Chapter 2: Marriage Swap

When the news of Du Jinyun’s pregnancy broke, the room fell into an eerie silence. 

The Marquis of Pingyang had few heirs, despite having taken two wives. Under his roof were only two sons and one daughter. 

After Xie Yunzhi fell into a coma, Xie Huaian became the sole remaining heir of the Marquis’ line. 

An heir was now a priceless treasure for the Marquis’ household. 

Seizing upon this fact, Xie Huaian spoke earnestly, “I admit my mistakes and will personally visit the Xu family to apologize. But please, don’t harm Jinyun. She’s innocent; it’s my fault for implicating her.” 

“And what about Qingyi?” The old Madam’s voice came from the back of the room. “How do you plan to atone to Qingyi?” 

Xie Huaian turned to look at Xu Qingyi, his gaze still carrying a trace of coldness that hadn’t fully subsided. It made Xu Qingyi shrink back involuntarily. 

In her heart, Xu Qingyi thought, ‘As expected of the male lead—so intimidating.’ 

Even though he hadn’t reached his full potential yet, he was already someone not to be underestimated. 

“Whatever Qingyi decides.” Xie Huaian fixed his gaze on Xu Qingyi, enunciating each word with deliberate precision. “No matter what conditions Qingyi sets, I will agree.” 

Of course, he planned to reclaim everything with interest. 

Xu Qingyi felt as though she were being stared down by a venomous snake. 

“Qingyi.” The Marquis of Pingyang, still fuming, turned to Xu Qingyi and asked, “This mess is indeed the fault of that scoundrel Huaian. You decide how to handle it—whatever you say, we’ll do.” 

He added another sentence: “Even if you wish to get rid of the child, you can say so.” 

The Marquis’ household had few heirs, but if Xu Qingyi truly wanted to terminate the pregnancy, the Marquis wouldn’t hesitate to agree. 

“No, you can’t touch the child.” Xie Huaian’s expression darkened as he interjected. “I said, anything but harming Jinyun is negotiable.” 

“You!” The Marquis was so enraged that he raised his hand, ready to slap Xie Huaian again. 

“My Lord!” Madam Qin quickly grabbed his wrist, her heart aching for her son as she persuaded him, “Why not hear what Qingyi has to say first?” 

Though Du Jinyun was just a lowly woman, she was carrying Xie Huaian’s child, after all. 

Madam Qin, too, hoped to preserve this heir. 

Everyone turned to look at Xu Qingyi. 

At this moment, the wedding gown on her body seemed unbearably ironic, filling the Marquis’ household with a deep sense of shame. 

What kind of bride, on her wedding night, would face such a humiliating ordeal? 

“I get to decide? Truly?” Xu Qingyi’s small, delicate face was now pale, her expression tinged with grief and resentment. 

“Of course,” the Marquis of Pingyang nodded solemnly. 

He had a deep bond with the Marquis of Yong’an and had watched Xu Qingyi grow up. There was some genuine affection there. 

“Very well.” Xu Qingyi nodded, pressing her lips together. “Second Young Master and Jinyun are deeply in love—I just overheard it. It turns out I was never someone Second Young Master cared for.” 

“…” 

This was undeniable, and even those who wished to comfort her couldn’t find the words. 

“In other words, my future will consist of raising an illegitimate heir while enduring the passing days,” Xu Qingyi muttered, furrowing her brows. “Perhaps I won’t even have the right to raise the child as his legitimate mother.” 

She had guessed correctly—at least, that was exactly what Xie Huaian had in mind. 

“Qingyi, that won’t happen…” The Marchioness, Madam Qin quickly interjected. There was no way she would allow Xie Huaian’s firstborn son to be raised by a concubine; naturally, the legitimate wife would take on that responsibility. 

“Can you guarantee that?” Xu Qingyi shifted her gaze between the Marchioness and Xie Huaian. “And what about Second Young Master’s opinion?” 

Xie Huaian could have chosen to pacify Xu Qingyi for now and gone back on his word later, but he didn’t even bother. “Jinyun’s child won’t be raised by you.” 

Xu Qingyi had already married into the household. If he openly humiliated her now, what could she do about it? 

“See?” Xu Qingyi’s tone was soft yet haunting, her helpless expression tugging at the heartstrings of anyone watching. “No matter what, it seems my days ahead will be miserable.” 

The members of the Marquis’ household glared at Xie Huaian in outrage. “Huaian, how can you treat Qingyi like this?! She is your legitimate wife!” 

Xie Huaian, however, merely pressed his lips together and remained silent. 

“Huaian, you’ve deeply disappointed your grandmother!” The Old Madam’s eyes were filled with bitter disappointment as she looked at him, her tone heavy with reproach. 

“Please calm down, Old Madam.” 

To everyone’s surprise, it was Xu Qingyi who spoke. All eyes turned back to her once more. 

“There is another way to resolve this,” Xu Qingyi said, her voice steady as she met the astonished gazes of the crowd. “Since Second Young Master and I are destined to be a resentful couple no matter what, why not stop being husband and wife altogether?” 

The room erupted in shock. 

“Divorce? Impossible! That would be a scandal!” the Marquis immediately objected. 

