Chapter 39: Returning to the Capital, Hand in Hand

Chapter 39: Return to the Capital, Hand in Hand

Ning Xishi instinctively replied, "Then you're certainly not as impressive as I am."

Then realizing what Wang Qifeng meant, he raised his voice and rolled up his sleeves: "You wanna fight?"

"Hmph, after all these years, your painting skills haven't improved, and you haven't even earned a single official title. You can't even bear children. Stuck in that big mansion after marrying that general, when you're old..."

Seeing him getting more and more ridiculous, Ning Xishi stormed forward angrily: "What about when I'm old?"

"You can beg me to take care of you." Wang Qifeng snorted coldly and turned to leave.

The Wang family estate was right next to the Qin family's, and Wang Qifeng was only three years older than Ning Xishi. Ten years ago, when Ning Xishi, as soft and round as a little dumpling, came to his maternal grandfather's home to recover from an injury, he had tagged along behind Wang Qifeng for a while.

It was only later that Ning Xishi found Wang Qifeng too boring because all he did was study, so he stopped playing with him.

When Wang Qifeng returned home, his father, Squire Wang, heard the news and rushed over immediately.

Unlike Wang Qifeng's slender build, Squire Wang had the kind of plump, well-fed face and portly build that common folks found reassuring, smiling like a jolly Buddha.

"My boy, didn't we agree earlier that you'd only take the basic exam and then take over your father's business? Why did you suddenly decide to take the provincial exam?"

Squire Wang was genuinely happy that his son had passed on his first try, but the Wang family had such a large enterprise, and his boy was the only son for three generations... Once he became an official, he couldn't exactly keep running the family business.

"Father, you're not even forty yet, in the prime of your life. You've got at least another fifty years in you." Wang Qifeng said, then thinking of how carefree Ning Xishi had been today, he felt annoyed.

This idiot, just like when they were kids, never fought for anything, never bothered to compete for anything. What would he do when that general in the wheelchair married a woman and had children!

"My boy, what kind of talk is that? You've just come of age. If you want to walk the path of fame and glory, I won't stop you. But you must promise me this—if you become an official, be the kind who gets things done and knows how to follow orders, whatever you do, don't be one of those blunt, outspoken officials." Squire Wang sighed. "Ah, with your cold, blunt personality, that path won't be easy."

People could lose their heads over the slightest thing!

Wang Qifeng said, "Father, you worry too much. I've only passed the provincial exam, haven't even taken the next-level exam. I don't even know if I'll pass the palace exam and get a post in the capital. It's too early to worry about that."

"It's not too early. Right after you were born, I buried several jars of good wine for you. When you get married or pass the exams, we'll dig them up and have a drink. Let me tell you, son, time passes in the blink of an eye. Being prepared is what matters most."

While Wang Qifeng was getting an earful from his father, Ning Xishi turned his head and saw Xie Jingxing sitting in his wheelchair, and was so startled he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"General?"

Xie Jingxing had been annoyed by what Wang Qifeng had said to Ning Xishi—how dare he claim that he would marry a woman and have kids? He'd never once had such thoughts in his life.

Moreover, saying that behind his back to Ning Xishi was basically calling him a heartless man who wasn't a good match!

But seeing Ning Xishi's reaction, his mood inexplicably lifted. After all, these were just the idle gossip of irrelevant people. He'd have time and opportunity to prove his feelings to Young Master Ning.

"General, why are you here?"

Ning Xishi had recently received a great favor from Xie Jingxing and felt he was being too distant, so he quickly changed his address.

"I've handed the Ningzhou and Chuzhou matters over to Qiu Changyu. My health has been poor, so I need to recuperate, and I came to find you." Xie Jingxing said, "I sent you a letter a few days ago—did you get it?"

Ning Xishi didn't dare admit that he'd been having too much fun lately to even look at any letters or paperwork. He did vaguely remember something about a letter, but that was it.

"You must be tired from the journey, General. Would you like something to eat? Our family cook is quite skilled—would you like to try some authentic Shaozhou food?" Ning Xishi stepped forward, taking over for the guard, pushing Xie Jingxing toward the back garden while changing the subject.

Xie Jingxing figured he definitely hadn't read the letter, but since Ning Xishi was willing to humor him now, why would he bother to quibble? He said, "No need to go to any trouble. I heard from Dongshuang that your grandfather is away?"

"My grandfather doesn't know you're coming. He went up to the mountains to meditate a few days ago—he does this every year for about two weeks," Ning Xishi hesitated, then said, "Why don't you stay here for a few days? Grandfather will be back soon."

"Alright, I'll be in your care." Xie Jingxing settled where he'd stay, and only then asked about dinner.

Ning Xishi immediately had Dongshuang make the arrangements.

With Xie Jingxing around, Ning Xishi felt like having an elder around the house. He ate much more properly, at least not scarfing down his food and running out to play like he had the past few days.

After the meal, Dongshuang leaned close to Ning Xishi's ear and whispered, "Young Master, should I set up General Xie's room in the outer courtyard or in your courtyard?"

Ning Xishi quickly motioned: "The outer courtyard, of course!"

If he stayed in his courtyard, they'd be running into each other all the time, and he wouldn't even dare sneak out at night!

That would be just like having his dad living in his courtyard!

Xie Jingxing's martial arts were exceptional, so his hearing was naturally excellent. He hid his disappointed expression and lowered his head to sip his soup.

Though Ning Xishi hadn't spoken, his frantic gestures and anxious expression made it clear he wanted to keep his distance.

He'd traveled all this way to this person's home, only to find himself an unwelcome guest.

