Chapter 11

After the maid finished reading, Fang Han Xiao placed the paper back on the table. Standing alone by the window, he was enveloped in a faint aura of solitude. The bright red wedding robes only accentuated the depth of his humiliation, yet for the sake of his grandfather’s health, he was determined to swallow this bitter disgrace. Even the harshest critic would find it impossible to reprimand him now.  

Lord Fang could only take a deep breath. “—Don’t worry about the old master. I’ve already ordered Tranquil Virtue Courtyard to be tightly guarded. None of this unsavory business will reach his ears.”  

Fang Han Xiao shook his head and wrote again: *Just in case.*  

Madam Hong forced a thin smile. “But we can’t just let this mistake stand. How can we hide such a living, breathing person? Everyone will know she’s a fake. When the old master finds out, he’ll be even angrier.”  

As she spoke, she couldn’t help glancing at Ying Yue. If not for the certainty that Fang Han Xiao had been away from the capital these past few years, she might have suspected some secret affair between him and his fiancée’s half-sister. Otherwise, his current actions were inexplicable—unless he had learned something.  

At this thought, Madam Hong’s heart trembled, but she quickly reassured herself: *Impossible. He’s been back less than a month, and he’s been confined to Tranquil Virtue Courtyard the whole time, never even stepping outside. What could he possibly know?*  

In the brief moment she was lost in thought, Fang Han Xiao had already presented his response: *Follow the Xu family’s words.*  

Perhaps accustomed to writing instead of speaking, his brushstrokes flowed like clouds and water—swift and smooth, no slower than ordinary speech.  

After displaying his answer, he covered the paper on the table, walked to the door, and pulled Ying Yue to her feet.  

Ying Yue was dazed. Only after being hauled up did she snap back to reality, shaking her head frantically at him. “Mmm—home!”  

She didn’t want to let the mistake stand. She wanted to go home.  

Though the Xu household held the terrifying Madam Xu, it was still the home she had lived in for sixteen years—far more familiar and safe than Marquis Pingjiang Manor. Standing here, she felt like a thief who had stumbled into the wrong place, utterly out of her element.  

But being unable to speak was indeed inconvenient. Whether Fang Han Xiao genuinely didn’t understand her or simply ignored her, he pulled her along without hesitation—or more accurately, half-dragged, half-supported her. Ying Yue resisted on one hand, but on the other, she lacked the strength to walk on her own. Aside from blood loss, she had been locked up by Madam Xu for the past few days, deprived of proper food and rest, leaving her weak after biting her tongue.  

“Wh—where?”  

Unable to struggle free, Ying Yue asked in panic. Then, remembering Fang Han Xiao couldn’t answer, she hastily stretched out her palm, hoping he would write his reply.  

Fang Han Xiao didn’t write. Instead, he somehow produced her head covering and, with a flick of his hand, draped it over her.  

Dusk had already fallen outside, and with her vision obscured, Ying Yue could see nothing. Instinctively, she reached up to pull it off, but Fang Han Xiao tightened his grip slightly, immobilizing her arm—unlike when she had been forced into her bridal attire earlier. Back then, she could still struggle a little. Now, the man’s control was like iron and bronze, effortless yet leaving her unable to move an inch.  

“Mmm—let—”  

“Han Xiao, where are you taking her?!”  

Madam Hong’s voice came from behind as she hurried after them. At this moment, Ying Yue was grateful—she had asked the very question Ying Yue wanted answered.

Fang Hanxiao turned his head back and remained silent for a moment—of course, he could only be silent. Without paper and brush, he couldn’t express his thoughts, nor could others understand what he was thinking.  

So, he curved his lips in what seemed like an apologetic smile before turning away and continuing forward.  

Lord Fang had also chased after him, hesitating whether to order someone to stop him while following behind for a stretch. Then, he gradually realized Fang Hanxiao’s direction—he was heading straight for the main hall!  

Some of the closer relatives of Marquis Pingjiang Manor were already gathered in the main hall. More importantly, the ancestral tablets of the deceased eldest branch couple had been brought out from the ancestral shrine—all arranged beforehand by Madam Hong as part of the wedding ceremony preparations.  

This mute nephew of his must have taken the wrong medicine—he was actually going to accept this fake bride the Xu family had sent him!  

Lord Fang could no longer stand by and watch. He hurried forward with his men to block the way, saying, “Hanxiao, marriage is a serious matter. You mustn’t act rashly out of anger. Though your father is no longer here, your uncle can still make decisions for you—”  

“Young master, the auspicious hour has arrived. Any further delay would be inauspicious.” This was Mama Cai chiming in from the side.  

Lord Fang, interrupted, shot her an annoyed glare. Mama Cai was anxious, wishing she could force Fang Hanxiao and Yingyue to complete the ceremony immediately, but she didn’t dare openly defy Lord Fang. Under his glare, she quickly shrank back.  

