During the meal, Shi Jun and Hua Qiu stood on either side of Xie Changxi, serving dishes.
Before Xie Changxi had even picked up his chopsticks, Old Madam spoke.
"Xuechen, you are no longer young." Old Madam set down her chopsticks, pressed a handkerchief to the corner of her mouth, and looked up at Xie Changxi. Her tone was kind yet brooked no argument. "Shu'er has known you since you were both children. Now that she has come to stay at the manor, I, as her grandmother, must make arrangements on your behalf."
Hearing this, Lady Cui immediately picked up the thread, smiling. "Indeed. Old Madam dotes on you, which is why she thinks of everything for you. Shu'er is someone we know well, gentle and virtuous—there is no one more suitable for you." As she spoke, she glanced at Cui Shu.
Cui Shu sat below, and her body stiffened slightly at the words.
She kept her eyes lowered, the tip of her chopsticks resting against the rim of her bowl, unable to pick up a single grain of rice for a long while.
"Grandmother speaks truly," Xie Changxi said, his voice steady. "This grandson is indeed no longer young and should marry. The matter of my marriage is entirely in Grandmother's and Mother's hands."
He raised his eyes to Old Madam, his expression indifferent, revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.
Old Madam's face lit up with joy, and she nodded repeatedly, beaming. "Good, good. That settles one of my worries."
Upon hearing this, Shi Jun's fingers gripping the silver chopsticks tightened abruptly.
She kept her head lowered, staring at the plate before her. On it lay a piece of osmanthus lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice that she had just served—the holes packed with sticky rice, drizzled with honey, glistening and translucent.
Xie Changxi's marriage was settled. The day of her manumission was drawing near.
Shi Jun was momentarily lost in thought. Old Madam noticed her distraction and frowned slightly.
"Xuechen, this maid by your side seems quite clever. All I have around me are a bunch of old matrons—it gets rather dull. Why not give this girl to your grandmother? She can help relieve my boredom." Old Madam looked at Shi Jun with a kind, gentle gaze.
Shi Jun snapped back to attention and glanced sideways at Xie Changxi.
She had endured so long to reach the point where Xie Changxi's marriage was settled. If Xie Changxi gave her to Old Madam now, wouldn't all her efforts be for naught?
With this thought, Shi Jun lowered her brows and cast her eyes down, reaching beneath the table to tug at his sleeve.
Xie Changxi's gaze flickered slightly. He curved his lips into a smile. "Grandmother jests. She is a foolish one. If Grandmother wants someone cleverer, this grandson will give you Hua Qiu instead."
At these words, Hua Qiu's hand went stiff.
Lady Cui's expression also changed, a hint of anger creeping into her brows.
Cui Shu paid no attention to the silent battle of wills among the Xie family. She was still dazed by the matter of the marriage.
Seeing Xie Changxi speak up, Old Madam could hardly press further for Shi Jun and had no choice but to accept Hua Qiu.
After all, his marriage had been settled. Old Madam's original intention had been to keep Shi Jun close at hand, lest Xie Changxi lose his composure before the wedding. If Xie Changxi truly cherished that maid, she could return her to him later. What Old Madam had not expected was how fiercely Xie Changxi would protect her.
Old Madam had expended much effort on this family banquet, but she only ate a few bites before ordering the table cleared.
Having lost Hua Qiu, Lady Cui was also displeased and retired early to the main quarters. Cui Shu, too, was preoccupied with thoughts of the marriage, her mind elsewhere.
The moon hung high in the sky. The paths of the marquis's manor were quiet and secluded, and the evening breeze that brushed against one's face was still bitingly cold.
Most of the lanterns beneath the eaves had been extinguished, leaving only three or five burning sparsely, their dappled light scattering across the blue bricks like frost shattered upon the ground.
Shi Jun followed behind Xie Changxi. Ever since leaving Rongshan Hall, a hint of a smile had lingered at the corners of his eyes and brows—he seemed to be in good spirits.
Seizing this opportunity, Shi Jun resolved to raise the matter of her manumission once more.
"My lord."
Shi Jun parted her vermilion lips, her voice soft and light.
Seeing that they were about to reach the Eastern Compound, Xie Changxi smiled gently and said in a warm tone, "Speak of it once we return to the Eastern Compound."
