Chapter 6 — Even a Dog Knows to Repay Kindness

The servant knelt trembling on the ground.
“Eldest Young Master had urgent matters and left early this morning. I… I don’t know when he’ll return.”

Wanru immediately pulled Xie Xiulin’s hand, quietly retreating a few steps so they wouldn’t be caught in the storm.

Sure enough, the First Madam slammed the table and shouted angrily:
“Useless fools! Today, the noble young ladies of the entire capital have gathered here just for him, and you didn’t even stop him from leaving?!”

The servant kowtowed repeatedly.
“Th-the servants… we couldn’t stop him…”

“A bunch of trash! All servants of Songhe Garden will be docked half a month’s wages! Send someone at once to find him! If Eldest Young Master doesn’t return today, I’ll make you pay dearly!”

At her command, the servants hastily thanked her and scrambled out to search.

“Mother, don’t be too angry. Big Brother is probably just busy with court affairs and doesn’t have time to attend. Since he has no time, why don’t we help him look over the young ladies and pick a sister-in-law for him?”

Xie Xiuzhu clung to her mother’s arm, shaking it playfully.

The First Madam scolded her sternly:
“What do you understand! Even if I were to choose for him, how could he not show his face? This entire Spring Banquet was arranged especially for him!”

Xie Xiuzhu pouted and dared not argue further, only muttering under her breath:
“It’s not like I told him not to show up. Why take it out on me?”

Xiulin whispered to Wanru,
“Good thing we didn’t go up. Even Fifth Sister got scolded.”

Xie Xiuzhu was the First Madam’s own daughter, the most favored, and usually walked sideways in the household. Even Xie Xiuyun was jealous and resentful of her.

“But why didn’t Big Brother come at all?” Xiulin was puzzled.

Wanru shook her head.
“Perhaps he truly has urgent business.”

In truth, she could already guess why. Because Xie Xianyu never cared for this banquet. He was Heaven’s favored child, always getting whatever he wanted. Since when had he ever needed to consider others?

The First Madam’s expression was dark as she lectured her daughter:
“Today’s guests are all distinguished. You had better behave properly. Don’t cause trouble and embarrass the Xie family!”

With that, she swept her sleeves and left to entertain the guests.

Xie Xiuzhu stamped her foot in anger. She had only meant well, but it had turned into her fault, and she even got scolded!

Just then, Xie Xiuyun arrived late, smiling with schadenfreude.
“Fifth Sister, you’d better heed First Madam’s words and behave yourself. I wonder if you’ve improved your manners and etiquette these past days. Don’t go making another laughingstock of yourself.”

Xie Xiuzhu’s face darkened.
“It’s not your place to lecture me!”

“I’m not lecturing. I’m kindly reminding you. If you lose face, it’s one thing, but dragging down the whole Xie family is another.”

Xie Xiuzhu sneered:
“Oh, you’ve mastered your manners, yet has anyone liked you more for it? I heard you’re trying to climb into Yongchang Marquis’s household? The Marchioness has visited several times, but I’ve never once heard her mention you.”

Xiuyun’s face froze.

Xiuzhu scoffed, raising her chin proudly.
“Fourth Sister, you’d better stay in your place. Don’t go scrambling about and making a fool of yourself.”

With that, she turned and left.

Xiuyun’s face flushed purple with rage. Turning her head, she caught sight of Wanru and Xiulin not far away. Her expression soured even further.

With nowhere to vent her anger, she snapped:
“Do you think you two have the right to wander freely at such a banquet?! Have you no sense of propriety?”

Wanru frowned slightly. Trouble after trouble—it never seemed to end.

Xiulin, frightened, shuffled forward timidly.
“Fourth Sister, I… I was just about to look for you…”

“Look for me? More like you’re looking for men!”

She reached out and yanked the flower ornament from Xiulin’s hair, sneering.
“All dressed up in red and green—who are you trying to impress? Hoping to snare some nobleman at this banquet? Do you even look in the mirror? With that face, the spawn of a maid, no matter how you dress up, you’ll always look like a servant!”

Xiulin’s secret hopes struck right to the heart, her face flamed red. She stammered,
“I… I didn’t…”

“Didn’t? Your fox-like thoughts are written all over your face! I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of Mother today, you shameless little wretch!”

Xiuyun tossed the flower ornament on the ground and raised her hand to slap her.

But Wanru stepped forward, seizing her wrist.

“How dare you stop me!” Xiuyun shouted.

Wanru’s voice was icy.
“This is the Spring Banquet—even the First Madam treats it with utmost importance. Do you really want to cause a public scene?”

“This slut is trying to seduce men—I’m only teaching her a lesson!”

