Chapter 326

A quarter past the Shen hour.

Today is not a big sun, barely a bright cloudy day.

At the gate of the Xie family.

Xie Yuan looked in the direction of the sound; the one who shouted just now was Xie Xie Qiyue of the second courtyard of the Xie family.

The younger generations of the Xie, Li, and General Sima families were all standing in the back, with a few familiar ones gathering together.

Five people stood beside a luxurious carriage at the entrance, their temperament outstanding; judging from the gazes of many young masters and ladies nearby who were secretly paying attention to this place,】

This place seemed to be one of the focuses, and there were several crowds gathering not far away, all hearing the sound and looking over.】

You followed Xie Yuan up.】

【"Xie Yuan, are your eyes just for show? This young lady saw you at a glance."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue hugged her chest and said dissatisfiedly: "Doing things so slowly, it's really against the sky, and I have to trouble this young lady to wait for you."】

【Xie Yuan rolled his eyes at her and said: "What's the use of being in a hurry, we have to wait for the old ladies to set off before we can go."】

【"What's the use of coming early, standing at the door like you, being punished to stand."】

【Xie Yuan shook his head and said with a leisurely attitude: "Brother Guan and I call this planning before moving, how can you understand?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue noticed that there was another young man standing beside Xie Yuan.】

【The young man was wearing a simple and elegant robe, with a tall and slender figure.】

【His long black hair was tied with a jade hairpin, his appearance was extremely handsome, and his eyes were like black ink, revealing a bit of coldness.】

【A sense of elegance flowed between his eyebrows, clearly cultivated from long-term reading of poetry and books, thus forming a leisurely and elegant interest.】

【The young man smiled slightly, adding a bit of warmth, and greeted:】

【"Sister Xie Qiyue!"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue was stunned for a moment, secretly muttering in her heart, when did Xie Guan become so handsome? Why didn't she notice it before?】

【In just two months, it felt very different from the past, with more stability and confidence.】

【When she reacted, she was stunned; what "Sister Xie Qiyue"!"】

【Xie Yuan didn't call her that!】

【She had little contact with Xie Guan, and was born in the second courtyard, only meeting this cousin from the big courtyard during the holidays when the clan rules required attendance.】

【It seems that many cousins in the big courtyard isolated this person, and he was often alone.】

【All by himself.】

【When she was young and playful, she also followed the crowd to draw a line with him, but she didn't have any actions like bullying him, at most she stood on the side and clapped her hands, watching the joke.】

【Even now, she had only met this cousin a few times between Sister Zhang Yuzhi and Xie Yuan.】

【The other party's natural address just now didn't seem like someone with a distant relationship, but rather like a... trustworthy older brother.】

【Just at this time!】

【A tall, slightly tiger-headed young man walked out from behind Xie Xie Qiyue, looking at you unkindly and asking bluntly:】

【"Who are you?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue explained helplessly: "This is my ninth cousin, Xie Guan."】

【The tall young man was stunned, clearly surprised that there was such a person in the Xie family; he had never seen you before.】

【However, after hearing Xie Xie Qiyue's explanation, he seemed to be relieved; he had clearly seen Xie Xie Qiyue's "stunned" look just now.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue added: "He is the one Xie Yuan often talks about, the one whose head was pointed by an immortal."】

【There were two others behind Xie Xie Qiyue, both looking over silently.】

【A man and a woman.】

【The woman was wearing a yellow embroidered maple leaf long skirt, with a pretty face, and her beautiful eyes carried a bit of the quiet elegance of a lady.】

【The man was fair and handsome, tall and straight, with distinct facial features and eyebrows like willow branches, looking quite beautiful from a distance.】

【The woman looked at you and smiled: "I have heard people mention you; the remaining poem you wrote at the Caotang Poetry Meeting, 'Peng in the Su Beihai, Phoenix facing the sun, carrying books and swords on a vast road,' is very exquisite."】

【She spoke extremely gently, like a whisper.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue introduced: "This is Sister General Sima Muqing, General Sima General Sima Muqing, the third daughter of the General Sima family; the current Right Minister of the Ministry of Works is her father."】

【The Ministry of Works is one of the six ministries of the imperial court. It is in charge of the system of soil and construction, the style of utilization of utensils, the method of canal and weir dredging, the ceremony of mausoleum supply, and has great power.】

【You were a bit surprised; the Minister of the Ministry of Works is a high official of the fourth rank, and in the Ministry of Works, apart from the Minister, there are two ministers on the left and right.】

【They all hold real power in the court, and the one in charge of the Yellow River flood control and construction is the Ministry of Works.】

【General Sima General Sima Muqing, as the daughter of the Right Minister of the Ministry of Works, has a prominent family background.】

