Chapter 269 Xiao Yeming Refuses to Marry Lu Zhaoruo
Just then.
A cheerful voice rang out: "If the Duke of Di's family won't marry her, then our Xiao family will!"
Immediately afterwards, Madam Xiao strode into the room in a flurry of activity.
She walked straight up to Lu Zhaoruo, her gaze intense and filled with undeniable protectiveness: "Zhaoruo, good child, don't be afraid! Just ignore all that nonsense outside! I know exactly what kind of person you are! This marriage is a done deal for the Xiao family!"
With that, she whirled around, her gaze instantly locking onto her son, Xiao Yeming, who stood frozen in the doorway. Her voice suddenly rose, filled with a mixture of exasperation and command: "Yeming! What are you standing there for? If you're a man, get to the point! Come here! In front of Zhaoruo, clearly and plainly state what's on your mind!"
She felt both relieved and terrified.
If the Duke of Di's mansion hadn't backed down at the last minute, this wonderful daughter-in-law would probably already belong to someone else's family!
However, Xiao Yeming, on whom high hopes were placed, stood frozen in place.
His hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched into fists, his knuckles trembling violently from the excessive force, turning bluish-white.
His eyes were filled with extreme grief, even a hint of desperate struggle. His lips moved a few times, but in the end, no sound came out.
He never dared to look up, never dared to look into Lu Zhaoruo's eyes, which were surely filled with complex emotions at that moment.
Lu Zhaoruo looked at him quietly.
Seeing his obvious pain, seeing his unspeakable silence.
Her eyes reddened slightly, and the feelings that had quietly grown in her heart because of his repeated protection were frozen cold by his silent rejection.
I see.
Her heart was filled with a bitter clarity.
It turns out that all his previous hesitations, in the final analysis, stemmed from the same concern as everyone else: his care about her shameful past and his unease about her "impure" body.
She could never understand why, if he was so interested in her and so deeply in love, he wouldn't marry her.
She had initially thought he was afraid of being stopped by his elders, but Madam Xiao loved her so much.
so.
That means they dislike their own bodies for being unclean.
after all.
While in Jizhou City, he indeed knew everything.
Seeing her son's lack of ambition, Madam Xiao trembled with anger and couldn't help but push him forward, her voice urgent and furious: "Speak up! You wretched child! Where has all your courage gone? Zhao Ruo is such a good girl, what are you still hesitating about?"
Xiao Yeming staggered as he was pushed, but he kept his head down, like a child who had made a mistake, enduring his mother's scolding while stubbornly remaining silent.
This silence is more hurtful than any words.
Dong Rou watched anxiously from the side, her eyes reddening, but she dared not interrupt.
After a while.
Lu Zhaoruo took a deep breath, suppressing the sob in her throat and the stinging in her nose.
She forced a calm expression, even one with a faint smile, to break the suffocating silence: "Madam Xiao, I appreciate your kindness. However... the rumors outside are indeed true..."
Madam Xiao was shocked.
Xiao Yeming's figure also swayed slightly.
Lu Zhaoruo continued, "Zhaoruo dares not hide it. When I was sixteen years old, I was attacked by bandits on my way to Jizhou to offer incense and lost my virginity."
She paused slightly, the image of Zhang forcibly feeding her medicine flashing through her mind, and her throat tightened: "Later... on the night I married into the Shen family, I was forced to drink medicine and aborted my baby."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yeming turned his back abruptly, his shoulders trembling, and his clenched fists were deeply marked by his fingernails.
Madam Xiao's expression froze, and she was stunned for a moment.
But she immediately stepped forward and grabbed Lu Zhaoruo's cold hand: "Silly child! What kind of mistake is this? What does the evil committed by that damned bandit have to do with you? You are the victim, you have suffered greatly! It is that thief who deserves to be torn to pieces!"
