Capital, Xie Mansion.
The night was already very deep, but the Shuijing Hall where Yang allocated tasks to the housekeeper during the day was still lit.
The family sat upright in tense silence.
Uncle Xie and Aunt Xie sat at the upper seat.
Xie Zheng and Yang sat on the right armchair, Xie Tao and his wife on the left armchair, while Xie Feng stood behind his parents, his complexion noticeably poor.
The hall was silent for a long ti before Aunt Xie broke the stiff atmosphere, "Eldest, speak up, what should we do about this? We need to think of a way quickly."
Xie Zheng hesitated slightly, "I’ve already sent a ssage to Ningzhou, hoping Third Cousin and his family will hurry back after seeing it. Or should we wait until they return?"
"We can wait, but can the Liang Family wait?" Aunt Xie said sternly, "These days they keep coming to ask for her. If we don’t let her go soon and Liang Jun really stirs things up with the governnt, do you realize how much it would affect you if the matter spreads?"
Xie Tao’s wife scoffed, "If you ask , it’s all Feng’s fault. Of all the people to marry, he insists on marrying such a troublemaker. Now that sothing’s gone wrong, she hides in our ho. She’s relying on your affection for her, knowing you won’t throw her out. She refuses to leave, affecting your father’s career. What will you do?"
Xie Feng kept his lips tightly sealed without saying a word.
"Enough!" Uncle Xie shielded his grandson, "When Feng asked for her hand, he didn’t expect her to be such a troublemaker."
Xie Tao’s wife remained indignant, "I’m just puzzled. Feng is so well-off, and back then there were many matchmakers offering to introduce him to daughters of governnt officials. What did he see in her? How can soone like Song Qi, so unrefined, be liked? A romantic fool, truly eye-opening!"
Xie Feng raised his head to glance at her, his fist clenched tightly, "Second Aunt, please stop."
Aunt Xie’s expression darkened slightly, thinking to herself that anyone capable of such talk isn’t well-mannered either. Besides, she herself was once a troublemaker, wasn’t soone willing to take her back then? Now it’s like the pot calling the kettle black, completely oblivious to one’s own shortcomings.
Aunt Xie didn’t particularly like Song Qi, but after all, Song Qi was her own brother’s granddaughter. It’s only natural for her to say a few words about her; it’s proper. Hearing her daughter-in-law speak so sarcastically felt irritating, as if implying the Song family lacked manners.
Yang found it inappropriate as well and spoke up, "At a ti like this, let’s not discuss who’s right or wrong. Third Cousin and his family can’t return quickly, and the Liang Family keeps demanding. We need to find a compromise soon; otherwise, if this escalates and spreads, it will damage the reputation."
"Isn’t everyone just trying to protect your main family’s reputation?" Xie Tao’s wife said, "But we’d prefer to kick her out and clear any ties, yet will Feng agree? As long as Feng disagrees, this issue can’t be resolved."
Yang sighed quietly and turned to look at Xie Feng.
Xie Feng’s brow furrowed even deeper, his clenched fists never loosening. Faced with his mother’s gaze, he only spoke in a low voice, "I’ll go talk to her properly."
Xie Tao’s wife rolled her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe him, feeling as though she didn’t know what concoction that troublemaker had fed him, as if he were bewitched and absolutely insistent on her!
Yang spoke softly, "Feng, this concerns your father’s future. This is not the ti for romantic emotions. Mother hopes you can see the bigger picture."
"I understand." Xie Feng replied with three words and imdiately left the Shuijing Hall, heading directly to the guest courtyard to find Song Qi.
Song Qi at this mont was curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees. Hearing a knock at the door, she was startled, "Who is it?"
"It’s ." Xie Feng’s voice was low.
Song Qi bit her lip, composed herself, "Oh, it’s Brother Feng, co in, the door’s not locked."
Xie Feng pushed the door open, the outer room unlit, only a dim lampshade illuminating the inner room dimly.
Xie Feng stood outside the floor screen, ensured Song Qi could hear his voice, and didn’t step further.
Seeing he was reluctant to co in, Song Qi suddenly sniffed, "Brother Feng, are you thinking of driving away too?"
"I, I didn’t." Xie Feng said, "It’s late at night, I’m still an outsider, not convenient to et directly."
Song Qi asked him, "Do you believe ?"
"I..."
"Elder sister’s death really has nothing to do with ." Song Qi then started to sob softly, "Both my parents and my third uncle and aunt have all returned to Ningzhou. I was alone and bored, just wanted to find her to hang out. I don’t know why she suddenly had a premature birth, really it’s nothing to do with ."
