Tao Hua, with no confidence in outrunning Xie Jing Lan, entered the Fourth Prince's mansion dejectedly.
This truly startled Tang Di.
Seeing the bruised and battered pineapple-headed boy trailing behind his Highness, Tang Di dared not question Xie Jing Lan directly. He sidled up to Huo Nian Gong and winked, "What's going on?"
Huo Nian Gong replied in a completely by-the-book manner, "When His Highness returned to the mansion, he heard from the Seventh Prince that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was going to a banquet at the Zou family's. So, he specifically detoured to the street where the Zou family was located and happened to see assassins from Tujue disguised as beggars. The Eldest Daughter of the Ji family then handed the person over to His Highness, and His Highness brought him back."
Tang Di, "..."
So, it was all because of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family?
Xie Jing Qi, who had been waiting until he was moldy in the main hall, heard the voices and came out. Upon seeing Tao Hua, he was also startled, "Fourth Brother, when did you get such a big son?"
Xie Jing Lan waved his hand, signaling Tang Di to settle Tao Hua first, and then led Xie Jing Qi back to the main hall.
As soon as Xie Jing Qi entered, he slumped back onto the rosewood round table and, looking at his Fourth Brother, couldn't help but gossip, "Fourth Brother, weren't you looking for Ji Zi Zhao? How did your conversation go?"
He had rushed over to inform his Fourth Brother as soon as he heard that the Zou family had invited Ji Zi Zhao.
What business did a bunch of old men have with a woman? Had they no shame?
Xie Jing Lan lifted his robe and sat opposite the round table, pouring himself tea as if he hadn't heard the question at all.
Xie Jing Qi thought his Fourth Brother was embarrassed. It was fine; he had nothing to do tonight and plenty of time to wait for his Fourth Brother to recover.
To his surprise, he waited for a full half an hour...
He then looked at his Fourth Brother sitting opposite him, who was not only drinking tea but had also picked up a book and was reading quietly.
Xie Jing Qi, "..."
If this weren't his Fourth Brother, he would have flipped the table long ago.
He had been waiting here until he was withered, and his Fourth Brother was treating him like thin air?
With his backside aching from sitting, Xie Jing Qi snatched the book from Xie Jing Lan's hand, "Fourth Brother, I'm asking you a question. How are things between you and Ji Zi Zhao? Any progress?"
Xie Jing Lan put down the colorful porcelain teacup and smiled faintly, "I was rejected."
Xie Jing Qi was stunned, "Rejected what?"
"She doesn't want to marry me."
"How is that possible?"
Xie Jing Qi looked Xie Jing Lan up and down. While his Fourth Brother wasn't the most outstanding in appearance among his brothers, he was still elegant, serene, and possessed a distinguished aura.
Xie Jing Lan said with a light smile, "It's not the first time I've been rejected. Why should you be so surprised?"
Xie Jing Qi, "..."
He felt like he had stumbled upon a huge piece of gossip!
After a long pause, Xie Jing Qi said again, "Fourth Brother, I truly admire your ability to still smile."
If he had been rejected twice in a row by a girl, he would have lost the will to live.
Xie Jing Lan chuckled and raised his teacup, gently swirling it, "Smiling doesn't necessarily mean being truly happy."
Xie Jing Qi carefully examined the refined and handsome face in front of him, the corners of his lips curved upwards, and his eyes held a warm smile comparable to the spring breeze in March. How could this face show any signs of pain?
"Fourth Brother, I really don't understand you. Since you want to marry Ji Zi Zhao, why don't you ask Mother to help? With Mother's status, a few words in Father's ear would resolve so many problems."
If Mother had intervened directly, what would be the difference between him and Xie Jing Zhou?
"Liking someone doesn't mean you have to tie them to your side," Xie Jing Lan said, holding the teapot and pouring another cup of tea for his simple, foolish younger brother.
Moreover, compared to possession, he wanted to protect her to the best of his ability.
