On the way back, Xie Jiang took a nap in the car.
As per custom, the Xu siblings had to pay their respects to the Old Madam Xu at Shou'an Courtyard after returning to the manor.
Xie Jiang accompanied them.
As people age, they tend to enjoy the liveliness of younger generations around them.
Old Madam Xu was no different.
Xu Hengyi, along with his sisters, chatted animatedly, recounting what they had eaten and what they had played that day.
Xu Hengyan, on these occasions, would usually sit quietly to the side.
If asked, he would say a few words.
"Zecheng entrusted Qinghuai to your care, and you tossed her aside to your sisters, neglecting her completely. In the end, you didn't even escort Qinghuai back?"
Old Madam Xu glared at Xu Hengyan, at a loss for words.
As for the other girls, there was no need to mention them; he hadn't even exchanged a single word with any of them!
It seemed her morning instructions had been in vain!
Never mind.
Hoping for him to open up on his own was like expecting a rooster to lay eggs.
They would have to arrange things themselves.
After all, for families like theirs, marriages were typically arranged by parents and matchmakers.
It was just that Xu Hengyan had been different from others since childhood.
Unlike other boys his age, such as Xu Hengyi and his friends, who would show some curiosity towards girls,
Xu Hengyan would avoid contact with girls whenever possible.
There had always been men who liked men, like Ruan Ziji.
They were also worried that Xu Hengyan might also be...
But the more they deliberately guided him, the more he resisted.
They had subtly inquired with Xu Hengyan and later discovered that it wasn't that he was unwilling to marry, but rather that he didn't intend to consider such matters too early.
As long as his orientation was not an issue, that was good!
If it was later, then so be it!
What if he met a girl he liked and then opened up!
While a suitable match was important, if the girl Xu Hengyan fancied wasn't of as high a status, they could compromise.
Xu Hengyan explained, "There are guards from the Duke of Liang's manor accompanying her, so we don't need to escort her."
Did they really think that by asking him to escort a young lady, it was about safety on the road!
Old Madam Xu exchanged a glance with the Duchess of Wei.
They should stop hoping for this block of wood. Once a formal engagement was made, he should at least know how to treat his wife!
But he had promised so readily that morning!
Disobeying orders in secret!
Old Madam Xu glared fiercely at Xu Hengyan.
"I accompanied Young Master Xie to wander around the mountain for a while longer. Isn't it Young Master Xie's first time at West Hua Mountain?" Xu Hengyan used the excuse he had prepared to deflect.
Oh? Was that the case?
If that were true, then it wouldn't be appropriate to be too harsh.
It was indeed fitting to accompany Young Master Xie properly on his first visit to West Hua Mountain.
Xu Hengyan smiled gently and friendly at Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang also smiled very friendly, then turned to Old Madam Xu and said, "Young Master Xu's attitude is not good. I'm not talking about me, but about his attitude towards the girls. If he doesn't take the initiative, fine. Shen Zecheng even sent his sister to him, and I deliberately avoided them, hoping he would get along with Miss Shen. Miss Shen is such a good girl, but he left Miss Shen and came to find me. I couldn't even have a moment of peace."
"There's such a thing!"
Everyone turned their gaze towards Xu Hengyan in unison.
Xu Hengyan never expected Xie Jiang to be so disloyal.
He had let her do as she pleased, couldn't she at least be a shield for him, and without causing her any harm?
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Xu instantly realized that Xu Hengyan had deliberately only half-listened to her words! He had planned to use accompanying Young Master Xie as an excuse all along!
Xu Hengyi laughed, leaving only half a cup of tea in his hand.
How could Second Brother expect Xie Jiang to cooperate with him obediently?
Xie Jiang had always been someone who feared that the world would not be chaotic enough!
"Madam and the Duchess should arrange Young Master Xu's marriage sooner rather than later."
...
On the way back to Shi'an Courtyard.
"What benefit is there for you if my marriage is settled?"
Xu Hengyan found Xie Jiang's enthusiasm for his marriage to be a bit excessive.
"Didn't you say you are different from Ruan Ziji? Then marrying a wife is something you'll have to do sooner or later, isn't it?"
"But there's no need to be in such a hurry."
Xu Hengyan did not oppose marriage now. Xie Jiang's sweet potatoes had given him hope, and the pressure in his heart was not as great.
However, not opposing it did not mean he was eager to get married.
Judging by the intentions of his grandmother and mother just now, they wanted to finalize his marriage within the year, and in the end, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"How old are you this year?"
"Twenty-two."
"You're not that old, but it is time to get married. Don't overthink it, just wait to be the groom."
"You worry too much..."
"I just want to join in the fun, and also see how marriages here differ from those in Lan Yong. It must be very lively and fun, right?"
"You're doing this just for fun!" Xu Hengyan's teeth itched.
"When you have a wife to hold when you sleep in the future, you'll know how good-hearted I am."
Xu Hengyan was somewhat amused and exasperated, "You say that as if you've held someone."
"I haven't eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run."
"Right." Xu Hengyan said seriously, "Are you really going to Ninghe with me tomorrow?"
"Do you think I'm joking?" Xie Jiang tilted her head to look at him.
Guang Bai, trailing far behind, found it quite unbelievable to see the young master chatting and laughing so freely in front of Young Master Xie.
Usually, the young master only behaved this way in front of his close friends like Young Master Lu.
Had they become good friends with Young Master Xie so quickly?
Young Master Xie was not simple.
However, he wholeheartedly supported Young Master Xie going to Ninghe.
Leaving him in the capital to follow Young Master Xie, under the guise of supervision, felt like a descent into darkness.
It would be a ghost if Young Master Xie could behave himself and not cause trouble.
As for Ninghe, that poor and remote place, he wasn't afraid of Young Master Xie causing any trouble; at most, he would only ruin a few acres of crops.
"Since you've decided to accompany me to Ninghe, I must remind you of something." Xu Hengyan stopped and looked at her, his expression somewhat solemn. "Marquis Nanxiong Lu Xuan and his son have escaped from the army."
Just as she led the commoners to accuse Lu Baofang and the Marquis Nanxiong's manor, the various wrongdoings of the Lu family over the years had also been sent to the Emperor's desk.
Initially, the Emperor had some reservations and did not intend to act so quickly.
Who knew that the rioting mob she had inadvertently incited had already brazenly stormed the Marquis Nanxiong's manor.
Within a few hours, this branch of the Marquis Nanxiong's manor was wiped out.
To avoid any further complications, the Emperor naturally would not wait any longer.
Upon receiving the news, all regions immediately took action.
The Lu clan, which had been entrenched for over a hundred years, was uprooted.
As for Marquis Nanxiong Lu Xuan, who was in the army, and his second son Lu Baohong, a net had long been cast for them.
Who knew that at the critical moment, Lu Xuan and his son seemed to have received word and fled in advance.
The eradication of the Lu clan was, of course, due to the Emperor's decree.
However, Xie Jiang was the fundamental cause of the instantaneous destruction of the Marquis Nanxiong's manor.
Xie Jiang would undoubtedly be the primary target for revenge by Lu Xuan and his son.
Because compared to the Emperor, compared to Da Yu, seeking revenge on Xie Jiang would be easier.
Xie Jiang was also somewhat surprised, "Are you worried they will seek revenge on me?"
"They will definitely seek revenge on you, but we're not sure when." Xu Hengyi was very certain of this.
The fact that Lu Xuan and his son managed to escape from the army was something that needed to be investigated thoroughly, but there was no need to tell Xie Jiang about these matters.