Chapter 17 Revise the Text

“Did your elder brother come to see you?” Xiao Xin threw the question at her as they met.

Xu Rong tacitly acknowledged it and countered, “Did you follow Xiao Lun here?”

“He didn’t deliver the betrothal gifts. He turned back halfway, and the household was in chaos—” Xiao Xin briefly explained. “I saw him leave alone again, looking off, so I followed.”

Xu Rong nodded. It seemed Xiao Lun had at least told one truth—he hadn’t exposed Xu Huazhang.

Xiao Xin didn’t give her time to dwell on it and pressed on, “Madam still hasn’t informed me the engagement is canceled. Did Grandmother’s intervention fail too?”

Xu Rong admitted, “Yes.”

There was no room for hope anymore; Xiao Lun’s behavior was proof enough.

Moreover, she knew where the failure lay. Had she only just noticed the oddities in this whole affair today? No.

She had sensed it vaguely all along but avoided delving deeper, shutting her eyes and ears. Sending Bai Quan was her only action—would she truly trust someone she’d only met once and hand over valuables so easily? It was half a gamble, half an arrangement, just to cut through the mess and find an early way out.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Xiao Xin nodded. “I see. Miss Xu, since your method didn’t work, we’ll do it my way now.”

A sigh hovered on Xu Rong’s tongue, but at his words, she abruptly looked up. “Your way?”

The moment she spoke, she understood. What was Xiao Xin’s way? Simply to leave.

Swift and decisive, yes—but swiftness also brought pain.

“Calm down.”

Truthfully, Xu Rong also wanted to gather whatever she could and flee. But faced with this volatile youth, more impulsive than her and ready to explode at a spark, she had no choice but to regain her composure and reason with him. “Leaving is easy for you, but I’ve met your mother. If she leaves the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion, she might not survive.”

That delicate little flower would snap under the slightest storm.

Xiao Xin, however, said, “I’ve discussed it with Concubine-mother. She’s willing to come with me. I’ll provide for her from now on.”

Xu Rong was surprised—beneath Wei Shi’s fragile exterior lay such courage?

Xiao Xin paused, feeling there was nothing left to say. “That’s it, then, Miss Xu. You needn’t worry anymore.”

He turned to leave without hesitation. Xu Rong, without time to think, hastily called out, “Wait!”

Xiao Xin frowned and looked back.

Xu Rong’s mind raced, but after a moment, she still couldn’t find the right words. She couldn’t outright say she might still have use for Xiao Xin, could she? After he’d severed most of his family ties, why would he care about her?

“Give me some time,” she blurted out. “Let me think if there’s another way.”

Xiao Xin was silent. After a pause, under Xu Rong’s hopeful gaze, he said, “Two days.”

So little? Xu Rong widened her eyes. “That’s not enough. At least five.”

Xiao Xin remained unmoved, firm and resolute. “Two. I can’t keep coming here to find you. Two days from now, I’ll wait for you at Lexing Teahouse on South Street. If you have no solution by then, there’s no need to say more.”

**

Xu Rong returned in low spirits.

Both Madam Xu and Xu Huazhang crowded around to ask, but she had no patience for them and dismissed them with a few words. She retreated to her room to sit quietly.

She didn’t sit by the well-lit window but instead at her dressing table.

The polished bronze mirror reflected a lovely face—so young, so full of promise.

But Xu Rong knew that the true owner of this face was no longer here.  

At the foot of that hillside she had never seen, “she” had departed suddenly, senselessly, and without a sound.  

And now, there was one more thing to add: suspicion.  

A woman of Old Madam Zhang’s status and temperament would not casually go back on her word to her. If something that shouldn’t have happened did happen, then there must be a reason for it.  

Xu Rong gazed into the bronze mirror, her reflection expressionless.  

In truth, had she not been too lazy to trouble herself with the matter, she should have noticed Madam Xiao’s unusual behavior much earlier. Even if Madam Xu’s wailing had humiliated the Xiao Family, it was unreasonable for Madam Xiao to drag her younger brother into the situation—let alone insist on defying her mother’s wishes after the incident. The grudge she held was far too disproportionate.  

