Every time Xiao Qing Yue came over, she went directly to the antechamber of Wang Residence or Xiao Qing Yan’s study, never to the back yard of Wang Residence. Hearing the princess coming, out of Nanxi’s Tongxin Garden, Xiao Qing Yan walked toward the antechamber, who would have thought that he had to be reminded by the yatou who led the way.
“Wang Ye, Her Highness Princess has gone to Wang Fei’s courtyard.”
“What?” This stinking girl! Hurrying to the main courtyard, he found his Wang Fei was not in his own courtyard, but the dressed as a man Xiao Qing Yue was there flirting with the small yatou.
“How old are you, why still dressed up like this? Aren’t you afraid to frighten people away and unable to find a husband?” Waving at the side to let the small yatou withdrawn, he looked at Xiao Qing Yue, Xiao Qing Yan heart had some sort of emotion. In the twinkling of an eye, Qing Yue had already reached the age of getting married.
Xiao Qing Yue loved to dress up as a man when she was a child. At that time, the little girl was young. Several elder brothers only thought that she was not yet in the age of dressing up. But now she was almost eighteen, still the same as before, and did not know that her temperament could not be changed.
As soon as he entered the door, right away he was being sarcastic. Xiao Qing Yue was not relieved, but followed her elder brother’s words and returned: “Unable to find would be the best, lest imperial father would ponder about marrying me all day long. How many times had I said that I didn’t want to be married, didn’t want to be married. But imperial father doesn’t believe me, if it’s not necessary to come back; I want to live in the mountains all my life."
Xiao Qing Yue’s expression while saying this was totally not faking. Xiao Qing Yan didn’t want to talk to her about this impossible question. Instead, he asked what she was doing today.
“What am I doing? What kind of question do you ask, imperial elder brother? I want to come over to see you and sister-in-law even need an excuse?" Xiao Qing Yue made a look of getting a blow and heart-broken, and made a wry face at Xiao Qing Yan.
Although they were not of the same mother, Xiao Qing Yue had been very close to him since childhood. Xiao Qing Yan had a little indulgence for his younger sister who had been away all the year round. Listening to Xiao Qing Yue’s words, his face did not show but his heart worried, he did not know if Qing Yue had met anyone or anything in these years, or why she rejected marriage.
When the average daughter reached the age of fourteen or fifteen, she began to yearn for her future husband in her heart.
“Your sister-in-law is a man, and calling him sister-in-law is certainly not what he likes. In the future, you can’t call him sister-in-law, just call him Chang An brother. Let's go out with me to look for him.”
“Oh.” Following Xiao Qing Yan with pursed lips, Xiao Qing Yue wondered whether imperial elder brother and sister-in-law were not having good feeling with each other. But why did she feel that imperial elder brother was very kind to imperial sister-in-law? He even noticed a man’s self-esteem and pay attention to such trifles in addressing him.
They did not meet Xu Chang An when they went out. Instead, they met the Wang Residence's steward. The steward mentioned today’s discussion with Wang Fei to Xiao Qing Yan.
“In the future such a small matter, let Wang Fei make the decision, do not report to me.” Xu Chang An was Xian Wang Fei, and Wang Residence's internal household affairs were his responsibility. Xiao Qing Yan didn’t have to intervene.
But where did this man go in the daytime?
“Have you ever noticed where Wang Fei likes to go?” Asking the yatou around, Xiao Qing Yue thought these yatous should also not know, because Xu Chang An usually went anywhere only liked to take his two maids, the other people were not close, naturally would not take with him.
“Answering to Wang Ye, Wang Fei usually likes to go to the garden and the martial arts training ground.” Xu Chang An usually did not like to be followed by other yatous. After all, he was Wang Residence's Wang Fei and the master of the courtyard yatous, his movements would naturally be noticed of by the yatous.
The yatou who had a face in front of the master could always live a happy life in the house. At Xu Chang An’s side, Chunyu and Dongxue had reached the age of marriage. The other small yatou in the courtyard naturally thought about the position of Wang Fei's close maid. If Wang Fei could trust to put them in an important position, not only the present life, but also the future life would be less worried.
Because of the yatou's words, Xiao Qing Yan took Xiao Qing Yue directly to the martial arts training ground. A moment ago, his Wang Fei looked at the white horse, his eyes were shining, and now the freshness had not passed, he would go there to see it if he had anything to do.
