“Madam Jiang, Miss Jiang, my master has sent me to escort you to the separate courtyard for accommodation. The master has been punished and needs several days to recuperate. Once he is able to go out, he will meet with you.”
The man was none other than Xie Zhengyang’s personal attendant, Zhuo Jin.
“Mother, let’s go. I told you Zhengyang wouldn’t abandon us. Even after leaving the Huo Family, we won’t end up homeless.” Jiang Ning had anticipated this all along.
Her relationship with Xie Zhengyang wasn’t a matter of days or months—it spanned three years.
Back then, he had just become engaged to Huo Ningyu.
Every time he visited the Huo Family residence, she would find opportunities to appear nearby, ensuring he noticed her.
Her delicate posture and soft-spoken manner effortlessly evoked men’s pity and protective instincts.
Over time, without deliberate effort, the two began exchanging meaningful glances.
His soul had been utterly captivated by her.
Given her status, there was no way she could marry into the Xie Family under normal circumstances.
But if Xie Zhengyang insisted on marrying no one but her, that would change everything.
As an adopted daughter of the Huo Family, if Huo Ningyu were to die shortly after marriage, she could seamlessly become his second wife.
Who could have predicted that plans would be disrupted by unforeseen changes?
“Ah, but what will you do in the future?” Yang Shi’s anxious heart remained unsettled despite the long wait.
Their mother-daughter plan had been meticulously laid out, yet it was completely derailed by that one incident of being caught in the act.
Arriving at the previous separate courtyard, Jiang Ning felt entirely at ease.
From now on, this would be the place where she and her mother would start their new life—no longer living under someone else’s roof.
Nor would they need to curry favor with anyone.
As long as she held tightly to Xie Zhengyang, a good life would naturally follow.
“Mother, don’t worry. Zhengyang’s feelings for me are genuine. He won’t abandon us.”
“But he lost his Shizi title because of you.” Yang Shi feared this might create resentment in Xie Zhengyang toward her daughter.
“Rest assured, it’s only temporary. I’ll stand by him through thick and thin and find a way to reclaim his Shizi title.”
Jiang Ning believed herself exceptionally clever. In the future, she would leverage Xie Zhengyang to achieve a life even better than Huo Ningyu’s.
Wasn’t Huo Ningyu merely relying on her superior birthright? In reality, she was a fool who had been manipulated by Jiang Ning for years.
Seeing that her daughter showed no trace of sorrow or helplessness—instead appearing happier than she had been in the Huo Family—Yang Shi reluctantly gave up and went to pack their belongings.
“Zhuo Jin, take this bottle of medicine back for Zhengyang. It’s very effective.” Jiang Ning called Zhuo Jin over, pulling a porcelain bottle from her sleeve. “Also, I’d like to ask a favor of you.”
“Please instruct me, Miss Jiang.”
Jiang Ning whispered a few sentences quietly.
She also handed Zhuo Jin a ten-tael silver ingot.
Zhuo Jin accepted the silver and hurried away.
Huo Family Residence.
With the wedding canceled for the next day yet invitations already sent out, Rong Huazhi dispatched almost all the household servants to notify each family individually about the cancellation.
Even the Huo Family’s second young master, Huo Mingchang, who had just returned from Guozijian, was put to work.
Attending Guozijian, he had been completely unaware of outside affairs.
It wasn’t until school ended that he overheard rumors about his eldest sister and her fiancé, infuriating him so much that he ran all the way home.
Upon confirming the truth of the matter, he would have gone to confront Xie Zhengyang immediately if not for his father’s stern intervention.
In the capital, those with well-informed sources had already learned what happened.
Those less informed stopped the messengers to inquire for details.
So whenever someone detained Huo Mingchang to ask about the incident, he demonstrated the phrase “adding oil and vinegar” to perfection.
“Uncle, you don’t know this, but that Xie Zhengyang is utterly despicable.
Every time he came to our house, he put on a respectable front and spoke beautifully in front of my parents.
He said he would always treat my sister well, never take concubines, never indulge in debauchery, and always put my sister first.
But in reality, he had long been secretly involved with that ungrateful wretch we raised in our household. Who knows if she’s already pregnant with his child?
Thank heavens for the Emperor’s justice. Such a shameless scoundrel deserves to be stripped of his Shizi title.
