Chapter 74 Xie Yan's Contradiction

Chapter 74 Xie Yan's Contradiction

Xie Yan's voice came from behind, startling Prince Ding.

He turned around, his face showing barely concealed embarrassment.

Shen Nanzi also turned around, somewhat surprised that he would come to her side.

Thinking that he must be here to teach Xie Hongrui again, she looked away and stared at her toes.

"Yan'er, we just happened to meet, don't misunderstand."

Prince Ding, holding the reins, calmly explained, then changed the subject, "You've come to see Princess Jing, haven't you? Your Highness, please take your leave first."

"Twelfth Imperial Uncle, please wait."

Xie Yan placed his hands behind his back, his voice heavy and suppressed, his crimson robes giving him an air of murderous intent.

Despite being several years older than him, Prince Ding's imposing manner had diminished, leaving him in a dilemma, as if he were inferior to him.

Prince Ding looked up, his face turning cold. "What is it?"

Xie Yan's eyes were sharp as blades, with an undeniable edge. "You are an elder, and you understand better than I what the order of seniority and human relationships are."

"The twelfth imperial aunt died young, and everyone said that the twelfth imperial uncle was devoted to the past and never married."

"The Twelfth Imperial Uncle did not covet power, stayed away from factional strife, and lived in seclusion, which is a rare gentlemanly quality."

"If the world were to know that the praised Prince Ding, beneath his perfect exterior, harbored a corrupt heart and harbored thoughts he should not have had."

"At that time, your lifelong reputation will be ruined. Given the Emperor's temperament, I'm afraid even the royal family will not tolerate you."

Xie Yan spoke harshly and showed no mercy whatsoever.

Even Wei Jizhou, who was still young and naive on horseback, understood what was meant, and his small eyes were filled with shock.

Shen Nanzi lowered her head, listening to every single word.

The anger in his words seemed genuine; I must say, his acting was superb.

To please Xue Qingning, he acted as if he couldn't tolerate any flaws.

If she hadn't known his true feelings, she probably would have been deeply moved!

Hmph... What a painstaking effort!

The Twelfth Imperial Uncle's face was cold, with a hint of annoyance at having his secret exposed.

His fingers gripping the reins had turned white, and his chest was rising and falling slightly.

"Yan'er, you're overthinking it."

Xie Yan's eyes were solemn: "Twelfth Imperial Uncle, if she is willing, why do you need to say it? Forcing her is going against the will of Heaven, and I cannot sit idly by."

"Furthermore, if such a thing happens again against her will, I will show you the consequences of provoking her in my own way."

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze, with only the approaching sound of horses' hooves remaining.

There were also the sounds of several people breathing...

Just when Shen Nanzi thought Xie Yan had finished speaking, he spoke again:

"If one day she is willing, and you can protect her, I will let go and do what is right for her."

These words, once spoken, overturned all previous statements.

Prince Ding frowned, his fingers twirling on the reins, as if pondering the meaning of his last words.

Hearing this, Shen Nanzi chuckled inwardly. She knew it; in the end, he was still leaving himself an out.

To be precise, it was to leave room for his future with Xue Qingning.

Although Prince Ding does not pursue fame and fortune, he has an excellent reputation. If he were to intervene in the struggle for the crown prince position in the future, it would be a significant pressure on Xie Yan.

He left a slight opening when he said this.

Shen Nanzi guessed that he didn't want to make too many enemies.

Xie Yan was meticulous and never went to extremes, leaving room for negotiation and compromise.

And she is very likely a pawn on his chessboard, as long as she has any use.

"mother?"

Xie Chengze, who had ridden up, watched this scene warily. After seeing Xie Yan's expression, he decisively dismounted.

She ran up to Shen Nanzi and confronted Xie Yan in a defensive posture.

The moment Xie Yan heard him call out "Mother," his eyes involuntarily followed him, and after seeing his somber expression...

His heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, a sharp pain.

Cheng'er thought he was bullying his mother!

He really wanted to explain to him that he hadn't bullied his mother, but was just driving away people his mother didn't like.

However, Cheng'er's eyes were full of vigilance and defensiveness, as if he would never believe him even if Cheng'er explained.

After all these years, he must have been considered a villain in Cheng'er's heart.

Even though Prince Ding was also present, he remained wary of him without hesitation.

Xie Yan felt a pang of bitterness in his chest. He had personally pushed his son to the opposite side, and he didn't even expect his forgiveness.

He could tell from the look in Shen Nanzi's eyes that she suspected his actions were purposeful.

He finally understood the pain of having one's sincere heart misunderstood.

For the eight years that Shen Nanzi was married to him, she suffered the torment of being misunderstood every single day.

She was utterly innocent.

Xie Yan was in great pain. With everything beyond saving, he knew he had let her down.

This didn't even give him a chance to stop.

Even explanations have become a luxury.

Xie Yu also dismounted and approached the group, scrutinizing the somewhat suspicious atmosphere.

"The Twelfth Imperial Uncle".

Prince Ding did not speak, but instead led his horse away quickly.

Xie Yu looked at Shen Nanzi and Xie Yan, both of them silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Looking at Xiao Cheng'er again, he was tense and his little face was taut.

He couldn't help but pat his head to reassure him that nothing would happen.

Although Xie Chengze didn't know what had happened, since his sixth uncle indicated that everything was alright, then everything must be alright.

He trusted his sixth uncle.

Seeing that Xie Chengze's mood had calmed down, he walked towards the horse behind Shen Nanzi.

