He could see that the regret in Bai Baozhu's eyes was genuine.
But so what? He still intended to give her the letter of divorce.
Who knew that Bai Baozhu would faint after saying those words.
The doctor came to examine her. "The young marshal's wife is suffering from convulsions due to a high fever. She just needs plenty of rest."
Xie Chengxiao had no choice but to be patient and assigned two more maids to care for her.
Then, last night, the fire broke out at the suburban villa.
Xie Manyu anxiously sought him out. To ensure Bai Baozhu could be returned to the Bai family alive and in one piece, Xie Chengxiao immediately set aside his military duties and rushed there.
He suspected all this was just another one of Bai Baozhu's schemes to stay.
But when he saw the woman fleeing in panic from the villa entrance, her skirt hem badly singed, Xie Chengxiao felt he shouldn't assume the worst of her.
His thoughts returned to the present.
The girl before him seemed very docile.
After calling him "brother-in-law," she continued to observe him curiously with timid eyes.
Her gaze was clear and pure.
Even carrying a hint of novelty.
It wasn't the look a woman gives a man.
"Cough, cough, cough—" Bai Baozhu suddenly covered her mouth and began coughing violently.
Seeing that she had regained their attention, she pressed a hand to her forehead and said:
"Perhaps I inhaled some smoke during the fire. My lungs feel terribly uncomfortable."
Xie Chengxiao replied in an official tone, "Later, have Nanny Wu summon Dr. Gu to examine you."
Bai Baozhu's expression softened gently.
"Alright."
With that, Xie Chengxiao went upstairs to his study.
Bai Liuyue took a few small, quick steps forward, waved her hand, and said obediently, "Goodbye, brother-in-law."
Xie Chengxiao paused for a moment, not responding, the sound of his military boots echoing crisply on the stairs.
Only when the footsteps had faded completely did Bai Baozhu drop her gentle, tender expression. With a serious face, she pulled Bai Liuyue to sit on the sofa.
"Co-cousin."
A flicker of panic passed through Bai Liuyue's almond-shaped eyes as she glanced at her timidly.
"Enough, I'm not here to blame you. Don't be afraid."
Bai Baozhu sat beside her, intimately linking arms with her, and probed:
"I know being sent to the Northwest was Grandfather's idea. You weren't willing yourself, were you?"
Bai Liuyue shook her head, her porcelain-like face appearing innocent.
Her voice was soft and unhurried.
"I am willing."
Bai Baozhu's smile faltered briefly, then she continued:
"You're still young and don't understand the responsibilities that come with marriage. I didn't understand before either."
"I even caused quite a few scandals. To be honest, reaching this point is partly my fault."
"I understand Grandfather is angry and wants the Xie family to divorce me. But... people grow up. Now I've come to my senses and want to live properly with Chengxiao."
"Xiaoyue, you'll help me, won't you?"
This long, preemptive speech from Bai Baozhu was simply to make things clear to her cousin in advance.
She didn't want to leave!
And she certainly wasn't going to give up her position as the young marshal's wife!
If Bai Liuyue was willing to back down, so much the better. If not, she couldn't blame her for disregarding their sisterly bond.
"...Cousin, you're being strange."
After waiting a good while, Bai Baozhu eagerly awaited Bai Liuyue's response, only to receive an evaluation of 'strange.'
"Strange? How am I strange?" She was utterly perplexed.
Bai Liuyue lifted her small face, her long eyelashes casting a shadow. She said unhurriedly:
"Back at home, cousin, you once told me this is the new Republic era, and women should advocate for free love, not be bound by arranged marriages from their elders."
"You even told Young Marshal Xie bluntly that he was just a military man who only knew fighting and killing, illiterate, and that you had nothing in common to talk about."
"Now Grandfather is granting your wish, having you divorce Young Marshal Xie. Shouldn't you be happy?"
At the third-floor corner.
A figure in a black military uniform stood by the wall, quietly listening to the sisters' conversation.
Xie Chengxiao hadn't initially meant to eavesdrop.
But when he heard Bai Liuyue's description of 'strange,' he instantly felt a resonance.
These days, even a fool could see the change in Bai Baozhu's attitude towards him, and he had felt something was off.
So it was 'strange.'
Faced with her cousin's gentle questioning, Bai Baozhu lowered her head slightly, feeling somewhat guilty.
"Times change, and people change too."
"Xiaoyue, before I was young and impulsive, thinking the most important thing in a marriage was having common topics, preferably shared interests."
"But now I think, for a husband, the most important qualities are responsibility and a sense of duty."
Remembering how that beast Xu Yanci had abandoned her and their child, a shadow passed through Bai Baozhu's eyes.
Bai Liuyue nodded as if she understood.
She said softly:
"So, cousin thinks Young Marshal Xie is very good?"
Bai Baozhu didn't spare the praise: "Yes! He is good. So..."
Before she could finish, Bai Liuyue interrupted.
The seemingly docile and gentle girl before her curled the corners of her lips slightly, like a pear blossom in March, pure and lovely.
Her soft voice carried a hint of sweetness.
"Mhm, since cousin thinks he's good, Grandfather thinks he's good, and Mother and Father think he's good, then I think he's good too."
"Then I can finally marry him with peace of mind."
"......"
Bai Baozhu felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, rendering her speechless.
So after all that talking, her cousin hadn't grasped her meaning at all.
She regretted it now!
She didn't want to separate from Xie Chengxiao.
And all her cousin heard was that Xie Chengxiao was good?!
On the third floor, the black shadow of a uniform shifted.
A flicker of amusement passed through the cold, stern eyes.
Then it disappeared around the corner.
Seeing her cousin's dazed expression, Bai Baozhu thought she must have been kept in the inner chambers until she became foolish.
Perhaps her well-educated, ladylike aunt had filled this cousin's head with more old-fashioned doctrines about the three obediences and four virtues.
So she decided to be blunt:
"Xiaoyue, I don't want a divorce."
"So please plead for me with Grandfather."
Bai Liuyue's eyes slowly shifted a few times, as if finally understanding something. She repeated softly:
"Cousin doesn't want a divorce?"
"Yes!" Bai Baozhu said excitedly.
"But Grandfather told me I came to the Northwest to marry Young Marshal Xie." Bai Liuyue slowly blinked again, enunciating each word: "If cousin doesn't leave, how can I marry him?"
Bai Baozhu wanted to get angry.
But faced with her cousin's blank, almost simple-minded expression—simplistic, even somewhat dull, like a sheet of white paper—her anger instantly dissipated.
This person was like a lump of dough.
She just did whatever others said.
Without a single thought of her own.
Bai Baozhu took a deep breath and patiently guided her:
"Xiaoyue, didn't you just call him brother-in-law?"
"Young Marshal Xie is my husband. You wouldn't want to be a woman who breaks up another family, would you?"
Bai Liuyue nodded slowly.
Her almond-shaped eyes slightly upturned, she tilted her head.
And circled back again.
"Grandfather said he wants the Xie family to give cousin a letter of divorce. Once you and Young Marshal Xie are divorced, he will be my husband."
