Chapter 43 Finally Managed to Kiss

Chapter 43: Finally a Kiss

(Second Update)

This New Year was destined to be unsettling for many.

But as emperor, Yan Weichu never cared what others thought; after all, he was too overwhelmed with his own affairs. The New Year period was filled with numerous rituals, celebrations, and the grand court audience where all officials paid their respects, followed by various palace banquets. To avoid these, he feigned illness, had others perform the sacrificial duties, and canceled the rest.

This suited him just fine. By nature, he was lazy and disliked meaningless formalities. He would much rather shut himself inside the Marquis residence all day, enjoying carefree moments with his cousin.

The only annoyance was having to follow those ridiculous rituals, such as paying respects to the old lady at the Duke’s residence and attending family banquets.

The old lady had been ill for some time and had only recently gotten well enough to get out of bed. She didn’t appear at the banquet, which was attended only by Xie Xiao’s uncles and cousins. Once these men had too much to drink, they became unrestrained, complaining about the emperor’s recent edict to increase commercial taxes, accusing him of trying to take money from their pockets and make their lives difficult.

The Duke of Zhenguo’s household was vast and powerful. While these wastrels couldn’t meddle in major affairs, they often leveraged the Duke’s influence to run businesses for their daily expenses. Now that the emperor was cutting off their source of income, how could they not be furious?

Drunk and unrestrained, they spouted vulgar language, showing no respect for the emperor. They even talked about joining forces with others to defy the imperial decree, refusing to let the "little emperor" take advantage of them. Xie Xiao sharply cut them off.

"Enough."

Xie Xiao sternly reminded them, "Previously, when you meddled in the Capital Garrison, His Majesty already took note. Do you really think he won’t take action against you?"

The uncles flushed red, especially Third Uncle Xie, who retorted indignantly, "The emperor is leaving us with no way out. Should we just sit back and let him slaughter us? His Eldest Nephew, you are the one who has the most influence with the emperor now. Why aren’t you advising him?"

Someone remarked sarcastically, "His Eldest Nephew is now in high favor with the emperor, with a bright future ahead. How could he understand the struggles of us uncles? Naturally, he’s not on our side."

Hearing this, Yan Weichu, who had been quietly eating, slammed his chopsticks down. He looked coldly at the cousin who had spoken and said, "So, according to you, my cousin shouldn’t have apologized to His Majesty and spoken on your behalf? Since he gets no credit here anyway, why should he bother? You uncles want him to advise the emperor, but have you seen what happened to the government officials who tried? Even the Junior Grand Secretary was executed. If you’re not afraid of death, why don’t you go advise the emperor yourselves?"

"How dare you talk to us like that? We are your elders! Where's your respect? Do you even know what respect means?" The man, embarrassed by Yan Weichu’s retort, flushed angrily. They didn’t know that the Count of Anding’s heir was the emperor’s cousin. Since he had married into the Xie family, he was one of them—how could he be so disrespectful to his elders?

Yan Weichu smirked. How many lives did they have to dare claim seniority over him?

"This is how I speak. Did I say anything wrong?" If they didn’t like it, they could deal with it.

The other man: "You!"

Xie Xiao also spoke up: "Cousin, why be so aggressive? The heir is young and may speak bluntly, but what he says is true, even if it’s unpleasant to hear."

The uncles became furious: "His Eldest Nephew, are you saying we’ve made you suffer in front of the emperor? That we’ve dragged you down? Explain yourself clearly!"

Exactly, Yan Weichu thought, mentally rolling his eyes. He had no interest in wasting more words on these people. He turned to Xie Xiao and said, "Cousin, I’m full. I’m going out to play."

Xie Xiao nodded, not wanting him to stay at the table any longer.

Yan Weichu left the table. The uncles glared in dissatisfaction, blaming Xie Xiao.

Xie Xiao let them vent, paying no attention to their demands that he advise the emperor.

A short while later, when Xie Xiao also stepped out, Yan Weichu was playing arrow tossing in the courtyard with a group of younger siblings, clearly the ringleader of the children.

Xie Xiao stood watching, arms crossed. Yan Weichu smoothly tossed an arrow into the pot, then turned and smiled at him: "Cousin, you left the table too?"

Xie Xiao mimicked his tone: "I’ve lost my appetite."

Yan Weichu suspected his husband was teasing him: "Cousin—"

"Let’s go back." Xie Xiao likely also found the Duke’s residence uninteresting. Since the family banquet was mostly over, he decided to take Yan Weichu back to the Marquis residence.

Just as Yan Weichu agreed, a steward approached and asked them to wait, saying the old lady wanted to see them.

So they went to the rear courtyard.

Yan Weichu had visited the Duke’s residence several times but had never been to the rear. This was his first time. The Duke’s mansion, a centuries-old noble family, was magnificently decorated with carved beams and painted rafters—truly imposing.