“And if it turns into a scene, who cares about your reason? Outsiders will only see sisters brawling, and that the Xie girls lack all decorum. Not only will your own reputation be ruined, you’ll drag the Xie family down with you. Think the First Madam will spare you then? If you don’t believe me—go ahead, try it.”

Wanru released her wrist, staring coldly at her.

Xiuyun’s face shifted. In the end, she didn’t dare make a move.

She shot Wanru and Xiulin a venomous glare.
“I’ll deal with you both later!”

As she stalked off, she deliberately crushed the flower ornament under her heel.

Xiulin lowered her head, staring at the ruined ornament, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Wanru gently held her hand.
“Don’t be sad.”

But Xiulin sobbed harder.
“Wanru-jie, I… I wasn’t trying to seduce anyone…”

Wanru took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
“I know. Don’t let those ugly words weigh on you. Today’s banquet is a matchmaking feast. Which girl here isn’t dressed their best? How could that be wrong?”

Xiulin hiccuped through her sobs.
“Still, I’m just a target for their anger. I’m only a concubine’s daughter. My mother isn’t favored. How can I ever compare with her?”

Xiulin was also from the third branch, but born of a concubine—her mother once a maid. That was why Xiuyun often mocked her.

Wanru pressed her lips together, unsure how to comfort her. Her own situation wasn’t much better.

She had always been cautious, never drawing attention. Even today, though she had her own plans, she still dressed plainly, only putting subtle thought into the details so no one could fault her.

Xiulin, however, wore a newly tailored dress and carefully styled hair—and had walked straight into trouble.

Clutching Wanru’s hand tightly, Xiulin’s eyes shone with fragile hope.
“Wanru-jie, I often think… if only I could marry out. They say marriage is a woman’s second rebirth. If… if I could marry well…”

Wanru smiled faintly, gently wiping the tearstains from her face.
“If you were married, people would only remember you as a daughter of the Xie family. You’d no longer suffer at the hands of Third Madam or Xiuyun. Your days would surely be better than now.”

Hope lit Xiulin’s eyes, and she nodded eagerly.
“Yes!”

Wanru plucked two peach blossoms from a nearby tree, tucking them into her hair.
“The embroidered flower you wore was delicate, but true flowers are far more striking. Wear these instead.”

Xiulin’s tears lingered, but she smiled happily.
“Wanru-jie, you’re so kind.”

Wanru smiled faintly.

Xiulin, cheered up, whispered with excitement:
“Many noble sons are attending today. If one of them could take a liking to me, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

“With my background, how could I match a noble son?” Wanru replied calmly.

Xiulin was still a Xie by blood. The Xie family was the foremost century-old clan. Competing for a noble marriage wasn’t impossible.

But Wanru? An orphan with no real status. She knew better.

“You’re so beautiful. What if a noble son really does fall for you?”

Wanru only smiled, shaking her head.

As they spoke, voices drifted from deeper in the peach grove.

Peeking through the blossoms, Xiulin saw a group of young scholars in scholar’s robes.

She quickly tugged Wanru aside, lowering her voice.
“I just remembered—the banquet today also invited Uncle’s students, those who came to sit the imperial exams. We mustn’t run into them. If anyone sees, our reputations could be ruined.”

Wanru blinked.
“Ruined?”

Xiulin frowned.
“They’re all from poor families, only having studied at Uncle’s Bailu Academy. Who knows if they can even pass the exams? And even if they did, their families are destitute. We’d have to suffer years of hardship. Of course, Xie girls can’t marry such men.”

But Wanru gazed blankly at the scholars among the peach blossoms, lost in thought.

“Come on, let’s go to the banquet. The guests must have all arrived by now!” Xiulin tugged her along.

Wanru suddenly paused.
“I just remembered—I forgot to deliver the medicinal food I made for Old Madam. You go ahead. I’ll come later.”

Xiulin nodded reluctantly.
“Then don’t be too long. I’ll wait for you at the banquet!”

“Mm.”

At that moment, in the banquet hall, Xiuyun was busily flattering Third Madam and the Marchioness of Yongchang.

A little maid hurried over. Xiuyun glanced at her and discreetly moved aside.

“Is everything arranged?” she whispered.

The maid nodded.
“Yes. Master Yuan has already arrived.”

“Then proceed as planned. First, lure Xu Wanru over.”

“Yes.”

The maid bowed her head and withdrew.

A flash of malice flickered in Xiuyun’s eyes.

If things went well today, that wretched Xu Wanru wouldn’t be entirely useless. After eating and drinking in the Xie household for so long, it was about time she gave something back.

Even a dog knows to repay kindness!