Chapter 4 Unable to Carry

As a tragic young girl who had been jilted and disfigured, Xu Rong settled into her role, rarely even stepping beyond her courtyard gate.  

The Marquis of Ji’an’s Manor was like a harbor to her—a place where she could rest, indulging her weariness and muddling through each day.  

She was somewhat curious about the world beyond the four walls, but opening that door meant encountering countless matters and people, all of which would be exhausting to deal with. So, it was better to ignore it altogether.  

Having someone keep an eye on Second Master Luo was merely a lingering habit, a subconscious move to leave a thread of possibility. As for whether it yielded results or proved useful, she truly didn’t care.  

It would be best if Madam Xu resolved the matter herself, allowing Xu Rong to peacefully tend to her injuries—though whether they healed or not wasn’t particularly important either.  

Xu Rong felt utterly desireless, as if she were on the verge of cultivating an aura of enlightenment.  

Unfortunately, the Marquis of Ji’an’s Manor, her supposed harbor, refused to remain steady and began to shake violently.  

In just three short days, Madam Xu went from righteous indignation to helpless sobbing.  

Her negotiations with the Duke of Ying’s Mansion had failed. Xu Huazhang had truly been thrown into prison, and the guards, bribed by the Duke of Ying’s household, were extremely strict. She couldn’t even manage to see him.  

Xu Rong had no choice but to intervene. “What exactly does the Zhang family want? If the charge is battery, then the proper course would be to demand apologies, compensation, or even a public trial with a heavy board punishment. There must be some procedure, right?”  

“That’s impossible! Your brother has never so much as scraped his skin since he was a child—how could he endure the heavy board?” Madam Xu seized a break between her sobs to refute her.  

Xu Rong was speechless.  

She had to admire Madam Xu’s ability to fixate on the wrong point.  

Between sniffles, Madam Xu finally explained, “Zhang Weiling’s arm was broken. The Zhang family sought medical treatment, insisting that since he must pursue scholarly honors in the future, his arm must be restored to exactly how it was before. The imperial physician couldn’t guarantee that, only promising to do his best. Whether it would work would depend on the treatment. The Madam of the Duke of England’s Mansion told me that Huazhang’s case must also wait—it couldn’t be hastily judged.”  

Xu Rong understood.  

The Zhang family was deliberately stalling.  

Xu Huazhang was guilty of assault, but there were extenuating circumstances, and at only fifteen years old, the punishment under any law—past or present—wouldn’t be severe. The Zhangs knew this, hence their strategy of delay.  

As long as Zhang Weiling’s injury remained unresolved, Xu Huazhang would be detained another day, suffering the torment of imprisonment.  

These three days had been anything but peaceful in the manor. Rumors swirled, and Xu Rong learned more about the political landscape of the capital: for instance, the Duke of Ying’s Mansion, the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion, the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion, and the Marquis of Ji’an’s Manor—though all belonged to the nobility, frequently intermarried, and boasted illustrious reputations—were internally ranked in a strict hierarchy.  

Simply put, the Duke of Ying’s Mansion was first-class. The Duke of Ying was stationed abroad with a powerful army, and many of his clansmen held official positions. The Marquis of Ji’an’s Manor, on the other hand, had dwindled to the lowest rank due to its dwindling lineage, Xu Rong’s father’s early death, and the lack of successors to carry on the family’s influence.  

The disparity in power was vast, and the Madam of the Duke of England’s Mansion was highly skilled—no wonder she had reduced Madam Xu to helpless weeping.  

“Mother,” Xu Rong said, “the priority now is either to expedite the trial or to have the county magistrate release Huazhang temporarily. The sentencing can wait until Young Master Zhang’s injury shows progress. Otherwise, if he takes a month to recover, Huazhang suffers a month in prison. If it takes two months, must Huazhang endure two months? I fear he won’t be able to bear it.”

Madam Xu nodded repeatedly: “Who says it isn’t so! Rong’er, you’re the one who truly cares for your brother. It’s no wonder he suffered this calamity for your sake.”

Xu Rong didn’t believe Xu Huazhang had done this for her. His youthful visits to pleasure quarters were the root cause of this trouble. He Nian’s report was clearly biased, employing much sophistry in his account.

