Chapter 26  

September was approaching quickly, and the osmanthus flowers were already faintly scattered on the branches, their lingering fragrance flowing gently in the wind.

The sunlight shone on the ground through the gaps in the leaves, and a magpie flew up from the ground to the branch, rolling its eyes in a daze.

In the study, Ning Yuan frowned as he looked at the letter in his hand. He read every word carefully. The more he looked at it, the more profound and unclear his expression became.

After hesitating for a moment, he lit a candle beside him and burned the letter to ashes.

The flickering flame reflected in Ning Yuan’s eyes, and he knew that time was running out for him. He had to find a way to return quickly.

_

“Where did the Young Madam go?”

Ning Yuan arrived at Cuihu Courtyard and looked around, but he didn’t see Xu Lianqiao.

“Son, the second Young Madam of the Young Madam’s family is here today. The Young Madam has gone back to the Xu family.”

“When… I mean, how long has the Young Madam been gone?”

Ning Yuan was so anxious that he could hardly speak. He understood.

The maid who replied had never seen the prince this way before and thought for a moment.

“Young Madam left home about half an hour ago. Come to think of it…”

Before the maid could finish speaking, Ning Yuan turned and left.

She hadn’t taken him with her when she returned to the Xu Mansion. It seemed that Ah Qiao was really angry.

_

Pingcheng Xuanwu Marquis Mansion, Xu Lianqiao followed the carriages one by one, getting off the ground. She picked up the gifts prepared yesterday and followed the guests through the door.

“Ah, Miss, you are here.”

The speaker was the old butler of the Xu Mansion, Uncle Liu.

“Yes.” Xu Lianqiao smiled and nodded at him.

An apologetic smile appeared on Uncle Liu’s face as he rubbed his hands against the sides of his white clothes. “Miss, you see, I’m busy…”

“I know, Uncle Liu. Please go greet the other guests.”

She… no, although her second uncle’s family was known as the uncle’s house, it had actually declined more than ten years ago. Now, the uncle’s house was just empty.

Not only did the family have no money to recruit people, but it was also hard to maintain basic expenses.

So… Xu Lianqiao looked at the festive decorations and the guests coming and going, but she didn’t know where the money came from.

“Miss, you’re back.”

Aunt Gan was standing guard in front of Xu Jiawei’s boudoir. When she saw her, she called her inside.

Xu Lianqiao nodded and entered through the open door. As soon as she stepped in, she heard an angry but playful voice coming from inside.

“Mom, do you think I look good?”

“Yeah. Jiawei is the most beautiful.”

“Ah, Mom, I’m already here. You can’t touch my face like a child anymore…”

“Who’s calling me Wei’er? You’ll always be my crybaby child in my heart.”

“Mom~”

Through the screen, Xu Lianqiao could also see the close relationship between her second aunt and Xu Jiawei.

Xu Lianqiao used to envy this… though she still did.

“Second aunt, second sister.”

Xu Lianqiao bowed to her second aunt.

Mrs. Chen turned her head and nodded politely to Xu Lianqiao.

Xu Jiawei didn’t respond at all, continuing to adjust her appearance in the mirror.

Xu Lianqiao didn’t mind; she had long been used to it.

She placed the congratulatory gift in her hand on the wooden table beside her, bowed briefly, and turned to leave.

She knew that others didn’t want to see her either.

After Xu Lianqiao left, Mrs. Chen stood up and patted Xu Jiawei on the shoulder.

“Wei’er, after all, she is the wife of the Crown Prince of Xuanwu. No matter how much you dislike her, you can’t lose face.”

She walked to the table and began to untie the congratulatory gift Xu Lianqiao had brought.

Xu Jiawei snorted coldly. “Mom, why are you bothering with this? She and I have nothing to say.”

“Then you can’t show your face like that. If this spreads, it won’t be good for your reputation.”

Mrs. Chen said, not pausing with her hands.

Xu Jiawei curled her lips. “Mom, what’s the point of unwrapping it? What good things can she give?”

At this point, Mrs. Chen almost opened the box.

“Tch, it’s just a set of rouge and gouache.”

Mrs. Chen pushed the box aside with some disgust.

“Our family raised her for so many years. When Gao married the prince of the Marquis family, she didn’t even think about our kindness and only gave these gifts. She’s really a small family and can’t stand it.”

Xu Jiawei agreed and turned to look at herself in the mirror, speaking reluctantly: “It’s because I didn’t get the chance before. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be her turn to be the Crown Prince’s wife of the Marquis Mansion.”

Although the name of Chongxi^[1]a wedding arranged after a long time. wasn’t nice, this marriage was highly anticipated for their uncle’s house.

Mrs. Chen could hardly disagree and nodded. “Your grandfather, who died early, was really confused.”

She was talking about the arrangement made by Xu Lianqiao’s grandfather, long ago.

Back then, probably forty years ago, the two old men were about the same age, and both were heirs of the uncle’s house, so they were naturally very close.

