I Am a Salted Fish in Ancient Times

Chapter 17

When Xie Chen asked this question, he didn't expect an answer; he was merely reminding Xie Zhui.

He didn't know Xiao Shan well, and his knowledge of Xiao Shan came from various rumors. According to those rumors, Xiao Shan wasn't someone who could be trusted with one's life, nor could he be considered a good person.

However, today, Xiao Shan accompanied Xie Zhui to the Xie residence and seemed like a reasonable person. Xie Chen pondered this in his heart and concluded that, at least on the surface, Xiao Shan seemed to value Xie Zhui.

At the very least, he wouldn't embarrass him in front of others.

But after today, Xie Chen didn't need to think hard to know what the capital would be like.@@@@

Endless rumors would overshadow Xie Zhui's achievements and prompt people to once again discuss his identity.

Few in the capital would remember how long Xie Zhui had protected the nation's borders, sparing the northern people from the horrors of plunder. They wouldn't recall how many times he repelled the enemy, nor how many injuries he sustained or lives he saved.

People's hearts were easily swayed, and under the instigation of those with ulterior motives, they would only see Xie Zhui as a ger who had spent years among men. In the military camp, contact was inevitable, and they would say that under such circumstances, how could Xie Zhui possibly remain pure?

Some people, driven by their own interests, wouldn't care about the lives of others. As the saying goes, "Rumors can kill." When such words reach Xiao Shan's ears, what would Xie Zhui face then?

At that time, people would say that if Xie Zhui were abandoned by Xiao Shan, it would be his own fault. If Xie Zhui hadn't impersonated his brother to join the army, these rumors wouldn't exist.

Thinking about the challenges Xie Zhui would face tomorrow, Xie Chen felt a deep chill in his heart.

Sometimes, he truly hated himself. If the Xie family hadn't been on the brink of life and death that year, if he hadn't been poisoned and blinded, he would have been the one to go to the battlefield and uphold the Xie family's honor.

Xie Zhui, as a ger, wouldn't have had to shoulder the family's responsibilities, nor would he have been subjected to people's gossip and scrutiny.

The suffering and rumors Xie Zhui endured were all because of him. It was his failure to protect Xie Zhui.

Xie Chen didn't want Xie Zhui to face such a situation, but he couldn't pretend to be unaware of the current circumstances and offer empty words of comfort.

What he could do was provide Xie Zhui with his unwavering support.

"Never compromise yourself, and don't fear those rumors. As long as you don't fear them, they can't hurt you," Xie Chen said calmly, expressing his most genuine thoughts. "So, what if Xiao Shan is a prince? You are still the young master of the Xie family. At worst, we'll spend our lives together."

Xie Zhui looked at Xie Chen. Instead of responding to his words, he asked, "Elder Brother, if you were in my situation, what would you do?"

Xie Chen thought seriously for a moment and said, "Investigate the rumors and give the minimum respect."

Knowing that Xie Chen couldn't see, Xie Zhui still smiled gently. "Elder Brother, from the beginning, His Highness has done just that. He didn't even investigate those rumors but gave me the basic respect. I believe he will continue to do so in the future. I don't fear these rumors, and His Highness doesn't care about them either. When he hears them, he just feels his ears are being sullied."

Xie Chen actually wanted to know about Xie Zhui's life after marriage, but as Xie Zhui's elder brother, he didn't know how to ask.

Now, hearing Xie Zhui's words, he couldn't help but ask, "Really? Xiao Shan truly didn't get angry because of those rumors?"

Xie Zhui nodded, "He doesn't care about them at all. His Highness is a very special person, not at all like the rumors say."

He then recounted Xiao Shan's actions over the past days, avoiding the things he couldn't mention but sharing everything else.

After listening to Xie Zhui's words, Xie Chen was silent for a moment before saying, "From what you say, he seems to be a person of genuine character." Intelligent, uninterested in power, and unafraid of the authority he holds. Most importantly, he was willing to protect Xie Zhui, both in words and actions, and was not someone who likes to suffer losses.

"As for the rumors..."

Xie Zhui interrupted, "Elder Brother, you said it yourself—they are just rumors."