But this wasn’t something she could explain to Madam Xu, so she simply said: “The Madam of the Duke of England’s Mansion is currently furious. Mother going to negotiate would hardly be effective. I wonder if we could find a suitable mediator to intervene and mediate?”

Madam Xu paused, then came to her senses: “Rong’er, you’re right.”

Unable to sit still any longer, she rose and hurried off.

Another three or four days passed.

The household grew even more restless.

Xu Rong remained secluded as usual, paying no mind to the commotion.

In her leisure, she only inquired about Bai Fu’s brother’s surveillance efforts.

Bai Fu shook her head apologetically: “My brother says Second Master Luo seems frightened by the Marquis’ affairs. He hasn’t left his residence recently nor shown any unusual behavior. Young mistress, should we continue watching him?”

Xu Rong considered briefly: “Keep watching.”

She didn’t want to involve herself unnecessarily, but given her lack of confidence in Madam Xu’s capabilities, maintaining this lead seemed prudent. After all, they had the manpower, and keeping watch required little effort on her part.

Bai Fu assented: “Yes.”

**

Before Bai Fu’s brother could produce any results, Madam Xu finally achieved a breakthrough.

Seeing dawn in their predicament, Xu Rong felt relieved. After personally serving tea to Madam Xu, she asked: “Mother has made contact with Madam Zhang? What did she say?”

Madam Xu replied: “Mm—”

As she reached for her tea, her hand suddenly trembled, spilling most of the warm liquid across the kang table, where it dripped steadily downward.

Bai Fu gasped softly and hurried to fetch a cloth to wipe it up.

Xu Rong remained still, her gaze searching as she looked at Madam Xu.

She saw clearly—this wasn’t an ordinary slip of the hand. Madam Xu seemed enveloped in a near-distraught state of mind, inconsistent with how she should be feeling now.

Madam Xu didn’t meet her eyes, her lips quivering slightly: “They said… your brother will be released soon.”

Hearing this, Bai Fu rejoiced first, daring to interject: “How wonderful! The mistress and young lady can both rest easy now.”

Xu Rong remained silent, still watching Madam Xu quietly.

Madam Xu: “…”

She clearly had more to say, but under her “daughter’s” gaze—which seemed both expectant and already knowing—she found herself unable to continue.

Xu Rong finally prompted her: “Mother?”

This seemed to flip some switch, as Madam Xu’s tears began falling freely.

Bai Fu started in alarm: “Mistress?”

The entire household knew of their mistress’s delicate constitution, but such weeping seemed utterly without cause.

“Rong’er, I’ve wronged you,” the emotionally collapsed Madam Xu sobbed. “But your brother’s life is in their hands—I had no choice—”

“What conditions did the Xiao Family propose?” Xu Rong cut straight to the point.

Madam Xu: “Sob… eh!”

She choked abruptly, casting a sidelong glance at Xu Rong’s face. “Rong’er, you… you knew—”

Xu Rong hadn’t known originally, but Madam Xu’s reaction was practically a confession. She said: “Don’t we have any other relatives or old friends we could ask? Must we go begging to the Xiao Family?”

Xu Rong had asked Madam Xu to find a mediator, hoping to bypass the Xiao Family, who were likely involved in the scheme. Unexpectedly, after all her efforts, Madam Xu had still walked right into someone else’s trap.  

Madam Xu stammered at first, “I approached several families, but they all claimed they weren’t influential enough to act as mediators. They also said the Madam of the Duke of England’s Mansion has a terrible temper and they didn’t dare provoke her. In short, no one was willing to help…” Then she added hastily, “But I didn’t beg Madam Xiao! She was the one who sent word first, and only then did I go.”  

Xu Rong looked at her, silently questioning—So even then, you didn’t find it suspicious? And you still agreed to their terms?  

Madam Xu’s confidence instantly deflated again. “Your brother has been locked up in the county jail for nearly ten days. The Madam of the Duke of England’s Mansion refuses to relent. The county office is useless—I even went to Shuntian Prefecture, but the prefect, eager to curry favor with the Duke of Ying’s Mansion, just repeated the same excuses. What else could I do? Wuwu—!”  

Xu Rong remained unmoved and only asked again, “What conditions did the Xiao Family set?”  

“…Madam Xiao said you must marry Xiao Xin,” Madam Xu muttered, avoiding her gaze.  

Xu Rong didn’t catch it clearly. “Who?”  

