No sooner had those words been spoken than Xue Gui's voice rang out from outside the hall.
Lady Jiang the Younger, having witnessed his shamelessness—and that of his sharp-tongued mother—during her time in the Xue household, immediately said, "Old Madam Xie, since your family's old acquaintances have arrived, perhaps you should..."
She intended to suggest the old madam leave first, as such disgraceful matters would only invite ridicule if witnessed by outsiders.
To her surprise, Old Madam Xie replied, "This old woman is in no hurry. Madam Chu, please attend to your affairs first. We can discuss the marriage arrangements afterward..."
It was clear she intended to stay and watch the spectacle!
But there was no time to worry about her now. Xue Gui barged in, shouting as he strode forward, "Out of my way, you lowly servants! How dare you block this marquis?"
Lady Jiang the Younger stepped forward to intercept him. "Marquis Xue, halt!"
Xue Gui still held a sliver of respect for his former sister-in-law, but Old Madam Xue cared for no such niceties. If they didn’t retrieve her grandson soon, the Xue family line would end!
Her aged eyes swept the hall and landed on her target. "There she is!"
Xue Gui immediately pushed past Lady Jiang the Younger and advanced toward Chu Jing. "You venomous woman! Where have you hidden Yinghong and my son? We’ve turned the capital upside down and found no trace of them. Did you murder them?"
Outside the hall, Chu Ruoyan quickly instructed Yulu to summon the servant attending to Xue Ling. "Where is my cousin?"
The servant replied, "Today, the Xie family’s young lady from the Nanping Earldom visited and invited the young mistress for a boat outing. She left early this morning with Chan."
Chu Ruoyan exhaled in relief.
Thank goodness she wasn’t home. Witnessing her parents in such a confrontation would have devastated her.
After a moment’s thought, she turned to Nanny Zhou. "Nanny, please go to the Cao Family at once and find Lord Cao Yang. Ask him three questions."
"First, why has Xue Gui, implicated in the embezzlement of military supplies, not been brought to justice?"
"Second, Xue Gui is now causing trouble at the Chu residence—does Lord Cao intend to intervene?"
Nanny Zhou listened attentively. "And the third question?"
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes glinted with mischief. "Third, if he refuses to act, we shall have no choice but to seek Old Madam Cao’s intervention."
Meanwhile, inside the main hall—
Chu Jing found she no longer even had the energy to curse.
The only mistake she had ever made in her life was marrying Xue Gui—a blind decision that now felt like divine retribution. Even after their divorce, the man clung to her like a cockroach in a cesspit, impossible to shake off.
"Marquis Xue, you were the one who agreed to send them away. If you wish to find them now, that is your family’s affair and none of my concern."
"Furthermore, this is the Duke of Chu's Mansion. I remind you to respect the terms of our divorce—no further contact between us."
Xue Gui faltered, still somewhat intimidated by his former brother-in-law, Chu Huaishan.
His mother, noticing Old Madam Xie and the matchmaker Lady Su beside her, suddenly understood. "So this is why the gates were closed today—you’re arranging a marriage!"
She drew out her words mockingly, and Lady Su hurried to clarify, "Old Madam Xue, you misunderstand. The Xie family is here to propose a marriage between Young Master Zhizhou and the Duke of Chu's household. It seems Madam Chu has misinterpreted..."
"Hah!" Old Madam Xue laughed triumphantly. "Chu Jing, look at you! After leaving our Xue family, even a minor earldom like the Nanpings won’t..."
Perhaps remembering Old Madam Xie’s presence, she trailed off.
But the implication was clear—she was mocking Chu Jing, suggesting that even such a lowly family would reject her daughter.
Chu Jing swayed, her patience nearing its limit.
Lady Jiang the Younger, fearing she might act rashly, discreetly grasped her hand. "Aunt, the matchmaker is present..."
If this escalated, Lady Su’s gossip would spread like wildfire, making Xue Ling’s marriage prospects even more difficult.
Chu Jing shut her eyes in anguish, forcing herself to endure. At last, she gritted out, "What do you want?"
