Chapter 12 Young Master Xiao Er, Do You Have Something to Eat?

Madam Xu was eager to return home.  

She urged the coachman relentlessly along the way, wishing the carriage wheels could spin fast enough to fly. After traveling for a while, she realized it would be quicker to intercept Xu Huazhang directly rather than waiting at the manor, so she ordered the coachman to turn toward Wanping County’s yamen instead.  

Xu Rong had little interest in fetching Xu Huazhang, but she had left in such a hurry that she was sharing the carriage with Madam Xu. Jumping out midway wasn’t an option, so she endured the jolting ride until they finally arrived, her waist and legs sore and numb from the constant shaking. Bai Fu had to half-support, half-drag her to get her out of the carriage.  

All that effort, only to arrive too late.  

The magistrate of Wanping County was in an unfortunate position, with a jurisdiction full of powerful nobles. He had previously followed the Duke of Ying’s orders to imprison Xu Huazhang, but he didn’t dare offend the Marquis of Ji’an’s family too deeply. Now that the two households seemed to have reconciled, he personally came out to reassure them: “The young marquis has already left. I personally oversaw his release. Rest assured, he was treated well during his stay—no harm came to him, not a single hair out of place—”  

He rambled on with explanations, afraid Madam Xu might return to hold him accountable later.  

But Madam Xu had no patience for his chatter. Upon hearing her son had already gone home, she hastily climbed back into the carriage and urged the coachman to depart.  

After another winding journey, they finally returned to the manor as dusk approached.  

A servant standing on the steps with his sleeves tucked hurried over to greet them: “Madam—”  

Madam Xu impatiently lifted the carriage curtain, cutting him off. “Has Zhang’er returned?”  

The servant grimaced. “He did—but then he left again!”  

Madam Xu was stunned. “What?” she exclaimed. “Where did he go? Did he head to the Duke of Ying’s mansion to look for us?”  

She was clearly overestimating her son’s consideration. The servant shook his head. “He went to the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion. We tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.”  

Madam Xu gasped. “What? He just got back—why isn’t he staying home? What business does he have at the Xiao Family’s place?!”  

The servant peeked into the carriage and added, “The young marquis heard about the eldest young lady’s remarriage to Xiao Xin. He was furious and said he was going to avenge her. Then he left.”  

“That reckless brat!”  

Even Madam Xu, who usually doted on her son unconditionally, was so furious she nearly fainted. Then she caught the odd phrasing in the servant’s words and spat in irritation, “What remarriage? Your mother’s the one who remarries!”  

The servant, thick-skinned, took the insult lightly and stuck out his tongue. “My words were clumsy, Madam. Don’t be angry. The young marquis only left a short while ago. If you hurry, you might still catch him.”  

What else could Madam Xu do but chase after him?  

Xu Rong truly didn’t want to get back into the carriage, but this mother and brother of hers were still tied to her for the time being. She couldn’t just watch them stir up trouble and drag her down with them. Reluctantly, she slumped against the carriage wall, her face pale with exhaustion.  

Fortunately, the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion wasn’t too far from the Marquis of Ji’an’s—both were in the western district. After rattling down two more streets, they finally arrived.  

The sky was half-painted in rosy twilight, the setting sun’s lingering glow lazily clinging to the world.  

Amid this rather poetic scene, Xu Rong entered the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion and witnessed Xiao Xin and Xu Huazhang rolling on the ground in a tangle.  

Xiao Xin was clearly winning. Two years older and taller, he had the mud-streaked Xu Huazhang pinned beneath him, fist raised to deliver a punch.  

Madam Xu nearly fainted, her voice shrill and breaking as she shrieked, “Zhang’er—!”

Xiao Xin didn’t know whether he was startled or hesitated to strike when seeing the other family’s elders arrive, but his raised fist never landed. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Huazhang showed no mercy—kneeing Xiao Xin in an unspeakably vicious spot while simultaneously reaching to choke his throat. Fortunately, his actual movements weren’t that swift. Xiao Xin noticed and dodged, twisting Xu Huazhang’s arm forcefully in retaliation, making him cry out in pain.

“Let go of me! If you dare hurt me, just wait—today I came alone and miscalculated, but tomorrow I’ll bring men to finish you off!” He tried to spit at Xiao Xin, but lying on the ground, the saliva landed back on his own face, leaving him sputtering in fury.

Xu Rong: “…”

She wasn’t very familiar with Xu Huazhang, but from her limited impressions, he had at least carried himself like a young noble. Now, acting like a street thug—and an idiotic one at that—she could hardly bear to watch.

Even Madam Xu: “…”

After a stunned pause, her maternal instincts took over as she rushed forward. “Zhang’er, are you alright?”

Xiao Xin had already released Xu Huazhang’s arm and stepped aside. His clothes were barely ruffled, and his expression quickly returned to detached indifference.

“Mother, you’re here!” Xu Huazhang exclaimed joyfully, scrambling up to clutch Madam Xu’s hand. “Mother, don’t let Sister marry him! A son of a concubine like him isn’t worthy of her!”

Madam Xu hesitated. “Zhang’er, you were able to come out—” only because they’d agreed to the Xiao Family’s unfair terms.

Xu Huazhang remained defiant. “So what? I’m out now—no need to fear his family anymore!” He glared at Xiao Xin. “If you dare keep harassing my sister, I won’t let you off!”

“Shut up.”

Xu Huazhang turned toward the voice, gaping. “Huh?”

Xu Rong said sternly, “I told you to shut up.”

