Chapter 30 Await Your Eight-Carriage Wedding Procession

Chapter 30: Waiting for You to Marry Me with an Eight-Sedan Chair Wedding Procession

By the time they returned to the Xie family's villa, the snowfall had intensified.

The underfloor heating inside the room was warm and toasty. Upon entering, Yan Weichu took off his snow-covered fox fur coat, removed his broad-brimmed hat, and loosened his hairband, letting his long hair fall loose. He instantly felt much lighter.

Xie Xiao had just taken off his cloak when he turned and noticed the two jade pendants at Yan Weichu's waist, his gaze pausing for a moment.

"Weren't these meant to be gifts? Why are you wearing them yourself?"

Yan Weichu followed Xie Xiao's gaze and looked down, smiling brightly. "Changed my mind. I’m keeping them for myself."

He looked up again, his ears still adorned with fox fur ear muffs, looking lively and charming. His wind-reddened eyes fixed intently on Xie Xiao, his eyelashes seemingly dusted with snow. "Cousin, you haven’t answered my question from earlier."

Xie Xiao detected the hint of complaint in his voice and reached out to remove the ear muffs for him. "Stop joking around."

Yan Weichu protested, "How am I joking? I’m being completely serious."

Xie Xiao ignored him. They hadn’t eaten much at lunch earlier, so he ordered hot wine and dishes to be brought up to warm themselves.

After dismissing the servants, Xie Xiao picked up the wine pot and poured a drink for Yan Weichu.

Yan Weichu watched his movements intently. "Cousin—"

Here we go again.

Xie Xiao sighed helplessly. "A Li, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Yan Weichu gazed at him pleadingly. "Cousin, will you marry me?"

Xie Xiao asked, "How could I marry you? You’re the heir to the Count of Anding. Your father adopted you precisely to continue the lineage of the Count of Anding’s household. How could he allow you to act so recklessly?"

"It’s not recklessness," Yan Weichu said earnestly. "I’m trying to help you. Surely you aren’t actually planning to marry a musician and become a laughingstock, are you?"

Xie Xiao didn’t care about becoming a laughingstock.

It was just that lately, he had been lying awake at night, constantly reminded of that night when Yan Weichu, with reddened eyes, had questioned him. He could only let it go.

"...We’ll talk after you’re married."

Yan Weichu was displeased. "After I’m married, you’ll just casually marry some male spouse to fool the emperor, is that it? What do you even see in that musician? Do you like him?"

Xie Xiao picked up his wine cup, took a slow sip, and said, "Most people follow their parents’ arrangements and matchmakers’ words. They might not even have met before marriage. What does 'like' have to do with it? They can take their time getting to know each other after marrying."

"I don’t agree," Yan Weichu said stubbornly. "If you dare marry him, I’ll report you to the emperor for deceiving him. Anyway, it’s just not allowed."

Xie Xiao looked at him with a slightly complicated expression. "Would marrying you not be deceiving the emperor?"

"Of course not," Yan Weichu declared confidently. "I said so."

Xie Xiao probably thought he was pushing his luck again. "This is my matter. Why are you so determined to involve yourself?"

"I admire you, cousin," Yan Weichu said without any guilt—after all, he was telling the truth. "Ever since I first heard the story of how you killed Wurhun Khan with your own hands, I’ve admired you and wanted to get to know you..."

Xie Xiao frowned slightly and reminded him, "Admiration isn’t the same as affection."

"It’s pretty much the same."

Yan Weichu paid no attention to such nuances, his eyes shining brightly. "Then, cousin, do you like me?"

Xie Xiao’s words caught in his throat, unable to come out.

He certainly had feelings for this young man—otherwise, he wouldn’t have indulged him and himself so much. But how deep those feelings were, he couldn’t say.

Xie Xiao had never considered himself attracted to men. Or rather, he had always scorned matters of romance and desire, yet now he had broken that rule.

He knew it was dangerous, but restraining himself wasn’t easy.

"...Anyway, it’s not possible."

"I refuse," Yan Weichu complained discontentedly. "Cousin, am I really less important in your heart than that musician?"

It was entirely different.

Xie Xiao said, "Don’t even think about it. Your father would never agree."

Yan Weichu didn’t believe it. "I’ll go talk to him as soon as I return. Why should he be allowed to set rules he doesn’t follow? If he doesn’t agree, I’ll renounce my position as heir. He can adopt another son or pass the title to my cousin."

