Chapter 2 Selling the Daughter

Xie Yankang was so eager to go to the palace that he was afraid someone would beat him to it and steal this good marriage.

A faint sneer appeared in Xie Qingran's eyes; she wasn't worried at all that her plan would fail.

Given the prestige of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, the emperor, wanting to appease the orphans of meritorious officials and demonstrate imperial favor, would certainly not arrange marriages arbitrarily.

But would a truly noble family push their eldest daughter into such a hopeless pit of fire?

Only when the Xie family's title has been reduced and their merits have diminished, and they are determined to curry favor with the emperor and revive their family's glory, would they resort to selling their daughter.

“Ran’er,” Wang Shi looked at Xie Qingran, whose expression was calm and composed, and her voice was no longer filled with bitterness and hatred. Instead, she opened her mouth and said with great emotion, “Why...why are you doing this? If you regret it, I will send someone to stop your father right now…”

"Mother is overthinking it," Xie Qingran interrupted her indifferently.

If she really cared, she would have stopped Xie Yankang when he went out.

Who are you putting this on for now?

Xie Qingran simply bowed respectfully to Madam Wang, saying, "I truly wish to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's family and will never regret it. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now and not disturb Mother's rest any longer."

Her tone was distant and indifferent.

Wang felt a sudden pang in her heart, especially as Xie Qingran turned around. She felt a strange sense of loss and couldn't help but blurt out, "Wait!"

Xie Qingran stopped in her tracks, turned around to look at Madam Wang, and bowed, saying, "Mother, is there anything else you need?"

Wang choked up and awkwardly looked away: "I got a few new sets of jewelry a couple of days ago. I saw two red gold hairpins with rubies and a pair of jade bracelets that suit you very well. I'll have the maid bring them to you in a bit. Now that you're engaged, you should dress up properly."

Xie Qingran was slightly taken aback.

Pure gold inlaid with jewels, jade bracelets...

This was a piece of jewelry that she wasn't even allowed to touch in her previous life.

Xie Qingran was not moved at all; instead, she found it even more ridiculous.

here we go again……

It's that same trick again.

In her previous life, Wang Shi did the same thing, using a marriage to wipe away the debt she had owed her for many years.

When she was schemed against and bullied by Xie Hanyue, she naturally sided with Xie Hanyue, criticizing her for wanting more when she already had a perfect marriage.

In this life, Xie Qingran chose the hot potato that is the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, not only failing to make Wang Shi compensate her, but also making her feel even more indebted to her.

This was an unexpected bonus.

Xie Qingran sneered inwardly, but showed it on her face.

There's no reason to refuse money that's offered to you.

"Thank you, Mother." She curtsied again, her tone flat and devoid of any joy.

Wang's guilt was replaced by an inexplicable irritation, and she coldly ordered her maid to bring the jewelry box.

Xie Qingran accepted the reward and headed straight back.

In the distance, she heard a suppressed sob, mixed with a man's gentle words of comfort.

"Moon, don't cry. I know what you're thinking... It's just that Father and Mother insist on making it up to that country girl! But don't worry, your brother will always be on your side..."

Xie Qingran paused in her steps.

Besides Xie Yankang, the only other man who could freely enter and leave the Xie family's inner courtyard was—

Xie Zhaoye, the eldest son of the Xie family.

Xie Qingran's biological brother.

Unfortunately, the two had never gotten along since childhood.

Xie Zhaoye always loved to tease Xie Qingran, stealing her pastries, pulling her braids...

However, Xie Qingran has a fiery temper; if anyone provokes her, she will retaliate.

So whenever the brother and sister met, one of them would always be bleeding from a head wound.

Over time, the relationship deteriorated to a very bad degree.

When Xie Qingran was sent to the countryside, Xie Zhaoye was the happiest of all.

Upon hearing the sound, Xie Qingran frowned and decided to go around through the covered walkway on the other side.

"stop!"

A cold shout suddenly rang out from behind her.

Xie Qingran pretended not to hear and continued walking forward.

But the next moment, everything went dark before her eyes.

Xie Zhaoye strode forward and blocked her path, his tall figure completely enveloping Xie Qingran in shadow, his voice icy: "I told you to stop, didn't you hear me?"

Xie Qingran raised her eyelids and replied in an unyielding tone, "The dogs outside are barking so loudly, but no one pays attention to them, and I haven't seen them bite anyone they want."

"Xie Qingran!" Sparks flew instantly in Xie Zhaoye's eyes. "Don't think that just because you feel guilty towards your parents, you can act like you own the place!"