Why was Madam Xiao so persistent?  

What exactly had happened on that hillside?  

What role had Xiao Lun—and perhaps even Second Miss Chang—played in “her” death?  

“Bai Fu, have someone prepare the carriage.”  

**  

Xu Rong went to the Duke of Ying’s Mansion under the pretext of thanking Old Madam Zhang for sending a physician.  

Since Old Madam Zhang had given no explanation, she would come and demand one directly.  

Her request for an audience did not go smoothly—not because Old Madam Zhang refused to see her, but because another guest had arrived just before her.  

The maid who led her to the side room to wait was polite and made no attempt to conceal the situation, telling her, “The old madam is currently speaking with the eldest young lady. Please have some tea here and wait a moment.”  

Xu Rong raised an eyebrow but was not particularly surprised. It was only natural—whether Madam Xiao had come to complain or to seek her mother’s advice, given that the betrothal gifts had not been finalized.  

However, her “moment” of waiting stretched longer than expected—not just one cup of tea, but enough time for two. At one point, she even thought she heard faint sounds of an argument—though the side room she was in was separated from Old Madam Zhang’s chambers by at least two or three walls, so she couldn’t be sure if the sounds were real.  

The warm tea in her hands gradually cooled. Through the window, she finally saw a group of people descending the steps from the main hall. The noblewoman at the center, her head slightly lowered, walked with a slightly hurried and heavy step. Even from the back, Xu Rong could tell it was Madam Xiao.  

Madam Xiao’s departure seemed hasty and agitated, as if she were in a foul mood.  

Was it because her son’s marriage had fallen through? Or had she failed to get what she wanted from Old Madam Zhang? Or perhaps she had been scolded?  

It didn’t take long for Xu Rong to find out.  

A maid came to summon her, leading her straight to Old Madam Zhang’s bedchamber.  

Old Madam Zhang was ill—and quite seriously so. In just a few short days, she seemed to have aged further.  

Thus, she could only receive Xu Rong in her bedchamber.  

For a junior like Xu Rong, this was not a slight but rather an honor and a mark of closeness.  

Xu Rong greeted her and took a seat. She had waited a long time, but she was in no hurry to broach the main topic. The fact that Old Madam Zhang was willing to see her despite her illness, without making excuses to turn her away, was already a sign of sincerity.  

So Xu Rong did not act like someone who had come to collect a debt—even though, in truth, she had.  

Old Madam Zhang leaned against the headboard, studying her with an appreciative gaze. “What a fine girl. It’s a shame for Lun’er. If I had a grandson of suitable age, I’d gladly take you as my own granddaughter-in-law.”  

The faint smile on Xu Rong’s lips faded—she knew how to read between the lines. What did this mean?  

“You flatter me, Old Madam. Young Master Xiao and I were simply not fated—as you well know. I don’t deserve such praise.”

Not only did she know, but she had heard it directly from the source. Even if something unexpected happened, it shouldn’t have taken this turn.

“I am not jesting,” Old Madam Zhang shook her head. “It’s been years since I’ve met a girl as sharp as you. At your tender age, I was likely far behind.”

This was an exceedingly rare compliment, drawing even a faintly surprised glance from the senior maid standing by the bed curtains. But it had no effect on Xu Rong, for she was not truly that youthful—she simply waited with clear-headed patience for Old Madam Zhang to continue.

“What a pity—” Old Madam Zhang sighed. “Only to benefit that boy Lun’er.”

This was laying it bare.

Xu Rong’s smile vanished entirely. “Old Madam, do you intend to break the agreement?”

Few likely spoke to Old Madam Zhang with such bluntness and lack of tact. The senior maid by the curtains couldn’t help but step forward, but Old Madam Zhang waved her off. “This is not your concern.”

The maid reluctantly retreated.

