When the servant announced Xiao Shan's arrival, Xiao Jin was talking with the Crown Princess, Liu Jingyi.

 

The child in the Crown Princess's belly had been causing her a lot of discomfort these past few days, making her feel very unwell and leaving her with little appetite. Xiao Jin kept her company and chatted with her, which improved her mood considerably. Although she still didn't feel like eating, it at least helped to distract her.

 

When Xiao Shan saw Xiao Jin and Liu Jingyi, he walked over to pay his respects.

 

Xiao Jin grabbed his arm to stop him and said, "I've told you before, there's no need for such formalities between us brothers."

 

Xiao Shan did not stubbornly insist on formalities. He stood up compliantly, then greeted Liu Jingyi, calling her "Second Sister-in-law."

 

Liu Jingyi politely exchanged a few words with him before finding an excuse to leave.

 

Once she was gone, Xiao Shan immediately shed his courteous demeanor. He found a chair, sat down, and slumped over it lazily.

 

Seeing his languid posture, Xiao Jin couldn't help but shake his head. "You should be more proper. If Emperor Father sees you sitting like this without any decorum, he'll scold you again."

 

Xiao Shan nonchalantly replied, "I've always been like this; I can't change it. If Emperor Father wants to scold me, let him. It's better than him keeping his anger bottled up."

 

Xiao Jin felt helpless. There were few people in the world who weren't afraid of Xiao Sheng's temper, and Xiao Shan was one of them. Not only was he unafraid, but he also had a knack for aggravating the situation.

 

Xiao Jin decided not to waste more words on this topic. "Forget it, let's not talk about this."

 

He knew that saying more would be pointless; no matter how much he said, Xiao Shan wouldn't change.

 

Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If we're not talking about that, then what did you call me here for, Second Brother?"

 

Xiao Jin was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself that he hadn't actually called for Xiao Shan. Then he realized that this must be Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui's first visit to the palace after their wedding. The Emperor and Empress certainly wouldn't trouble the newlyweds, so it must be Consort Lan who wanted to speak with Xie Zhui alone, thus sending Xiao Shan to him.

 

Not wanting to disrespect Consort Lan, Xiao Jin feigned realization and said, "Oh, yes, I did have something to discuss with you." His thumb and forefinger unconsciously rubbed together as he pondered what he could possibly need to discuss with Xiao Shan.

 

Cricket fighting? The timing didn't seem right for that.

 

A stroll outside the palace? Discussing beauties together?

 

None of these seemed fitting for him as the Crown Prince.

 

So, what could he possibly need Xiao Shan for? Perhaps he could use the Crown Princess Liu as an excuse, saying that she wanted to meet Xie Zhui...

 

Seeing Xiao Jin seriously trying to come up with a reason, Xiao Shan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Alright, Second Brother, don't force yourself. I know Consort Mother deliberately used that excuse to send me away."

 

Xiao Jin's first reaction to hearing this was a sense of relief. He laughed and scolded, "You rascal."

 

Xiao Shan chuckled twice.

 

Xiao Jin looked at him and sighed inwardly. He knew that ever since the Emperor decreed the marriage, Consort Lan had been dissatisfied with Xie Zhui, and she likely still was. However, Xiao Jin found it difficult to bring this up. Firstly, he didn't want Xiao Shan to misunderstand and think that he was suggesting he use his charm to win over Xie Zhui. Secondly, Xie Zhui was now married to Xiao Shan and had been personally welcomed into the household by him. As his elder brother, Xiao Jin felt it was appropriate to avoid any appearance of impropriety and not say too much.

 

But then again, if Xie Zhui were truly a man, Xiao Jin would certainly be willing to befriend someone like him.

 

Right now, what Xiao Shan most wanted to do was to return to Prince Li’s Residence, cuddle with Xie Zhui, and have a good sleep. Not to mention anything else, just the fact that Xie Zhui, who appeared stiff, had an excellent physique. After being massaged, he became warm and soft, making him very comfortable to hold.

