Chapter 103 Who can tell me how strong I need to be!
The weather, which was approaching summer, was naturally not cold, but a gust of wind blew by, lifting the strands of hair at Madam Xie's pale temples. She felt that the wind was as biting as the wind in the dead of winter.
The most uncertain thing in the world is making a promise.
Madam Xie braced herself against the ground, struggling to her feet, and then walked unsteadily outside. Xie Ning'an watched her slender figure in mourning clothes, her heart aching. But the Xie family was going through a turbulent time; whose life was easy now?
He turned and went inside, where two maids were cleaning up the mess on the floor. He sat down opposite Xie Yun, looking at his gray hair and beard, and felt a lump in his throat again.
He held back for a long time, but finally he blurted out what he wanted to say, "Grandfather, can't we stop now?"
Xie Yun leaned against the couch, his back slightly bent, looking much more dejected than before, completely lacking his previous vigor.
He didn't answer Xie Ning'an's question, but remained silent for a long time, until even Xie Ning'an, a person of steady character, lost her patience, and then he sighed deeply and asked, "How do we stop?"
Xie Ning'an explained his pre-thought-out plan: "Cut off all contact with them, let us recuperate, and we'll get through this in a few decades."
"Heh, heh..." Xie Yun laughed, but his voice was filled with unspeakable vicissitudes. "An'er, you are still too young. There is no turning back once the arrow is released. Perhaps my previous choice was wrong, but even if it was wrong, we have to keep going. We have no other choice."
Xie Ning'an's shoulders slumped. Yes, they had already done a lot. Even if they had killed that person, their actions would have left a mark.
“Grandfather knows you have great ambitions,” Xie Yun said, looking at Xie Ning’an, “but your ambitions do not lie in the Qin family’s empire.”
Xie Ning'an smiled bitterly. Although the Da Gan Dynasty showed signs of decline, it was still as solid as a mountain. His ambitions did not lie in Da Gan, so he was destined to become a treacherous official.
"It's getting late, Grandfather, you should rest early." Xie Ning'an got up, bowed to Xie Yun, and then left. Xie Yun watched his figure disappear through the door, then collapsed onto the couch. It seemed that he had really made the wrong choice back then.
However, the Qin family had been suppressing the Xie family for decades, and he wasn't without temper. He couldn't just watch the Xie family decline in his hands, so when that person approached him, he thought it over and agreed after much deliberation.
He never expected to suffer such a setback at the Duke of Chu's mansion, a setback that would seriously damage his health.
........
Madam Xie returned to her courtyard, her personal maidservant carefully following her. Only after watching her enter her bedroom and sit down did her heart finally settle. But seeing the unfocused look in her eyes, her heart ached again.
"Second Madam, please think of the young master. You must hold on to him in his current condition!" the nanny said softly.
Madam Xie seemed not to hear her words, and just sat there blankly. The old woman moved a small stool to sit beside her and said again:
"Madam, you can't do this. Young Master's leg is broken, and he's not married yet. If the Liu family finds out that Young Master's leg is broken, won't they break off the engagement? Young Master has always been in love with Miss Liu. If the Liu family breaks off the engagement, Young Master definitely won't be able to accept it."
Madam Xie's eyes lit up this time, and then tears began to flow. As she cried, she said, "I know that women born into aristocratic families have no freedom. From a young age, they cannot do what they want, cannot choose their own husbands, and even after marriage, they cannot have their own likes and dislikes. Our whole lives are for our parents, brothers, husbands, and sons."
"Fine, I accept all of this. I enjoy the luxurious life my family provides, so I should accept it. But now my husband is dead, and my son is ruined. How am I supposed to live? Who will I rely on?"
The old woman's tears flowed incessantly. She gently patted Madam Xie's back and said, "Madam, you have to be strong now. Young Master needs you!"
"Now you want me to be strong? Why didn't you teach me how to be strong before?" Madam Xie suddenly roared. "When I was young, they told me that I only needed to listen to my father and brothers. After I got married, they told me that I only needed to listen to my husband and son. Now my husband is dead and my son is ruined, and they want me to be strong. Who can tell me how to be strong!"
"Madam!" The old woman hugged Madam Xie tightly, tears streaming down her face, and said, "We women are born to suffer, there's nothing we can do about it!"
"ah...."
Madam Xie buried her face in the nanny's arms and wept bitterly, for her dead husband, for her ruined son, and for her own life.
Everyone makes different choices when faced with difficulties. If what happened to Madam Xie had happened to Jiang Yu, she would also feel pain and sadness, but she wouldn't cry and ask how to become stronger or what to do in the future.
She would demand money and power from the head of the Xie family, and she would demand her son Xie Lei's future. Of course, this cannot be blamed on Madam Xie the Second; she was raised to obey her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband's death.
It can only be said that this kind of thinking ruined Madam Xie.
Jiang Yu was naturally unaware of what had happened to the Xie family, but even if she had known, she would have only sighed at most, and she would not have regretted breaking Xie Lei's leg at all.
If the enemy brandishes a knife right in front of her and she doesn't retaliate fiercely, they will continue to do so. And whether it's the Xie family or Xie Lei, since they harbor harmful intentions, they must bear the corresponding consequences.
Jiang Yu had a very fulfilling day. She had been staying in her study ever since she returned from Puguang Temple. The Tang family had produced a great Confucian scholar, and although the current head of the Tang family had not achieved the same level of success as that great scholar, he was still very knowledgeable and had many disciples.
The Duke of Chu is taking her to visit the Tang family tomorrow, so she must be prepared.
The next day, she got up early and asked Xia He to choose a light gray robe for her, with a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) underneath. The whole outfit looked refreshing and elegant, with a touch of intellectual charm. She thought that her great-uncle Tang would not dislike this style.
Although Jiang Yu worked within the system in her previous life, she was adept at navigating social situations. To leave a good impression, one must at least not be disliked at first glance.
After getting dressed, she took Chunxue and Xiahe to the Duke of Chu's study. Upon seeing her attire, the Duke of Chu couldn't help but praise, "Yu'er, you look very well today."
Jiang Yu smiled slyly, "I'm just playing to their tastes."
"Hahaha..." The Duke of Chu laughed, "This is catering to their preferences... Good, very good."
Jiang Yu smiled and took his arm as they walked out, asking, "If you can't answer the question, will Uncle Tang punish you with a beating?"
The Duke of Chu snorted, "He wouldn't dare!"
Jiang Yu chuckled beside her.
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