Xie Yujing had indeed intended to return to find Concubine Hu, but she stopped halfway, stood still for a moment, then silently turned and headed toward the main courtyard.
Concubine Hu had given birth to a son and a daughter. Xie Yujing’s younger brother was only ten years old this year.
Although he was a boy, he was dull and slow-witted, and Lord Xie did not favor him. Concubine Hu spent every day painstakingly planning for her son’s future.
Xie Yujing was her token of sincerity to the Legal Mother—exchanging her own daughter for the Legal Mother’s future care of her son. Concubine Hu considered it well worth it.
When Xie Yujing first learned that she would be accompanying her eldest sister to marry into the Hou Fu, she was initially delighted. After all, the Heir of Qing’an Marquis was a rare and exceptional husband in this world.
But when the Legal Mother began sending people to teach her some unsavory skills, Xie Yujing started to regret it.
She finally understood that she was not simply accompanying her eldest sister to marry over; she was a plaything the Xie family was gifting to the Heir of Qing’an Marquis. Once she entered Qing’an Marquis Manor, she would lose the Xie surname and become her eldest sister’s servant.
If Xie Yurou and her husband were deeply affectionate, she might have a chance to serve by the heir’s side when her eldest sister was pregnant. But there was a great possibility that Xie Yurou would simply discard her in some forgotten corner to fend for herself.
She had originally wanted to beg her birth mother, but after walking a few steps, she realized there was simply no room for reversal. Just a few days earlier, her younger brother had begun studying alongside the sons born to the Legal Mother. Concubine Hu had been so overjoyed that her eyes were red all day.
It seemed she had no way out at all—she could only brace herself and move forward.
Xie Yujing’s visit did not affect Xie Linlang in the slightest, nor did she feel she had wronged Xie Yujing. After all, when she first moved into the main courtyard, it was Concubine Hu who had jumped through hoops to send Xie Yujing over.
Several concubines in Xie Manor had also given birth to daughters—why hadn’t they done the same? Wasn’t one’s fate ultimately chosen by oneself?
Once the two families settled the marriage arrangement, Xie Manor soon received an imperial decree from the current emperor bestowing the marriage. Thus, until the Heir of Qing’an Marquis personally came to Xie Manor to deliver the betrothal gifts, the entire manor was enveloped in a peculiar yet festive atmosphere.
On the day the Hou Fu delivered the betrothal gifts, Xie Linlang planned to take advantage of the clear weather to exercise properly in the courtyard, so she generously allowed all the servants of Qiushui Pavilion to go watch the excitement.
Xie Manor bustled with activity all day. According to Xiao Qiu, the betrothal gifts brought by the Hou Fu stretched from the entrance of Xie Manor all the way to the end of Qinren Lane. The heir was indeed as handsome and elegant as the rumors said, a perfect match for the eldest young lady.
Xie Linlang listened with great interest. Now that she had become an observer, watching her eldest sister’s marriage no longer stirred any strong emotions in her.
Xie Manor spent the entire twelfth lunar month busy with Xie Yurou’s wedding preparations. Xie Linlang was completely forgotten until New Year’s Eve, when she was finally permitted to appear at the main courtyard’s dining table.
The male and female heads of the Xie family sat solemnly at the head of the table, discussing something with a very harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
As usual, Xie Linlang had little presence. When she entered, only Xie Yujing glanced at her.
The Xie family’s New Year’s Eve feast was sumptuous, complete with chicken, duck, fish, and pork. Beyond these, there were even shrimp, crab, and leafy greens that were not commonly seen on ordinary days.
With no one attending to her, Xie Linlang helped herself, happily peeling shrimp and cracking crab shells, causing Xiao Wu, who was sitting beside her, to shift slightly away.
Lord Xie was a stern man. Apart from showing kindness to the children born to his Legal Mother, he completely ignored the rest of his concubine-born sons and daughters. It was absolutely impossible for him to take the initiative to show concern for these children at the New Year’s Eve dinner table.
