Chapter 49: A True Confidant Is Hard to Find (Part Two) (This chapter is free)
Xie Wan was somewhat swayed and said, "Ayuan is far too determined to outdo others. To think she would consider going to Huan Wen's Military Headquarters-how absurd! But if we truly cannot dissuade her, then let her go and gain some experience for six months or a year, and afterward find a pretext to have her retire from office and return home."
Xie Xuan outwardly murmured his assent, but inwardly thought, We cannot stop Elder Sister from doing what she wants even now. Once she enters the military headquarters, she will be beyond the reach of our whip. How could we possibly call her back? He also thought that after she entered the Western Headquarters, Elder Sister and Chen Caozhi would be together morning and night. Given Elder Sister's talent and beauty, Chen Caozhi might well come to love her. Besides, Lu Shi resolutely refused to let the Lu Clan Lady marry beneath her station. What could Chen Caozhi do about that? He could not remain unmarried for the rest of his life over this, nor would the Chen Clan permit it. If Chen Caozhi and Elder Sister could become husband and wife, would that not be a fine thing?
Xie Xuan held his elder sister Xie Daoyun in the highest respect. He was already betrothed to a young lady of the Riverside Yang Clan, yet Elder Sister's prospects for marriage remained uncertain. Xie Xuan deeply admired Chen Caozhi's talent; leaving family standing aside, he truly was an ideal match for Elder Sister. Since Xie Xuan knew what lay in Elder Sister's heart, he naturally hoped she would have her wish and would not spend her life lonely and forlorn.