Chapter 73: The Beginning (3)

He coughed softly, attempting to shake off the unease and slight discomfort lingering in his heart. Then, addressing his grandmother, he replied, “Wenwen is still young and cannot yet fully grasp her own thoughts and feelings. Her occasional inappropriate behavior is understandable. I hope Grandmother can show her compassion and refrain from mentioning this matter further, so as not to tarnish her reputation.”

Seeing her grandson stubbornly defending that orphaned girl despite the clear evidence, the matriarch naturally assumed he had fallen under Fang Yun’s spell. Her anger flared anew as she scolded, “Jingchen! Have you lost your senses? That shameless, ill-mannered act of hers—how can you even speak of preserving her reputation?”

The matriarch’s words were sharp, but Qi Ying knew it was futile to argue with her. He remained silent. After a long tirade, the matriarch noticed her second grandson hadn’t uttered a word. Upon closer inspection, she saw the cold detachment in his eyes.

This grandson had always been taciturn and aloof, difficult to read. Now, with his elevated status and growing power, he exuded an even more formidable aura. Though the matriarch was his elder, seeing him like this unnerved her. Unconsciously, she softened her tone and retreated slightly, saying, “If you truly fancy the Fang girl, keeping her by your side isn’t entirely unacceptable—as long as she doesn’t enter the Qi family. You may do as you please, and neither I nor your parents will object. However, marriage is a significant matter. The Sixth Princess is not one to bring stability to a household, unlike Rong’er, who is gentle and refined. Jingchen, remember: when choosing a wife, virtue is paramount. Think carefully.”

Qi Ying fell silent for a moment after hearing this.

His grandmother had always favored her maternal relatives—it was nothing new. While alliances between noble families were common, excessive favoritism often led to trouble. He had long felt his grandmother leaned too heavily toward the Fu family, but as a younger generation member, he couldn’t criticize her openly. Now, he could only address the matter indirectly.

After a pause, he said, “I understand Grandmother’s goodwill, but this matter involves the Sixth Princess—a hurdle we must clear with His Majesty’s approval. I am powerless in this regard. If Grandmother has other plans, perhaps she should discuss them with Father. I will defer to the elders’ decisions.”

The matriarch, having lived many years, recognized her grandson’s evasive tactics—he was deflecting her with bureaucratic doublespeak. His words seemed respectful and obedient on the surface, but none of them were truly useful. Yet his demeanor gave the impression of compliance, leaving her no room to press further.

Thus, after summoning her second grandson for a tongue-lashing, she ended up gaining nothing except venting her frustration—and feeling even more stifled.

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The night breeze was cool.

As Qi Ying stepped out of his grandmother’s courtyard, he unexpectedly encountered his older brother and sister-in-law strolling in the garden. Surprisingly, they weren’t accompanied by their son Hui’er.

After exchanging greetings, Qi Yun glanced at where his younger brother had come from and asked with a smile, “You’ve just seen Grandmother?”

Qi Ying nodded. Then, hearing his brother inquire, “You seem in a hurry—are you returning to Fenghe Garden?”

He nodded again, casually adding, “Yes, I’m going back to check on Wenwen.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he suddenly recalled his grandmother’s earlier remark about her sleeping wrapped in his coat. That strange, unsettling feeling resurfaced, causing his expression to falter slightly. Fortunately, the dim lighting concealed his unease from Qi Yun and Han Ruohui. Qi Yun simply smiled and said, “Alright, then go. Be careful on the road.”

Qi Ying nodded, bid farewell to his brother and sister-in-law, and turned to leave.

Watching his younger brother’s retreating figure, Qi Yun sighed and turned to his wife, remarking, “Hmm, I didn’t believe you when you first mentioned it, but now seeing how he rushes to Fenghe Garden daily—it does seem like something’s going on. Outsiders might even think he’s already started a family.”

Han Ruohui, both proud and coy, smiled at her husband. “That’s right. In the future, you’d better listen to me—it won’t steer you wrong.”

Qi Yun, ever the indulgent husband, quickly flattered her, saying, “My lady is wise beyond compare. I’ll listen—I’ll listen to everything.”

The couple exchanged tender glances, their laughter filling the garden.

On the carriage ride back to Fenghe Garden, Qi Ying meticulously reviewed Shen Xiqing’s situation from every angle.

He reasoned that the young girl’s incomplete emotional maturity meant her current feelings for him weren’t her fault but rather a consequence of his inappropriate behavior. For instance, he had treated her as a child, occasionally engaging in overly familiar gestures like smoothing her hair or pinching her cheeks. These actions blurred boundaries, likely leading to her misunderstanding.

