Chapter 74: A Woman's Thoughts, You Don't Understand

74. Chapter 74: A Woman's Thoughts, You Don't Understand

The Xie Family, front courtyard, large study.

The current Grand Tutor Xie Zizheng sat squarely and steadily in the Grand Tutor's chair, and a bowl of freshly made fruit slush sat on the table beside him.

Opposite him, Xie Zian tossed the spoon from his hand with a disdainful expression.

"The taste is off, too!"

"Just fruit with ice, it's a completely different thing!"

Xie Zian had also tried Qingxia's fruit slush, and he looked down on this simple product without cream.

"I think it's fine!"

Xie Zizheng, however, wasn't as picky as Xie Zian, "But don't you think your daughter‑in‑law making this is a bit beneath her status?"

"Is that so?"

"I don't think so!"

Xie Zian, after a moment of careful thought, concluded that his own daughter‑in‑law making this was perfectly fine.

In this capital's high‑status households, which one doesn't have a shop?

Their businesses span a myriad of industries.

Even enterprises like brothels and gambling dens have people covertly involved.

His daughter‑in‑law running a cool, summer‑relief drink stall doesn't compete with the people for profit, which is fine.

"I mean, the future young lady of the illustrious Xie Family shouldn't engage in such commercial affairs, right?"

Xie Zizheng didn't want to beat around the bush with his younger brother and got straight to the point.

"Brother, that's unreasonable!"

Xie Zian immediately replied, "The Xie Family has that many shops; why don't you say we are involved in commerce?"

"Our shops are managed by overseers; we don't take part!"

Xie Zizheng's answer left Xie Zian even more speechless.

"Brother, my daughter‑in‑law's stall is run by the mother of her maid; she herself isn't involved!"

"As for this matter, old sir, you needn't meddle!"

"My daughter‑in‑law just set up a small side business to earn pocket money; it's a trivial matter. If any censor gets complacent, I can make him understand what hunger feels like in a heartbeat!"

Xie Zian immediately took charge of everything.

Xie Zizheng, hearing this, smiled and said, "Since you put it that way, let's pretend I never mentioned it!"

"Brother, you've finished your part; now it's my turn to speak, right?"

"Do you have something?"

Xie Zizheng sized up his younger brother, unable to imagine what he could possibly have.

"That girl Wan Er, aren't you going to keep an eye on her?"

Xie Zian's expression grew slightly stern, "Her aunt kindly gave her some delicacies; she didn't even say thank you, and then she smashed the items!"

"Since when have the Xie family's daughters become so uncultured?"

These words caused Xie Zizheng's face to change dramatically.

He had been busy all day and truly didn't know there was this side to the household.

"I'll get to the bottom of this."

"If it's truly Wan Er's fault, I'll have her quietly apologize and make amends!"

"Brother, what more are you going to investigate? Would I, as an uncle, falsely accuse my own niece?"

Xie Zian rolled his eyes, "Brother, not to criticize you, but you really should keep a better watch on Xie Yanwan, or else you'll regret it in the future!"

"I won't keep talking to you; I'm leaving now!"

When Xie Zian reached the doorway, he suddenly halted, looked back at his pensive brother, and said, "Brother, one more thing: that top scholar Zheng Si Que is not a suitable match!"

Although Xie Yanwan has many flaws, she is still his brother's beloved daughter, so Xie Zian thought it worth reminding him.

As for whether Xie Zizheng would listen or take it to heart, Xie Zian said as long as his conscience is clear, that's enough.

……

The next day, at dawn.

The sun shone bright and brilliant; it was clearly a clear, sunny day.

A clear day meant it would be very hot.

In such scorching weather, Qingxia's uniquely flavored fruit slush naturally became many people's first choice.

In fact, many people had gone home yesterday and tried making fruit slush themselves, but the results were unsatisfactory; the taste was always lacking something.

Therefore, more people came to Qingxia today.

Even though Shen Yunyao had the Yu family bring extra help, there still weren't enough hands. There was no other solution; the back kitchen was so small that even more staff had nowhere to be placed.

With no other option, they could only queue.

"Your Imperial Highness, brother, and Your Imperial Highness, sister‑in‑law, see, I wasn't wrong!"

At that moment, opposite Qingxia, Princess Huanxi arrived at the teahouse—where Shen Yunyao had been before—accompanied by Emperor Xi He and Empress Xie Zixian.

"That fruit slush is indeed good, but it shouldn't attract so many people, right?"

Emperor Xi He said that was illogical.

Princess Huanxi chuckled, "Brother, this is something you just don't understand!"

"Where do I not understand?"

Emperor Xi He strongly objected.

Empress Xie Zixian smiled lightly and said, "Your Majesty, a woman's thoughts—of course you don't understand!"

"What does this woman's thinking have to do with it?"

Emperor Xi He truly doesn't understand this time.

Xie Zixian smiled and immediately began to explain to Emperor Xi He: "Women, you see, love to compare the most."

"When delicious pastries appear on the market, these noble ladies will certainly go try them; otherwise, later when they speak of it, wouldn't it make them seem like they know nothing?"

"But didn't they all eat them yesterday?"

"Yes, precisely because they've eaten them, they'll come again!"

"Such a tasty thing—how could one serving ever be enough?"

"If everyone else comes to eat and I don't, doesn't that show I'm inferior?"

"Can it be understood that way?"

Emperor Xi He thought that a woman who thinks like that must not be very clear‑headed.

Fortunately, his family's Empress is not that kind of person.

Just then, the senior maid serving Princess Huanxi came over with a food box and took out three bowls of fruit slush.

"Elder brother ate it yesterday, so he probably doesn't want it today; tonight, I'll share it with sister‑in‑law!"

When the maid placed a bowl of fruit slush in front of Emperor Xi He, Princess Huanxi quickly reached out and moved that bowl to the spot between herself and Xie Zixian.

Emperor Xi He felt a bit flushed; seeing the fruit slush, he subconsciously swallowed some saliva, never expecting his own younger sister to give him a warm kick.

"Who says I don't want to eat today?"

"Give it to me!"

Emperor Xi He is not the type to care about face while neglecting substance.

When delicacies are before you, you must eat to your heart's content.

"Elder brother, let me tell you, this fruit slush would be even better with watermelon!"

"Unfortunately, those people in the Western Regions are too stingy!"

"If you ask me, we should send troops to seize the Western Regions so that our Dayong citizens can enjoy watermelon freedom!"

Princess Huanxi ate the delicious fruit slush while ribbing Emperor Xi He.

Emperor Xi He blinked and said, "This is a matter of state; do you think sending troops is that simple?"

"Aggression leads to ruin!"

"Our ancestors have already proven that to us!"

"Besides, even if we were to send troops, we lack sufficient justification!"

"If the name is not righteous, the words will not flow smoothly."

"Even though I am the emperor, I cannot ignore the ministers' remonstrances!"