The daily life of a cold and aloof general raising his wife

A few days later, Emperor Jinghui summoned Xie Huai'an to the Hall of Mental Cultivation alone.

"Is Xie Qinghuaiyu about to have a good day?"

After Emperor Jinghui finished speaking, he winked at Xie Huai'an.

Xie Huai'an, "..."

He thought Emperor Jinghui had summoned him for important business, but it turned out to be just gossip.

"I don't know."

Seeing that Xie Huai'an's expression didn't seem to be deceiving him, Emperor Jinghui couldn't help but start to think.

Could it be that Xie Huaiyu has someone he likes and even his older brother doesn't know?

Wouldn't he be the first person to know that?

Emperor Jinghui couldn't help but laugh when he thought of this. He said that the two of them had grown up together since childhood, so their relationship was naturally different from others, and it was no less than that of his own elder brother.

Xie Huai'an watched Jing Hui alternate between moments of sudden realization and moments of uncontrollable laughter, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Emperor Jinghui smiled and waved his hand, "Then it's alright, Minister Xie, you may leave."

"Yes."

Xie Huai'an bowed and left.

"correct."

Emperor Jinghui called him to a stop.

"My cousin hasn't visited the Empress in a long time, and the Empress misses her very much. Please tell my cousin that if she has nothing else to do, she should bring the children to the palace to keep the Empress company."

"Yes."

Xie Huai'an bowed and then walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xie Huai'an relayed Emperor Jinghui's words to Jiang Shuwan. The next day, Jiang Shuwan, along with her two children and Xie Youwei's children, went to the palace together.

The Empress, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, sat in the main seat, and Jiang Shuwan and the others bowed to her.

Yan Xinyi got up and personally helped them up.

"Cousin, Second Sister-in-law, get up quickly."

In the third year of the Jianhe era, Emperor Jinghui, Li Huan, married Yan Xinyi, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Xuanping.

After Li Huan ascended the throne, he delayed in establishing an empress or taking concubines, which caused many disputes in the previous court.

One day, Li Huan summoned an official who had been advocating for him to fill his harem. The next day, for some reason, rumors spread that Li Huan had homosexual tendencies.

Knowing that Li Huan had summoned court officials to stay in the palace overnight, no one dared to offer any further advice, fearing that Li Huan might take a liking to them.

When Li Huan decided to make the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping his empress in the third year of Jianhe, no one in the court objected. Instead, they were overjoyed. Thus, the emperor and empress married smoothly, and soon after, they had their first son.

The court officials then realized they had been tricked by the young emperor and urged Emperor Jinghui to take a concubine. Li Huan kept refusing until Yan Xinyi gave birth to two princes in the third year, at which point the court officials finally stopped.

"I heard Huaiyu's wedding is coming soon?"

Yan Xinyi's expression was exactly the same as Emperor Jinghui's when she said those words.

Xie Youwei looked bewildered. "What good news?"

Jiang Shuwan didn't know what she meant by those words.

"Hasn't Huaiyu found a woman he likes and is going to get married?"

This time, Yan Xinyi was stunned.

"Who told you this nonsense? How come I don't know anything about it?"

Xie Youwei had heard plenty of rumors about Xie Huaiyu over the years, but she never expected that Yan Xinyi would actually believe them this time.

"Your Majesty."

Yan Xinyi believed it because Emperor Jinghui spoke with great conviction.

Jiang Shuwan and Xie Youwei exchanged a glance.

They really didn't know that.

Yan Xinyi could tell from their expressions that they genuinely didn't know.

She couldn't help but complain, "Is Li Huan so desperate to get Huaiyu married?"

Then Yan Xinyi changed the subject.

Jiang Shuwan and Xie Youwei returned to their respective residences at dusk.

Jiang Shuwan had just returned to Mingxiang Garden when she saw Tao Xi and Xie Huaiyu in the courtyard.

Is there anything else Jiang Shuwan doesn't understand?

"aunt."

"Sister-in-law."

The two men bowed to her.

Xie Huaiyu knew it was not good for him to stay, so he took the initiative to say goodbye.

After Jiang Shuwan pulled Tao Xi into the house, she dismissed the maids inside.

Before Jiang Shuwan could speak, Tao Xi spoke first, "I don't know what happened to Uncle Xie either. I had no connection with him before..."

Tao Xi wanted to explain, fearing that Jiang Shuwan would misunderstand her and think that she was deliberately seducing Xie Huaiyu.

Jiang Shuwan held her hand to comfort her, "Don't worry."

Under Jiang Shuwan's comforting words, Tao Xi recounted the entire process of how she met Xie Huaiyu upon her return.

Jiang Shuwan realized that Xie Huaiyu had taken a liking to Tao Xi first.

