After a mont of silence, it was Ji Nishang who spoke first.
"There’s no need to discuss the portrait issue. Miss Qu, there’s really no need to be so agitated. We were simply trying to help you get emancipated, out of good intentions."
Qu Fulan said, "Miss Ji, I have studied physiognomy and can read so facial features. Now I see a dark aura on your forehead, and it would be better if you went out less frequently in the future to avoid mishaps. I’m advising you out of goodwill, hoping you’ll accept it."
Who wouldn’t say such things "for your own good"?
Ji Nishang knew well that Qu Fulan was making it up, but she was stuck, trying to refute her for pretending to care about her well-being.
Qu Fulan didn’t waste ti chatting and used the excuse of being busy to leave with her four bodyguards again.
The other side’s bodyguards tried to stop her, but were pushed aside by the four protectors. Ji Nishang and Mrs. Xiao could only watch helplessly as she left.
Mrs. Xiao then angrily slamd the table, "Look at her arrogance! In the end, she bit back at us, making livid! Since she’s so headstrong, why should I care about her life and death? If she wants to remain a servant, let her be a servant forever, I’m done with it!"
Ji Nishang quickly comforted, "Aunt, there’s no need to be angry. This is not the ti to act impulsively. Once we bring her back to the Xiao Family, can’t you then vent your anger however you please?"
Mrs. Xiao was already reluctant to do so, "You saw her arrogance just now. We still want to help her redeem herself, and then she’ll be even more conceited!"
Ji Nishang said, "On the surface, it seems that way, but she has a knack for business, and we won’t lose out. Besides, if we approach her several tis, she can refuse us once, but she can’t refuse us two, three, or even more tis. Otherwise, it would be spread that she insists on being a servant, which wouldn’t be good for her reputation. Who wants to remain a servant forever? She’s smart; she’ll know what choice to make."
Qu Fulan was also reflecting on the purpose of Mrs. Xiao’s visit.
Although the other party didn’t speak the truth, through her observations, she noticed a few things.
Whether it be Mrs. Xiao or Ji Nishang, they were very eager to help her redeem herself and were making a lot of efforts to persuade her to agree.
They wanted to redeem her and bring her back to the Xiao Family, and then what?
Soone wouldn’t treat another well for no reason unless there was profit to be gained.
What did she have that made them so preoccupied?
After pondering, Qu Fulan realized she had neither money nor power, only good looks, but it was unlikely the Xiao Family would redeem her for that and use her beauty for sothing. After all, Xiao Shiqing was still there, so that wouldn’t work.
So it had nothing to do with appearance.
Then what?
Talents?
Aside from her looks, the only thing she could offer was that.
Though this might still seem unbelievable to so, didn’t Sherlock Hols say: "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth"?
So it’s for her talents that they’re interested.
Bringing her back to the Xiao Family to use her talents to make money for Mrs. Xiao.
If they made money, the good reputation would be on Ji Nishang; if they lost, the bad reputation would fall on her.
Perhaps Mrs. Xiao would even use the excuse that as the daughter-in-law of the Xiao Family, she couldn’t show herself in public and would make her teach Ji Nishang the business skills.
It’s not surprising Qu Fulan would have such malicious thoughts about Mrs. Xiao. After all, Ji Nishang is her niece, her own person, while she’s an outsider. Isn’t it obvious she’d protect her own?
Qu Fulan believed this conjecture to be the truth.
If that’s the case, she thought the other party was truly despicable, just like in the novels.
In those novels, Ji Nishang, skilled in business, made money for Mrs. Xiao and gained her favor. In contrast, the original character had nothing and could do nothing. Mrs. Xiao and Ji Nishang would perform in front of Xiao Shiqing, pushing Li Jirou to a corner.
Now, Qu Fulan has deliberately avoided the original storyline, yet the two are still seeking her out to take her back to the Xiao Family.
So is this the stickiness of the plot? If she doesn’t go, soone else will, trying to drag the storyline back.
Whatever it is, she’s determined not to cooperate.
A line from a movie is quite classic: "I make my own destiny, not Heaven."
Qu Fulan now thinks the sa; her fate is in her own hands, not in so preordained plot.
No matter what, she will not cooperate, and the plot can do nothing to her.
The eting’s outco, due to Heir Pei being busy with official duties, had yet to reach his ears.
But as soon as Mrs. Xiao returned ho, she saw her son and recounted, in detail, her eting with Li Jirou— no, with that damned girl now renad Qu Fulan.
Of course, Mrs. Xiao was only going to tell the beneficial parts for herself.
"You really should have been there to listen. The way she spoke to us! We were trying to redeem her out of kindness and bring her into the Xiao Family to give her so dignity, and how did she repay us?"
"First, she mocked for ddling, and then she mocked Nichang, with words so cutting it was unbearable."
"She even claid you’d secretly painted her portrait and threatened to spread rumors, branding you a libertine. Even so, I still kindly wanted to redeem her, and she was ungrateful."
"Now I’ve made my stance clear: if she wants to enter the Xiao Family, she’ll have to apologize. Moreover, with her current status, becoming a legitimate wife is impossible."
With everything said, Xiao Shiqing only rembered one thing.
"How did Mother know about the portrait?" Xiao Shiqing asked, turning his gaze to Ji Nishang, "You told her?"
The portrait was in his study, well hidden. He once took it out to draw, had to leave for a bit midway, and Ji Nishang saw it.
Feeling a bit guilty, Ji Nishang quickly explained, "I ntioned the portrait to persuade Miss Qu, but didn’t expect her to get angry after hearing about it. Instead of being touched, she was upset by Cousin secretly painting her. She said so unpleasant things, damaging Cousin’s reputation..."
Mrs. Xiao added, "Exactly! She must have had soone paint it and handed it over to you. Now she’s biting back."
Xiao Shiqing’s expression turned sour, "That portrait is one I painted myself; it has nothing to do with her."
Mrs. Xiao didn’t believe it, "So, do you et often secretly? Otherwise, how could you paint such a deep portrait? n and won should not have intimate contact; it’s fine for you as a man, but for a girl to et a man in private, what kind of conduct is that?"
Xiao Shiqing said with a sullen face, "Don’t slander her, Mother. The portrait was sothing I randomly drew. I’ve only t her during the day of the stage play, and that’s it."
Luckily, Xiao Shiqing was sensible enough not to ntion subsequent etings, or who knows how Mother would exaggerate the matter.
Ji Nishang recalled the day of the stage play, rembering it was her idea to have her cousin pick them up, which led to them eting.
For so reason, Ji Nishang felt sowhat stifled inside.
anwhile, over on the other side, Pei Ji’an also learned about Mrs. Xiao’s conversation with Qu Fulan.
"This Xiao Family really never stops."
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