This mansion was bestowed by Emperor Taizu at the founding of the dynasty, the finest among the noble households in the capital, on par with even the mansions of imperial princes.

Noticing Yan Weichu’s thoughtful expression, Xie Xiao asked, "What are you thinking?"

Yan Weichu chuckled softly: "Cousin, do you know why Emperor Taizu decreed that women from the Xie family would provide empresses after he ascended the throne?"

A ruler like Emperor Taizu couldn’t have failed to foresee how powerful the Xie family would become as imperial in-laws within a generation or two. Establishing the rule that only Xie women could become empresses was a disastrous move, yet Emperor Taizu did it anyway.

Xie Xiao said offhandedly, "Emperor Taizu and the empress’s love story has been passed down for centuries. Moreover, the Xie ancestors made great contributions to the founding of Dajing, hence the honor."

Yan Weichu shook his head: "How loving could it be? Emperor Taizu had over thirty sons and countless concubines—what kind of love story is that? Besides, many contributed to the founding of Dajing. Others were just made marquises or appointed to high ministers—none received the Xie family’s generational privileges."

Xie Xiao glanced at him: "Then why do you think it happened?"

Yan Weichu said with a smile, "It’s said that during the Battle of Xiaoguan, your Xie ancestor took several arrows while protecting Emperor Taizu, saving his life. But that’s not the point. Emperor Taizu’s empress was your Xie ancestor’s younger sister, but the person Emperor Taizu truly favored was probably your Xie ancestor himself."

"..." Xie Xiao was speechless. "Don’t talk nonsense."

"It’s not nonsense," Yan Weichu said confidently. "Unfortunately, Emperor Taizu had feelings, but your Xie ancestor did not. After the founding of the dynasty, he went alone to Wu Long to guard the frontier for generations. He hardly ever lived in this capital mansion bestowed by Emperor Taizu, leaving it to other members of the Xie family."

Xie Xiao didn’t believe it: "Emperor Taizu and our ancestor lived a century ago. How could you know these things?"

Yan Weichu said, "Court secrets always leave some evidence. I saw a painting at His Majesty’s place that Emperor Taizu made himself. The subject was your Xie ancestor, with a poem beside it—all about unrequited love and fleeting feelings."

He had discovered this some days ago when he on a whim had old palace items organized. It was strange that such a personal item was neither destroyed nor buried with Emperor Taizu but instead passed down to later generations.

Xie Xiao frowned: "His Majesty showed you such a thing?"

Yan Weichu laughed: "Cousin, you’re focusing on the wrong thing."

Xie Xiao asked, "Then what is your point?"

Yan Weichu blinked, not wanting to say.

His point was, as emperor, the whole world belonged to him. If he wanted someone, even if the other was unwilling, wouldn’t it be easy to coax, trick, or force them to stay? If even the person he desired couldn’t be kept, what was the use of being emperor?

His ancestor was really quite pathetic.

Xie Xiao looked away, unwilling to discuss such disrespectful matters further.

They entered the old lady’s courtyard and ran into Xie Yi as he was coming out. He looked considerably haggard, completely drained, with large dark circles under his eyes and an unsteady gait.

A few days earlier, the Imperial Guards reported that he had been spending time with the Duke of Ning’s household, drinking and partying with the Heir to the Duke of Ningguo—two of a kind.

Xie Yi merely nodded at them and quickly left.

Yan Weichu could see immediately that he had been dosed with strong medicine and drained. Zheng Shize was weirdly reliable when it came to these shady tasks—in just over half a month, he had worn someone down to this state. Impressive.

Xie Xiao ignored his cousin and led Yan Weichu inside.

The elderly lady was unwell, wearing a forehead band as she leaned weakly against the couch, speaking with little energy: "Please, sit wherever you like."

Yan Weichu didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly.

Paying respects was out of the question—this old woman was Empress Dowager Xie’s mother. He had seen her a couple of times in Empress Dowager Xie’s palace as a child, and his impression was that of a sharp-tongued and harsh woman.

The old Duke of Zhenguo did not get along with her, and the two had lived apart for over twenty years. The old lady had long resided in the capital, and the good-for-nothing descendants of the Xie family in the city owed much of their lack of discipline to her poor upbringing.

Since that scoundrel Xie Shi was exiled and died, the old lady had harbored a bitter hatred for Xie Xiao. That she suddenly summoned them today surely meant nothing good.

Sure enough, she pointed to two maids at her side and said bluntly: "Both of you are men, and Yun Niang will eventually marry away. The marquis’s estate cannot be without someone to run the household. These two have been personally raised and trained by your aunt and are well-suited to accompany you back to the marquis’s estate to help manage domestic matters."