“No,” Old Madam Zhang then turned to Xu Rong and shook her head. “It’s merely correcting disorder and restoring order.”

Correcting what disorder? Dissolving the absurd marriage contract between her and Xiao Xin.

Restoring what order? Reuniting her with Xiao Lun.

Breaking the agreement? Old Madam Zhang said it wasn’t, so indeed, it wasn’t.

Strangely, Xu Rong felt no anger—only a serene clarity. In that clarity, she wondered: Did Old Madam Zhang truly understand the implications of this decision?

She met the old woman’s aged yet domineering gaze and asked softly, “Did Madam Xiao agree this time?”

Old Madam Zhang’s eyes flashed with sharpness for a moment before softening into bitterness. “She would have liked to refuse—but human plans cannot outwit heaven’s will. Since the union with the Chang family failed today, it’s clear this is heaven’s decree. We should not defy it.”

Xu Rong understood: she hadn’t misheard. The mother and daughter had indeed engaged in quite the dispute earlier.

Old Madam Zhang took a breath before continuing, “Rong girl, if you hadn’t come today, I would have sent for you tomorrow. How fortuitous—your timing is impeccable.”

She repeated the word “fortuitous” with meaningful emphasis. After a moment, Xu Rong grasped the implication and nearly laughed aloud—blood truly told. This old lady’s penchant for wild assumptions was no less than Xiao Lun’s, if not greater.

At least Xiao Lun had recognized Xu Huazhang before connecting it to her. Old Madam Zhang, however, was entirely spinning tales out of thin air.

“Old Madam,” she spoke earnestly, “Young Master Xiao and I were never fated from the start. Forcing it further goes against heaven’s will. In my opinion, we should not waste each other’s time.”

She didn’t bother denying involvement in the earlier incident. If Xiao Lun knew it was Xu Huazhang, the Zhang family could easily uncover the truth if they investigated. There was no point wasting words on what couldn’t be clarified. Instead, she made her disavowal of Xiao Lun as stark as possible. Unless Old Madam Zhang was a fool, she wouldn’t mistake this for coy reluctance.

Old Madam Zhang was no fool. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but it soon hardened into resolve—whether Xu Rong still harbored feelings or whether the Xu family had intervened were now trivial details.

Her decision was made, and it would not change.

“There have been some twists of fate,” Old Madam Zhang nodded, sidestepping the earlier remarks as she shifted the topic. “But now that things have reached this point, whether by heaven’s will or human design, it is destiny. Don’t you agree, Rong girl?”

She didn’t wait for Xu Rong to respond before continuing, “After all the commotion earlier, I know you must feel somewhat unsettled. But as the opera saying goes, ‘The road to happiness is strewn with setbacks.’ You youngsters, with your unsettled temperaments, are bound to stir up some trouble and make a few blunders—there’s no need to take it to heart. From now on, come visit me often, and I guarantee no one in that household will dare to bully you.”

This was a promise to back her up after the marriage, ensuring neither Madam Xiao nor Xiao Lun could mistreat her.

Xu Rong remained silent for a moment.

Old Madam Zhang smiled. “In principle, these words should be said to your mother. But your mother is too muddleheaded—I fear she might only hold you back. Rong girl, don’t rush. If you’re uncertain, go home and think it over first.”

**

Xu Rong took her leave and returned.

Old Madam Zhang’s last words were correct—she truly was undecided.

She wasn’t sure whether to run away.

This mess was growing more complicated by the day, and even the dowry had lost its appeal. After meeting Old Madam Zhang, she leaned more toward Xiao Xin’s approach: just cut and run.

But the estates measured in *qing* and the silver counted in tens of thousands—

And the justice and clarity owed to a girl who died unmarried before the age of eighteen, considered “cut down in youth” in this era.

Leaving meant abandoning all of this.

Staying meant accepting all of it.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Rights and obligations have always been two sides of the same coin—such is the law of the world, unchanged by personal will.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Xu Rong remained torn.

But the agreed-upon day had arrived. No matter what, she had to give Xiao Xin an answer first.