Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 843 - 528 Outside the Courtyard

Chapter 843: Chapter 528 Outside the Courtyard

Although it had been such a long time, the three’s interaction patterns hadn’t changed from their days in Wanxiang City. Xu Yuan and Xu Xinyao walked in front while chatting, and Ran Qingmo trailed behind, silent as a sulky gourd, only uttering short phrases like "Oh," "Alright," "Hmm" when occasionally mentioned.

The trio quickly arrived at the main courtyard, crunching over the snow. As soon as they pushed open the door, Xu Yuan saw Xu Changge, clad in azure-glazed finery, gracefully setting porcelain bowls on the table one by one. A large plate full of dumplings already took the center stage, flanked by an assortment of morning snacks, likely all made by Xu Changge himself.

Approaching closer, Xu Yuan noticed that Xu Changge had also thoughtfully prepared dipping sauces for the three of them.

Xu Yuan’s dipping dish was spicy, Xu Xinyao’s leaned sweet and sour, while Ran Qingmo’s was a neutral vinegar dish, since her preferences were unknown.

Domineering but attentive.

Classic trick from the playbook of unreliable men.

No wonder someone with Xu Changge’s damned temperament could also deceive that Little Heavenly Master sister from the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Just as he was mulling this over, Xu Changge’s gaze swept over. He unconsciously frowned upon seeing Xu Yuan’s loose attire and slightly damp, disheveled hair.

The first day of the New Year and dressed so sloppily, what an indecorous image.

However, in the next instant, Xu Changge relaxed his brow.

Resigned.

This younger brother had been like this since childhood, always stubborn no matter how much he was beaten; probably he would never change in this lifetime.

If he couldn’t be changed, he would just have to be accepted.

"Sit."

Xu Changge uttered just one word before taking his place at the head of the table, without giving Xu Yuan another look.

Looking at him would infuriate him, and when furious, it was easy to resort to beating. So simply not looking was better.

Xu Yuan also glanced at Xu Changge.

Is this guy sick in the head or what, putting on a long face early in the morning on the first day of the year.

But Xu Yuan didn’t stand on ceremony either. After all, it was his own home. He plopped down opposite Xu Changge, then looked back at Ran Qingmo, only to see this Big Ice Lump staring vacantly at a seat.

Ran Qingmo hesitated.

Her master had said, when visiting someone’s home, one must observe proper etiquette in seating oneself.

Her serene gaze lingered on the chair beneath Xu Yuan’s rear.

According to etiquette, she should sit in the lowest place, but Xu Yuan had already taken that spot...

Xu Xinyao saw this and moved forward, taking her hand and leading her to the seat on the left, whispering with a light laugh:

"Sister Qingmo, we’re not so formal at home; just sit wherever you like."

"Okay..."

Ran Qingmo softly responded, casting a careful glance at Xu Changge seated in the place of honor.

Contrary to his attitude towards that annying younger brother of hers, Xu Changge’s demeanor towards Ran Qingmo appeared relatively gentle, nodding coldly towards her, which was his way of seconding Xu Xinyao’s words.

After everyone was seated, Xu Yuan started picking up dumplings with his chopsticks and asked softly:

"Xu Changge, where are father and maternal uncle? Aren’t they joining us for breakfast?"

Xu Changge paused in his actions and glanced at Ran Qingmo, who still stood by the table without sitting down, then replied indifferently:

"The palace sent word, the Emperor ordered the Ritual Supervision Department to start preparing the Emperor’s carriage at 5 a.m."

His voice was impassive, but his words contained a significant secret of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, reminiscent of how the whereabouts of national leaders in previous eras were always a closely guarded secret. Those who received advance notice of the Emperor’s movements were very few.

In other words,

The Prime Minister’s Mansion had planted spies within the Imperial Palace, and these spies held high ranks.

Telling this to Ran Qingmo indicated trust in her but was also a test.

Xu Yuan slightly furrowed his brow, discerning the implication in Xu Changge’s words, but said nothing more.

These sorts of affairs were unavoidable.

Practical concerns over the background of prospective spouses may seem superfluous and ostentatious in ordinary families, but in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, they were necessary.

Especially since Ran Qingmo was the State Preceptor’s sole disciple.

Xu Yuan cast a glance unconsciously at Ran Qingmo, curious about her reaction, only to find that the Big Ice Lump showed no reaction at all.

She was filling her bowl with dumplings and munching away earnestly. It seemed that Xu Changge’s dumpling filling was quite to her liking.

Noticing Xu Yuan looking her way, Ran Qingmo instinctively paused and lifted her dark, clear eyes to meet his, her pale cheeks puffed out.

Chewing quickly and swallowing, Ran Qingmo asked in a soft voice:

"What’s the matter... Xu Yuan?"

