On the training ground, Xie Lanzhi was always followed by a tail; wherever she went, he followed. Xie Shangguang remained silent, waiting beside Xie Lanzhi.
When Xie Lanzhi practiced archery, he held up the target and handed her a towel; when she practiced swordsmanship, he just stood by.
Because Xie Shangguang was a junior general in the personal guard, he followed her almost every day.
After Xie Lanzhi had practiced enough, she finally put down the silver halberd in her hand and asked him, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Shangguang is fine." Xie Shangguang said stubbornly, but his eyes were full of expectation, and those eyes could not lie.
He still says no. He's just a young man, unable to control his temper.
Xie Lanzhi deliberately avoided mentioning Yelü Qiqi, and Xie Shangguang finally knelt down with a thud: "Marshal!"
"Please dispatch the Censorate to help us find the little princess!"
Seeing the worry in his eyes, Xie Lanzhi suddenly said meaningfully, "I don't remember you having a good relationship with her?"
"Why should I make you kneel down and beg me?"
Xie Shangguang blushed instantly. In fact, ever since he rescued the little princess in Jiu Jin, his feelings for her had been somewhat different. At first, he didn't know what these feelings meant.
After growing sweet potatoes for half a year, he would occasionally think of her during his monotonous and busy days.
When the arrogant prince was planting sweet potatoes with him, he would always mention Yelü Qiqi.
"Actually, it's just..." Xie Shangguang suddenly stammered, unable to form a complete sentence for a moment.
Seeing his innocent, lovestruck expression, Xie Lanzhi's gossipy nature was piqued.
"You like her?"
Xie Shangguang's face turned even redder: "A little."
“Oh, it’s just a little bit, then there’s no need to use the Censorate.” Xie Lanzhi deliberately changed the subject: “Shang Guang, go and bring me that stone pier over there.”
Xie Shangguang immediately admitted his affection for Yelü Qiqi.
He stood ramrod straight, and mustered his courage to shout, "Marshal, I... I like the little princess."
After saying this, Xie Lanzhi looked up and patted his shoulder, her face full of relief. This boy is of marriageable age, and he's already thinking about young girls.
Thinking of Yelü Qiqi's spoiled nature, she began to worry about whether Shang Guang could get along with her. He didn't have many female friends, and Yelü Qiqi was not only spoiled, but also violent.
If Shang Guang and she were to be together, it would only be a case of one person willing to give and the other willing to receive.
"Are you really sure you like her?" Xie Lanzhi hesitated, not wanting to say anything more. She couldn't very well discourage her child's first love.
Furthermore, Yelü Qiqi's brother-in-law might not be entirely uninterested in her. Even though he was rejected last time and wasn't particularly concerned about her, given the alliance with the Northern Region and Yelü Qiqi's restless nature, he might still want a marriage alliance. However, Qiqi certainly wouldn't obediently accept such a marriage.
Xie Shangguang was a little confused at first, but under Xie Lanzhi's watchful gaze, he mustered up his courage and was about to nod.
Xie Lanzhi suddenly adopted the demeanor of an elder, and she said seriously, "You should think this through before you speak. This is a marriage for life, not a child's game."
"I, I really... Maybe she doesn't like me very much." Xie Shangguang started to stutter again, this time even he didn't dare to speak decisively.
After a silent meeting between the two, Xie Shangguang finally asked her for help in finding Yelü Qiqi.
Xie Lanzhi would naturally look for him, seeing Xie Shangguang's somewhat disappointed and dejected expression. She withdrew her hand, a thought forming in her mind: perhaps she could let Shangguang give it a try. Maybe Yelü Qiqi would like him and choose him.
Xie Shangguang is clearly a promising talent; he will definitely be a good husband in the future.
In short, she can't be wrong about her own son.
"I'll make the first move on this matter for you. If you can win her heart," Xie Lanzhi said, "I might as well use my position as an elder to propose marriage to the Northern Region on your behalf."
Upon hearing this, Xie Shangguang's gloom was instantly illuminated by the light in his eyes: "Marshal!"
At Jianzhang Palace, Zhang Changle asked Xie Ergou to deliver a new intelligence report.
Si Xitong was still working on the articles for the newsstand, planning to select an easy-to-understand story.
Xie Ergou placed a secret letter on the desk and whispered, "Your Highness, this is a letter from the Khan of the Northern Regions."
"Northern Luo Khan?" Si Xitong opened the letter, her brows furrowing slightly. Northern Luo had written expressing interest in a marriage alliance, specifically with Anian. However, Anian had temporarily declined, citing the young age of their princess. Therefore, Northern Luo planned to arrange a marriage with Anshan, the third prince of the Xiongnu, hoping she could find Qiqi and send her back to the Northern Region.
"Personal feelings can never compare to the interests of the nation."
Si Xitong put the letter aside, just as someone from the Censorate reported that they had found Yelü Qiqi. Yelü Qiqi was currently transferring ships in Weidu and planned to continue south, with no intention of coming to Tianjing.
She then arranged for someone to secretly sail the ship to Tianjing and bring the people back.
The whole thing took less than an hour. Yelü Qiqi was taken to Tianjing and stayed at the original State Guest House.
Yelü Qiqi insisted on seeing Si Xitong.
Si Xitong immediately met with her. This time, when he saw Yelü Qiqi, he found that her face was much paler. She was still so beautiful, but there was always a lingering sadness in her eyes.
Perhaps it was the sudden realization that her beloved brother had begun to have feelings for someone else, and was no longer solely devoted to her. Yelü Qiqi was extremely unwilling to accept this.
Upon seeing Si Xitong, Yelü Qiqi couldn't hold back her tears and burst into sobs: "Sister!"
