Xie Yunxuan escorted her back to Xiaoxiangyuan, knowing he wouldn’t get an answer from Ji Mingzhu.
He didn’t plan to stay long.
He didn’t even step inside the room, afraid of bringing in the cold air, lest Mingzhu feel chilly.
“Rest well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow. If the weather is good, I’ll take you and Yunling out to play.”
Ji Mingzhu grabbed his forearm. “Don’t go asking Shi-zi-ye about it. No one gave me a hard time.”
She knew her place.
As a guest in someone else’s household, how could she cause discord among the hosts?
Moreover, if things escalated, her aunt would be caught in the middle.
In her past life, she had fallen for Xie Yunzheng, which had already put her aunt in a difficult position once. In this life, she didn’t want to trouble her elders again.
Ji Mingzhu had already made up her mind to marry outside the family. On the way back to Xiaoxiangyuan, her emotions had settled.
She had no intention of clinging to Xie Yunzheng’s high branch, nor did she want to marry Second Brother and become his principal wife.
Everything the Old Matriarch worried about would not happen.
Whether they believed it or not, she wouldn’t stay long in the Xie household.
Facts would prove everything.
However, there were still some troubles at the moment.
If Second Brother went to argue with the Old Matriarch, in the eyes of others, it would likely be seen as her instigating him.
Seeing Xie Yunxuan’s disbelief, Ji Mingzhu mixed truth with half-truths and gave a rough account of what had happened.
“The Old Matriarch said she would add to my dowry when I marry. I’m all alone in the world, but fortunately, the elders of the Xie family care for me. I was moved, so I shed tears.”
Xie Yunxuan’s expression changed slightly, and his hands, hidden under his wide sleeves, tightened imperceptibly.
“You’re going to marry?”
Ji Mingzhu looked relaxed as she walked inside, saying, “I’ve already had my Ji-ji ceremony. I can marry now.”
Xie Yunxuan instinctively followed her, even forgetting to remove his snow-dusted cloak.
“Mingzhu, do you have someone you like?”
There was a hint of urgency in his tone, which Ji Mingzhu didn’t notice.
She shook her head honestly. “Not at the moment, but I plan to discuss marriage arrangements. If I meet someone compatible, I’ll let my aunt decide for me.”
Women had too few paths to walk. Ji Mingzhu didn’t know if her decision was hasty.
For now, she had only one thought: to leave the Xie family.
As for other matters, she would take things one step at a time. The boat would straighten itself when it reached the bridgehead.
Sometimes, overthinking might not be a good thing.
Xie Yunxuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. If Mingzhu was going to marry, could it be that…
His eyes brightened slightly.
Before he could speak, he was interrupted.
To give Xie Yunxuan a heads-up and prepare him mentally, Ji Mingzhu didn’t hide it from him.
“By the way, the Old Matriarch and Junzhu Niangniang have taken a liking to several noble ladies and plan to choose wives for you and Shi-zi-ye from among them.”
Hearing this, Xie Yunxuan swallowed the words he was about to say.
His expression turned cold. “My marriage is for my parents to decide. What does it have to do with them?”
Ji Mingzhu quickly glanced at Jinzi and signaled her to guard the doorway.
If these words got out, she didn’t know if Second Brother would be in trouble, but she, the one who “tattled,” would definitely face consequences.
“It’s normal for elders to care about you.”
Xie Yunxuan’s expression remained grim. He grasped Ji Mingzhu’s slender arm, wanting to say something but hesitating.
In the end, he only asked, “Did I cause trouble for you by taking you out today?”
Ji Mingzhu shook her head.
Even if she hadn’t gone out, this reprimand would have been unavoidable.
After all, that esteemed Shi-zi-ye had not yet discussed marriage arrangements. If she were to taint him, it would be defiling a “prized catch”!
“Then why do you suddenly want to marry?”
Ji Mingzhu walked toward the warm chamber, casually freeing her hand from Xie Yunxuan’s grasp.
“I’ve already reached Ji-ji age—how is that sudden?”
Many people were betrothed before their Ji-ji ceremony, marrying as soon as they came of age.
Compared to her peers, her progress was already considered slow.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Xie Yunxuan felt a surge of panic.