Fortunately, she was still young. With careful guidance, she could learn to distinguish between romantic love and familial affection. This way, he wouldn’t compound his mistake by delaying her growth.

Qi Ying concluded that the first step was to create some distance between them. Physical contact should cease, and their interactions should become less frequent. Over time, her budding feelings would naturally fade.

With this plan in mind, he felt somewhat reassured. His only concern was her sensitive nature—what if she sensed his withdrawal and became hurt? How would he handle that?

Lost in thought throughout the journey, he realized raising a child was far more challenging than solving complex policy debates during his youth. The prospect of interacting with Shen Xiqing later filled him with apprehension—he wasn’t sure how to navigate their conversation.

Upon arriving at Fenghe Garden, he learned that Shen Xiqing had gone out and hadn’t returned yet.

Shen Xiqing finally returned close to the hour of Hai.

Though she hadn’t left Shunnan Street too late, she hadn’t returned directly to Fenghe Garden. Thinking it rare to venture out, she detoured to nearby markets, visiting several fabric shops and spending considerable time before heading back.

Ascending the mountain steps, she was surprised to find Bai Song leaning against the lantern-lit gate, sword in hand and a bamboo leaf between his teeth. Greeting him, she asked, “Why are you here, Brother Bai? Why not go inside?”

Bai Song spat out the bamboo leaf, crossing his arms casually. “Master Qi instructed me to wait here. If you hadn’t returned by Hai, I was to go look for you.”

Shen Xiqing was startled, feeling guilty for inconveniencing Bai Song. Lowering her head, she murmured, “I… I…”

Bai Song shrugged, glancing at her. “Luckily, it’s not yet Hai, saving me another trip. Go inside—Master Qi is waiting for you in the study.”

Shen Xiqing nodded, entering through the gate. Passing through the courtyards, she reached the entrance of Wangshi Study, where Qingzhu stood guard.

Lately, the boy had been kinder to her, likely due to her frequent directions. However, her late return tonight erased any goodwill. Qingzhu’s face darkened as he glared at her, whispering accusingly, “Where have you been? Couldn’t you have sent word? Master Qi has been waiting over an hour!”

Shen Xiqing kept her head down, silent. Qingzhu continued glaring, scrutinizing her for injuries. Seeing none, his expression softened slightly, though his tone remained harsh. “What are you standing there for? Go in!”

Shen Xiqing glanced at him, ascended the steps, and entered the study.

As she opened the door, Qi Ying looked up at her.

Shen Xiqing bit her lip, striving to appear composed. Closing the door behind her, she approached Qi Ying’s desk and bowed respectfully. “Master.”

Qi Ying gestured for her to sit. She moved to her small desk, sitting down. He asked, “Did you go out with Mr. Ding today?”

Since she hadn’t informed anyone of her outing, Qi Ying must have learned of it through a message left by Shui Pei or the others.

Shen Xiqing nodded. “Yes.”

Qi Ying frowned, checking the time. “Next time, don’t return so late. If you must, at least leave a note.”

Shen Xiqing nodded again. “Yes.”

The girl was as obedient and quiet as usual, but Qi Ying sensed something different—though he couldn’t pinpoint what. Assuming it was fatigue or the challenges of managing a business, he inquired further. “Did you inspect the shop? What did you think?”

Shen Xiqing lowered her head, replying honestly, “I looked it over and met the manager with Mr. Ding. But I’m inexperienced in business matters. Today, I only brought back some account books, intending to review them later.”

Qi Ying nodded.

Selecting this shop had required careful consideration. Given her youth and inexperience, the shop’s scale couldn’t be too large or too small, nor its situation too difficult or too easy. It needed manageable challenges to help her grow.

Her visit marked the first step—a positive development.

Qi Ying advised her, “Every beginning is challenging, but perseverance will lead to improvement. Mr. Ding is skilled in management and willing to teach. Seek his guidance whenever you’re unsure.”

Shen Xiqing nodded again. “Yes.”

Since entering, she had responded only with “yes” unless questioned. Qi Ying noticed but attributed her reticence to fatigue or uncertainty about business matters.

Her silence tonight suited him fine, as he hadn’t yet figured out how to adjust their interactions.

Qi Ying sighed inwardly, glancing at her. Under the lamplight, she appeared distant, unlike her previous affectionate gaze. A faint discomfort stirred within him, though he dismissed it.

“Go rest,” he said.

She rose, murmuring another “yes,” and left without looking back.

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Author’s Note: Trying to float away, young man?

Your wife has initiated a cold war, deflating all your airs.

Floating? Ha!

This chapter concludes. Tomorrow brings the final chapter of Volume Two: watch the humble male lead attempt reconciliation online.