"Then what do you think?"

Jiang Shuwan felt that Tao Xi's opinion was the most important.

“Aunt, I’ve called him Second Uncle Xie since I was a child. How could I have any delusional thoughts?”

Tao Xi was startled when she realized Xie Huaiyu's thoughts. Her first reaction was to find Jiang Shuwan, but when she thought about her relationship with Xie Huaiyu, she didn't want to cause trouble for her aunt, so she kept it to herself.

"You are not related by blood after all; this is just a form of address."

After Jiang Shuwan finished speaking, she noticed that the girl was a little nervous, so she quickly said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just think that Xie Huaiyu is a good person and you won't suffer if you marry him. If you don't want to, that's fine too. I won't force you. Just listen to your heart."

It would be a lie to say Tao Xi wasn't moved by Jiang Shuwan's words.

Her aunt always stood silently behind her, supporting her.

"I have never thought about getting married."

Tao Xi bravely spoke out her inner thoughts.

Jiang Shuwan didn't seem surprised when she heard this; it was as if she had expected it all along.

Tao Xi couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, aren't you going to ask why? Aren't you going to try to persuade me?"

Jiang Shuwan shook her head. "I said I respect you, and I won't interfere with your choices."

Tao Xi hugged Jiang Shuwan, "Thank you, Auntie."

She is incredibly fortunate to have such an aunt.

After having a heart-to-heart talk with her aunt, Tao Xi felt much more at ease.

She has been traveling for the past few years, encountering many people and events along the way. This time, she is only returning to the capital to rest and recuperate before heading out on her travels again.

The next day, Xie Huaiyu came to find Tao Xi. This time, Tao Xi did not avoid him and the two sat down for a frank conversation.

Hearing Tao Xi's rejection was exactly what Xie Huaiyu had expected.

Xie Huaiyu asked, "When are you leaving?"

Tao Xi was taken aback for a moment; the topic had changed rather quickly, but she quickly recovered.

"tomorrow."

"So urgent? Are you trying to avoid me?"

Tao Xi lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Seeing this, Xie Huaiyu curled his lips into a smile, "Just kidding."

Tao Xi looked up at him.

Xie Huaiyu met her eyes, "Be careful when you're out and about. If you need any help, you can write to me. Don't be shy. Also..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "If you ever want to get married, don't forget me." He then smiled.

For some reason, Tao Xi felt a bitter taste in her mouth when she saw that smile.

Xie Huaiyu stood up and prepared to leave, but stopped after taking two steps.

"I have something to do tomorrow so I won't be able to see you off. Have a safe trip."

Xie Huaiyu left after he finished speaking.

Tao Xi had never met anyone like Xie Huaiyu before, and watching his departing figure, Tao Xi felt a mix of emotions.

The next day, Jiang Shuwan took her two children to see Tao Xi off from the capital. Jiang Shuwan watched them go until they disappeared from sight.

Tao Xi and her group walked onto the official road. On a hillside not far away, Xie Huaiyu sat on his horse and watched Tao Xi leave.

He said yesterday that he wouldn't come to see her off because he didn't want to put pressure on her.

The first time I met her, she had just lost her mother. Her small eye was swollen like a walnut, which made people feel sorry for her.

I, who usually don't meddle in other people's business, overheard something about Tao Xi. At that moment, I pictured her with red and swollen eyes looking at me, looking like a pitiful little thing.

As time went by, the two met less and less. His feelings for her began to flutter after she came of age. For some reason, her image kept appearing in his mind. By the time he realized his feelings, she had already left.

Five years passed, and with the thought that he couldn't miss this opportunity again, he never expected that she would reject him.

It's alright, there's still a long future ahead. As long as she doesn't have anyone she likes, I still have a chance.

After losing sight of Tao Xi's entourage, Xie Huaiyu rode his horse towards the palace.

Jinghui agreed without hesitation when she heard that he wanted to investigate the people's conditions for her.

Since Emperor Jinghui ascended the throne, only the last two years have been relatively peaceful. Before that, there had been constant warfare. He had originally intended to send people to investigate several places, and Xie Huaiyu was the person he trusted the most, making him the most suitable candidate.

After receiving the imperial decree, Xie Huaiyu returned to the Duke of Zhenguo. He needed to inform his elder brother and sister-in-law about his upcoming trip.

Jiang Shuwan's expression became somewhat subtle when she heard where Xie Huaiyu was going.

She felt that the innocent Xiao Xi was no match for the cunning Xie Huaiyu.

Three days later, Xie Huaiyu set off with his guards, heading in the same direction as Tao Xi.

Author: Why should the latecomer surpass the former? Because he competed and fought for it. Hehe~