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CHAPTER 23
Chapter 23
As the evening set in, the western sky was painted with red hues, casting a glow on the temple beneath the glazed tiles.
Yang Zhen was still in shock from earlier. She remarked, "I've always felt that my sister-in-law's temperament is too kind. Fortunately, her brother has a strong character and is willing to stand up for his elder sister."
She clicked her tongue, "It's a pity my sister-in-law didn't let Xiang Yu finish speaking. However, Eldest brother in law also agreed to let my sister-in-law return to her natal family."
Tan Jian was on the side, sipping calming tea. Xiang Yu's words were already strong enough. If Xiang Yu had been allowed to finish speaking, he couldn't imagine how his eldest brother would react.
Here is the translation:
As for his sister-in-law returning to her maiden home, he recalled that the last time she had done so was for the huimen — the customary visit back to her family after the wedding.
At the time, his elder brother had been preparing to travel to the capital to sit the imperial examinations and was therefore unable to accompany her for the traditional three-day return visit. It was only after his elder brother had departed for the capital that his sister-in-law chose a suitable day to make the trip on her own, staying at her maiden home for half a month. After that, it never happened again.
Tan Jian sighed, but he saw his wife in high spirits, still praising Xiang Yu for the passionate defense of his sister. He seriously doubted if his wife belonged to the Yang family or the Tan family. Was she from the Xiang family?
Before he could ponder further, she called him. "Let's go to our sister-in-law's lodging."
Tan Jian was stunned, the calming tea choked him, rendering him speechless. After clearing his throat for a while, he asked, "Wife, is this appropriate?"
"Appropriate." She jumped off the small couch with enthusiasm. "If you're not going, I'll go by myself."
Tan Jian cleared his throat and watched as his energetic wife hurriedly left the house, reluctantly following her.
…
The red glow faded away as the night fell, and sporadic lights in the temple flickered, casting a serene glow on the Buddhist temple.
In the lodging where the Xiang family stayed, the courtyard was quiet, with the Xiang siblings conversing in their room. Xiang Yu's anger hadn't subsided, and he stood there with crossed arms.
Xiang Yi sighed. "My accounts are clean; they can't do anything to me. Instead, those clowns were digging their own graves."
She looked at her younger brother's determined face and advised him, "This matter is in the past. If you escalate tensions with the Tan family over this, wouldn't it be a case of losing sight of the bigger picture?"
As she spoke, her eyes subtly moved.
"Women cannot take the imperial examinations, and apart from you, there is no second male in the Xiang family. You must remember what you should prioritize, so you won't get upset over trivial matters."
Xiang Yu's lips tightened with reluctance. His elder sister had always been a reserved person. What she desired was not personal gains but the restoration of the Xiang family's honor.
The atmosphere in the lodging became heavy. Xiang Ning looked at her elder sister and Xiang Yu, quietly lighting a calming incense in the middle of the three.
The calming scent of the soothing incense filled the room, and the white smoke slowly rose, gradually easing the tension in the air.
Just then, a knocking sound came from outside.
The three stood up to check and found Tan Ting and Zheng Ji outside. Tan Ting's unexpected arrival surprised all three.
Xiang Yu, who had just relaxed his frowning brows, furrowed them again, and Xiang Ning also showed a guarded expression.
Tan Ting paused for a moment but noticed Xiang Yi stepping forward. She was still wearing a plain white robe, now with a hint of the calming incense's fragrance.
The tranquil scent of the calming incense permeated the air, and its aroma mysteriously matched her overall demeanor.
Tan Ting was unaware of how he ended up here., Perhaps guided by the evening glow or other factors. Seeing her peacefully present, he suddenly felt the urge to have a private conversation with her.
His thin lips twitched, but hesitating as he observed the vigilant expressions of Xiang Yu and Xiang Ning, Tan Ting struggled to find the right words.
Unable to speak, he could only gaze silently at his wife, who, unaware of his intentions, questioned him through her eyes.
"Why did the master come over? Is there something you need to instruct?"
