Chapter 35: Leaving "I beg the old lady to allow Zhiying to return home to reunite with her family. ...
At the hour of Xu, it was already night.
Xiao Yunqi strode towards the carriage.
Mu Yan bowed and reported, "Master, my cousin left Zuiyue Tower half a quarter of an hour ago."
At this time, Xiao Yunqi was going to Zuiyue Tower to pick her up. He paused when he heard this.
"She left on her own?"
"Yes, my cousin asked the servant at Zuiyue Tower to help hire a carriage."
Xiao Yunqi pondered for a moment.
Seeing this, Mu Yan couldn't help but say, "Master, it's been several hours since the afternoon. My cousin has been waiting alone in Zuiyue Tower, with no one by her side. She's been waiting from daybreak until dusk. It's time to leave and return home."
Mu Yan was already putting it mildly.
In his opinion, today was another emergency. Although Xiao Yunqi had no choice but to do so, this behavior was really unfair to the girl.
Last time at least she had her maid by her side to accompany her, and she was waiting in a familiar place.
This time she was alone, and it was hard to imagine how she felt during this period of waiting.
But it's easy to imagine that a person of Xiao Yunqi's status would never think of telling everyone his whereabouts in detail, as it has always been others who report to him.
He might not even feel the slightest bit of apology for it.
Xiao Yunqi's expression didn't change when he heard this. He nodded slightly and got on the carriage.
"Let's go home."
"……yes."
The carriage drove towards the Xiao Mansion in the night.
The elegant man in the car had a gloomy expression on his face.
He really didn't feel any apology, and it was Xue Zhiying herself who said she wanted to see him again.
He couldn't estimate how long this trip would take, but he had already anticipated it before leaving. If she could wait, she could wait, but if she couldn't wait any longer, she could leave on her own, which was also acceptable.
Moreover, the arrangements this time were much better than last time. In the spacious and comfortable private room, all kinds of food, tea and fruits were available.
But Xiao Yunqi didn't know why he was feeling so depressed at this moment.
Was it because he heard she had been waiting for several hours, or because he heard she gave up and left.
Very contradictory thoughts.
He never used to waver on one thing.
Also, he didn't think it was something he should be very concerned about.
My thoughts never stopped, and the depressed mood made me feel a little depressed and did not dissipate for a long time.
After returning to the Xiao Mansion, Xiao Yunqi dismissed the rest of the people, and only Mu Yan followed him all the way to Yingfeng Courtyard.
When passing the narrow road intersection covered by jungle, Mu Yan subconsciously looked into the narrow road.
Of course it was empty, otherwise I would have heard footsteps coming from inside.
He withdrew his gaze and looked up to see that Xiao Yunqi was not looking away and had no intention of stopping.
He sighed inwardly for a moment, but still couldn't help but boldly ask, "Master, should we send a message to Jingshuiyuan?"
Xiao Yunqi was silent for a while, then said, "Well, go ahead."
Mu Yan did not delay. Naturally, this matter had to be handled by him. He did not follow Xiao Yunqi to Yingfengyuan, but turned at the next intersection.
at the same time.
After Xue Zhiying returned to Jingshuiyuan, her mood was not as low as Mu Yan had imagined.
Of course she was a little disappointed, but not to the point of losing her mind.
Chuntao hadn't seen her for a whole day. When she saw her come back, she excitedly came to her side and chattered, and the little bit of loss disappeared even faster.
Xue Zhiying told Chuntao what she was going to do today.
Chuntao didn't understand what he said, but she also vaguely realized something.
She couldn't help but ask, "Girl, are you planning to do something big?"
Xue Zhiying never told Chuntao that she wanted to leave.
It was not intentional to hide it from her, but with Chuntao's intelligence, it was difficult for her to understand the reason.
But I have to tell her eventually.
Xue Zhiying wanted to take Chuntao away with her.
Chuntao has been with her for many years. From the first time they met when she came to the Xiao Mansion, she timidly called Chuntao "sister". Later, as she grew older, Chuntao was still like a child and became her sister again.