 

Just for that reason alone, he wanted to go back to their residence.

 

He was not unaware of what Consort Lan was thinking, and he had spoken up to stop it. However, since Xie Zhui wanted to face her alone, he naturally wouldn't continue to interfere. Moreover, he was curious to see how Xie Zhui would handle Consort Lan.

 

Now that they were married, united as husbands, understanding more about Xie Zhui's nature beneath his stern exterior would also facilitate their future interactions.

 

Xiao Shan sipped his tea absentmindedly, his face clearly showing boredom.

 

Xiao Jin glanced at him, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. He enjoyed spending time with Xiao Shan because Xiao Shan didn't constantly remind him to act in accordance with his status. He also didn't have to worry about Xiao Shan plotting against him.

 

In front of others, he was the Crown Prince, but in front of Xiao Shan, he was a living, breathing person with emotions.

 

After leisurely finishing his cup of tea, Xiao Shan yawned. Estimating that enough time had passed, he stood up and said, "Second Brother, I'm heading back. In a few days, I'll bring Xie Zhui to the palace to pay respects to you and Sister-in-law."

 

Xiao Jin noticed the calm tone Xiao Shan used when mentioning Xie Zhui and asked, somewhat pointedly, "Can I be at ease with you like this?" 

 

He knew Xiao Shan's temperament well. If he truly disliked someone, he wouldn't even want to look at them, let alone mention their name in such a calm manner.

 

From this, it seemed that Xiao Shan had a good impression of Xie Zhui.

 

This realization brought Xiao Jin a sense of uncontrollable satisfaction.

 

As the Crown Prince, he was destined to be more self-interested than Xiao Shan.

 

A good relationship between Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui would be beneficial to him, so he was naturally pleased to see this situation.

 

He just couldn't tell whether Xiao Shan's attitude towards Xie Zhui was to help him win over the Northern Border Army or if it was genuine.

 

If it was the latter, he would be genuinely happy for Xiao Shan. If it was the former, he would feel a pang of guilt.

 

According to what he had learned since childhood, he shouldn't have that bit of reluctance. To reach that position, one must be able to use everyone. But Xiao Shan was different.

 

Their bond was deeper than that of other brothers, and he couldn't bring himself to use Xiao Shan without feeling any guilt.

 

Xiao Shan looked at him in surprise and said, "You used to say you couldn't trust me because I was still young and unmarried. Now that I'm married, what are you still worried about? You're so young but have such an old heart; you'll turn into an old lady at this rate."

 

Xiao Jin's gentle face twitched. When had he ever said such a thing about him being immature? At that moment, he suddenly understood how Xiao Sheng felt when dealing with Xiao Shan. Xiao Shan had a natural talent for saying things that would provoke others, making them want to find something to shut him up.

 

Xiao Jin took several deep breaths, pointed towards the main gate of the Eastern Palace, and signaled that he could leave.

 

Xiao Shan left without any hesitation.

 

As soon as he stepped out of the Eastern Palace gate, he saw Ji An hurrying towards him.

 

The palace had many rules: no loud noises and no running around. Ji An didn't dare to break the rules, so his steps were just a bit quicker. Xiao Shan had specifically left Ji An behind when he went to the Eastern Palace, in case Xie Zhui had trouble dealing with Consort Lan.

 

Seeing Ji An's hurried steps now, it was clear that something had happened at Jinglan Hall.

 

When Ji An approached, his expression was somewhat peculiar.

 

Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What happened?" Judging by Ji An's expression, it was clear that Xie Zhui had done something and hadn't come out on the losing end.

 

Ji An whispered, "Your Highness, there's a commotion at the Consort's place. You should go back quickly."

 

Xiao Shan's expression remained indifferent. "Oh, then let's go."

 

Ji An hurriedly followed behind him, feeling a bit conflicted.