She wiped away her tears and said, "My brother is a big liar, a complete idiot!"
Si Xitong handed her a handkerchief, then pulled her out of Jianzhang Palace and headed straight for Lanzhang Palace. A little tail followed behind them anxiously from time to time.
Si Xitong noticed the person behind her, but she didn't expose him. Instead, she said as she walked, "There are still many people in the world who care about you."
"No, that's not true. My brother has a wife and children, and he doesn't love me anymore." Yelü Qiqi knew the truth in her heart, but she just wouldn't admit it. This time, she sneaked out and bypassed many of the people her brother sent to find her.
She was both happy and sad. The thought of her brother's affection for Si Caifeng made her sad. Si Caifeng was a very cunning woman and not worth being sincere with.
She was just reminding her brother, but instead of appreciating it, he scolded her for being insensible. That's why she ran away feeling sad and upset.
Si Xitong saw that this happy child had not yet realized that her world was already the best compared to others. She had the brother in the world who wanted to protect her the most.
"You can't run away from home again, understand?" She spoke with a tone that sounded like an elder, perhaps because she already considered Qiqi as a younger sister.
Yelü Qiqi hung her head, dejected. All the way to Lanzhang Palace.
A tall figure came towards them, blocking their way, just as she was about to leave.
"Little Phoenix, huh?" The person's voice carried a slight hint of surprise: "It's Qiqi."
Yelü Qiqi still respectfully bowed to Xie Lanzhi: "Qiqi greets Marshal Sister."
Then Xie Lanzhi reached out and patted her head, her face full of helplessness, just like her brother: "You can't run away from home next time. If you want to come to Tianjing, just write to me and I'll send someone to pick you up."
"In this world, you must never let your family worry just because you're angry, understand?"
Yelü Qiqi had no choice but to nod reluctantly.
Seeing her put on armor, Si Xitong asked with some surprise, "Are you going out?"
"I'm going to the military camp to take a look." Xie Lanzhi had just received news that eight members of the Xie family had attacked Xie Guang last night, injuring Wang Shi and killing a servant. Xie Ying was so enraged that she directly beheaded three of them.
Today, the Censorate has just apprehended them. They've also discovered that the three who lost their heads were all members of the Xie family, a family of considerable status.
This incident caused a huge uproar. If Zhang Ju hadn't arrested Xie Ying and imprisoned her, she might have been executed by the Xie family through private torture.
Because of the resentment left by Xie Guang's attack on Xi State, the Xie family members did not accept this matter as lightly as they appeared. On the contrary, many people wished Xie Guang would pay with his life.
If it were only targeting Xie Guang, we could assume they were truly seeking revenge and venting their anger. However, Xie Guang had been guarding the gates of Jiujin all day yesterday to maintain order and hadn't returned home all night. Those people knew Xie Guang was at the city gate, yet they still sneaked into his house and injured Lady Wang.
Thinking of Madam Wang, whom she had helped, Xie Lanzhi would not stand idly by. At the same time, she would handle Xie Guang's matter cleanly and without leaving any loose ends.
"Sigh, they're all such a handful." Xie Lanzhi rubbed her temples, and Si Xitong straightened her clothes. Their eyes met, and they tacitly went their separate ways.
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 20:17:05 on January 20, 2022 and 20:05:36 on January 21, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Qingshan (1);
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Juechi (6 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 159 Xie Lanzhi Settles the Clan Feud
Xie Lanzhi's figure disappeared into Lanzhang Palace.
Si Xitong led Yelü Qiqi into the palace and asked Granny Xie to fetch clothes and prepare hot water so that Yelü Qiqi could wash up.
After taking a bath, Yelü Qiqi changed into a pale yellow palace robe. She saw Si Xitong writing a letter and couldn't help but whisper, "I don't want to go back yet."
"You will stay here for now and not return to the Northern Region." Si Xitong did not tell her that her father had already planned to marry her off to Anshan.
If Qiqi knew the news, she would definitely run away immediately.
There's also a little tail outside the hall.
Si Xitong instructed Xiao Xiu to call Xie Shangguang in.
Xie Shangguang entered hesitantly, glancing at Qiqi before bowing to Si Xitong.
"Greetings, Madam."
He called her "Mistress," which made Si Xitong's eyes flicker slightly. She then had the letter she had written taken away by the imperial guards.
She said, "Qiqi will be staying for a while. During that time, you will act as her bodyguard and be responsible for her safety."
Upon hearing this, Xie Shangguang was deeply moved. Even the mistress of the house was going to act as a matchmaker for him!
"yes!"
He then walked up to Yelü Qiqi, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Princess Qiqi."
Yelü Qiqi glanced at him, then nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you. May I ask your surname?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Shangguang froze completely.
Seeing that Yelü Qiqi was not joking, he finally raised his hand tremblingly and pointed to himself: "I am me, Xie Shangguang."
"Xie Shangguang?" Yelü Qiqi frowned, her small mouth murmuring to herself, "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before, and you look familiar too."
Xie Shangguang's heart immediately began to ache.
That's so unfair, she actually forgot about me.
Yelü Qiqi hadn't seen him for almost a year, and the young man looked quite different from a year ago. Xie Shangguang was half a head shorter last year and the same height as Qiqi. Qiqi was still the same as before, but Shangguang had grown so fast that Yelü Qiqi didn't recognize him at first.
In addition, Xie Shangguang's voice had just changed and was lower and deeper than last year, making him a completely different person in Yelü Qiqi's memory, and someone she disliked. Naturally, she didn't pay much attention to him, and over time, she simply forgot about him.
Si Xitong couldn't help but sigh: "The falling flowers are willing, but the flowing water is indifferent."