This scene left everyone stunned.
Hua Yourong, Murong Yanran, and Xia Zhiruo looked at the frail figure who would rather sacrifice herself than burden her benefactor, and their hearts softened at the same time.
This girl…
She was too foolish.
And too kind.
Hua Yourong reacted first. She rushed forward and grabbed Li Xiuzhi from behind.
Then she looked at Xu Lang with tear-filled eyes. “Husband…”
Hua Yourong held tightly onto Li Xiuzhi, who was bent on throwing her life away. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with tears, full of pleading. That single call carried all a woman’s compassion and tenderness, brushing lightly against Xu Lang’s heart like a feather.
Inside, Xu Lang was already celebrating.
He had agreed a thousand times in his heart, but he could not show it on his face. Especially not in front of Murong Yanran, that wild horse. If he acted too eager, the favorability he had finally built up might drop back into the negatives.
He had to stay steady.
Xu Lang sighed deeply, pretending to struggle, his face filled with righteousness. He spoke solemnly, each word firm and resonant. “I, Xu Lang, am a man who stands tall between heaven and earth. How could I take advantage of someone in danger? You three were properly arranged by the royal authority. I swore to treat you well for the rest of my life. If I were to take Miss Xiuzhi today, wouldn’t that make me look like a frivolous, lustful man? You understand me.”
His words were grand and upright, meant both to reassure the three women and to test Murong Yanran’s attitude.
But this so-called gentle refusal crushed the last thread of hope in Li Xiuzhi’s heart.
Yes, Brother Xu Lang was right.
He was a man of integrity. Why would he want someone like her, who only brought trouble? He already had three fairy-like wives. What right did she have?
Despair and deep gratitude intertwined in her chest.
Brother Xu Lang must have said those words to spare her embarrassment. He was such a good person.
Since that was the case, she must not drag him down any further.
“Sister-in-law, let go of me!”
Li Xiuzhi suddenly struggled with surprising strength, crying as she tried to break free from Hua Yourong’s grasp. “It’s my fault Brother Xu Lang got involved. I can’t drag you down anymore! I’ll go find Zhao Dahu. As long as he stops troubling you, I… I’ll do anything!”
Her desperate resolve struck the softest parts of Hua Yourong and Xia Zhiruo’s hearts.
If the royal authority had not assigned them to their husband, their fates might have been even worse than Li Xiuzhi’s.
The girl sold in the street.
The woman beaten by her husband.
In an instant, empathy overwhelmed them, and tears streamed down their faces.
“Husband!”
Xia Zhiruo could no longer hold back. She ran forward, tugging at Xu Lang’s sleeve, crying as she shook it. “Look at how pitiful Sister Xiuzhi is. Let’s help her, please. At worst… at worst I’ll eat less in the future. I’ll share my food with her.”
The little girl cried like pear blossoms in the rain. Her words were naïve, but filled with pure kindness.
Xu Lang’s heart warmed, and he gently patted her head. Silly girl. As long as your husband is here, how could I ever let you go hungry?
Murong Yanran, who had been standing with folded arms and a cold expression, was deeply shaken as well.
She looked at Li Cheng kneeling on the ground, nearly fainting from grief, and at Li Xiuzhi, who would rather throw herself into danger than burden her benefactor.
A long-forgotten sense of chivalry surged within her.
Her father, once the top martial scholar, had died on the battlefield protecting the people.
Standing by and doing nothing was not the Murong family way.
She snorted and turned her head sharply to hide the redness in her eyes. “It’s just one more pair of chopsticks. That’s better than letting her go to her death.”
Her voice was low and carried a faint tremor, but every word was clear.
It was done.
Xu Lang saw the mood was ripe and knew it was time to step in.
He cleared his throat and wore a reluctant, helpless expression. “Since my three wives are so kindhearted, I am not made of stone. I can’t truly stand by and watch someone die.”
He paused and looked at Li Xiuzhi, who had stopped struggling and was staring at him blankly. “Miss Xiuzhi, I can marry you.”
Xu Lang’s tone shifted, becoming serious. “Our family is a reasonable one. My three wives, do you truly agree to this?”
He was asking again and again. If you all agree, then you must live in harmony later. No regrets. No digging up old grievances.
He silently praised himself. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Hua Yourong and Xia Zhiruo nodded immediately, afraid he might change his mind. “I agree.”
“I agree too.”
All eyes turned to the only one who had not clearly spoken.
Murong Yanran.
Feeling the heated gazes upon her, her heroic face flushed red. She shifted slightly, gripping the cloth in her arms tighter.
She had only said… one more pair of chopsticks.
She had not said Xu Lang should marry her.
Had something gone wrong in between?
And now she had to openly agree, in front of everyone, to let her husband marry another woman?
It was harder than killing her.
But if she refused… could she truly watch that poor girl fall into ruin?
Murong Yanran could not do that.
Under everyone’s expectant eyes, she finally squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth. “Why are you all looking at me?”
She snorted again, turning her head away in embarrassment and irritation. “…It’s just one more pair of chopsticks.”
“So Sister Yanran agrees too, right?” Xia Zhiruo said happily.
Well done, little girl. I’ll reward you tonight.
Xu Lang praised Xia Zhiruo in his heart again.
“I agree,” Murong Yanran said irritably.
She had a nagging feeling she had fallen into Xu Lang’s trap, but she had no proof.