Chapter 18: 18. Won't Regret

18. Won't Regret

Xie Lingjiang was in men's clothing again today.

She was tall and slender, with a white face, black hair, a soap-silk folding scarf on her head, a treasure-blue narrow-sleeved long robe with a lapel, a purple silk jade belt at her waist, and high-headed brocade shoes.

Ouyang Rong, who had a critical eye, had to sigh that this Xie family woman was indeed beautiful in appearance. Wearing men's clothing, she was more dashing than most men. The only strange thing was that her chest was a bit big, which made men jealous.

This kind of girl wearing men's clothing wasn't strange in the Great Zhou. This trend had spread from the noble ladies of Chang'an and Luoyang since the founding of the Great Gan Dynasty, becoming a fashion for women in the empire.

Perhaps it was because the Li Gan imperial family had Di blood, making the atmosphere open and inclusive, or perhaps it was because too many men died in the Northern and Southern Dynasties' struggle for the throne, and women participated in various social production and activities, significantly improving their status. In commoner families, women could hold up half the sky. In the upper echelons of the empire, female nobles actively participated in politics, and finally, a fierce existence like Empress Wei Zhao was born, slaughtering the Li Gan imperial family.

So, it was no big deal for a young lady like Xiao Shimei to wear men's clothing daily, study at the academy, and kick eight burly men flying in a row.

Then what was a big deal?

Suddenly wanting to marry you was a big deal.

"Teacher, student... doesn't quite understand." Ouyang Rong said, facing Xie Xun's smiling gaze: "Why does Xiao Shimei need to stay to accompany me? The county office is busy, and the student is afraid of not being able to take good care of Xiao Shimei."

"Hey, why are you talking like that..." The Zhen family reached out under the table to twist the thigh meat of her stupid nephew. The latter put his two legs together and dodged.

Xie Lingjiang's gaze cast over, shaking her head seriously: "It's not Lianghan brother taking care of me, it's me taking care of Lianghan brother."

Is there a difference?

Hiss, it seems there is indeed a little difference.

It seems the Xie family young lady likes to be on top. However, it's not impossible for my beloved son to be on the bottom. Can't he turn over and be on top at night after being wronged on the bottom during the day... The Zhen family thought secretly.

Seeing the student fall into silence without answering; and that Madam Zhen also seemed to have misunderstood something.

Xie Xun first opened his mouth to the woman in the silk skirt:

"Thank you for your concern yesterday, Madam. However, Wanwan is more concerned about her studies and experience right now. I also hope she can inherit this bit of family-transmitted Confucianism in the future. I don't want other things to disturb her these few years."

This was a polite refusal.

"However, Lianghan cannot learn from his Xiao Shimei. Since he has become an official, he should indeed consider some major life events. Cultivating the family is also a kind of cultivation. Madam, you were half right yesterday. I'm not sure if the Jiangzuo gentry values character, but our Chen Jun Xie family does value character. When I go back, I will look for other branches to see if there are any suitable Xie family young ladies who are a good match for Lianghan."

This was retreating first to advance later.

It could also be, drawing a cake.

The Zhen family stiffened. She hesitated for a moment and asked: "That's really a pity... Then are those other branches direct or collateral?"

Xie Xun's face didn't change, explaining patiently: "In the mouths of outsiders, they might be called collateral branches, but within the clan, we all regard them as one family. There is no distinction between direct and collateral. Madam, set your mind at ease. The suitable one is the best."

"Oh, is that so..." The Zhen family slowly lowered her eyes, looking at the cold porridge on the table.

The Zhen family's disappointed reaction made Xie Xun feel a bit apologetic. Actually, it wasn't that there were no young Xie family ladies in the direct Jin Ling branch, but it was impossible. Those young ladies didn't even have half of Wanwan's conditions and excellence, but they all held themselves as noble families and wouldn't even look at men with other surnames unless they were powerful officials of the current dynasty.

However, compared to the Zhen family's forced smile at this time, Ouyang Rong was indeed silently relieved, thinking to himself, this is reasonable.

Xie Lingjiang, who had been lowering her eyes and drinking porridge in small sips, suddenly raised her head and glanced at the Ru Shixiong opposite.

She didn't have a bad sense of humor; she was just simply curious about his reaction.

But she found that this Ru Shixiong didn't show anger or blush, didn't laugh lightly to show aloofness, nor did he pretend to be light and indifferent without speaking.