Ning Xishi had just finished giving his orders when he turned and saw Xie Jingxing drinking his soup. Though the other man wasn't looking at him, Ning Xishi felt a pang of guilt.

He asked cautiously, "General, would you mind staying in my courtyard instead? The rooms are smaller there, not as comfortable as the guest rooms in the outer courtyard, and the courtyard is smaller too, not much space to move around..."

"I'll go along with whatever you decide." Xie Jingxing said, looking all gentle and agreeable.

The less he said, the harder it was for Ning Xishi to push him away. So, he gritted his teeth and called out to Dongshuang: "Actually, I'll have General Xie stay in my courtyard."

Dongshuang: "?"

"Very well, I'll go prepare it right away."

After having dinner with Xie Jingxing, Ning Xishi planned to walk him to his room to rest, then head out for his night activities.

Luckily, Dongshuang understood what he wanted and didn't put them in the same room, instead setting up a larger guest room a good distance from Ning Xishi's.

That room used to be Ning Xishi's study, but since he'd come back in recent years without doing much reading, it had been left unused.

Now cleaned up, besides the essential furniture, it was fully stocked with writing supplies, perfect for someone as refined as General Xie.

Ning Xishi also had the threshold taken out and wooden planks put over the steps so Xie Jingxing could get in and out easily.

"General, didn't your doctor come with you?" Ning Xishi asked.

"No, there are a lot of rare herbs in the mountains around Chuzhou. He went to collect some."

"What about your legs?"

Xie Jingxing's voice softened: "It's fine. I still have the medicine from before—I just need to take it every day."

Ning Xishi thought for a moment, then said, "My senior sister is also a very skilled doctor. If you don't mind, General, she could take a look."

Last time at the mountaintop, when he'd drawn that hundred-pound bow twice in a row, Ning Xishi had heard the white-haired doctor say that Xie Jingxing's legs might not hold up under the strain. Standing up to intimidate those bandits was one thing, but personally drawing the bow on top of that had taken a toll on his body.

Ning Xishi felt a tug at his heart, and he'd kept it in mind ever since. Now that he saw him in person, he brought it up on his own.

"Alright," Xie Jingxing said. "Don't worry too much. I know what I'm doing."

He did like the young man, but he didn't want to use kindness as a way to demand repayment. His feelings were aboveboard and honorable—he'd do anything for the young man's sake.

·

With the bandit troubles in Ningzhou and Chuzhou brought under control, the military report now lay on the emperor's desk.

The court officials, seeing the martial artists disperse on their own, all breathed a sigh of relief and hastened to say, "General Xie's strategy of catching the big fish and letting the small fry go has not only dealt with the bandit menace but also pacified the martial arts world, putting out a huge fire—what a feat!"

Even the emperor's loyalists breathed easier seeing this.

Though the court appeared thriving on the surface, it was already rotten to the core: the treasury was depleted, many regions suffered from floods and droughts, and grain was insufficient even for disaster relief. If bandit uprisings had flared up and weren't put down fast, they could've spread like wildfire, ultimately shaking the very foundations of the state.

They were corrupt officials dependent on the emperor, but if the Dynasty itself were unstable, what good would their fancy titles do them?

The court then fell to debating the floods and droughts in several prefectures, arguing back and forth over grain and money, getting nowhere.

Meanwhile, the emperor, reading the memorial Xie Jingxing had written himself, let out a deep sigh.

This brother of his, even with a busted leg, still had tricks up his sleeve.

He watched Xie Jingxing's reputation, which had declined at court and among the people due to his marriage to a male spouse, slowly bounce back thanks to the swift and steady suppression of the bandit troubles—to the point where folks now saw him as the court's guardian angel.

The emperor's jealousy just wouldn't die down.

After court, the emperor summoned his eunuch: "Since the bandit troubles have been quelled, where is Xie Jingxing now?"

"I just got word from the Embroidered Uniform Guard; it's all here. Here, Your Majesty, have a look."

The emperor opened the envelope and scanned the lines from top to bottom. Seeing that Xie Jingxing was still recuperating in Ningzhou, he said, "Tell them the Longevity Festival is approaching, and I miss the couple. Tell them to cut the fun short and come back."

With these words, the emperor set the tone, spinning Ning Xishi's trip home to rest and Xie Jingxing's recovery from injury as just 'fooling around.'

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's urgent message went out right away.

Thus, the two had to hasten back to the capital, dusty and tired from the road.

Ning Xishi's maternal grandfather, Qin Du, had yet to return from his secluded retreat, so Ning Xishi had to leave, asking his senior apprentice brother and second apprentice sister to pass along the news before setting off with Xie Jingxing.

Sitting in the carriage, Ning Xishi wasn't as tense as he'd been on the way south; after all, the general had officially recognized their relationship, so there was little to fear.

"General, summoning us back—could the emperor be up to something again?"

By the time they returned, it would be nearly November, with the New Year imminent—surely the emperor wouldn't stir up more trouble?

Xie Jingxing's brow was also shadowed with gloom. These past days in Shaozhou, in the place where Ning Xishi had grown up, he had witnessed many traces of the youth's past—large characters copied as punishment by his tutor, paintings he had done, gradually maturing from childishness to skill.

In truth, Ning Xishi's calligraphy had improved considerably; in Xie Jingxing's eyes, being able to give his strokes such structure was already a sign of natural talent.

Only Ning Xishi himself believed his writing was ugly and his painting had made no progress.

Now, with this sudden summons back, his brother was probably getting jealous again.

==========Author's Note:==========

Good night, everyone.