“I…” Xie Zhengyang was left speechless.
He couldn’t voice his true intentions.
“You marry me, then poison me to death, and marry Jiang Ning. My dowry would conveniently become hers, right?” Huo Ningyu’s gaze pierced through the shameless man like a sharp blade.
Jiang Ning was merely an adopted daughter living with the Huo Family, so the Huos wouldn’t prepare as lavish a dowry for her as they would for their own daughter. With Jiang Ning’s status, she couldn’t marry into a family like the Earl Residence.
Only by having her marry into the Xie Family first, and after her death, Jiang Ning could become the second wife.
“No, I didn’t think that.” Xie Zhengyang hadn’t actually considered such a plan.
He was merely following Ning’er’s suggestion to marry Huo Ningyu first and make plans later.
“You didn’t, but she did.” Huo Ningyu pointed directly at Jiang Ning.
In her previous life, she had been grateful that Jiang Ning’s father took a fatal blow for her own father, treating Jiang Ning like a real sister. She often brought her to various banquets, protecting her from being looked down upon.
Little did she expect Jiang Ning to be a venomous snake, lurking in the Huo residence, using the Huo Family as a stepping stone, and seeking revenge after exploiting them.
The idea to poison her came from Jiang Ning, who even provided the poison herself.
“Sister Yu, I didn’t.” Jiang Ning’s eyes welled with tears, playing the victim.
“Hmph, before you even started, I was standing outside the door. You told him to find a way to marry you sooner. If I don’t die, how can I make room for you?”
Both Xie Zhengyang and Jiang Ning were stunned.
They had been outside all along.
The two knelt together.
“Adoptive father, adoptive mother, I was wrong. I’m already his now. For the sake of my father who died taking that blow for you, please allow me and Young Master Xie to be together.” Jiang Ning knew admitting her mistake was her only option, leveraging past favors for gain.
“Allow? So you can become his concubine in the Xie Family while my daughter remains alone in an empty room?” Rong Huazhi clenched her fists tightly, barely controlling the urge to strike someone.
The usually well-behaved and sensible adopted daughter had chosen this critical moment to humiliate her own daughter.
“Mother, I won’t marry into the Xie Family. Jiang Ning is a venomous snake. I’m straightforward by nature. If I have to live under the same roof as her, I wouldn’t know how I died.” Huo Ningyu had to dissuade her parents from wanting her to marry into the Xie Family.
“Sister Yu, I’ve never harmed you. How can you say such things about me?
Since my father died, my mother and I have lived with the Huo Family as guests under adoptive father’s care.
We’ve always known our place and never caused any trouble for the Huo Family.”
Jiang Ning believed she had behaved impeccably during her years of dependence.
“You knew he was my fiancé. Why did you still seduce him?” Huo Ningyu was both furious and amused.
The intentions of Jiang Ning and her mother were crystal clear.
“I didn’t seduce him. Matters of the heart are beyond anyone’s control. We fell for each other and made a mistake. Please understand, Sister Yu.” Jiang Ning kowtowed repeatedly.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
The Loyal Earl and his wife rushed in, breathless.
When the Huo Family’s coachman informed him, he could hardly believe his ears.
“You wretched fool! Who gave you the nerve to commit such an ungrateful act? How can you face your future parents-in-law?” Loyal Earl Xie Xun kicked Xie Zhengyang to the ground.
He added two more kicks, making Xie Zhengyang cry out in pain.
“Dear, take it easy. Don’t injure Zhengyang badly. The wedding is tomorrow—we can’t afford a scandal.” Loyal Earl’s wife Xia Yixuan immediately intervened.
“Brother Huo, I truly apologize. It is my failure in educating my son that led to this grave mistake. Our families have been friends for many years—we cannot let the children’s affairs damage the harmony between our houses.
I will discipline him properly later. As for this Jiang girl, she clearly has ill intentions, trying to climb the social ladder by deliberately seducing Zhengyang. We will not permit her to enter our household.”
Xie Xun offered an apologetic smile while glaring fiercely at his son.