In her heart, Chuntao has long been like a family member. She wants Chuntao to stay with her in the future, and she also wants to continue to accompany Chuntao. However, she has to ask Chuntao's own opinion on this matter. She will wait until all preparations are complete before she solemnly tells her about this matter.
Xue Zhiying asked Chuntao to prepare bath water for her. After tidying herself up a little, she took a bath to wash away her fatigue.
Because he slept from the afternoon until the evening, Xue Zhiying was not sleepy at all at this time.
She and Chuntao sat on the couch and chatted idly.
Mu Yan came at this time.
When Chuntao heard the noise, she immediately went out to take a look.
Xue Zhiying suddenly thought of something, frowned, and pulled the person back.
She really saw Mu Yan waiting in front of the courtyard gate by the window.
She told Chuntao: "If anyone asks, just say I've gone to bed."
Chun Tao was puzzled: "But, isn't the girl still not resting?"
This is always the way to explain things to Chuntao.
Xue Zhiying patiently explained it to her several times, and Chuntao finally walked out of the room, seemingly understanding.
…
Mu Yan knocked on the door of the main house in Yingfengyuan.
"Come in."
Mu Yan slowly opened the door.
When Xiao Yunqi heard the voice, he turned around and saw Mu Yan alone. He frowned slightly.
Mu Yan bowed and reported, "Master, I have brought the news to Jingshuiyuan, but my cousin has already gone to bed."
Xiao Yunqi withdrew his gaze and hummed indifferently.
In fact, no matter how Xue Zhiying explained, Chuntao was not good at lying, and Mu Yan saw through the truth at a glance.
The cousin did not rest, but told the maid in the room to report like this, which meant that she did not want to see the master.
Mu Yan did not convey this meaning in its entirety. He just felt that anyone who encountered such an injustice would not want to see the culprit.
The culprit was now walking towards the table.
He raised his hand slightly, and Mu Yan came forward to pour tea for him.
Mu Yan originally thought that, based on past experience, his master would have to deal with some official business for a while before resting.
But Xiao Yunqi sat at the table without opening the booklet beside him, just sitting there in a relaxed posture.
Mu Yan couldn't guess whether his master was relaxing or thinking about his cousin.
After a long while, Xiao Yunqi slowly drank a sip of hot tea and suddenly asked, "Did her maid say anything unusual about her after she came back?"
Mu Yan was stunned for a moment and did not answer.
Xiao Yunqi looked up.
Mu Yan lowered his head and replied, "No, they just said that my cousin must have been tired, and she lay down to rest not long after she came back."
Xiao Yunqi rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingers and did not speak again.
Mu Yan couldn't help but probe, "Master, this is the second time you've left my cousin alone while she's out. Perhaps she's not just tired, but also feeling lost and sad."
"So, you think I should go and coax her?"
No, you should apologize to your cousin.
Mu Yan didn't dare say this out loud.
"I simply believe that you will be leaving the capital tomorrow, and it will be several days before you return. If today's matter is left unresolved, it may become a barrier in your heart."
What should we do then?
Xiao Yunqi fell silent after hearing this.
He doesn't agree with this.
It was he who asked her if she wanted to go with him first, and then she waited for a long time in the private room. If she had agreed at the beginning, she would not have stayed there waiting to see him before he left.
And he did not break his promise like he did the first time. He planned to pick her up as soon as his official duties were completed.
It was she who refused to go with him and went back home first.
Xiao Yunqi believed that Xue Zhiying was the first to like him. He could admit that he was attracted by her, but that did not mean that he had to rush to please her like Xie Heng did to pursue his sweetheart.
He has even changed his mind because of her. When she proposes to marry him, he will agree to her. How else can he coax her?
Xiao Yunqi raised his hand and drank the tea in the cup, then stood up and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Upon hearing this, Mu Yan sighed silently in his heart.
But after Xiao Yunqi took a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
"Before you leave, tell them about the Second House. You'll be away from Beijing for a long time, so they won't take advantage of this to cause trouble again."
