterfly fluttered past, she would rush to tell her. Yet as she grew older, she seemed to drift away. Whenever something fun happened, she preferred to tell Yu’er rather than her.
This troubled her, and she even complained to Nanny Kong. Nanny Kong laughed and said, “If you’re already worried now, what will you do when Ying’er marries? Won’t you cry your heart out?”
She also said that as daughters grow up, they naturally have their own secrets, and there’s no need to take it too seriously. But even if she wanted to care, she couldn’t—because Ying’er didn’t like her being too close. Now, she no longer had any idea what Ying’er was thinking.
“County Princess, shall I call in the maids who accompanied her and ask them?” Qing Hao whispered.
He Fangting shook her head sadly. “No need.”
If Ying’er didn’t want to tell her, she didn’t want to hear it from the maids either. Besides, Ying’er’s silence already spoke volumes. After a moment of melancholy, she ordered that a late-night snack be served to Jiang Jiayu and Xie Rongmo. No matter what, they must not be treated discourteously.
In Luomei Pavilion, the atmosphere was tender and romantic.
Jiang Zhixiu held Xie Meiying by the window and said softly, “Now you can be at ease?”
Resting in his arms, Xie Meiying replied with deep affection, “Yes, I’m at ease! Jiang Lang, thank you!”
Earlier at Yunshan Academy, Headmaster Fang had posed several questions. Xie Rongmo answered them excellently, and Headmaster Fang praised him as a promising student, gladly accepting him.
With Xie Rongmo’s future now secure, she felt she had finally honored her late parents and brothers. And all of this was thanks to Jiang Lang.
Jiang Zhixiu smiled, “Between us, there’s no need for thanks.”
Good teachers are rare, and good students are hard to find. Headmaster Fang admired Xie Rongmo greatly and wanted him to enroll immediately. But since Xie Rongmo and Jiang Jiayu got along so well, they planned to wait until Jiang Jiayu’s leave ended and then enter the academy together.
Because Jiang Zhixiu had returned from afar, Jiang Jiayu had requested ten days’ leave. Seven days remained.
This, too, was due to He Fangting’s indulgence. A family reunion of two or three days would have sufficed—why allow ten? Jiang Jiayu’s poor exam ranking surely stemmed from her spoiling him. Good children, all ruined by her teaching.
By contrast, though her life was hard, Xie Meiying knew how to set priorities and had taught Xie Rongmo with great success.