Chapter 13 After Tomorrow, It’s a Stranger

Xu Rong ate her tea and cakes without looking up, only after finishing three or five pieces did she gather enough energy to glance at the woman seated beside her.  

The woman wore a mauve jacket with a simple floral pattern, embroidered only with a border of orchid motifs along the lapel. Her hair was tied into a plain rounded bun, adorned with two silver hairpins. Her hands rested on her knees, delicate silver bracelets encircling her wrists—no other ornaments in sight.  

Xu Rong tentatively called out, “Wei Yiniang?”  

The woman responded with a timid smile, “Yes?”  

Xu Rong was genuinely surprised.  

Not because of Wei Shi’s modest appearance, but because of her looks. Judging by Xiao Xin’s age, his birth mother should have been around thirty-five, yet Wei Shi appeared no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Moreover, a faint melancholy lingered between her brows, her eyes watery and timid, as if easily startled. This timid air made her seem even younger—at a glance, one might mistake her for barely twenty.  

This was the epitome of an innocent beauty.  

As Xu Rong stood up, she subtly glanced at Xiao Xin, who stood near the door. No wonder his perpetually gloomy and awkward face still carried a trace of handsomeness—his mother had given him excellent genes.  

She moved to curtsy, but Wei Shi quickly stopped her. “Miss, there’s no need—no need for formalities.”  

She seemed unused to social interactions, stumbling slightly over even this short sentence.  

Only when Xu Rong obediently sat back down did Wei Shi relax a little, speaking softly, “Miss, are you still hungry? Let me fetch you a bowl of noodle soup from the kitchen. These pastries are cold—eating too much isn’t good for your stomach.”  

Truth be told, the cakes here were of poor quality—dry and bland, far inferior to what Xu Rong had eaten at the Marquis of Ji’an Manor. That was why she had choked on the first bite. By the same logic, the noodles here were likely just as mediocre.  

But Xu Rong hadn’t come just for the food, so she nodded. “Thank you, Yiniang.”  

Wei Shi smiled faintly and left—she really was going to the kitchen herself.  

Bai Fu, standing nearby, was inwardly astonished. Wei Shi’s circumstances were evident from both the furnishings in her room and her own attire. Yet, as a semi-mistress who had borne a son, how had she ended up in such a state in the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion? It was almost—unworthy of her face.  

Xu Rong pushed the remaining two cakes on the plate toward Bai Fu and gestured. “Take these to the door and keep watch.”  

Bai Fu understood, picking up the plate and moving away. Xu Rong then extended an invitation. “Second Young Master Xiao, please sit.”  

Xiao Xin paused before walking over and choosing the chair farthest from her.  

Xu Rong couldn’t help but chuckle, tapping the table lightly. “No need to guard against me. By tomorrow, we likely won’t have any ties left.”  

Xiao Xin’s gaze sharpened. “How do you know?”  

“My mother and I just came from the Duke of Ying’s Mansion.” Xu Rong briefly recounted the events before concluding, “For Old Madam Zhang to come at this hour, there’s only one possible reason—to persuade your lady to abandon her plans.”  

Xiao Xin exhaled, his expression easing slightly. But he couldn’t fully relax and pressed further, “My grandmother may convince the lady, but what about your family?”

Xu Rong glanced at him and suddenly realized how young Xiao Xin really was. He had just fought with Xu Huazhang. Though his clothes weren’t disheveled, Xu Huazhang had used too many underhanded tricks, targeting his head, face, and throat, even pulling his hair loose. Now, with a few stray strands falling over his forehead and his expression relaxed, the earlier ferocity was gone, replaced by a youthful innocence.

“Second Young Master Xiao, how old are you this year?”

Xu Rong’s curiosity was casual, so she asked offhandedly. Before, she had only guessed—seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen—but she didn’t know the exact number.

Xiao Xin looked up at her, his gaze puzzled, but he still answered, “Seventeen.” Then he added, “Miss Xu, we’re discussing serious matters now.”

Xu Rong nodded with an “Oh.” “Alright, serious matters it is.”

She clicked her tongue inwardly. He really was a minor, a year younger than even this body of hers. Good thing nothing had happened—otherwise, how could she have gone through with it?

Outwardly, she remained composed, showing no trace of her thoughts. “You don’t need to worry about my family. As long as Madam Xiao comes to cancel the engagement, my mother will definitely agree.”

Xiao Xin already knew this but wanted her confirmation. That way, the two of them could go their separate paths from now on.

He said, “Miss Xu, after today, we won’t need to see each other again.”

Xu Rong smiled and nodded. “Right.”

That was exactly her intention, which was why she had seized the opportunity to follow him and clarify things in advance. After tomorrow, they would be strangers. The things they had once collaborated on would naturally be buried in the past.

“Concubine-mother is back. Let me take it, Concubine-mother.”

Bai Fu spoke up at the door.

Wei Shi sidestepped slightly. “No need. It’s just been ladled from the pot—it might burn you.”

She carried in a blue-patterned porcelain bowl herself. Sure enough, steam rose from it—a large bowl of plain noodles, garnished only with a few scallions. But the broth was golden and fragrant.

A small dimple appeared at the corner of Wei Shi’s lips as she smiled, looking quite pleased. “The kitchen is stewing two old hens. I asked them for a couple of spoonfuls of the broth. Eldest Miss, have a taste.”

Xu Rong tried it. Of course, it was delicious. With chicken broth as the base, the flavor couldn’t be bad. But she had only taken a few bites when word came from outside that the carriage from the Marquis of Ji’an Manor had arrived to fetch her.

Xu Rong said, “Tell them to wait outside. I’ll leave once I finish eating.”