He thought for a moment and ordered, "Send him away directly."
Mu Yan lowered his eyes and responded, "Yes, Master."
I continued to sigh in my heart.
Instead of asking for an apology, he was eager to do other things.
Doesn't that mean you still care about it in your heart?
*
The next day, Xue Zhiying woke up late.
Because Chuntao was not sleepy at all last night, she kept yawning all the time, and both the master and servant went to bed late at night.
Xue Zhiying stood up and looked at the sky. She guessed that the embroidery workshop was about to send someone, so she hurried to the ear room to wake up Chuntao.
Just as the two of them had packed up and were about to go to the side door of the mansion, Xiao Yuanxiang came looking for them.
Xue Zhiying was a little embarrassed for a moment.
It's not that Xiao Yuanxiang couldn't know about the secret meeting with the person delivering fabric to the embroidery workshop, but because Xiao Yuanxiang didn't have the mind of a child like Chuntao, he would definitely make some associations.
She also had not yet told Xiao Yuanxiang about this matter seriously. No one had taken her jokes seriously in the past. Now that she was really about to leave, she had to find a suitable opportunity to tell her seriously.
In the end, on that first day, Xue Zhiying had no choice but to tell Xiao Yuanxiang everything.
After hearing this, Xiao Yuanxiang was silent for a long time.
She was in Xue Zhiying's boudoir, holding the cloth she had just helped her fetch, and murmured, "So, this is what you meant when you said you wanted to go far away."
Xue Zhiying lowered her eyes, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
Until Xiao Yuanxiang suddenly looked up, his eyes firm: "But I still meant what I said about coming to find you."
Xue Zhiying was stunned: "Really?"
Xiao Yuanxiang said seriously, "I believe there will be a chance. I understand you. If I were in the same situation as you, I might also want to leave, but it's just a thought. I definitely can't do it. You are braver than me, and you are so good. You deserve the life you want."
Xue Zhiying's eyes were filled with tears, and she stretched out her arms to hug her: "Yuanxiang, thank you. Having you and Chuntao in the Xiao Mansion is the happiest thing for me."
"Ugh! You're hugging me too tight! Xue Zhiying, stop being so mushy with me!"
But Xue Zhiying didn't listen. She hugged Xiao Yuanxiang tightly for a long time before letting her go.
The two girls in the room had tears in their eyes and were laughing and playing.
They chattered a lot and had many naive fantasies.
A girl's longing is just that simple.
It was something that no one had ever done before, not even Xue Zhiying herself had done before, so all they could think of was the good side.
"Have you figured out how to leave?"
Xue Zhiying shook her head. "It's not time yet. I think one more person in the mansion wouldn't make a difference, and one less person wouldn't make a difference. Once I'm ready, I'll go ask the old lady for permission. Whether I go back home or seek refuge somewhere else, the old lady won't stop me."
She was originally a guest and had no ability to survive on her own, so she had to rely on the Xiao family and be subject to the arrangements of the Xiao family. But if she wanted to leave, she would be useless to the Xiao family, so how could anyone care about her stay or departure?
So she needed to save enough money to ensure that she could survive. After all, whether returning to her hometown or seeking refuge somewhere else, they were just excuses she gave to others. She had nowhere else to go.
This is why Xiao Yuanxiang said she was brave.
Xue Zhiying did not comment on this. She didn't know whether she was brave or wishful thinking. In short, she wanted to try hard for it. If she didn't try, then her future would really be hopeless.
The opportunity to leave might come soon, and she had to seize the opportunity.
In the following days, Feng He was all gone.
Things went so smoothly that even Xue Zhiying herself couldn't believe it.
Three days later, Xiao Yuanxiang got a chance to leave the house, and she happily brought Xue Zhiying with her.
Xue Zhiying went straight to the embroidery workshop and unexpectedly got Yunniang's embroidery, which was favored by a wealthy businessman, who bought it at a high price and gave it to his wife.
