A separate courtyard.
The steward of the manor stood guard outside the main hall, looking at the large group of people inside, and urged, "Hasn't the master returned yet?"
The guard behind him replied, "We've already sent people to look for them."
"Send more people to search quickly."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Madam Wang's dissatisfied voice rang out from inside, "It's past midnight, your master is really a busy man."
The steward wiped the sweat from his brow, bowed, and went inside. He instructed the maids to refill his teacup, and said with a smile, "Miss was injured a few days ago. I'm taking you out to see the lights and clear your head."
Hearing this, the third wife became even more dissatisfied. She slammed down the teacup and, clutching her handkerchief, said coldly, "You can't even handle things properly in the bedroom, and you've dragged my son down with you for no reason."
Upon hearing that her daughter had been injured, she couldn't sit still any longer and rushed to Jiankang. Little did she expect that this scoundrel would dare to stay out all night with her daughter.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she glared at the silent man beside her. She didn't know what kind of spell had been cast on her, but she had actually agreed to the marriage between the two families.
The third master noticed his wife's gaze and turned his face away.
Ah Wan is not young anymore, and she has done something so damaging to her reputation. If she doesn't marry Xie Sanlang, she will only be driven to despair by the clan.
Moreover, his daughter is in poor health and is considered a useless pawn by her elder brother and fourth brother. Now that she can marry into the Xie family, and the third son of the Xie family is willing to use his military power as the governor of the Northwest to open up the salt road in the northern desert for the Langya Wang clan, this deal is not a loss. At least they can earn hundreds of thousands of military funds.
"Is Miss Heng still at the Court of Justice?"
The butler hurriedly replied, "Yes."
The third wife nodded, concealing the expression in her eyes, and said nothing more.
When Xie Xuan returned, chatting and laughing with the person in his arms, he saw that the hall was full of people, all of whom looked up at the two of them.
Wang Wan turned her head following his gaze and saw her parents. The smile on her lips froze instantly, and she hurriedly pushed him away in a flustered manner.
Xie Xuan bent down and slowly put her down. Watching her obediently go inside and kneel to pay her respects, he felt a little annoyed.
He composed himself, walked in, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Uncle and Aunt."
The third wife was not friendly at all. On the eve of the wedding, she kidnapped her daughter, causing her to lose face completely. It was simply outrageous.
The third master remained expressionless and responded, but a surge of anger rose in his heart as he looked at his daughter kneeling obediently. She was shamelessly tugging at her husband in public.
Before he could even start cursing, Xie Xuan pulled the person kneeling on the ground to their feet, his expression calm. "It's cold, be careful not to catch a cold."
"---"
Wang Wan didn't dare to speak and kept her head down.
Xie Xuan smiled and explained a few words to the couple in the main seats.
The third wife didn't want her daughter to be gossiped about, so she agreed a few times and then took her daughter to leave.
“Your father has already spoken to the old man. We’ll talk about the engagement once this storm has passed.”
Suddenly, someone patted Xie Xuan on the shoulder. He turned around and saw the Third Master's smiling face. He replied gently, "Thank you, Uncle."
The third master's smile deepened. He gave a few more instructions and strode outside.
He still preferred Xie San in his heart. After all, no matter how glorious Xie Erlang was, that was all in the past. With this son-in-law, his good younger brother would not dare to openly take away Liulang's military power in the southwest.
The Wang family, along with their daughter, left in a grand procession, leaving the surroundings empty.
Xie Xuan stood under the eaves, his gaze fixed on the departing girl, and took out the unpolished deer antler hairpin from his sleeve.
If he marries her sooner, no one will be able to openly take her away from his residence.
Wang Wan was taken back to Yandu by her family overnight. After a few days by boat, she was brought to the main hall of the mansion. Everyone in the clan was there, and they all had different reactions when they saw her being brought back.
Her face froze instantly, and she immediately lowered her head and respectfully went inside, kneeling obediently on the ground.
“My granddaughter is unfilial and has implicated the sisters in the household. I am willing to accept the punishment.”
The Third Madam was also taken aback by the scene in the mansion. Seeing her daughter's humble and submissive demeanor, she felt even more heartbroken and went in to curtsy.
“Mother, you really can’t blame Awan. She’s just a weak woman, what could she do?”
"Hmph, having an affair with a man outside the family, the third wife has really raised a fine daughter."
The third wife tightened her grip on the handkerchief, a flash of displeasure crossing her eyes.
Born into a prestigious family, she couldn't possibly act like a petty woman crying while holding her daughter. Instead, she covered her face and pretended to weep, saying a few words in a pretentious manner.
They all blamed the lax security at the manor, which implicated her daughter, yet they dared not truly break with the Xie family. Her poor daughter had no one to confide in.
Her sharp retorts made the other wives' faces turn sour. After such an incident, what would the noble families of the world think of their daughter from the Langya Wang clan?
With the old master of the Wang family absent, the head of the Wang family is in charge. This matter could have been a big deal or a small deal. In any case, he is a sickly man who has committed such a disgraceful act. He can simply be left to fend for himself in the mansion.
But the Xie family insisted on having his niece. It would be awkward to have her out in the open, and there would be no shortage of gossip. Besides, with so many branches of the family, they would have to give an explanation to the other branches as well.
"What exactly is going on between you and Xie Sanlang?"
Outside, the cold moon shone like frost, and the biting wind raged. The desolate light fell on the back of the girl kneeling on the ground, her cloak billowing, adding to her melancholy.
Seeing her daughter bowing her head and remaining silent, the Third Madam sighed helplessly, "It's all because of those two sons of the Xie family. What do they have to do with our A-Wan? Right now, she has no choice but to marry into their family."
I asked her, "Shut up."
"---"
After being yelled at like that, the Third Madam fell silent and dared not speak again.
Wang Wan's fingers felt slightly cold as she replied, "It's my fault."
"What kind of daughter would do such a shameful thing before her wedding, running away from the ceremony and causing her unmarried daughter to suffer the consequences of her reputation for no reason?!" The old lady became angrier as she spoke. "Our Wang family has truly raised a daughter who is incredibly audacious."
Seeing this, the gentlemen sitting on the left glanced at the eldest brother's ugly face and stepped forward to plead for mercy.
When the head of the Wang family saw that his younger brothers were actually pleading for his niece, he narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed that the Xie family boy had some kind of leverage over her.
"What business is it of yours? Shut up."
"Oh dear, brother, Ah Wan is frail; she can't withstand any punishment!"
They didn't want to get involved in this mess, but Xie Sanlang threatened them. There were many sordid and absurd things in the big family, such as insulting his sister-in-law, having affairs, and patronizing prostitutes. If this got out, they would lose all face.
The head of the Wang family didn't want to waste time on this matter, so he stood up with a stern face and said, "Go to the ancestral hall and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors."
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