"Wei Jizhou, it's getting late. Let's call it a day. I'll take you to Zuixianlou for dinner."

He pretended to be relaxed, trying to ease the atmosphere, at least not to frighten the children.

Wei Jizhou was lifted off his horse by Xie Yu, and Xie Chengze watched with envy in his eyes.

"Sixth Imperial Uncle, Cheng'er also wants to go to Zuixianlou for dinner."

He whispered his desire to join.

"Sure!" Xie Yu and his mother Shen Nanzi often ate at the flower and bird shed.

However, in other places, their identities should not be revealed alone.

Shen Nanzi naturally took these factors into consideration, but she didn't want to spoil Xie Chengze's mood.

"You go to Zuixianlou with Sixth Imperial Uncle, and I'll go to the west of the city to buy you some snacks, okay?"

"Why not join us? We haven't eaten with Sixth Prince for quite some time!"

Xie Chengze was only six years old. They often ate together before, and in his eyes, eating with Xie Yu was a perfectly normal thing.

Shen Nanzi wanted to shut Cheng'er up; children really do speak without thinking, and she would have to remind him in the future.

After all, she is still the Princess Consort of Prince Jing, and she still needs to maintain a certain level of formality.

"Let's go together!" Xie Yan suddenly spoke up, his gaze lingering on Xie Yu.

Upon hearing that he was going, Xie Chengze's expression instantly turned serious, and he looked at Shen Nanzi.

Shen Nanzi also found it strange. Was he jealous?

Wasn't he with Xue Qingning when they picked loquats last time?

It was a draw, so everyone tacitly agreed not to dwell on it.

With him around now, can they still eat?

"Then let's go together!" Xie Yu noticed the envy in Xie Chengze's eyes, bent down, and prepared to pick one up in each arm.

But Xie Yan intercepted him, and he ended up empty-handed.

Xie Chengze also felt a lightness in his body. He saw Xie Yu opposite him, his mother beside him, and the person holding him was...

Xie Chengze turned around and met the face that filled him with resentment, his face filled with fear.

Shen Nanzi was also surprised when Xie Yan hugged Xie Chengze. When she realized what was happening, she was startled.

Seeing Cheng'er's pale face, she reached out to snatch it away.

"Xie Yan? What are you going to do?"

Seeing the wariness in her eyes, Xie Yan knew that trying to talk to her properly would only result in having nothing to say.

"What? Can't I hold my son?"

His cry of "my son" shocked not only Shen Nanzi, but also Xie Chengze.

The mother and son stared at him as if they had seen a ghost.

Xie Yu also witnessed this scene; he had never seen Xie Yan hug Xie Chengze before.

Xie Yan has changed somewhat too obviously lately.

"Your son?" Shen Nanzi scoffed. "What a ridiculous joke! Did you give birth to him or raise him? Give him back to me."

Shen Nanzi stared at Xie Yan with an unquestionable expression.

Xie Yan glanced sideways at the face beneath her eyelids; it was indeed bright and charming. Even a fierce expression couldn't hide her beauty.

He turned and walked out of the archery range. "Is he my son? You know better than anyone else."

Xie Yan had long legs and insisted on carrying Cheng'er, so Shen Nanzi had no choice but to follow behind him.

"Xie Yan, didn't you realize? Cheng'er and I don't want you to come along; you'll ruin our appetite."

Xie Yanchong held Xie Chengze, his back stiff, and walked outside, his jawline taut, his heart feeling as if a dagger had been plunged deep into it.

With difficulty, she said, "Shen Nanzi, you have to eat, whether you can or not. As long as I am here, we are husband and wife."

Shen Nanzi lifted her skirt, furious. "Xie Yan, you're truly despicable!"

*

In front of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, they ran into Xue Yubai, who was holding Xie Hongrui's hand.

"Greetings to Prince Jing, the Sixth Prince, and Princess Jing!" He bowed to each of them in turn, displaying impeccable manners.

Shen Nanzi stared at Xie Hongrui, who was still in his riding and archery uniform, indicating that he had indeed gone to the riding and archery field for Xue Qingning.

"You're also dining at Zuixianlou?" Xue Yubai asked Xie Yu with some surprise.

Xie Yu replied, "Yes."

"Oh? What a coincidence!" Xue Yubai was slightly pleased: "The Second Imperial Concubine has booked a private room at Zuixianlou."

"Since we've met by chance and there are only a few of us, let's eat together so the kids can have more food."

Xie Yan remained silent, and judging from his expression, he seemed to have no objection.

Xie Yu said casually, "Since we met unexpectedly, then I'm sorry to bother you!"

Shen Nanzi knew that this meal would be hard to swallow.

…

Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, in a private room.

"Try it!" Xue Qingning picked up a piece of lamb chop and put it in Xie Hongrui's bowl.

"Mother, lamb chops are what the Imperial Uncle likes to eat. Didn't you mention that when we went on our spring outing last time?"

As Xie Hongrui spoke, his gaze fell on Xie Chengze's face.

Seeing Xie Chengze's pale face, she said again, "Mother, please give a piece to the Imperial Uncle."

Xue Qingning looked a little embarrassed, but she chuckled awkwardly to defuse the situation, saying, "Hong'er, eat quickly, your royal uncle can pick it up himself."

"No! You always serve the Imperial Uncle, why didn't you serve him this time?"

Xue Qingning coughed lightly, "Hong'er, don't talk while sleeping or eating, eat quickly."