She lowered her head and continued eating, finishing the entire large bowl of noodles and broth.

When she finally stood up to leave, her movements were sluggish—she was a little too full.

Bai Fu, familiar with her usual appetite, whispered after they stepped outside, “Miss, if you couldn’t finish it, you could’ve just said so. I could’ve eaten it for you.”

Xu Rong replied, “That bowl of noodles was made by Concubine-mother Wei.”

“What?” Bai Fu was startled, then suddenly understood. “No wonder she said she asked others for two spoonfuls of broth—I thought that sounded odd, but I didn’t think as deeply as you, Miss.”

The two walked out of the residence. By now, the sun had already set. Xu Rong boarded the carriage in the twilight, sat down, and patted her slightly rounded stomach. “So, only I ate it all.”

When elders personally prepare food, it’s only proper to finish it. Taking a few bites and leaving the rest or giving it to servants would be impolite—this principle Bai Fu understood well. What puzzled her was: “What’s going on in this household? For a bowl of noodle soup, the concubine-mother has to fetch it herself and cook it personally. I’d heard before that the Xiao Family had a particularly favored concubine-mother. It seems Xiao Xin’s concubine-mother isn’t favored, but surely her life shouldn’t be this hard?”

It was truly pitiful.

Even a high-ranking maid would have a couple of junior maids to assist her with chores.

With nothing else to do in the carriage, it was the perfect time to listen to stories while digesting. Xu Rong casually asked, “Which concubine-mother was favored?”

“I think her surname was Ruan,” Bai Fu replied uncertainly. “I heard she was originally the daughter of an official’s family. After her family fell from grace, she was taken in by Marquis Xiao. Madam Xiao initially objected, even involving the Duke of Ying’s Mansion. Old Madam Zhang personally intervened to reprimand her son-in-law, and the matter nearly fell through. But then Madam Xiao made some mistake—whether it was mismanaging the household or something else—and after all the back-and-forth, Ruan Yiniang was still allowed into the household.”

Bai Fu paused before continuing, “But the Duke of Ying’s Mansion wasn’t to be trifled with. Though Ruan Yiniang entered the household, she could only flaunt her status within the mansion and rarely appeared in public. So even those with close ties to the Xiao Family, like us, don’t know much about her. If you’d like to know more, I can try to find out tomorrow.”

Xu Rong waved her hand. “No need. Tomorrow we’ll have nothing to do with them anymore—why bother with their family affairs?”

Bai Fu chuckled. “True. Whether their household thrives or suffers, no matter how formidable Madam Xiao is, she can’t bully you anymore.”

**

Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion.

Wei Shi tidied up the dishes while remarking, “That young lady has quite the appetite. None of the girls in this household could finish such a large bowl.”

Xiao Xin, who had been about to leave, hesitated before turning back. “She couldn’t finish it. She forced herself.”

Wei Shi gasped. “Ah? Wouldn’t that harm her health?”

Irritated, Xiao Xin retorted, “If you hadn’t personally made the noodles, she wouldn’t have had to force herself.”

“…” Wei Shi finally understood but pretended otherwise as she lowered her head to wipe the table.

Xiao Xin, already halfway out the door, suddenly turned and stormed back. “What’s wrong with the kitchen staff? Where are all the servants in this courtyard? If you can’t even use them properly, why not just dismiss them all?”

Wei Shi replied meekly, “Erlang, don’t be upset. I don’t mind doing things myself. Whether they serve me or not isn’t a big deal. You shouldn’t talk about dismissing people so casually—it offends others.”

Xiao Xin took a deep breath, too angry to speak.

“My child, why must you still clash with them as you grow older?” Wei Shi sighed. “I’ve told you before—as long as you’re safe and sound, I ask for nothing more.”

Xiao Xin scoffed. “Safe and sound? Trampled underfoot for a lifetime, given only what others discard—is this the ‘safe and sound’ that puts your heart at ease?”

Wei Shi’s expression dimmed. After a long silence, she murmured, “Erlang, don’t speak of that young lady like that. It’s not her choice either.”

Xiao Xin fell silent for a moment before turning away. “I wasn’t talking about her. I meant the people in this household.”

Wei Shi bowed her head and resumed wiping the table. “It’s my fault for being useless and dragging you down.”

Xiao Xin immediately grew irritable: “That’s not what I meant!”

He wanted to say something more but felt it was impossible to get through to Wei Shi. Pressing his lips tightly together, he stiffened his face and turned to leave.

Wei Shi, still concerned, set down the cloth towel and hurried after him, calling out: “Erlang, Concubine-mother is fine here. Don’t go asking Madam to drive anyone away!”

Her words only made Xiao Xin walk faster, and he dashed out of the courtyard like the wind.

Wei Shi had no choice but to stop. Leaning against the doorframe, she gazed at the desolate twilight in the courtyard. Her moist eyes gradually revealed a trace of unreadable emotion.

—Had Xu Rong been there to see it, she would have realized that at this moment, Wei Shi unmistakably appeared to be a woman well past thirty.

**

Around the same time, in the main courtyard of the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion.

Even if Xiao Xin had barged in demanding someone be expelled, he wouldn’t have been able to see Madam Xiao.

Because Old Madam Zhang was still there and hadn’t left yet.

Madam Xiao, who had effortlessly overwhelmed Madam Xu earlier, now lay against the headboard of her bed, sobbing intermittently.

A vivid red and slightly swollen slap mark was clearly visible on the left side of her face.

It had been delivered by Old Madam Zhang the moment she entered. Just after dismissing the servants, before Madam Xiao could utter a word, she was met with a stinging slap across the face and Old Madam Zhang’s sharp rebuke.

“You’ve done a fine job!”