Xie Xiao shook his head. To him, Yan Weichu was being impulsive and childish—this was utterly impossible.

"It won’t work. It’s not allowed."

Yan Weichu grew angry, slamming his chopsticks down. "I’m done eating."

He stood up abruptly, and Xie Xiao called out to him, "Stop making a scene. Sit down."

"I won’t sit. I’m full from anger," Yan Weichu said coldly. "I’m going back to my room to sleep."

Xie Xiao watched him without speaking, his eyes complex.

Yan Weichu looked away, irritated. "You can enjoy your meal slowly by yourself."

He regretted coming at all.

Xie Xiao didn’t stop him, letting Yan Weichu leave.

The room assigned to Yan Weichu was right next door. Xie Xiao remained seated, listening as the footsteps faded away, followed by the sound of a door opening and closing.

He poured wine into his mouth, tasting a slight bitterness.

Outside, the wind and snow grew fiercer.

Xie Xiao sat alone for a long time without touching his chopsticks again.

The sky gradually darkened—winter days ended early, though it was only late afternoon.

Eventually, Xie Xiao resigned himself and stood up, going to knock on the door next door. There was no answer.

A servant waiting in the corridor informed him, "The heir went out earlier and didn’t allow us to follow."

Xie Xiao asked, "Where did he go?"

The servant thought for a moment and said, "It seemed like he headed toward the back mountain."

When Xie Xiao hurried over, he found Yan Weichu standing before a steep cliff, peering down as if looking at something.

Shun Xi and the others lingered far behind, hesitant to approach.

Seeing Xie Xiao appear, Shun Xi felt as if granted a great reprieve and quickly said, "Marquis of Dingbei, please go and persuade the Young Master. In such heavy snow, the mountain path is slippery and treacherous. He insists on playing right by this cliff edge and won’t let any of us get close to follow him..."

Xie Xiao stepped forward. Yan Weichu knew it was him and did not turn around, saying, "Cousin, look—down in that ravine, a flower has actually bloomed on the cliff face. It’s so beautiful."

Xie Xiao followed the direction he pointed and saw, just a few *zhang* (about 10 meters) below, a red plum blossom emerging from a crevice in the rock. He had seen this variety back in the northern regions; it was rare here and called "Snow’s Spring."

"Come back with me now," Xie Xiao said.

Only then did Yan Weichu turn to look at him, speaking softly, "I don’t want to go back."

Xie Xiao frowned.

Yan Weichu said with a teasing smirk, "Unless you go down and pick that flower for me, Cousin. Then I’ll go back with you."

Xie Xiao’s gaze fell upon the flower once more.

This section of the cliff wasn’t particularly difficult to climb. On an ordinary day, with his agility, he could easily descend and retrieve the flower. But today, with heavy snow and dusk approaching, the poor light made it risky.

"Wait here."

Without further hesitation, Xie Xiao took off his cloak and tossed it to him.

Yan Weichu was taken aback. "I was only joking—"

But Xie Xiao had already swiftly begun climbing down the icy cliff face.

Watching his movements, Yan Weichu grew nervous. Even without the snow, the cliff was icy. If he slipped and fell... Yan Weichu hardly dared to imagine it.

"Come back! I don’t want it anymore!"

Xie Xiao glanced up at him but had already landed steadily in the hollow and plucked the vibrantly blooming Snow’s Spring.

Yet Yan Weichu’s heart was still in his throat, his eyes fixed intently on Xie Xiao’s every move.

Climbing up was harder than going down.

When Xie Xiao suddenly stumbled, losing his grip and sliding down with a cascade of falling snow, Yan Weichu’s legs went weak. One knee buckled into the snow, and he knelt at the cliff’s edge, shouting in alarm, "Cousin!"

Fortunately, Xie Xiao remained calm and sharp-eyed. He only slid a short distance before grabbing a protruding rock and halting his fall.

Yan Weichu’s heart leaped to his throat. Struggling to steady himself, he turned and shouted frantically to the others behind him, "Come help!"

The two guards disguised as Jinyi Guards rushed forward, but Xie Xiao didn’t wait for their assistance. Agile as ever, he scrambled up on his own in a few quick moves.

