"Your elder brother is here to see you?" Xiao Xin asked, throwing the question at you.
Xu Rong tacitly agreed, then asked him in return, "Did you come with Xiao Lun?"
“He didn’t complete the engagement ceremony and went home halfway there, leaving the house in chaos—” Xiao Xin explained hastily. “I saw him go out alone again, and he seemed off, so I followed him.”
Xu Rong nodded. It seemed that Xiao Lun had at least one piece of truth to him: he hadn't actually implicated Xu Huazhang.
Xiao Xin didn't give her a chance to think further and asked, "Madam hasn't informed me of the cancellation of the engagement yet, and Grandmother's intervention failed, didn't it?"
Xu Rong admitted, "Yes."
There's no need to take any chances anymore; Shawn's performance is proof enough.
Furthermore, she knew where she had failed, and what was wrong with the whole thing. Did she only realize this today? No.
She had a vague feeling about it all along, but she didn't think about it too deeply. Closing her eyes and ears, sending Bai Quan was her only action—would she really trust someone she had only met once and easily hand over her valuables? It was half gambling and half planning, just to get rid of this mess and have another way to escape as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Xiao Xin nodded: "I understand. Miss Xu, since your method doesn't work, then let's do it my way."
Xu Rong had just swallowed a sigh when he heard this and suddenly looked up: "Your method?"
She understood as soon as she said it: what could Xiao Xin do but leave?
While a swift and decisive approach may seem quick, it can also be painful.
"Calm down."
To be honest, Xu Rong also wanted to go back and collect everything she could before leaving, but with a hot-tempered young man standing in front of her who was even more radical than her and could explode at the slightest provocation, she could only regain her composure and persuade him, "It's easy for you to leave, but I've seen your mother. She probably won't survive without the Changxing Marquis's mansion."
That little white flower, even a gust of wind or rain could break it.
Xiao Xin replied, "I've discussed it with my aunt, and she's willing to come with me. I'll take care of her from now on."
Xu Rong was surprised—beneath Wei's gentle appearance, there was such courage?
Xiao Xin paused for a moment, then said, "That's enough, Miss Xu. You don't need to worry anymore."
He turned and walked away decisively. Xu Rong didn't have time to think and quickly called out to him, "Wait a minute!"
Xiao Xin frowned and turned around.
Xu Rong's mind raced, but after a while, she still couldn't think of what to say. She couldn't very well say that she might still need Xiao Xin's help, so he couldn't leave, could she?
Xiao Xin had severed most of his family ties, so why would he bother with her?
"Give me some time," she could only say hastily, "Let me think of another way."
Xiao Xin remained silent for a moment, then, under Xu Rong's hopeful gaze, he said, "Two days."
So little? Xu Rong's eyes widened: "This is far from enough, it needs to last at least five days."
Xiao Xin remained unmoved, his expression cold and resolute: "Two days. It's inconvenient for me to keep coming here to look for you. Two days from now, I'll be waiting for you at Lexing Teahouse on South Street. If you can't come up with a solution, then there's no need to say anything more."
**
Xu Rong turned back dejectedly.
Madam Xu and Xu Huazhang both came over to ask questions, but Xu Rong didn't have time to pay attention to them. He dismissed them with a few words and went back to his room to sit quietly.
She didn't sit on the kang (a heated brick bed) under the well-lit window, but instead sat in front of the dressing table.
The polished bronze mirror reflected a beautiful face, so young and full of hope.
But Xu Rong knew that the true owner of this face was no longer there.
At the foot of that hillside she had never seen before, "she" left suddenly, confusedly, and silently.
Now there's one more thing: suspicious.
A person of Madam Zhang's status and temperament wouldn't easily go back on her word. If something that shouldn't have happened has happened, then there must be a reason for it.
Xu Rong stared at the bronze mirror, his expression calm in the reflection.
