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Chapter 26: Returning to the Capital

Gao Xun planned to join the military. His second uncle had some connections with the Qingzhou Commander, and it was a good opportunity to promote him within the military.

For the past few months, he had been busy with this matter, and it had been several days since he last saw Xie Zhen. Today, finally finding time to meet her, his eyes seemed to stick to her as he stared at her for a long time, reluctant to look away.

Xie Zhen had her maid add tea and jokingly said to him, “Why do you keep staring at me? Is it because it’s been too long, and you don’t recognize me anymore?”

Only then did Gao Xun come to his senses. He cleared his throat, lifted a small ink-colored cup, took a sip, and cleared his throat again. Surprisingly, he indeed had some difficulty recognizing her. She had become more beautiful over the past two years, and in just a few days, her face seemed more exquisite than the last time they met.

Sitting at the Eight Immortals table opposite to him, Xie Zhen sipped the newly picked Bi Luo Chun tea and asked, “How are things in the military for you?”

Gao Xun regained his composure, placed the small cup on the Eight Immortals table, and said, “Things are basically fine. In a few days, I’ll be living in the military for some time.”

In the military, he wanted to achieve something substantial. He was an ambitious person, understanding the importance of climbing step by step, not content with the small corner of Qingzhou. The military was his first step out. Hearing that the capital was bustling, he was determined to visit it at least once in his lifetime.

Xie Zhen responded with an “oh” and didn’t express much opinion about it.

In fact, she thought the military was quite suitable for Gao Xun. He wasn’t cut out for studying, being casual and unrestrained, disliking constraints. Only the military could satisfy these conditions. Growing up together, she had some understanding of him, knowing what he wanted and what suited him. So, she had always supported him.

After not seeing each other for a long time, they chatted for a while. Both of them were talkative, never running out of topics. They exchanged words, and the conversation never fell into an awkward silence.

As it approached noon, Gao Xun planned to leave.

He had said he would leave fifteen minutes ago, but sitting in the chair until now, he showed no sign of leaving. He seemed to have something to say, opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.

Unable to resist, Xie Zhen asked, “Do you have something to tell me?”

Gao Xun finally nodded, wearing an expression that seemed difficult to articulate, “You should know, these days, my mother has been arranging a marriage for me…”

He had reached the age for marriage, and since last year, Zhao Shi had been busy arranging a good match for him. Prominent families in Qingzhou were all considered, and Zhao Shi asked him if he liked any of the girls from those families. However, he insisted that he didn’t like any of them. This greatly frustrated Zhao Shi, thinking he might never marry. Recently, she became even more anxious, fearing that if he joined the military, the hope of him marrying and having children would be even slimmer. So, she pressured him more in these last few days.

Xie Zhen was aware of this situation because he often came to her to complain about it every few days, making her ears almost calloused from hearing about it.

With a wry smile, Xie Zhen said, “What’s wrong? You still don’t like any of them?”

Gao Xun looked at her and nodded earnestly.

Even Xie Zhen was at a loss this time. She shrugged and playfully said, “You don’t like this one, you don’t like that one, what kind of girl are you looking for?”

She laughed with a curved mouth and bright eyes like stars.

After watching for a while, Gao Xun asked with a half-smile, “How about a girl like you?”

Xie Zhen was stunned, a hint of laughter still lingering in her eyes, extremely surprised.

This reaction hurt Gao Xun deeply. He rested his chin on his hand, lips carrying a faint smile, “Ah Zhen, we’ve known each other for so long, haven’t you ever thought about marrying me?”

Xie Zhen almost hesitated, shaking her head without much thought, “No.”

No matter how close they were, she had never considered this question. She thought they were just simple playmates, with no romantic feelings involved, as pure as it could be.

The sparkle in Gao Xun’s eyes dimmed, and he asked persistently, “Why have you never thought about it?”

She was caught off guard by the question. If she were to be honest… after contemplating for a while, a sudden inspiration struck her, “My mother says I’m still young, no need to rush into marriage!”

Clearly, she was using an excuse to deflect him.

Gao Xun looked at her with a sense of loss, as if he had been abandoned. Despite openly expressing his admiration for her over the past few years, both subtly and explicitly, she always pretended not to notice and gave various reasons to send him away. In fact, Xie Zhen had been quite straightforward; she only considered him a good friend and never had any other thoughts. But he was persistent, and now he had boldly opened up the conversation.

Of course, the outcome remained unchanged.

Gao Xun, this time, approached the situation with a determined attitude. Since he was about to leave, he thought, why not say it now? What if there’s no chance in the future? He liked Xie Zhen, admired her, and wanted to make her his own, to marry her and cherish her as his wife.

If it didn’t work this time, there would be a next time. After waiting for so many years, waiting for another one or two years didn’t matter to him. When he achieved something, he would definitely marry her in a grand and glorious manner.

After Gao Xun left, Xie Zhen sat alone in the room for a long time.

Resting her chin on her hand, she pondered on how to make Gao Xun give up. She had no romantic feelings for him and couldn’t afford to delay him. It would be better to clarify things sooner rather than later.

