Meanwhile, inside Ximoxuan, Song Xizhi was awakened by Granny Wu.
"Miss, wake up! We need to serve tea this morning, so please don't be late."
Song Xizhi opened his eyes, his body aching all over, and his eyelids twitched when he saw He Jingyan standing close by, completely naked.
After taking a bath last night, I lay down and fell fast asleep, not caring whether he lived or died.
It was only in the middle of the night that He Jingyan's body temperature was too high, waking her up. That's when she realized something was wrong, so she got up and fussed around for a while.
Thinking of this, Song Xizhi felt a little guilty, and her cheeks flushed. She quickly lowered her eyes and carefully stepped over He Jingyan.
Granny Wu had already prepared the water and quickly helped her wash and dress, then brought up the events of the previous night.
"I heard that after you went to bed last night, the Second Miss had a big fight with the Second Young Master of the He family. Now everyone knows that the Second Young Master stormed out on his wedding night and sat in his study all night."
Upon hearing this, Song Xizhi's lingering sleepiness vanished instantly, and she stared wide-eyed: "You mean Song Ruoan and He Yunce didn't consummate their marriage?"
While tying Song Xizhi's hair up, Granny Wu nodded and said, "Yes, everyone saw how furious the Second Young Master was last night. The servants outside are all guessing that the Second Miss was indiscreet in the past and was discovered by the Second Young Master on her wedding night, which is why he was so angry."
Upon hearing this, Song Xizhi was quite surprised.
Such a thing did not happen on their wedding night in their previous life. Back then, He Yunze was cautious, youthful, considerate, and full of excitement.
But how could such a huge change have occurred in this life?
Could it be that He Yunze has also been reborn...?
But if he were reborn, why would he hate Song Ruoan?
Song Xizhi didn't know the reason, but she knew that the servants' rumors, coupled with He Yunce's actions last night, were enough to make the elders of the Marquis's mansion doubt Song Ruoan's innocence.
Song Ruoan, who has always been competitive, probably feels like dying now.
As Song Xizhi was pondering this, he heard Granny Wu softly say, "Alright."
Granny Wu stood behind Song Xizhi, placed her hands on her shoulders, and bent down slightly to look at the bronze mirror in front of her.
What I saw was Song Xizhi's stunningly beautiful face, with black hair like clouds, skin as white as snow, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that shimmered like spring water, lingering and captivating.
With just a touch of makeup, she is stunning.
Looking at Song Xizhi's appearance, Wu Mama was more and more delighted: "This old servant feels that the young lady is a little different from before."
Having been reborn, her physical appearance is that of a seventeen-year-old, but her inner self is already riddled with holes, naturally different from before.
Song Xizhi sighed softly, lowered her eyes, and stood up from the round stool: "Granny, we need to hurry. If we are late, people will probably gossip about us."
Whatever the reason, let her wait and see.
Upon hearing this, Granny Wu also felt that it made sense, and hurriedly took Song Xizhi's hand and left Ximoxuan.
But when she arrived at Madam He's Wanxiang Hall, it was already packed with people.
As she stepped across the threshold, she heard Song Ruoan's sobbing voice, which seemed to be filled with overwhelming grievances:
“Grandmother, Father, Mother… Last night, Ruoan wasn’t paying attention and her sister secretly switched her marriage! When her husband found out, he was furious and sat in his study all night.”
"It was all because Ruo'an wasn't paying attention. Please forgive Ruo'an and her sister, elders!"
Song Xizhi's eyelids twitched, and he turned his head in the direction of the sound, only to see Song Ruoan's slender figure kneeling on the ground, her fragile body trembling with sobs.
It turns out that she angered He Yunze last night, and seeing that the matter of the marriage exchange could not be taken lightly, she took the initiative to complain!
Seeing this familiar trick, Song Xizhi almost laughed.
Marquis An Ding frowned deeply, staring intently at Song Xizhi.
Seeing that everyone's eyes were focused on Song Xizhi, Song Ruoan's smug look was downright malicious.
Song Xizhi simply curtsied, her manners impeccable: "Daughter-in-law Song Xizhi greets all the elders."
She raised her head slightly, her bewildered expression carrying a hint of doubt and a touch of innocence: "What is this exchange marriage? There's a strict separation between men and women. I've never met the He brothers, so I really don't know what my husband looks like."
"But marriages are always done according to the rules, the procedures are complicated, and no one dares to make a mistake. Why does my sister say that I am arranging a marriage for her?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall realized what was going on, and Old Madam He's brows furrowed even more deeply: "That's right, Song Xizhi isn't stupid, why would she want to arrange a marriage with a living dead person?"
After she finished speaking, her deep gaze locked onto Song Ruoan's face: "Unless you despise Jing Yan, and you're the one who got the marriage!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan trembled. She had just opened her mouth to defend herself when Song Xizhi spoke again.
"I'm afraid it's too late to get it back now..." She hesitated and didn't finish her sentence, her little face flushed.
Upon seeing this, Granny Wu stepped forward and showed Old Madam He a wooden box.
When Madam He opened the wooden box and saw the handkerchief inside, her eyes lit up with delight. She had always favored her eldest grandson, who was both scholarly and martial.
Regardless of whether it was a marriage exchange or not, the matter is now settled, and Song Xizhi is the granddaughter-in-law she has chosen!
"Good boy! Good boy!"
"Jingyan will have an heir!"
She suddenly stood up from her chair, helped Song Xizhi up with her own hands, and put her family heirloom jade bracelet on Song Xizhi's wrist: "From now on, you will learn to manage the household from your grandmother!"
Only the future mistress of the Marquis's mansion can wear this jade bracelet!
It used to be worn by the late Madam Yun, who was He Jingyan's birth mother. After her death, the old Madam He took the bracelet back.
Even Huang, the second wife of the Marquis, who gave birth to He Yunce, never wore this bracelet!
Huang's hands, which were tucked into her sleeves, tightened instantly.
But when she turned to look at Song Ruoan, the jealousy in her heart instantly turned into disgust for Song Ruoan.
If it weren't for Song Ruo'an's arranged marriage, which angered Yun Ce and caused him to leave, and the rumors circulating in the mansion, the family heirloom bracelet wouldn't have ended up in Song Xizhi's hands!
As Huang thought about it, she recalled the rumors she had heard, and suddenly felt that something was wrong:
“Yun Ce has always been gentle, but now he won’t even accompany me when it’s time to serve tea…”
She abruptly stood up from her chair and questioned sharply, "Yun Ce has never met you, so he can't possibly be angry about the arranged marriage. Song Ruo'an, are you truly innocent?"
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