What a Loving Couple

Xie Madam swept her gaze over everyone. Xie Ying stood there in a daze, and Nian Chun behind her looked scared witless. Shen Lantang, though surprised, remained composed.

No thoughts to hear.

Xie Madam could not say whether she was disappointed. Since she heard nothing, she did not press the matter. She turned to Xie Ying. "Yingying, Zhi Xia stole your personal belongings, so you can't keep her. Tomorrow, I'll assign you another maid from the Residence."

Xie Ying nodded blankly, then shook her head again and again. "There's no need, Aunt. I'm grown up now. I don't need two maids waiting on me. Nian Chun is enough."

She had clearly been frightened. Better to have only Nian Chun than to bring in someone who might prove disloyal.

Considering Xie Ying's age, Xie Madam did not insist.

"Then I'll assign you a maid for rough work. She'll stay nearby."

"Thank you, Aunt."

From the broken engagement to Zhi Xia's handover to the authorities, the whole affair seemed to have come to an end.

Later, in the privacy of her room, Xie Madam wondered whether only people who cared about Xie Ying could hear Shen Lantang's thoughts. Nian Chun cared about Xie Ying's marriage, whereas Zhi Xia's concern had been false. Naturally, she would not truly care about the match.

As for Cai Yue, she was merely Xie Madam's personal maid. Whatever she felt toward the master of the house, her concern for the second branch was only for show. It was no surprise that she could not hear the thoughts.

Unfortunately, Xie Madam heard nothing more after that. She fell asleep with a faint, inexplicable sense of loss.

Two days later, the Xie Residence bustled from top to bottom once more. Xie Jin was coming home!

Xie Jin was like a prized college student returning home outside of summer or winter break. Whenever he came back, the entire household acted as though it were New Year. Good food and drink, fresh legs of lamb, chicken, duck, and goose all arrived at the Residence. Even Shen Lantang's meals improved, though they had never been lacking.

That morning, Shen Lantang had only just woken up. Still feeling sticky all over, she was languidly rising from her woven-bamboo couch when Baozhu hurried over.

"Miss, miss! Let me help you dress!"

Shen Lantang frowned. "What's the rush? Your young master isn't due back yet."

Baozhu looked perfectly innocent. "That's exactly why I have time to make you look beautiful! When he arrives, he'll be dazzled!"

Shen Lantang eyed her with a frown. "Whose side are you on?"

Baozhu was not thrown by her peculiar phrasing. She stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Yours, of course! But the young master is your husband. When we were at home, you always said that when you go out into the world, you rely on friends, so you should be friendly to people. Now that you're married, naturally you rely on your husband. There's nothing wrong with helping you win his favor."

Shen Lantang: "..."

Shen Lantang fell utterly silent.

While chaos reigned around Shen Lantang, Xie Madam sat in the reception hall of the main courtyard, joy plain in her eyes. Xie Jin came home only once every half month, so his mother missed him dearly. But she had always been dignified and reserved, and she did not show it too openly. After they exchanged a few words as mother and son, Xie Mother asked,

"Are things well between you and Lan Tang?"

"Between Lan Tang and me?"

Xie Jin knew little about his new wife. Their marriage had been arranged with neither knowing the other beforehand. Since the wedding, though, Shen Lantang had managed the household, overseen their courtyard, and cared for the younger members of the family. She had given him nothing to worry about, and they had never quarreled. With that in mind, Xie Jin nodded. "We're doing well."

Xie Madam hesitated. "Have you noticed anything unusual about Lan Tang?"

"Unusual? In what way? Has she done something to displease you, Mother?"

"No, no."

Afraid he had misunderstood, Xie Madam hurried to explain. "It's not that. It's..."

Xie Madam told him everything that had happened over the past few days. Xie Jin was astonished. After a moment's hesitation, he said,

"Mother, that's impossible. How could anyone hear another person's thoughts? Perhaps you've been worried about the matter and imagined hearing them?"

"You..."

Xie Madam had known how unbelievable it would sound. Anyone who had not experienced it would refuse to believe it. But she had not been the only one to hear those words. It could not have been her imagination.

"Never mind. Let's set it aside. You're home so rarely—go spend time with your wife and child."

Xie Jin took that to mean she had realized how absurd it sounded and did not pursue it. "Your son will take his leave."

Xie Madam shook her head as she watched Xie Jin go. So be it. The day he heard the thoughts himself, he would understand.

The kitchen had heard that the young master was home and had prepared breakfast early. After waiting some time, someone came to ask Shen Lantang, "Madam, shall we serve the meal?"

As a new daughter-in-law, Shen Lantang was not sure what to do and wanted only to avoid a mistake. "Let's wait a little longer for my husband—"

"What are you waiting for me to do?"

A man in a blue-green brocade robe with narrow sleeves entered as he spoke.

Xie Jin had the upright, handsome looks typical of the Xie Family. His features were well defined, while his eyes and nose had inherited Xie Madam's gentle elegance, lending him a touch of warmth. But years in the army had long since covered that softness with an edge honed by blood and sweat. At a glance, he was like a sword still in its scabbard that everyone knew was sharp.

"Father!"

Xie Hongwen cried out and pattered toward him in his little shoes.

"Father!"

A trace of warmth appeared on Xie Jin's face. He stepped forward and scooped him up with one arm.

"You've gotten thinner."

A nanny beside them said with a cheerful laugh, "The young master missed you so much. He thought of you day and night, and that's why he's lost weight."

Xie Jin did not answer, but he seemed pleased. Carrying Xie Hongwen, he walked a few steps forward and stopped before Shen Lantang.

Shen Lantang gave him a quiet bow.

"My husband."

Xie Jin nodded. "Thank you for looking after the family."

"It was no trouble."