The fact that her elder brother’s marriage had become a coveted prize fought over by their clan and maternal family, just after their parents’ passing, made Xie Qingyao tremble with anger.
“What did my elder brother say?” she asked.
“The Young Master said he already had a marriage under discussion and told Madam Aunt and Eighth Madam not to worry. However, neither of them believed him and insisted on knowing which family the young lady under discussion belonged to,” the maid recounted, her face showing indignation.
Xie Qingyao’s expression darkened further. “Did my elder brother say anything else?”
The maid shook her head. “The Young Master remained silent. Madam Aunt and Eighth Madam believed his previous words were just an excuse, and they started arguing again.”
Xie Qingyao, filled with rage, sneered coldly, “What business is it of theirs!”
The maid hurriedly shared what she had learned. “Eighth Master was representing the clan leader. He said it was the clan leader’s wish for the Young Master to marry within seven days of the Earl and Madam’s passing. Miss, what should we do?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Qingyao swayed, and one of her fingernails, digging into her palm, broke off abruptly.
At this moment, she once again experienced the sorrow of not having her parents’ protection.
The Eighth Master was the clan leader’s son and their elder. If this was truly the clan leader’s wish, it would not be easy for her and her elder brother to resist.
Her elder brother had not yet inherited the title, nor had he come of age. If the clan elders interfered with his marriage under the pretext of looking out for the siblings, and if her brother mishandled the situation, it could lead to accusations of filial impiety, potentially affecting his inheritance of the title. After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty ruled by filial piety, and the Emperor valued it above all else.
But how could her elder brother’s marriage be decided so hastily? If he rashly married an unsuitable wife, his entire life would be pitiful.
Thinking of this, Xie Qingyao began to cry in distress. Grasping Jiang Si’s hand, she murmured, “Ah Si, what should we do?”
“Qingyao, does the Young Master truly have a marriage under discussion? What is the attitude of the other party?” Jiang Si asked calmly.
With Xie Qingyao’s emotions on the verge of collapse, Jiang Si needed to remain stable.
The events unfolding now were entirely different from her previous life. It seemed that with the death of Earl Yongchang and his wife, the fate of the Xie siblings was heading in an uncontrollable direction.
She had to do her best to help the Xie siblings avoid these troubles. It was her responsibility.
Jiang Si mentioned the family discussing marriage with the Yongchang Earl’s household, clinging to a glimmer of hope.
In her previous life, because of the Earl’s “sleeping pig” scandal, it was understandable for the other party to cancel the marriage discussions. After all, it was only a discussion, not an engagement. With such a bizarre incident involving the Earl, it was normal for the other party to be unwilling to proceed.
Now, with the Earl and his wife’s passing, the other party’s attitude was hard to predict.
They might worry that Xie Yinlou was too young to support the Earl’s household and be unwilling to marry their daughter into a potentially declining family. Or they might see the opportunity for their daughter to become the Countess immediately and be willing to continue the discussions. That’s why Jiang Si asked about this.
“The other party’s attitude?” Xie Qingyao furrowed her brows, thinking for a moment before instructing the maid to call for the housekeeper.
Soon, the housekeeper arrived.
Xie Qingyao, not hiding anything from Jiang Si, asked directly, “Among those who came to pay respects, was there anyone from the Wen family of the Imperial College?”
The housekeeper, capable of managing the inner household, thought for a moment and replied, “This morning, the Wen family sent a steward who offered incense before the Earl and Madam’s spirits and then left.”
“Did they say nothing else?” Xie Qingyao pressed, her fingers gripping her white hemp skirt tightly.
“No, just some polite words.”
Xie Qingyao’s eyelashes fluttered as she turned to Jiang Si, a mocking smile on her lips. “Ah Si, what do you think this means?”
Jiang Si reached out to pat Xie Qingyao’s arm.
With such a major event happening to the male party during marriage discussions, if the female party intended to continue, they would never send just a steward for a brief condolence visit.
This could only mean they were eager to distance themselves.
Jiang Si had realized this, and naturally, so had Xie Qingyao.
“It’s easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to send charcoal in snowy weather,” Xie Qingyao murmured.
“Qingyao, I will be with you through these difficult times.”
Xie Qingyao’s gaze shifted to Jiang Si’s face, her dark eyes suddenly brightening. “Ah Si, what do you think of my elder brother?”
Jiang Si was taken aback by Xie Qingyao’s question.
Xie Qingyao grasped Jiang Si’s hand eagerly. “Tell me, what do you think of my elder brother?”
The question was too vague, so Jiang Si could only respond ambiguously, “Young Master Xie is certainly very good.”
“Then would you be willing to marry my elder brother?”
Jiang Si was completely stunned.
Xie Qingyao’s eyes grew even brighter. “You and my elder brother grew up together, and we are close friends. It would be wonderful if you could become my sister-in-law! I wouldn’t have to worry about my brother hastily marrying an unsuitable wife, and those people wouldn’t be able to scheme anymore. No one knows who the young lady in discussion for my brother is anyway. I’ll find a chance to talk to my brother about it, then have him quietly send someone to speak with Earl Jiang. As long as Earl Jiang agrees, it’s settled.”
Xie Qingyao grew more excited as she spoke, nudging Jiang Si. “Ah Si, do you think this could work?”
Seeing her friend’s bright eyes, Jiang Si fell silent.
Her father had a good relationship with Earl Yongchang and had watched Xie Yinlou grow up. If the Xie family sent someone to discuss this matter now, her father would likely agree.
In her father’s eyes, Xie Yinlou was much better than Ji Chongyi, and marrying into the Yongchang Earl’s household would be far better than marrying into the Anguo Duke’s household.
But she was unwilling.
She had resolved to help the Xie siblings to the best of her ability, but this did not include sacrificing her marriage.
In her previous life, she had had enough of being someone’s substitute, enough of her rightful husband having another woman in his heart. Putting herself in his shoes, with someone else in her heart, how could she be a good wife to Xie Yinlou?
If she did that, she wouldn’t be helping, but ruining someone’s life.
It wouldn’t be fair to Xie Yinlou, and this kind of boundless help would only destroy the happiness he could potentially have in the future.
“Qingyao, this isn’t appropriate,” Jiang Si said.
The light in Xie Qingyao’s eyes dimmed.
Jiang Si looked at the cloud-capped peaks competing for beauty on the horizon outside the window and said softly, “There’s a better way.”