In fact, if she hadn't been too lazy to bother with anything, she would have noticed Madam Xiao's unusual behavior much earlier. Even if Madam Xu's tearful complaints caused the Xiao family to lose face, it was unreasonable for Madam Xiao to drag her younger brother into the mess. Not to mention that she insisted on going against her mother's wishes after the incident. Her anger was disproportionate.
Why is Madam Xiao so persistent?
What exactly happened on that hillside?
What role did Xiao Lun—and perhaps Chang Er Guniang—play in "her" death?
"Bai Fu, tell someone to prepare the carriage."
**
Xu Rong went to the Duke of Ying's mansion under the pretext of thanking Madam Zhang for sending a doctor.
Since Madam Zhang wouldn't offer an explanation, she simply came to ask for it.
Her request for an audience did not go smoothly—not that Madam Zhang was unwilling to see her, but rather that a guest had arrived before her.
The maid who led her to the waiting room was very polite and did not hide anything, telling her: "The old lady is talking to the eldest young lady. Please have a cup of tea here and wait a moment."
Xu Rong raised an eyebrow and agreed, not entirely unexpectedly. It was perfectly normal for Madam Xiao to come to complain or seek advice from her mother since the engagement hadn't been finalized.
She had been waiting for a rather long time, more than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. At one point, she seemed to hear faint sounds of arguing. However, her room was at least two or three walls away from Madam Zhang's room, so she couldn't be sure if the sounds were real.
As the warm tea in her hand gradually cooled, she finally saw a group of people descending the steps from the main house through the window. The noblewoman in the middle of the group had her head slightly lowered. Even though it was only her back, Xu Rong could guess that it was Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao left with slightly quick and heavy steps, looking as if she was in a bad mood and a little angry.
Was it because her son's marriage was not going well, or because she had failed to get what she wanted from Madam Zhang, or because she had been scolded?
Not long after, Xu Rong learned the answer.
A maidservant came to ask her to get up and led her straight into Madam Zhang's bedroom.
Madam Zhang is ill, and quite seriously so. In just a few days, she seems to have aged considerably.
Therefore, she could only see Xu Rong in the bedroom.
For a junior like Xu Rong, this was not a slight, but rather an honor and a sign of closeness.
Xu Rong greeted her and took her seat. She had been waiting for quite some time, but she was in no hurry to get to the point. The fact that Old Madam Zhang was willing to see her despite her illness, and did not make any excuse to turn her away, already showed her sincerity.
Therefore, Xu Rong did not act like a debt collector—although she actually was.
Madam Zhang leaned against the headboard, gazing at her with admiration: "Good girl, it's a pity for Lun'er. If I had a grandson of suitable age, I would be willing to hire you as my granddaughter-in-law."
The smile on Xu Rong's lips faded—"Listen to what you're saying, what does that mean?"
"Madam, you flatter me. My connection with Prince Xiao is shallow, as you know. I am not worthy of such praise."
Not only did they know, but they also said it themselves. Even if something unexpected happens, it shouldn't be heading in this direction.
"I'm not joking." Old Madam Zhang shook her head. "I haven't seen such a clever girl as you in years. When I was your age, I was probably a long way behind."
This was a very rare comment, and even the head maid standing by the tent cast a slightly surprised glance at her, but it had no effect on Xu Rong, because she was not actually that tender and fresh. She was just waiting soberly for Old Madam Zhang to continue.
"What a pity—" Old Madam Zhang sighed, "Only that brat Lun'er is left."
This is making it clear.
Xu Rong's smile vanished completely, and she said, "Madam, are you going to break the contract?"
Few people would speak to Madam Zhang in such a direct and uncompromising tone. The head maid standing by the tent couldn't help but step forward, but Madam Zhang waved her hand and said, "This is none of your business."
The eldest girl patiently retreated.
“No, that doesn’t count.” Madam Zhang then looked at Xu Rong and shook her head. “It’s just correcting past mistakes.”