He didn’t want Mingzhu to marry someone else.
Yet he feared that if he spoke his heart aloud, they might not even remain as siblings.
Agitated, he paced back and forth on the spot.
Ji Mingzhu didn’t overthink it, assuming he was troubled by the matter of marriage.
She comforted him, “If you don’t like the young ladies Old Matriarch has chosen, Auntie can still make the decision for you. There’s room for reconsideration.”
“Besides, I see Junzhu Niangniang is even more anxious. Shi-zi-ye is older than you. As long as he doesn’t marry, the pressure from the elders won’t fall on you.”
Xie Yunxuan thought to himself that he didn’t care whether his elder brother married or not.
Nor did he fear the pressure from the elders.
The only thing he was uncertain about was Mingzhu.
For so many years, in Mingzhu’s eyes, he was no different from a blood brother.
If he suddenly spoke such words to her, she would surely be frightened, thinking him a madman.
Feeling troubled and not knowing whom to confide in, Xie Yunxuan’s spirits sank.
“You rest well. I’ll go to Eldest Brother’s place to check on his condition.”
Without waiting for Ji Mingzhu’s reply, he left Xiaoxiangyuan in a daze.
Ji Mingzhu stood at the doorway, watching him leave, feeling that Second Brother was particularly unusual today.
Her eyes held worry and confusion.
“Miss Cousin, Second Young Master is used to being free and unrestrained. He’s probably just worried about the elders forcing him to marry, which is why he’s in a bad mood. Please don’t worry.”
Ji Mingzhu, who had her own troubles to contend with, said, “With Auntie here, she’ll surely find Second Brother a good wife.”
“Miss Cousin, Second Madam will also be attentive to your marriage arrangements. You just need to focus on recuperating and wait for news.”
Some matters only added unnecessary worry when discussed too much. Ji Mingzhu asked Jinzi to fetch brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Practicing calligraphy when troubled was a habit she had developed in her previous life, when Xie Yunzheng neglected her.
The fault lay with the person, not the calligraphy.
Ji Mingzhu had no intention of correcting this habit.
…
Xie Yunzheng had just seen Xi Yu off when Xie Yunxuan arrived.
Compared to before, he now resembled a frostbitten eggplant.
Raising an eyebrow, Xie Yunzheng asked, “Encountered some trouble?”
Xie Yunxuan knew his elder brother was tight-lipped. The matter weighed heavily on his heart, and he was truly distressed.
After a moment of hesitation, he still confided his worries.
“Mingzhu said that Grandmother and Aunt are looking for suitable young ladies for me.”
Hearing this name again, Xie Yunzheng’s chest tightened slightly.
Could it be that he truly couldn’t avoid this person?
His tone turned cool. “Just for this matter?”
Xie Yunxuan nodded, then shook his head. “I have ways to handle this matter. It’s just that Mingzhu wants to marry.”
Xie Yunzheng’s hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly.
He asked casually, “Whom does she want to marry?”
Xie Yunxuan shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Just the thought of Mingzhu possibly liking someone else and becoming another man’s wife made his heart ache unbearably.
But he had been Mingzhu’s brother for so many years. If she knew he harbored such feelings in secret, wouldn’t she find it disgusting?
Unconsciously fiddling with the teacup, his brows furrowed into a tight knot.
“So troubled—could it be that the person she wants to marry is you?” Xie Yunzheng asked.
“What kind of good fortune would that be?”
Xie Yunxuan gave a bitter smile. “If she wanted to marry me, would I be this troubled?”
The more he spoke, the more despondent he felt. “Elder brother, have a drink with me.”
To be reduced to such a state over a woman—Xie Yunzheng found it rather pathetic.
He refused outright. “I have an injury.”
“Fine, I’ll drink alone.”
He ordered wine brought over and drank cup after cup.
Before he knew it, he was drunk.
He even murmured Ji Mingzhu’s name in his stupor.
Xie Yunzheng pinched the bridge of his nose. What was so special about that woman, to make him drink himself into a stupor over her?
For reasons unknown even to himself, Xie Yunzheng summoned Tianshui.
“Go invite the young mistress.”