The ripe pomegranates from the two trees were picked, filling an entire basket, leaving only a few green fruits on the branches.
Xu Hengyan washed his hands and came over. The four of them sat in the courtyard, each peeling a pomegranate.
Xie Jiang was an exception.
After peeling a piece of pomegranate rind, Xie Jiang focused intently on Xu Hengyan's hands.
As soon as she opened the window that morning and saw the fiery red pomegranates covering the branches, she began to imagine the plump, crystal-clear pomegranate seeds being peeled out, one by one, by Xu Hengyan's hands.
Indeed, the sight greatly stimulated her appetite.
Xie Jiang swallowed.
She stared at Xu Hengyan's hands, her gaze unwavering, unsure if she desired those hands or the pomegranate seeds peeled by them.
"If you want to eat, peel it yourself."
Xu Hengyi couldn't stand her lazy demeanor, waiting to be fed. He picked a large, red pomegranate and shoved it into her hand.
Xie Jiang didn't even glance at it. With a wave of her hand, the pomegranate rolled away.
She'd rather die of laziness! Xu Hengyi grabbed the pomegranate that was about to fall to the ground and shoved it back into her hands. "Don't you have hands yourself? How dare you order my second brother to pick them and then peel them for you?"
Xie Jiang frowned.
It was so annoying, disturbing her view of the beautiful scenery!
Xu Hengyan took the pomegranate and peeled it himself.
Xu Hengyi: "..."
Lu Zhiheng had already finished his pomegranate and had no interest in eating more. "With so many guests today, isn't it inappropriate for you two brothers not to show yourselves?"
"We'll go over in a moment."
Xu Hengyan peeled with his eyes lowered, as if handling some critical military affair. The plump pomegranate seeds, ruby-red and vibrant, landed one by one on the celadon plate.
Xu Hengyi was less particular. He peeled a handful and threw them into his mouth. "Aren't Duke Wei and Uncle Song the Second here? Third Uncle has also returned to the capital. There are so many uncles, brothers, and even my uncles-in-law and cousins in the clan. No matter how many guests there are, they can manage."
He had arranged all the relatives and clan members perfectly.
Lu Zhiheng said with some surprise, "Duke Wei and Uncle Song the Second haven't sent anyone to hurry you either, letting you slack off here."
Xu Hengyi replied, "This isn't slacking off."
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Xie Jiang and then moved closer to Lu Zhiheng, whispering, "Properly settling this ancestor, Xie Jiang, is the most important task today. Why would my father and uncle hurry us? They might even praise us later."
Having been whipped multiple times, Xu Hengyi had finally learned to be clever. After whispering, he raised his voice again, "Xie Jiang is the most important guest in our manor!"
Lu Zhiheng couldn't help but chuckle.
Xie Jiang picked a pomegranate seed from the plate and savored it in her mouth.
"Is it sweet?"
Seeing her eating with a look of satisfaction, Xu Hengyan's usually cool eyes were tinged with a hint of amusement.
"Extremely sweet."
Xie Jiang picked a seed and brought it to Xu Hengyan's mouth.
Xu Hengyan hesitated for a moment, glanced at Xu Hengyi and Lu Zhiheng, and finally opened his mouth.
Lu Zhiheng: "..."
He almost didn't recognize Xu Hengyan!
Then he realized if he and Xu Hengyi were in the way.
Xu Hengyi indignantly threw a large handful into his mouth, and then his brow contorted. "Why is mine so sour? These pomegranates are so red, they must be ripe."
Lu Zhiheng took the half-eaten pomegranate from Xu Hengyi's hand. "I'll peel it for you."
At the same time, he asked his second brother with his eyes what this symptom was.
Perhaps he had been poisoned by Xie Jiang.
It was definitely not that his second brother had a change of heart. If he were to put pomegranate seeds into his second brother's mouth, his second brother would finish him with a look.
Lu Zhiheng peeled a handful of pomegranate seeds and handed them to Xu Hengyi. "Does it taste sweeter this way?"