 

Consort Lan wasn't indifferent to Xiao Shan; on the contrary, she cared for him deeply. She was prone to tears, but when Xiao Shan was punished by the Emperor, she dared to plead on his behalf. However, due to her personality, she often acted without considering the consequences, making it easy for others to use her as a pawn.

 

She had also done things that gave others leverage over her. When the time came, she regretted it, but her nature was hard to change.

 

Just like today, Xiao Shan brought Xie Zhui to the palace for the first time. Regardless of what others thought or how they viewed this marriage, the last thing Consort Lan should have done was cause a scene.

 

But not only did Consort Lan cause a scene, she made a big one. Secrets were hard to keep in the palace, and this would soon become a joke.

 

Ji An thought to himself, if Xiao Shan didn't care about Xie Zhui at all, it wouldn't matter. But Xiao Shan clearly wanted to have a normal husband-and-wife relationship with Xie Zhui, at least treating each other with mutual respect.

 

Yet, Consort Lan was not pleased.

 

Of course, from Consort Lan's perspective, Xie Zhui's reputation was tarnished, making him unworthy of Xiao Shan. Given her nature, she couldn't pretend to like Xie Zhui even if she tried.

 

As a result, Xiao Shan was caught between Consort Lan and Xie Zhui, and it was up to him to decide how to handle the situation.

 

On the way back, Ji An quickly summarized what had happened.

 

When Consort Lan had Xie Zhui stand outside the hall, Xie Zhui complied.

 

However, Consort Lan was still not satisfied and wanted him to stand outside Jinglan Hall. This time, Xie Zhui refused. That would be like being put on display for everyone to see. Besides, what newlywed couple meets their elders for the first time and gets kicked out the door? This wouldn't be acceptable even in an ordinary household, let alone in the palace.

 

In the end, Consort Lan was persuaded by Cui Shu, who invoked the Empress's name.

 

The Empress knew Consort Lan's nature well, understanding that she was easily swayed by others' words. The women of the harem were more cunning than a sieve, and it was easy to provoke Consort Lan's sensitive points.

 

The Empress was worried that Consort Lan might stubbornly oppose Xie Zhui upon meeting him, so she had given her a prior warning, advising her not to lose her composure when meeting Xie Zhui.

 

She also knew that Consort Lan was not very clear-headed, so she specifically instructed Cui Shu to remind her.

 

When Cui Shu mentioned the Empress, Consort Lan regained some clarity and stopped forcing Xie Zhui to stand outside the door. However, she still found him displeasing.

 

Xie Zhui was already feeling sore and weak, and after standing for a while, he couldn't take it anymore. Seeing that Consort Lan had no intention of letting him in, Xie Zhui decided not to endure the discomfort. He informed her and then found a stone bench in the courtyard to sit and rest.

 

After all, when he was fighting at the border, he wasn't so particular. Sometimes, while guarding the city walls to prevent enemy attacks, they could only rest during shift changes. Often, they would fall asleep leaning against the wall right after their shift. Whether the ground was dirty or not was never a concern.

 

Now having a bench was already quite a luxury.

 

His action stunned Consort Lan and the others. The bit of composure Consort Lan had from the Empress's admonition vanished. Consort Lan cried and wailed, saying that Xie Zhui had no manners and didn't respect her at all.

 

In the end, Consort Lan declared that Xie Zhui was indeed as others had said—a disrespectful and unfilial person who did not honor his elders.

 

Anyone else would have knelt down and begged for forgiveness upon hearing such words, but Xie Zhui did not. In the past, he preferred to use force to command respect; but today, he used reason.

 

Seeing the situation, Ji An ran to the Eastern Palace to ask Xiao Shan to return. When Consort Lan was being unreasonable, only the Emperor or Xiao Shan could calm her down.

 

After hearing the whole story, Xiao Shan smiled, thinking that Xie Zhui's character was as resilient as his body.