Yan Weichu then noticed the two young women standing nearby. Judging by their attire, they were first-rank maids from the ducal residence, both quite attractive.

The old lady’s intentions were glaringly obvious. He and Xie Xiao had been married for less than a month, and it was a match arranged by the emperor himself. Sending minor wives Xie Xiao’s way was out of the question, but dispatching two high-ranking maids to assist with household management—who could object to that?

Once they were by their side, wouldn’t it only be a matter of time before they found their way into the inner chambers?

This old lady and Empress Dowager Xie were truly cut from the same cloth, even their methods were identical.

"Thank you for your kindness, Grandmother, but the marquis’s estate already has stewards and various managers managing the household. They would be unfamiliar with the workings and find it difficult to adapt. There’s no need for such trouble."

Xie Xiao refused outright. The old lady’s intention to plant people around him was ill-meaning, likely even aiming to control his future heirs. He had married a man precisely to ease the emperor’s concerns—what would this accomplish?

Seeing that he showed no deference, her face darkened: "No matter how capable the stewards and managers are, they are still external men. How can they involve themselves in the inner affairs of your marquis’s estate? Besides, Yun Niang still resides there, unmarried—should she be exposed to external men?"

Xie Xiao stood firm: "There is no one in my inner quarters. My sister can handle any matters that arise. Once she marries, that will be a matter for later."

As the old lady prepared to argue further, Yan Weichu suddenly chimed in: "Then let’s take these two sisters back to the marquis’s estate. They’re so pretty—why refuse, cousin? Thank you, Grandmother, we’ll gladly accept."

"..." The old lady, seeing him smile as he appraised the two maids, was suddenly at a loss for words.

If she sent people over, who would ultimately benefit?

Xie Xiao glanced back at Yan Weichu, who tilted his head: "Let’s take them in. We’ll be on our way now."

Xie Xiao stood, his expression cold as he bid farewell to his grandmother.

After that, he ignored Yan Weichu the entire way back.

Yan Weichu felt quite wronged—how unreasonable for his cousin to take his frustration out on him!

Upon returning, Yan Weichu handed the two maids over to the steward, instructing him to assign them tasks. At worst, they could be sent to the embroidery workshop.

Xie Xiao spoke up: "You were the one who insisted on bringing them back, and now you’re washing your hands of them?"

Yan Weichu leaned in: "Should I have them serve in our chambers, then?"

Xie Xiao’s face remained stern: "Not allowed."

Yan Weichu complained: "Cousin, your grandmother is the one trying to make trouble for us—why take it out on me? When the emperor bestowed those beauties upon you, I even footed the bill for four dowries to marry them off. Neither you nor the emperor compensated me, and now here are two more—it pains my wallet just thinking about it."

Xie Xiao fell silent for a moment, then instructed the steward: "Send them to my sister."

The steward acknowledged the order and left.

Yan Weichu asked, puzzled: "Why send them to your sister? To serve her?"

Xie Xiao said irritably: "These are people Grandmother specially arranged. We can’t treat them as menial labor. Sending them to the embroidery workshop would, as you say, waste your money. So let them go to my sister. They can accompany her as part of her dowry later. If she does marry into the palace, they can serve the emperor—a fine outcome."

Yan Weichu: "..." Thank you ever so much for thinking of me.

He gave a push, seating Xie Xiao firmly in a chair, then stepped forward and climbed onto his lap face-to-face, cupping Xie Xiao’s cheeks as he asked curiously: "Cousin, are you this upset because I agreed to bring them back? Are you eating vinegar?"

Xie Xiao denied it: "I just don’t want Grandmother interfering in the marquis’s estate affairs."

"Why are you so stubborn?" Yan Weichu laughed. "She’s your grandmother. Couldn’t you just comply superficially and defy her in practice?"

Xie Xiao looked at him. Yan Weichu had drunk several cups of wine during the family banquet, and now his face was flushed, laughter bubbling forth as if he were drunk: "Comply with her wishes or with yours?"

What an ugly look jealousy brings. Yan Weichu thought to himself, what if I did take them in? Would I dare act improperly right under your nose?

"What do you mean, my wishes? Cousin, how can you say that with a clear conscience?"

He, too, grew annoyed. Tilting his head, he leaned in and bit Xie Xiao’s lip firmly.

Xie Xiao felt as though a feather had brushed lightly across his lips—there and gone in an instant. Before he could process the sensation, Yan Weichu had already pushed him away, stepping back and rising to his feet: "I’m returning to my room now."

Without waiting for Xie Xiao to respond, Yan Weichu turned and hurried away.

Only when he was some distance off did he pause, steadying the frantic beating in his chest, and raise a hand to touch his lips.

Finally, he’d managed to steal a kiss...