Thinking back to last night, Qin Tingxue couldn't help but blush and her heart race.
Xie Chen, however, enjoyed teasing her and, taking advantage of being in the carriage, began to pester her.
Qin Tingxue dodged him while chiding, "We're about to meet the clan elders. If you're like this... how will I face them?"
"Then we won't meet them," Xie Chen said indifferently.
After all, those old fellows had always been unhappy with his marriage.
"You, how can you be so casual..." Qin Tingxue was quite helpless. "I've already promised your parents that I'll be polite to the clan elders."
"They always put on airs and suppress others, always thinking the Xie clan is their domain. They don't even consider who the Xie clan's current prosperity relies on," Xie Chen said dismissively.
He was born into the Xie clan and naturally had a responsibility to promote it.
He had done his best and indeed, had done quite well. Those clan members who benefited should have some sense of propriety. They shouldn't always bring up how the clan had sponsored his grandfather back in the day. His grandfather had never forgotten to give back to the clan after achieving success.
Because of this, most members of the Xie clan were able to establish themselves in the capital.
His father had also never forgotten his grandfather's teachings.
As for him, although he was a bit unconventional, he had never been ambiguous about important matters.
Xie Chen couldn't understand why they were still not satisfied and were still intent on manipulating him.
If it weren't for Emperor Chongwen bestowing the marriage, those people in the clan would have caused even more trouble when he sought to marry Qin Tingxue!
Therefore, if his elders hadn't specifically asked him to bring Tingxue to show their faces to the clan, he wouldn't have wanted to go at all.
Qin Tingxue gently squeezed Xie Chen's hand, "We are married now. It doesn't matter if they say a few sour words."
Let the Xie clan elders say whatever they wanted; she simply wouldn't pay them any mind.
As people reach middle age, they often have too many things beyond their control.
"I don't want you to be wronged," Xie Chen said.
"As long as you're with me, I won't be wronged," Qin Tingxue replied.
She wasn't just comforting Xie Chen; this little matter truly didn't count as being wronged in her eyes.
The carriage arrived at the Xie clan's residential area, where Xie Chen's peers were already waiting.
"Achen ge."
The people who came to greet them were very enthusiastic, and Xie Chen responded to them with genuine smiles. It was clear that these were people who had a good relationship with Xie Chen.
"Saozi hao."
After greeting Xie Chen, they all turned and greeted Qin Tingxue in unison.
Qin Tingxue smiled gracefully and responded, listening as Xie Chen introduced these individuals to her.
They had grown up with Xie Chen and had always admired him.
"The elders are waiting, but the Second Grand Elder and the others... Achen ge, my father said they will try to persuade them, and he asks Achen ge to overlook their behavior given their age," said the man named Xie Yushu. "It's your happy occasion; there's no need to let them affect your mood."
"It's just a formality, a courtesy visit," Xie Zhilan also said. "My wife got up early to prepare. Achen ge and Saozi, you must stay for dinner later."
Xie Zhilan and Xie Yushu were brothers.
Within the clan, these two had the best relationship with Xie Chen.
"Sister-in-law is cooking herself?"
"It's the first time she's meeting Saozi, so she has to show off some of her skills," Xie Zhilan said.
"Axue, we're in for a treat," Xie Chen said happily. "Zhilan's wife's cooking is no less than that of the imperial chefs in the imperial kitchen. Her family has been famous chefs for generations. The Emperor himself once wanted to have Zhilan's wife work in the imperial kitchen!"
For a woman to be able to work in the imperial kitchen was a rare honor.
"Is it the second daughter of the Wang family?" Qin Tingxue asked with a radiant smile.
Xie Zhilan looked a little surprised. "Achen ge, you've even told Saozi about our second daughter?"