Later, Mrs. Chen also heard that the two had made great achievements on the battlefield. However, the old man of the Jiang family had made military accomplishments when he was young, and because of this, the emperor had made him a marquis. The old man of the Jiang family was still an heir and had his own responsibilities, but after their sons married, the two old men decided to arrange a marriage for their grandchildren. This marriage fell to Xu Lianqiao and Jiang Huai.

The old man of the Jiang family was a man of love and justice. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remembered the marriage arrangement after the decline of their uncle’s house.

It’s just that since childhood, how could Xu Lianqiao compare to her daughter?

They originally planned to wait for Wei’er to grow up, and if Jiang Huai didn’t marry, they would complete the marriage. Who knew that the old man of the Jiang family suddenly fell seriously ill and had to delay the marriage. Now that he had recovered, his daughter hadn’t yet given birth, so they had no choice but to let Xu Lianqiao go ahead with the marriage.

She was still thinking that the old man of the Jiang family wouldn’t survive this test. When the time came…

It was a pity that this good thing didn’t happen to her daughter.

Otherwise, how could their Marquis Mansion be reduced to this situation today? Xu Lianqiao is useless and cannot win Jiang Huai’s heart. She is truly a waste.

_

After Xu Lianqiao gave gifts to others, she walked alone along the path in the backyard.

She was lost in thought, walking with her head down.

She really envied Xu Jiawei, who had parents who loved her. When she was young, while Xu Jiawei was being held in her second aunt’s arms, Xu Lianqiao could only stand on the side.

She secretly wished she had someone to spoil her…

But she didn’t.

“Sorry.” As she walked, she accidentally ran into someone.

When she turned to the left, the person turned left as well. When she turned to the right, the person mirrored her again.

After three tries, Xu Lianqiao became suspicious, thinking that the person was doing this on purpose.

“You…”

She raised her head and saw Jiang Huai’s face.

Why was he here?

“Aren’t you even paying attention while walking?” Jiang Huai smiled slightly, teasing her with a glimmer in his eyes.

“No, it’s just…”

She was worried, that’s all.

“Who bullied you, Ah Qiao?”

When Xu Lianqiao saw Jiang Huai, her nose started to feel sore, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t help it.

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

He had once told her that he hadn’t treated her well…

But to her, Jiang Huai over the past few days had already been the kindest person to her.

Yet… these days, he had been ignoring her again.

“Hey… where’s the bathroom… Ahhhhhh.”

Suddenly, someone shouted and rushed toward them.

Ning Yuan quickly pulled Xu Lianqiao aside and hid them both near the entrance of a rockery cave.

They were so close that Xu Lianqiao could smell the woody fragrance of Jiang Huai.

Someone passed by outside, and Xu Lianqiao could only cry softly.

She felt utterly helpless, crying again… this was the third time.

And all of it was in front of Jiang Huai.

She shouldn’t cry, there was no reason for it…

Xu Lianqiao looked up, trying her best to hold back her tears.

Then Jiang Huai leaned down and gently caught her head with his hand.

It turned out the space was too narrow, and she was about to bump into him. Only then did Jiang Huai help support her head.

As their eyes met, Xu Lianqiao felt something stir inside her.

He looked at her with such tenderness, as if he was the one who unlocked all her memories.

“What are you doing here?” she choked, her voice trembling.

Seeing her fight to control her tears, Ning Yuan felt a pang of sympathy.

He seemed to be seeing the same helpless girl from eight years ago.

The Xu family… she came here alone, perhaps truly wanting to avoid him.

“Of course, I came to find you.”

As he spoke, Ning Yuan reached up and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, his thumb brushing against her flushed skin.

With that gesture, Xu Lianqiao couldn’t stop herself. She took a deep breath, as if all her frustrations came rushing out.

“All the money I had saved is gone… I bought Xu Jiawei this very expensive rouge… I usually can’t bring myself to buy things like this.”

She had felt the sting when she bought it two days ago.

“I… What will I do now that I’m leaving? I have no place to stay, no money… What did you mean by setting up a female household? What will I do now?”

She had spent so much money, and hadn’t realized how expensive rouge and gouache had become.

“It’s okay, we have money.”

“Your money… what does that have to do with me?”

She felt really uncomfortable. If she had known better, she wouldn’t have spent so much on these things.

Seeing that she was really crying, Ning Yuan slowly opened his arms and embraced her, whispering in her ear:

“Ah Qiao, it’s time for me to repay the interest from eight years ago.”

Eight years ago, the young girl had believed that he had no money, so she gave him the only valuable silver bracelet she owned.

She had always been like that.

Xu Lianqiao was stunned for a moment… she was in his arms and didn’t immediately react.

She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

Eight years ago, Jiang Huai didn’t owe her anything. She and Jiang Huai… she owed him…

Back then, only that person owed her something.

“What do you mean?”

Xu Lianqiao looked at Jiang Huai’s face, which seemed different from what she remembered. It felt unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar, as if something had changed.