Chapter 45: Making an Appearance

“Serve one wife together?” Xie Yi laughed as if he had heard a joke, and said lightly: “Have you looked at yourself? A man who has been married before, walking with a limp. What makes you think Su Jiejie would be interested in you?”

Xie Miaorong took a deep breath and said: “Why not? At least, at least I look seventy percent similar to you. Why do you think Su Jiejie likes you? Isn’t it because of your good looks? Even if she likes you for your appearance, why can’t she be interested in me, who looks seventy percent similar to you?”

Xie Miaorong snorted coldly: “Could it be that you, brother, are jealous and unwilling to see me take away some of your favor?”

Xie Yi’s beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously as he gripped Xie Miaorong’s neck and said ominously: “You’re not worth my jealousy. Su Jiejie won’t even look at you.”

“Even if she doesn’t look at me now, Su Jiejie will eventually be interested in other men. Even if she’s devoted to you at the moment, you’ll eventually grow old and lose your charm. At that time, will Su Jiejie still like you? Don’t dream! Moreover, she’s now a graduate and destined to become a high official in the future. With your status, and when your looks fade, she’ll probably find it annoying to even look at you.” Xie Miaorong’s consecutive sentences were like sharp needles, stabbing at Xie Yi’s deepest fears.

Xie Yi gritted his teeth, barely resisting the urge to slap Xie Miaorong’s hateful face. With cold eyes, he said: “So what? It’s natural and proper for a woman to have three or four husbands. If she likes other men and wants to bring them in, I’ll live harmoniously with them as brothers and serve Su Jiejie together. At least they’re pure and clean, unlike you, who not only got married but couldn’t even hold onto a woman like Tang Ta.”

“You—” Xie Miaorong was deeply hurt. Being abandoned by Tang Ta was his lifelong pain. Xie Miaorong shouted shrilly: “Don’t be so smug! Sooner or later, you’ll also have your day of losing favor. The more she dotes on you now, the more she’ll despise you in the future, just like Tang Ta did to me back then. Mmph—”

The shout was abruptly cut off as Xie Yi forcefully covered his mouth and nose. His voice was chillingly cold: “Shut up. If you dare to disturb Su Jiejie, I’ll marry you off to the tenant farmers outside the city. Then you can wait to be a slave to those old and poor women.”

Xie Miaorong turned pale with fright and immediately fell silent.

Xie Yi snorted lightly and released his hand.

Looking at Xie Miaorong’s frightened and wilted appearance, Xie Yi had to admit that Xie Miaorong did have some charm, otherwise he wouldn’t feel so insecure.

Seeing Xie Miaorong approach Su Mu and exchange a few words with her made him extremely nervous. He feared that Xie Miaorong, who looked and behaved similarly to him, would gradually replace his position.

But this morning, Su Mu’s behavior gave him a bit of security.

No matter how much Xie Miaorong tried to gain favor, Su Jiejie still thought of him. Wasn’t deliberately letting him sit beside her during meals the best proof?

Xie Yi smiled with satisfaction, opened the door to clear the bowls and chopsticks from the table, and went to the kitchen to wash them. After washing the dishes, he went to the backyard to finish chopping the firewood that Xie Miaorong hadn’t finished, and rewashed the clothes that weren’t cleaned properly.

By the time he finished all these chores, it was already noon without him realizing it.

Xie Yi was just about to hurry to the kitchen to cook when he heard Su Mu calling his name as he stepped into the kitchen doorway.

“Xiao Yi.”

Xie Yi stopped and came to Su Mu’s side, his face still covered with a thin layer of sweat from working: “Does Su Jiejie need anything?”

Su Mu felt for her handkerchief at her waist, but finding she hadn’t brought it, she simply used her sleeve to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead. Looking at his cheeks flushed from washing clothes under the sun, Su Mu marveled at how considerate and sensible he was.

“Have you started cooking?” she asked.

“I, I’ll go do it right now.” Xie Yi became nervous, like a child who had done something wrong, reflecting on why he had forgotten the time due to his chores. Clothes could be washed anytime, how could he delay Su Jiejie’s lunch because of this?

He anxiously lowered his head, afraid to see any dissatisfaction in Su Mu’s eyes.

Su Mu took his hand, her voice showing no trace of blame, but rather some joy: “It’s good that you haven’t started. Let’s go out for lunch, and while we’re at it, we’ll have a new set of clothes made for you.”

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“New clothes?” The anxiety in Xie Yi’s heart eased due to Su Mu’s relaxed tone, but he didn’t understand why Su Mu wanted to make new clothes for him.

Su Mu lowered her head and adjusted the sleeve that was rolled up to his wrist: “The clothes made from that tea-red fabric I brought back for you from Cloud City, didn’t your brother wear them? Let’s go to the clothing shop and buy a new ready-made outfit, with even better fabric than that one. It’ll be perfect to wear to the flower-viewing party.”

“Go to a banquet?” Xie Yi’s eyes widened, instinctively thinking of the recent invitation to Magistrate Xu’s mansion. But then he thought, how could he be qualified to attend such a grand and solemn occasion? He cautiously asked, “Su Jiejie, what kind of banquet is it?”

“What other banquet could it be? Of course it’s the flower-viewing party at Magistrate Xu’s mansion,” Su Mu said with a smile.

Xie Yi’s thoughts were suddenly startled, never imagining that Su Mu would be willing to take him to such an unattainable occasion.

“Your eyes are so round, are you stunned?” Su Mu laughed and pinched his chin. “Let’s go quickly. We’ll eat at a restaurant first, then go to the clothing shop to buy you the most fashionable outfit. My Xiao Yi is so handsome, you’ll surely outshine everyone there.”