Upon hearing that there was something to instruct, Xiang Yu's expression became even more unpleasant. Even Xiang Ning, who was usually docile, tensed up. They looked at him as if he were a ferocious beast about to torment their elder sister.
Tension pervaded the small courtyard, and the air was thick with apprehension.
Tan Ting silently sighed. He reassured them that there was no trouble and shifted his gaze, settling on Xiang Yi.
"This year's weather is getting colder, especially in the mountains. I wonder if you are comfortable staying here."
The lodging reserved for the Tan's family in Anluo Temple differed significantly from the ones chosen by Xiang Yu and the others. The former could use a ground furnace for heating, while the latter had to rely on charcoal braziers.
Tan Ting's original intention was to bring both Xiang Yu and Xiang Ning to the guest quarters arranged by the Tan family. However, after the commotion earlier in the afternoon, not only did Xiang Yu and Xiang Ning leave, but even Xiang Yi walked away.
When he posed the question, Xiang Yu snorted, seemingly ready to say something. However, Xiang Yi suppressed him with a glance, and Xiang Ning, being more obedient, remained silent. Yet, the guarded expression on her face showed no signs of easing.
In the end, it was Xiang Yi who spoke.
Her demeanor remained unchanged, and her voice was consistently calm.
"Thank you for your concern, my Lord."
Compared to Xiang Yu's rejection and Xiang Ning's wariness, her unchanged response made Tan Ting even more hesitant to initiate a private conversation with her. He silently watched her, while she subtly shifted her gaze elsewhere. There was not even a hint of eye contact.
Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, Tan Ting was about to speak when another set of footsteps approached from outside. Yang Zhen and Tan Jian had arrived, adding more activity to the temporary lodging where the Xiang family was staying.
Seeing the courtyard filled with people, Tan Ting realized that his idea of having a private conversation with her was now completely impractical. Feeling displeased, he glanced at Tan Jian. Tan Jian, unsuspecting that his elder brother was also present, shivered at the unexpected gaze.
Yang Zhen, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, mingled effortlessly with the Xiang family, getting acquainted with Xiang Yu and Xiang Ning. She particularly took a liking to Xiang Ning, who appeared gentle and fair.
The harmony among the women contrasted with the tense atmosphere among the men in the courtyard. Tan Jian, hesitant to disturb his elder brother and wary of the Xiang family, approached Xiang Yi and whispered, "Is Sister-in-law really going back to her family?"
Before his sister-in-law could respond, Xiang Yu shot him a stern look. Tan Jian was unsure which part of his question went wrong, considering he had only spoken one sentence. However, Xiang Yi stepped in to defuse the situation, saying gently, "Yes, I'll be going back for a few days."
Tan Jian responded with an "Oh," nodding cautiously. He wanted to inquire how many days his sister-in-law would be away, but the look in Xiang Yu's eyes restrained him.
However, his elder brother spoke up at this moment, asking, "How many days will you spend there?"
Hearing him ask this, Xiang Yi thought for a moment. "Would three days seem reasonable to you, my lord?"
After all, the twelfth lunar month was a time fraught with affairs to manage.
But her suggestion immediately caused Xiang Yu to furrow his brow, and even Xiang Ning could not help but speak up.
"Three days would mean Sister still has to make the trip back and forth — isn't that far too tiring for her?"
The words carried the barely concealed displeasure of a younger sister fretting over her elder.
Tan Ting had no choice but to revise his offer. "Then five days it shall be."
He had added two more days for two reasons: firstly, he did not wish his wife to be worn out from too much travelling; secondly, he did not want the siblings' resentment to run too deep.
Who could have anticipated that Xiang Yu would let out a cold snort on the spot.
"I dare say even fifty days would be of no concern to you, Lord Tan."
After all, he had not returned home in three years, what could his wife possibly mean to him?
Tan Jian was left dumbfounded. He couldn't fathom anyone in the entire Tan family or even the entire Qingwen County and Ningnan Prefecture daring to speak to his elder brother in such a manner.
