Madam Bai quickly chimed in, “Mother, let’s hurry and bring sister back to the mansion.”
Only then did the Marchioness release her daughter from her embrace, wiping away both their tears with a handkerchief before taking Xia Xing’er’s hand and leading her inside the mansion.
“Yes, yes, let’s return home.”
As Xia Xing’er stepped through the gates of the Marquis’s Mansion, everything remained just as she remembered.
Servants went about their duties, moving between the main hall and various courtyards. Seeing the lively scene within the mansion, tears once again streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
All the way to the main hall, Xia Xing’er clung to the Marchioness’s arm, as if afraid everything might vanish the next moment.
Looking at the table laden with food—all her favorite dishes—Xing’er felt a warmth spread through her heart.
This was home. These were her family.
During her three years at the General’s Manor, every meal had consisted of what Old Madam Helian and the others enjoyed. No one had ever asked what she liked or disliked.
The family happily shared a reunion dinner, and no one brought up matters concerning the General’s Manor at the table.
Xia Ziyu walked up to Xia Xing’er, took her hand, and looked at her with hopeful eyes. “Auntie, you won’t leave again, will you?”
He adored his aunt. Whenever he wanted to visit her, his mother would say that Auntie was married now and had her own family, and he shouldn’t disturb her for no reason.
Auntie would teach them martial arts and tell them all sorts of fascinating stories—things they had never heard before.
His father said that this time, Auntie had returned for good and would stay with them forever.
He was afraid that if he went to sleep and woke up, Auntie would be gone again.
Xia Xing’er looked at the adorable little boy before her, patted his head, and said with a smile, “That’s right, Auntie isn’t leaving this time. Are you happy to have Auntie back, Yu’er?”
“Happy, happy! Auntie is the best!” Xia Ziyu jumped for joy.
Xia Zichuan hurriedly chimed in, “Me too, me too! I’m also happy Auntie is back!”
Xia Zibo simply hugged Xia Xing’er. “I love Auntie too.”
Seeing the three children’s reactions, the whole family burst into laughter.
After dinner, Xia Xing’er returned to her room.
The room before her eyes remained exactly as it had been before her marriage. None of the furnishings had changed, and it was clear that someone cleaned it daily.
Lying on the bed, she reflected on everything that had happened that day, her heart filled with emotion.
She knew that her future life would undergo significant changes.
After the Marchioness and Chang Xin Hou returned to their room, the smiles on their faces could no longer be maintained.
“My lord, are we just going to let this matter go? I simply cannot swallow this injustice!”
Chang Xin Hou’s expression was equally grim. “Madam, I understand how you feel. Do you think I feel any differently? But right now, Helian Zhi and his men have just returned victorious from battle, with military merit to their name.
Xing’er must have considered this as well. That’s why, instead of coming home to seek our help after suffering such grievances, she went directly to the palace to request a Divorce Decree.”
He sighed heavily. His precious daughter had endured such great injustice, yet as her father, he could not seek justice for her. It was utterly humiliating.
But what could he do? Imperial authority reigned supreme.
Thinking of her daughter’s frail, thin figure, the Marchioness’s tears once again fell unbidden.
“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t forced her to marry, if I hadn’t made her hide her sharp edges, if I hadn’t made her learn the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, if I hadn’t chosen such a family for her…”
Chang Xin Hou looked at his self-blaming wife and, heart aching, pulled her into his arms. “Youran, you can’t blame yourself. You only wanted what was best for her. We simply misjudged the man.”
“Alright, don’t cry anymore. What’s done is done. We can only look forward.”
Chang Xin Hou comforted her, “Xing’er is still young; she has a bright future ahead. Besides, our daughter is so outstanding. Should we let her swallow her pride and endure? For Xing’er, the Divorce Decree might be a form of liberation, better than wasting her whole life away in the General’s Manor.”
The Marchioness stopped crying and looked up at Chang Xin Hou. “But what will Xing’er do from now on? How will she live on her own?”
Chang Xin Hou fell silent for a moment before saying, “Xing’er has been clever and quick-witted since she was little. I believe she can definitely take care of herself. Moreover, she still has us. How could we let her suffer any grievances?”
The Marchioness nodded. “I hope so. It’s just… I still can’t accept it. That Helian Zhi, how could he treat Xing’er like that? It’s truly despicable!”
“Alas, there’s nothing to be done about it. The official world is like a battlefield; its complexities are beyond our imagination. All we can do is try our best to protect Xing’er and ensure she is not harmed again.” Chang Xin Hou said helplessly.
The couple fell silent, both hearts filled with worry and affection for their daughter.
Xia Qingyun returned to his room with Zhuge Pei and immediately dismissed the servants. Zhuge Pei stepped forward to personally help Xia Qingyun undress.
Xia Qingyun was accustomed to his wife’s attentions. Like his father, he had only one wife and no concubines.
He wished to follow in his parents’ footsteps, pledging one heart to one person for a lifetime.
It was precisely this conviction of his that had won the heart of the capital’s top talent, Zhuge Pei’er, making her fall for him.
Zhuge Pei’er was the legitimate granddaughter of the Grand Preceptor Zhuge Wuji and was renowned as the capital’s foremost talented lady.
Given her family background and literary gifts, countless suitors sought her hand. Yet, she had taken a liking to Xia Qingyun, the heir of the Changxin Marquisate, at first sight—not for his family or his looks, but for a single statement: “I, Xia Qingyun, will either not marry at all, or marry only one person, pledging her one heart for a lifetime.”
After their marriage, the couple was deeply affectionate and never quarreled.
He never took a concubine, and all her former girlfriends envied her.
Xia Qingyun embraced Zhuge Pei and said softly, “Pei’er, thank you. Having you by my side, I am truly happy.”
Zhuge Pei gently returned his embrace. “Silly, I feel the same. We are husband and wife; we should support each other. It’s just… I’m a little worried about Xing’er?”
“She seems fine on the surface, but I’m afraid she’s bottling everything up inside without saying a word.
I still remember when little sister first returned from Mei Shan. Though she was a bit tanned then, the smile on her face couldn’t be hidden—she was truly happy back then.
Now, even though she still smiles, that smile breaks my heart to see.”
Zhuge Pei genuinely liked her sister-in-law, who never caused trouble, showed her respect as an elder sister-in-law,
and dearly loved the children.
Xia Qingyun nodded. “I’ll go talk with her tomorrow. When you have time, go chat with her too, take her out for a stroll to relax and clear her mind.”
Zhuge Pei agreed, saying, “Mm, that’s fine too.”
“Don’t worry, Xing’er is very clever and open-minded. She must have her own reasons for making such a decision. We…”