 

***

 

When they arrived at Jinglan Hall, Xie Zhui was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, reasoning with Consort Lan's spokesperson, Cui Shu. He firmly spoke, "Before leaving, Wangye told me that if my body couldn't hold up, I should rest. I know Mother Consort doesn't want to see me, so I sat in the courtyard. If Mother Consort wants to blame me for listening too much to Wangye, then I have nothing to say."

 

Inside the hall, Consort Lan was so angry that she couldn't even cry. She looked at Xie Zhui, convinced that he was sent by the heavens to torment her.

 

Just then, Xiao Shan returned. Consort Lan came out, her face full of anger. "Shan'er, look at your consort. He has no manners in front of me. It's too much, really too much."

 

Xiao Shan walked over to Xie Zhui and then looked at Consort Lan with helplessness. "Mother Consort, if there's any fault, it's mine. I instructed Xie Zhui this way. He's not feeling well, so I'll take him back to our residence. We'll come to pay our respects to you in a few days."

 

Consort Lan was so infuriated by his words that she was left gasping for breath. She moved her mouth but didn't know what to say.

 

Taking advantage of the moment, Xiao Shan led Xie Zhui out of Jinglan Hall, leaving Consort Lan there, glaring in frustration.

 

On the carriage ride back to the mansion, the atmosphere was somewhat silent. Suddenly, Xiao Shan clapped his hands and said, "I forgot to mention to Emperor Father about sending a few eunuchs over."

 

Xie Zhui stared at him and said, "I don't need anyone to serve me."

 

Xiao Shan laughed. His fair skin, handsome features, and eyes as dark as ink made his smile as dazzling and exquisite as a precious gem. "That's fine too. I'll serve you personally then."

 

The words were too bold, causing Xie Zhui's face to stiffen, leaving him speechless.

 

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Shan changed the topic, "Mother Consort's temperament is just like that..."

 

Xie Zhui thought he would say something about needing to be more accommodating to Consort Lan in the future.

 

However, Xiao Shan said, "It's fortunate that you don't have to come to the palace often. If you can't handle her, just avoid her. If you really can't avoid her, don't feel obliged to indulge her. Some things will resolve themselves if she figures them out; if she doesn't, no amount of patience on your part will help. As long as I'm here, you don't need to wrong yourself."

 

Thinking about how deftly Xiao Shan had taken him out of the palace, Xie Zhui couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Shan had always been like this with Consort Lan—slipping away at the slightest disagreement.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, the Empress heard about the absurd events at Jinglan Hall and summoned Consort Lan to her palace.

 

As soon as Consort Lan saw her, her eyes reddened.

 

The Empress felt a pang in her chest at the sight. Suppressing her anger, she said, "You were too reckless in your actions. This marriage with Xie Zhui was decreed by the Emperor. Even if you are dissatisfied, you should bear it. If Xiao Shan were indifferent to him, it would be one thing, but he just accepted him yesterday. No matter how displeased you are, considering it was his first day in the palace and he wasn't feeling well, you shouldn't have caused such a fuss. Your actions were excessive, practically slapping both Xiao Shan and the Emperor in the face."

 

She dared to say that over the years, the Emperor's constant scolding of Xiao Shan had much to do with Consort Lan's influence.

 

Consort Lan looked shocked. "Accepted him?"

 

She hadn't noticed at all.

 

Or rather, she had been so upset that she hadn't taken a good look at Xie Zhui.

 

However,

 

"How is that possible? Shan'er likes someone like Xie Zhui?"

 

The Empress rolled her eyes and replied irritably, "If you ask me, who should I ask?"

 

She was just as surprised, if not more.

 

Tears streamed down Consort Lan's face. She had been convinced that Xiao Shan didn't think much of Xie Zhui and hadn't considered that possibility at all.

 

Now, not only had her attempt to assert dominance failed, but she had also caused a commotion.

 

Seeing her like this, the Empress felt a headache coming on.