Xu Rong ate tea and cake in small sips without looking up. After eating three or five pieces, she finally mustered the energy to look at the woman sitting next to her.
The woman wore a light purple jacket with a simple pattern, except for a circle of orchids embroidered around the hem. Her hair was tied into a simple bun with two silver hairpins inserted diagonally. Her hands were placed on her knees, and she wore two thin silver bracelets on her wrists. Apart from that, she had no other adornments.
Xu Rong tentatively called out, "Aunt Wei?"
The woman smiled shyly and replied, "Yes."
Xu Rong was unusually surprised.
It wasn't because of Wei's poverty, but because of her appearance—judging from Xiao Xin's age, his birth mother should have been around thirty-five, but Wei looked at most twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Not only that, but there was always a light sorrow between her brows, and her eyes were like water, with a timid ripple, as if she could be startled at any moment. This timidity made her look even younger, and at first glance, she could easily be mistaken for someone in their early twenties.
This is top-tier Xiaobaihua Yan!
As Xu Rong got up, she glanced at Xiao Xin, who was standing near the door. No wonder his usually gloomy and awkward face still had a handsome look; he was really blessed with good looks.
She curtsied to greet him, but Madam Wei quickly stopped her, saying, "Young lady, there's no need for such formalities."
She seemed very unaccustomed to socializing, and even her short sentence sounded a bit awkward.
Seeing Xu Rong sit down again so readily, she relaxed a little and said softly, "Young lady, are you still hungry? I'll go to the kitchen and make you a bowl of noodle soup. These snacks are getting cold, and eating too much of them is bad for your stomach."
To be honest, the pastries here at the Wei family's place are of very poor quality. Some are dry and others are bitter, far worse than what Xu Rong ate at the Marquis of Ji'an's residence. That's why she choked on the first bite. By the same token, the noodles here are probably also very shoddy.
However, Xu Rong wasn't just there for the food, so she nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Auntie."
Mrs. Wei smiled, stood up, and left.
She actually went in person.
Bai Fu secretly clicked her tongue in amazement: Wei Shi's situation was evident from the furnishings of the room and her own attire, but she was still a half-mistress and had given birth to a son, yet she had ended up like this in the Changxing Marquis's mansion. It was truly—a disgrace to her face.
At this moment, Xu Rong pushed the two remaining pieces of pastry on the plate toward her, indicating, "Go eat by the door and keep an eye on people."
Bai Fu understood, picked up the plate and walked away, but Xu Rong then extended his hand to invite her: "Young Master Xiao, please sit down."
Xiao Xin paused for a moment, then walked over and sat down in the chair furthest away from her.
Xu Rong couldn't help but chuckle, and tapped the table, saying, "Don't be so wary of me, we should be fine by tomorrow."
Xiao Xin's eyes narrowed: "How did you know?"
"My mother and I just came from the Duke of Ying's mansion." Xu Rong briefly explained what had happened, and then said, "The fact that Old Madam Zhang is coming at this time means there's no other reason than to tell your wife to give up on the idea."
Xiao Xin breathed a sigh of relief, his expression softening somewhat, but he couldn't be completely at ease. He asked again, "Grandmother can persuade Madam, but what about your family?"
Xu Rong glanced at him and suddenly realized that Xiao Xin was really young. He had just fought with Xu Huazhang. Although his clothes were not messed up, Xu Huazhang used too many dirty tricks, targeting his head, face, and throat. His hair was messed up and now there were some stray hairs on his forehead. His expression was relaxed, and the fierceness was gone. He looked a bit childish.
"Young Master Xiao, how old are you this year?"
Xu Rong's curiosity arose casually, so she asked the question offhand. Previously, she had only guessed; seventeen or eighteen, or even nineteen, was possible, but she didn't know the exact number.
Xiao Xin glanced at her, his gaze puzzled, but still answered, "Seventeen." Then he said, "Miss Xu, let's get down to business."
Xu Rong nodded and said, "Okay, let's get down to business."
She clicked her tongue inwardly. She really was a minor, a year younger than her own body. It was a good thing she didn't succeed, otherwise how could she have made a move?
Her composure was impeccable: "You don't need to worry about my family. As long as Madam Xiao comes to return it, my mother will definitely approve it."
Xiao Xin knew this, but he needed her to give him a definite answer so that they could part ways and go their separate ways.
He said, "Miss Xu, after today, we need not see each other again."
Xu Rong smiled and nodded: "Yes."
That was exactly what she was planning, which is why she followed him under some pretext and made things clear to Xiao Xin beforehand. After tomorrow, they would be strangers, and the things they had done together would naturally be buried in the past.
"My aunt is back. Please give her to me."
Bai Fu spoke from the doorway.
Mrs. Wei stepped aside and said, "No need. It was just taken out of the pot. I'm afraid it will burn you."
She brought in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl herself, which was indeed steaming hot. It was a large bowl of plain noodles, garnished only with a few chopped scallions, but the broth was golden yellow and fragrant.
Ms. Wei smiled, looking very happy: "There are two old hens simmering in the kitchen. I asked them for two spoonfuls of chicken soup. Young lady, please have a taste."
Xu Rong tasted it and found it delicious. With chicken soup as a base, the flavor was bound to be good. However, after only a few bites, a message came in from outside that the carriage from the Marquis of Ji'an's residence had arrived to pick her up.
