Madam Xu was eager to return home.
He urged the coachman on all the way, wishing the carriage wheels would spin so fast they could fly.
After walking for a while, he remembered that he didn't have time to return to the mansion to wait, so he ordered the coachman to turn back to the Wanping County government office.
Xu Rong wasn't really interested in picking up Xu Huazhang, but she was in such a hurry when she left that she was in the same car as Madam Xu and couldn't jump out halfway, so she had to be jolted along. By the time she finally got off, her back and legs were sore and numb from the jolting, and Bai Fu had to help and pull her off the car.
After all that trouble, we came here only to find nothing.
The magistrate of Wanping County was in a very bad situation. His jurisdiction was home to many wealthy and powerful families. He had previously received orders from the Duke of Ying's mansion to imprison Xu Huazhang, but he himself didn't dare offend the Marquis of Ji'an's mansion. Now, seeing that the two families seemed to have reconciled, he personally came out to assure them: "The young marquis has already left. I personally witnessed his release. I haven't dared to mistreat him these past few days. I have no grudge against the young marquis, so please rest assured, Madam. The young marquis is perfectly healthy, not a single hair has fallen from his body—"
He went on and on explaining, afraid that Madam Xu would come looking for trouble again.
Madam Xu had no time to listen to his rambling. Hearing that her son had returned home, she hurriedly climbed back into the carriage and urged the driver to drive away.
After another winding road, we finally returned home, and it was nearly dusk.
The doorman, sleeves tucked into his sleeves, stood on the steps and bowed, saying, "Madam—"
Madam Xu impatiently lifted the carriage curtain, interrupting him: "Zhang'er is back, isn't he?"
The servant boy said with a bitter face, "They're back—they've left again!"
Madam Xu was stunned: "Ah?" She hurriedly asked, "Where did they go? Did they go to the Duke of Ying's mansion to look for us?"
Madam Xu was clearly deluding herself. The servant shook his head: "She went to the Marquis of Changxing's residence. We tried to stop her but couldn't."
Madam Xu gasped, "What? He just got back, why isn't he at home? What's he doing at the Xiao family's place?!"
The servant glanced into the carriage and said, "The Marquis was furious when he heard that the eldest daughter was going to remarry Xiao Xin. He said he would avenge her and then left."
"That brat!"
Even though Madam Xu was usually so protective and doting on her son, she was furious at this point. Then, realizing how strange the servant's words were, she spat at him again, saying, "What remarriage? Your mother is the one who remarried!"
The servant was thick-skinned and unfazed by the rebuke. He stuck out his tongue and said, "I don't know how to talk, please don't be angry, Madam. The Marquis has only been gone a short while. If you chase after him now, you might still be able to catch up."
What else could Madam Xu say but to go after them?
Xu Rong really didn't want to ride in the car anymore, but her mother and brother were still tied to her for the time being. She couldn't just watch them go out and cause trouble and ruin her life. So she looked pale and slumped against the wall of the carriage.
Fortunately, the Changxing Marquis's residence wasn't too far from the Ji'an Marquis's residence; both were in the western district. After crossing two more streets, we finally arrived.
The crimson sunset had already covered half the sky, and the afterglow of the setting sun lingered lazily on earth.
In this rather poetic scene, Xu Rong entered the Changxing Marquis's residence and saw Xiao Xin and Xu Huazhang rolling around on the ground.
Xiao Xin was clearly in the lead. He was two years older and taller, and he pinned the mud-covered Xu Huazhang to the ground, ready to punch him.
Madam Xu nearly fainted, letting out a shrill cry that cracked as she cried out, "Zhang'er—!"
Xiao Xin was either frightened or hesitant to act because of the presence of the other parent, so he couldn't bring himself to deliver the punch. Xu Huazhang saw an opportunity and didn't hold back. He bent his knee and rammed Xiao Xin in an insidious position. He also grabbed Xiao Xin's throat with his hands. Fortunately, Xiao Xin wasn't that fast, so he noticed and dodged. Xu Huazhang then twisted Xu Huazhang's arm forcefully, and Xu Huazhang yelled "Ah!"
"Let me go! If you dare hurt me, I'll make a mistake today, and I'll bring men to kill you tomorrow!" He wanted to spit on Xiao Xin, but since Xiao Xin was lying down, the saliva he spat out landed back on his own face, making him so angry that he kept spitting.
Xu Rong: "..."
She wasn't very familiar with Xu Huazhang, but from the limited impression she had of him, he seemed like a scion of a wealthy family. Now, with his street-smart, rascal-like appearance and his stupidity, Xu Rong simply couldn't bear to look at him.
Even Madam Xu was speechless.
She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately her love for her son prevailed, and she rushed forward: "Zhang'er, are you alright?"
Xiao Xin had already released Xu Huazhang's arm and stood to the side. His clothes were barely disheveled, and his expression quickly returned to one of indifference.
"Mother, you're here!" Xu Huazhang was overjoyed. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed Madam Xu's hand. "Mother, don't let my sister marry him. He's just an illegitimate son. How could he be worthy of my sister!"
Madam Xu said with difficulty, "Zhang'er, the fact that you came out means you agreed to their unequal conditions."
Xu Huazhang retorted, "So what? I'm out now, I don't need to be afraid of his family anymore." He glared at Xiao Xin, "If you dare to keep bothering my sister, I will never let you off!"
"Shut up."
Upon hearing the source of the sound, Xu Huazhang turned around and opened his mouth wide: "Huh?"
