Back then, Ling Qingxue had vowed that as long as he brought his mother to Hangzhou, they would discuss their marriage.
Now, it has turned into a discussion.
Ling Qingxue's face turned extremely embarrassed: "My mother and aunts came together, and I've been busy settling them in these past few days. I haven't had time to..."
Su Xuerong suddenly tilted her head and looked at him: "I heard that among your half-brothers and half-sisters, there is also a cousin from your maternal clan?"
Ling Qingxue's face instantly turned pale: "You, you..."
“I don’t have the guts to spy on you. Yun’er told me.” Su Xue Rong didn’t hide anything. “Old Madam Cui has already met your cousin. Your mother wants you to marry her.”
Ling Qingxue suddenly blushed: "I have no intention of marrying her!"
Su Xuerong laughed: "You didn't plan on it, but what about your mother?"
Ling Qingxue suddenly felt dejected and extremely frustrated. She quickly grabbed Rong's hand and said, "Rong, you must believe me!"
"The prince said that as long as I perform a great service in Shu this time, then..."
He stopped abruptly, not continuing, and looked at her anxiously: "You must believe me, Rong."
Looking at the sincere man in front of her, Su Xuerong felt a bitter taste in her mouth, but still managed a faint smile: "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back."
Ling Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her tightly in her arms again.
By the time he returned to Mingxiu Garden, it was already dark.
As soon as he stepped through the gate, Madam Li hurriedly came to greet him: "Why are you only returning now, my lord? Madam hasn't had dinner yet and has been waiting for you."
Ling Qingxue asked in surprise, "Didn't I send someone to deliver a message saying I wouldn't be coming back for dinner?"
"Cousin, don't you know Madam's temper?"
At this moment, a graceful and charming young woman walked up behind Li.
That was Xiang Rulan, Xiang's cousin.
When Ling Qingxue saw her, her eyes darted away, and she didn't respond to her words, walking straight towards the main hall in the backyard.
Sure enough, the whole family was waiting for him.
Xiang Shi sat at the head of the round table, coldly watching him.
"Mother, why aren't you having dinner so late?"
Xiang nodded to Li, who immediately said, "You can serve the dishes now."
The servants then began to serve dinner one after another.
Ling Qingxue even saw a look of relief on the faces of her half-brothers and half-sisters.
"Mother, why do this?" He sat down in the empty seat next to Xiang Shi and personally served her a dish.
Xiang then slowly picked up her chopsticks and looked at the table: "Everyone, please eat your meal."
Ling Qingxue was about to say something when Madam Xiang suddenly said coldly, "What, you've been away for less than half a year and you've already forgotten the rules of the house?"
Do not speak while eating or sleeping.
Ling Qingxue swallowed the words she was about to say and ate in silence, but the food tasted bland.
None of the Li family members dared to speak; they ate in silence, with only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks coming from the table.
Ling Qingxue suddenly remembered the time she had dinner with the Su family.
They didn't have any strict rules when they ate; they chatted from time to time, and the whole family was relaxed, happy, and at ease.
He hadn't felt anything before, but this time, with his mother's arrival, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of constraint.
After dinner, Xiang Shi said to Ling Qingxue and Xiang Rulan, "You two stay."
The others hurriedly got up and left, leaving only the three members of the Xiang family in the hall.
"Qingxue, what's your decision?" Xiang asked coldly.
Xiang Rulan immediately lowered her head shyly, not daring to lift her eyes.
Ling Qingxue's forehead veins throbbed: "Mother, your son will be setting off for Shu tomorrow. We'll discuss this matter again when I return."
Xiang sneered, "What if you don't come back?"
Ling Qingxue suddenly raised her head, looking at her mother in disbelief.
Xiang's eyes were icy: "Although the world is now at peace, the Chu King still holds absolute power in Shu. For the Prince of Fenyang to send you to persuade the Chu King at this time is likely to be very dangerous!"
Ling Qingxue gritted her teeth and said, "Mother, the Prince consulted me about this matter, and it was I who was willing to go. I don't blame anyone."
In chaotic times, if you want to rise above others, you must never hide in the inner quarters like a woman.
Without danger, where would wealth and glory come from?
Xiang stared at him coldly: "I'm not asking you to be a coward, but you must finalize the marriage before you go to Shu this time!"
The following day, Ling Qingxue left Hangzhou early in the morning.
It was already noon when the servant ran to the Su residence to deliver the news.
Su Xuerong said calmly, "Okay, I understand."
That servant boy was named Asong; he was given to him by Xiao Yuan.
Ah Song hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mr. Ling said that if Madam Su has any urgent matters these days, she should go to Madam Cui for help..."
Su Xuerong smiled and said, "Thank you."
As Ah Song was about to leave, she suddenly asked, "Is your husband already engaged?"
Her sudden remark stunned Ah Song, who stammered for a long time, "I...I...I don't know..."
Su Xuerong smiled and said, "Alright, you can go back now."
Ah Song ran away as if fleeing.
After he left, Zhou frowned.
"What exactly does Mr. Ling mean to you?"
Su Xuerong said expressionlessly, "I don't know..."
It seems her judgment of people is really poor.
Although Ling Qingxue was deeply in love with her, he still couldn't resist worldly pressures.
She gave a self-deprecating smile and looked at Madam Zhou, half-jokingly saying, "Didn't you and Father want me to find a husband for my family?"
Zhou looked somewhat embarrassed: "We were just saying it casually..."
“It’s alright,” Su Xuerong lowered her eyes. “You and Father are right to think this through. If you encounter someone who is more honest, you can bring them to me for a look.”
Mrs. Zhou exclaimed incredulously, "Really? Weren't you determined to wait for Mr. Ling?"
Suppressing a pang of sadness, Su Xuerong smiled at Zhou Shi and said, "Ah Song's expression just now told the truth. Ling Qingxue has probably already gotten engaged to his cousin under his mother's arrangement."
Zhou was stunned, then flew into a rage: "That bastard surnamed Ling has been lying to you all along?"
Su Xuerong shook her head: "It shouldn't be... He probably had no choice..."
When he said goodbye to me last night, his eyes revealed deep regret and guilt.
Su Xuerong said softly, "Mother, don't think about it anymore. Help me find a son-in-law!"
As she turned around, she suddenly felt a strange sense of relief.
He probably already foresaw the outcome between himself and Ling Qingxue, and had no regrets...
Cui Yun'er rushed over that evening, calling out, "Arong! Arong!"
Su Xuerong was surprised that she had come on horseback. She asked Xiuchun to bring her a clean handkerchief to wipe her sweat: "Why did you run so fast?"
Cui Yun'er grabbed her anxiously: "I just found out that Madam Xiang actually betrothed his cousin to Ling Qingxue while he was in Shu. Today, she even asked my aunt to be the matchmaker, saying that the two of them had exchanged betrothal gifts in secret last night and were just waiting for Ling Qingxue to return from Shu to hold the wedding!"
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