Getting only thirty lashes was too lenient—I say fifty lashes wouldn’t have been excessive.
Uncle, does your family have any adopted daughters or foster daughters? If so, you should send them away early to avoid bringing trouble upon your household.”
Huo Mingchang repeated similar words at every household he visited.
Each time filled with resentment toward the Xie family.
Among the three siblings, he had spent the most time with his sister and shared the closest bond with her.
Facing such sudden misfortune, he wished he had two more mouths to spread the story further.
To make everyone side with his sister.
Overnight, the Huo Family’s affairs with the Xie family became known throughout the city.
However, what no one expected was that there was another version spreading just as widely.
“Madam, something terrible has happened!” Liu Pozi, who had gone out for morning shopping, rushed back to the estate without purchasing anything.
“Madam is perfectly fine. Where are your manners?” Cui Huan, Rong Huazhi’s chief maid, scolded.
Liu Pozi choked back her words, properly performed a courtesy, and then began recounting what she had heard outside.
“Madam, everyone outside is spreading that our Huo Family’s Da Xiao Jie is a barren hen. The rumors are utterly vile,” Liu Pozi said indignantly.
“What? Who dares to gossip about our Huo Family’s young lady?” Rong Huazhi was furious, slapping the table as she stood up.
“Mother, what’s happened?” Just then, Huo Ningyu entered and saw her mother’s distressed expression.
“Da Xiao Jie, the commoners outside are all spreading rumors about you,” Liu Pozi immediately said upon seeing the person in question.
“Oh? What are they saying?” Huo Ningyu wasn’t surprised.
She knew yesterday’s events would inevitably become common knowledge.
“Da Xiao Jie, they’re saying Young Master Xie had already been intimate with you.
But after a full year you still hadn’t conceived, and the Xie family couldn’t call off the engagement because it was an Imperial Decree Marriage.
So Young Master Xie became involved with Miss Jiang, intending to bring her into the household as well.
If she bears children later, they could be registered under your name to secure your position as principal wife.
They’re claiming Young Master Xie was considering your interests rather than being unfaithful.” After speaking, Liu Pozi slapped her own face.
She worried whether the madam and young lady would punish her for repeating such vulgar talk.
“Outrageous!” This time Rong Huazhi truly couldn’t contain her anger.
“Send for the young master immediately. We’re going to the Xie family to demand an explanation. If they don’t give us satisfaction, I won’t mind taking this before the Emperor again. How dare they slander my daughter like this!”
“Mother, please calm down. This probably isn’t the Xie family’s doing,” Huo Ningyu soothed.
“If not them, then who? Ah, that ungrateful mother and daughter pair!
They’re trying to ruin my daughter’s reputation so you can never marry again. My poor daughter. What will become of you?
It’s all your father’s fault—he never should have brought that mother and daughter into our household to begin with.
No, I must go teach that pair a lesson. How dare they spread such lies about a second-rank minister’s household? Do they have a death wish?”
Rong Huazhi stormed out, ready to confront them with her servants in tow.
“Mother, they won’t admit it unless you can produce solid evidence. But with rumors like these, can you actually find proof?” Huo Ningyu analyzed.
“Then should we just let it go?” How could Rong Huazhi be willing to accept this?
“It’s alright, Mother. The truth will prevail. I have ways to prove my innocence. A few rumors she spreads can’t change the facts.”
“On the contrary, the incident where we caught her and Xie Zhengyang in bed together is something she can never cover up.”
“Her purpose in spreading such gossip is to reduce people’s criticism of herself.”
Huo Ningyu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
She certainly wouldn’t let that wretched woman get away with it.
But some things don’t need to be done openly.
After comforting her mother, Huo Ningyu went to the outer study to find her elder brother.
Seeing his sister, Huo Mingxian let out a long sigh. He had traveled day and night to return precisely to carry his sister in the wedding sedan today, but…
“Little sister, are you still upset?” Remembering how his sister had thrown herself into his arms crying so bitterly yesterday, his heart ached with pain.
“Upset? Not at all. It’s fortunate I recognized Xie Zhengyang’s true nature before the wedding. Elder brother, I came to ask for your help with something.” Huo Ningyu smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
But her smile carried a sharp ruthlessness.