Yet she didn’t escape entirely. Madam Hong, already agitated by the unexpected turn of events, couldn’t hold back when she saw this old woman daring to interfere. She raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. “Shameless old hag! How dare you speak!”  

Yingyue, standing beside Fang Hanxiao, flinched in fright. It wasn’t that she pitied Mama Cai—her timid nature, shaped by her upbringing, made her fear such outbursts, always worrying she’d be next.  

At this moment, Fang Hanxiao’s grip on her felt somewhat protective. At least he didn’t seem like the type to hit her. Unconsciously, she leaned slightly closer to him, no longer trying to break free.  

Fang Hanxiao showed no particular reaction. His inability to speak saved him a lot of trouble. With Yingyue compliant in his hold, he took long strides, bypassing the crowd and moving even faster.  

The servants hesitated, looking to Lord Fang for guidance. After all, this was the young master of the household—without explicit orders, they didn’t dare forcibly stop him.  

Mama Cai paid no mind. Clutching her face, she hurried after them. What did it matter if Lord Fang and Madam Hong objected? As long as the groom was willing, what could an uncle and aunt from a separate branch of the family do to interfere with their nephew’s choice of a bride?  

Lord Fang and Madam Hong understood this too. If Fang Hanxiao didn’t care and was willing to endure this humiliation, they truly had no authority to overstep. They weren’t his parents—forcing the issue would be unjustified and only invite gossip without causing any real upheaval.  

Madam Hong had calculated everything beforehand, setting the trap perfectly, waiting for Madam Xu to walk right in. And Madam Xu hadn’t disappointed—she’d actually dared to send a fake bride. But who could have guessed the flaw would come from within their own household!  

Had this nephew of hers not only injured his throat back then but also damaged his manhood? Otherwise, how could he be so spineless as to accept this—  

Filled with resentment, Madam Hong speculated maliciously while glancing at Lord Fang’s expression, hoping he would come up with a solution.

Before Lord Fang could speak, a steward from the Earl’s mansion, who had been waiting outside, rushed forward upon seeing his masters finally emerge. He hastily intercepted, saying, “My Lord, most of the guests have arrived. Many wish to speak with you and are asking why the young master suddenly ran off with the bride. Second Master and the chief steward are managing things in the reception hall. Some guests are easy to handle, but others are pressing aggressively—like Master Xue, who is close to our young master, and Young Master Cen from Marquis Longchang’s household. This young lord has barely exchanged words with our master before, yet he’s now stirring up trouble, insisting on joining Master Xue to search for him. Second Master is so entangled with them that he’s breaking out in sweat—”

The “Second Master” he referred to was Lord Fang’s eldest son, Fang Hancheng, whom Lord Fang had left to entertain the guests while he stepped away temporarily.

Lord Fang showed no reaction to his son’s predicament, but the mention of Young Master Cen sparked an uncontrollable fury in his eyes—yes, the Xu family had never been his true target; it was the Marquis Longchang’s household.

Had his nephew followed his scheme, from the Xu family to Young Master Cen, and from Young Master Cen to Marquis Longchang, the entire chain would have unraveled. The position that Marquis Longchang had snatched from him years ago—how it was taken, he could have made it change hands again.

But now, such thoughts were futile. Fang Hanxiao, the pivotal figure, had thwarted him at the most critical juncture, choking Lord Fang’s plans in their infancy.

As the sole remaining male heir of the elder branch, Fang Hanxiao’s willingness to go along with Madam Xu’s claim that Wangyue was ill and replace her with Ying Yue meant the entire elder branch accepted this arrangement.

Of course, Lord Fang could still expose the Xu family’s deception in the marriage, shaming them further—but to what end? Even if the Xu family were humiliated to death, it would bring him no benefit.

Madam Hong impatiently snapped at the steward, “Step aside!”

Then, she lowered her voice to Lord Fang, “My Lord, perhaps we could leak this to the Old Master. Hanxiao is the Old Master’s heart and soul. If he learns of this injustice, he will surely not let it slide. With the Old Master intervening, demanding an explanation from the Xu family would be justified—”

Fang Hanxiao wasn’t entirely beyond control—above him loomed his grandfather.

Lord Fang pondered briefly before gritting his teeth and shaking his head. “No. Precisely because the Old Master dotes on him, hearing this would enrage him. If he were to pass away from anger, what good would it do to bring down Marquis Longchang then? I’d only be paving the way for others.”

With no viable options left, Madam Hong twisted her handkerchief in agitation and spoke without restraint, “What a scourge! Even when he’s absent, he ruins things—back then, the Cen family stole the General Commander’s position from us by slandering you before the Emperor, claiming you seized power unjustly and even schemed against your nephew. Now that he’s back, we haven’t harmed him—instead, we’re helping him annul this humiliating marriage. Yet, perversely, he still opposes us!”

