Chapter 57

The night was dark, and the time was already late. It had been almost an hour since Sang Yao and Xie Yun parted ways.

Jinglian walked quickly along the corridor, the cold moonlight casting a clear glow over the deep courtyard, making his figure appear particularly hurried.

It was hard to imagine. Just now, his master had given him an unbelievable order.

Go and bring Sang Yao back.

It would take about half an hour to ride a carriage from Qingfeng Alley to the street where the Sang family lived.

Considering the time it took to enter the mansion and the conversation with Elder Xie, if he were to leave now, even if he ordered someone to set off immediately, the chances of catching up were not great.

But the order had been given, and he couldn’t refuse. To show the importance of the matter, he couldn’t just send a guard or a servant.

He had to go himself.

This night was simply surreal. He had just casually advised his master, and half an hour later, it seemed that the matter had already been decided in his master’s mind.

He still hadn’t reacted.

He originally thought that even if he were lucky enough to convince him, it would take at least half a month for the matter to be settled.

After all, marriage was a serious matter, and his master would have to consider it for several days, then discuss it with Lady Xie and Elder Xie, and then investigate Sang Yao’s background before truly putting it on the agenda.

Unexpectedly, in just a few breaths, the matter was hastily settled.

That would have been fine.

Since it was settled, If he should visit Miss Sang tomorrow and discuss it with her privately.

But his master insisted on finalizing the discussion with Sang Yao tonight, and preferably taking Elder Xie to the Sang residence tomorrow to propose marriage, then completing the six ceremonial rites within a month.

By this time next month, Sang Yao would become the new Mrs. Xie.

The young lady of the Xie family.

Although Jinglian wanted to tell himself that being decisive and not dragging things out was Xie Yun’s usual style, this was still too hasty!

He first hastily ordered the servants to prepare a carriage and went to the Sang residence.

Because he was worried about missing Sang Yao, he didn’t take the carriage, but instead, brought out a horse and rode it, rushing from Dangyu Street to the Sang residence.

When he arrived, he saw Sang Yao’s carriage parked at the gate, and Sang Yao had just entered the house.

He rushed all the way, but missed her by a moment. He stopped in front of the Sang residence and asked the stable boy who was holding the horse, “Did Miss Sang just come back?”

The stable boy replied with a sound, looking wary, “What business do you have with my mistress?”

Jinglian nodded and said, “Please inform her that Master Xie has sent me to discuss important matters with her.”

The stable boy looked him up and down, apparently considering him serious, and said, “Please wait a moment.” Jinglian nodded and stood by the door.

The wind blew his hair, and at this moment, he finally calmed down a bit.

What a stroke of luck.

His dream had come true.

Thinking that he would pick up the young lady later and take her back to the mansion, he couldn’t help but want to smile.

After a while, the carriage sent by the Xie family also arrived at the Sang residence. Jinglian waved his hand and said, “Just stay there. When the young lady… Miss Sang comes out later, be tactful.”

After a while, the stable boy came out of the house, his face displeased, and said, “My mistress is not available! You should leave now!”

Jinglian: “…”

The stable boy glanced at him impatiently and said, “Alright, alright, hurry up! We’re about to close the gate.”

The stable boy didn’t know who this Master Xie was, but he thought it was crazy for someone to come and seek an audience with their unmarried young lady in the middle of the night.

His young lady would never see him.

He reached out and closed the gate in front of Jinglian, confirming that Sang Yao was not available.

Her mood was not great tonight, and she was on edge all the way back, worried that someone would suddenly stop the carriage.

She thought everything would be fine once she got home, but she didn’t expect that even after returning home, someone would dare to come and see her in Xie Yun’s name.

If she didn’t know Xie Yun somewhat, she might have believed it. Fortunately, she was vigilant and immediately had the person driven away.

After entering her courtyard, Sang Yao slammed the door shut and specifically instructed Randong to be careful in the future, never to interact too much with strangers.

She had no plans to leave the house recently.

Although Xie Yun didn’t make it clear, it was true that she should not go out. Even though Rong Yan was a young marquis, he wouldn’t be powerful enough to come to her house and cause trouble.

Jinglian never expected that things would get stuck at this point.

It was all his master’s fault. He should have just said clearly not to go out.

Now, if Miss Sang didn’t come out on her own, as the eldest son of the Xie family, he couldn’t personally seek an audience in front of everyone.

The next day, early morning.

There were no major events in the court recently, so the morning court ended early. Sang Yin sat in the carriage returning to the mansion with a worried expression.

His previous incident had been left unresolved, and the investigation into Lu Ting’s matter was still ongoing, with no conclusion yet.

Since he resumed his duties, although he showed no signs on the surface, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Because he didn’t know if this matter would be used against him again.

Sang Yao’s marriage was still undecided, and Sang Shu was still childless. He had promised Sang Ji to find Xie Yun, but he had been delaying it. There were indeed quite a few worries recently.

He had just vented his anger, but he didn’t expect that Sang Yan would actually become the top scorer.

He didn’t know what kind of luck he had. Why didn’t this good thing fall into his hands?

