Xie Xun took care of Fengyu's matters, freshened up briefly, and changed into a dark robe before heading out to find the Marchioness. The Marchioness had sent someone earlier to summon him, asking him to come to the courtyard after dinner.
When Xie Xun arrived, Lady Lan and Lady Mudan were also present. The two were accompanying the Marchioness in a game of leaf cards. Lady Mudan leaned on the Marchioness, soft and boneless, and teasing her with a charming demeanor. The Marchioness laughed and playfully pinched her cheek, and the three laughed heartily together.
Lady Lan and Lady Mudan were both secondary wives of Marquis Zhenbei. When he first married, Marquis Zhenbei did not have any concubines; his relationship with the Marchioness was harmonious and affectionate. But after the Marchioness had complications giving birth to Xie Junhua, doctors predicted she would not be able to have more children. The Marchioness decisively arranged for Marquis Zhenbei to take concubines and carefully chose Lady Lan and Lady Mudan. Lady Lan gave birth to Xie Zhang, the marquis's eldest son, and Lady Mudan to his second son, Xie Jue. Both children were registered under the name of the Marchioness from a young age. The typical tales of rivalry between wives and concubines often seen in noble households never occurred in Marquis Zhenbei's family. The relationship between the marquis's one wife and two concubines was harmonious, almost like sisters. When Xie Xun was a child, he even mistook Lady Lan and Lady Mudan for his mother's concubines rather than his father's. After he grew up, he firmly believed that Lady Lan and Lady Mudan were chosen because his mother liked them first before proposing them as his father's concubines.
"Zhixu is here! Come and sit down quickly!" Lady Lan enthusiastically waved to him. "Help me teach them a lesson. They're bullying me by cheating together—the Marchioness and Mudan!"
"You called me over just to play cards?" Xie Xun sat beside Lady Lan and leaned over to glance at her hand. "Mother and Aunt Mudan didn't cheat. You lost because your hand is bad."
Lady Lan playfully flipped over her cards. "This round doesn't count. Let's play again."
"You really can't handle losing," Lady Mudan straightened up slightly and laughed, covering her mouth. "Zhixu, playing cards is just an excuse. We've got a wonderful task for you."
"I don't believe you!" Xie Xun lazily leaned back in his chair. "What nonsense are you all plotting this time?"
The Marchioness, who had a candid and cheerful disposition, laughed and said, "King Qi is hosting a riding and archery banquet the day after tomorrow. I secured an invitation for you. Go and see if there's a young lady you fancy."
"Watching beauties—doesn't that sound like a wonderful task?" Lady Mudan teased.
"Second Brother hasn't settled his engagement yet; why is it my turn now?" Xie Xun promptly mentioned Xie Jue.
"With your Second Brother's temperament, there's probably no hope for him," Lady Mudan said, exasperated by the fact that her lively personality had somehow produced such a stoic son. "Once you have settled down, we'll have enough courage to press him on the matter."
"They've even come up with excuses. If you don't get married, your younger brother will just follow your lead and remain single too—which isn't fitting," Lady Lan said as she shuffled the cards. "What kind of girl do you like?"
"I don't like girls!"
The Marchioness and the two ladies fell silent for a moment. Then the Marchioness asked directly, "So what kind of man do you like?"
The Marchioness was unbothered. "Are you going or not?"
"I'll go!" Xie Xun, who had always been fearless as a child—daring even to argue with Marquis Zhenbei—was utterly powerless against the three women in his family. After all, the men in Marquis Zhenbei's household were all deeply indulgent of their womenfolk.
"I think Lin Yunong suits you quite well. She's fond of you, has a pretty face, and is your cousin—familiar and dependable. Marrying her would strengthen family ties," Lady Lan suggested.
The Marchioness was quite biased toward Lady Lan and Lady Mudan, allowing them freedoms rarely afforded to concubines in noble families. They could accompany her everywhere, even on visits to her family's home, and were allowed to interact socially on their own. These two were likely the only concubines in the Capital City spared from prejudice—primarily because no one dared show them disrespect.
"No way!" The Marchioness objected. "Her temper is too fiery; she wouldn't get along with Zhixu."
"How about Princess Xue Lan? She has a good personality and excellent temperament," Lady Mudan said. "I like her—she's so sweet."
"Too sweet," Lady Lan remarked while playing her card, shaking her hand dismissively. "If Zhixu were to marry her, he'd probably find her boring."
"There's Lin Yu Yan—she's beautiful too..."
"Are you implying Zhixu is desperate enough to accept just anyone? Why does such a dubious candidate even make your list?" Lady Lan cut her off sharply.
Lady Mudan's eyes turned red as she snuggled against the Marchioness to complain. "Sister, she's scolding me again!"
The Marchioness found it tough to maintain fairness when faced with Lady Mudan's delicate demeanor. "Lan'er, mind your tone."
Lady Lan kicked Lady Mudan harshly under the table. The Marchioness said, "Actually, there's someone I feel is suitable, but I'm hesitant."
Xie Xun couldn't take it anymore. "I'm still sitting here—you shouldn't be discussing others . I'm leaving."
The Marchioness grabbed him and pushed him down onto a chair. "Shu'er's younger sister seems like a fine match—what's her name again?"
The Marchioness and Lady Lan were particularly fond of Feng Shu, considering her the epitome of a dignified noblewoman and ideal elder daughter-in-law. Whenever Feng Shu was in the Capital City, she visited the Marquis Mansion frequently, often bringing Fengyu along.
"Fengyu?" Lady Lan looked startled, gesturing at her own shoulder and then very pointedly lowering her hand. "That little rascal?"
Lady Mudan propped her chin on her hand. "Shu'er hasn't brought her to the Marquis Mansion to play in recent years. Back then, she seemed clever, cute, and well-behaved. But now I've heard that she's a bit dim—and even stirred up trouble with her canceled engagement. Her reputation's not great."
"Heh, and Zhixu's reputation is stellar, is it?" The Marchioness jabbed at Xie Xun while playing her card with Lady Lan.
Xie Xun pointed to Lady Lan's hand and instructed, "Play this one!"
"It doesn't feel right. Those rumors, whether true or false, need clarification. Once Shu'er returns, we can find out more. Even if they're unfounded, I still feel that little rascal..." Lady Lan played her card and then asked, "Zhixu, have you ever met Fengyu before?"
"Don't know her!" Xie Xun replied expressionlessly.
The Marchioness said, "Mainly, Yuxue is so endearing—I wouldn't mind raising her as my own daughter."
"Mother, I'm marrying a wife—not giving you a daughter!" Xie Xun finally understood her criteria for choosing concubines for his father back then. She really had selected based on her personal preferences.
"If I like her, how could you possibly dislike her?" The Marchioness remarked. "Mother and son are connected—you should share my aesthetic at least."
"Not even close!" Xie Xun guided Lady Lan to play another card. Once she laid it down, the Marchioness and Lady Mudan realized they had lost. Lady Lan cheered, "I won! I won! I finally won!"
The Marchioness and Lady Mudan were incredulous that Lady Lan had actually managed to win. Xie Xun stood up and said, "I'll attend the riding and archery banquet the day after tomorrow. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Without waiting for their reaction, Xie Xun quickly slipped away.
Before he had even left the courtyard, he heard their laughter again. Xie Xun's expression softened slightly. The battles they fought outside were for the sake of preserving such joyful laughter at home.