This Xie Ren is really… adorably simple and honest.
Qiao Yin never expected that a single sentence could win over Xie Yu’an’s younger brother.
After all, to get close to Lu Jinzhi, she had spent nearly a year trying to win over his mother.
“General Xie is very approachable. You don’t need to be so afraid of him.”
Qiao Yin picked up the food box and walked out of the pavilion to meet Xie Yu’an.
Xie Yu’an, who had been wearing a stern expression, visibly relaxed as the distance between them rapidly closed.
By the time Qiao Yin reached him, all traces of his earlier aloofness had vanished, and she saw only the gentle Xie Yu’an she was familiar with.
“My seventh brother acted rashly. I apologize on his behalf. Please don’t take it to heart,” Xie Yu’an said, his first words an apology.
Qiao Yin’s crimson lips curved into a beautiful smile, her eyes sparkling like glass.
“It’s not that serious. The seventh young master is witty and humorous. He did this out of concern for you. It’s only natural for him to investigate when a strange woman suddenly appears by his eldest brother’s side.”
“You’re not strange. I saw the plum blossoms on your skirt—they’re very beautiful.”
Qiao Yin had intended to put on a good show, saying kind words about Xie Ren to appear generous and virtuous. But she didn’t expect Xie Yu’an’s words to make her heart flutter wildly.
“Do you like them? I chose them especially for you.”
Not to be outdone, Qiao Yin lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and spun around joyfully.
As the skirt flared out, the red plum blossoms scattered like dots. Xie Yu’an felt as if he were standing in a snowy field, the fragrance of plum blossoms already reaching his nose.
“Was the plum blossom scent also specially perfumed for me?”
Qiao Yin was startled. Even this little detail had been noticed.
“Do you like it?” she asked boldly.
Seeing her like this, Xie Yu’an knew she truly hadn’t been affected by Xie Ren and felt relieved.
On the way here, he had worried that Qiao Yin might be frightened by Xie Ren and, by extension, come to… dislike him.
“Delightful to the eyes and refreshing to the heart. I like it very much,” Xie Yu’an replied honestly.
“Then I have something you’ll like even more.”
Qiao Yin pointed to the food box in her hand and then led Xie Yu’an away from the Eastern Palace.
In the lakeside pavilion, Xie Ren hid behind Jiang Huailu, watching as Qiao Yin managed to take his eldest brother away with just a few words. He was moved beyond words.
“From now on, Qiao Yin is my dearest, dearest sister-in-law.”
Qiao Yin led Xie Yu’an out of the Eastern Palace and into the carriage waiting outside. She eagerly opened the food box.
“I made this especially for you this morning. Very few people in the entire capital know how to make it—even the master chef at Zhang’s can’t do it. Ta-da—look, crispy fried dough twists—”
Qiao Yin boasted at length, her pride practically soaring to the sky. But when she looked down—
The fried dough twists in the food box had collapsed into a sticky, white mess, smeared all over the container.
Qiao Yin was dumbfounded. She slowly looked up at Xie Yu’an and said very seriously:
“Today, Xie Ren impersonated you and caused a scene. Such reckless and inappropriate behavior, if not strictly disciplined, could damage General Xie’s reputation and the honor of your Xie family.”
Qiao Yin wore a smile on her face, but her cheeks were puffed out, and her knuckles gripping the food box had turned white.
It seemed she was furious deep down.
Xie Yu’an couldn’t help but laugh. “Punish him with an hour of horse stance. Is that enough?”
“Make him balance a bowl of water on his head too.”
“Agreed.”Xie Yu’an spoke while picking up a spoon from the food box, scooping the last bits of oil pastry from the dish into his mouth.
“Don’t eat that, don’t eat it anymore. It’s spoiled.”
“Though it looks spoiled, the taste hasn’t changed. It’s delicious, comparable to the craftsmanship of the imperial kitchen’s pastry chefs.”
Xie Yu’an possessed a certain magic—whatever he said seemed perfectly reasonable, making it impossible to tell whether he was flattering or merely being perfunctory.
“Right? I told you my skills are better than Zhang Ji’s.”
Qiao Yin’s anger dissipated. “I never expected you to enjoy this too. I used to love oil pastry the most. Speaking of which, we’re quite fated. Before coming to the capital, I spent some time in Lintai County.”
Xie Yu’an paused, set down the small spoon, and casually asked, “Where in Lintai County were you?”
“Do you know the Fierce Tiger Stronghold? I was originally an ordinary commoner in Lintai County, displaced by war and wandering from place to place. Eventually, I was captured by the Fierce Tiger Stronghold bandits and taken to their den…”
Qiao Yin recalled that dark period and waved her hand, unwilling to continue.
“I was very lucky. Not long after I was captured, the Black Armor Army went up the mountain to suppress the bandits and raided their den. I was rescued. I heard from Xie Ren that you enlisted in the Black Armor Army. Were you there on the day of the suppression?” Qiao Yin asked curiously.
Xie Yu’an looked at her expectant expression and slowly nodded.
“I was.”
“Really? So, in other words, you’re one of my saviors?”
Qiao Yin was overjoyed to have found another connection between them.
“It’s a pity I left the mountain too early that day. If I had lingered a bit longer, perhaps we would have met four years ago.”
The corner of Xie Yu’an’s lips lifted almost imperceptibly, but he didn’t respond.
Just then, the carriage stopped. Qiao Yin lifted the curtain and saw that they had arrived at yesterday’s riding field.
“What is this?”
“Since I ate your pastries, I can’t back out. I have no choice but to teach you to ride a horse once.” Xie Yu’an’s deep, magnetic voice sounded behind her.
Qiao Yin turned around. “Really?” But she soon grew troubled again. “But this dress isn’t suitable for riding.”
“It’s fine. I’ve already had riding clothes prepared for you in the side room.”
With that, Xie Yu’an and Qiao Yin got out of the carriage, and he led her to the side room reserved for resting and changing.
“You go change. I’ll head to the stables to pick a horse for you.”
“Alright.”
Qiao Yin turned and headed to the side room with Bizhu.
“Miss, look. This Young Master Xie is truly thoughtful…”
Bizhu pointed to the row of riding clothes in various colors in front of the screen and sighed.
Besides the clothes, even boots and riding whips were prepared in dozens of styles each. At first glance, it looked like a tailor’s shop.
“Second Miss, if you had such good judgment back then and attended General Xie’s victory banquet, perhaps you’d already be the young mistress of the Xie Family by now.” Bizhu sighed again.
Qiao Yin was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“Miss, have you forgotten?” Bizhu said. “Four years ago, not long after you returned to the capital, General Xie triumphantly returned to the capital. The Crown Prince held a victory banquet for General Xie, and our Marquis Manor also received an invitation.”
“But you didn’t go, Miss, because Lu Jinzhi held some kind of banquet on the same day. You went to see Lu Jinzhi instead.”
Reminded by Bizhu, Qiao Yin finally remembered—there was indeed such an incident. Besides that, she also recalled her initial impression of Xie Yu’an—he was a capable general in the Crown Prince’s faction.And she, because she followed Lu Jinzhi, naturally placed herself in the Third Prince’s camp.
With the two major camps competing against each other, she naturally chose to go to Lu Jinzhi’s side and paid little attention to Xie Yu’an.