The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 72

72: Impressive

Yu Liao glared at him, patted his sleeve, and said, “What’s the matter, really? Can’t it wait until after the New Year?”

Qi Ren shook his head. “There won’t be time after the New Year. Since we’re here today, we might as well settle it now.”

He lowered his voice and whispered, “Can you call Fu Yanxiao over? I need to talk to him about something.”

Yu Liao didn’t like hearing that. Was the only reason he came to see him during the New Year to ask him to summon someone else?

“Go away! I don’t want to annoy anyone! Go yourself if you want!”

“It’s a special circumstance! At least your family has Xiao He to cover for me—his family doesn’t have any kids!”

Yu Liao was thoroughly annoyed but suppressed the urge to kick him out. “Isn’t His Highness on… close terms with the young master of his family? Why wouldn’t there be cover?”

The mention of Xia Xiu irritated him even more. “Close terms”? Both of them were practically married men—why were they always so inseparable?

“That’s different… Ugh, anyway, I just don’t like that Young Master Xia. Hurry up and call Fu Yanxiao for me. I’ll treat you to a meal later!”

“Fine, fine!” Yu Liao couldn’t argue with him and had no choice but to wave his hand in agreement.

Qi Ren grinned, patted his sleeves, and went out to find his Highness.

Yu Liao glanced at the sky outside and couldn’t help but sigh.

Hurry up and act. I don’t want to drag this out any longer!

…

Fu Yu’an was helping Xiao He stack a chubby snowman when he suddenly heard someone call his name from behind.

Fu Yanxiao had arrived, leading Xia Xiu, who was bundled up tightly.

Xia Xiu jogged over to him, his breath puffing white in the cold air, his eyes crinkling with laughter. “I knew you’d be here too. Good thing I came along! What are you doing?”

He pointed at the snowman. “Making this for you.”

“…”

Xiao He had never met him before, so he bowed respectfully and greeted in a childish voice, “Hello, big brother!”

Fu Yu’an burst out laughing.

Xia Xiu crouched down and ruffled the boy’s hair, smiling. “Calling me ‘big brother’ isn’t right. I’m a whole generation older than your Uncle Qi! You should call me Grandpa Xia!”

Fu Yu’an lightly punched him and said with a laugh, “How can you take advantage of the kid like that! Xiao He, don’t listen to his nonsense. This is your Brother Xia.”

Xiao He then bowed again and said, “Brother Xia.”

Xia Xiu adored this child beyond measure. If Xiao He’s mother hadn’t come to carry him away, he would have definitely taken the boy to skate on the river.

He said that boys should have a bit of wildness in them.

Fu Yu’an neither agreed nor disagreed. Xia Xiu didn’t want to dwell on it either, but as he straightened up, he accidentally strained his back and groaned in pain.

Fu Yu’an quickly went to support him, but before he could even express concern, Xia Xiu started complaining:

“It’s all Fu Yanxiao’s fault! I told him not to go at it so late, not to go at it so late, but he just wouldn’t listen… I’m seriously fed up!”

“…”

Fu Yu’an’s ears turned red, somewhat embarrassed that he had instantly understood the implication.

Xia Xiu rubbed his waist and glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, his boldness grew. He pulled Fu Yu’an closer and whispered,

“Have you two… you know… consummated yet? It’s been almost a year since the wedding—don’t tell me he’s… incapable?”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Fu Yu’an’s face flushed. “It’s not like that… It only just happened a few days ago! Not like you—utterly lacking restraint!”

“Now that’s just unfair! But I’ll admit, he’s really something, holding back for over half a year before finally making a move. So, how was it? Tell me, how did it feel?”

Fu Yu’an widened his eyes, utterly scandalized. “Have you no shame?! How can you even ask that?!”

“Come on, we’re good brothers—no need to be so coy! I’m just asking about the experience, not the details!”

“…” Fu Yu’an glared at him for a long moment before finally licking his lips and confessing in a small voice, “Well… at first, it… hurt. But later it… Was it like that for you two the first time?”

“Not at all!” Xia Xiu smirked mischievously. “Maybe Fu Yanxiao is just better than your guy, because it didn’t really hurt for me!”

It was unclear why this was even a competition, but Fu Yu’an’s competitive spirit flared up, and for a moment, he genuinely wanted to argue the point.

If the two men in question hadn’t emerged from the study just then, the two of them might have escalated into a full-blown quarrel.

Qi Ren quickly strode over, pulling Fu Yu’an protectively behind him, and scowled. “Stop bullying Yu’an! Watch out, or I’ll hit you!” He shook his fist, looking utterly unreasonable.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Xia Xiu shot back, unafraid, squaring up defiantly. “If you hit me, I’ll get Fu Yanxiao to hit you!”

Fu Yu’an felt that whenever these two met, they became ridiculously childish.

Even children in the streets wouldn’t quarrel like this.

“No one bullied me, don’t scare them.” Fu Yu’an said helplessly with a smile.

Fu Yanxiao also walked over, amused, to back up Xia Xiu. Fu Yu’an bowed respectfully to him: “Imperial Uncle.”

“No need for formalities, we’re all family. Xiu’er is mischievous—I’ll make sure to discipline him properly. I’ve troubled you both.”

Only then did Qi Ren let out a displeased hum, dropping the matter.

“Hurry back now! It’s the New Year, and it’s too cold outside,” Fu Yanxiao added. “We’ll head back first as well. Farewell.”

Xia Xiu, held by the wrist, reluctantly waved goodbye to Fu Yu’an.

Seeing this, Qi Ren grabbed Fu Yu’an’s hand and wrapped it in his own, as if flaunting his victory.

…

In the afternoon, someone from the palace arrived again, delivering rare treasures—all sent by concubine Jue.

Neither Fu Yu’an nor Qi Ren were particularly fond of extravagance, so after hearing the gift list, they had everything sent straight to the storeroom.

Once the eunuch left, Aunt Ni passed by, wiping her hands, and peeked inside, exclaiming softly, “So much…”

Fu Yu’an smiled. “Aunt Ni, if there’s anything you like, feel free to take it. It’s the New Year, after all! Call everyone over to pick something out!”

Aunt Ni’s expression flickered with hesitation, and she quickly waved her hands in refusal. Gifts from the palace’s masters couldn’t possibly be turned around and given to servants.

Fu Yu’an thought for a moment and realized she was right, so he changed his offer to giving everyone a large red envelope instead.

The news quickly spread, and everyone was overjoyed, working with even more enthusiasm.

Qi Ren helped hang a few lanterns. Fu Yu’an had originally planned to wrap dumplings, but Aunt Ni stopped him at the door, insisting that as the master of the house, such tasks were for the servants.

He frowned slightly, sensing that she was a bit too rigid about the hierarchy between master and servant.

Previously, she was just a simple country woman, but occasionally her speech and demeanor made it seem as though she had once worked in a wealthy household.

It felt somewhat out of place.

Fu Yu’an wasn’t particularly interested in her background. After all, he had only helped her on a whim back then. Aunt Ni was kind and honest, and she took care of him so attentively that he couldn’t find any fault. So, in the end, he simply dismissed it as his own overthinking.