SGSHE125

The Jing family members were all dressed in fine brocade, while not ostentatiously lavish, one glance was enough to tell they were a wealthy, distinguished clan.

Jing Heguang, standing opposite them, looked far simpler. He wore a standard suit of armor, holding his helmet in one hand while clasping Xing Ming’s hand with the other.

Xing Ming was dressed in simple, light-blue casual attire, refined and modest, chosen specifically for the audience with the emperor.

He was handsome, and his skin had lightened a bit over the past few days, his eyes held a hint of shyness born from nervousness.

He carried the gifts they had prepared, a small stack of gift boxes.

To the Jing family, it looked as if Jing Heguang had ‘tricked’ a young scholar into coming home with him.

For a moment, no one in the family even looked at Jing Heguang.

Jing Heguang thought: …Even if younger brother Xing is good-looking, you can’t just stare like that! It’s intimidating.

So, Jing Heguang smiled and called out loudly, “Father! Mother! Your son has returned.”

Xing Ming nervously followed suit: “Greetings, uncle and aunt. I am Xing Ming.”

Jing Ziming feigned composure, stroking his handsome beard as he said, “I know. Heguang wrote to us about it. You’ve had a long, exhausting journey. Eldest daughter-in-law, go help carry the things.”

As he spoke, Jing Ziming glanced at Jing Heguang, thinking his son lacked social awareness.

To think he’d let his partner carry the luggage…that simply wasn’t something their family did.

Jing Heguang didn’t catch the subtext and simply offered his father a ingratiating smile.

The eldest sister-in-law stepped forward to help with the load, and Xing Ming whispered, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Yu Xiang, meanwhile, stole discreet, dignified glances at Xing Ming, feeling a pang of affection as she did so.

He is so handsome, imagine how beautiful a baby of his would be?

Regardless, he was so lovely to look at that he was a delight to the eye.

Unaware that she was a sucker for a pretty face, Yu Xiang found her fondness for Xing Ming growing rapidly. Yu Xiang spoke up, “No need for formalities, we’re all family now. Come inside and sit.”

With the imperial decree already issued, there was no defying the emperor’s will, they were destined to be one family.

The elders walked ahead, while Jing Heguang and the other young people followed behind.

Catching a glimpse of the bright yellow imperial decree, Jing Heguang secretly exchanged a look with Xing Ming.

Xing Ming had seen the decree too, and felt all the more reassured.

Behind them, the young Jing brother craned his neck; seeing the two of them gazing at each other, he asked curiously, “Second Brother! What are you and second sister-in-law looking at?”

As soon as the boy spoke, the whole family turned their eyes toward the couple.

“It’s nothing.” Jing Heguang glared at his younger brother. “I was telling younger brother Xing how great the atmosphere is in our family. Just now, dad was holding mom’s hand, and big brother was holding sister-in-law’s. I was just showing off a bit.”

Xing Ming, who had never heard such a thing before, nodded earnestly. “That’s right, the family atmosphere really is wonderful.”

Yu Xiang blushed, while Jing Ziming looked rather pleased with himself. Nearby, the eldest sister-in-law shyly pulled her hand away from the eldest brother’s grasp.

The younger Jing brother looked at his own empty hands…

He protested indignantly, “Mom! I want to get a wife tomorrow too. I’m the only one here without anyone to hold hands with.”

Yu Xiang: …She didn’t want to admit she had such a foolish son.

Ignoring her youngest son, Yu Xiang looked at Xing Ming with a gaze full of maternal affection.

In addition to his first letter, Jing Heguang had sent two others, one of which mentioned Xing Ming’s background.

Yu Xiang remembered that the boy had lost his family early on and grown up all alone. Seeing Xing Ming’s earnest expression, which seemed to show a touch of envy for their family, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of fondness and pity for him.

Yu Xiang spoke up: “Heguang just has a way with words. If he ever bullies you, tell me. I’ve got the feather duster ready and waiting for him.”

Jing Ziming was a bit taken aback, wasn’t the plan to save face for their son?

Oh well, his wife was smart, she surely had her reasons.

As for their son’s face, if it was lost, so be it. He figured his son was just like him: he didn’t need to worry about appearances, as long as the substance was good, that was what mattered.

Never mind face-saving, a happy, comfortable home life was the most important thing.

While the adults were in high spirits, the youngest Jing brother puffed out his cheeks and trudged along behind, amusing himself by stomping on his second brother’s shadow.

