Chapter 39 The Flower and Bird Cottage

Chapter 39 The Flower and Bird Cottage

Xie Yu was the first to notice Xie Yan entering, and his smile froze on his face for a moment.

Then, his smile deepened with surprise, "Third Brother?"

Upon hearing the word "Third Brother," Shen Nanzi and her son raised their heads, their eyes filled with confusion.

How did he end up here?

Xie Yan approached nonchalantly, gazing at the three kittens in the cat's nest.

Looking at the pink and cute little thing, I couldn't resist reaching out my slender fingers to gently stroke it.

The other three watched his actions, each with a different expression on their face.

Xie Yu still had a smile on his face, but the expression in his eyes was unfathomable.

Xie Chengze's face was calm, the joy on his face had faded, and his fingers were clutching the hem of his clothes.

His eyes held a chilling coldness, like the sharp edge of a knife, as if the ice and snow had melted.

Shen Nanzi remained expressionless, her arm instinctively protecting Cheng'er's shoulder as she guessed the purpose of his trip.

The air was clearly condensing.

Xie Yan seemed to sense it as well, and raised his head, his gaze falling on Shen Nanzi and Xie Yu's faces.

"Are you two very familiar with each other?"

He had asked this question during ice skating, but Xie Yu had brushed it off.

Xie Yu glanced at Shen Nanzi, then said to Xie Yan, "Third Brother, how about we take a walk?"

He nodded and followed Xie Yu inside.

He glanced around and realized that this place was very different from the Beast Taming Garden in his memory.

Although it is deep winter, the place is still lush with greenery, with a few scattered flowers among them.

Some unidentified birds were either perched on branches or soaring through the air.

Xie Yan didn't speak, but followed Xie Yu's steps into the building.

To everyone's surprise, the cages that had previously held the wild animals had been removed.

This place was extremely popular back then, especially for the children who loved coming here to see the white tiger.

"This is the iron cage where Baihu was imprisoned back then."

Xie Yu explained, "Since the white tiger died, this place has gradually fallen into decline."

Xie Yan nodded. Indeed, without the White Tiger, he had no interest in coming back.

Xie Yu: "But I still come here occasionally, after all, even without the white tiger, there are other animals."

This place was originally a playground for the children of the powerful and wealthy. Now that the children no longer come, it has become a desolate wasteland that no one cares about.

Xie Yu couldn't bear to see the animals being abandoned here.

Some were released back into the mountains, while others, unable to fend for themselves, could only be fed periodically.

Over the course of six months, he frequently encountered Shen Nanzi, who came here with the same purpose as him.

However, at that time she was just the daughter of a minor official, and she didn't have much money.

However, she would find a way to cultivate some wasteland, sow seeds, and let the earth nourish the animals.

When they met, they didn't speak and each went about their own business.

Later, something happened while ice skating, and his opinion of her changed.

If they meet again here, he will take the initiative to talk to her, and the two will become friends.

Xie Yan listened, realizing that there had been such affection between them in the years he was unaware of.

They met because of small animals.

However, Xie Yan thought of his beans, the black and white kitten he used to have.

Why would someone who loves animals so much harm his cat?

Thinking of the description the stone had given him, he closed his eyes; it was just too tragic!

His hatred for Shen Nanzi wasn't just about the arranged marriage; it also stemmed from a series of events that occurred after the marriage, accumulating to a greater and greater degree.

This led him to perceive her as a heartless and vicious woman.

After hearing Xie Yu's words, he didn't change his opinion of her, but rather felt that she might have had ulterior motives at that time.

After all, she was just the daughter of a Yellow Gate Attendant at that time. To be able to speak with the Sixth Prince was already a great honor.

She couldn't help but sneer. So, before choosing him, she had already put so much effort into Xie Yu!

His contempt for Shen Nanzi deepened even further.

Shen Nanzi is indeed very cunning!

The two continued walking, and after a short while, a lame man, about their age, came towards them.

He carried a bundle of firewood on his back, gave the two men a simple, honest smile, and then walked down the path.

Xie Yan looked at this person and saw that he didn't even have basic manners when he saw the Sixth Prince.

It's like meeting an acquaintance; a casual nod is enough to say hello.

Xie Yu noticed his confusion and said, "This is the mute man I picked up. When I met him, his lower leg was rotting."

“I was lying at the foot of the mountain waiting to die! I saw that I still had a breath left, so I brought me up here.”

"Even if my leg is cured, I will still be disabled and mute. If I drive him away, I don't know if he will survive."

"Then let him stay!"

The two walked to the middle of the mountain and came across several thatched huts with clothes hanging out to dry outside, belonging to both men and women.

"This is the house of the mute man. It used to be the house of a peacock, and he built two more rooms for himself."

Xie Yan stared at the women's clothes on the clothesline. "Are there other people?"

Xie Yu nodded, pointing to the smoking chimney, "The mute man has a wife, who was brought here by the Third Princess."

Xie Yan raised an eyebrow. She's being so kind?!

Xie Yu said, "He was blind. He saw something he shouldn't have seen in a wealthy family's home, so his eyes were gouged out and he was thrown into a mass grave."

"The Third Princess happened to pass by and heard the cries for help, so she mustered up her courage and brought them here."

"They are the ones who take care of these small animals when we are not around."

Xie Yan remained silent.

Xie Yu smiled and said, "Third Brother, she's actually a very good person!"

Xie Yan raised his eyelids. "You like her?"

Xie Yu looked at Xie Yan for a long time before solemnly saying, "Third Brother, she is my Third Imperial Sister-in-law."

Xie Yan smiled slightly, "She's just a person with many sides. The side you see doesn't represent her true character."

"I don't need you to prove to me whether she's good or not. I have my own judgment."

Xie Yu pursed his lips, lowered his head, and looked at the fallen leaves on the ground, a hint of helplessness on his face.

"Third Brother is right."

The two brothers stopped talking and slowly walked downstairs.

The flower-patterned hut is circular; walking around it once will take you back to the exit.

Xie Yan discovered that various kinds of vegetables were growing in many places. The dense forests around the area blocked the cold air, making it much warmer and more humid than outside, which is why even more vegetables grew there.

Many small animals forage inside.

There were sika deer, pheasants, rabbits... They were not restrained and looked free.

This is indeed a wonderful place.

"Meow!" A cat meowed.

Xie Yan's deep eyes widened instantly. This... why does this voice sound so familiar?

He followed the sound of the cat's meow and found a black and white cat standing in front of him in the roadside bushes.

"beans?"

He looked at the familiar pattern and tentatively called out.

The cat turned its head and looked at him, seemingly sizing him up as well!

The cat suddenly turned around, emerged from the bushes, walked to Xie Yan's side, and circled around him for a moment.

Suddenly it raised its head and started meowing.

It seems like they are having a conversation with Xie Yan.

Xie Yan was somewhat moved. He squatted down and stroked the cat in his hands.

Xie Yu looked at the person and the cat with a puzzled expression.

Xie Yan stared at the cat's loose belly, his eyes blazing with anger.

"It had pups?"

Xie Yu was a little confused as to why Xie Yan was giving this cat that kind of expression.

They acted as if they had known each other before.

"The kittens in the cat bed when you came in were born from it!"

Xie Yan scooped up the mother cat and stormed off toward the door.