Yan Weichu slumped down weakly, his body going limp, though his tightly clenched fingers remained stiff for a long time.

Holding Xie Xiao’s cloak, he bowed his head and covered his eyes.

Shun Xi, who had anxiously hurried over, exchanged a look with the two Jinyi Guards. The three tactfully withdrew, retreating even farther than before.

Seeing Yan Weichu like this, Xie Xiao half-knelt before him, offering the flower from his sleeve, coaxing, "I got the flower for you. Do you want it?"

Yan Weichu looked up sharply, his eyes reddened—whether from the wind or something else. "Who told you to climb down and pick it?"

"You really are unreasonable."

Xie Xiao looked even more helpless. "A Li, what exactly do you want?"

"I want to be the Duke of Zhenguo’s spouse, the Marquis of Dingbei’s spouse," Yan Weichu blurted out without any shame. "I want you to marry me, Cousin. Don’t you dare say no, or that it can’t be done."

Xie Xiao remained silent, offering no response.

"Cousin, what are you hesitating about?" Yan Weichu muttered gloomily. "I’ve said all this. If you still refuse, I’ll be too ashamed to face anyone. I might as well jump from here."

Xie Xiao looked at him and asked, "...Do you really admire me that much? Enough to give up having a wife and heirs, just to help me?"

Yan Weichu hadn’t thought about any of that. What happened in the future could be dealt with later. "I just want you, Cousin."

"And if something really happens to the Duke of Zhenguo’s estate? If you’re tied to me and can’t escape, aren’t you afraid of being implicated?" Xie Xiao reminded him.

Yan Weichu said with certainty, "If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you, Cousin. Nothing will happen. Believe me."

Xie Xiao was moved. He wasn’t made of stone; how could he remain indifferent facing such a passionate and straightforward Yan Weichu?

"What about getting past your father?"

Yan Weichu said resolutely, "When we go back, I’ll tell him. Worst case, he’ll give me a beating."

As if—Bian Shen would be more than happy to give his enthusiastic approval, even beating gongs and drums to send his little ancestor off to the Marquis of Dingbei’s estate.

Xie Xiao was truly at a loss for words. "...You said it yourself—His Majesty won’t be so easily persuaded."

Yan Weichu said pityingly, "Cousin, you and your sister are both so pitiful. Your sister doesn’t want to marry His Majesty because she has no choice. You’re forced by His Majesty to marry a man—also no choice. His Majesty is just too cruel."

Xie Xiao laughed, amused by him. "You’re criticizing His Majesty behind his back again? Getting bold, are we?"

Yan Weichu didn’t care at all. "It’s not like he can hear me anyway."

Xie Xiao raised an eyebrow. "How do you know our elder cousin doesn’t want to marry His Majesty?"

"I saw it," Yan Weichu pointed to his eyes. "That day at the lantern festival, our elder cousin ran into someone she liked and was completely spellbound."

Xie Xiao sternly stopped him. "Don’t speak of this again."

Fine, I won’t mention it. If his cousin didn’t want to marry, he didn’t want to either.

Xie Xiao stood up first and reached out a hand to him. "Let’s go back."

Yan Weichu lifted his hand and placed it in Xie Xiao’s. After being pulled up, he still whined playfully. "Cousin, carry me back. My legs are numb."

Xie Xiao took the cloak from him, swung it over his shoulders again, and turned his back, crouching down. "Get on."

Yan Weichu leaned forward. As Xie Xiao carried him on his back, he whispered in his ear, "So, Cousin, will you marry me?"

Xie Xiao said, "If you can get the Count of Anding to agree, then I’ll marry you."

What’s so hard about that? Yan Weichu felt satisfied. "Then it’s a deal. You can’t go back on your word, Cousin."

Xie Xiao responded, "I won’t go back on it."

Yan Weichu smiled.

The Bodhisattva answers prayers—so quickly granting his wish.

He untied a jade pendant from his waist, reached forward, and hung it on Xie Xiao’s belt. "For you."

Xie Xiao glanced down but didn’t refuse it. "Thank you."

My charms worked—the ancients didn’t lie.

Wind-tossed strands of hair brushed against Xie Xiao’s cheek. Xie Xiao tilted his head slightly, and Yan Weichu’s laughter then reached his ear.

"Cousin, then I’ll be waiting for the day you come to marry me with an eight-sedan chair wedding procession."