Chapter 47 Changes
At two quarters past three in the afternoon, a drizzle began to fall from the sky which had been gloomy for two days, shrouding Bianjing in fog.
Xie Mansion, Shi'an Hall.
"It's all your fault that Rong'er has to endure this!" Old Madam Xie was heartbroken and angrily scolded her eldest son who was sitting beside her: "What should we do now? The Yongyi Marquis's Mansion is a den of cannibalism!"
"Mother, please calm down, calm down." Xie Jing glanced at Xie Rongying, who was sitting silently by the window, and said, "Now that things have come to this, the best solution is a peaceful divorce."
Old Lady Xie hit Xie Jing a few more times, saying harshly, "It's easy for you to say that. If we divorce, who in Bianjing won't say a word or two about Rong'er? You've hurt Rong'er so badly. If Yan Shi knew about this, she would come back from the nunnery and start another bloody storm with you!"
"Son knows he was wrong, mother, please calm down." Xie Jing was really worried about the old lady's health, and immediately said to Xie Rongying, "Rongying, what are you thinking?"
During the last conversation between father and daughter, Xie Jing noticed Xie Rongying's thoughts.
He also thought about it for a long time. Although what his daughter said made sense, he still didn't want her to take risks.
I think divorce is the best option.
Mrs. Xie noticed that Xie Rongying's eyes were fixed on the window, and she seemed not to have heard Xie Jing's words at all. She nudged Xie Jing and asked in a low voice, "Rong'er, are you reluctant to part with Qin Junyi?"
Xie Jing frowned, thinking about his daughter's determination, and also thinking about the fact that Qin Junyi now had a concubine. How could Xie Rongying be reluctant to part with Qin Junyi?
Old Madam Xie looked at Xie Jing and became more worried. "That's unnecessary. It won't happen. Even if Rong'er divorces, she can still find a good husband. As a father, you should give her some guidance."
"Grandma, I won't divorce." Xie Rongying withdrew her gaze from the drizzle outside the window and said calmly, "If I ask for a divorce just because Qin Junyi married a concubine, the Qin family will definitely label me jealous. My sisters will still have to get married in the future."
"But I can't let the Xie family's daughter be labeled as jealous because of me."
When Mrs. Xie heard this, she glared at Xie Jing fiercely and said, "Rong'er, your sisters are back home in Zhaojun, you don't have to worry..."
"Mother, since Rong'er has made up her mind, there's no point in saying more." Xie Jing interrupted the old lady and looked at Xie Rongying seriously. "Father knows what you're thinking, but the Marquis' Mansion is struggling, so it's better to have someone useful around you."
"I'll have someone take care of the farm and the shop under your name."
Xie Rongying felt a moment of melancholy listening to her father's words, thinking that the people who followed her in her previous life were all people around her grandmother and father, and that all the efforts made by the Xie family for her in her previous life had been squeezed dry by the Qin family. She lowered her eyes to hide the emotions in her eyes.
"What's going on with the guard beside you?" Xie Jing asked again.
Xie Rongying raised her eyes and said calmly, "I bought it not long ago. It's quite good."
The reason why she could recognize Gu Xun at a glance on the street was because her memory of Gu Xun in her previous life was too profound.
In his previous life, after Qin Junyi's younger brother Qin Junchen took over the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, he did many shameful things in secret in order to eliminate the enemies of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion. Among them, Qin Junchen's most trusted confidant was Gu Xun.
Qin Junchen's wife told us that the reason why Gu Xun was so devoted to Qin Junchen was because Qin Junchen had done him a favor.
Later, when the Yongyi Marquis Mansion was at its peak, Xie Rongying met Gu Xun several times, especially one time when she saw Gu Xun killing the family of an official with her own eyes. Coupled with the scar on Gu Xun's face, she remembered that scene very vividly.
So when she met Gu Xun on the street, her first thought was that such a ruthless person must be used by her.
"It's good to have good skills, but after all, she's not a family child, so I'm worried about her." Old Mrs. Xie saw that her granddaughter came back this time with a lot of worries, and she was worried: "Grandma knows you're feeling bad, so let Dongxue stay with you. Although Yunniang and Cuizhi have always been by your side, and you're used to them, they have too little experience and don't think things through."
"Grandma," Xie Rongying just opened her mouth.
Xie Jing interrupted again: "Since you don't want to divorce, you need to have someone available by your side. Listen to your grandmother and take Dongxue and everyone your mother left for you to the Qin family."
Xie Rongying's eyebrows moved slightly, and she said, "Yes, I will take them to the Qin family."
"I brought your dowry back. Jiang must be resentful, but she can only swallow her anger this time and won't touch you easily. If anything happens to you at this critical moment, she knows that my Xie family will not let her go!" Xie Jing's expression darkened. "Don't worry. Let Cuizhi tell me if there is anything."