Listening to her complaints, Lord Fang remained tight-lipped, his gaze dark and inscrutable.

Madam Hong was still unwilling to give up. “Lord Fang, this opportunity is truly rare. Xu Wangyue and Cen Yongchun hit it off immediately. Marquis Longchang isn’t in the capital, and Madam Cen is no threat. Our patriarch is gravely ill—everything seems like divine providence. As long as we can expose to the Emperor how Cen Yongchun seduced Xiao’s wife, committed adultery, and even encouraged the Xu family to deceive us with a concubine-born daughter, worsening the patriarch’s condition—Marquis Longchang’s position will surely be lost—”

“Enough,” Lord Fang interrupted hoarsely.

Did he not understand that opportunities were fleeting and not to be missed?

But man proposes, heaven disposes.

＊＊

While Lord Fang and his wife were stopped by the steward and paused their discussion, Fang Hanxiao had already pulled Yingyue with clear purpose into the main courtyard.

The surroundings suddenly erupted with noise as many people surged forward, bombarding Fang Hanxiao with questions.

The guests and relatives outside only knew that the groom had abruptly carried the bride away but didn’t understand why. Now that they had returned, everyone crowded around to ask.

Yingyue felt the hand supporting her withdraw, and then, after some movement from Fang Hanxiao, a loud-voiced middle-aged female relative laughed and said, “So she hit her head! That explains it! The young master was just worried about his bride and carried her off in a hurry. We inside were all frightened, not knowing what had happened—those outside were saying all sorts of things—oh, is the bride alright?”

A pause. “Good, good, as long as she’s fine. Truly, the course of true love never did run smooth. Come now, everyone, make way! The couple needs to perform the ceremony. Save your questions for later—don’t delay the auspicious hour!”

She sounded enthusiastic and capable, dispersing the crowd. Yingyue felt Fang Hanxiao pull her forward again—she didn’t want to go. Finally, belatedly, she realized what Fang Hanxiao intended. Once they bowed in this hall and completed the rites, they would truly be husband and wife.

How could this be!

Panicked, she struggled again, but just like before, she couldn’t break free. Sensing her resistance, Fang Hanxiao slid his hand down to her waist, nearly lifting her off her feet as he continued forward.

The onlookers burst into good-natured laughter. To them, the bride had just hit her head in the sedan chair and must be weak. The groom helping her along was nothing unusual. Even the darkening bloodstain on Yingyue’s wedding robe from where she had vomited earlier had an explanation—tch, she must have hit her head hard enough to bleed, so of course the groom needed to support her.

“N-no—” She tried to speak beneath her head covering.

Fang Hanxiao lowered his gaze, glancing at the top of her head.

This little thing didn’t want to marry him.

He had never truly considered her will before—until now, when he finally understood it clearly.

But so what?

The master of ceremonies took his position and, seizing the tail end of the auspicious hour, called out, “First bow to heaven and earth—”

In her distress, anger flared—she didn’t want this! He was still forcing her down; he must know!

She took a deep breath, mustering all her strength to shout, “I—*cough*!”

She had exerted herself too much, and the wound on her tongue, which had almost stopped bleeding and was only oozing a faint trickle of blood, split open again. That alone would have been bearable, but at that very moment, Fang Han Xiao’s hand resting on her waist pressed down—whether intentionally or not—causing an intense wave of weakness to surge through her. Not only was she unable to continue speaking, but blood mixed with saliva suddenly choked her throat, sending her into a fit of coughing.

The attending relatives were greatly astonished and sympathetic: The bride was truly badly injured! To cough so violently out of nowhere, as if on the verge of collapse—no wonder the groom had disregarded propriety earlier and carried her straight in.

From then on, Ying Yue had no control over the situation. Everyone knew her condition was poor, and no one dared to tease her, fearing she might collapse right there in the wedding hall. They cooperated swiftly, allowing the couple to complete the three bows without delay.

Lord Fang, who had arrived late despite knowing the situation was beyond his control, stood expressionlessly to the side. Though he was now the master of Marquis Pingjiang Manor, in this setting, he was merely an observer. Under the flickering glow of red candles, his gaze briefly shifted to the somber spirit tablet of his elder brother placed at the head of the hall. He frowned and averted his eyes, turning them back to Fang Han Xiao instead.

His eyes held deep scrutiny and suspicion, but Fang Han Xiao seemed oblivious. The room was awash in red, and he, too, was clad in crimson. The pervasive hue reflected in his eyes like joy—or perhaps blood.

Amid the clear announcement of the master of ceremonies—“Escort to the bridal chamber!”—he supported Ying Yue as they retreated together.