Listening to the girl’s cries, Xie Feng couldn’t help but feel distressed, "What did you say to her at the ti? As long as you prove you’ve done nothing, the Liang Family has no reason to capture you."
"I... I didn’t say anything." Song Qi hugged herself even tighter.
Because Song Jiao kept refusing to help plead with the grandma on her behalf, she impulsively said that day, "I would rather be a concubine to Brother-in-law Liang than marry Xie Feng, that country bumpkin."
At the ti, both sister and brother-in-law were present. After hearing this, sister soon complained of stomach pains.
Taking advantage of the chaos, she escaped from the Liang Family and hid back ho, thinking that at worst, sister would only have a premature birth and lose the child, but never imagined that the news returned to the Song family was death.
A fatal accident.
Just the day before, her sister who was begging her with various acts of affection was now lying quietly in the coffin.
Song Qi was terrified. When the Liang Family ca to capture her to appear before the officials, she had nowhere to escape and could only co to the Xie family.
Xie Feng liked her and surely wouldn’t let her be taken away.
After hearing, Xie Feng’s expression was suspicious, "You really said nothing at all?"
"I just made a joke." Song Qi cried, "How was I supposed to know elder sister couldn’t take a joke, that those words could be taken seriously."
"What joke?" Xie Feng’s brow furrowed deeply.
"Brother Feng, please don’t ask." Song Qi wiped her tears, "I’ve seen the invitations your family sent to the Song Mansion. I didn’t cause trouble; it was just the servants speaking nonsense. I’m willing to marry you."
Not hearing Xie Feng speak, she continued, "Grandmother says Brother Feng has a good nature and will treat well for life. I always listen to grandmother."
Xie Feng was sowhat moved, "Qi Qi, you..."
"But now, Aunt Xie won’t tolerate ." She spoke, crying again, "Your parents won’t tolerate either. Even if I want to marry you, they won’t agree."
Xie Feng’s heart ached, "Qi Qi, if you are truly innocent, I won’t let the Liang Family take you away."
"Of course I’m innocent." Song Qi looked towards the screen where Xie Feng stood, "That’s my blood sister, I’m too concerned for her to harm her."
Xie Feng also felt that Qi Qi, only over ten years old and not yet of age, couldn’t be so malicious as to cause her sister’s fatal accident. Perhaps the Liang Family, fearing the Song family would bla them, pushed all the bla onto young Qi Qi to lessen the Song family’s anger.
Thinking this way, he comforted, "Qi Qi, it’s late, you should sleep. I’ll visit the Liang Mansion first thing in the morning and see if I can persuade Brother-in-law Liang not to trouble you."
Hearing he wanted to go to the Liang Family, Song Qi panicked, "Brother Feng, brother-in-law is still angry. Going will only provoke him further, better not to disturb him?"
Xie Feng said, "If I don’t go, their family won’t rest, and my parents and grandparents wouldn’t let you stay."
"But..." Song Qi was torn, then decided that brother-in-law likely wouldn’t reveal what she said publicly, lest he damage his own reputation. Even if he did say it, she’d firmly deny it, thinking he wouldn’t do much.
Steeling her nerves, Song Qi weakly said, "Everyone thinks it’s my fault. I only have Brother Feng now. Thank you for willing to help ."
These words undoubtedly established Xie Feng as a heroic figure capable of protecting the young girl. His heart softened, "Don’t worry, I’ll protect you."
...
The next morning, just as Xie Feng was about to head to the Liang Family, he was stopped by Xie Zheng, who asked where he was going.
Xie Feng lied quickly, "Nothing much, just going out for a walk."
Xie Zheng stared at him closely, "You want to go to the Liang Family?"
Exposed, Xie Feng felt lacking in confidence, unable to lie to his father, so he had to confess, "Elder Cousin’s situation requires soone from our family to visit."
"That’s your mother’s responsibility, not yours."
"Father." Xie Feng pressed his lips, "I just want to ask Brother-in-law Liang alone, if there’s any misunderstanding, Qi Qi’s only fourteen—how could she harm her own sister?"
"If there’s truly injustice, the governnt will investigate. You can’t help, stay in your room properly. You’re forbidden to step outside without my orders." Xie Zheng directly imposed house arrest.
Xie Feng’s face changed, "Father!"
Xie Zheng sternly said, "Any more words, and I will have Song Qi thrown out!"
Xie Feng had to keep quiet, obediently returning to his own courtyard.
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