Xu ChangAn did not know what the Emperor’s decree meant, but the Yang Family did not want to let them go for a reason. Xu ChangAn actually knew it quite soon.
He had no deep feelings with the several uncles, needless to say about the aunts. Therefore, besides visiting his grandfather every day to pay respect, he could hardly see the Yang Family at all. Today, just after the cousin left, someone came to him and said that grandfather had something very important to discuss with him and also told him to go alone. When Xu ChangAn arrived at his grandfather’s place, he did not have much to say, but waiting for the person to take the initiative and mention the purpose of inviting him to come today.
“ChangAn, how many concubines are there in Xian Wang Residence? Are there any Cefei with high status?” Yang Yuande was Xu ChangAn’s grandfather and an elder. For the purpose of caring for his grandson, it was necessary to ask some questions about the Xian Wang's back courtyard. Xu ChangAn also honestly explained to his grandfather.
After Xu ChangAn finished saying, he felt something was wrong. Why was there something wrong with grandfather’s expression?
“Grandfather needn’t worry. Although Xian Wang likes that Miss Nan Xi very much, her status is low and her mother is from Southern Xinjiang. It’s impossible for her to have any status and pose no threat to this grandson.” Xu ChangAn, not in the least felt guilty to drag Nan Xi out and defame Xiao QingYan. It was reasonable to interpret grandfather’s words as a matter of concern. When he saw his grandfather was momentarily speechless more than pretext, he secretly laughed in his heart. Now he knew the purpose of his grandfather’s inviting him to come.
Was it not obviously to inquire about the Xian Wang's back courtyard? It certainly was for his Yang Family's daughter.
“En! ChangAn, Grandfather thinks I owed a lot to your mother. She was not filial at that time of that year, but she was my daughter. I shouldn’t have left her alone so that bastard Xu Yongnian had no scruples about endangering your mother’s life. Grandfather has always felt guilty and wanted to make up for it. Now that your mother is gone, it's no use in saying anymore. You are her only son. Grandfather will double the compensation for your mother’s short fall to you.” Yang Yuande’s face was full of remorse, and he was all concerned about Xu ChangAn. Since Xu ChangAn married Xiao QingYan, he also knew that people’s mind was unpredictable, and many things were not what one looked like on the surface.
“As grandfather said, my mother’s fate today is her own to blame. Marriage affairs should be arranged by her parents. Mother's fate ended up like that because of your family's elders… I am her son, although sad, but neither can I get angry or harbor grudges against grandfather and the family. I'm merely just unable to forgive father.” Xu ChangAn’s words were not all empty words, his mother’s circumstances was indeed painful to him, but more often than not, he was angry with his mother’s submission. If she had been smarter, or even not just grin and bear afterwards, she would not have let her fall into such a tragic situation.
Xu ChangAn was not in the least relented, precisely did not correspond with Yang Yuande’s words to answer. Yang Yuande was internally angry. He simply did not make it long-winded; he directly and bluntly stated his purpose.
“ChangAn, I see that Xian Wang is treating you well. But you are a man after all. Having no heir of you own, eventually it will not last long. Grandfather has this idea. The third girl in the family is just the age to be married; you had better let Xian Wang accept her. When she gives birth to a few sons and daughters, she will pass them to take your name. Like this, you can have something to rely on in the future.” Don't have to struggle for living. Nevertheless, Yang Yuande finally chose this road. Yang Family was no longer what it used to be. There was no one in the Imperial Court. The lot of business' incoming money situation was not stable. If this continued, Yang Family would not only unable to restore the glory of that year, but perhaps even slowly decline in a setback leading to total collapse.
Xu ChangAn felt amused by his grandfather’s 'ought to be right' manner of speaking. Did he believe that he, as an outsider who was nothing could decide for Xian Wang to accept imperial concubine?
“This Wang's back house[1] is not a matter for you to worry about!” Xu ChangAn’s front foot had just left, Xiao QingYan followed out. Although old man Yang let people guard outside the door, but most of the servants of Yang Family knew their identity, who dared to stop them?
“Oh right, forgot to mentioned this. This Wang had already decided to have no intention to accept any more Cefei, even if it's just an ordinary concubine. This kind of thing, Old Yang should not bother this Wang's Wangfei in the future.” Xiao QingYan at first did not uphold his status in front of Yang Family, but now he directly expressed his dissatisfaction on his face. In addition, Xu ChangAn had just mentioned about Nan Xi. Yang Yuande was frightened and hurriedly became competent; his mouth was full of begging for mercy, saying that he was just concerned and had no intention of meddling in Xian Wang's back house.
Yang Yuande's frightened and retracted his thought, but Xu ChangAn was immersed in his own train of thoughts because of Xiao QingYan’s words.
Already had his heart belongs to… Xiao QingYan emphasized the relationship between him and Nan Xi more than once in front of Xu ChangAn. Since after Nan Xi entered Wang Residence, Xiao QingYan's attitude towards him from certain point of view was indeed like what he had said. As for the other two Cefeis, Xiao QingYan did not need to explain anything, because he knew Xiao QingYan certainly had no mind for them!