Xie Chen was momentarily stunned before he chuckled, "True, rumors shouldn't be taken seriously. I was too biased." When it came to Xie Zhui, his family, he could rationally analyze and debunk those rumors to protect him, but he lacked the same inclination towards others.

The saying that people's hearts were naturally biased was indeed true.

Xie Zhui said, "Actually, those rumors aren't entirely baseless. His Highness indeed lacks great ambition, doesn't love reading, and his handwriting isn't particularly neat. He avoids tasks assigned by the Emperor whenever possible, and if he can't avoid them, he complains a lot before doing them. He spends his days thinking about how to enjoy food and drink. To others, this behavior appears unruly and incorrigible."

Xie Chen: "..." It does sound quite frustrating.

Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow playfully, "Deceiving me about what? Your body?"

Xie Zhui: "..."

Xie Zhui pressed his lips together, "No, I mean, do you believe everything I say?"

Xiao Shan nodded, then leaned down to whisper in Xie Zhui's ear, "I have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hands to confirm. I know exactly what kind of person you are."

"Rumors are just rumors. If I believed them, on our wedding night, I wouldn't have..."

Although Xiao Shan didn't say anything overtly shameful, Xie Zhui's cheeks flushed at the implied words.

Xie Zhui felt like he was losing his mind.

He didn't know what was happening to him. In front of Xie Chen, he had confidently declared that Xiao Shan wouldn't believe those rumors, speaking with unwavering conviction. But now, facing Xiao Shan, he suddenly had the urge to hear Xiao Shan say those words himself.

Outside, the coachman drove the carriage towards Prince Li’s residence, while inside, the two remained silent.

That night, the red candles burned halfway.

Xie Zhui buried his head in the pillow, gripping the quilt tightly. He bit his lip to keep from making any sound.

Xiao Shan deliberately lowered his voice, calling Xie Zhui's name in a husky tone right by his ear.

Tears welled up at the corners of Xie Zhui's eyes. He wanted to say something but, in the end, said nothing.

The red candles continued to burn in the room, the bedclothes in disarray, and the sounds of their low voices filled the air.

***

The next day, Xiao Shan entered the palace, and Xie Zhui went to the Xie residence again.

On the way to the Xie residence, just as they were about to arrive, someone collided with his carriage. The person insisted that they had been hit by the carriage and lay on the ground wailing, claiming they had been fatally injured.

Hearing the commotion, Xie Zhui lifted the curtain. Before he could clearly see the person on the ground, he noticed Zuo Li, Yin Tong, and Xu Guang walking out of a nearby tavern and heading in his direction.

Zuo Li was the first to see Xie Zhui.

His expression froze, and he stopped in his tracks, stunned. Yin Tong, who was walking behind him, bumped straight into him, and the two nearly fell over. Xu Guang, seeing this, smirked and stepped aside.

After steadying himself, Yin Tong rubbed his sore nose and said, "What's wrong with you? Have the splendors of the capital made your legs go weak?"

Zuo Li didn't respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Xu Guang, puzzled, followed his line of sight and saw Xie Zhui in the carriage.

Xu Guang's heart skipped a beat, and before any thoughts could form, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Hey, you lying on the ground! That's the carriage of Prince Li's residence, and inside is Prince Li's Prince Consort. If you don't want to die, you'd better get up quickly."

"Prince Li's Prince Consort?" The crowd, curious and excited, turned their attention towards the carriage.

Yin Tong, holding his nose, widened his eyes and naturally saw Xie Zhui.

Before he could react, someone else shouted, "Standing by the tavern over there are the generals who just returned from the northern border yesterday. They used to be under Prince Li's Prince Consort's command and are quite familiar with him. They share the bond of having lived and fought together."

The crowd buzzed with excitement at these words, looking back and forth between Zuo Li and the others, and Xie Zhui in the carriage.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement.

Soon, various comments and whispers filled the air, with people pointing and talking about Xie Zhui and the three generals.

Prince Li's Prince Consort, northern border generals, living and eating together...

Such words, when linked together, inevitably sparked the curiosity of those with ulterior motives. The things they said snowballed into a massive wave of gossip, engulfing Xie Zhui, Zuo Li, Yin Tong, and Xu Guang.