Her words were sincere and without any resentment, but rather full of heartache: "The past is gone, like yesterday's death. What matters is the days to come! Our Xiao family will never hold this against us!"
Feeling this unconditional warmth, Lu Zhaoruo's composure, which she had been maintaining, finally crumbled, and tears streamed down her face.
Seeing this, Madam Xiao understood. She turned to glare at her son and went straight to the point: "Yeming! You must give your mother the truth today! You've been hesitant to speak. Is it because you really care about this matter and dislike Zhaoruo?"
Lu Zhaoruo also raised her tearful eyes and looked at that silent figure.
Xiao Yeming turned around abruptly, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally resolute: "Mother, please understand! Your son has never! Never even entertained such a thought! As it turns out... Madam Lu is the victim, and your son feels only heartache and guilt, not disgust!!"
"If it's not out of dislike, then what is it?!"
Madam Xiao was both anxious and angry. She pointed at him and said, "I can see it clearly that you are devoted to her! You have stayed at home for the past three days and look haggard. Isn't that because of her? If you accept this marriage today, I will immediately return to the manor to open the treasury and prepare the betrothal gifts. I will welcome her into the family in a grand and glorious manner!"
However, faced with his mother's repeated questioning and promises, Xiao Yeming simply kept his head down, his lips pressed into a pale line, as if he wanted to lock all his voice in his throat.
Madam Xiao was furious and raised her hand to strike him: "You wretched child! Speak up!"
Under his mother's stern urging and Lu Zhaoruo's silent gaze, Xiao Yeming finally raised his head and looked at Lu Zhaoruo. His eyes were filled with overwhelming pain and helplessness. All the words he wanted to say were reduced to a broken whisper: "Madam Lu... I'm sorry..."
That "I'm sorry" was like ice water poured over my head.
Lu Zhaoruo stared at him blankly, all the defenses she had built up since her rebirth crumbling at this moment.
She thought she had hardened her heart, but she never expected that he would still be heartbroken by his appearance.
"Smack!"
A sharp slap suddenly rang out.
Madam Xiao raised her hand and slapped Xiao Yeming hard across the face!
Dong Rou, standing to the side, gasped in surprise, covering her mouth.
Lu Zhaoruo also frowned slightly.
Madam Xiao trembled with rage, pointing at Xiao Yeming and scolding, "You wretched child! Since you care about her and don't despise her past, why don't you dare to ask for her hand in marriage openly and honestly? If you really have something difficult to say, why do you keep quiet and only hurt her? With your timid and indecisive nature, where is even a trace of the responsibility your father had back then!"
She grew angrier as she spoke, and raised her hand as if to hit him again.
"aunt!"
Lu Zhaoruo spoke up at the right moment.
Madam Xiao's hand hovered in mid-air, and when she looked at Lu Zhaoruo, her eyes were full of regret and guilt.
Lu Zhaoruo turned her gaze to Xiao Yeming, whose cheeks were slightly flushed and who was bowing his head in silence, and said in a distant and polite tone: "General Xiao, since you are in trouble, there is no need to force yourself. Zhaoruo... understands."
That simple "I understand" was like a sharp ice spike, silently piercing Xiao Yeming's heart.
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes surging with intense pain and struggle.
Lu Zhaoruo avoided his unsettling gaze and turned to Madam Xiao, nodding slightly: "I am grateful for your kindness, Aunt. However... matters of marriage cannot be forced. Please do not bring it up again after today."
Xiao Yeming finally managed to squeeze out only two words through gritted teeth: "Sorry."
After saying that, he almost staggered and turned around, fleeing the place in a panic, his back view disheveled.
Madam Xiao watched her son's departing figure, then turned back to look at Lu Zhaoruo, who was trying to remain calm. Her heart ached terribly, and she stamped her foot heavily: "Zhaoruo, take good care of yourself. Your aunt... will come to see you another day!"
Having said that, filled with helplessness and anxiety, he hurriedly chased after her.
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