However, Yang Zhen found the Xiang twins more pleasing as she observed them. Xiang Yi promptly warned Xiang Yu with her eyes, signaling him not to speak out of turn.
Unable to reach a consensus, Tan Ting finally suggested, "Then let it be four days," and then turned to Xiang Yi, saying, "I'll come to Qingzhou to pick you up in four days."
Xiang Yi had never considered him coming to pick her up. She thought that Tan Ting had already shown considerable tolerance toward Xiang Yu due to the investigation of her accounts by the Tan family. However, the relationship between her and Tan Ting was far from being like that.
In her opinion, Tan Ting's offer was merely a polite remark. She shook her head and said, "The weather is cold, and I can return on my own. Lord Tan doesn't need to go through so much trouble."
Xiang Yu was about to speak again, but this time, Tan Ting spoke first. In the mountain breeze under the night sky, Xiang Yi, dressed in white, seemed to flutter lightly like the mountain wind.
Tan Ting gazed at her deeply. "I insist."
This left Xiang Yu momentarily speechless, while Xiang Yi herself was visibly taken aback.
*
As neither Xiang Yu nor Xiang Yi would agree to the seven-day journey by water, Tan Ting had no choice but to ask the Abbot to cancel the plans. Instead, he accompanied them in a day of fasting and lit an ever-burning lamp for the soul of Lady Liang. Once the ninth day of the twelfth month arrived, Xiang Yu took Xiang Yi back to their residence in Qingzhou.
As Tan Ting had promised only four days, he couldn't stay any longer and had to return to the Tan family in Qingzhou with Tan Jian and Yang Zhen. The arrival of three people out of the initial four raised concerns when Zhao Shi heard about it, and she couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"So many things to deal with before the New Year. Why did she choose this time to go back to her family?" Zhao Shi expressed her frustration.
Knowing that his aunt disliked family matters, a concern that she had developed only after marrying into the family, Tan Ting didn't want her to blame Xiang Yi for this decision. He explained that it was his decision to let Xiang Yi go back.
"If Mother is tired, let your son handle the family affairs for a few days."
"How can that be? Which heir of the clan takes care of family matters?"
Zhao Shi had elders above her who were highly respected, and she couldn't afford to break the rules. She couldn't help but look at her newly wedded second daughter-in-law.
Seeing Zhao Shi's gaze, Yang Zhen's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Mother, should I help manage the household? I spent a few days with my own mother. Although she thinks I'm clumsy, I believe I can give it a try."
Zhao Shi was nearly taken aback. She quickly waved off the suggestion, realizing that if she let her second daughter-in-law take over, her headache would probably get worse.
"Never mind, never mind. I'll handle it for these four days."
*
In the small courtyard of the Qingzhou Xiang family, the atmosphere was lively and festive, comparable to the New Year.
The town's New Year goods were on display, and the siblings bought a large pile of items, including honey dates, melon seeds, sweet balls, and Su cakes.
As the neighbors heard that the eldest daughter of the Xiang family and the virtuous lady from the Tan family in Qingzhou had returned, they hurried over to see. Observing Xiang Yi without luxurious fabrics, elaborate jewelry, or a retinue of servants, she stood in the courtyard, hospitably offering snacks to the neighbors.
The onlookers were all astonished.
In their area, there were prominent families, including the distant wealthy Qiu family from Pingze. Even the head of the household's wife gasped for breath while walking. Closer to them lived a branch of the prominent Fengling Chen family, one of the four major clans. Those people were notorious for their disdainful attitude, never treating others with respect and only aiming to exploit their land and fields...
But the virtuous lady from the Tan family in Qingzhou seemed completely different. The neighbors felt hesitant to only enjoy Xiang family's offerings, so they brought tea and fruits over as well.
In the interactions, the Xiang family, situated on the outskirts of the town, unexpectedly became the liveliest place in the whole town.
As for the Tan family in Qingzhou, it was a different scene—quiet yet tinged with chaos.
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