In that moment, Xu Yuan felt rather foolish, truly.

"It’s nothing."

Shaking his head, Xu Yuan let out a soft sigh, and looking back at Xu Changge, he said,

"The preparation begins at the Mao hour... His Majesty’s procession should be arriving soon, shouldn’t it?"

"Calculating the time, there should be about a quarter of an hour left."

Xu Changge, while eating dumplings, replied softly, "The journey from the Prime Minister’s mansion to the Imperial Palace at the Emperor’s carriage speed takes about an hour, and the New Year’s ceremony is supposed to start with the chanting and prayers to heaven at the Si hour."

"That’s true, as the Grand Tutor, father has to preside over it."

Speaking of which, Xu Yuan’s smile at the corner of his mouth was somewhat wistful, "Knowing this would be the case, why did they have to ask him to come out of retirement in person while he was ill? After this event, father’s prestige in the court will probably rise another level."

Xu Changge didn’t respond to that comment, seemingly uninterested in discussing political matters at the New Year’s Day breakfast.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan also tactfully changed the subject, asking with a smile,

"By the way, don’t you have to attend the New Year’s ceremony? I remember you have an official position too, right?"

As the eldest son of the Chancellor of Great Dayan, being groomed as the future heir to the Prime Minister’s mansion, Xu Changge indeed had an official position.

After returning from traveling, Xu Changge had scored fifth place in the court examination during Jiaying’s thirty-fourth year.

Although this was a bit worse compared to his second brother, Xu Chang’an, and their father, who had previously won first place, it was still quite an accomplishment, especially since the elder brother was mostly muscle-brained.

After passing the examination, Xu Changge had been listed in the Imperial Academy for three years, then rapidly promoted to the position of Astronomer Royal, which involved astronomy, calendrical science, and compiling history. Furthermore, following the execution of the Serpent Clan’s Princesses Ji Fenghua and Ji Qingyue of Ancient Abyss, he had been conferred a minor title of nobility.

According to the laws of Great Dayan, Xu Changge, as the Astronomer Royal, should actually assist the Grand Tutor in presiding over the New Year’s ceremony.

To this question, Xu Changge looked up at Xu Yuan, slowly speaking out,

"Princesses and noble ladies at the New Year’s ceremony can be quite bothersome."

"...." Xu Yuan.

After finishing the meal in silence, Xu Changge didn’t bother to clean up the dishes and straightaway left.

According to the rules of the Prime Minister’s inner courtyard, the one who cooks doesn’t need to wash dishes.

Of course, Xu Yuan would never wash dishes—never had in his life, so usually, this chore fell upon his younger sister Xu Xinyao.

However, today there was also Ran Qingmo.

After eating, Big Ice Lump took the initiative to start clearing the dishes.

As his teacher had said,

"After eating at someone else’s place in Di’an City, one cannot simply sit idly by."

Seeing this scene, Xu Yuan didn’t just sit around either; he stood up and began to help, a move that earned him several sarcastic remarks from Xu Xinyao.

Just as the three of them put away the dishes and were jokingly walking out of the kitchen, the modulated voice of a eunuch suddenly echoed through the Prime Minister’s mansion’s skies:

"The Emperor has arrived—"

Li Yaoxuan arrived as expected,

personally coming to request the already retired Prime Minister to come out of retirement.

Xu Xinyao glanced at Xu Yuan, her nerves slightly on edge, seemingly worried about his survival being exposed.

Ran Qingmo followed Xu Yuan expressionlessly.

While Xu Yuan himself simply continued to walk toward his own courtyard.

The Chaotic Inheritance Formation in the inner courtyard had already been activated, so even if Li Yaoxuan was a Saint, he would not be able to inspect the heavily guarded inner courtyard, not under the vigilant eyes of their father.

Besides, those two old men wouldn’t linger in the Prime Minister’s mansion for long; such an unspoken understanding didn’t necessitate a thrice request ceremony, giving each other a way to step down was enough.

"...."

"...."

The pathway was narrow and covered with snow; leaving the kitchen, they walked about ten yards through the snow when suddenly Ran Qingmo, who had been trailing behind Xu Yuan, stopped at the entrance to the inner courtyard and paused to look up at the sky.

Xu Yuan, seeing this, subconsciously stopped and asked softly,

"What’s wrong?"

Ran Qingmo pondered for a moment and replied honestly,

"Xu Yuan, my teacher is here too."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, showing some surprise,

"Came together with the Emperor?"

Ran Qingmo shook her head,

"No..."

Saying so,

she lifted her slender, pale forefinger and pointed at the gate next to them, whispering,

"He... seems to be right outside the gate, asking me to open it for him."