But this year was an exception. After finishing his meal, Lord Xie put down his chopsticks, rinsed his mouth, and swept his gaze around the table. Xie Linlang could clearly feel his eyes pause on her for a moment. It was this brief pause that instantly caused a thin layer of cold sweat to break out on her back.
Anomalies often signal trouble.
Sure enough, Lord Xie spoke to Madam Xie: “Madam, you have been working hard lately to arrange Yurou’s marriage, but there is one more matter that requires your attention.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie smiled and said, “What are you saying, husband? As husband and wife, we are one. This is what I should do.”
Lord Xie raised an eyebrow in satisfaction. “A few days ago, while dining with colleagues, Master Chen mentioned that several of his capable subordinates were still unmarried. With no parents or relatives to arrange matters for them, he was troubled. I took it upon myself to handle this matter, but I still need you to take care of it.”
As he spoke, Lord Xie’s gaze shifted to his grown daughters. Madam Xie immediately understood her husband’s meaning.
After pondering for a moment, she said, “Since Master Chen has spoken up, I will handle this matter well for you.”
Feeling the weight of numerous ambiguous glances upon her, Xie Linlang forced herself not to tremble with fear, her teeth nearly chattering. She felt as though she had just escaped a wolf’s den only to fall into a tiger’s lair.
She had considered that she might become someone’s concubine or marry a poor scholar and live a life of hardship, but she had never imagined she would marry a soldier.
In the past, she had heard from her Mother that most soldiers had terrible tempers, quick to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement. If she married into such a family, what chance of survival would she have?
Xie Yujing seemed to have finally regained the upper hand. On the way back, she deliberately walked alongside Xie Linlang. When they reached a secluded spot, she said with a smile, “Congratulations, Third Sister. Perhaps you will become a general’s wife in the future.”
After carefully admiring Xie Linlang’s pale face, she left, thoroughly satisfied.
Only after returning to Qiushui Pavilion and soaking her feet in hot water did the chill in Xie Linlang’s body begin to subside.
She felt that perhaps she had feigned illness too convincingly, to the point where even her own father considered her useless and, without a second thought, decided to marry her off as a favor.
Xie Linlang unconsciously twisted her fingers, wondering if there was any way to change Lord Xie’s mind. Unfortunately, no matter how much she thought about it, she felt that resignation seemed to be her only option. Unless she fell gravely ill and died immediately, there was absolutely no escape.
Xie Linlang spent only one day of the New Year in peace. Every day thereafter was filled with anxious waiting, like a prisoner sentenced to immediate execution but not informed of the exact date, each day spent waiting for the blade to fall.
Shortly after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Madam Xie finally summoned Xie Linlang for a talk. “You are no longer young. After your coming-of-age ceremony, we can begin preparing for your marriage.
Your father cares for you and has chosen a good match for you. The other party is a Xiaoqi at the Zhengyang Men Weisuo. In his twenties, he is already a Xiaoqi—his future is boundless. Are you willing?”
After more than ten days had passed, Xie Linlang, though still afraid, had adjusted her mindset. A marriage arranged personally by Lord Xie was not something she could refuse.
Thus, Xie Linlang lowered her head respectfully and said, “I leave it entirely to Mother and Father to arrange. I have no objections.”
Madam Xie was indeed quite satisfied with her sensible attitude, nodding as she said, “You may go now. In the future, once you are married, just live your life well.”
…….
Early in the morning, Xiao Ji had just started his duty when his superior called him over. The company commander, his face full of excitement, patted him on the shoulder and said, “Xiao Ji, you lucky fellow, you’re about to have a wife.”
Xiao Ji stood there in a daze for a long moment, suspecting he hadn’t fully woken up yet. His family was so poor that matchmakers within a ten-mile radius would rather avoid his home—how could he suddenly have a wife?