Chapter 253: Echoes

“I want to eat cherries.”

“Where am I supposed to find them in winter?”

“But what if my little sister wants to eat them?”

“Still none.”

…

Three-year-old Xie Tian got off the carriage and walked toward the palace gates with Xie Wei. As they walked, he kept asking questions. When he heard that there were no cherries in winter, he became unhappy and even brought up his little sister.

But Xie Wei gave the same answer.

Though young, Xie Tian had very fine features—like a little carved jade doll. It was clear he had inherited all the good looks from his parents.

A few days ago, he and his sister had argued over who was more powerful: their father or their mother.

His sister insisted it was their father.

Although Xie Tian was only born two moments earlier than her, he felt that being the older brother meant he had a duty to teach her right from wrong. So, with a serious little face, he corrected her: “Mother is definitely more powerful. You’re still young, you don’t understand. Everyone listens to Father, but they also listen to Mother. And even Father listens to Mother.”

Xie Yun, mischievous as ever, rolled her eyes dramatically and huffed, “Not listening, not listening, like a turtle chanting scriptures!”

Today, a boy named Shen Jia from their aunt the princess’s household was having a birthday in the palace. As soon as Xie Yun heard about it, she was eager to go eat and drink, clinging to their mother and insisting on going early to join the fun.

Their mother had no choice but to take her.

Thinking of this now, Xie Tian stomped his foot in frustration and said angrily, “What’s so great about the palace cooks? Their food is terrible—nowhere near as good as Father’s!”

Xie Wei had some patience when it came to raising a daughter. But raising a son…

Forget it.

He had always preferred quiet, so when the boy kept chattering nonstop, he didn’t bother responding—just slowed his pace and walked behind him at a leisurely speed.

It was afternoon now, and the cabinet meeting had long since ended.
The guards outside the palace gates were noticeably more relaxed.

Xie Wei was just mulling over how neither of the children really resembled him—they were more like Ning’er: loud, spirited, and constantly worrying him. He needed to find a way to rein them in and toughen them up a bit.

The snow was still thick in winter.
Even though it had been cleared in the morning, a fresh layer had already settled.

Xie Tian trudged through the snow with some difficulty, his steps uneven, but he didn’t complain. He just kept moving forward bit by bit. As they were about to pass through the palace gates, his eyes suddenly lit up. He tugged on Xie Wei’s sleeve and exclaimed, “Look, Daddy! The green plum blossoms are blooming!”

Xie Wei lifted his gaze and looked ahead. His previously indifferent expression shifted slightly.

That wasn’t a green plum blossom.

It was Zhang Zhe.

He seemed to have just come out of the palace, hands folded in front of him, holding a plum branch over a foot long. The branch was slender and gnarled, but the blossoms at the tip were either blooming or still in bud, each petal a pale green.

This official from the Ministry of Justice was known for his cold and aloof demeanor, and the branch of plum blossoms suited him perfectly.

Over the years, Xie Wei had barely bothered to attend cabinet meetings, and the times he’d run into Zhang Zhe could be counted on one hand.

For certain reasons, he could never truly like this man.

Yan Lin had gone to the border and never returned to the capital.

But this one—he was different.

Upon seeing him, Xie Wei’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it was subtle and restrained. He simply said, “The plum blossoms are lovely.”

Zhang Zhe stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, the hem of his official robe fluttering slightly in the wind. His eyes were lowered, and he didn’t bother with much small talk. He only replied, “They’re alright.”

Xie Wei said nothing more.

Xie Tian blinked, his gaze fixed on Zhang Zhe, unable to look away for a long while.

Xie Wei patted his head and said, “Let’s go. Don’t keep people waiting.”

Only then did Xie Tian respond with an “Oh,” turning around to walk forward with him.

But after just a few steps, he couldn’t help glancing back again.

Zhang Zhe gave a slight nod, letting them pass first before stepping out of the palace gates himself. A breeze stirred his sleeves and robes as he walked, leaving behind the faint fragrance of plum blossoms in the snow.

Xie Wei withdrew his gaze.

Xie Tian, however, sidled up to him and asked, “Daddy, Daddy, was that the famous Lord Zhang who revised the new laws? I heard people say he’s amazing!”

Xie Wei didn’t like hearing that. Watching the boy trudging ahead with uneven steps, he gave a light snort and gently nudged him with his foot—barely using any force—yet it was enough to send the child tumbling face-first into the snow.

Xie Tian was stunned.

He flailed for a moment before managing to pull his head out of the snow, looking around in confusion. He glanced back at Xie Wei, then looked behind him as if searching for someone. “Who pushed me? How did I fall?”

Xie Wei replied coolly, “You’re young. Your footing’s unsteady. Falling is normal.”

Xie Tian looked half-convinced, half-doubtful.

But after all, this was his father—so he didn’t really suspect anything. He turned his head and kept walking. Yet as he walked, he remembered what he’d been saying earlier and continued, “Didn’t you say I was too dumb, that teaching Mother was already exhausting enough, and you didn’t want to teach me too? You said you’d find a teacher to enlighten me. That Lord Zhang is amazing—could he do it?”

Thud.

The naive little boy once again fell face-first into the snow.

Xie Wei stopped beside him, looking down with an indifferent gaze.

If the first fall had caught him off guard, and he hadn’t figured it out, then if he still didn’t get it after the second fall—Xie Tian really would be a fool.

He had a mouthful of snow and struggled for a while before finally pulling his head out.

Then, feeling wronged, he opened his mouth and burst into tears.

But this time, he was a bit more clever.

He had more or less figured out what he’d done wrong. Between sobs, he said, “Whatever Daddy says is right. No matter how good anyone else is, they’re not as good as you. I’ll listen to you.”

Xie Wei walked ahead with his hands behind his back, pretending to be casual. “In our family, we never force anyone. If you want to choose a teacher, choose whoever you like. No need to lie to yourself. Selling out your conscience at such a young age—how shameful.”

Xie Tian nearly cried blood.

He shook his head vigorously, refusing to fall into that trap again, and insisted, “What’s so great about rewriting the laws? It’s not impressive at all! I’m not selling out—I’m speaking from the heart!”

This little conscience of his really wasn’t worth much.

Xie Wei let out a faint laugh. Seeing the palace buildings come into view, he finally stopped picking on the poor child.

There would be plenty of time to teach him life lessons later.

Far behind them, outside the palace gates, snow continued to fall thick and fast, drifting down from the vast sky.

Snow quickly gathered on his shoulders as he stood still for a moment.

Zhang Zhe paused and turned back, looking toward the palace gates. The figures of the tall and short father and son were already fading into the distance.

Xie Ju’an had always been weary of the mundane world, indifferent to the common folk under heaven. What he cared about each day might only be a bowl of porridge, a simple meal, the faint smoke of domestic life.

He was still alive…

Perhaps only because Jiang Xuening was still here?

The northern wind howled, and the snow in the mortal world fell heavy.

The sage sees through it all, and so chooses death; But if one clings to life, then one becomes merely human.

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