Xie Rongying felt bitter in her heart. She suppressed the tears in her eyes and said, "Dad, I understand. It's my fault for making you and grandma worry."
Maybe it was because she had been lonely all her life and had to deal with all the difficult things on her own in her previous life. If she had a chance to start over again, her only thought was not to bring trouble to the Xie family.
But she forgot that none of her relatives could bear to see her suffer any injustice.
Even if she broke up with the Qin family, in the eyes of her relatives, it was not a burden, but only heartache.
Just when the hall was quiet, a voice came from outside: "Old Madam, Master, the son-in-law is here to take the eldest daughter back to the Marquis' Mansion."
When Mrs. Xie and Xie Jing heard this, both mother and son's faces darkened.
Qin Junyi walked in under the guidance of Tai Mama. He glanced around the main hall and glanced at Xie Rongying before bowing to the main seat.
"Junyi greets his father-in-law and grandmother."
Mrs. Xie didn't want to be nice to Qin Junyi, but thinking that Xie Rongying would follow Qin Junyi back to the Qin family, she swallowed the anger in her heart and said, "Isn't this the son-in-law who just married a concubine? How can you have time to come to my Xie family when you are so newlywed?"
Qin Junyi's expression changed slightly, and she said, "Grandma, your grandson-in-law is here to ask Rongying to go back."
"Really?" Old Madam Xie snorted coldly, "Well, that really troubles you, son-in-law, to even ask you to make this trip in person."
Qin Junyi looked a little embarrassed. He remembered that when he went back home, he made up an excuse not to go. Xie Rongying said that she would make up a reason to fool the Xie family. Now that Old Lady Xie was not giving him a way out, Xie Rongying just stood there quietly.
"Grandmother, I've let Rongying down, but what man would only stay with one woman?" Qin Junyi glanced at Xie Jing as he said this, and then added, "Now that Shangguan has had a miscarriage, and Rongying has gotten rid of her anger, I still hope that Rongying and Shangguan can live in peace in the future."
"Are you done?" Xie Jing stared at Qin Junyi without blinking.
Qin Junyi frowned. It was the first time he saw Xie Jing so indifferent.
"Rongying, what do you think?" Xie Jing didn't expect Qin Junyi to come and pick up Xie Rongying back to the Qin family so soon.
Xie Rongying stood up and said, "Father, it's time for me to go back."
Xie Jing frowned.
Mrs. Xie sighed and said, "Since Rongying wants to go back, you go and make arrangements to send Rongying back."
"Grandma, there's no need for my father-in-law to send me off. I'll take Rongying back." Qin Junyi said.
Xie Jing sneered, thinking that Qin Junyi had always been very close to the prince, and it was because of the open and secret struggles between the prince and the King of Wei in the court that gave Xie Yi the opportunity to lead the army into battle.
Now, it is clear that the Xie family and the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion are related by marriage, but the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion seems to treat the Xie family as just a pawn to be used.
Nor did he really treat his daughter as the daughter-in-law of the Qin family.
In that case, why should he care about anything else?
Just as Xie Rongying said, one cannot bear the grievances and exploitation in vain. Only by destroying the Yongyi Marquis Mansion can one relieve the hatred in his heart.
"Then Rongying, I'll trouble you." Xie Jing said with a cold brow.
Qin Junyi noticed the Xie family's attitude towards him, but he didn't care. He said with a cupped hand, "Then I'll take Rongying back first."
Xie Rongying bowed towards the mother and son sitting in the main seat: "Grandma, Dad, I'll leave first."
Old Mrs. Xie looked at Dongxue who was standing aside and said, "Follow the young lady and take good care of her."
"Yes, ma'am."
——
After more than a month of marriage, Xie Rongying and Qin Junyi were not very familiar with each other. Because of Jiang's orders to Qin Junyi at the beginning and the discovery that Xie Rongying was an extremely hypocritical person after getting to know her, Qin Junyi had a great dislike for Xie Rongying.
In addition, because Shangguan Yao lost her child, Qin Junyi hated Xie Rongying even more.
Therefore, after the two got on the same carriage, they were both silent.
Xie Rongying felt it was a bit absurd. In her past and present lives, this was the first time she had ridden in the same carriage with her nominal husband.
That's ridiculous.
"What are you laughing at?" Qin Junyi asked with a serious face. He did not miss the sneer that just crossed Xie Rongying's lips.
Xie Rongying stared at Qin Junyi with a cold brow and eyes: "I laugh, it really makes things difficult for the young marquis. You despise me so much and yet you stoop to take me back."