Xu Hengyi tasted it. "It's alright."
It was definitely not as sweet as the seed Xie Jiang fed to his second brother.
Lu Zhiheng realized that both of the Xu brothers were showing severe symptoms.
"Is this enough to eat?" Xu Hengyan ignored the intentions of the two beside him, peeled a full plate piled high with pomegranate seeds, and pushed it towards Xie Jiang.
"Enough."
"I need to go to the front. Do you want to come with me, or stay in the courtyard?" There were many guests in the manor today, and she might not be willing to deal with them.
After making arrangements for Xie Jiang, Xu Hengyan changed into guest attire and went to the front with Lu Zhiheng.
Given the relationship between Lu Zhiheng and Xu Hengyan, there was no need for subtlety. "Your relationship with Marquis Xie seems to have surpassed that of close friends?"
Xu Hengyan replied calmly, "If it has surpassed, then it has surpassed. What does it matter?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng knew that Xu Hengyan was aware of what he was doing, so he didn't need to worry further.
~
Xu Hengyi was still lingering around Xie Jiang when Guang Bai, who had followed Xu Hengyan, suddenly ran back.
Xu Hengyi shot up. "I, I'll leave now, immediately..."
He thought his second brother found him bothering Xie Jiang and had specifically sent Guang Bai to fetch him.
He was afraid Xie Jiang would be bored staying alone, so...
"The Regent has arrived."
Guang Bai looked at the third young master with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding the third young master's flustered reaction.
"The Heir asks if Marquis Xie can help entertain him?"
Originally, the Heir was supposed to personally entertain the guests. However, the Regent had intentionally or unintentionally inquired about Marquis Xie. How could the Heir not understand the Regent's intentions?
If Marquis Xie's relationship with the Regent was ordinary, the Heir would definitely not have intended to trouble Marquis Xie. The Heir also likely wouldn't have made things difficult for Marquis Xie, which was why he specifically instructed Guang Bai to return and ask.
"Yi Yanheng is here?" Xie Jiang was a little surprised.
Xu Hengyi was no longer flustered upon hearing this. It wasn't that he was being apprehended. He was equally surprised by Yi Yanheng's arrival. "He is now the Regent, and he has personally come to offer birthday wishes?"
Guang Bai said, "Neither the Duke nor the Heir expected this."
Yi Yanheng's status and authority were now vastly different.
Xie Jiang had a vague guess in her heart and stood up, instructing Guang Bai to lead the way to the front.
~
The flower hall where Yi Yanheng was located was quiet, isolating all the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Servants were attending outside. Xie Jiang waved Guang Bai away, indicating he didn't need to follow.
Xie Jiang, holding a large pomegranate, quietly walked in.
Yi Yanheng, dressed in a dark brocade robe with dark patterns, stood by the window holding a bowl of fish food, scattering it into the pond outside.
Xie Jiang silently poked her head out from behind him, looking at the koi carp gathered beneath the windowsill, vying for the fish food.
"I want to eat too."
After saying this, she opened her mouth wide towards Yi Yanheng. Yi Yanheng's hand, holding the fish food, paused for a moment, then he raised his hand to prepare to put it into her mouth.
Xie Jiang did not dodge, as if determined to taste it.
Yi Yanheng ultimately did not put the food into her mouth. "What mischief are you up to?" He didn't believe she genuinely wanted to taste what fish food was like.
Xie Jiang peeled a pomegranate seed and put it into her mouth. Then she stood on the low windowsill, hugged Yi Yanheng's head, and transferred the seed into his mouth.
Yi Yanheng pressed the sweet-as-honey pomegranate seed under his tongue to savor it.
Today, Duke Wei's manor was crowded with guests, and she wasn't afraid of being seen. "If I were to feed you fish food, would you share it with me like this?"
Xie Jiang hugged his neck. "You'll know if you try."
Yi Yanheng raised his hand and decisively poured the remaining half bowl of fish food into the pond.
He had no interest in fish food, not even after she had prepared it. No matter how lustful he was, he was still a person.