Chapter 101: Being stubborn will make people dislike you.
The Xie Mansion is solemn, even the potted plants are neatly trimmed, and strict rules can be seen everywhere.
In the front hall, sitting in the main seat was the current Cabinet Prime Minister, Xie Mingru. He was truly second only to the emperor, and above everyone else. Sometimes, he even controlled the court more than the emperor himself.
Everyone in the court, inside and outside the palace, respected him.
Below, although Xie Yuchao was kneeling, his back was straight and his expression was firm. Everyone could see his stubbornness.
Xie Mingru looked at his only son for a long time and suddenly smiled.
But he didn't look happy, he seemed angry instead.
"You mean to say that you want to marry an orphan girl whose parents are both gone, a merchant who works in the limelight, an abandoned woman who has been married before and even had children for someone else, to be your legal wife? To be the Xie family's headmistress?"
"yes!"
Xie Yuchao was full of confidence. "No matter her background or past, it doesn't prevent her from being a good person."
"So good that you can abandon your dignity? So good that you let the entire Xie family lose face with you? So good that you don't care that everyone in the Xie family will be ashamed because of her?"
"Bang!"
After Xie Mingru finished speaking, he slapped the table next to him, his anger visible to the naked eye.
Steward Lin stood aside, frowning. His master had not been in good health recently, and he was afraid that he would be so angry that he would suffocate.
Xie Yuchao remained unmoved, "I don't know where to be ashamed."
"You really don't know?"
"It's just worldly prejudice." Xie Yuchao said disdainfully.
"You are so refreshing!"
Xie Mingru clenched his fists and turned his head, saying, "Look at him, look at him!"
Steward Lin didn't know what expression to make, "Master, calm down and don't hurt yourself."
Then he whispered softly, "Young Master, you too, have just finished the Imperial Examination and are preparing for the Palace Examination. There's no rush to get married."
Xie Yuchao looked up at his father's face and said, "Whether you agree or not, I have made up my mind. If you insist on not agreeing, I will..."
"So what?" Xie Mingru interrupted with a cold sneer, "Just leave the Xie family, throw away your glory, abandon your responsibilities, give up everything you have, and elope with that woman?"
Xie Yuchao remained silent, but his expression told Xie Mingru the answer.
"absurd!"
"Master." Steward Lin couldn't bear it any longer. "This is not a joke."
Xie Yuchao raised his head. "I'm not taking this lightly. I'm serious! You don't have to waste your time trying to change my mind. Just tell me one thing: I'm going to marry her, and you're coming or not!"
"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you got first place in the imperial examination!" Xie Mingru stood up. "How dare you speak to your father like that for a woman? You have no manners at all! I'm telling you, as long as I'm not dead, it's not your turn to make the decisions about anything in this family!"
"I don't have to be a member of this family!" Xie Yuchao stood up angrily. He was as tall as his father and his aura was not weaker. "You want to control everything. From now on, if I don't become a member of the Xie family, will you still control me? Even if she is not here, I've had enough!"
He turned and left.
"Stop right there!"
Xie Yuchao completely ignored him and continued to stride out.
"Xie Yuchao!"
Xie Yuchao continued walking, but his heart was beating fast.
Xie Mingru turned his back in anger.
"Forget it!"
When Xie Yuchao was about to cross the threshold, Xie Mingru said in a compromising manner.
Xie Yuchao paused.
"If you really want to marry me, it's not impossible."
Xie Yuchao turned around, quite surprised, "Really?"
Like an illusion.
"Aren't you just relying on the fact that you're the only son of the Xie family to threaten your father?" Xie Mingru snorted coldly, "What can I do if I don't allow it?"
"I'm not a threat." Xie Yuchao defended himself in a low voice.
"But I have a condition."
Xie Yuchao frowned slightly, "What are the conditions?"
"Since you want to be the daughter-in-law of the Xie family, you must completely cut off all ties with the people and things in your past."
Xie Yuchao was slightly startled, "Including her child?"
Xie Mingru turned to face him and said solemnly, "It is indeed cruel for a mother and child to be separated at birth. They can see each other, but they cannot be together often. Secondly, as a woman, she should abide by her duties and not engage in business in the future. Most importantly, she must completely sever all ties with her former husband, the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, and never see him again, even in this life or death, to avoid gossip."