“It’s not divorce,” Xu Qingyi clarified. “A marriage swap—I will marry Second Young Master’s elder brother, Eldest Young Master.” 

Everyone was stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief. 

What was this girl saying? 

Marry Xie… Xie Yunzhi? 

“Ridiculous!” The Old Madam struck her cane against the ground in anger. “You know perfectly well the state Yunzhi is in!” 

Six months ago, Xie Yunzhi had returned from the battlefield gravely injured and had been in a coma ever since. 

“Besides,” the Old Madam continued, “you and Huaian were wed properly in a ceremonial marriage. The entire world knows!” 

“If there is no marriage swap, how am I supposed to live after being humiliated like this by Second Young Master?” Xu Qingyi countered, her tone resolute as she addressed the Old Madam.

The Old Madam was momentarily speechless. Indeed, no one could swallow such humiliation. 

But a marriage swap? It was utterly absurd—how could they possibly explain this to outsiders? 

Hearing that Xu Qingyi was willing to relinquish her position as the legitimate wife, Du Jinyun, now properly dressed, stepped forward and tugged at Xie Huaian’s sleeve from behind. 

However, Xie Huaian shook his head. He understood all too well: even if Xu Qingyi were no longer his wife, Du Jinyun’s status would never allow her to take the position of the main wife. 

That’s why marrying someone who could be easily controlled was the wisest choice. 

Once, Xie Huaian had believed that Xu Qingyi was that easily manipulated person. But now, it was clear… she was far more defiant than he had imagined. 

Unfortunately for her, a family like the Marquis’ household would never permit something as scandalous as a marriage swap. 

Xie Huaian wasn’t worried. When the elders weren’t paying attention, he cast Xu Qingyi a malicious glance, full of cruel intent. This woman was going to suffer greatly in the future. 

Xu Qingyi felt the malice in Xie Huaian’s gaze, and a chill ran down her spine. She had no doubt that if she were left in Xie Huaian’s hands, her life would be nothing short of a nightmare. 

“Old Madam.” She didn’t hesitate any longer. Kneeling down, she said with determination, “If you agree to my request, I am willing to bear heirs for Eldest Young Master…” 

The words, spoken from the lips of a young girl in her late teens, sounded bizarrely inappropriate, even unsettling. But she had no choice but to say them. 

Bear heirs? 

Tonight, Xu Qingyi had shocked everyone time and again with her words. 

The Old Madam stared at her in disbelief. “You? Bear heirs for Yunzhi?” 

“Yes.” Xu Qingyi held her pale, delicate neck high, her tone resolute. “As far as I know, Eldest Young Master’s condition, even in his current state, does not prevent him from fulfilling his marital duties. This is what the physician said.” 

After all, vegetative patients could still have physiological responses. 

The expressions of the Marquis’ household grew increasingly complex. The physician had indeed mentioned that Xie Yunzhi was still capable in that regard. 

The Old Madam herself had considered marrying Xie Yunzhi to someone in hopes of continuing the family line. 

But who would agree to such a match? 

For women of lower status, the Marquis’ family wouldn’t even consider them. For women from distinguished families, none would agree to marry into such a situation. 

Xu Qingyi, however, was flawless in every regard—her family background, appearance, and temperament were all above reproach, and the elders all approved of her. But the issue was that she had already married Xie Huaian. 

If this had happened just half a day or a day earlier… 

This was Xu Qingyi’s last bargaining chip, yet these people still hesitated to agree. 

Biting her lip, she persuaded them further, “If the Old Madam agrees, I will consummate the marriage with Eldest Young Master tonight. Perhaps I could conceive a son immediately, and you would have your legitimate eldest grandson.” 

To her credit, the Old Madam was clearly tempted. 

Xie Huaian frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected Xu Qingyi to be this bold. He couldn’t let this arrangement go through. “Grandmother, Qingyi is my wife…” 

“You still have the audacity to speak?!” the Marquis bellowed. 

Xie Huaian instantly realized that his father, too, was considering the proposal. His expression darkened, and he warned, “You can’t show favoritism to my brother.” 

The eldest son, Xie Yunzhi, had always been the Marquis’ favorite, and now his interest was piqued. If they turned down Xu Qingyi, it might be impossible to find such a suitable candidate again. 

The Marquis coldly retorted, “You want to negotiate with me? Fine. Have that maid of yours get rid of the child, send her far away, and let Qingyi remain your wife.” 

“Impossible,” Xie Huaian immediately rejected. 

“You! How can I entrust Qingyi to you when you’re like this?” The Old Madam’s gaze at Xie Huaian was filled with disappointment. 

If Xie Huaian had shown even a shred of respect toward Xu Qingyi, the Old Madam would never have considered such a drastic solution as a marriage swap. 

“This situation is entirely your fault, Huaian,” the Marquis declared, his tone brooking no argument. “Since this is Qingyi’s own decision, we will respect it. We cannot go back on our word.” 

Xu Qingyi immediately knelt and bowed deeply to the Marquis, her voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Father, for granting my wish.” 

With just one word from him, her fate shifted from despair to a future filled with promise.