Madam Xu was completely flustered: "Someone must have found out! What should we do? Zhang'er, didn't you say you were covering your face?"
Xu Huazhang said innocently, "Yes, Mother, I didn't lie."
"Then why would they come looking for me?" Madam Xu stood up, then sat down again. "What should I say to Xiao Lun?"
Xu Huazhang wasn't afraid. He felt that he had already spent time in prison and that no hardship in the world could frighten his extraordinary character. "Say what you have to say. I'll go out and see him. Humph, I didn't deal with him seriously, yet he still dared to come to my door. He first betrayed my sister and then framed me. It's time to settle the score with him."
Madam Xu was so frightened that she rushed over and pinned him down: "You better calm down! I'm going to see him. Since you haven't made him see your true colors, we'll just deny it to the death—"
"This isn't about covering my face or not." Xu Rong slowly stood up, glancing at the two people beside her. "If I walk down the street and my mother sees me from behind, wouldn't she recognize me?"
Recognizing acquaintances isn't just about a face; clothing, gestures, and all sorts of details are clues.
Xu Rong concluded, "I'll go see him."
Madam Xu and Xu Huazhang, who had been stunned, came to their senses at the same time: "No!"
“Why not?” Xu Rong said bluntly, turning to Madam Xu first, “I will talk to her. The worst outcome probably won’t be worse than what you do, Mother.”
Madam Xu: "..."
He was speechless with shame.
Xu Huazhang interrupted, "Then I—"
"It's not time to use you, so stay put."
Xu Huazhang: "Oh."
Seeing Xu Rong walk away, he craned his neck and said to her back, "Sister, when you need me, be sure to have someone call me!"
Xu Rong waved at him without turning his head.
Xu Huazhang obediently shrank back.
Madam Xu took a couple of steps, then realized something was amiss and turned back: "Zhang'er, why don't you listen to me when I talk to you now, but you always agree with your sister?"
"Where have I disobeyed Mother?" Xu Huazhang denied it at first, then glanced at Madam Xu before grumbling, "Mother always treats me like a child, but my sister is different."
Madam Xu felt a pang of sadness: "How is it different?"
“It’s just different,” Xu Huazhang insisted, though he couldn’t really articulate the difference. So he cleverly countered, “Mother, don’t criticize me. Don’t you listen to my sister too?”
"nonsense."
Madam Xu's sense of respect for elders was touched, and she immediately retorted.
But thinking of Xu Rong who had left, Madam Xu was overwhelmed by guilt and her own incompetence, and she couldn't come up with a solution for how to discipline her daughter now.
She had no choice but to sit down and, like Xu Huazhang, eagerly look out the door, waiting for Xu Rong to bring back the results of the negotiations.
**
Outside the residence of the Marquis of Ji'an.
The autumn wind swirled and blew away two fallen leaves.
Since transmigrating, Xu Rong has met her ex-fiancé for the first time, who is also the culprit who put her in her current troubled situation.
Somewhat to her surprise, the young man had a square face and handsome features, dressed in auspicious attire—he must have rushed over without having time to change his clothes after the trouble. He looked like a dignified official, an excellent candidate to be her son-in-law.
He doesn't resemble Xiao Xin much in appearance or temperament. Xu Rong has learned more in the past few days and knows that Xiao Lun is only nineteen years old this year, just two years older than Xiao Xin, but he already has the demeanor of an adult and is very different from Xiao Xin, who is still an impatient underage boy who rolls his eyes at people to their faces.
For example, at this moment, Xiao Lun's pupils contracted slightly, clearly not expecting it to be her who came out, but he quickly calmed down and cupped his hands to Xu Rong: "Sister Xu, I am here to see Aunt Xu, or if the young marquis is here, please ask him to come out so I can say a few words to him."
After Xu Rong finished looking him over, she said, "My mother and brother are busy right now. You can tell me what you want to say."
Xiao Lun paused for a moment: "The young marquis is back?"
Xu Rong nodded: "I'm back."
Xiao Lun paused again: "Then do you know what the young marquis just did?"
Xu Rong said, "I know."
She made no attempt to hide or deny it. This time, Xiao Lun's pause wasn't a moment of thought, but a genuine moment of stunned silence. Then, as if a ray of inspiration had struck him, he said, "Did you send the young marquis?"
It is a question, but the tone is certain, indicating that a conclusion has already been reached.
Xu Rong smiled and asked in return, "Young Master Xiao, are you questioning me?"
Xiao Lun quickly denied it: "That's not what I meant."
Xu Rong nodded: "Then what do you mean by falsely accusing me right off the bat?"
She pressed him with each question, yet she spoke with composure, without a trace of arrogance. Xiao Lun said, "—Young Marquis caused trouble in the street and ruined my engagement."
Xu Rong still didn't shy away from the question: "Brother Zhang told you when he got home. He's young and impulsive, so I apologize on his behalf. I'll find you another pair of geese to replace the ones that ran away."
She was very reasonable, and Xiao Lun couldn't say anything more, but he couldn't help but say, "Sister Xu, you grew up in a secluded room and don't understand the habits of wild animals like geese. They migrate south and north every year and don't stay here often. Now that winter is approaching, it's very difficult to see geese in the capital."
It's even harder to catch them.
Xu Rong had all the knowledge from elementary school; what didn't she understand? She smiled and said, "If I can't catch it in one day, I'll try in two. If I can't catch it in two days, I'll try in three. Don't worry, Prince Xiao, I will definitely make it up to you."