Xie Yi’s tense expression immediately softened, and he pursed his thin lips into a light smile.

Although he had an exotic face, wearing Central Plains-style clothing didn’t look out of place. On the contrary, it created a strong contrast. His high ponytail gave him a youthful, spirited air compared to the reserved and restrained Central Plains men wearing golden hairpins and silver crowns.

The scorching summer sunlight penetrated his fair skin, reflecting in his emerald eyes like jewels, dazzling and radiant. Even dressed in the plainest clothes, he shone brilliantly, making it impossible to look away.

“Let’s go.” Su Mu took his hand. Xie Yi, dizzy with joy from her earlier compliments, naturally allowed himself to be led, completely forgetting that Xie Miaorong was still waiting for lunch inside.

It wasn’t until they were about to leave that Su Mu remembered: “Oh right, your brother.”

Xie Yi quickly said, “We can order an extra portion of food later and have the restaurant staff deliver it to the door.”

Su Mu nodded: “That’s fine, but your brother’s foot injury is so severe, he shouldn’t get out of bed.”

“His foot injury isn’t that serious, he’s just being delicate,” Xie Yi said sullenly.

Su Mu burst out laughing: “He’s still your brother after all. Is it right for you to talk about him like this in front of me?”

Xie Yi, who had been holding back a stomach full of jealousy, finally found an opportunity to vent and mercilessly exposed Xie Miaorong’s pretense: “I’m telling the truth. His injury was almost healed. He’s just too delicate to do any work, so he’s deliberately pretending it’s very serious in front of you.”

Su Mu’s eyes were filled with amusement as she held his hand and walked slowly, saying: “It seems you’re not very satisfied with your brother.”

“I just find him too willful. He’s already been married, yet he’s still so inconsiderate. Su Jiejie saved him and took him in, but instead of helping you and doing what he can, he deliberately avoids work. Household chores are naturally the responsibility of us men. I’m really afraid that one day when I go out on an errand and come back a bit late, you’ll have to cook lunch yourself.”

Xie Yi silently labeled Xie Miaorong as lazy and affected, thinking that surely no woman would like such a man.

Su Mu chuckled softly, realizing that these brothers had long been at odds, and she was just the catalyst.

But since Xie Yi came to her home, she indeed started living a life where clothes and food were readily available. Xie Yi kept the house neat and tidy, making her feel very comfortable and giving her a sense of home.

Although her understanding of Xie Miaorong was limited, judging from this period, Xie Miaorong’s performance was indeed worlds apart from Xie Yi’s. Though his mouth was clever and his smile sweet, that sweetness was like artificial sweetener, not quite comfortable.

Unlike Xie Yi, who just quietly stood by her side or sat beside her quietly embroidering, making her feel as comfortable as a spring breeze.

Previously, she had been considerate towards Xie Miaorong because he was Xie Yi’s brother, so she was particularly polite. Now, seeing Xie Yi’s attitude, she felt no need to be overly gentle.

She quietly placed her hand on Xie Yi’s waist, pinching his slender waist, and said in a low voice: “In the future, just tell me these things. Don’t tell others, or it might be difficult for him to find a good family to marry into.”

Before her transmigration, she loved touching girls’ waists the most, thin and soft, fitting perfectly in her hand, especially comfortable. But now she suddenly discovered that Xie Yi’s waist was also particularly nice. Although slender, it had a resilient strength within its softness, like holding a crisp, tender bamboo shoot, with a unique flavor.

“…Mm.” Xie Yi lowered his head, allowing her actions, the tips of his ears red enough to drip blood.

Sure enough, Su Jiejie wasn’t interested in such a second-hand man, eager to marry off Xie Miaorong.

Xie Yi thought he should act quickly, marry him off soon, to prevent him from standing between himself and Su Jiejie, which was extremely annoying.

However, no matter what he thought in his heart, he couldn’t ignore the arm around his waist. Summer clothes were already thin, and he seemed to feel the warmth of Su Mu’s palm.

Xie Yi carefully looked up and saw a flash of satisfaction in Su Mu’s eyes… was it because of his waist?

Xie Yi’s breathing unconsciously became heavier. It was good that he had something Su Jiejie liked. If he made it even thinner in the future, would Su Jiejie like it more?

After the two had lunch at a restaurant, they quickly arrived at a clothing shop in Juan City that young masters often frequented. Perhaps because Magistrate Xu was holding a flower-viewing party and had sent invitations to all the celebrities, the store was currently crowded with well-dressed young masters.

“Oh, Miss Su!” The shop owner saw Su Mu and called out from afar.

The young masters who were selecting clothes all turned their heads to look at her when they heard “Miss Su”.

“Miss Su? Could it be that Su Mu who just passed the imperial examination?”

“It must be her, otherwise why would the shop owner be so attentive!”

“Ah!” A young master blushed and hurriedly covered his face with a fan, saying in a delicate voice: “I never knew Miss Su was so beautiful before!”

“Yes, I don’t know what Yan Jiyue was thinking, actually willing to divorce such a beautiful and talented wife-master. If it were me, I wouldn’t.”

As people whispered discussions, a tightly closed door on the second floor was pushed open slightly. Inside, a man dressed in white had features that, while not stunning, were particularly gentle and refined.

A young servant peeked through the small gap by the door and excitedly whispered in the man’s ear: “Young Master, Young Master, I finally saw what Miss Su looks like. She’s indeed as beautiful as the rumors say!”