Xie Qingyao looked at Jiang Si with a mix of doubt and hope. “Ah Si, what’s your plan?”
Jiang Si leaned in and whispered a few words into Xie Qingyao’s ear.
Xie Qingyao grew increasingly surprised. “Will that work?”
“Let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of something else. There’s always a way out.”
Xie Qingyao nodded vigorously. “Alright, let’s try it.”
The two went hand in hand to find Xie Yinlou. As they approached the door, they heard a woman’s voice: “Yinlou, your aunt wouldn’t harm you. The young lady I’m talking about is one in a hundred in both character and appearance, a perfect match for you.”
Xie Qingyao stepped over the threshold, her voice cold. “Elder Brother, why are you here instead of at the spirit hall? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Seeing his sister and Jiang Si, Xie Yinlou’s tense expression relaxed slightly, but he still looked embarrassed. He had hoped that by not responding, they would temporarily give up, but he hadn’t expected his sister and Jiang Si to overhear.
As soon as Xie Qingyao entered, the woman’s brow furrowed briefly before she put on an affectionate expression. “Qingyao, the adults are discussing important matters. Why don’t you go rest for now?”
Xie Qingyao looked at Xie Yinlou with an innocent expression. “Elder Brother, is there anything more important right now than mourning our parents?”
Xie Yinlou stood up, his expression cold. “Of course not.”
Seeing he was about to leave, the woman hurriedly said, “Yinlou, you’ve misunderstood. Right now, besides arranging the Earl and Countess’s funeral, there’s another important matter – your marriage!”
Xie Yinlou looked at the woman coldly, not saying a word.
The woman didn’t care about Xie Yinlou’s icy expression. In her view, he was just a junior, and they had come with the clan leader’s approval. If this boy dared to put on airs as the Young Master, he could forget about having a good reputation.
Without a good reputation, how could he hope to inherit the title? Dream on!
“Marriage?” Xie Qingyao’s voice rose as if she had heard a joke. “Our parents have passed away. As their children, we should observe a three-year mourning period. How can we talk about marriage?”
The young girl raised her chin slightly, her eyebrows and eyes revealing her dissatisfaction.
The woman wasn’t afraid of Xie Yinlou, but she was somewhat wary of Xie Qingyao.
A young girl who had lost her parents was like someone with bare feet who wasn’t afraid of those wearing shoes. If she embarrassed her, who could she complain to?
At this moment, Xie Qingyao’s maternal aunt spoke up: “Qingyao, there are always exceptions. Your brother is the only heir of the Yongchang Earl’s household. Your parents left so suddenly, without seeing your brother married – don’t you think they would be regretful? Can you bear to make them wait another three years? Moreover, how can such a large Earl’s household be managed by your brother alone? If we arrange for him to marry before the seventh day of mourning, your brother will have a capable helper. Isn’t that good?”
On this point, the Eighth Aunt and the maternal aunt agreed. She glanced discreetly at Jiang Si standing beside Xie Qingyao, and said pointedly, “With your aunt overseeing your brother’s marriage, we’ll surely bring in a virtuous and capable wife, which is better than your young and naive brother being deceived by some unworthy girl.”
Xie Qingyao’s face suddenly darkened. She turned to her maternal aunt. “Is this also Maternal Aunt’s opinion?”
The maternal aunt forced a smile. “Well, your maternal uncle discussed this with your maternal grandmother before coming here. How could I make such a decision? Qingyao, you’re just a young girl, you shouldn’t worry about these things.”
She hadn’t expected that after a few years, this girl would become so sharp-tongued. It was a good thing her husband intended to marry their daughter into the Yongchang Earl’s household, rather than having their son marry this girl. Otherwise, she would never agree, even if it killed her!
“That’s right, your aunt is handling this. There’s no need for a young girl like you to worry,” Eighth Aunt glanced at the maternal aunt.
Their eyes met, filled with hostility.