She slowly finished her sentence, "At worst, the geese will come back next spring, won't they?"
"..."
Xiao Lun took a deep breath and looked at her.
For some reason, he hadn't actually made eye contact with Xu Rong. But when he did, he was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't seen Xu Rong since the incident. It had only been a little over a month, but perhaps because so much had happened in between, he felt as if it were a lifetime ago.
It's just—somewhat unfamiliar.
The girl smiled radiantly. This flower was not the one he used to see in a vase, but one he had seen while riding through the streets, planted on someone's wall. He might have caught a glimpse of it, or he might have never seen it before.
...
Xiao Lun regained his composure; he shouldn't be surprised.
Of course she will change; anyone who goes through these things will change.
Xiao Lun composed himself and looked away: "Sister Xu, I know I have wronged you in some ways. I understand that you hate and resent me, but it's impossible for us to be together anymore. Why do you have to do this again?"
Xu Rong remained silent.
This scumbag has a pretty good opinion of himself. She's been obsessed with making money for years and is weak when it comes to relationships. She'll have to think carefully before she can retort.
Xiao Lun had no idea what she was thinking. He continued, "You may not listen, but I'm sincerely advising you. Your marriage to your second brother is coming soon. If you're still clinging to the past, it might not be good for you. Your second brother—" He paused, as if to remind you, "You've met him yourself. He's always been a bit impatient, and his temper is different from others."
Xu Rong looked up. She had captured the information she wanted.
really.
The anxiety that had been swirling in her mind for two days finally subsided and settled into reality.
If Madam Zhang had already persuaded Madam Xiao, Xiao Lun couldn't possibly be unaware of it, and he couldn't possibly have spoken to her about it.
She lowered her eyelashes, making them completely cover her eyes: "Young Master Xiao, you misunderstand. I didn't ask Brother Zhang to do anything. Your mother is very capable, and the Xu family has already experienced that. I only have one younger brother, and I won't put him in danger just to spite him."
Her explanation was humble, as if she wanted to settle things peacefully. Xiao Lun finally found a sense of familiarity in her—the Xu Rong of the past certainly had some of the arrogance unique to noble ladies, but what young girl could put on airs in front of her handsome sweetheart? The Xu Rong he met was always so gentle and compliant.
She would occasionally glance at him boldly, her eyes filled with admiration. If their eyes met, she would transform into a shy, innocent blush, like a fawn, with a hint of reproach, as if she were complaining about why he had deliberately captured her...
Xu Rong could no longer pretend and lifted her eyelids again.
Her eyes were cool and clear, like a mountain spring in late autumn, silently flowing through his heart and lungs, dissecting and examining everything inside.
Xiao Lun jolted awake and suddenly came to his senses.
“You—” he said, concealing his slight embarrassment, “If you say so, then I will believe you.”
“Sister Xu,” he said, regaining his composure, “I didn’t tell Mother about what happened today; she didn’t know it was the young marquis.”
Xu Rong chuckled: "Oh? Thank you."
When the heirs are raised differently, they exploit their rivals to the bone, yet they still plan to do them a favor.
Her face, untouched by the hardships of life, always appeared delicate and innocent when she smiled, regardless of her inner thoughts. Her eyes narrowed slightly, concealing the coldness of her sarcasm. Xiao Lun, oblivious to anything amiss, continued to extend a helping hand: "It's nothing. But Sister Xu, you should also advise the young marquis not to do such things again. If I can't control it next time, and it reaches the elders' ears, it will be very detrimental to him, and secondly, it will be taken out on you, which will also be extremely troublesome for you."
His voice lowered, sounding extremely sincere, “Sister Xu, I know I’ve wronged you—actually, some things were decided by our elders, not by my own will. I know it’s too late to say this, but if you ever encounter difficulties in the future, come to me, and I’ll be willing to help you.”
Xu Rong listened and nodded: "No need for later, I'm in trouble right now, will you help me?"
Xiao Lun hesitated: "..."
He was indeed shrewd. Xu Rong knew he had guessed it, but she didn't care and still said, "I don't want to marry Xiao Xin. Since you say it's not your intention, then help me cancel this marriage. Our grudges will be over from now on. I will never mention it again and wish you and Miss Chang a harmonious and happy marriage. How about it?"
Xiao Lun did not answer immediately. After a while, he said, "Sister Xu, it's not that I don't want to help you, but as I said, this is a decision made by our elders. I really can't do anything about it."
Since there's nothing we can do, there's nothing more to say.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Lun bowed and took his leave.
He turned and left, and Xu Rong stood there watching him go.
Judging from this picture alone, it's like all ex-lovers who have broken up; their love has ended and they've gone their separate ways.
Xu Rong's gaze was cold.
She prefers it to be this simple.
She closed her eyes briefly—wearily—then opened them again, pausing.
A man with a cold, aggressive gait appeared in her line of sight.
Coincidentally, it shares the same surname as the one who just left.
She wasn't the only one who noticed Xiao Xin. At the gate of the Marquis's mansion, the weather had turned cold, and there were usually only two or three servants wandering around outside greeting guests. However, in the short time she was talking with Xiao Lun, seven or eight servants gathered around, all craning their necks to look and offering their comments.
"This young lady is amazing; she knows how to do both her older and younger brothers."
"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let the young lady hear you."
"Hehe, amazing..."
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