Xiao Ji had not come to Shilang Mansion to eagerly curry favor with relatives. Seeing the bride emerge, he gave a meaningful glance to Xi Niang beside him.
Xi Niang, being sharp-witted, immediately urged the Gu Yue Dui: “Quick, quick, the bride is here! Start playing!”
Xie Linlang, carried on Xie Rongyu’s back, felt half her worries dissipate upon hearing the sudden burst of drumming and music.
She truly had not expected her Legal Mother to forbid anyone from entering the manor to fetch the bride. If Xie Rongyu had not suddenly appeared, she would have had to walk out step by step on her own today.
Walking out herself would have been one thing, but even a clay figurine has some spirit. If Xiao Ji were to resent her because of the Xie Manor’s disrespect today, wouldn’t that just bring her unnecessary trouble?
Xiao Qiu, following beside Xie Linlang, saw the tall, imposing figure in bright red at the manor gate and immediately grew worried for her mistress. Compared to the eldest young lady’s husband, this third son-in-law was far too rough—didn’t he look a whole head taller than the eldest son-in-law?
Next to him, her young lady seemed like a little white rabbit.
Xie Rongyu, with his scholar’s physique, had been trembling from the strain of carrying a teenage girl from the rear courtyard to the front courtyard. Spotting the wedding procession, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief—he felt he could barely hold on any longer.
Seeing Xie Linlang off on her wedding day had been unexpected. Yesterday, while paying respects to his birth mother, he had heard her sighing about how pitiable Third Young Miss was.
Not only had Father married her off to a low-born soldier, but now, as the wedding day arrived, Madam hadn’t even ordered a banquet or arranged for the household to add to Third Young Miss’s dowry.
It was just a casual complaint, and Xie Rongyu hadn’t paid it much mind at first. Since childhood, he had rarely seen this third sister—what sibling affection could exist between them?
Yet today, his feet had somehow turned toward Qiushui Pavilion, and in the end, he had somehow played the hero by volunteering to escort her out of the manor.
Sweat dripped from Xie Rongyu’s forehead onto the bluestone pavement, splattering into fragments. He thought perhaps it was because he felt Xie Linlang was pitiable.
Just like him—though he was Father’s second son, because he wasn’t born from the Legal Mother’s womb, he had become a dispensable presence in Xie Manor.
Xiao Ji, being a martial artist, could easily tell that the man carrying the bride was at the end of his strength. Though the other was forcing himself not to show weakness, his unsteady steps were nerve-wracking to watch.
Xiao Ji stepped forward, but the steward immediately thrust out an arm to block him.
Was Xiao Ji someone with a good temper? Did he fear the Vice Minister of Revenue? Let it not be forgotten that although he was merely a Xiaoqi guarding the city gates, this marriage had only come about because the other side had actively clung to Master Chen.
A bunch of spineless cowards, too afraid to confront Master Chen directly, could only vent their frustration by bullying a powerless soldier like him at a time like this.
Hah. Looking at the arm blocking his way, Xiao Ji grabbed it, pulled, and pushed—and the arrogant chief steward of Xie Manor fell face-down onto the ground.
Smoothly, Xiao Ji stepped onto the steward’s brocade-clad back and strode through the gates of Xie Manor. Before Xie Rongyu could react, the weight on his back vanished.
Xie Linlang, beneath her veil, couldn’t see what was happening but struggled to suppress a scream. The next moment, she was firmly held by a pair of large hands.
Xiao Ji had no desire to linger in Xie Manor. Now that he had the person, he nodded in thanks to the panting young man: “Thank you. I’ll take her now.”
Xiao Ji was about to turn and leave when the large red flower on his chest was grabbed by the person in his arms, causing him to instinctively halt his steps.
Xie Linlang had no time to dwell on the sensation of being held by a stranger. She only knew that once she left Xie Manor today, she might never step through its gates again.
She felt no attachment to Xie Manor itself, but she owed Xiao Qiu and Xie Rongyu, who had seen her off today, a word of thanks.
Tentatively, she reached out in front of her and called softly, “Xiao Qiu.”
Xiao Qiu, unable to hold back her tears once more, hurried forward to grasp Xie Linlang’s hand. “Miss, I can’t bear to part with you.”
Xie Linlang didn’t cry; instead, she smiled and said, “Don’t cry. Thank you for taking care of me these past few years. If you marry in the future, send me word if you can. I’ll add to your dowry.”
Then, she turned her attention forward. “Second Brother, thank you for today.”
She couldn’t say more, lest she cause unnecessary trouble for others.
Seeing that she seemed to have finished speaking, Xiao Ji immediately turned and strode toward the Hua Jiao. The wedding matron loudly announced, “The bride is boarding the sedan! The bride is boarding the sedan!”
Supported by the wedding matron, Xie Linlang settled into the sedan and let out a long sigh of relief. For her, today had been a close call but ultimately safe.
Just then, the steward, who had been stepped on by Xiao Ji earlier, suddenly spoke up again. “Wait! Third Miss, Madam will be going out to pray for the eldest sister’s blessings in three days. Out of consideration for your travel hardships, Madam has excused you from the Hui Men visit.”
The previously lively atmosphere suddenly turned cold again, as everyone instinctively looked toward the red bridal sedan.
Xiao Ji inwardly sneered. It seemed Xie Manor was unwilling to associate with a poor relative like him. Now, they were even abandoning their own daughter—how utterly pragmatic.
Yet he remained silent, curious to hear what his new bride would say.
Although being told on her wedding day that she was forbidden from the three-day Hui Men visit was humiliating, everything that had happened before leaving today had already made Xie Linlang abandon any thought of relying on Xie Manor’s influence in the future.
Not having to return meant she wouldn’t have to spend money on Hui Men gifts, which suited her just fine—she could save the expense.
Xie Linlang raised her voice and called out, “In that case, Madam and eldest sister’s matters take precedence. I certainly wouldn’t dare disturb them.”
Madam Xie had always maintained a public image of kindness and generosity. Even if she had personally given the order to forbid a married concubine-born daughter from returning home, this was not the way to handle it.
But the steward, second only to two people in Xie Manor and accustomed to giving orders, had earlier been stepped on by a lowly outsider in front of so many people.
Humiliation and anger clouded his judgment. To embarrass Xiao Ji, he had blurted out the words in front of everyone, blatantly revealing to all the onlookers that Madam’s affection for concubine-born children was merely superficial. Otherwise, why would she forbid the young lady from returning home?
And Qinren Lane was never short of people who enjoyed a spectacle.
Xiao Ji directed his men to lift the several chests that had accompanied Xie Linlang out of the manor. Then, he mounted his horse and waved his hand grandly.
“Let’s go! Even the bricks in front of the Vice Minister of Revenue’s residence are precious. Even if we brothers guard the Emperor’s gates, we’re still just muddy-legged commoners. Let’s not dirty their golden bricks.”
A group of rough soldiers immediately mounted their horses in unison, shouting loudly, “Let’s go! We wouldn’t dare seek kinship with such a noble family that forbids its married daughters from returning home.”
“Shh, shh, shh, you bunch of country bumpkins, keep your voices down. Don’t disturb the rest of the honorable Minister’s wife, or you’ll all be dragged off to have your heads chopped off.”
“Hahahahaha…”
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Xiao Ji’s wedding procession burst into laughter, but even the onlookers gathered in the alley couldn’t help but laugh out loud.