Half of their goals were aligned, but as for the other half, it depended on each one’s abilities to achieve them.
Xie Qingyao saw all this and felt saddened.
Ah Si was right. Both her maternal aunt and Eighth Aunt were eager to have their candidate become the future Countess. Using their conflict was an opportunity for her and her brother.
“But I remember Mother mentioning that Elder Brother was already in marriage talks. If we want to put our parents’ spirits at ease, I think choosing a young lady our parents approved of would be more appropriate.”
At this moment, Xie Yinlou instinctively glanced at Jiang Si, considering a certain possibility.
Xie Yinlou frowned, preparing to stop his sister’s nonsense.
Their family’s mess shouldn’t involve others.
Xie Qingyao seemed to anticipate her brother’s reaction and tugged at his sleeve behind her back.
Xie Yinlou lowered his gaze to hide the confusion in his eyes, deciding to wait and see how things unfolded.
“Marriage talks? With which family’s daughter?” Eighth Aunt immediately raised her voice.
The maternal aunt followed up, “If the marriage isn’t settled yet, the girl’s family surely wouldn’t agree to marry within seven days. Then we’d have to wait three years—”
“In three years, my elder brother will only be twenty. That’s not late at all,” Xie Qingyao argued, unable to contain herself.
Eighth Aunt slapped her thigh. “Qingyao, now you’re talking like a child. Why are we rushing to have your brother marry before your parents’ seventh day of mourning? It’s because he’s the only heir. You’ve seen how unpredictable life can be. Who knows what might happen in three years?”
Xie Qingyao’s face turned pale with anger. “What do you mean by that? Are you cursing my brother?”
The maternal aunt put on a righteous expression. “Indeed, your words are too unkind. Yinlou, your parents have passed away. Your maternal uncle can make decisions about your marriage. Today, you should listen to your maternal uncle and aunt. We all have your best interests at heart—”
“Are Maternal Uncle and Aunt truly thinking of our best interests?”
“Of course we are.”
Eighth Aunt, not to be outdone, chimed in, “Qingyao, we’re family. We’re all surnamed Xie. Your Eighth Uncle and Aunt are truly thinking of you.”
Xie Qingyao wiped her tears and sneered, “Since both Maternal Aunt and Eighth Aunt claim to have our best interests at heart, whichever of you dares to say these things before my parents’ spirits, my brother’s marriage will be arranged according to your wishes.”
The maternal aunt and Eighth Aunt were suddenly struck dumb.
“If Maternal Aunt and Eighth Aunt don’t dare to say it, then please don’t interfere with my brother’s marriage. As the elders have said, what my parents cared about most was my brother’s marriage. This matter cannot be rushed. If the Maternal Aunt and Eighth Aunt can promise before my parents’ spirits that the candidate you propose is good, then my parents’ spirits can rest easy. If not, we should wait until the three-year mourning period is over before carefully choosing.”
“I’ll go. I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Eighth Aunt glanced at the maternal aunt and strode towards the spirit hall.
The maternal aunt, not to be outdone, immediately followed.
The few elders from both the Xie clan and the maternal family who were still in the room, including the Xie siblings’ maternal uncle and Eighth Uncle, all stood up and followed.
It wasn’t appropriate for men to intervene in such disputes, but this had been their intention all along.
“Ah Si—” Seeing everyone pour into the spirit hall, Xie Qingyao anxiously tugged at Jiang Si’s sleeve.
It was noon, and there were no visitors paying respects. The spirit hall, initially empty, was suddenly filled with people.
Jiang Si’s fingertip flickered, and a phantom firefly silently flew toward the Eighth Aunt and the maternal aunt.
Jiang Si gave Xie Qingyao a reassuring look.
Xie Qingyao steadied herself and raised her voice, “Eighth Aunt, you go first and speak to my parents.”
Eighth Aunt looked at the two black coffins placed side by side. The smell of burning paper money filled her nostrils, and she inexplicably felt a chill that wasn’t there when she first arrived.