He was blatantly accusing Qi Ruofeng of being poorly raised.
The reputation of the Second Branch had been dragged through the dirt, trampled on first by Qi Jinshan and then by Xie Mingyue. Xie Wanqing, though seething with rage, dared not speak out. She said awkwardly, "It was Mr. Liu, recommended by the Libationer of the Imperial Academy. He is considered a great scholar in the capital."
Qi Jinshan let out a chuckle, the meaning of which was lost on no one. The hall fell into absolute silence.
Qi Xiuyu could not bear to see his wife and son so humiliated, yet he was powerless to fight back. After all, it was Qi Jinshan who had striven and fought, clawing his way up from a lowly son of a concubine to become the legitimate eldest son and heir.
He had no choice but to change the subject. "Big brother, we will reconsider Feng'er’s tutor. Since it is a family banquet today, let’s not discuss such matters."
The Marquis of Shunqing also gave a dry cough, attempting to smooth things over. "Indeed. Jinshan, you have enough to worry about at court; you should rest when you come home. Since Mingyue has recovered, you two should make haste to give your mother and me another grandson."
Xie Mingyue pursed her lips, saying nothing. Seeing this group of people, cowed by Qi Jinshan’s pressure and afraid to show their anger, was truly laughable.
She had been snickering internally, but never expected the Marquis of Shunqing to suddenly bring up the topic of having a grandson.
To her dismay, Qi Jinshan replied in a calm, indifferent tone, "Father is right. I will work hard at it."
Work hard?
What was there to "work hard" at when it came to making a baby?
Thinking of the erotic manuals she had once secretly glimpsed, Xie Mingyue felt as if her entire body were burning up.
The Marquis of Shunqing laughed heartily. "Good, good, good. Eat, everyone, eat."
The family picked up their chopsticks and began the meal.
Xie Wanqing glared at Qi Jinshan and Xie Mingyue with burning resentment. It was clear their relationship had reached an irreparable breaking point; she had even heard that Xie Mingyue was on the verge of death. How could they suddenly be acting like happy newlyweds?
She dug her nails into her palms, but then, Qi Xiuyu secretly reached out to hold her hand under the table, which brought her a measure of comfort.
The incident she and Qi Xiuyu had conspired to orchestrate years ago—Xie Mingyue had always believed it was Qi Jinshan’s doing. She hated Qi Jinshan for his forceful, overbearing nature; how could she possibly forgive him? It had to be a ruse!
Xie Mingyue was no longer a daughter of the Xie Family, she had remained childless for a decade, and she stayed out of world affairs. In this estate, she could never surpass her.
Xie Wanqing held Qi Xiuyu’s hand, eating the food he had instructed the servants to place on her plate, feeling a sudden, intense warmth in her heart.
"Husband, how did your cuff get stained with color?"
As she looked at Qi Xiuyu, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, she suddenly noticed a vibrant blue stain on the inner lining of his sleeve.
Qi Xiuyu’s eyes flickered. He immediately pulled his arm away from Xie Wanqing’s grasp and smiled faintly at the family members who were looking their way. "It happened when I was painting in Jinzhou. I accidentally stained it and didn't wash it out, so I just left it be."
Hearing this, Madam Luo felt even more pained, imagining her son suffering in a distant land without anyone to care for him.
"Since you are back, you should change into something new."
She then instructed Xie Wanqing, "Now that Xiuyu is back in the capital, it is not like the old days in Jinzhou. Do not forget to see to his wardrobe and such."
Xie Wanqing nodded obediently. "I will keep your teachings in mind, Mother."
The food at the banquet was excellent, and Xie Mingyue had been enjoying it until she saw that vibrant blue on Qi Xiuyu’s cuff. Her heart skipped a beat, and she retracted her hand.
How was it the same color as the pigment on her own wrist?
She quickly lowered her hand, hoping Qi Jinshan wouldn't notice and cause another misunderstanding.