【However, it's normal to think about it; the nine great surnames are all high officials in the court or people with power in the military, so there are no idle people coming and going.】

【You smiled: "I have met Miss General Sima Muqing!"】

【The woman also returned the salute.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue pointed to the man and said: "This is Zhu Zhu Ziqian, who is currently studying in the academy and also working in the Censorate."】

【The man's gaze fell on you, just nodding faintly, then looked at Xie Xie Qiyue and asked: "Zhang Yuzhi, why hasn't she arrived yet?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue called a servant to ask, and then said: "Sister Zhang Yuzhi should be with Sister Li Shuwan, and will be here soon."】

【The man nodded.】

【The tall young man who started it all interjected: "Xie Qiyue, you haven't introduced me yet?"】

【He said sourly: "Why did you leave me out?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue said impatiently: "Don't you have a mouth, can't you speak? Do you have to wait for me to say it?"】

【The tall young man looked embarrassed.】

【Xie Yuan came out to smooth things over: "This is Xue Hong, Brother Xue, the eldest young master of the Xue family today, his father is the Libationer of the Imperial Academy."】

【Your heart moved; the Libationer of the Imperial Academy is an official title, and the Imperial Academy is an official position, a high official of the third rank.】

【The highest institution of learning in the Great Qi is called "Taixue," and he is also the head of the Taixue doctors, in charge of the political orders for the training of students in the national school.】

【It's just that the Taixue of the Great Qi is far less valuable than the signboard of the academy and has already declined.】

【The Xue family is known for being low-key among the nine great surnames; in terms of official rank, the position of Libationer of the Imperial Academy is even above the Minister of the Ministry of Works, but as for the power, it is more of a false name than real power.】

【You couldn't help but have a trace of doubt in your heart; why did the Xue family appear here suddenly?】

【According to common sense, today's trip should only be with the Li family and the General Sima family.】

【The Xie family and the Xue family don't have much contact, and even the old lady of the Xie family didn't invite the Xue family in the Hongjing Courtyard that day.】

【You didn't lose your manners and said: "I have met Young Master Xue."】

【The tall young man's appearance is actually not bad, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a handsome appearance, and a firm spirit, but his eyes reveal a bit of honesty.】

【Xie Yuan leaned over and explained in a low voice: "Brother Xue, he insisted on following this girl Xie Qiyue."】

【"Brother Xue's martial arts talent is amazing, he can be called the first in martial arts among this generation, and he is already in the fifth realm at about the same age as me."】

【You just nodded thoughtfully.】

【After a while!】

【A sound came from the main gate of the Xie Fu, and the crowd below gradually quieted down.】

【At this time!】

【Everyone looked towards the main gate.】

【You stood by the carriage, looking at the eight or nine people walking out of the gate, all of them old, exuding a majestic aura of being in a high position for a long time.】

【They are the elders who can make decisions in the Xie, Li, and General Sima families.】

【Apart from Xie Hong and the old lady of the Xie family, you don't know the others.】

【It's all conversation between big figures, naturally it has nothing to do with you juniors.】

【You felt strangely, why didn't you see Lu Hua who had been following Xie Hong.】

【The nine people boarded the carriage separately.】

【The old lady of the Xie family also boarded the carriage slowly with a happy look, supported by her son.】

【The first batch of carriages drove away slowly.】

【The scene relaxed a bit!】

【The second batch walking out of the gate were the wives of the Xie, Li, and General Sima families.】

【You only know the Xie family, including Mrs. Yuan of the big courtyard, Empress Empress Zhuge, Mrs. Zhao of the second courtyard, etc.】

【You looked carefully and finally saw the figure wearing a white gauze hat and a wide Daoist robe in the crowd.】

【And the man wrapped in a black robe, wearing a hood, whose face could not be seen.】

【Xie Yuan poked your shoulder and asked in a low voice: "Is this woman brought back by the second uncle the second aunt he found outside?"】

【Xie Yuan asked and answered himself: "I don't think so, she looks like a martial arts heroine, a jianghu expert."】

【"Brother Guan, what do you think?"】

【You heard this and couldn't help but smile: "Maybe, she is the leader of the martial arts alliance!"】

【Lu Hua seemed to notice your gaze, nodded lightly, and then left with a group of wives.】

【You looked into the crowd and looked into the distance; they had already drilled into the carriage.】

【Just as you were pondering slightly.】

【A woman's voice with a bit of sarcasm came.】

【"Sister General Sima Muqing, why didn't you tell me when you came?"】

【A female voice with a bit of sarcasm came unexpectedly from behind.】

【"Yo, Sister General Sima Muqing, why didn't you tell me when you came here."】

【General Sima General Sima Muqing frowned.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue simply looked cold, her gaze looking past the woman who was walking gracefully.】

