🫧✨

Once the room had fallen silent, Gongsun Yin let out a long breath. "She has been in a dreadful mood."

Xie Zheng glanced at him. "Her parents still object?"

Gongsun gave a humourless smile. "They remain unconvinced that I should become their son-in-law."

Xie Zheng considered this. Women in foul moods were hardly unfamiliar territory. In his experience, a cart laden with explosives was generally the more emotionally stable of the two.

"Titles are little more than ink on paper," he said. "I've met plenty of nobles with impressive pedigrees and remarkably unimpressive character."

"That is very easy for you to say." Gongsun looked at him pointedly. "You are the Marquis of Wu'an. If someone objected to your marriage, your first instinct would be to arrive at their front gate carrying a sword."

"I would hear their reasoning first."

"...While carrying a sword."

"...Yes."

Gongsun sighed, vindicated.

Xie Zheng leaned back in his chair. "If preserving harmony with your future in-laws is your concern..." he said thoughtfully, "have you considered marrying into the Qi family instead?"

Gongsun blinked. "...You mean becoming a matrilocal husband?"

"Why not?" Xie Zheng inspected a small nick on one of his fingernails with surprising concentration. "You're organised, meticulous, and capable of folding blankets with military precision. I imagine you'd make an excellent househusband."

Gongsun stared at him as though the Marquis had suddenly begun speaking an obscure mountain dialect. Of all the people in Great Yin, the last one he had expected to advocate becoming a resident son-in-law was Xie Zheng.

"...Did you strike your head in that last battle?"

Xie Zheng ignored him. "Besides," he continued matter-of-factly, "marrying into the Qi family would make you one generation senior to Sui Yuanqing." He paused, slightly amused. "You could make him call you the honourable uncle."

pursuit of jade :

Fan Changyu: This is for him to wear??

You want to see the mains fight together? You want Battle Couple? NO! No battle couple for you! Here is exactly one still of them standing together with weapons, now you must be content.

And like that's such a nice moment? Men not treating periods like it's gross, and just trying to be considerate about their health? And the ladies being so incredibly comfortable with talking about periods like it's such a normal thing to consider, and not something shameful? Like "yes friends watch out for friends health! And not shaming each others normal bodily functions!"