Two days later, I heard that the results of the investigation into the case of the second master Xiao from the second house colluding with the King of Lin'an were not optimistic. Xiao Mingyuan was detained, and Xu would be sent to a manor outside the capital to hide. It seemed that Xiao Yichu could no longer stay in the capital.
Although this was of no use to Xue Zhiying, after all, Xu had no time to care about her since the last incident, but it was still quite satisfying to hear about it.
The news was brought by Xiao Yuanxiang.
She held the sewing basket for Xue Zhiying and swung her legs, asking, "So, from now on, Second Aunt won't be able to interfere in your marriage anymore. Have you ever thought about staying here?"
Xue Zhiying shook her head. "I've already made so many preparations, how can I give up? The Second Madam might be the reason I want to leave, but when I really envisioned this, my desires were already different."
I yearn for a life that I have never experienced, and envy myself for becoming a tough and strong woman like Yunniang.
These are things she cannot obtain if she continues to stay in the Xiao Mansion.
She had never thought about these things before, but when she started to think about them, how could she let them go?
She had no one to rely on, so she had no worries.
She never felt a sense of belonging in the Xiao Mansion.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanxiang nodded in agreement.
She was reluctant to leave Xue Zhiying, but she supported her very much.
The words "If you want to meet her in the future, just go find her" were not just casual remarks. Although she didn't know how to achieve it, just like Xue Zhiying was able to work hard for such a bold and brave thing, she would also find a way to do it in the future.
Let’s put aside these seemingly heavy topics.
Xiao Yuanxiang leaned forward and said in a brisk tone, "There's another important matter."
"What's up?"
"I was originally feeling sorry for you because you were leaving and my eldest brother's feelings for you were ending before they even began. Unexpectedly, I was wrong. My eldest brother wasn't secretly in love with you. He had someone else by his side."
Xue Zhiying was stunned, and his expression was briefly dazed.
It seems that this is the case again.
Since Xiao Yunqi left Beijing, she had been busy embroidering, saving money, and chatting with Xiao Yuanxiang, and she had completely forgotten about this man.
Only when Xiao Yuanxiang mentioned him did she remember him again.
Xue Zhiying blinked: "What do you mean someone else?"
"This is the news from Zuiyue Tower. I heard that not long ago, just before Big Brother left Beijing, someone saw Big Brother entering and leaving Zuiyue Tower with a young woman."
"What, what?" It would be better not to mention it, but once it was mentioned, Xue Zhiying became tense all over.
"It's true. Someone saw Big Brother and that woman walking into Zuiyue Tower in an intimate embrace. There's no doubt about it. Big Brother never lets anyone get close to him. If someone saw this scene, it must be the woman next to him."
Xue Zhiying frowned slightly.
It wasn't an intimate hug at all, he just supported her. And the reason he supported her was because he suddenly reached out and grabbed the back of her neck.
Sure enough, he was seen.
But no one seemed to know that the woman was her.
Xue Zhiying frowned and could not talk freely with Xiao Yuanxiang about this as she did with other topics.
In fact, she took advantage of Xiao Yunqi, so the long wait that day did not make her feel any blame towards him.
There is nothing to blame, and I don’t even care. After a good night’s sleep, the feeling of loneliness I had that day is gone.
She thought that she was just an insignificant person to Xiao Yunqi.
But she was not sure whether her deception and exploitation would anger this arrogant man.
Therefore, in order to avoid the slightest possibility of retaliation, she should be like the woman who had previously extorted a large sum of money from him. She would not even take away too much money from him, but just keep her mouth shut and not let others know about it.
Then a few days passed in peace.
Unexpectedly, an unexpected event occurred.
Xue Zhiying had just left the courtyard of the third house and was about to return to Jingshui Courtyard.
At this moment, a shout came from a distance.
"Zhiying——"
The person who came did not hide the volume of his voice. His voice could be heard from a long distance away, but it was still audible clearly.
Xue Zhiying stopped and looked in the direction of the sound, then was stunned.
It turned out to be Xiao Yichu, who was said to have left the capital.