***

After sitting in the main courtyard for a while and learning the origins of the war, Jing Ziming told everyone to go rest and reconvene for dinner later.

The young men then returned to their respective courtyards.

Jing Heguang took Xingming back to a courtyard that was, to him, also unfamiliar.

The original owner had lived there, but this was his own first time setting foot in the place.

However, upon entering, it was easy to see the courtyard had been refurbished. There was no sense of desolation from long-term neglect, though it did feel a bit quiet.

As the two stepped inside, the servants spoke up, and the courtyard instantly came to life.

Jing Heguang said, “Mother must have had it renovated and cleaned up specially to welcome you.”

Xing Ming looked at him. “Auntie is certainly a virtuous woman.”

Jing Heguang teased, “Still calling her ‘auntie’? I noticed my mother’s eyes lit up when you called my sister-in-law ‘sister-in-law’.”

Xingming pursed his lips, looking a bit conflicted. “It wouldn’t be right to just call her that straight away, would it?”

“Fair point. We’ll wait until we get married again,” Jing Heguang said. “This time, it’ll definitely be grander than the last.”

Xing Ming just smiled and said nothing.

They had married on a theater stage, though it hadn’t been a grand affair, in his heart, it had been the perfect setting.

That gesture symbolized that the man beside him accepted everything about himm even his status as a lowly opera actor.

But…wait, did uncle and auntie Jing even know about his profession?

Xing Ming lowered his gaze.

Later, once the servants had either retired for the night or were waiting outside…

Xing Ming leaned close to Jing Heguang and whispered, “I…I’m an opera actor. Do Uncle and Auntie know about that?”

As he asked, he clutched the hem of his robe so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Jing Heguang studied his expression and took his hand in his own. “Don’t worry, I told them. My family isn’t exactly a stuffy, high-society clan. My father rose from poverty, and my mother is the daughter of a fallen official family. But my mother has known hardship too, she understands how tough life can be.”

Xing Ming’s eyes widened in surprise. He could hardly believe that Jing Heguang’s parents actually knew about his background!

After a moment, he said with a touch of envy, “Your parents are wonderful, I’m truly envious!”

Wise to the ways of the world, yet untainted by its cynicism.

Jing Heguang planted a kiss on the back of Xing Ming’s fair hand, where faint blue veins were visible, making a distinct, audible smack.

“They’ll be your parents too.”

Outside the room, the servants stared at one another in wide-eyed astonishment.

The second young master had taken a man as his spouse!

And he was kissing his new spouse right there in the room!!

Word was they had already visited the main hall and met the master and madam of the house, that new spouse certainly had a way about him!

***

Dusk.

Dressed in matching cyan robes, Jing Heguang strolled slowly with Xing Ming, showing him around the courtyards.

They arrived at the main courtyard.

The eldest brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother hadn’t arrived yet. The two of them were the first to get there.

Jing Ziming sat by the stone table in the courtyard and beckoned to the two of them: “Come sit over here. Your mother is busy in the kitchen.”

Once the two youngsters had sat down, Jing Ziming pushed the bowl of white Go stones toward his son and asked Xing Ming solicitously, “Little Xing, you have a sweet tooth, Jing Heguang mentioned that correctly, right?”

“Of course he does,” Jing Heguang chimed in.

Jing Heguang held the Go stones, fretting over the fact that he didn’t know how to play. His ruse was bound to be exposed.

A thought struck him, and he asked Xing Ming, “younger brother Xing, do you know how to play Go?”

Xingming nodded. “I do.”

The stones were promptly passed to Xing Ming. Jing Heguang said, “Then why don’t you play a game with father? Let him see what your skill level is.”

Given Jing Heguang’s temperament, having already offloaded the stones, there was no way he was going to play.

Xing Ming had no choice but to accept the stones and step up to the board, steeling himself for the match.

They chatted casually while playing the game.

Jing Heguang found sitting on the sidelines unsatisfying, he moved to stand behind Xing Ming and lazily rested his head on his shoulder.

Jing Ziming: …

Jing Ziming felt a twinge of envy.

If nothing else, the young person his second son had chosen had an incredibly good temperament.

Judging by his son’s behavior, this sort of ‘laziness’ was clearly a regular occurrence.

After watching them play for a while, Jing Heguang began to drift off.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he roused himself and rubbed his face.

