Chapter 98 Not Holding
Jiang Wansu couldn't stop crying, her grief-stricken sobs were forced into her mouth, and she could only let out muffled whimpers.
Zi Tang also shed tears. After a while, the two of them calmed down and walked out of the corner.
Wiping away Jiang Wansu's tears, Zitang said, "Miss, you should smile when you return to Tiqi Courtyard."
"But... about Yulin..."
"Miss, don't be afraid. If Xie Qi really wanted to expose this matter, he wouldn't have said it in front of you. He only brought it up to you as a warning, so that you would stay away from him and Shen Yuanzhu in the future."
"We'll just avoid provoking him in the future. But even if Miss does provoke him, I have ways to deal with it."
Holding Jiang Wansu's hand, Zitang helped her straighten her clothes: "Go back. If Madam brings up the invitation, just cry and don't say anything."
Looking at the thin and frightened Jiang Wansu, Zi Tang sighed deeply.
How can her young lady gain a foothold in the Xie family with her appearance like this?
It seems she'll have to take care of things from now on.
Back at Tiqi Courtyard, Jiang Wansu's emotions had calmed down considerably, though her face still bore traces of tears.
Upon seeing this, Xie Xuchuan immediately asked, "What's wrong with you? Did Xie Qi make things difficult for you?"
"without……"
"Don't be afraid. If he makes things difficult for you, I'll stand up for you."
Xie Xuchuan didn't know if he really wanted to find Xie Qi, or if he just wanted to go to Qianxiangyuan to see someone.
He told himself every day that things had come to this point and he should let it go, but he was unwilling to give up whenever he saw Yuanzhu.
That was his lover, the person he had loved for ten years, the person with whom he should have been adorned in wedding robes and married the heavens and earth...
But why is everything wrong now?
Xie Xuchuan turned to leave, but was stopped by Jiang Wansu.
"Xie Qi didn't make things difficult for me; it's just that I'm not feeling well during my pregnancy."
Wiping away her tears, Jiang Wansu forced a bitter smile: "I just couldn't get him to give up the invitation. I didn't do things well, and I'm afraid I'll upset Mother again."
Xie Xuchuan lowered his head and saw Jiang Wansu gently tugging at his clothes, carefully pushing the person aside.
He took a few steps back, creating some distance.
"I'll take care of Mother, so you don't need to worry. And you don't need to bother trying to please her, anyway, it'll affect the future..."
He will send Jiang Wansu to live on the estate someday.
Even though he didn't say it aloud, Jiang Wansu understood the meaning behind his words.
“You haven’t been resting well these past few days. You should rest first. I’ll go and reply to Mother about the invitation.”
After saying that, Xie Xuchuan fled as if he were escaping.
Zi Tang frowned slightly as she looked at Xie Xuchuan, who never went into the inner room and always adhered to gentlemanly etiquette.
She needs to figure out a way to deal with some things.
Xie Qi's refusal to hand over the invitation infuriated Xie San Niang and Hua Nan Zhi, but since Xie Qi was unwilling, they couldn't just take it from him.
So when Shen Yuanzhu woke up from her afternoon nap, she received a message from Xie Sanniang that the entire Xie family was to have dinner at Yujintang that evening.
"This trap is unavoidable."
Hearing her mutter softly, Xie Qi found her utterly adorable.
Just as her good mood was rising, the thought of seeing Xie Xuchuan that evening caused her lips to fall back into a smile.
When Madam Luo entered the room, she saw her young mistress sitting on the bed, still half asleep, while Xie Qi placed a copper basin at the foot of the bed and was gently wiping Shen Yuanzhu's fingers with a soft towel.
Although the wound on her index finger had healed, there was still a faint mark around it. Xie Qi carefully cleaned it, avoiding the wound as if she were wiping away some rare treasure.
Seeing this, Luo tactfully withdrew.
"It's a little itchy."