Xiao Yichu came here jogging all the way.
He looked anxious and his breathing was uneven.
Xue Zhiying hadn't seen him for a long time. When she saw him again, she could tell at a glance that he had been having a bad time recently. He had lost a lot of weight, and when she got closer, she could see the obvious dark circles under his eyes.
But Xue Zhiying didn't care about it. She vaguely felt that Xiao Yichu came to her at this time for some reason that made her uncomfortable.
Xiao Yichu ran all the way to her, and just as he stopped, he eagerly grabbed her arms with both hands: "Sister Zhiying."
Xue Zhiying was frightened by her actions.
Xiao Yichu lost control of his strength and it hurt her.
She immediately struggled backwards, broke free from Xiao Yichu's hands, and took a big step back in time to avoid him.
Xiao Yichu's hand hung in the air for a moment before falling.
"Second Young Master, what can I do for you?"
Xue Zhiying spoke in a cold tone, clearly showing a distant attitude that showed she didn't want to deal with him.
Xiao Yichu managed to calm down a bit, realizing his own loss of composure, and spoke in a softer voice: "I'm sorry, I was abrupt, but I've been trying hard to get a chance to see you, and now that I'm finally out, I came to see you as soon as possible."
Xue Zhiying didn't understand what he was saying. Was he locked up, or was Xu confining him to his room?
In any case, it had nothing to do with her. She pursed her lips and did not answer, even looking away.
Xiao Yichu quickly spoke again: "If possible, I never wanted to say these words to you in such a hurry, but there is no other way under the current circumstances."
He paused, took a deep breath, and then continued, "Zhiying, I'm about to leave the capital. I want to take you with me. Are you willing to follow me?"
"What?" Xue Zhiying was so surprised that she spoke subconsciously.
Xiao Yichu stared at her straightly. Perhaps because of his pale and haggard face, he no longer looked as gentle as before, but rather a little gloomy.
He lowered his voice: "That night, Prince Lin'an wanted you, right?"
Xue Zhiying's face darkened.
Hearing this name again now still makes her feel creepy, even Xiao Yichu's words make her feel sick.
No matter what he wanted to say, she no longer wanted to talk to him.
"Second Young Master, please be careful with your words. I have other things to do. Excuse me."
After saying that, Xue Zhiying took a step to leave.
"Wait——" Xiao Yichu's expression suddenly changed, and he reached out to grab her again.
This time he held her even tighter, making it impossible for her to break free.
Xue Zhiying widened her eyes in panic: "What are you going to do!"
The girl's panicked look came into his eyes, but it failed to bring Xiao Yichu back to his composure.
Instead, he became even more anxious. Her nervous and resistant look at this moment undoubtedly confirmed what he had just said.
Xiao Yichu's brows were furrowed, and his expression was complicated.
No matter how many times he looked at her, he was always fascinated by this gorgeous face. He fell in love with her and had admired her for a long time. Almost anyone with a discerning eye could see his feelings for her.
He believed that Xue Zhiying was no exception, and she should have known that he liked her a long time ago.
There were many obstacles between them, but he kept trying to find ways to convince his mother.
When he learned that she was given to Prince Lin'an by her mother, he was very sad.
Given Prince Lin'an's personality, he would never let this beauty go, even if he was arrested that night.
Later, misfortune occurred in his family, and he did not forget her even though he was busy taking care of himself.
His love for her is evident to all. Now that he is leaving the capital, he will regret it for the rest of his life if he doesn't take her with him.
As Xiao Yichu pulled her, Xue Zhiying's face became even uglier.
"Second Young Master, please let me go."
She struggled with all her might, causing Xiao Yichu's now obviously weak body to stagger.
Xiao Yichu's expression gradually became distorted.
Not only did he not let go, he even pulled her into his arms.
"That's right. You're not to blame for this. I found out too late, but it doesn't matter. I can tolerate your imperfect virginity. You should know that Prince Lin'an has been arrested, and my cousin has wiped out his lair. He's now in jail. You can no longer be Prince Lin'an's wife, and mother can no longer make decisions for me. You can leave with me, outside the Xiao Mansion, to a place where no one knows you and your innocence. I will be with you, and I will be your support from now on."