Xu Rong said, "Tell him to wait outside for a while. I'll leave after I finish eating."
She buried her head and continued eating her noodles, finishing the entire large bowl of soup noodles.
When she finally stood up to say goodbye, she moved slowly—she was a little too full.
Bai Fu knew her appetite, and after leaving the house, she whispered, "If you can't eat, just say so, or I'll eat for you."
Xu Rong said, "That bowl of noodles was made by Aunt Wei."
"What?" Bai Fu was surprised, then suddenly realized, "No wonder you said you asked someone for two spoonfuls of chicken soup—I thought that sounded strange too, but I didn't think as deeply as you did."
The two walked to the outside of the mansion. By then, the sun had already set. Xu Rong boarded the carriage in the twilight, sat down, patted his lower belly, and said, "So, only I ate it all."
Food prepared by elders should naturally be eaten completely. It would be impolite to eat a few bites and leave it behind or give it to servants. Bai Fu understood this principle. She was just puzzled: "What's going on in this mansion? If a concubine wants a bowl of soup noodles, she has to run errands and cook it herself. I've heard that there was a concubine in the Xiao family who was particularly favored. It seems that the second young master Xiao's concubine is not favored, but she shouldn't have to live like this, right?"
That's so tragic.
She does everything herself, and this favored maid even has two younger maids helping her out.
With nothing to do on the train, Xu Rong casually asked, "Which concubine was the most favored?"
"It seems her surname is Ruan," Bai Fu said uncertainly. "I heard she was originally the daughter of an official family, but her family fell into trouble, so Lord Xiao took her in. Madam Xiao didn't agree at first, which alarmed the Duke of Ying's mansion. Old Madam Zhang personally intervened to restrain her son-in-law, and the matter was about to fall through. But Madam Xiao just made a mistake. I don't know if it was because the steward didn't manage things well or what, but after all the commotion, they still let Aunt Ruan into the family."
Bai Fu took a breath and continued, "But the Duke of Ying's mansion is not easy to bully. Although Aunt Ruan has entered the family, she can only be proud inside the mansion and rarely shows her face outside. So even those of us who are close to the Xiao family don't know much. If you want to know, I'll try to find out tomorrow."
Xu Rong waved his hand: "No need for that. Tomorrow it will have nothing to do with them. Why should we meddle in their family affairs?"
Bai Fu laughed: "That's right. Whether his family is good or bad, no matter how powerful Madam Xiao is, she can't bully you, Miss."
**
The Changxing Marquis's Residence.
As she cleared the dishes, Madam Wei exclaimed, "This young lady has quite the appetite; none of the other young ladies in the manor can finish a bowl like this."
Xiao Xin was about to leave, but he couldn't help himself and turned back to say, "She can't eat, she's forcing herself to eat."
Mrs. Wei exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? Won't that hurt your health?"
Xiao Xin replied irritably, "If it weren't for the noodles you made yourself, Aunt, she wouldn't have to eat so much."
"..." Mrs. Wei finally understood, but she lowered her head to wipe the table, pretending not to understand.
Xiao Xin had already turned around and then took two big strides to rush over: "What's going on with the people in the kitchen? Where are all the people in this courtyard? Since the concubine is useless anyway, why not just send her back!"
Madam Wei said softly, "Second Brother, don't worry. I'm fine on my own. Whether they serve me or not is not a big deal. Don't keep saying you want to kick them out; it'll offend people."
Xiao Xin was so angry that he gasped for breath and stood there speechless.
“You child, why do you still hold grudges against them even now that you’re all grown up?” Madam Wei sighed. “I’ve always told you that as long as you are safe and sound, I don’t ask for anything else.”
Xiao Xin sneered: "Peace and safety for me? To be trampled underfoot my whole life, to have everything others don't want thrown to me, is this what you call peace and safety for my aunt?"
Madam Wei's face darkened, and after a while she whispered, "Second Brother, don't say that about the girl. It wasn't her choice."
Xiao Xin was silent for a moment, then turned his face away: "I wasn't talking about her. I was talking about the people in this manor."
Madam Wei lowered her head and started wiping the table again, saying, "It's all my fault for being useless and dragging you down with me."
Xiao Xin immediately became agitated: "That's not what I meant!"
He wanted to say something, but felt he couldn't really connect with Mrs. Wei, so he pursed his lips tightly, put on a stern face, and turned to leave.
Worried, Madam Wei put down the cloth and chased after him, calling out, "Second Brother, your aunt is perfectly fine here. Don't go to Madam and tell her about kicking her out!"
Xiao Xin quickened his pace and flew out of the courtyard gate.
Helpless, Madam Wei stopped. Leaning against the door, she gazed at the desolate twilight in the courtyard, and a different emotion gradually surfaced in her watery eyes.
If Xu Rong could see this, she would realize that at this time she was indeed a woman over thirty.
**
The main courtyard of the Marquis of Changxing's residence at roughly the same time.
Even if Xiao Xin were to barge in and demand that they be driven away, he would not be able to see Madam Xiao.
Because Madam Zhang is still here; she hasn't left yet.
Madam Xiao, who had completely outmaneuvered Madam Xu, was leaning against the headboard, sobbing intermittently.
There was a bright red, slightly swollen handprint on the left side of her face.
That was when Old Madam Zhang came in. She had just sent all the servants away and before Madam Xiao could say a word, she was slapped and scolded by Old Madam Zhang.
"What a mess you've made!"
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