Xie Yuchao remained silent for a long time.
"Master, these conditions are not excessive," said Steward Lin. "Master has already given in. You should understand Master."
Xie Yuchao lowered his eyes and agreed after a while, "Okay."
Over the years, he has realized that arguing is useless. He does most of the things his father doesn't allow, and he has become good at pretending to obey but actually disobeying.
He bowed and said, "I have to go out for a while. I hope my father will agree."
Xie Mingru sighed and sat down on the table, "You've grown up and your mind has become wild."
He shook his head and said, "Go ahead and come back soon."
Xie Yuchao seemed anxious and ran out immediately.
But before he could leave the house completely, he was caught up by Butler Lin.
"Master!" Butler Lin ran out of breath, "Wait a minute."
Xie Yuchao hesitated for a moment, then turned back, "Is there anything else Father hasn't told me?"
"It's not the master, it's the old servant. I have something to ask the young master." Steward Lin paused for a moment before asking seriously, "Does the young master really like that girl? Is it because the master's discipline is too strict that he is angry with the master and chose a woman who does not satisfy the master in any way?"
Xie Yuchao said frankly: "Of course I really like her."
"Just liking someone, is it worth the young master's efforts and persistence?"
"Isn't liking it enough?"
Steward Lin said patiently, "A momentary affection, a momentary passion, or even a momentary rebellion can all be called love. That might be enough for others. But you are different, young master. You are the only son of the Xie family, and you will rise to higher heights in the future. Marriage is a matter of life and death, so you should be extremely cautious. It's no exaggeration to say that feelings are irrational, and your marriage shouldn't be solely about feelings."
Xie Yuchao felt annoyed, "Then what should I consider?"
He backed away, shaking his head.
Steward Lin did not answer. He knew that his young master understood, but was unwilling to do so.
Seeing the child walking further and further away, he could do nothing but sigh.
Half a minute later, Xie Mingru sneered when he saw Butler Lin coming back, "Didn't you persuade him to come back?"
"The young master is still young, so naturally he has some persistence."
"It's like being bewitched." Xie Mingru's face was full of displeasure.
Steward Lin lowered his head, his heart filled with mixed emotions. "Master, can we still proceed with the marriage proposal with the Duke's Mansion?"
"certainly."
Xie Mingru picked up his teacup and said, "Dealing with that merchant girl isn't a difficult task. But our Dali Temple's Shaoqing is no longer the young man he once was."
"What does the master mean?"
"This kid used to be under my command, so I know him quite well. His biggest flaw is that he's too attached to friendship and loyalty. As long as he's treated well, he won't let go. For example, the Sheng family, who are no longer useful to him, and his friends who only hold him back. Even the Chu family only helped him a few times, and he dared to disregard the law and release the criminals under my nose. At the beginning, I saw that he was still useful, and the child he let go was just a non-threatening child, so I didn't expose him and didn't make a fuss."
Xie Mingru took a sip of tea and continued, "After all, she's the woman who gave birth to his child. He definitely won't sit idly by. But if this woman wants to break up with him just to climb up the social ladder, I don't believe he won't harbor resentment. As long as he doesn't intervene, the merchant woman will have nothing to rely on."
Steward Lin seemed to be lost in thought. "When the Marquis of Pingyuan was in the court, the master spoke up for him because of this day."
"Just in case of emergency."
Xie Mingru rubbed his brows, "Chao'er is inexperienced and easily deceived. Apart from his father, who else would plot for him?"
*
In the old house, the betrothal gifts almost covered the entire yard, making it look very joyous.
But the real atmosphere in the house is a bit strange.
Song Baoyuan stood in the pavilion in a daze, holding the jade pendant in her hand, and time passed quietly.
"Miss." Qiaoyin came over with a cloak. "Although it's spring, it's still easy to catch a cold if you're exposed to the wind for too long."
Song Baoyuan moved her feet, but her legs felt a little stiff, so she sat down on a nearby stone bench.
"Is there any movement at the door?"
"It's quieted down," Qiao Yin replied. "The matchmaker and the others didn't dare to say a word before quickly leaving. After all, it was the Master himself who showed up, and his expression was so cold that it gave me the chills. The others were the same; no one dared to utter a word. As for Master Xie, I waited for a long time, but he didn't show up. Only the matchmaker showed up; those who were moving things didn't seem to be from the Xie Mansion."