Xu Rong said with a stern face, "I told you to shut up."
She wanted to say a few more words, but suddenly felt a pang of guilt and shortness of breath, and could not even stand steadily. If Bai Fu hadn't quickly supported her from the side, she would have fallen down on the spot.
"Girl, what's wrong?" Bai Fu was startled.
Xu Rong thought for a moment and said weakly, "I must be hungry."
Bai Fu hurriedly replied, "That's right, Miss has been with Madam for most of the day and hasn't even had lunch."
Xu Rong had some tea and snacks in the morning, but those few pieces of pastry were hardly enough to last a day. In fact, Bai Fu didn't have time to eat either, but she was no weaker than Xu Rong, so even though her stomach was already growling, she could still hold on.
Xu Rong looked up and asked Xiao Xin, "Second Young Master Xiao, do you have any food here?"
She was determined not to go back to the manor on an empty stomach; her body couldn't withstand such abuse, and she had to take better care of herself.
The girl's face was almost transparently pale. Xiao Xin glanced at her and nodded calmly, "Yes."
He turned to get it, but Xu Huazhang shouted, "Sister, don't eat their food, let's go home and eat."
When Madam Xu heard him call out, she suddenly realized what was happening and quickly called out to Xiao Xin, "Second Brother, Zhang'er is a child who doesn't know any better. He shouldn't have come to your house to cause trouble for you. Please don't hold it against him because he's so young, and don't tell your wife either, okay?"
Regardless of who wins or loses, Xu Huazhang was the one who barged into the Xiao family to assault them, so he's in the wrong. Hitting Xiao Xin isn't the problem; the real concern is that Madam Xiao might make a fuss about it.
Xu Rong: "..."
If she weren't so hungry she was about to faint, she would have told Madam Xu to shut up too.
They've barged right into someone's house and caused such a commotion, do they really think Madam Xiao wouldn't know? Dream on!
Xiao Xin said, "Grandmother has arrived, and Madam is keeping her company."
The implication was that, at least for the moment, Madam Xiao was too busy to deal with it.
Madam Xu relaxed a bit upon hearing this: "Then let's go quickly. Rong'er, just bear with it, I'll buy you some snacks when we get out."
It's not impossible. But when Xu Rong learned that Old Madam Zhang had arrived so quickly, she had a sudden thought. Since the matter was already a sure thing, she didn't want to leave even if she wasn't hungry. She said, "Mother, my vision is getting blurry, and I really can't walk anymore. You and Brother Zhang go first. I'll eat something here at Young Master Xiao's place before I go."
Madam Xu exclaimed, "How can this be?"
Xu Rong rubbed her forehead, feeling dizzy, and said, "Why not? We only have one car, and there won't be enough room for everyone to go back together. You and Brother Zhang go back first, and then we'll send another car to pick me up."
In fact, Xu Huazhang came on horseback, but Madam Xu hadn't thought of that. When she heard it, she thought it made sense and hesitated: "Rong'er, are you really in so much pain?"
Xu Rong hummed in response, her eyes half-closed, looking as if she had fainted from hunger.
Madam Xu felt sorry for him, but she dared not let Xu Huazhang, who had caused trouble, stay here any longer, nor did she dare let him leave first. She stayed to wait for Xu Rong, fearing that if Xu Huazhang left her sight, he would cause another trouble in the blink of an eye.
Unable to make a decision, she had no choice but to listen to Xu Rong: "Alright then, you stay here, and I'll call a carriage to pick you up as soon as I get back."
She pulled Xu Huazhang away, but he refused. Madam Xu patted him twice, almost in tears, and said, "You little rascal, do you want to break my heart for you?!"
Even though Xu Huazhang was a troublemaker, he couldn't lay a hand on his own mother, so he had no choice but to be dragged away against his will. Before leaving, he threatened Xiao Xin, "Stay away from my sister, or she won't marry you!"
Xu Rong opened her eyes, speechless as she watched him finally leave, and apologized to Xiao Xin: "He's ignorant, you can beat him up next time you want."
A beginning similar to Mrs. Xu's, but a completely different ending.
"..." Xiao Xin said, "He came to me to protect you."
“That doesn’t change the fact that he’s a bad kid. He hasn’t learned his lesson yet, which is why he’s always causing trouble. Maybe if he gets a few more beatings outside, he’ll behave himself.” Xu Rong finished speaking and smiled. “After all, he doesn’t have another sister to sell to someone else for him.”
Bai Fu was touched, her expression turning sorrowful, and she said softly, "Miss."
Xiao Xin remained silent for a moment, then said, "Come with me."
Where to?
"At my aunt's place."
When Madam Xu was still alive, Xiao Xin could entertain Xu Rong, but now that the elder had passed away, Xiao Xin could no longer lead her into his own courtyard alone. Since Madam Xu was entertaining guests, he could only take her to her birth mother's place.
As they walked along, they attracted quite a bit of attention—as the former fiancée of Prince Xiao, Xu Rong had naturally been a guest here before, and some of the servants in the mansion recognized her.
It's quite remarkable.
Xu Rong didn't care what the glances secretly cast at her meant; she was so hungry that she could hardly breathe.
She finally entered a courtyard in a daze, and a plate of pastries was handed to her. She reached out and grabbed some to eat.
He choked immediately.
Xu Rong ignored him and forced herself to swallow.
Just swallow it; hunger overrides all other needs.
Another cup of tea was placed in front of her, a hand gently patted her back, and a gentle voice said, "Oh dear, are you starving? Don't worry."
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