This way, when the day of his departure finally came, his feelings for her would not have been in vain.
It was just a pity he didn't even have that chance.
That girl was too stubborn.
So stubborn that even he was helpless.
Xie Jing Qi had always thought that his Fourth Brother viewed Ji Zi Zhao the same way he viewed others.
In the past, when he was in the princes' residence, and the other princes ostracized and neglected him, his Fourth Brother had never paid any mind. If they ostracized and neglected him, so be it.
Given his Fourth Brother's placid and cold demeanor, who else had he ever cared about so deeply, besides him and Mother?
Yet now, after being rejected by Ji Zi Zhao twice in a row, he could still speak up for her...
It was obviously different!
But if he liked her, why couldn't they be together?
Xie Jing Qi, "..."
He suddenly felt that the world of adults was so complicated.
Xie Jing Lan looked at his younger brother's distressed expression and smiled faintly, "How are things at the参将署 (Can Jiang Shu - Commandant's Office)?"
Xie Jing Qi scratched his head, "Just so-so. You know Xie Jing Zhou. He doesn't have the guts to confront me openly, so he spends his days stabbing me in the back."
"If the Fifth Prince lacked some substance, he wouldn't have portrayed himself as timid and cowardly so convincingly over the years. You need to be careful. The unrest in Tong Lin is severe right now. Do not act rashly and be used as a pawn. It seems that this time, Xi Rong is determined to conquer Tong Lin. Even Father has been avoiding the issue."
When mentioning Xi Rong, a flicker of something clearly crossed Xie Jing Lan's dark eyes.
But Xie Jing Qi, whose mind was completely elsewhere, didn't notice at all, "I'm just going through the motions at the Commandant's Office. Fourth Brother doesn't need to worry."
"If you keep drifting like this, when will it end? Little Seven, neither Mother nor I can accompany you to the very end. Have you considered that if the Fifth Prince were to ascend to the throne, Mother would be the first to be eliminated, let alone others."
Noble Consort Xi had been feuding with Mother for so long. Once the Fifth Prince gained power, how could Noble Consort Xi tolerate Mother?
Xie Jing Qi's eyes widened.
Xie Jing Lan paused and then said, "Furthermore, the person who returned with me was actually an assassin from Tujue, bribed heavily by General Mu Man specifically to assassinate Ji Zi Zhao."
Xie Jing Qi's eyes widened even further.
As he regained his senses, Xie Jing Qi suddenly stood up and was about to rush out, "Do Tujue still have any shame?"
Daring to hunt and kill in Yu Lin?
They were getting too presumptuous!
Xie Jing Lan did not rise to stop him, but merely watched Xie Jing Qi's retreating back and said, "Even if you kill this person today, there will be others tomorrow who will continue to assassinate Ji Zi Zhao. Mother is the same. Even if it wasn't the Fifth Prince but someone else who took that throne, would Mother have a peaceful end? Little Seven, having the heart to protect someone is certainly good, but it's not about fists; it's about power."
Xie Jing Qi stood stiffly, frozen in place. After a long while, he turned back and asked, "Fourth Brother, does it mean that if I don't contend, everyone around me will suffer with me?"
Xie Jing Lan met Xie Jing Qi's wounded gaze, which was like that of a little beast, and smiled faintly, "Even if you continue to live in a daze, those who care about you will never blame you. As for those who don't care about you, why bother with their opinions? However, in this life, one must protect everything they wish to protect, only then will this journey not be in vain."
Just as Tang Di, who had finished arranging Tao Hua's lodging, returned, he saw Xie Jing Qi leaving dejectedly.
Seeing the Seventh Prince looking like a wilted eggplant, Tang Di offered a silent prayer in his heart.
He guessed he had been thoroughly "abused" by his Highness again.
"Your Highness, perhaps the Seventh Prince needs more time to adjust..."
"There's no time," Xie Jing Lan put down his teacup and looked out the window. It wasn't that he didn't want to give Little Seven time; it was that his own time was running out.