Moreover, he had hardly spoken to Xie Yun. It was impossible for him to actually go and seek his own humiliation.

The carriage stopped, and he helped the servant down. Just as he was about to climb the steps, he heard a voice behind him, “Please wait, Mr. Sang—” Sang Yin turned around and saw a young man with a gentle expression, somewhat familiar but unfamiliar.

He glanced around and saw Xie Yun, whom he had only met this morning in court.

Wait a minute, Xie Yun?

Sang Yin’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. He quickened his pace toward Xie Yun and greeted him with a bow, “Mr. Xie, what a coincidence to meet you here!”

How coincidental to meet him right at his doorstep. Could it be that Xie Yun came specifically to find him? Xie Yun nodded slightly, then said, “Indeed, Mr. Sang, I came here specifically to find you.”

Sang Yin’s expression blanked for a moment. By the time the two finished speaking, they had already reached the entrance of Sang’s mansion. He tentatively said, “May I invite Mr. Xie in for a cup of tea?”

Xie Yun agreed, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Sang.” Sang Yin then led Xie Yun into the mansion in a daze. The feeling was truly strange.

Just two months ago, he had been racking his brains thinking about how he could talk to Xie Yun. Now, after two months, Xie Yun was coming to his house for tea?

The strange thing was, he hadn’t done much in these two months!

As they walked side by side, Sang Yin was trying hard to find a topic to talk to Xie Yun about. But in his heart, he was a bit worried that someone as arrogant as Xie Yun might look down on his home.

Suddenly, everything in the mansion seemed displeasing to him.

One orchid in the flowerbed had withered, looking ugly. The servants who greeted him today didn’t seem serious enough; they should be punished.

The child next door was crying; he needed to be disciplined.

The two casually discussed matters that had been mentioned in the court today, mainly about the recent reduction in the types of punishments.

They had now reached the main hall. Just as Sang Yin was about to order tea and snacks, Xie Yun stopped him and said, “Actually, there is another matter I came for today.”

Sang Yin felt a sense of foreboding. “Please, Mr. Xie, go ahead.”

Xie Yun said slowly, “It’s abrupt, but I would like to meet your daughter for an important matter that needs to be discussed privately.”

It was indeed abrupt. Sang Yin didn’t even react at first.

He asked, “May I ask… what matter is this?” Standing behind Xie Yun with a smiling face, he thought, What else could it be if not a matter of their marriage?

Xie Yun remained silent for a moment. Seeing this, Sang Yin didn’t hesitate and said, “In that case, please wait here for a moment, Mr. Xie. I’ll have Yaoyao come over.”

In fact, this matter was quite unusual.

Although the current customs were open-minded, it was still strange for an unmarried man to request a private meeting with his daughter. And usually, the only ones who could ask their parents like this and then meet privately were engaged couples.

If rumors of this nature were unfortunately spread… Sang Yin regretfully thought, then he would have to marry Yaoyao to him.

With this in mind, Sang Yin’s confused mind cleared for a moment. He urged, “Hurry up, don’t let Mr. Xie wait too long.”

★

Fifteen minutes later.

In a clean and simple room, a blue-and-white porcelain incense burner burned slowly on the windowsill, with sunlight shining through the lattice window onto the girl’s tender side face.

The two sat facing each other.

Sang Yaoyao glanced at the tightly closed door, then shifted her gaze back to the man in front of her, who was calm. She sat upright and spoke first in this strange atmosphere, “…How did you openly come in?”

Xie Yun asked, “How else should I have come?”

Sang Yaoyao glanced at the latticed window again. She lowered her voice and said, “If you wanted to come, you should have come secretly.”

“Or you could have sent someone to pass a message to me.”

“…If you come in such a straightforward manner, how can I explain to my father?” Xie Yun said indifferently, “You can explain truthfully later. He will know sooner or later.”

Sang Yaoyao was even more puzzled now.

She felt that Xie Yun was a bit off today. She frowned and asked in a low voice, “Xie Yun, did you come to me… for something?”

Xie Yun said, “Indeed, there is a matter.”

Sang Yaoyao couldn’t help but look serious. She lowered her voice again and asked, “Is it about Rong Yan?”

She didn’t know how serious the situation had to be for Xie Yun to come to her personally.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt frustrated. She said with a bitter face, “I really had no intention of leaving the mansion, nor will I speak out. Why is he so annoying?”

Xie Yun looked at Sang Yaoyao and said slowly, “Don’t worry, I can help you completely resolve this matter.”

Sang Yaoyao was taken aback for a moment. From this sentence, she heard a hint of gentleness.

Was Xie Yun comforting her? She was a bit confused for a moment and asked, “…Really?”

“But I have a condition.”

It seemed to be true.

This was simply a timely help. Sang Yaoyao nodded hurriedly, thinking that Xie Yun was indeed a good person.

Even if he asked for ten requests, she would finally be able to do something for him.

She was deeply moved and looked at the noble and handsome man opposite her, saying sincerely, “…Both my father and I are willing to be your servants.”

Xie Yun stared at her and continued, “There’s no need for that trouble. Just marry me.”