Xiao Qing Yan guessed it correctly. When he and Xiao Qing Yue arrived at the martial arts training ground, Xu Chang Yan was galloping around the martial arts training ground on his Flying Snow, while Chunyu and Dongxue on one side were full of fear. Both girls stared at Xu Chang An on the horse’s back without blinking.
“Paying respect to Wang Ye! Wang Ye came at the right time, please hurry up make Wang Fei dismount. Wang Fei has just learned to ride horse. He rides so fast, afraid he would fall.” No need to let Xiao Qing Yan to open his mouth, when Xu Chang An saw Xiao Qing Yan, he slowed down and came to them.
After a slight salute to Xiao Qing Yan, Xu Chang An stood directly in front of Xiao Qing Yue and said, “I’ve seen you.”  “Imperial… Chang An brother naturally had met me. Didn’t we meet at the palace banquet yesterday?"
“Not yesterday, it was… It’s at the time of me getting married with Wang Ye.” Yesterday, after coming out of the palace, Xu Chang An finally remembered where he had seen Princess Qing Yue. Wasn’t she the girl dressed as a man when he married Xiao Qing Yan?
“You returned to the capital city a month ago?” Xu Chang An had just start talking and Xiao Qing Yue changed her complexion. Sure enough afterwards, Xiao Qing Yan started interrogating her.
“Ai-yah! What is it important about the time of coming back? Anyway, am I not coming back?!” A drop of hand, toward the black-faced Xiao Qing Yan, she showed a big smile. Xiao Qing Yan seeing Xiao Qing Yue like this, his heart grew more and more strange.
“Mischievous! Have you ever thought of your own status, and you sneaked back to the capital? What if something went wrong on the way? In case the news leaks out and is known by those who are interested, your small life is not a small matter; it is your fault to make the emperor worry!” Even the capital was not absolutely safe, in this Great Xiao capital also did not know how many BeiDi's and South Xinjiang's assassins, in case she fell into those hands, they the Great Xiao would fall in passivity! This Qing Yue girl was really reckless!
Seeing that Xiao Qing Yan seemed to be really angry, Xu Chang An felt that he had just said the wrong thing, quietly backed two steps, Xiao Qing Yue was playful up front and pulling Xiao Qing Yan’s arm to ask for mercy: “Imperial elder brother, you're trying to fool me. I know you are worried about is just my small life, right? Alright, alright, I’ll be careful later. Isn’t this a surprise for you?”
“Surprise? What surprise? Now that you have returned for more than a month, where are you doing these days?” Whether in the palace or his own place, all he knew was that Princess Qing Yue had just returned to the palace, but this girl had already returned so long ago, in the end where did she ran to these days!
“Imperial elder brother, am I not good? It’s all right nothing happened. You don’t worry.”
“Humph! You are not a kid, but still play the same way when you were a kid. Make people worry about it.”
Xiao Qing Yan was really angry. Not only because of Xiao Qing Yue’s recklessness, but also because he always felt that this girl Qing Yue seemed to have something to hide from him. Whether Xiao Qing Yue was in front of him or not, there was an intuition in his heart, he always felt that this matter was probably related to his previous suspicion.
Clearly, she came back in advance but didn’t tell them, wasn’t it because of her marriage?
Because of his words made the two brother and sister almost quarreled, Xu Chang An had been trying to reduce his sense of existence, had been silent, afraid of Xiao Qing Yue scolding him, although he did not feel that there was anything wrong, but he dare not scold back! The princess’s face in front of the emperor was too big. He really did not dare to offend.
Xiao Qing Yue arrival was not early, naturally had to stay in Wang Residence to have a meal, because of his own words previously, Xu Chang An thought that Xiao Qing Yue might take offense, how could he have known that this princess did not care about it, and being intimate with him like a relative as before, asking about anything. “Chang An brother, you really grew up great, in your family except for you, all are not a good person.” Xiao Qing Yue came back a month ago, and she had heard about Xu Family’s affair.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Qing Yue mentioned Xu Family’s matter. Xu Chang An didn’t know how to answer it. He had no feelings for Xu family, but… If he wanted to belittle his family with others, he still could not do it. After all, it was his birthplace.
“Princess overpraises me.” Because he didn’t want to talk to Xiao Qing Yue about Xu family and didn’t mention Xu Family, Xu Chang An simply returned to what she said about him. Xu Chang An seemed to agree with Xiao Qing Yue on the surface, but he didn’t think so in his heart.