He just... listened carefully to what her father said while finishing the two large bowls of thick porridge in front of him, and didn't even let go of the two small jars of pickled radishes on the table, finishing them all without a sound. If it weren't for the fact that her father and she hadn't used their chopsticks much, he would probably have finished the last small jar of pickled radishes too.

Xie Lingjiang was a bit speechless, but she was also curious. She pulled out a pair of chopsticks, knocked them together with a "clatter" to align them, and went to pick up a piece of pickled radish.

Are the pickled radishes at East Forest Temple really that delicious?

"Lianghan."

"Mm, student is here." Ouyang Rong put down his chopsticks and bowl.

Xie Xun gestured toward Xie Lingjiang and explained to him:

"It's like this. Your Xiao Shimei staying behind was her own proposal. She saw that the water disaster in Longcheng was severe before going up the mountain and felt compassion, wanting to stay to assist you in doing some things. And I also feel that your Xiao Shimei has read enough books at the academy and should indeed come out to gain experience and shed some of her immaturity."

Ouyang Rong wanted to speak but stopped.

Xie Xun added: "Just let her follow by your side as a staff member. No need to take special care of her. She will take good care of herself. Actually, your Xiao Shimei... has some martial arts. Maybe she can help you at critical moments."

Ouyang Rong originally wanted to say that he had Yan the constable and the others to protect him and didn't need Xiao Shimei's help. However, he immediately remembered Xiao Shimei's legs at Sanhui Courtyard yesterday, and he closed his mouth. To be honest, these long legs were indeed quite fatal, in every aspect.

It was just that Ouyang Rong still felt that letting Xie Lingjiang stay as a staff member was like playing around.

However, facing the mentor's kindness and earnest gaze at this moment, he still nodded.

"Good. However, Xiao Shimei must guarantee to listen to me."

Xie Xun nodded with satisfaction, "Wanwan, don't cause trouble for your Ru Shixiong. Watch well and learn well."

"Oh." Xie Lingjiang nodded absent-mindedly.

Her mind was now entirely on the pickled radishes. They were indeed delicious and crispy.

It seemed there was one more reason to stay.

"Lianghan's aunt talked to me about this matter this afternoon. What do you think?"

"Does Father want daughter to marry out?"

"Men should marry, women should marry. There's no such thing as wanting or not wanting."

"Is Father quite satisfied with this Ouyang Ru Shixiong?"

"Whether I am satisfied or not doesn't represent you. I can at most provide you with a little opinion. How to choose, you decide for yourself.

"Your mother was of this attitude before, and I am the same now. If you want to marry, I will prepare a dowry for you. If you don't want to marry, there will always be a place for you at home."

"Did Father and Mother choose for themselves back then?"

"No. Your mother and I were married by order. Before the wedding night, we didn't even know what the other looked like, only knowing a nickname."

"But later, Father and Mother were deeply in love, like a pair of phoenixes singing together."

"That's why your mother and I understand how rare and precious love after marriage is. So we don't interfere in your major life events, only preparing a dowry and blessings for you."

"Then what is Father's opinion of Ouyang Lianghan?"

"I think... not bad. Well, you choose for yourself."

"Father, daughter doesn't look down on others because of high or low status.

"It's just that I still have many books to read, many principles to think through, and one wish yet to be completed. I am still stopped at 'gentleman,' not yet promoted to 'book-flipper.'

"Daughter, doesn't want to marry yet."

"Good."

"Father isn't angry?"

"Not angry. It's your own choice. As long as you can bear the possible consequences in the future, it will never be wrong. As long as... you don't regret it later."

"Regret... daughter won't."

"That's fine. I'll go decline tomorrow."

"Good."

"However, regarding promotion, you are actually already very fast."

"Not fast at all. There is a Yue female cultivator named Zhao Qingxiu at Yunmeng Sword Swamp next door who is faster than daughter."

"Zhao Qingxiu is the 'Yue Maiden' of this generation. Don't compete with her."

"Why can't daughter compare?"

"Fine, where there's a will, there's a way."

"The family we saw down the mountain just now... So, does Father want daughter to stay?"

"Yes. Just be a staff member for Lianghan."

"Then should we tell him about this?"

"Not for now. Unless that family allows it, you can tell him. By then, you can hand this handwritten letter of Father's on the desk to Lianghan. He will understand after reading it."

"Father, does that family... really still have a chance to return to Luoyang?"

"I don't know. It was Master Di who asked me to come."

"Daughter understands."

"Remember, don't take it lightly. The water in this Longcheng County... is a bit deep." ===== CHAPTER 19 =====