Yet Xiao Yunzhu neither cried nor made a scene. She only asked in puzzlement: “Grandmother, are you not partial to Fourth Sister? Then why would you harm her?”
Old Madam Xiao: “When have I ever harmed her?!”
She loved Qiong’er too much to ever harm her.
Xiao Yunzhu’s eyes were clear. “Grandmother believes that fabricating a false story of my supposed affection for the heir Xu Hengce will make people think Fourth Sister broke off her betrothal to fulfill me? No—it will only backfire, just as it did yesterday at Duke Ning’s residence.”
If she and Old Madam had a normal grandmother–granddaughter relationship, she might have acted spoiled and tearful, forcing Old Madam to abandon such a ridiculous plan. But they did not. Even if she cried herself dry, even if she threatened her life, Old Madam would not be moved. So she could only harden her heart and speak of consequences.
Old Madam said confidently: “As long as you cooperate, it will not.”
If Sixth Girl had followed Qiong’er’s plan yesterday and gone to Mingxi Courtyard to entangle the heir, the matter would have been settled, and Qiong’er’s reputation unharmed.
Xiao Yunzhu was silent for a moment, then said calmly: “Grandmother, there is something I truly cannot understand. Please enlighten me.”
Old Madam: “What is it?”
Xiao Yunzhu was genuinely perplexed. “Why do you and Fourth Sister always treat the world as fools?”
Especially Xiao Ruqiong—she had a kind of confidence that Xiao Yunzhu could not fathom. As if all others were stupid and dull, while she alone was born wise.
Old Madam had not expected her to say this. She was stunned, then scolded: “Insolent! How dare you speak to your elder like that?”
Elder? You hardly act like one.
To make it easier for Old Madam to grasp, Xiao Yunzhu slowed her words. “Fourth Sister once said something I found reasonable: that one must look beyond appearances to the essence. So, in this matter, what is the essence? It is that Fourth Sister despises the heir’s disability and wishes to break the betrothal.”
“This, I can see. And the world can see.”
“No matter what methods you use to disguise it, it is like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell—others see through it instantly, because the essence does not change.”
“The more you do, the more mistakes you make. It is nothing but lifting a stone to smash your own foot.”
Old Madam grew more alarmed as she listened. “Impossible…”
Xiao Yunzhu continued: “Moreover, yesterday’s affair already revealed that Fourth Sister was framing me. If rumors now spread that I am infatuated with the heir, will people believe them? No—they will only think you are framing me a second time, to protect Fourth Sister.”
“Your misdeeds will then be confirmed.”
“At that point, Fourth Sister’s reputation will collapse beyond repair. To dream of marrying high will be nothing but a fool’s fantasy.”
“And you, Second Uncle, and Second Aunt will be branded as bullies of the widow and orphan of the main branch.”
“Marquis Xingyuan’s Xiao family will be despised by the nobility and mocked by the world!”
For the first time in many years, Old Madam Xiao felt sweat trickling down her back. She rasped, “Sixth Girl, you exaggerate with alarmist talk!”
Xoao Yunzhu said calmly, “Grandmother, Fourth Sister may be clever, but the world is not foolish. They will not be toyed with in her palm. I have said all I can. If you do not believe me, then by all means—send the letter to the heir, spread the rumor that I am infatuated with him.”
She rose and bowed. “It seems Grandmother has no heart for lunch. Yunzhu will take her leave.”
Old Madam Xiao stared blankly as she stepped out, one measured pace after another. Her mind was tangled like a ball of thread. Would the world truly not believe? Would she and the second branch really be scorned and ridiculed?
Just as Xiao Yunzhu was about to leave the courtyard, Xiao Ruqiong rushed out from the inner chamber, furious. “I only don’t want to marry a cripple—is that wrong?”
Such cold sarcasm—intolerable!
Xiao Yunzhu replied evenly, “It is not wrong. But if you wish to break the betrothal, you could simply do so. Madam Xu and the heir would not make things difficult for you. The world would understand, gossip a little, and then move on. Why must you go to such lengths, stirring up all this?”
To her mind, this was a case of cleverness backfiring.
Xiao Ruqiong: “You speak lightly! This world is too harsh on women. Without a proper excuse, if I break the betrothal, I will be condemned by all.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “So I became that excuse? Fourth Sister, the sages said: ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’ You do not wish it—so why should I?”
She was also a woman, not a man. Because Xiao Ruqiong feared reproach, she expected Xiao Yunzhu to take the blame?
Such brazen malice! If it were anyone else, they might have been struck dumb by her reasoning.
But Xiao Ruqiong was not anyone else. She always had her own logic and said matter-of-factly, “I do not wish it, because I have better choices. Why should you not wish it?”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Can I not marry a man with all four limbs whole?”
Yes, she pitied Xu Hengce and admired his steadfastness—his ability to face disaster without losing composure and confront it bravely. But pity and admiration were not enough to support marrying him.
Suppose there had been old affection, perhaps. But there was none. She and Xu Hengce were entirely innocent—barely having exchanged a few words before. Moreover, this was not a simple substitution. It meant her reputation would be ruined, burdened with false rumors, never able to lift her head again. She would have to be mad to agree. Nor did she wish to be Xiao Ruqiong’s pawn.
Besides, Xu Hengce himself might not be willing. Though disabled, he had his pride—otherwise he would not have broken the betrothal on the spot.
Of course, Xiao Ruqiong likely did not care whether she could truly marry into the Xu family. She only dangled the title “Duke Ning’s heir’s wife” before her, to tempt her into bearing the shame in her stead.
Xiao Ruqiong swallowed her anger and said earnestly, “Sixth Sister, don’t be blinded by love. Marriage is not about the man himself—it is about family, about status! To marry an ordinary man with sound limbs is nothing compared to marrying Xu Hengce.”
After a pause, Xiao Ruqiong added, “If Third Sister and Fifth Sister were legitimate daughters, such a fine match would never fall to you.”
Only Xiao Yunzhu, as a legitimate daughter, could make the whole arrangement seem reasonable.
Xiao Yunzhu: “Fourth Sister, you speak so eloquently—but have you considered one question?”
Xiao Ruqiong, wary: “What question?”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Whether the heir himself agrees.”
Xiao Ruqiong laughed. “Sixth Sister is as fair as a flower—how could he not agree? Besides, with me speaking on your behalf before Madam Xu, you will surely marry smoothly into Duke Ning’s household.”
Xiao Yunzhu’s clear, black-and-white eyes fixed on her. “If the heir does not agree, then it means that even crippled, he still picks and chooses, spurning my supposed affection. I would have no face to remain in the capital, and would be forced to marry hastily outside, never to return. Either way, you escape perfectly. Fourth Sister—is that what you’re thinking?”
Xiao Ruqiong, her thoughts exposed, grew annoyed. “Rest assured, I will help you marry in!”
Xiao Yunzhu suddenly laughed.
Xiao Ruqiong: “What are you laughing at?”
Xiao Yunzhu sighed. “I laugh that good advice cannot save a doomed soul. All those words I spoke to Grandmother just now—it seems they were wasted. You still refuse to believe.”
Xiao Ruqiong frowned. “Success depends on effort. As long as we manage it well…”
Xiao Yunzhu, unwilling to listen further: “Fourth Sister and Grandmother have your own plans. Do as you wish—so long as you don’t regret it.”
With that, she turned and left.