If he had grew up great, if he had future prospect, his days would not have been like this. At the time of his mother’s mishap, he was fifteen years old and had reached the age of making a family. But at that time of his mother's mishap, he could do nothing, and even had to be protected by the people his mother had left behind. He felt he had a few talents since childhood. He had not encountered any setbacks since he began self-illiteracy and started attending school. He was even proud when he won the first-place in the triennial provincial imperial examination. But the things that made him proud were now useless.
“Imperial Sister-in-law? You don’t have to be sad, you are you, Xu family is Xu family." Sensing the change in Xu Chang An’s mood, Xiao Qing Yue rarely softened her tone and revealed a little tenderness in her daughter’s home.
Several people returned to the courtyard of Xu Chang An, leaving only Chunyu and Dongxue to serve, the other yatous were sent away. Surrounded by familiar people, Xu Chang An was not so hypocritical, simply admitted that he did not want to mention Xu family, ended the topic.
After dinner Xiao Qing Yue left, Xu Chang An and Xiao Qing Yan went out to send people off, and when they returned, Xu Chang An mentioned to Xiao Qing Yan about the matter of bedroom attendance roster.
“I’d sent the booklet to Wang Ye previously. Maybe Wang Ye didn’t know where to put it without looking. Today, the Cefei came to ask, and then I thought about it. Wang Ye…. That, do I need to add Miss Nanxi?” Xu Chang An was beating drums in his heart. He knew Xiao Qing Yan must like the girl named Nanxi, but Nanxi had no status after all. It would be bad to add it directly to the bedroom attendance roster. But his non-added words, if she would have to look at where Xiao Qing Yan went to the other girls' place, she would be sad, right. She would be sad, and could not say precisely if Xiao Qing Yan for the sake of his sweetheart would make thing difficult for him (XCA)!
Hey, really bothersome!
“Humph! You did not even do your own duty well, only know about meddling all day!”
“…” He had asked carefully, but Xiao Qing Yan still lost his temper, moreover he erupted in inexplicable temper!
When he was scolded by Xiao Qing Yan, Xu Chang An habitually lowered his head. When he felt Xiao Qing Yan had gone far away, he slowly raised his head and looked at Xiao Qing Yan’s back in the distance. Xu Chang An only said dully, “What’s the matter? Is it not my duty to arrange women for you? I'm not doing this very well.” After returning to his courtyard, Xu Chang An’s mood was better. He called the girls in his courtyard together, and Xu Chang An told them about winter clothes. Xu Chang An handed over the matter to Dongxue, and for Fang Momo’s winter clothes, he was prepared to tell her in person tomorrow that she would go to Wang Residence's warehouse to select some favorite fabrics for her to do.
After instructing the yatous to make the winter clothes, Xu Chang An sent them away, and when they left, he felt a little bored. He didn’t know why, he always felt that this day was boring and didn’t know what to do all day. He did almost the same thing every day that he felt no difference between one day and one month.
“Are you in a bad mood, Wang Fei?” Looking at her young master sighing, ChunYu thought to herself that the young master must be so because of that girl called Nanxi.
“Eh, why is this day so boring? It’s not so hard in the past.”
“Wang Fei, you used to like reading the best, and you read almost anything regardless of the type of book, everything had been read. I heard that people who likes to read would feel the time flies fast. You haven’t read your book since you got married with Wang Ye. You certainly feel that this time is too slow." It’s not because of Wang Ye. This was the case…. Eh, didn’t know if this was good or bad.
Being reminded by Chunyu, Xu Chang An remembered that this was indeed the case, and now that he had almost understood Xiao Qing Yan’s temperament, he should not be so abstain to him (XQY).
“Chunyu, tomorrow we’ll clean up the side room to make a study, put my previous books there, in the future, I can go there to spend time."
“Well, I want to have a rest early today. You go prepare a bath water for me and then go to rest.” Thinking that Xiao Qing Yan would never come back today, Xu Chang An did not have so much scruple, took a bath and went to bed early, and searched for a medical book which had not been read for a long time, to see if the prescription he had occasionally thought of existed.
When Xiao Qing Yan came back, he was told by the yatou that Wang Fei had already gone to sleep. Before dawn, Xu Chang An fell asleep, he did not let the yatou in, but Xiao Qing Yan walked in by himself and saw that the bedroom's oil lamp was still lighted, which did not really seem like a person was sleeping.
When he entered the room, Xiao Qing Yan saw Xu Chang An sitting half-seated in his inner clothes, immersed with a scrapped book in his hand.
“Hm!” Is not his body unwell? What season is this now, he doesn’t know he should wear a coat at night!?