“Father, Ning’er and I are truly in love. I want no one but her,” Xie Zhengyang panicked inwardly.
He never expected his tryst with Ning’er to be discovered by the Huo Family today.
His parents’ swift arrival caught him completely off guard.
He had originally planned to first persuade the Huo Family—since Ning’er, though an adopted daughter, was practically half their own—to simply substitute another bride for tomorrow’s wedding.
“Shut your mouth!” Lady Xia scolded. As much as she doted on her son, she would not side with him in this situation.
“Mother, Ning’er and I have already been intimate. I must marry her. She might even be carrying my child now.” Xie Zhengyang knew exactly how to pressure his mother.
“When did this intimacy occur?” Lady Xia was startled. If she were truly pregnant, this matter would become far more complicated.
The coachman who informed them earlier only mentioned their son meeting someone in private, with no further details.
“J-just… just before you arrived,” Xie Zhengyang stammered.
“Madam, go prepare a bowl of Child-avoidance soup for Miss Jiang. The daughter of a mere provincial scholar is unworthy of bearing a Xie heir,” the Loyal Earl commanded.
“Yes,” Lady Xia immediately went to instruct the accompanying maid.
Jiang Ning was terrified—the Loyal Earl could be so heartless.
“Father, our Xie lineage is already sparse. You cannot do this,” Xie Zhengyang shielded Jiang Ning, his stance resolute.
“You unfilial son! You commit such a grave error and show no remorse!
Do you think our Xie nobility is eternal?
The Emperor is watching for any misstep to revoke our title. Instead of striving for merit, you wallow in romance, engage in illicit affairs, and tarnish the Xie name!
Apologize to your father-in-law at once and beg his forgiveness. Tomorrow’s wedding must proceed without a hitch!” The Loyal Earl erupted in fury.
He even risked being overheard by openly discussing the Emperor’s stance.
His son still failed to grasp the severity of the situation—spoiled by his mother into reckless arrogance.
“Father, but Ning’er is already mine. I cannot abandon her—that would be irresponsible.” Xie Zhengyang genuinely loved Jiang Ning and was determined to bring her into the Xie household.
His words choked the Loyal Earl with rage, tempting him to kick his son again.
“Brother Huo, what would be the appropriate way to handle this?” The Loyal Earl still held some confidence.
Jiang Ning was the Huo Family’s adopted daughter, raised by them—so the Xie Family was the wronged party here.
Had the Huo Family properly guided their adopted daughter, today’s incident would never have occurred.
Only out of consideration for his second son being Huo Pengcheng’s student did he maintain a humble posture.
“Ningyu, perhaps we could let Zhengyang take her as a concubine.
You were practically sisters, always close, and she is the daughter of your father’s lifesaver.
After marriage, you would remain in the same household, maintaining that closeness, with no risk of conflict between wife and concubine.”
Lady Xia took Huo Ningyu’s hand, patting it gently as she persuaded.
If Huo Ningyu agreed to Jiang Ning becoming Zhengyang’s concubine today, this matter could be quietly resolved.
“I’m sorry, Lady Xie, I will not marry into the Xie Family. Young Master Xie’s heart does not belong to me, and I have no wish to remain alone in an empty chamber, left with nothing but sorrow for a lifetime.” Huo Ningyu addressed her directly as Lady Xie, whereas she usually called her Aunt Xia.
No matter what, she would not marry into the Xie Family.
Otherwise, she would repeat the tragedy of her past life.
Even though she had been reborn, she still could not match Jiang Ning in cunning.
Jiang Ning had always pretended to be obedient.
She and her mother resented Huo Ningyu’s father for causing them to lose their husband and father.
Yet they had no choice but to rely on the Huo Family for survival.
As soon as the opportunity arose, they would bring about the Huo Family’s downfall.
“Ningyu, you can only marry into my Xie Family. Do not forget, your marriage to Zhengyang was arranged by Imperial Decree. To break off the engagement would be to defy the Emperor’s order.” Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Lady Xia could only use the imperial decree to pressure her.