So… The remaining person, the remaining person…
–
“Ever since then, you’ve been in a trance. What on earth are you thinking about?” When they arrived at their courtyard, Xiao QingYan began to ask the person beside him. He probably knew what Xu ChangAn was thinking about, but he just wanted to listen to him personally.
Since leaving his grandfather's place, Xu ChangAn’s heart had been beating like a drum. He wanted to be clear of what Xiao QingYan meant just now, but he was afraid that he was thinking too much. At the moment, Xiao QingYan still did not know that he liked him. What if he knew?
“Your Highness… The person you just mentioned… Who is it?” Would he want to believe that person mentioned was himself? But when the words came to his mouth, Xu ChangAn still could not have the courage. He could only choose another way to let Xiao QingYan tell him personally.
“Which person?”
“That’s… That’s the one you just said, the one you like. Who is it?” In fact, just looking at Xiao QingYan’s lips corner smiling, Xu ChangAn realized that he did not foolishly wished. He also realized that Xiao QingYan’s rhetorical question was deliberately to tease him.
After knowing it, Xu ChangAn calmed down. Having no longer led by the nose by Xiao QingYan, he answered directly, “Forget it, if Your Highness doesn’t want to talk about it. I supposed, it have to be a gentle and generous daughter of a noble house.” Xu ChangAn turned around and walked toward the inner room. This time, it was Xiao QingYan, who was anxious. He hurried forward and grabbed the person’s hand. Instead of stopping over, he took the person straight to the inner room.
Once in their room, Xiao QingYan let out a long sigh, and then complained, “I always thought you are an idiot. Unexpectedly, you are smart enough to know how to use psychological method of getting me to do as you wish.”
“It's you, it's you. Are you satisfied?”
“… Hmm.” Satisfied. Although he had a good idea of it, but listening to it was another kind of satisfaction. Xu ChangAn did not know if his mother had this kind of feeling for his father, which then making her completely irrational to choose such a person. But now, he was just doing the same.
He really could not just throw away a person who was so kind to him now.
“By the way, we don’t need to stay here any longer, but Imperial Father told us not to go back for the time being. What shall we do next?”
“Actually… With my understanding of Imperial Father, there must be reasons for his arrangement. We'll just need to listen to him.” Xiao QingYan was still worried about his Imperial Father’s body, but now he was at ease. If Imperial Father’s body was seriously ill, he should not let him stay here, but make him rush back quickly. Since it was the contrary, he had nothing to worry about, as long as he obeyed Imperial Father’s decree.
With Xiao QingYan’s words, Xu ChangAn was relieved. However, because of what happened just now, he totally felt uncomfortable to say whatever else.
“Right, I haven’t finished what I said just now. What I just said to your grandfather is from the heart, and not an empty talk. So you should be acting your Xian Wangfei's role honestly, and not allowed to have other thoughts again.”
“!” Xu ChangAn did not know how Xiao QingYan could say such a sentence. Did Xiao QingYan realize what he originally wanted to do? Xu ChangAn could not help feeling guilty. Originally, he really was thinking of arrangement of ideas to find an opportunity to… leave.
“Humph! Look at your guilty look. You don’t really plan anything in your mind, do you?”
“No! Absolutely not!” Even if Xu ChangAn spoke of guarantee, it did not stop his increasingly red face. He actually did not understand, why his face did not red and gasp while cooking up excuses in front of Nan Xi? Yet in front of Xiao QingYan, as soon as he told lies, he had a guilty conscience and gave the game away!
“Hmm, that’s good.” Xiao QingYan knew that this person was most likely deceiving him, but he did not expose him, instead he just said something to reassure him again.
“I’ll tell you again that all my words are sincere and not half empty. In the future, there will be no more Cefei in Xian Wang Residence, and so are concubines. You shouldn’t worry too much about my heir. QingYu that stinky boy, is extremely fickle, depend on him to have an indefinite number of children in the future. QingYu is bound to be conferred Wang in the future, but there is only one Wang position and only one son to inherit in the future. When I adopt his child, this child will certainly inherit my Wang position in the future. Although QingYu does not have a purpose in life, but this kind of matter, he can understand it. You need not worry about it.” There was still something left that Xiao QingYan did not know whether to say it or not, but he said it all in spite of the stunned look of his silly Wangfei.
“You don't need to doubt it. Imperial Father did not want to take concubines at that time, but he was the Son of Heaven. Although he was supported by all the people, there were many things he could not help doing. I’m just a Wangye. I didn’t need to worry about having children and heirs by hundreds of the court officials. I would like to follow my own heart and nobody could stop me.”
Xiao QingYan’s words came slowly, which were basically to make clear of what he wants to say to other. Xu ChangAn had no idea that Xiao QingYan had such a plan in his heart. Coupled with the vow-like words still lingering in his ears, he lost his voice for a moment, and could only look at Xiao QingYan in such a straightforward way with no respond at all.
“Ha, is that surprising? You had even confessed to this Wang. Of course this Wang should show you my mind.” Taking Xu ChangAn, this foolish person in his arms, Xiao QingYan was trying to do something to bring his soul back. Unexpectedly, the person in his arms suddenly pushed him aside and asked with a full face of questions, “When did I confess to you?”
“You…” Even forget it. This fellow, only a touch of wine could be intoxicated, and he could not remember anything when he was drunk!