“Wang Ye? Hm, that… Wang Ye, you are coming. Do you want me to prepare the bath water for you?” Want to prepare meant want to stay, right. Then, do I need to get up and attend to him?
“This should not be your concern. Xu Chang An… ”
“Ah?” He called my name? This was the first time Xiao Qing Yan called his name. But, why? What's with him?     “Do you think the imperial physician is too idle?”
“…” Xiao Qing Yan left such a sentence and left, Xu Chang An thought about Xiao Qing Yan’s words, and looked at himself, wondering if Xiao Qing Yan thought he would catch cold like this?
“No, it’s very warm in this room.” In that small village, even cold, he wore these clothes at this time of year. But in this room, for some unknown reason, even nowadays, he did not feel so cold in this room, so it was not necessary to add clothes.
Thinking that Xiao Qing Yan was leaving, Xu Chang An laid down the book in his hand and went to bed directly. But just as he lied down, he heard some movement in the outer side room. Xiao Qing Yan was bathing outside, He would stay tonight.
“Eh, get up or not?” Forget it, it’s quite awkward, let's go straight to bed. Knowing that Xiao Qing Yan should not blame him, Xu Chang An felt relieved to sleep. He and Xiao Qing Yan had always had nothing to say, he believed it would be the same for a while, after going to bed, both would be sleeping.
“Wang Fei is becoming more and more unruly.” Xu Chang An naturally did not fall asleep, so Xiao Qing Yan noticed it as soon as he entered the room. When Xiao Qing Yan said this, he (XCA) just pretended to close his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
He dared not go against Xiao Qing Yan. Xu Chang An had to get up, but he didn’t know what to do after he got up. Xiao Qing Yan changed his bedclothes and went straight to bed. This…. How does he (XQY) want him to attend to him (XQY)?
“Wang Ye…” In any case, firstly he had to apologized was the right to do.
Look at that grievance appearance, but I haven’t spoken yet. (XQY)
“Wang heard from the steward that you and him had discussed about the servants' winter clothes."
“Nn.” Was it because of this he was being angry? “Wang Ye, I want to tell you this, I…”
“Is that right, then tell me, are going to prepare for Wang's winter clothes?”
“……. quite right, I didn’t find time to ask Wang Ye today. I was planning…. I was planning to ask Wang Ye when you come back in the evening, really!” Xiao Qing Yan was ready to go to bed at this time, Xu Chang An quickly helped people uncover the quilt, waited until Xiao Qing Yan fell asleep, someone covered the quilt for him (XQY), and then returned to his own side of bed.
After going to bed, Xu Chang An was thinking about explaining the winter clothes to Xiao Qing Yan, because he really forgot about Xiao Qing Yan. In his subconscious, Xiao Qing Yan’s affairs were not his responsibility. He was totally forgotten that after Xiao Qing Yan’s marriage, his clothing, food, housing and transportation, it were really his own Wang Fei who had to manage it.
“Since Wang Fei is determined, Wang’s winter clothes will have to trouble Wang Fei to make it personally.”
“….. Personally?” What does that mean? But one must by all means distinguished the meaning literally! Xu Chang An was lying flat, because Xiao Qing Yan’s words, he were frightened and stared directly at Xiao Qing Yan’s face!
“Exactly, it's what Wang Fei understood. Oh, yes, Qin Wang (1) uniform's design is cumbersome. You won't be able finish it. Wang doesn’t want trouble you. Wang Fei, you can make two sets of inner clothes for Wang." Xiao Qing Yan was still lying on his back, with one foot still bent slightly. Xu Chang An knew that the wound on his leg had not healed.
“Wang Ye……. I… I’ve heard that a refinery workshop in capital city has recently invited a wonderful embroidery girl from nowhere. She is very skilled and the clothes are refined….”    “No! For Wang's personal clothes naturally want Wang Fei to make it in person. How can you use her people for your own ends? Wang Fei can rest assured, Wang knows that you are a man and that embroidery is not very familiar to you, so Wang does not need pattern and design. If you can make it, then that is fine."
“I understood. It’s getting late. Wang Ye should go to sleep early.” Did not want to say more to Xiao Qing Yan, Xu Chang An only thought that Xiao Qing Yan was the stingiest person in the world, the worst ever! How could Xiao Qing Yan punish him for forgetting his winter clothes? Make clothes? He definitely could not!
(1) Qin Wang = refer to prince(s) who had been titled Wang