Standing up, Jing Heguang said, “I’m going to the kitchen, I’ll be right back. You keep playing chess with father.”

“Alright, go ahead.” Xingming waved his hand, looking up at him with a smile.

Jing Heguang then ran off to the kitchen.

The kitchen was filled with a rich, mouth-watering aroma.

He wandered up behind Yu Xiang. “Mom, it smells amazing. What are you stewing?”

“Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,” Yu Xiang replied.

She turned around, curious. “What brings you to the kitchen? It’s greasy in here.”

Jing Heguang laughed. “Mom, it’s nothing. I can cook full meals myself. I’m not afraid of a little grease.”

Yu Xiang looked up at her tall son, her eyes stinging slightly.

Her son must have suffered hardships while he was away!

She glanced at his calloused hands, blinked, and scolded him, “You need to stay away from that Cui family from now on! If you ever do something reckless like that again, I’ll break your legs!”

Yu Xiang knew her son loved his current wife, but the memory of how foolishly he had once risked his life, swayed by a single word from someone else, still made her heart race with anxiety.

She admonished him, “Now that you’re married, you have someone waiting for you to look after them. You mustn’t go running off on impulse anymore.”

Jing Heguang felt a touch of emotion, he nodded obediently and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you, mom.”

Yu Xiang managed a faint smile. “In that case, I won’t give your wife a hard time. But if you run off again, I’ll…”

Jing Heguang frowned.

Oh no, she’s got me right where it hurts.

Seeing her son’s furrowed brow, Yu Xiang smiled triumphantly.

Experience counts for a lot, she was still the sharper of the two.

With the kitchen work mostly done, the whole family gathered together.

The seven of them sat down to eat, filling the table completely.

During the meal, Jing Ziming finally brought up the matter of the imperial decree, saying he would soon pick a date for Jing Heguang and Xing Ming’s grand wedding.

Under the table, Jing Heguang reached out to touch Xing Ming’s hand.

Hidden beneath the tablecloth, the two of them held hands.

***

After dinner, Jing Heguang sought out Jing Ziming privately.

He intended to…get his complaint in first!

Jing Heguang had offended the Cui family and the crown prince, which effectively meant offending the powerful factions and networks backing them.

That was a massive web of influence. The prudent move was to inform the ‘old fox’ of the family, his father, as soon as possible.

Jing Heguang recounted the events one by one.

Hearing what Cui Tong and Cui Leyou had done, Jing Ziming was furious and slammed his hand onto the study desk. “It makes my blood boil! To them, matters of state are less important than their own petty romantic affairs?!”

“Truly, their selfishness borders on malice, and they are so accustomed to such malice that they don’t even realize it!”

Jing Heguang thought: Well said.

Jing Heguang was inwardly praising Jing Ziming when the latter looked at him and said, “You finally showed some sense for once, stopped believing the nonsense from the Cui family. I suppose we owe that to Little Xing.”

Jing Heguang: …

At first, Jing Heguang felt like he was being insulted, but upon reflection, he realized the remark was spot-on.

He had likely come here for the sake of his younger brother Xing.

It was because of Xing Ming that he had made the trip, and thus, the course of events had changed.

Had he not come, had everything proceeded according to the original trajectory, the outcome would have been vastly different, and far more innocent lives would have been lost.

Jing Ziming asked again, “You’ve offended both the crown prince and the Cui family, how do you intend to handle the fallout?”

Jing Heguang replied, “The Cui family doesn’t matter, the crown prince is the one who matter. I plan to leak the information simultaneously to the fourth prince and the second prince, the latter also has his eye on the throne.”

Telling the fourth prince would let him know that the woman he desired was already being viewed by the crown prince as his own prize.

Informing the second prince would create a sense of urgency and provide an opportunity to undermine the crown prince.

The crown prince was blinded by lust, making evidence easy to obtain, many within the army were already aware of the situation.

The only challenge lay in the method of ‘telling’, it had to be done tactfully.

Jing Heguang smiled at Jing Ziming, a guileless, honest smile.

Jing Ziming glared at him. “I’ll handle it for you. It’s late, get going. I need to keep your mother company.”

Jing Heguang waved his hand and turned to leave. “Younger brother Xing is waiting for me, too.”

Author’s Note: Little Brother Jing is pouting angrily.

T/N: Poor little brother Jing having to deal with 3 lovey dovey couple everyday from now on (ಥ‿ಥ)