Song Baoyuan looked at the betrothal gifts in the yard and was speechless.
Qiao Yin stood beside her and was silent for a long time.
"Miss." She couldn't help asking, "Are you really going to marry Mr. Xie?"
Song Baoyuan looked up and asked, "Isn't it good?"
Qiao Yin thought for a moment and said honestly, "Master Xie has been gone for over three months. I can hardly remember what he looked like."
"I remember." Song Baoyuan whispered.
"I can't quite remember what Master Xie looked like, but I do remember his sincerity and devotion to the young lady. I can't deny his kindness, but... Master Xie has a complicated background. Can he really be the master of his father, the Prime Minister?"
Qiao Yin's voice was filled with worry, and she said bluntly, "I'm scared."
Song Baoyuan smiled, patted the stool next to her, and motioned her to sit down.
"It's because it's difficult that he did this for me. I can't back down, right?"
Qiao Yin clasped her hands together, "Then, what about my husband?"
"Why do you ask that?" Song Baoyuan was slightly dissatisfied. "Could it be that he bribed you?"
"No!" Qiao Yin opened her eyes wide and shook her head repeatedly. "I just think, I think the young lady has been quite happy lately. Isn't life pretty good now?"
Song Baoyuan turned her face away. "I'm happy, and it has nothing to do with him. It's just because I don't have a child to worry about, and everything goes smoothly, whether outside or at home. On the contrary, when I'm in a bad mood occasionally, it's all because of him being annoying!"
Qiao Yin seemed to want to say something but stopped herself.
"Okay, this isn't a good idea." Song Baoyuan stood up. "I have to go out."
But before she walked out of the yard, she heard shouting behind her.
"mother!"
Jiang Suisui ran towards her with his legs twitching.
Song Baoyuan squatted down and reached out to catch her, "What's wrong?"
"Shall we go fishing?"
"fishing?"
Jiang Suisui nodded like a chick pecking at rice, his eyes full of anticipation.
Song Baoyuan glanced at the open study door as if unintentionally, "How about asking your father to accompany you?"
"No!" Jiang Suisui immediately denied, "Daddy, he's not feeling well. He can't accompany me."
Song Baoyuan frowned slightly, "What's wrong with him?"
"He, he..." Jiang Suisui couldn't answer, "He just doesn't feel well."
Song Baoyuan pondered for a moment, then quickly walked into the study with her daughter in her arms.
Hearing the noise, Jiang Keyu, who was sitting at the desk, felt her heart tighten. She subconsciously closed the file and chose to take a nap at the desk.
Seeing this, Song Baoyuan paused, but still walked to his side.
“Bang, bang.”
Knocked on the table.
Jiang Keyu seemed to be woken up. She slowly raised her head, her eyes blank and her face pale.
Song Baoyuan put her daughter in front of him and let her sit on the table.
"I have to go out for a while. If you are free, please go fishing with Sui Sui."
"Where are you going?"
"It has nothing to do with you." Song Baoyuan left after giving her instructions.
Jiang Keyu was uneasy and said anxiously: "I'm busy! And I..."
"What's wrong with you?" Song Baoyuan interrupted and asked, "I can find a doctor on the way."
She looked serious, but Jiang Keyu looked away. "You don't have anything important to do."
"I have."
"What?"
Song Baoyuan took staccato steps and was about to leave the study. "I told you, it has nothing to do with you."
"you……"
"Just say it straight, you just don't want me to go out!" Song Baoyuan's voice suddenly showed annoyance, but with her daughter present, she lowered her voice and hid her emotions. "Are you teaching the child to lie again, trying to use the New Year's harvest to trip me up, or are you fabricating an injury and using yourself to tie me down?"
Jiang Keyu felt extremely embarrassed, "I didn't."
"You know whether you have or not."
Song Baoyuan did not delay any longer and left resolutely.
Jiang Keyu watched her moving further and further away from him, and suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.
What can I do? Use some dirty tricks, or just send someone to get rid of that annoying person?
No matter what he does, he will be hated.
"Daddy." Jiang Suisui said in confusion, "Where is Mom going?"
Jiang Keyu held her in his arms.
"Daddy doesn't know."
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