“Xiao Xin,” Madam Xu dragged out the words, then added reluctantly, “He’s Xiao Lun’s younger brother.”  

Xu Rong was silent for a moment before nodding. “I see.”  

She didn’t press further. No matter how bizarre the circumstances were, they no longer mattered to her.  

Madam Xu hurriedly defended herself. “I originally said that since Xiao Lun had changed his heart, the marriage could be called off. As long as they released Zhang’er, we’d let bygones be bygones, and I wouldn’t speak ill of their family. But Madam Xiao refused. She said the rumors outside were still spreading, with people suspecting Xiao Lun of plotting to harm his betrothed. Only if you still married into the Xiao Family could the rumors be dispelled…”  

Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t so foolish as to not realize what kind of future she was pushing her daughter into.  

But both her children were dear to her, and with one on the verge of being harmed, circumstances forced her to make a choice.  

This was her choice.  

Xu Rong’s gaze wandered around the room, offering no response.  

Bai Fu couldn’t hold back any longer. “But Madam, how is marrying the young lady to Second Master Xiao any kind of solution? He’s Young Master Xiao’s younger brother—and a son of a concubine at that! This—this—no respectable family in the capital would act this way!”  

“Exactly!” Madam Xu didn’t scold her for the impertinence and instead said miserably, “I argued with Madam Xiao too. At the very least, Rong’er could still marry Xiao Lun—wouldn’t that also clear his name? But Madam Xiao gave me a cold smile and said I was too late. Earlier, when their family wanted to make amends, I delayed. Now, the Chang Family had already sent a mediator first—Xiao Lun and Second Miss Chang have already matched their birth charts, and they’re a perfect pair. Rong’er—Rong’er will just have to make do with Xiao Xin.”  

Bai Fu gasped. “What?!”  

Xu Rong wasn’t particularly surprised. She spared Madam Xu only a glance before letting her eyes drift over the furnishings in the room—the bed, the tables and chairs, the vanity, the various ornaments…

Madam Xu clutched her handkerchief, sobbing pitifully, “I know it’s unfair to Rong’er, but Madam Xiao is the only one willing to visit the Zhang family. As the days grow colder, I can’t even send a single blanket into the prison. Huazhang is all alone in there—just thinking about it makes my heart ache. Rong’er, have some compassion for your brother. He’s your only sibling!”

Her words were heartfelt, but this time they failed to draw even a glance from Xu Rong, who remained absorbed in her own thoughts—  

These items all look quite valuable. If I take a few, setting up a modest household shouldn’t be too difficult, right?  

Having inherited this daughter’s body, Xu Rong was willing to make do—helping with family finances, looking after her brother—she wasn’t opposed to it.  

But Madam Xu was like this, and Xu Huazhang was like that.  

No need for lengthy descriptions; three words summed it up: hopeless case.  

In that case, there was no point in exerting effort.  

Xu Rong decided to run away.  

As she calculated, on the other side of the kang table, Madam Xu wasn’t without guilt or unease—Xu Rong’s calmness unnerved her. Unsure how to proceed, she could only make promises: “Rong’er, don’t be angry. Mother would never willingly let you stoop to marrying that son of a concubine, but right now, there’s simply no other way. Help me this once, and I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of. Beyond the dowry already prepared, I’ll add ten thousand taels of silver and a prime estate of a thousand mu. With these, no matter how freely you spend in the Xiao Family, you’ll have more than enough. If Madam Xiao dares to mistreat you, by then your brother will be back, and I won’t need to humor her—I’ll stand up for you—”  

Xu Rong suddenly snapped back to attention.  

She hadn’t paid any mind to the latter half of Madam Xu’s speech, her focus entirely captured by the earlier offer.  

In her previous life, an eighty-square-meter apartment had bankrupted her. And now, what units was Madam Xu using—mu?  

Ten thousand taels and a thousand mu—these were sums whose staggering value she could grasp immediately, even without fully understanding the era’s price details.  

Since transmigrating, she’d heard of one marquis manor after another, piled up like cabbages at a market stall. Only now did these noble families reveal their power in the simplest, most direct way—wealth, immense wealth.  

Even the declining Marquis of Ji’an Manor, stripped of influence, still retained fortunes accumulated over generations.  

Xu Rong turned her gaze back, speaking amiably, “Let me think about it.”