【You also looked over, only to see a young girl in purple clothes walking gracefully, her fingertips pinching a few crystal-clear lychees, each full and juicy, which was particularly eye-catching in this season when there should be no lychees to eat.】

【This is a specialty of Hokkaido, sent to Above Bianjing by fast horse on ice in the middle of winter.】

【A red dust concubine smiles.】

【The price is extremely expensive, and ordinary people are hard to taste.】

【The girl has a tall figure, skin like snow, and black hair like a waterfall combed smoothly to her buttocks.】

【It's just that between her glances, she reveals a bit of arrogance.】

【Behind the girl followed another person, whom you also know, Xie Xie Renfeng of the second courtyard of the Xie family, his face gentle, revealing a smile.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue said angrily: "Li Li Yutong, why should Sister General Sima Muqing tell you when she comes to my Xie family?"】

【Xie Xie Renfeng said behind Li Li Yutong at this time: "Xie Qiyue, don't be rude."】

【It has the demeanor of an older brother.】

【Clearly, the relationship between Xie Xie Qiyue's group and Li Li Yutong, who was fluttering in purple on the opposite side, had long been deeply resentful, and the atmosphere was subtle.】

【Li Li Yutong threw the lychee skin in her hand at will, and the servant following her hurriedly caught it carefully, for fear of any mistakes.】

【Li Li Yutong didn't pay attention to Xie Xie Qiyue and said: "I'm catching up with Sister General Sima Muqing, what does it have to do with you, Xie Xie Qiyue?"】

【She looked at General Sima General Sima Muqing and said: "Order of seniority, there is respect and inferiority, didn't your mother teach you?"】

【General Sima General Sima Muqing saw this and bowed lightly, gentle as usual, her voice soft: "General Sima Muqing has met Sister Li Yutong."】

【Li Li Yutong raised her chin and nodded lightly with an almost arrogant posture.】

【You couldn't help but feel a bit curious, why the young lady of the Li family could be so blatantly pressing the young lady of the General Sima family.】

【Xie Yuan saw the doubt on your face and explained in a low voice: "Li Li Yutong's mother remarried to the General Sima family, and her first husband was from the Li family. Therefore, although these two are not of the same father."】

【"The two are half-sisters."】

【You heard this, and your heart was slightly stunned; in this Great Qi, the situation of half-siblings is common, but among the nine great surnames, it is rare to have such a complex relationship.】

【However, thinking about it, it is normal; there are many examples in the royal family, and the uncle marrying his niece or cousin is not uncommon.】

【Intermarriage between the nine great surnames is also a common thing.】

【Among the nine great surnames, I don't know how many romantic debts are on the surface, and how many dirty things are in the dark.】

【Xie Yuan continued: "This also led to the two not getting along, especially Li Li Yutong targeting General Sima Muqing everywhere."】

【"This is also the family business of the two families, we are not easy to manage."】

【Li Li Yutong looked at Xie Xie Qiyue and said coldly: "A look of not being taught by a mother."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue was furious, having already pulled up her sleeves; her mother died early, and almost no one in Xie Fu dared to say this, and her temperament was quite spicy.】

【The tall young man Xue Hong also had cold eyes and said: "If you bully Xie Qiyue, you are against me, Xue Hong."】

【General Sima General Sima Muqing pulled Xie Xie Qiyue and shook her head; she didn't want to cause trouble because of her.】

【Li Li Yutong looked at Xue Hong, who seemed to have developed anger, knowing that Xue Hong was famous among the nine great surnames as a reckless person, not distinguishing any occasion, and had beaten up several young masters before.】

【She originally swallowed the words on her lips and snorted coldly.】

【Li Li Yutong's eyes aimed at the few people on the opposite side, General Sima General Sima Muqing, Xie Xie Qiyue, Xue Hong, Zhu Zhu Ziqian, and Xie Yuan.】

【They are all annoying guys.】

【Suddenly, she noticed a new face among them, couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, and said unkindly: "Who are you?"】

【Xie Xie Renfeng introduced with a smile: "This is Xie Guan of the big courtyard, my cousin."】

【"Xie Guan?"】

【Li Li Yutong frowned slightly, seemed to remember something, and suddenly smiled sarcastically, "It's just that concubine's son who is not recognized by the Xie family, his mother is just a lowly maid, and he still wants to try to marry into the Li family and climb a high branch."】

【As soon as these words came out!】

【Everyone's expressions were different.】

【Xie Xie Renfeng's smile became more intense.】

(End of chapter)