Xie Jiang: "Xu Hengyi won't constantly urge me to go to school. He listens to me. If I tell him to go east, he'll absolutely go east."
Xu Hengyan: "..."
He had heard in Ninghe that after she returned to the capital, she often mingled with Xu Hengyi, Ruan Ziji, and their group. She and they shared similar interests!
Had she found her kindred spirits?
Xu Hengyan took a deep breath to calm himself. The greatest danger at the moment was not this group of dissolute youths. "Can't you find someone more promising?"
"I'm already the Marquis of Nanhai, am I not promising? You're over twenty and still just a heir-apparent." She looked at him with an annoying air of disdain.
Xu Hengyan almost laughed at her, how could such a mischievous person exist in the world? "It's fine if you don't like the tediousness of studying classics and history. Seeking knowledge isn't just about the words of sages; experience and insight are equally important."
Xie Jiang seemed to show some interest. "You mean go to an academy to play?"
"..."
Xu Hengyan was speechless.
How could she interpret it that way?
"I don't expect you to study and become a scholar. You don't need to learn these things if you're not participating in the imperial examinations. The four great academies are full of learned scholars, and there are many things you can learn from them."
"Painting, chess, astronomy, arithmetic, music, calligraphy... and so on."
"You can choose subjects that interest you. Even if none of these interest you, it's not a problem. Traveling to different places, observing human affairs, customs of the north and south, and the landscapes will broaden your horizons and is a form of learning. Going out and seeing the world will benefit you greatly."
"You've gone from asking me to play at an academy to asking me to travel. You have such low expectations of me."
Xu Hengyan smiled. "Learning takes many forms. As long as you're happy."
Xie Jiang pondered seriously for a moment. "Actually, going to an academy isn't impossible, but I have a condition, though you probably won't agree, and the people at the academy certainly won't."
"What condition?"
Xu Hengyan was mentally prepared. As long as she was willing to stay away from the capital, even playing at an academy wouldn't be unacceptable.
Once she had her fill of playing, he could arrange for her to be posted elsewhere.
Although Yi Yancheng would be an obstacle on her path to an external posting, these few months would be enough for him to operate smoothly.
Therefore, no matter how outrageous her request, he would find a way to satisfy it.
"If any academy is fortunate enough to be chosen by me, that academy must take my surname, Xie." Xie Jiang's eyes lit up as she said this.
"..."
Xu Hengyan wasn't sure if he had misheard. Why would she want an academy to take her surname, Xie? Did she know what it meant for an academy to be named Xie?
Xie Jiang looked as if she had expected his reaction. "I knew you wouldn't agree."
She slumped back against the cushion, and the nascent interest she had just developed vanished instantly.
Xu Hengyan's scalp tingled. "Even if the four great academies were like leeks for you to harvest, how dare you claim them as your own?"
Realizing she was likely not joking, Xu Hengyan's expression immediately turned serious.
To have an academy named Xie and control the scholars of the land, what was she trying to do? Attempting to overturn the universe!
They, the established aristocratic families of Da Yu, didn't dare to meddle with the academies. The Xie clan had only just submitted and was already eyeing the academies. What would His Majesty and the court think?
Xu Hengyan took a deep breath, his head aching from her audacity.
Xie Jiang didn't intend to harvest the four great academies like leeks. She planned to plant her own garden of leeks and rise above the four great academies, or to sow seeds in their gardens.
Xie Jiang certainly knew it wasn't the right time yet. She was just casually saying it to gauge Xu Hengyan's reaction. Hadn't they just been discussing academies?
Xie Jiang wore an arrogant and uninhibited expression, as if she were the greatest under heaven. "Do you think I can tolerate someone riding over my head? Or someone bossing me around? The academy I attend must follow my lead, otherwise, why would I travel thousands of miles to offer my face to be stepped on?"
Xu Hengyan felt as if he were about to have a heart attack. "I'm sending you to an academy to study, not to claim territory like a bandit. Who is riding over your head?"
"If I go to an academy, won't the academy's headmaster and teachers nag and try to restrain me?" Xie Jiang looked displeased.
"The headmasters and teachers of the four great academies are all highly respected and learned great scholars. They have significant influence both in court and in society. Learning from them will benefit you immensely, and it will help your Xie clan establish itself in Da Yu..."
"Does being learned mean they can suppress me? Is my fist not hard enough, or is my blade not sharp enough?"
"..."
Xu Hengyan should have realized earlier that she not only disliked studying but also couldn't stand being restrained.
He couldn't understand how such a refined young gentleman had learned the ways of a brute, resorting to fists and blades at the slightest disagreement.
The military camp would be quite suitable for her, but it wasn't the right time yet.
Xu Hengyan felt that it would be more realistic to arrange for her to be posted elsewhere sooner rather than trying to persuade her to study outside the capital.
Xie Jiang seemed to have seen through his thoughts. "Earlier in Ninghe, you advised me to study at the Imperial College, and now you're urging me to leave the capital for the four great academies. Are you still worried that Yi Yancheng will harm me?"
Xu Hengyan remained silent, implicitly admitting it.
Yi Yancheng harbored malicious intentions towards her; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he intended to harm her.
"Did Yi Yancheng leave such a big psychological scar on you?" Xie Jiang reached out and grabbed his collar, trying to look inside. "Let me see how big the area of your psychological scar is."
Xu Hengyan felt her gaze...
Was he overthinking things?
Xu Hengyan reached over and wiped his hand on the table nearby, then stuffed a piece of walnut crisp into her hand. He then solemnly pulled his collar tight, concealing his racing heart.
Xie Jiang was somewhat displeased. She pushed the walnut crisp back into his mouth. Was she craving walnut crisps? "I just wanted to see if you had any other injuries on your body... Is there anything I can't see?"
Perhaps thinking of his impending marriage, Xie Jiang's expression suddenly turned sour. She said sarcastically, "You'll be married in a few days. Won't you take off your clothes on your wedding night?"
Xu Hengyan said, "You're unhappy that I'm getting married. You're unhappy."
Xie Jiang said, "How could I be unhappy? Getting married is a joyous occasion. I, I just..."
Her brows were furrowed. Her lips moved, but she didn't know how to express herself.
Xu Hengyan was now certain that she felt the same way about him.
He saw her confusion and distress in her eyes.
Although she hadn't yet realized her feelings for him...
Xie Jiang struggled for a long time before finally deciding to follow her heart. "I'm just unhappy."
If she was unhappy, she had to say it. How could she be unhappy alone? Naturally, no one else should have a good time.
"At first, I was quite happy. Marriage is so lively and fun! As your good friend, I could even go with you to pick up the bride. But now I'm unhappy."
"They say husband and wife are one, sharing honor and disgrace, growing old together. You have found another half, someone to share honor and disgrace with, someone to grow old with. Then, then what about me?"
"When you two are together, I'll be left alone, becoming superfluous."
The more Xie Jiang spoke, the more dejected she became. The starlight in her eyes dimmed. She lowered her gaze and murmured softly.