Xie Qingran raised an eyebrow: "Then you should go to the countryside for more than ten years and make your parents feel guilty."

"you……"

Xie Zhaoye couldn't win an argument with Xie Qingran, and his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

The brother and sister clearly resembled each other by about 50%, but at this moment, one had an expression as indifferent as ice, while the other was burning with murderous aura, and they were locked in a stalemate.

A girl dressed in a pale yellow dress suddenly rushed between the two with tears streaming down her face, and said softly, "Sister, please don't scold brother. It's all Yue'er's fault. I'm sorry."

As she spoke, the girl looked up at Xie Qingran with her teary eyes.

Her small, delicate face was pure and lovely, with a fine nose and red lips, but her eyes were slightly upturned, adding a touch of charming elegance as they sparkled.

No wonder so many men are infatuated with her and crazy about her.

Xie Qingran felt ashamed of her appearance.

In terms of looks, she is indeed no match for Xie Hanyue.

Her old nanny, who had disciplined her since childhood, never allowed her to wear makeup, citing the principle that "a lady from a respectable family should be simple and pure." She also required her to dress mainly in dark colors.

Xie Qingran didn't think much of it when she was in the countryside.

But when he returned to Beijing, he realized that she was a country bumpkin, an unromantic blockhead.

"Moon, why are you apologizing to her?"

Xie Zhaoye tenderly shielded Xie Hanyue behind him, then turned to Xie Qingran with a look of disgust that vanished. He shouted angrily, "You stole Yue'er's marriage and then bragged about it in front of us. Are you feeling good? Let me tell you, I'm good brothers with those five men. None of them want to marry you!"

Xie Qingran found it all absurd.

Her Yingxing Pavilion is not far from Xie Hanyue's Lanyue Pavilion; this small courtyard is just a necessary passage.

As for those five people...

Xie Qingran sneered: "Brother, you're overthinking it. Not everyone is like you, always keeping Hanyue in their heart. Nor is everyone like Hanyue, insisting on choosing one of those five to marry."

"How dare you!"

Xie Zhaoye flew into a rage, his face flushed red as if something he had just thought had been exposed.

"Did I say anything?" Xie Qingran was slightly surprised. Her eyes swept over the two people's overly intimate posture, and she suddenly smiled and said, "Brother's anger has reminded me. My marriage is imminent, so I would like to ask the two of you to avoid suspicion. After all, we are not related, and if this causes gossip, it will damage my reputation."

In his past life, Xie Zhaoye ruined every marriage arranged for him by the Xie family because of his shady feelings for Xie Hanyue.

It's just that the Great Jin Dynasty has restrictions on the marriage age of women, but not on men.

"elder sister……"

Xie Hanyue's face turned pale instantly, and her frail body swayed as if she had suffered a great blow.

"Yue'er!" Xie Zhaoye was so anxious that he wanted to pull her into his arms, but he caught a glimpse of Xie Qingran's mischievous smile. His movements froze, and his face turned ashen. He said, "A person with a filthy mind sees everything as dirty! Yue'er and I have a deep sibling bond. How dare you slander me!"

"Then I wish you two, brother and sister, a happy ending." Xie Qingran was too lazy to argue with him, secretly rolled her eyes, and turned around to go back home the way she came.

"Sister, if you are angry with me, I will leave the Xie family. Why do you have to say such humiliating things to me..." Xie Hanyue's tears fell even faster.

Seeing this, Xie Zhaoye was consumed by rage and stepped forward, grabbing Xie Qingran's arm: "Xie Qingran! Are you looking for death?!"

Xie Qingran winced in pain, her smile vanished completely, and she coldly said, "Let go!"

"Ha, now you're scared? Today I'll use my authority as the eldest brother to deal with you on behalf of Father!" Xie Zhaoye gripped his fist even tighter.

In the struggle, the two had already approached the pond.

Xie Qingran tried to break free, but Xie Zhaoye refused to let go.

In the chaos, Xie Qingran slipped—

"Thump!"

Water splashes everywhere!

Xie Qingran felt a chill run through her body as she fell into the icy, bone-chilling waters of the early spring pool.

She choked on a mouthful of water and struggled to the surface, just in time to meet Xie Hanyue's undisguised gleeful gaze from the shore.

However, that fleeting sense of pleasure quickly turned into astonishment.

"Xie Qingran!"

Xie Zhaoye suddenly burst out of the water next to Xie Qingran, his eyes colder than the pool water.

"How dare you drag me down with you!"