The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 6

Seeing Xie Zichen walk away, Wei Lan withdrew her gaze and turned her attention to Xie Jie.

She still remembered the task she had to do for Xie Zichen.

Xie Jie had been secretly observing Wei Lan for a long time. Seeing Wei Lan openly display affection towards Xie Zichen, he couldn’t help but be a little cautious. Looking at the handsome man in front of him, he laughed softly, “What does the Shizi think of my brother’s appearance?”

“Peerless,” Wei Lan raised her eyes and glanced at Xie Jie in front of her. Although he was also handsome, but compared to Xie Zichen, his aura was much more impure which made people like him less. Wei Lan always had a higher tolerance for men but there are differences in preferences. For someone like Xie Jie, maintaining basic demeanour and etiquette was her limit.

If anyone else had asked, Wei Lan might not have praised Xie Zichen so extravagantly, but in contrast to Xie Jie, Xie Zichen’s merits were inevitably exaggerated.

Hearing Wei Lan’s words, Xie Jie smiled knowingly. As he played chess with Wei Lan, he asked, “Wei Shizi, do you know my fourth brother?”

“The last time my younger brother fought with Young Master Xie Bing, it was Fourth Young Master Xie who came to visit my younger brother,” Wei Lan didn’t say much and instead asked, “It seems Sixth Young Master Xie is very curious about my relationship with your fourth brother?”

“My fourth brother and I are very close. The fourth brother doesn’t have many friends. Seeing Wei Shizi being so enthusiastic, I assumed you were a good friend of fourth brother, so I couldn’t help but be curious,” Xie Jie smiled and a black stone landed on the chessboard. Wei Lan knew that he was testing her stance; She lowered her eyes and smiled, “Fourth Young Master Xie is a rare beauty in this world, and I am very fond of beautiful people.”

“Then, I wonder whether the Shizi who’s fond of beauties, want to possess this beauty, or help this beauty?”

She had never thought that the other party would ask such a question directly. Wei Lan was slightly taken aback but quickly retorted, “If  Sixth Young Master Xie likes a woman, would you want to hide her away to fulfil your desires, or help her rise above the clouds and become someone you can no longer reach?”

Xie Jie smiled, placing another chess piece on the chessboard, blocking a large area of Wei Lan’s pieces. Xie Jie looked at the board and said, “If Wei Shizi doesn’t mind, can I capture your pieces?”

“Please,” Wei Lan said calmly, “Young Master Xie, is the legitimate son of the third branch of the Xie family, and his future is limitless. I am honoured to lose to you today. Shall we have a drink?”

“If Brother Wei wishes to drink, how could I refuse?” Xie Jie laughed heartily and called for wine to be brought up. He and Wei Lan drank together, becoming good brothers with a promise to not return home until they were drunk.

The two drank for a while, and Wang Xi organized a game of pitch-pot and poetry, dividing everyone into teams. Xie Jie pulled Wei Lan into his team, acting like they were good brothers. Wang Xi couldn’t help but feel a little sour and said to Xie Jie, “Xie Liu, you’re not being fair. It was I who invited Wei Shizi, and now you’ve become good brothers with him.”

” Wang Qi, don’t be too sad,” Xie Jie, somewhat drunk, patted Wang Xi’s chest and said, “Everyone here is your good brother! Just give up Wei Shizi to me!”

Everyone laughed heartily. Wang Ning, waving his fan, whispered to Xie Zichen, “I bet you that Xie Jie has ulterior motives.”

“Obviously,” Xie Zichen’s disdain was evident. Wang Ning shrugged and sighed, “Zichen, if you have any difficulties, remember to tell this brother.”

What could another concubine’s son do to help?

Xie Zichen didn’t voice his hurtful thoughts but recalled how Wang Ning also faced a difficult fate as him back then and did not become an official until he was twenty-three years old.

In the Chu State, commoners entered service through the Nine-rank system, assessed layer by layer by officials. Noble sons, however, had to enter the Imperial Academy, undergoing assessments year by year. After the assessment, someone from the family clan would recommend them to serve as officials. However, each family had limited spots each year, so legitimate sons were usually prioritised, and then the concubine’s sons based on their mother’s rank.

Wang Ning’s mother was not of high status. Despite being of the right age for a companion, the Wang family had many sons, while the Xie family only had two eligible candidates. Wang Ning hadn’t intended to enter the palace as a companion but was used as a knife in the hands of his brothers; After being famed and falsely accused by another concubine’s son, the head of the Wang family exiled him on grounds of misconduct.

He wandered for years and when he entered the Imperial Academy, he was three years behind than others.

Xie Zichen lived only a bit over thirty years, which was already a tenth of his lifetime.

Thinking of the fate of his good friend, Xie Zichen sighed and said to Wang Ning, “You should be more cautious in the future.”

The decree for companions was still in the palace, and it can be said that only the legitimate sons know the news and not a concubine’s sons like Wang Ning.

Wang Ning looked at Xie Zichen suspiciously and saw that he didn’t say anything more. Knowing that his friend had deep thoughts, he didn’t ask any further questions.

Wei Lan, Wang Xi and others were playing around. For someone like Wei Lan, who had been on the battlefield, it was easy to play pitching pot and such better than most people even when blindfolded. Xie Zichen and Wang Ning talked quietly hidden in the dark, while Wei Lan kept an eye on them and felt a bit sour seeing them seemingly forgotten. It happened that she had won too much, and Wang Xi shouted, “No, no, A’ Lan is too good at this game. We need to make it difficult to compare with us.”

“But you just blindfolded A’ Lan,” Xie Jie protested, “What more do you want?”

