With just one sentence, she was dismissed. Huaiyu found it somewhat unbelievable. She looked at Ba Dezhong ng and pointed to herself. “I’m the one betrothed to Jiang Yan… right? It’s his birthday tomorrow, and I’m supposed to stay home. Does that make any sense?”
Ba Dezhong ng’s voice was stern. “The Jiang family has expressed reconsideration of this marriage early on. You don’t need to be too fixated on this matter.”
Implicit in his words was the intention to push this marriage onto Bai Zhuji instead.
To be honest, Huaiyu didn’t care at all about who she married or didn’t marry. After all, she had raised over a dozen fancy pigeons before. What kind of man hadn’t she seen? She never saw a daughter’s marriage as a big deal.
However, she frowned slightly as she looked down at the dress she was wearing now.
“No room for negotiation?” she asked.
Ba Dezhong ng shook his head. “Follow the etiquette instructor in the mansion and learn manners properly. After you’ve learned, I will choose another family for you.”
Bai Zhuji smiled with a hint of triumph in her eyes but maintained an elegant demeanor as she spoke to her. “Little sister, don’t be too upset. There are many good families out there, not just the Jiangs.”
“Yes,” Lady Bai Meng chimed in with a smile. “We can always find another one in the future.”
Glancing at the gloating mother and daughter, Huaiyu forced a smile, knowing there was no room for negotiation. She bowed to Ba Dezhong ng. “I’ll take my leave, Father.”
“Hmm,” Ba Dezhong ng watched her leave, sighing softly.
He knew this was a bit cruel to Zhuji, but there was no other way. The current Zhuji, aside from marrying Jiang Yan, didn’t resemble a young lady of the Bai family in the slightest. If forced into the Jiang family, there would be no good days ahead for her.
Huaiyu couldn’t help but think that finding a simple family, where she could live a plain and peaceful life, might be better. At least she wouldn’t be bullied.
After leaving the main hall, Huaiyu was met by Lingxiu, who came up to support her. “Miss, how did it go?”
Seeing Lingxiu’s hopeful eyes, Huaiyu pursed her lips, hesitating for a long time before saying, “We can sleep in tomorrow.”
Lingxiu was shocked. Her face turned pale, her lips trembled, and tears fell from her eyes with a “plop.”
“How could this be?” she choked out, “Even if Master doesn’t care for you, he should still remember Auntie San’s spirit in heaven! How can he truly forbid you from going?”
Huaiyu was invincible, except when it came to tears. She never shed a tear even when faced with the harshest of situations. But Lingxiu had a talent for making her cry.
Fumbling with her sleeves to wipe Lingxiu’s face, Huaiyu hurriedly comforted her. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. The Jiang family isn’t good anyway. We won’t go if we don’t want to.”
“But how can that be acceptable!” Lingxiu sobbed inconsolably.
Huaiyu, feeling helpless, dragged Lingxiu back to the western courtyard. As they walked, she gently reassured her, “From now on, follow me. You won’t suffer anymore, and you don’t have to marry Jiang Yan to be happy.”
Lingxiu continued to cry.
Huaiyu tried again, “Tomorrow, I’ll have someone buy you some delicious snacks. How about that?”
But Lingxiu still couldn’t stop crying.
Feeling overwhelmed, Huaiyu sat her down in a chair in the room, clasped her hands together, and repeatedly bowed to her, “Madam, please stop crying! It’s just a banquet at the Jiang residence, right? If they won’t take me, I’ll find a way to go myself, okay?”
Lingxiu shook her head through her sobs, “There’s no way… There’s nothing we can do…”
“It’s just a matter of some old clothes, right?” Huaiyu gritted her teeth, “I’ll have someone send over some decent ones right away!”
She made the grand statement as if it were easily achievable. Lingxiu couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, her eyes red with tears as she asked, “Who will you send?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Huaiyu said, “Just wait here. If anyone asks where I am, tell them I’m in the outhouse with stomach trouble.”
Lingxiu was taken aback. “Are you going to find someone?”
Waving her hand dismissively, Huaiyu swished her skirts and rushed out.
“Miss!” Lingxiu hurriedly got up and ran to the door, but there was no one outside. The night was quiet, and it was almost time for the lamps to be extinguished. The gates of the official residences were tightly closed.
However, the gates of the Lu Residence suddenly opened from within.
“What do you need so urgently for tomorrow?” Lu Jingxing, dressed in sleepwear and a cloak, was being dragged along by someone ahead, looking amused and bewildered. “Why the rush?”
Huaiyu didn’t even look back. “I sneaked out. If they find me, they’ll drag me back and break my legs. For the sake of my legs, spare me the chatter.”
At her words, Lu Jingxing finally straightened up, glanced at the carriage that had hurried over, and quickly unharnessed the horse.
“What are you doing?” Huaiyu widened her eyes.
Lu Jingxing chuckled. “Aren’t you in a hurry? I’m taking you to taste the night breeze of April in the capital. It’s quite refreshing.”
With that, he lifted her gently by the waist and placed her on the horse’s back. Huaiyu was taken aback, barely able to say anything before Lu Jingxing mounted behind her. With no saddle on the horse, they were pressed close together. Lu Jingxing’s clothing was thin, and she could almost feel the warmth emanating from his chest.
“Seriously?” Li Huaiyu frowned. “Are you trying to act like a rogue?”
Without waiting for a response, Lu Jingxing spurred the horse forward. He chuckled, “Being played by me like a rogue is something many ladies in the capital would long for. You should cherish it.”
“Rubbish!” Huaiyu retorted. “You’re just a big talker. If I can’t find what I need later, I’ll tear down your shop!”
“Don’t worry,” Lu Jingxing smirked, his eyes half-closed. “Everything you need is available at my Canghai Yizhu Pavilion.”
Lu Jingxing owned numerous businesses, but his favorite was the Canghai Yizhu Pavilion. It was a renowned treasure trove in the capital, selling everything from trinkets to precious jewelry. However, the prices were steep, and only those with deep pockets dared to step inside.
Huaiyu had never been there before, not because she didn’t want to, but because Lu Jingxing adamantly refused to let her in.
“Letting you in would be no different from letting a rat into a granary!” Lu Jingxing, once a charming and suave man, had both hands gripping the door, blocking her path. “You want to get in? There’s only one way.”
“What’s that?”
Lu Jingxing sneered, “Stepping over my dead body!”
Recalling his fierce expression from before, Huaiyu couldn’t help feeling a bit nostalgic.
“We’re here.” The horse was stopped, and Lu Jingxing dismounted, reaching out to pull her down as well.
“Hmm?” Huaiyu snapped out of her thoughts, noticing his intention to carry her inside. She couldn’t resist teasing, “Guess we don’t need to step over your dead body this time, huh?”
Lu Jingxing chuckled softly, not responding to her jest. Instead, he placed her at the doorway, flicked her forehead gently, and then used a key to unlock the lock hanging on the door.
“Creak…”
A treasure trove of dazzling items unfolded before Li Huaiyu’s eyes.