Before she could come up with a reasonable explanation, Xie Xian walked in with a plate of rose-flavored cakes. “Sister, would you like to eat something?”

Xie Zhen glanced at her younger sister. Xie Xian had become more fond of eating as she grew older. At the age of twelve, she still hadn’t shed her baby fat, making her round like an apple. Fortunately, she had a good foundation, and no matter how much she ate, she never got fat, just a bit plump, looking even rounder than Xie Zhen.

“No, I’m not in the mood,” Xie Zhen turned her head, rejecting the tempting offer.

Not insisting, Xie Xian took a piece of rose-flavored cake and slowly savored it. “Why is your mood not good, sister?”

Xie Xian had a unique trait when it came to eating; no matter what she ate, it always seemed delicious. For example, she was currently enjoying an ordinary rose-flavored cake, but the satisfied expression on her face made it seem incredibly appetizing. Xie Zhen couldn’t help but take a bite of the rose-flavored cake in her sister’s hand, saying, “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

After finishing her bite, Xie Xian swallowed and argued, “Who says I wouldn’t understand? I know, Brother Gao Xun came, and he wants you to marry him.”

Xie Zhen was greatly surprised, choked by the rose-flavored cake in her mouth. She drank two sips of water desperately to recover. “How do you know?”

Xie Xian pointed towards the door, “I’ve been standing there for a long time, and neither Sister nor Brother Gao Xun noticed me.”

At just twelve years old, she actually knew how to eavesdrop!

Little did she know that Xie Zhen, at the age of five or six, had hidden near the door to eavesdrop on her parents’ conversations.

Xie Zhen, with a serious expression, warned her earnestly, “Don’t tell Mother.”

Xie Xian blinked, “Why?”

“Otherwise, I won’t share the snacks that Gao Xun brings me with you anymore.”

She immediately agreed, “Okay, I won’t say anything.”

Indeed, when faced with food, she could always be disciplined.

After a while, Xie Xian finished half of the plate of rose-flavored cake, licked her fingers, and recalled the earlier question, “Sister, why don’t you want to marry Brother Gao Xun?”

Xie Zhen couldn’t come up with a clear answer herself, shaking her head and saying she didn’t know.

Unexpectedly, the little girl dropped a bombshell, “If Brother Li Yu wants to marry you, would you marry him?”

Xie Zhen hadn’t heard that name for a long time. She was stunned for a moment before recalling who he was. Thinking of him brought back memories of his sudden departure and the broken promise. She slowly curled up in the chair, “Of course not.”

Xie Xian was puzzled, “But didn’t you like him a lot before?”

Frowning, she thought for a moment. It seemed there was such a time when she followed him around every day, unable to drive him away. Now thinking about it, she felt incredibly naive. If she had to like someone with such an open heart again, she couldn’t do it.

She stated unequivocally, “That was because he was good-looking!”

Over the past many years, the face of Li Yu has long been blurred, and the most vivid memory is that he has a face more beautiful than a girl.

*

After entering autumn, the blinds turned yellow, and the weather gradually became colder day by day.

Xie Liqing is going to report to the capital this year, coincidentally during the sixtieth birthday of the old lady. He plans to take the whole family back to the capital. If he is fortunate enough to secure a government position in the capital, there will be no need for the annual travel between two places.

Before returning to the capital, Xie Liqing wrote a letter and sent it to the Duke Dingguo’s mansion in the capital, explaining his plans.

Duke Dingguo was very pleased after reading it. He heard that he smiled happily, rubbing his beard for a long time. Ultimately, it was because several grandchildren were coming back; he hadn’t seen them in years, and he missed them greatly.

Duke Dingguo immediately ordered the cleaning of the second courtyard where they would stay, to ensure that it was tidy by the time they returned.

In Qingzhou, Xie Liqing handled the affairs related to the capital, and the return to the capital was scheduled for the second day of October. There were many things to take care of on this side, and going back was not a trivial matter. They had to bring a lot of things, and one carriage couldn’t carry it all; at least two or three carriages were needed. There were also maids and servants to manage on the way, and none of them could be left behind; all these details needed to be arranged.

Madam Leng personally took care of everything. On the second day of October, the family smoothly boarded the carriage leaving the city, heading towards the capital. The parents rode in one carriage, Xie Zhen and Xie Xian in another, and Xie Rong rode a horse outside, occasionally helping them navigate any unexpected situations on the road.

They encountered a heavy snowfall on the way, with snow piling up to half a foot deep, making it impossible for the carriage to move. The journey was delayed for almost half a month, and with the old lady’s birthday approaching, there were only seven or eight days left.

Xie Liqing discussed with the coachmen and urged them to hasten their journey. They finally managed to arrive in the capital before the end of November. The journey involved enduring hardships and sleeping under the open sky, especially for the two beautiful young ladies.

Xie Zhen, originally lying lazily on the cushions, sat up abruptly as the carriage entered the capital. The bustling and prosperous sounds filled her ears, much livelier than Qingzhou. She quickly sat up, listening intently. The sound was so familiar, giving her a sense of returning to her homeland.

Although she was still young when she left the capital, in her subconscious, the capital was her hometown.

Now, she had finally returned to this place, and counting the time, it had been nine years.

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