Chapter 1225 – Preparing for War, Rest and Recovery (4)
Xie Ze, wanting to make a serious impression, had his wife prepare generous gifts and brought the whole family to visit early.
However, his timing was a bit off as Li Yun’s family had just finished their meal. It wasn’t that Xie Ze lacked manners; it was just that Li Yun’s household, accommodating the needs of Shangguan Wan from the Political Affairs Office and their beloved little Li Nuan, naturally operated differently than a usual family.
Xie Ze and his wife shared the news about Uncle Xie Qian, leaving her quite astonished.
Although Xie Qian belonged to the previous generation, his status within the Xie family was rather distinctive.
Since his incident, his courtyard in the Xie residence had been sealed off, with no one permitted to enter.
That courtyard boasted excellent feng shui, and when Xie Ze’s wife had just married in, her curiosity led her to ask a few questions, revealing the existence of Xie Qian.
“Young Master, is that really Uncle?” Xie Ze’s wife, sitting next to him, waited with her warm black eyes wide in surprise. “I heard from an old servant that Uncle had… a long time ago… how could he possibly be here at Li Yun’s residence?”
Even though Xie Ze brought her here to meet Xie Qian, and this level of importance and respect warmed her heart, she worried about her husband being deceived.
Xie Ze had just taken over as the new leader, and it was precisely the time to keep a low profile. Since arriving in Wanzhou, Xie Ze’s wife had stayed reclusively in the back house, too afraid to move about, worried she might inadvertently offend the original nobles of Wanzhou. She didn’t want to hinder her husband; she wanted to help him instead.
Xie Ze raised his hand and gently patted her hand to soothe her.
“I’ve confirmed it, Han Mei’s biological father is indeed our esteemed uncle,” Xie Ze stated. “Although Uncle has been excluded from the Xie family, bloodlines cannot be severed. As juniors, we must respectfully visit to avoid losing basic courtesies in front of our uncle.”
While Xie Ze comforted his wife, his own heart raced, palms sweating with nerves.
His hearing was exceptional, and he soon caught the sound of light footsteps drawing near.
Martial artists had the ability to step lightly, meaning the more skilled they were, the lighter their steps became.
If it were an ordinary person, their footsteps would be heavy, loud, and solid.
Xie Ze had a hunch and kept his gaze fixed intently in the direction of the sound.
Before long, a refined man in a deep blue robe entered his line of sight. This man bore some resemblance to Li Yun, but where Li Yun emanated the aura of bloodshed from years of battle, this middle-aged man was different; he possessed a graceful demeanor that was instantly likable, with soft brows and a refined, gentle appearance, like a breath of fresh mountain air—a recluse of the world.
If not for his steady posture and long, stable aura, Xie Ze would have mistaken him for a scholar.
“U-Uncle? Is that really you?”
Xie Ze was starstruck, only gradually coming back to himself before respectfully bowing deeply.
Seeing this, Xie Ze’s wife mirrored the gesture of respect fitting for juniors.
Xie Qian frowned at the young couple, rising to guide them gently to their feet. “There are no outsiders here; there’s no need for such formalities.”
Xie Ze’s heart swelled with joy; Xie Qian’s words clearly acknowledged their relationship.
“Uncle—” Xie Ze revealed a goofy smile. “It’s the first time I’ve brought family to meet you, so I can’t let you get away without proper gifts.”
Even if they were family, one couldn’t behave rudely.
Xie Qian commented, “I heard from Han Mei that you’re the fifth son of the second brother? You’ve grown so much in just a few years.”
Xie Ze replied, “You can just call me Yuan Gui, Uncle.”
“Yuan Gui?” Xie Qian paused, a strange look crossing his face. “Did your father choose that name for you?”
Yuan signifies rules and standards; the name itself has good connotations, but the pronunciation—
What a coincidence, indeed.
“Yes, my father said it took him a long time to pick the right one. If Uncle were still around, with your literary talent, he wouldn’t have had to bother.” Xie Ze hadn’t realized anything was amiss until he nervously inquired of Xie Qian, “Uncle, is there any problem with this name? Or perhaps—have I unintentionally offended someone?”
Xie Qian chuckled, “No offense at all; it’s just that the pronunciation might lead to misunderstandings.”
Xie Ze was left bewildered.
Not wanting to tease Xie Ze, Xie Qian could tell the boy’s straightforwardness and innocence were quite similar to many in the Xie family—a bit naive.
Innocent folks are often the best to spare from bullying.
“In the carpenter’s shop, there’s a tool called a compass, with ‘round’ for round and ‘rules’ for regulation. This tool is crucial for woodworking and can be easily misunderstood at first. I just heard about it recently, so I hope my dear nephew doesn’t harbor any grudges because of this.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Ze understood; it meant his courtesy name shared a similar pronunciation with an object.
He was open-hearted; if it was just a coincidence, then why worry? There were plenty of individuals who shared names or characters—it was nothing major.
Little did he know, his name would earn him notoriety as one of the most famous military generals of the era.
Students might struggle to recall historical figures, but the term “compass” would always remind them of Xie Ze.
Xie Ze smiled, “If it can bring you joy, then even if there’s a misunderstanding, it’s worth it.”
Xie Qian offered a gentle smile in return; indeed, he was a descendant of the Xie family, who loved to speak plainly, with no room for subtlety.
Though he had given up on returning to the clan, encountering members of the Xie bloodline after so many years was something he couldn’t just ignore.
He asked about a few relatives’ wellbeing, and Xie Ze replied to each in turn.
Before Xie Qian could give it much thought, a little meatball suddenly rolled in.
“Grandpa—”
“Nuan Nuan!”
Xie Qian, who adored his granddaughter, nearly squeaked in surprise.
A housemaid trailing behind Nuan Nuan saw her faceplant into the ground and nearly lost her wits.
Probably due to her ample baby fat, the fall didn’t hurt, and Nuan Nuan pushed herself up with her arms, shaking her little head as if trying to clear her thoughts. She refused the maid’s help, slowly getting to her feet, wobbling like a plump penguin towards Xie Qian. As she got close, she spread her arms to hug his legs, and once steady, extended her right hand, opening her tiny palm to reveal a very small, deformed pig-shaped snack, “Grandpa, eat—”
Nuan Nuan’s speech wasn’t quite clear; she would only repeat a handful of words.
Though young, she had inherited her father’s straightforward and generous nature, loving to share with others.
If she thought something was delicious, she liked to save a little to share with her mother or grandpa.
And Li Yun?
Having been away for battles so long, the barely one-year-old Nuan Nuan didn’t remember him at all; calling him ‘daddy’ was merely something learned from family and servants.
Nuan Nuan was quite the sight, resembling both Li Yun and Shangguan Wan, but very much like her late grandmother, Wang Huijun.
Xie Qian clearly had a soft spot for this granddaughter.