Xue Zhiying's ears were buzzing, and she looked at him in disbelief: "Second Young Master, do you know what you are talking about?"
Xiao Yichu held her tightly and said, "Zhiying, believe me and leave with me. Even if mother doesn't allow you to be my wife, there is still a great possibility that you can be my concubine. I..."
Xue Zhiying couldn't bear to listen any longer.
She suddenly shook off Xiao Yichu's hand and even pushed him: "Second Young Master, please stop talking nonsense."
She was extremely angry, but her face, which was not aggressive to begin with, did not show too much rage, so Xiao Yichu did not take it to heart at all.
The misfortunes during this period have brought about earth-shaking changes in his life. He suffered a huge blow and was frightened every day. Until finally his father was imprisoned and his mother was about to be sent to Zhuangzi, he was also confined to his house.
Then, without any explanation, he would be temporarily sent away from the Xiao Mansion and the capital.
He didn't know if he still had a chance to come back, but he couldn't lose Xue Zhiying again.
Xiao Yichu's emotions had reached the point of being out of control.
He even felt a shameful smugness about the situation.
He was secretly glad that Xue Zhiying was of low status, so even though he had suffered such a hard time, he was still more than qualified to be with her. He was also secretly glad that now that things were in such a mess, things that were not allowed in the past now had a chance to succeed.
He didn't care about what impact it would have on him if Xue Zhiying shouted at this time and attracted the people in the mansion to see this scene.
After all, no matter what, she will be the one who is most affected.
She is timid by nature and she won't do that.
Xiao Yichu approached again, speaking quickly: "Zhiying, you have no choice but to be with me now. What are you still hesitating about? Have you thought about what others will say about you in the future? Your reputation is ruined. You can only rely on me if you follow me. Even if you are my concubine, I will..."
Snap——
Xue Zhiying couldn't bear it any longer and slapped Xiao Yichuyi in the face.
Her palms were numb, she was gasping for breath, and panic appeared on her face.
That was a fleeting thought that flashed through her mind subconsciously, and she never thought that she would actually slap him.
In a panic, she turned and fled.
Xiao Yichu's voice was heard behind him, but soon he could no longer hear anything.
She gradually began to feel afraid.
Is this what they call unexpected events?
Who could have expected that when everything was going smoothly for her, Xiao Yichu would suddenly appear and go crazy.
No matter what happened to the second branch, Xiao Yichu was still the second son of the Xiao family.
She hit him and didn't know what punishment she would receive.
And Xiao Yichu's chilling words and purpose.
That night, Xue Zhiying stayed in the house, feeling restless and almost didn't sleep all night.
The next morning, someone came to Jingshuiyuan to summon her.
It was Nanny Wang who was beside the old lady.
Nanny Wang looked calm and only asked the old lady to let her go over.
Xue Zhiying followed with a nervous mood.
She could actually guess a little bit, maybe because she had hit someone, or because Xiao Yichu had gone crazy and appeared in front of the old lady.
Either way, the situation was very unfavorable to her.
Rendeyuan is quiet and elegant, with pleasant vegetation.
But once you enter the front hall, you can immediately feel a depressing atmosphere.
Xue Zhiying saw Xiao Yichu standing beside the old lady with his head lowered.
Her heart skipped a beat, she lowered her eyes and walked closer, bowing to the old lady: "Zhiying greets the old lady."
The graceful old woman had gray hair on her temples and wrinkles of age on her face. Even though her eyes and brows were naturally kind, she looked serious at this moment and still gave people a sense of majesty and oppression.
"Zhiying, do you know why I called you here today?"
Xue Zhiying thought a lot last night.
Thinking back to when she first came to the Xiao Mansion, the elders there were not close enough to her but more polite than helpful, and thinking back to when Xu had openly told her about the men who were old enough to be her father and asked her to choose.