Old Madam Xue sneered. "Simple. Hand over Yinghong and my grandson, and compensate us for the silver you destroyed in our mansion. For the sake of the daughter you bore, I might even allow you to return."
Xue Gui nodded. "Yes. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones..."
Before he could finish, a crisp voice rang from the doorway. "Marquis Xue may be willing to forgive, but my aunt certainly cannot—especially since you and your protégé... well, let’s just say your romantic entanglement has left you less than pure."
"Pfft!"
Chu Ruolan couldn’t suppress her laughter.
Even Old Madam Xie and the others turned away, stifling smiles.
There were no secrets in the capital. The scandals of the Marquis of Chengen’s household were already the stuff of tavern tales, and even Xue Gui’s humiliation had been romanticized by poets as a "tragic mentorship."
Nearly everyone present knew of it. Xue Gui’s face flushed crimson.
Old Madam Xue snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting? That little bastard is locked up in the Ministry of Justice! My son is the victim here!"
Chu Ruoyan nodded sympathetically. "Indeed, Marquis Xue is wronged... but still not pure."
Old Madam Xue trembled with rage and rounded on Lady Jiang the Younger. "Madam Chu, is this how the Duke of Chu's household raises its women? A divorced woman, prattling about others’ private affairs!"
Lady Jiang the Younger feigned sternness. "Old Madam Xue is right. Eldest Miss, though everything you say is true, another family’s shame should not be aired so openly."
Chu Ruoyan lowered her head meekly. "Mother’s reprimand is just."
"You—you—!"
Old Madam Xue’s eyes bulged, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Xue Gui steadied her. "Mother!"
He glared at them furiously. "Fine! So the Chu family has chosen to shield their own, is that it? Chu Jing, have you no care for Xue Ling’s future? She’s your only daughter!"
Chu Jing met the worried gazes of Lady Jiang the Younger and Chu Ruoyan—and suddenly understood.
Her sacrifices had never moved the Xue family’s conscience. They only emboldened them.
Even if she endured humiliation for Xue Ling’s sake, as long as Xue Gui lived, peace would remain out of reach.
"My sister-in-law and Ruoyan are right. Xue Gui, you schemed first and reaped the consequences later. My brother made it clear—our families are severed, never to interact again! Today, you barge into my home, bullying women in my brother’s absence. Guards, summon the authorities! I, too, have a question: what punishment awaits a divorced man who harasses his former wife’s family?"
"You wouldn’t dare!"
Xue Gui pointed at Old Madam Xie and Lady Su. "The matchmaker is here! If you drag this to court, our families will be the laughingstock of the capital by tomorrow! Chu Jing, do you really think anyone will want Xue Ling then?"
As his words hung in the air, a clear, composed voice cut through the tension.
"Why wouldn’t they?"
All eyes turned to the doorway, where Xie Zhizhou stood tall and elegant in his fine robes. Behind him, Xue Ling entered, her face pale but her steps steady.
"Greetings to Aunt, Mother... Grandmother, Father."
Her voice was strained. Xue Gui, unprepared for his bargaining chip’s sudden return, fell silent.
Old Madam Xie, spotting Xie Zhizhou, shot to her feet. "Zhizhou! Why are you here? And with her?"
Xie Zhizhou spoke frankly, "My younger sister had invited Miss Xue for a lakeside outing, but she fell unwell and returned to the manor first. She asked me to escort Miss Xue back, which is how I overheard those words just now—"
He turned to glance at Xue Ling. The young lady stood with her eyes lowered, her lips trembling faintly.
She was afraid.
And who could blame her?
Her own father had used her as leverage to threaten her mother, even going so far as to stake her reputation and virtue as collateral.
Originally, he had only thought of how close his sister was to her, imagining a future where their families would be joined by marriage—where sister-in-law and daughter-in-law would live in harmony, dutifully caring for his mother...
But now.
Steadying himself, he knelt before Old Madam Xie and declared, "Grandmother, this grandson wishes to ask for Miss Xue's hand in marriage. I beg for your blessing!"