"Thank you, Rongying," Qin Junyi wanted to say a few more words, but then thought of Jiang's instructions and said, "In a few days, the Empress Dowager will hold a banquet at Yunwu Manor to entertain many women in Bianjing. You are my first wife, so you must go with me."
Xie Rongying's eyes darkened slightly: "The Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet at Yunwu Manor?"
"The Prince of Wei is already an adult, but he is still alone. The Queen Mother has been looking for a princess for him a while ago, but he has never agreed. This banquet is probably to decide who the princess will be." Qin Junyi frowned when he said this, and he glanced at Xie Rongying again.
The dim light in the carriage obscured Xie Rongying's usual stern expression.
She had a stunning appearance, with a small face, fair skin, delicate features, especially her slanted peach blossom eyes, which were charming and graceful. However, her eyes were too shrewd, so Qin Junyi ignored Xie Rongying's appearance every time he looked at them.
But it was different this time, because in the carriage, the light obscured the emotions in Xie Rongying's eyes.
So at this moment in Qin Junyi's eyes, Xie Rongying was gentle and soft.
"It was mother who asked me to come." Qin Junyi's voice softened. "Mother explained everything to me before. She wanted to settle the bad debt with the Marquis' Mansion, so she set her sights on you. Mother also feels guilty, and I hope you don't take it to heart."
Xie Rongying smiled when she heard this, but did not respond to Qin Junyi's words.
"We are family, so we would be grateful to you for helping us. But if you don't want to help, we shouldn't have any intentions of taking your dowry." Qin Junyi's tone became increasingly calm. "Mother only wants you to be the mistress of the Marquis' Mansion in the future. She wants you to be like her and always consider the Marquis' Mansion for what it's best for you."
"In fact, all of my mother's dowry was used to fill the Marquis's bad debts."
Xie Rongying chuckled, "Then it seems that the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion has long been a rotten waste. Your father is useless, and your mother's dowry is used to fill this hole."
Qin Junyi didn't say anything, but just frowned. He wanted to say that they were all members of the Qin family, so isn't that what should happen?
But when he saw Xie Rongying smiling at him, it was as if something was scratching his chest, and he couldn't say it out loud.
——
There was a drizzle in the courtyard and the path was secluded.
The backyard of the Duke of Ying's mansion has been in a depressing atmosphere recently. After Zhang Ruruo came back from Kaibao Temple, her mother Song was by her side from the initial commotion to the final silence.
Song felt sorry for her daughter, but as she watched Zhang Ruruo become more and more depressed day by day, the hatred in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
Every time Zhang Huai returned home, Song couldn't help but complain to her husband that Jiang Yin shouldn't have died so easily.
But ever since Zhang Ruru got into trouble, the relationship between Zhang Huai and the Song family has become increasingly strained. Later, Zhang Huai even seldom returned home, which made the Song family even more resentful. She couldn't help but complain to her eldest son about Zhang Huai's indifference.
In the side room, after Song had fed Zhang Ruru the medicine, she said, "Ruru, you today..."
Before she could finish her words, the door was pushed open. Song looked towards the door and saw that it was Madam Xue. Her expression changed slightly and she said, "Adu, you're back."
"Sister-in-law." Madam Xue looked at Zhang Ruru, whose eyes were still empty, and said, "Sister-in-law, I want to talk to Ruru alone, is that okay?"
Song nodded: "Ruru has always been close to you, so you should spend more time with her. I'll go see if A'ran is back."
"Okay." Mrs. Xue nodded and watched Song leave.
Only after the room had quieted down did Madam Xue walk towards Zhang Ruru and sit down on the edge of the bed. "Rruru, how about your aunt take you to the Peach Blossom Banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager in a few days?"
Hearing the word "Grand Madam", there was some emotion in Zhang Ruru's eyes.
"I heard that the Queen Mother held this banquet to select a princess for the King of Wei." Mrs. Xue continued.
As expected, Zhang Ruru turned to look at Madam Xue, her eyes beginning to show a hint of excitement. Then, she remembered something and her face turned grim. She began to pound her head, saying excitedly, "I'm no longer worthy of him. I'm no longer worthy of him. I'm no longer worthy of him."
Mrs. Xue looked at Zhang Ruru who was so excited and quickly hugged her in her arms, comforting her with all her strength: "My dear Ruru, you deserve it. You deserve the best man in the world. Auntie will let you marry him."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruru in her arms finally calmed down. With tears on her face, she looked up at Madam Xue and said, "Aunt, do you think he knows about me?"
"He doesn't know." Mrs. Xue smiled and comforted: "He will marry you."
Zhang Ruruo stared at Madam Xue in disbelief.
Madam Xue stroked Zhang Ruru's head, her eyes cold: "Auntie will not let anyone who has hurt you go."
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