Why stir up trouble? Dissolve her absurd engagement with Xiao Xin.
What's the point of talking about the opposite? It allows her to rekindle her relationship with Xiao Lun.
Is it a breach of contract? If Madam Zhang says no, then it truly is not.
Strangely, Xu Rong felt no anger, only a sense of emptiness. In this emptiness, she wondered: Did Old Madam Zhang really know what doing this meant?
She looked into the old woman's aged eyes, which were filled with control, and asked softly, "Has Madam Xiao agreed this time?"
For a moment, Madam Zhang's eyes were sharp, but then softened and became bitter: "She wanted to disagree—but man proposes, God disposes. The fact that she and the Chang family could not achieve their goal today shows that this is the will of Heaven, so she should not go against it."
Xu Rong understood: she hadn't misheard; the mother and daughter had indeed had a major argument before.
After catching her breath, Madam Zhang continued, "Rong'er, if you hadn't come today, I would have had someone invite you tomorrow. What a coincidence that you came at such a convenient time."
She used the word "skillful" twice, her tone full of meaning. Xu Rong realized what she meant after a moment and almost burst out laughing. It seems that bloodline cannot be faked. This old lady's ability to fill in the blanks is no less than Xiao Lun's, and even better.
Xiao Lun at least recognized Xu Huazhang before thinking of her, while Old Madam Zhang's accusations were completely unfounded.
“Madam,” she said sincerely, “it was not meant for me to be with Prince Xiao, and it is not fate that we should force it. In my opinion, we should not delay each other.”
She didn't argue that the trouble had nothing to do with her. Since Xiao Lun knew it was Xu Huazhang, the Zhang family would find out if they really wanted to. There was no need to waste words on things that couldn't be explained. She just said the harshest thing about distancing herself from Xiao Lun. As long as Old Madam Zhang wasn't stupid, she wouldn't mistake her for playing hard to get.
Of course, Madam Zhang was not stupid. A look of surprise flashed across her eyes, but it quickly turned into determination—whether Xu Rong still had feelings for her or whether the Xu family had sent someone to take action were now trivial matters.
She's made up her mind, and she won't change it.
"There are some unforeseen circumstances involved," Madam Zhang said, nodding as she changed the subject, "but things have come to this point, whether by fate or human intervention, it's destiny. Rong'er, don't you think so?"
Before Xu Rong could answer, she continued, "After all that trouble before, I know you must have felt uneasy. But as the saying goes, good things often come with difficulties. You children are still immature, and it's inevitable that you'll make a fool of yourself or cause trouble. Don't take it to heart. From now on, come to my place often, and I guarantee that no one in the mansion will dare to bully you."
This is a promise to support her after marriage, ensuring that neither Madam Xiao nor Xiao Lun can cause her any trouble.
Xu Rong remained silent for a moment.
Madam Zhang smiled and said, "Logically, you should have said these things to your mother, but she's too muddle-headed and might be delaying you. Rong'er, don't worry. If you can't make up your mind, go back and think about it first."
**
Xu Rong took his leave and went back.
Madam Zhang was right in her last sentence; she was indeed a little undecided.
She was unsure whether to run away.
The more she set things up, the more troublesome it became, and the dowry no longer appealed to her. After meeting with Old Madam Zhang, she was more inclined to follow Xiao Xin's approach: run away and be done with it.
But estates measured in qing (a unit of area) and cash in wan (a unit of currency) –
And justice and understanding for a girl who died before the age of eighteen, unmarried, and in this era could even be described as "prematurely dying."
Leaving means abandoning all of this.
To stay is to accept everything.
There's no such thing as a sugarcane that's sweet at both ends; rights and obligations are always equal. This is the law of the world, and it doesn't change according to individual will.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Xu Rong remained undecided.
The appointed day had arrived, and no matter what, she had to go and give Xiao Xin an explanation first.
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