Shen Yuanzhu had just reached the age of coming-of-age, and Xie Xuchuan was only three years older than her.
As a young man full of vigor, his temper was naturally not small.
Moreover, Xie Xuchuan had been pampered and doted on by the entire Xie family while growing up, and the pride in his heart was no less than anyone else’s.
He had never faced setbacks before, yet he suddenly suffered the loss of a close friend and was pressured by the friend’s widow.
Unable to bear the burden in his heart, he poured out all his grievances to Shen Yuanzhu.
But Shen Yuanzhu, though seemingly obedient and gentle on the surface, was actually a person of great inner fortitude.
If Xie Xuchuan had humbly admitted his mistake in a gentle tone, she would not have embarrassed him, considering the affection they shared in their youth.
But now…
Shen Yuanzhu raised her head, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
She extended a finger and forcefully poked Xie Xuchuan in the chest: “Fine, then tell me, what happened between you and Jiang Wansu?”
“I…”
She pressed forward step by step.
“You asked me if marrying you was for the Xie family’s business. Then I ask you, if after we marry, I burn the remaining parts of the Shen Family Dyeing Manual and halt all use of the dyeing formulas previously employed by the Xie family, would the Xie family agree?”
Xie Xuchuan panicked: “Yuanzhu, I didn’t mean… I…”
“Xie Xuchuan, after today, I will never inquire about the matters between you and Jiang Wansu. After we marry, the Xie family will not receive any dyeing formulas from the Shen family.
“You asked Lady Xie to speak with me. If the Xie family agrees, I will agree to let you bring that child into the Xie family, regardless of what status you intend to give him.”
Shen Yuanzhu stood before Xie Xuchuan, her eyes filled with anger: “You, go back to the Xie family now. If Old Lady Xie and Lady Xie agree, I will act as if nothing happened, and the marriage arrangement will proceed as before!”
“Yuanzhu.”
Seeing that Shen Yuanzhu was truly angry, Xie Xuchuan panicked: “I’m sorry, I’m just too exhausted. I didn’t mean to blame you.”
“I know you’re not blaming me, and what right do you have to blame me? After all, it was you who broke the vow, and it was you who impregnated someone else.”
“I didn’t.”
Xie Xuchuan said sternly: “Yuanzhu, you should trust me. I would never betray you.”
Shen Yuanzhu shook her head: “Whether I trust you or not is unimportant. Whether you betrayed me or not is also unimportant. I only ask you, here and now, are you still determined to take the child in Jiang Wansu’s womb and make him the legitimate heir of the Xie family?”
“I…”
Xie Xuchuan stammered and retreated two steps.
“Enough, go back. My words stand: if the Xie family agrees not to use the Shen family’s dyeing formulas, I will agree to you adopting anyone as the legitimate heir. The rest is up to you.”
After saying this, Shen Yuanzhu turned to leave but was stopped by Xie Xuchuan.
“Yuanzhu, you are trying to destroy the marriage alliance between the Xie and Shen families.”
“…”
Angered to the point of tears, Shen Yuanzhu looked at his face and resentfully tore off the jade button with a peace knot hanging from his waist.
She casually tossed the item into the pond and strode away.
Xie Xuchuan watched the ripples in the pond, a mix of frustration and resentment slowly growing in his heart.
He did not understand why the person who should have supported him the most was unwilling to listen to him further, even at the cost of threatening their marriage arrangement.
As the peace knot sank to the bottom of the pond, Xie Xuchuan pressed his lips tightly together and stormed off in a fit of anger.
As soon as Xie Xuchuan stepped out of the Shen residence, Zitang hurriedly approached: “Young Master Xie, did Miss Shen agree?”
Pressed step by step by Jiang Wansu and now seeing Zitang, Xie Xuchuan felt a faint sense of annoyance.
But thinking of Jiang Wansu’s frail and delicate, sickly appearance, he slowly suppressed those complicated emotions.
Xie Xuchuan said hoarsely, “She agreed. I will return to the Xie family to discuss this matter with Mother.”