Shi Jun nodded. The closer they drew to the Eastern Compound, the closer she seemed to draw to her manumission.
Four years in the marquis's manor, and finally this day had come.
Once she left the manor, she could rely on herself, make her own decisions, and need not yield at every turn.
Everything would be decided by her alone.
Upon returning to the Eastern Compound, Shi Jun first brewed tea, then carried a cup to seek out Xie Changxi.
She set the tea before his desk. Xie Changxi took a sip, then quietly regarded her.
Seated at the desk, his gaze was tender and lingering, still carrying a smile. He asked Shi Jun, "What was it you wished to say earlier?"
Shi Jun stood before Xie Changxi, took two steps back, and then knelt before him.
"My lord's marriage has been settled, and this servant is happy for you," Shi Jun said, softening her voice before pausing. "My lord, this servant remains anxious about the matter of manumission. I beg you to grant it soon. This servant is restless day and night, fearing you might forget."
At these words, Xie Changxi set the cup down heavily upon the desk, his brows darkening.
"Yingyue, have I indulged you so much that you would raise this matter again and again?" Xie Changxi said in a low voice. "I had thought you might have something else to say to me today."
Shi Jun's brows knitted deeply, puzzled by his meaning.
"What does my lord wish to hear this servant say?" Shi Jun asked, her gaze trembling with doubt.
Xie Changxi was too unusual today. Shi Jun could not gauge what he truly meant.
At this point, his marriage was settled. Was he still going to hold onto her and refuse to let go?
Shi Jun stared straight at Xie Changxi.
Xie Changxi looked down at her, his tone softening slightly. "Yingyue, I know you've suffered much injustice lately. If you hold any resentment in your heart, tell me directly. You are my person, and I won't let others bully you. Do you understand?"
These past days, he had seen Shi Jun's grievances with his own eyes, but she refused to speak a single word, keeping everything bottled up inside.
Now that his marriage had been settled, he assumed she must feel wronged, which was why she spoke those defiant words again.
Xie Changxi's brow relaxed, and his gaze toward Shi Jun grew gentle.
Seeing her kneeling on the ground, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
She was still wearing her old clothes from before—too shabby by far.
Shi Jun didn't grasp the meaning behind Xie Changxi's words. What did he want to hear from her—her grievances, or her single-minded desire to be released from servitude?
She didn't want Xie Changxi to stand up for her. She only wanted to leave the marquis's household—nothing more.
But why did Xie Changxi always refuse? His marriage was already settled; surely he didn't intend to take her as a concubine.
That was impossible. She was still of base status, and those of base and noble rank could not intermarry. Besides, Lady Cui disliked her—how could she ever allow Xie Changxi to take her as a concubine?
Shi Jun's heart was thrown into turmoil by Xie Changxi's words, and an unnoticed layer of sweat had formed on her palms.
Her heart pounded with unease, finding no place to settle.
Why had it come to this? Shi Jun dared not think further.
"My lord, this servant does not understand." Shi Jun raised her eyes to meet Xie Changxi's, her voice growing heavier. "The words my lord once promised this servant—do they no longer hold? This servant harbors no resentment whatsoever."
As she finished speaking, a gust of wind swept past outside the room, sending a chill down Shi Jun's back.
Xie Changxi looked at her clear, bright eyes—luminous, stubborn.
She was a servant, yet she never let go of the unyielding spirit in her gaze.
What use did a servant have for such spirit? If she insisted on being this way…
He would simply see how long she could hold out.
Moonlight fell upon Shi Jun in a clear, cold glow, casting her slender figure like an orchid in autumn—swaying precariously, its vitality fading.
Xie Changxi knew Shi Jun's origins were humble, and so he mustered a measure of patience. He spoke unhurriedly, "Since you do not understand, I shall explain it to you. I had thought you were sulking with me over some grievance. Since you hold no resentment in your heart, then so be it."
Shi Jun watched him as he rose and walked to stand before her, the smile at his brow deepening.
"My lord, this servant only asks that my lord keep his promise."
Shi Jun tilted her head up slightly, her words earnest.
Xie Changxi acted as if he hadn't heard, standing before her with a gentle smile. "Yue-niang, I told you before that I would make arrangements for you. Once my cousin has crossed the threshold, I will take you as my concubine."
With that, he reached out and gently helped her to her feet.