I also remember the nights when she hid in bed and wiped her tears when she had no power to resist.
Xue Zhiying knelt down and said, "Yes, Zhiying knows."
The old lady looked at her calmly for a moment, then slowly said, "Since you already know, then I will ask directly. I have heard the matter. Although Yichu's behavior is not appropriate, he is genuinely interested in you. You have been in the Xiao Mansion for many years. You can be considered as a child who grew up under my care. If you are willing, I can make the decision for you and let you have a place by his side."
Xue Zhiying's fingertips trembled slightly.
She had expected this, but it still made her feel upset.
She knew that the old lady did not really want to promote this marriage, but was just saying this because Xiao Yichu was her grandson.
Xue Zhiying knelt before the old lady, raised her head, and replied respectfully but firmly, "Old Lady, the Second Young Master is a young and talented man. Zhiying's status is humble, so I dare not marry him. Moreover, marriage is a matter of mutual consent. I am sorry that I cannot obey your order."
The old lady turned her head and looked in Xiao Yichu's direction: "Did you hear everything?"
"Grandma!" Xiao Yichu raised his head suddenly, his eyes red. "I only want Zhiying! Why doesn't she want me? I——"
"How outrageous." The old lady's voice was low, but it instantly suppressed his excitement. "Madame Wang, please ask the Second Young Master to go out and reflect on his mistakes."
Xiao Yichu didn't dare to act rashly in front of the old lady. He could only look at Xue Zhiying in disbelief.
He didn't expect that Xue Zhiying would not agree to him even though she was in such a situation.
But Xue Zhiying didn't even look at him, because what was coming next was the real purpose of why the old lady had summoned her today.
After Xiao Yichu was asked to leave, silence returned to the hall.
The old lady then turned her gaze back to Xue Zhiying, who was still kneeling on the ground. Her tone softened a bit, but still held an unyielding authority: "Stand up. I called you here today not just for Yichu's matter."
Xue Zhiying did not stand up and remained kneeling.
Seeing this, the old lady continued, "You have been in the Xiao family for seven or eight years. Now you are old enough for your marriage. The mansion should consider it for you. I have neglected this matter before, and Xu Shi has not handled it properly. Now that you are talking about it, I will start to arrange it for you. Many families in the capital have contacts with the Xiao family. If there is a suitable family, even if she is not the main wife, she can still settle down and ensure that you will have no worries for the rest of your life."
The old lady is different from Xu. She is not doing this for personal gain or calculation. She is simply using her status and knowledge as a lady from a noble family to choose a suitable marriage for Xue Zhiying based on her background. Even if she is a concubine, the marriage may be to a good family.
But the old lady had never cared about her in the past, but now she finally wanted to talk about this matter, because she had caused the second son of the Xiao family to come to the old lady for her without any regard for her.
The old lady, as the face of the Xiao family, only wants to marry her off as quickly as possible.
At this moment, Xue Zhiying could no longer imagine what her situation would be like if the old lady had arranged her marriage for her when she first came of age.
She only knew that it didn't happen then, and she didn't think about it anymore.
From the very beginning, she was prepared to leave at any time. Whenever she faced the possibility of failure, she always thought that the worst that could happen was to run away early.
But unexpectedly, this moment still came so suddenly.
Fortunately, she was no longer helpless and at a loss because of Xu's coercion, nor was she in a dilemma because of being surrounded by enemies.
Now that we have come to this, let's make a decision.
Xue Zhiying took a deep breath and said softly, "Thank you, Madam, for your kindness. However, I received a letter from my mother a few days ago. She said she hadn't seen me for many years and missed me terribly. There were also plans for marriage proposals back home. I've been away from home for a long time, and my mother has been calling me earnestly. I was looking for the right time to tell Madam about this, but I can only do so today."
"I beg the old lady to allow Zhiying to return home and reunite with her family."
-----------------------
The author has something to say: The male protagonist will come back and break the defense in the next chapter [scatter flowers]
My sister is going to live her new life~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
