Chapter 14:
As Madam Zheng had expected, the Xie Family father and son’s visit to break off the engagement did indeed cause a stir.
When they went, Young Master Lu was not at the estate.
Old Madam Lu personally came out to greet them, but upon hearing their intention, she bluntly stated that she absolutely would not agree.
She only said she would persuade her grandson to dismiss the concubine of unknown origin from outside, that the marriage engagement between the two families could not be voided, and the wedding date could not be changed.
Xie Shu had a mild temperament and held great respect for this Old Madam of the Marquis’s Estate who had lost both husband and son in defending the country, so he could not speak too harshly to this elder.
Xie Yanyu, who had gone with him, was straightforward and firmly stated their intention.
But Old Madam Lu was unmoved, refusing to return the marriage certificate no matter what.
“I knew early on that the Lu Family wouldn’t agree easily,” Madam Zheng frowned, somewhat headache-ridden and annoyed: “Do they think our family is made of clay? If they don’t return the marriage certificate, does Wanwan have to accept fate and marry over?”
There had never been a noble lady forced onto the flower sedan by her husband’s family.
Xie Wen spoke fairly: “We suddenly came to break off the engagement; they were unprepared too. It would be strange if they agreed outright.”
As he spoke, he looked at his daughter and said: “Father estimates that after Young Master Lu returns home and hears that our family wants to break off the engagement, if he still wants to salvage this marriage engagement, he should come to apologize. If he comes, Wanwan, will you see him?”
“No,” though she didn’t think Young Master Lu would come to apologize, Xie Wanning’s answer was resolute: “I’m determined to break off this marriage.”
After the news of him keeping a concubine in her dream spread, he hadn’t come to apologize.
…But she hadn’t called her father and brother to break off the engagement either.
Instead, her elder brother had taken the initiative to seek out Young Master Lu, hoping he would dismiss the concubine, prepare for the wedding in peace, and welcome her over the threshold, but he had firmly refused.
Sure enough, chasing after something isn’t business; it only makes people look down on you.
She was useless, dragging her brother down to suffer Young Master Lu’s cold face for her sake.
Yet the her in the dream had stubbornly chosen to marry over.
Thinking of this, Xie Wanning felt a suffocating panic in her heart, her face darkening.
Xie Yanyu, who had been silent, saw this and comforted her: “If you don’t want to see him, then don’t. He, Young Master Lu, can’t force his way into our Xie Residence. As long as you don’t want it, this marriage won’t happen.”
“…” Xie Wanning was so moved she couldn’t speak, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her dear brother.
She no longer secretly criticized her brother in her heart as a wooden blockhead who deserved to be unable to marry a wife.
What a great brother.
………..
That evening, just when Xie Wanning thought her prediction was accurate this time, a servant came to report that Young Master Lu had arrived.
At that moment, she was playing chess with her cousin, and upon hearing this, her hand holding the piece paused, her surprise unmasked.
Seeing this, Xie Ruyu said smugly: “I told you early on, as long as you wake up and start ignoring him, he’ll have regrets.”
She snorted coldly: “You’re so good like this, Sister Wanwan, yet that scoundrel Young Master Lu doesn’t know to cherish you. Now he knows to come begging for an audience; we won’t see him!”
“…” Xie Wanning blinked, extremely puzzled: “Am I that good?”
She hadn’t realized that in her cousin’s eyes, she was already excellent to such a degree.
No matter how bad Young Master Lu was, he was still a rising young talent in the capital city, highly regarded by His Majesty, having studied and practiced martial arts alongside several princes since childhood, enjoying treatment no less than theirs.
In terms of real talent and practical ability, in terms of imperial favor, among the sons of noble military families, he was top-notch.
With such conditions, speaking objectively, he was even worthy of an imperial princess.
But Xie Ruyu seriously countered: “Among the noble ladies of the capital city, who are you inferior to?”
Xie Wanning actually thought about it seriously.
In terms of birth, she was the eldest legitimate daughter of a perpetually hereditary marquis’s estate, with her maternal family also a marquis; apart from imperial clan commandery princesses, she truly was inferior to no one.
In terms of poetry, books, etiquette, archery and horsemanship, she wouldn’t claim mastery in all, but they were all presentable.
In terms of appearance and demeanor, even understated, she was outstanding among noble ladies; her beauty hadn’t spread far because her marriage was set early, and she rarely sought the spotlight.
Upon this careful calculation, Xie Wanning suddenly felt she was indeed excellent, her confidence swelling.
She placed her piece and looked at her cousin opposite, smiling: “Look at you before, when you saw me it was eyes not eyes, nose not nose; I didn’t expect I was actually good at everything in your heart.”
“I didn’t mean to deliberately praise you,” Xie Ruyu said somewhat uncomfortably: “Nor am I pleasing you just because you gave me a birthday gift.”
Xie Wanning held her forehead: “What are you thinking? Of course I know your feelings.”
The her in the dream hadn’t given a birthday gift.
She just hadn’t realized that her cousin, who had always been at odds with her, actually thought she was good at everything.
Xie Wanning imagined a little cousin who seemed covered in thorns on the surface but actually wanted very much to get close to her, crouching in the corner, eyeing her eagerly, wanting to approach but unable to swallow her pride.
Her gaze toward her immediately became somewhat affectionate: “Sister knows your feelings.”
“…” Xie Ruyu was silent for a few breaths, her fair cheeks flushing red: “Sister Wanwan, don’t speak in Mother’s tone.”
The sisters were chatting enthusiastically, and the servant who had come to report the news was long forgotten; he waited and waited, not daring to disturb his master, and finally could only retreat quietly.
………..
At the entrance of Xuanping Marquis’s Estate.
Young Master Lu was dressed in an indigo brocade robe, his figure tall and slender, eyes slightly downcast, face coldly expressionless, the whole person like a piercing sharp weapon, standing quietly under the evening glow.
‘Creak.’
The vermilion gate slowly opened a crack, and a young doorkeeper from the Xie Residence came out lightly on his feet.
Young Master Lu raised his eyes to look at the man, ripples stirring in his calm gaze.
The young servant, stared at like this by him, spoke nervously, unconsciously becoming respectful: “Young Master Lu, please return. Our eldest young lady refuses to see you.”
The man, who had never been turned away at the door, frowned slightly, his voice inexplicably turning cold: “Did she have you convey any words to me?”
The young servant shook his head repeatedly: “No.”
After speaking, he retreated quickly as if avoiding the plague.
The heavy gate closed again, and Young Master Lu’s face completely darkened; he stood in place, not knowing what he was thinking, unmoving for a long time.
The sky grew darker, and Ming Jian behind him finally couldn’t hold back, saying softly: “Master, are we still waiting?”
Young Master Lu glanced sideways at him: “I told you to settle Liu Manrou properly; how did the rumors in the capital city start?”
“The rumor arose suspiciously,” Ming Jian understood his meaning and bowed slightly as he said: “Miss Liu has been obediently staying in that courtyard these past days, not even stepping out the door, with no confidants around to use. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t spread the news.”
Young Master Lu said no more; Ming Jian was someone he had trained himself, bold yet meticulous in handling affairs, and he trusted his subordinate’s judgment.
But if not Liu Manrou, then who could it be?
