The madams’ eyes held a knowing look. Xiao Ruqiong’s little tricks might deceive young girls, but they could not fool them. It wasn’t that they held great faith in Xiao Yunzhu’s character, but rather that Xu Hengce was no longer worth competing over for noble daughters.
Besides Xu Hengce, Duke Ning had two other sons. Though born of concubines, they were favored. It was said Duke Ning had already memorialized the emperor, citing his eldest son’s disability as reason to replace him with the second son as heir. The emperor, remembering Xu Hengce’s past merits, rejected the request.
That was supreme imperial grace. But imperial favor has its limits.
In a few years, if Duke Ning petitioned again, the emperor might well agree.
Xu Hengce could not even stand—how could he inherit the Ning estate?
If there were no alternatives, one might settle for him. But since alternatives existed, how could Duke Ning not choose better?
With time, Xu Hengce was destined to become the discarded son of the Xu household. His position as heir would not last long. Even if Xiao Yunzhu was young, inexperienced, and full of girlish sentiment, blind to reality, it was still unreasonable for a maiden suddenly to fall for a gravely injured cripple. What could she possibly gain?
In other words, if Xiao Yunzhu had ever wished to entangle herself with Xu Hengce, it should have been when he was healthy. Thus, the truth was likely that Xiao Ruqiong wanted to dissolve her betrothal, yet did not wish the world to think her heartless for abandoning a fiancé injured by misfortune. So she staged this clumsy play, slandering Xiao Yunzhu with rumors of a secret meeting with Xu Hengce. Then, when she raised the matter of breaking the engagement, she would have ample justification.
To escape this marriage, she sacrificed her cousin from the main branch, as if the Xiao family’s main branch had no one left to defend it. Though in truth, the main branch was indeed sparse, easy to bully.
The madams sighed inwardly for poor Xiao Yunzhu, but said nothing. Several princes and princesses favored Xiao Ruqiong; there was no need to offend her.
Xiao Ruqiong’s face darkened. She said coldly, “Sixth Sister, what do you mean by this?”
An orphaned mother and daughter from the main branch—how dared they confront her directly? She knew her scheme was not watertight. To truly cement the charge of Xiao Yunzhu’s affair with Xu Hengce, the best would be to drug them both unconscious, strip them, throw them together, or administer an aphrodisiac, lock them in a room, and let others witness their disgrace. But she could not do it. Not because of lofty morals or conscience, but simply because she was incapable—literally unable to carry it out.
Some things are easy to write in books, but in reality, every step is troublesome to carry out.
First, she had no way to drug Xu Hengce. His attendants were all loyal; she had tried to win them over, but failed. Second, she had no way to lock Xu Hengce together with Xiao Yunzhu. So she could only resort to outright slander.
Whether Xiao Yunzhu had truly come to Mingxi Courtyard today, whether she had seen Xu Hengce at all—none of that really mattered. Public opinion is terrifying, rumors hard to dispel. If she claimed they had met in secret, they could never prove their innocence. She would further declare that Xiao Yunzhu had long harbored feelings for Xu Hengce, and that her broken betrothal with the He family of Anzhou was because she was hopelessly in love with him. Then she herself could appear moved, dissolve her own engagement, and magnanimously “grant” her sister’s devotion.
Xu Hengce would not lose out—Xiao Yunzhu was beautiful, and as a cripple, he had little room to be choosy. Xiao Yunzhu would not lose out either—marrying the heir of a duke’s household. Thus, everyone would be satisfied.
But she had not expected Xiao Yunzhu to be so cunning—rather than wasting time proving details, she seized the initiative, counterattacked, and disrupted her rhythm.
Now, if she tried to say Xiao Yunzhu admired Xu Hengce, she would be caught in Xiao Yunzhu’s logic. The female guests would only think Xiao Yunzhu foresaw everything, believe her words even more, and be led by her nose.
It was uncanny—how could Xiao Yunzhu know what she was about to say? Had she already seen through her intentions?! No, impossible. Xiao Yunzhu could not be that clever!
Xiao Yunzhu smiled. “Fourth Sister, what I mean is not important. What matters is—what does Madam Xu think?”
She should not be the focus today. The focus should be on Xu’s household and Xiao Ruqiong.
All the female guests instinctively turned to Madam Xu, whose expression was dazed, tinged with disbelief. She had clearly understood Xiao Ruqiong’s intent, yet still could not accept that she was such a person. Her voice trembled: “Qiong’er, you…”
Xiao Ruqiong’s eyes reddened. “Just because of a few words from Sixth Sister, Aunt, you doubt me? Was all the love and care of these years false?”
Madam Xu involuntarily looked toward Xiao Yunzhu, as though hoping she would say more, so she could judge which sister spoke the truth.
But Xiao Yunzhu said nothing.
Madam Xu turned to the other female guests, hoping for some advice. Yet everyone looked awkward, quickly averting their eyes, neither meeting her gaze nor speaking.
A vivid illustration of the saying: *silence speaks louder than words.*
Xiao Ruqiong, tearful, said, “Sixth Sister, I should not have, in my haste, misunderstood you. But you should not deliberately sow discord between me and Aunt.”
Still, Xiao Yunzhu remained silent. Truthfully, she felt a little disappointed. She had thought Xiao Ruqiong would devise a more ingenious way to dissolve the betrothal, but it turned out so clumsy.
On reflection, it was not surprising. Wasn’t this always her Fourth Sister’s way?
Able to utter lofty words of wisdom, yet in practice full of flaws, with petty, vulgar thoughts.
It made her look down on her.
Seeing her daughter cry, Madam Huang’s heart ached, and she blurted out: “Sixth girl, no matter how you try to stir things up, it’s useless. Qiong’er is loyal and true—she has never thought of breaking off the engagement!”
Xiao Ruqiong: …
Once again, she cursed her mother inwardly as a fool.
Xiao Yunzhu had never spoken the words “break the engagement,” only hinted. Yet Madam Huang herself had exposed it, clearly pointing out her daughter’s intent.
Xiao Yunzhu said, “Is that so? Then Second Aunt, will you swear that if Fourth Sister harbors any thought of breaking the betrothal, you will be cast off by Second Uncle and sent back to your old home in Suzhou?”
The oath was not particularly vicious, but Madam Huang was struck dumb, unable to utter a word.
Xiao Ruqiong was so angry her liver hurt. What was there to fear in swearing? Plenty of people swore oaths—how many ever came true?
Ancient people were simply ignorant!
She raised her voice: “This is my matter. Why should Sixth Sister force my mother? I can swear here and now…”
“Enough!” The long-silent Xu Hengce suddenly spoke. “Fourth Miss Xiao, our betrothal ends here.”
Xiao Ruqiong: “Elder Brother Heir, please believe me, I truly have no thought of breaking the engagement!”
Her tone and expression were utterly sincere. Those of weaker resolve, like Madam Xu, began to wonder—had she misunderstood her?
But Xiao Yunzhu recalled a phrase she had once heard: *hypocrisy and pretense.* Before, she hadn’t quite understood what it meant. Now she grasped it clearly.