“No problem, no problem” Wei Lan waved her hand. She liked Wang Xi’s very much; this king of beautiful and frank man won her heart. Although she wouldn’t dare marry him, fearing his infidelity, Wei Lan still felt very comfortable being with him. She always wanted to pamper the men she liked so she asked, “A’ Xi what do you suggest?”

After playing for a while, she had become close with everyone and called Wang Xi’s name with a gentle and doting tone. But everyone was in high spirits and didn’t notice Wei Lan’s peculiar behaviour. Only Xie Zichen watched and silently mourned the chastity of the men present.

Wang Xi held a fane and circled the blindfolded Wei Lan, clapping his hands, “All right A’ Lan, you can’t shoot by yourself. You must be blindfolded and guide someone else’s hand to throw the arrow into the pot to win.”

“That’s too much…” protested Lin Che, the son of the Vice Minister of Justice standing next to him, “How can that be done?!”

“No problem, no problem” Wei Lan waved his hand. “Everyone stay still, and I will choose someone, is it all right?”

“What can be wrong with it,” Wang Xi said excitedly, “Everyone stand still. Don’t move!”

Hearing this, Xie Zichen sensed some trouble. But everyone was already standing still, and if he moved now, it would obviously be too conspicuous. Everyone watched the blindfolded beauty move, and couldn’t help but feel their hearts beat a little faster. They were eager to be chosen but also felt very odd about such thoughts of expecting a man to choose them.

Wang Xi was also nervous. He watched Wei Lan groping towards him, his heart pounded a little bit faster. But she didn’t stop and walked past him towards Lin Che.

Lin Che’s heart skipped a beat and he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. His heart raced as he looked at the beauty approaching him. However, Wei Lan stopped in front of him and smiled. The smile was like a breeze blowing on the cold lake in the night, cool but soft, “This brother, the sound of your heartbeat is too loud.”

Lin Che’s face flushed as if his hidden thoughts had been exposed. Wei Lan continued to move forward, passing through the crowd and then stopping at the edge.

—Right in front of Xie Zichen.

Xie Zichen  silently watched the blindfolded man before him with a calm smile

She stretched out her cold hand and grasped his warm one.

His hand was much larger than hers, with distinct joints and a fair, slender look. Though they were similar in height, her hands were extraordinarily soft and her fingers were long and slender, making Xie Zichen’s heart flutter.

“Young Master must be the last one, right? Then this Young Master will be the one.”

She said with a smile as if she had no idea who the one in front of her was.

Xie Zichen felt a little depressed, while Xie Jie smiled meaningfully.

Everyone’s eyes fell on the two people holding hands. Wang Xi looked sad and shouted, “A’ Lan, you did this on purpose. With so many people present, how could you go so far and choose and most handsome one, Xie Zichen?”

“Oh? So, it’s Fourth Young Master Xie?” Wei Lan feigned surprise, then smiled, “Well, that’s really Lan’s luck.”

Xie Zichen stayed silent, thinking, ‘You keep making things up, see if I believe you.’

“Fourth Young Master Xie,” Wei Lan said when he remained silent for a long time, “Would you help me throw an arrow?”

Though she asked, she didn’t let go of his hand.

The game’s rules were set already. It would be too pretentious to refuse now. Despite her being a cut sleeve they were both men, and it wouldn’t be as if he lost a piece of his flesh.

Xie Zichen thought briefly and then said, “Please, Wei Shizi.”

Wei Lan smiled, “Then please guide me Fourth Young Master Xie. I walked so far and I can’t remember where the pot was.”

Xie Zichen: “…”

Then how did you remember my position so accurately?

He didn’t voice his word. He held Wei Lan’s hand, led her to the pot and guided her. According to the rules, he reminded the blindfolded Wei Lan “Three feet southeast.”

Wei Lan nodded and said to Wang Xi, “A’ Xi, the arrow.”

Wang Xi placed the arrow in Wei Lan’s hand, and said seriously, “A’ Lan, I’m going to place a bet this time. If you can’t throw it in, you owe me a meal. If you do, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Well said,” Wei Lan smiled, “A’ Xi will have to spend a lot of money.”

Wang Xi huffed, and Wei Lan moved behind Xie Zichen with the arrow, wrapping her arms around him, putting the arrow in his hand and wrapping his larger hand with her cool and soft hand.

Xie Zichen frowned slightly. They were similar in height, both still teenagers at the moment. Although there were slight differences, they were not too different. He could clearly smell the fragrance of orchids on her body, feel her warm breath on his neck, her hand on his waist, as well as her hand holding his with the arrow.

“Wei Shizi, we’re just throwing an arrow. There’s no need to hold it like this right?,” Xie Zichen couldn’t hold it back anymore and when he saw her not moving for a long time, he spoke dissatisfiedly.

Wei Lan let out a soft chuckle, “Fourth master, calm down.”

With that, she exerted force on her hand, and Xie Zichen instinctively followed, throwing out the feather arrow.

The arrow landed in the pot, spinning around. Wei Lan didn’t let go of him, instead moved closer to whisper, “See, we did it.”

She was too close which flustered Xie Zichen, and just as he was about to lose his temper, Wei Lan suddenly released him, smiled heartily, turned to Wang Xi who was looking at the pot in a daze and said, “A’Xi, pick a date. Let’s go to Zuixian Restaurant!”

Everyone’s attention shifted to her words, except Xie Zichen who stood there fuming inside.

How dare this person…

After years of being in a high position in his previous life, his pride became deep-rooted out of his circumstances. He usually kept it hidden but now it was fully provoked.

Wei Lan glanced sideways at Xie Zichen’s flushed, angry face and smiled inwardly.

Her tried-and-true technique for chasing down noble sons from back then worked again. Even Xie Zichen couldn’t help but blush.

Little did she know—

Xie Zichen’s face was red with anger.