She wanted to say more but suddenly felt dizzy and weak, swaying unsteadily. If not for Bai Fu quickly supporting her, she would have collapsed on the spot.

“Young Lady, what’s wrong?” Bai Fu panicked.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Rong replied weakly, “I think… I’m just hungry.”

Bai Fu nodded urgently. “Of course! You’ve been with Madam all morning and missed lunch.”

Xu Rong had eaten some pastries earlier, but those few bites couldn’t sustain her all day. Bai Fu hadn’t eaten either, but unlike Xu Rong’s frail constitution, she could still endure despite her growling stomach.

Xu Rong looked up at Xiao Xin. “Second Young Master Xiao, do you have any food here?”

She absolutely refused to endure the jostling journey back home on an empty stomach. This body couldn’t take such abuse—she had to take better care of it.

The girl’s face was pale, almost translucent. Xiao Xin glanced at her and nodded impassively. “Yes.”

As he turned to fetch it, Xu Huazhang protested loudly, “Sister, don’t eat their food! Let’s go home for a meal.”

His shout jolted Madam Xu into realization, and she hastily called after Xiao Xin. “Second Young Master, my son is immature—he shouldn’t have come here to pick a fight with you. Please, considering his youth, don’t hold it against him or inform your mother, alright?”

Regardless of who won or lost, Xu Huazhang had initiated this brawl at the Xiao Family’s home—he was in the wrong. Hitting Xiao Xin was one thing, but Madam Xiao might exploit this further.

Xu Rong: “…”

If she weren’t nearly fainting from hunger, she’d have told Madam Xu to shut up too.

They barged right into someone’s home, made such a commotion, and still thought Madam Xiao wouldn’t find out? Dream on!

Xiao Xin said, “Grandmother has arrived, and the mistress is currently accompanying her in conversation.”

The implication was that, at least for now, Madam Xiao had no time to intervene.

Madam Xu relaxed slightly upon hearing this. “Then let’s leave quickly. Rong’er, bear with it a little longer. Once we’re outside, Mother will buy you some snacks.”

It wasn’t entirely impossible. But upon learning that Old Madam Zhang had arrived so swiftly, Xu Rong’s mind stirred. Since the matter was already ninety percent settled, even if she wasn’t hungry, she wasn’t willing to leave now. She said, “Mother, my vision is darkening. I really can’t walk anymore. You and Zhang’er go ahead first. I’ll stay here with Young Master Xiao and have something to eat before leaving.”

Madam Xu gasped. “How can that be?”

Xu Rong held her forehead, swaying weakly. “Why not? We only have one carriage. It won’t fit all of us if we leave together. You and Zhang’er go back first, then send another carriage to fetch me.”

In truth, Xu Huazhang had come on horseback, but Madam Xu didn’t think of that. Hearing Xu Rong’s reasoning, she hesitated. “Rong’er, are you really feeling this unwell?”

Xu Rong let out a weak “Mm,” her eyes half-closed, looking as though she was on the verge of fainting from hunger.

Madam Xu’s heart ached, but she didn’t dare let the troublemaker Xu Huazhang stay any longer, nor could she let him leave first while she waited for Xu Rong. If Xu Huazhang left her sight, she feared he’d stir up another mess in the blink of an eye.

Unable to decide, she had no choice but to listen to Xu Rong. “—Alright then. Stay here. Mother will send a carriage for you as soon as I get back.”

She pulled Xu Huazhang along, but he resisted. Madam Xu smacked him twice, nearly in tears from anxiety. “You little troublemaker! Do you want to shatter your mother’s heart with worry?!”

No matter how unruly Xu Huazhang was, he couldn’t lay a hand on his own mother. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to be dragged away, but not before throwing a fierce warning at Xiao Xin: “Stay away from my sister! My sister won’t marry you!”

Xu Rong opened her eyes, watching him finally leave with exasperation, then apologized to Xiao Xin. “He’s immature. Next time you want to hit him, go ahead.”

The same opening as Madam Xu’s, but a completely different ending.

“…” Xiao Xin said, “He came after me because he was protecting you.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that he needs to be taught a lesson. He’s just not suffered enough consequences, which is why he keeps causing trouble everywhere. A few more beatings outside might make him behave better.” Xu Rong finished with a faint smile. “After all, he doesn’t have a second sister to sell off to another family.”

Bai Fu was moved, her expression turning sorrowful as she murmured, “Miss.”

Xiao Xin was silent for a moment before saying, “Follow me.”

“Where to?”

“My concubine-mother’s place.”

While Madam Xu was still present, Xiao Xin could host Xu Rong. But with the elder gone, he couldn’t take her into his own courtyard alone. Since Madam Xiao was occupied with guests, the only option was to bring her to his birth mother’s residence.

Their journey there drew quite a few eyes—as Young Master Xiao’s former fiancée, Xu Rong had naturally visited the estate before, and some servants recognized her.

The sidelong glances were unavoidable.

Xu Rong didn’t have the energy to decipher the meaning behind the covert looks directed her way. She was genuinely starving, her breath coming in short gasps.

Finally, in a daze, she entered a courtyard. A plate of pastries was placed before her, and she grabbed them without hesitation, stuffing them into her mouth.

She immediately choked.

Xu Rong ignored it, forcing the food down.

Just swallow it down, and it’ll be fine. Hunger overrides all other needs.

Another cup of tea was placed before her, while a hand gently patted her back in soothing motions. A tender voice chimed in, coaxing, “Oh dear, starving? Take your time.”