Jiang Ling was startled by the appearance of Xie Yu. She had truly not expected him to show up here today. In her mind, she had assumed the next time she would see him would be at her wedding, when her cousins would carry her to the bridal sedan. Why had he come here now?
Thinking this, Jiang Ling hurried to compose herself. By the time she emerged to see Xie Yu, she had changed into the clothes she wore around the house, though her hair was slightly disheveled—a remnant of her rushed change.
"Third Cousin, why have you come here? Is there some urgent matter?"
Jiang Ling was at a loss; she could not figure out what madness had possessed Xie Yu today. Back at the Xie family estate, he had been the one who detested her most. Now that she had moved to this manor, why on earth would he come looking for her?
Seeing Jiang Ling in her casual attire, Xie Yu’s first reaction was to grab her arm and drag her away.
"Let’s go! Come back with me!"
Hearing these words tumble out of his mouth without rhyme or reason, Jiang Ling felt all the more convinced that he must have taken the wrong medicine today. She yanked her arm away with force.
"Xie Yu! Let go! This is my home; why should I leave?"
As she spoke, she stared at him, finding him increasingly absurd. He had barged into her house in a panic, shouting for her to leave with him. She wasn't insane—why would she listen to him and just walk away?
She had not anticipated, however, that her words would act like a spark to a powder keg. Upon hearing her, Xie Yu’s voice rose sharply.
"Don't leave? Are you actually planning to stay here and marry that man? What is Pei Yu, anyway? A reckless brute with a life expectancy shorter than a dog’s, and he dares to dream of marrying you!"
Jiang Ling could usually brush off Xie Yu’s typical insults, but today he was attacking her future husband. Her eyes darkened immediately.
"Xie Yu! What are you saying? Pei Yu is my future husband. How dare you slander him! If you have nothing else to say, get out of this manor immediately!"
Though Jiang Ling and Xie Yu were always bickering, in his experience, she had never spoken to him with such volume. Now, because of some Pei Yu who had appeared out of nowhere, she was actually speaking to him like this! Suddenly, a fire surged into his head.
"Jiang Ling! Grandmother told me to look after you! What is that Pei Yu, anyway? Come! You are coming back with me! I will ask Father to help you call off this engagement!"
As he spoke, Xie Yu reached for her again. This time, Jiang Ling did not speak; as he reached out, she pushed his hand away forcefully.
"Third Cousin, don't play these games. When have you ever agreed to Grandmother’s wishes? You say Grandmother told you to take care of me? Why did I hear something else? 'If Grandmother tries to force me to marry Jiang Ling, I would rather drop dead on a prostitute's belly right this instant.' Those were your own words, Third Cousin. Do not play games with me now!"
Jiang Ling could not fathom what was going on in Xie Yu’s mind. Recently, she had been plagued by a recurring dream. In it, she married her Second Cousin, Xie Kang, and upon hearing the news, Xie Yu had come to snatch her away. Because of this, her aunt Wang Yuan grew to hate her, convinced that Jiang Ling had seduced her son and caused her youngest pride and joy to fight his brother for a wife, leading to endless harassment.
In the dream, the naive Jiang Ling had believed that Xie Yu’s sharp tongue hid a soft heart, and that he actually cared for her. She had even secretly thought that if she were to marry him, it might be a good match. But then the scene shifted, and in the dream, she overheard Xie Yu talking with his friends, only to realize... he had said those things to her simply to ensure that a girl who didn't know her place wouldn't ruin his second brother's prospects. If Jiang Ling were to be with him, he would never make her his wife; at best, she would be a concubine kept on the side. "The reputation of the Xie family cannot be tarnished by me!"
It was only then that she realized that while Xie Yu often argued with her, he was a businessman at heart, well-versed in both overt and covert schemes. He had simply been using those cruel methods to manipulate her.
And now, just after having that dream, Xie Yu was here to "snatch the bride"... It was too strange!
With that thought, anger welled up inside her. She grabbed a basin of cold water from the room and splashed it directly onto him.
"Third Cousin! Wash your face with some cold water and wake up!"
Drenched and shocked, Xie Yu stood frozen. Before he could speak, Jiang Ling had already ordered her servants to escort him out, showing no intention of saying another word to him.
Steward Wang witnessed the scene and reported it to Xie Xiao before long. Hearing the account, Xie Xiao found it bizarre. His third son was the most difficult to tame; the more you urged him east, the more he insisted on going west. After he refused to pursue a career in literature or arms, Xie Xiao had let him have his way and join the merchant trade. But Xie Xiao clearly remembered that when Old Madam Xie had asked for his opinion on marrying Jiang Ling, he had adamantly refused, saying he would rather die on a prostitute’s belly.
And yet, here he was, desperate to drag her back? It was truly strange.
But there was no time for idle curiosity. The engagement between Jiang Ling and the Pei family was already set in stone. If any scandal were to break out before the wedding, neither family would be able to show their face. As soon as Xie Yu returned, Xie Xiao used the excuse of his son's unruly behavior to have him locked in his room.
"Third, I don’t know what you are thinking, but remember this clearly! Jiang Ling is already betrothed to the Pei family. Even if she hasn't crossed their threshold yet, she is their future daughter-in-law. A gentleman’s word is final; there is no room for change here! Whether you agree or disagree, this marriage between Jiang Ling and Pei Yu will proceed! Even if you regret it and have a hundred different ideas, swallow them down!"
"In a few days, when your cousin gets married, you must send her off as her brother. The Pei family’s wedding is a reflection of the Xie family’s honor! Don't you dare harbor any crooked thoughts—just behave like a proper brother. Otherwise, I will break your legs!"