Shen Yuanzhu tried to pull her hand away, but Xie Qi reverently extended two fingers and gently scratched her hand.
Is it still itchy?
He raised his head, his handsome face full of seriousness: "This wound will hurt at first, and then it will itch for a couple of days, but that's okay, it means it's getting better."
Shen Yuanzhu looked up and saw that Xie Qi's ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
She tilted her head, looked at Xie Qi, and then at the tip of his ear.
After thinking for a moment, he simply reached out and touched it.
Xie Qi was born with phoenix eyes, which carried a heroic spirit and a cold and sharp edge unique to men. But at this moment, his eyes widened like a cat's at night.
She wanted to reach out and pinch him again, but Xie Qi quickly turned his head away, dodging her hand.
"I... the water... the water is cold, go change the water."
Seeing the person running so fast, Shen Yuanzhu also became more sober.
"Don't you like people touching your ears...?"
After muttering something casually, Shen Yuanzhu went to choose the clothes she would need for the evening banquet.
Little did she know that Xie Qi ran all the way to the courtyard, his hands trembling for a long time before he finally managed to grab the copper basin.
Once the heat on his face subsided, he felt somewhat annoyed.
"Master, what are you doing here with that copper basin?"
Wei Hu could see from afar that his master was acting strangely; not only was his face burning red, but his hands were also trembling violently.
"Is this water going to be poured out? I'll take care of it."
After pouring the water, Wei Hu saw Xie Qi pursing his lips tightly, his face as cold as the yellow shop of Jixia Manor.
But upon closer inspection, his master's eyes were filled with spring water, and his cheeks were flushed, as if he were in a good mood.
"That's really strange."
Xie Qi raised his arm to cover his face, and after a while, he whispered a few instructions.
"Huh, why are you preparing all this?"
Xie Qi said with a blank face, "Just prepare it when I tell you to. Why are you making so many demands?"
"Is Master about to consummate his marriage with the Second Young Mistress? I heard these things are all..."
The consummation of the marriage and such...
Hearing this, Xie Qi turned his face away awkwardly.
After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "If she wants to, I can't refuse her, can I? Young women are easily embarrassed, it's not right to make her prepare these things."
"Understood, I'll prepare it right away."
Watching Wei Hu dash out in a flash, Xie Qi hurriedly wiped his face.
His face was solemn, but his eyes revealed a great deal of joy.
He was exceptionally handsome, so it was only natural that Shen Yuanzhu would be attracted to him.
Moreover, he boasted that he was a hundred times better than Xie Xuchuan, and Shen Yuanzhu was intelligent enough to see his merits.
After comforting himself, Xie Qi felt relieved.
After Shen Yuanzhu changed her clothes, she saw that Xie Qi was also dressed.
The two had been married for several days and had developed some understanding. Seeing Shen Yuanzhu looking at him, Xie Qi raised his hand to indicate that he wanted to take her hand.
Shen Yuanzhu was somewhat unwilling.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and Xie Qi always wanted to stick to her body when he held her hand. By the time they reached Yujintang, he would break out in a thin layer of sweat...
"What's wrong?"
Xie Qi looked at Shen Yuanzhu, his tone sour.
Could it be that you're thinking about seeing Xie Xuchuan tonight and don't want to hold his hand?
That's true. They were childhood sweethearts, and Xie Xuchuan hadn't really betrayed her. Although Xie Xuchuan was foolish, most women are devoted. Once she learns that he had his reasons for marrying Jiang Wansu, she will most likely regret it, and might even pity him, and regret marrying him.
Who knows, she might even develop the idea of eloping with Xie Xuchuan...
Xie Qi grew increasingly agitated, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared at Chen Yuanzhu.
Shen Yuanzhu felt awkward under his gaze and was about to speak when she heard Xie Qi grit his teeth, his voice filled with unspeakable grievance: "So... you're not going to hold my hand anymore?"
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