But keeping her right hand tucked away was inconvenient. After a moment of anxiety, Xie Mingyue decided to excuse herself to the washroom to clean her hands.
The washroom was stocked with fragrant orchid soap. Xie Mingyue scrubbed the inside of her forearm vigorously until the skin turned bright red, yet a patch of the pigment remained, refusing to come off.
*Oh well,* she thought, *at least it’s less noticeable than before.*
She sighed, straightened her cuffs, and turned to leave, only to bump into Qi Xiuyu around the corner.
Xie Mingyue’s first thought was to get as far away from him as possible.
"Mingyue," Qi Xiuyu said with a gentle, warm smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We haven't seen each other in years. How have you been?"
Xie Mingyue took a step back and said coldly, "Call me 'Sister-in-law'."
Qi Xiuyu looked momentarily stunned before lowering his voice. "There is no one here; why must you keep up the pretense?"
He stepped closer. "Did Qi Jinshan force you again?"
Xie Mingyue looked at him with disdain. She had eaten her meal with great appetite tonight; what part of that made him think Qi Jinshan was forcing her?
*Could it be that Qi Xiuyu often tried to sow discord between her and Qi Jinshan like this in the past?*
Looking at how smooth and practiced he was, it was quite possible!
"Second Brother, did you catch some sort of madness in Jinzhou? My husband and I are getting along just fine."
She maintained a proper distance, wanting to leave, but Qi Xiuyu blocked the corner firmly. To pass, she would have to brush right against him.
Xie Mingyue gave him a cold look. Qi Xiuyu sighed bitterly and said gently, "Are you still blaming me for my choices back then? But Mingyue, I am the heir apparent of the Marquis' Estate; my marriage is not mine to decide. With your status at the time, it would have been difficult even for you to be a concubine. And with Big Brother interfering, my position as heir was already on shaky ground. I truly couldn't protect you."
Xie Mingyue was so angry she laughed.
"I never once thought I *had* to marry you, and as for it being difficult—if it was so hard, how did Qi Jinshan manage to marry me? I may have no maternal family to support me, but now that you stand beside him, surely you aren't blind to whose wife carries more weight? Qi Xiuyu, don't blame your own incompetence on me. Qi Jinshan’s looks, his character, his talent—he is better than you in every way. Being his wife is something I, Xie Mingyue, am very happy about!"
In one breath, she berated him, tearing his arguments apart while simultaneously praising Qi Jinshan and declaring her own heart.
Though she had only intended to refute his arrogant claims, a strange, joyful feeling welled up in her heart.
Putting it into words, it really did seem like being married to Qi Jinshan was far better than being married to Qi Xiuyu. At the very least, Qi Jinshan wouldn't stop his own brother's wife in private to spout such baseless nonsense.
She wondered if Xie Wanqing knew that the husband she obsessed over was, in private, disregarding all propriety to say such filthy things to his sister-in-law.
Seeing that Qi Xiuyu was still trying to disparage Qi Jinshan, Xie Mingyue stepped even closer. "I know all about what you and Xie Wanqing did back then. If you think you can sow discord between me and Qi Jinshan, you can try again in your next life!"
Her bright, beautiful face glowed in the night like a vibrant flower.
Qi Xiuyu was dazed for a moment, then regained his composure with a smile. "Mingyue, the whole family knows of your resistance toward Big Brother. Why must you say such things just to avoid hurting me?"
His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of black robes at the corner. He suddenly opened his arms and pulled Xie Mingyue into a fierce embrace.
"You clearly still remember the feelings we shared back then."
Xie Mingyue was struck with horror, but the difference in their strength was vast; she could not break free.
In the blink of an eye, Qi Xiuyu was punched away by someone behind him. The next moment, she fell into an embrace scented with cold wood.
Xie Mingyue’s eyes reddened instantly.
Without even looking up, she stayed tucked in Qi Jinshan’s arms and tattled, "Husband, your brother is so shameless! He actually tried to molest his sister-in-law!"