It must be understood just how proud Bai Baozhu was.
Before her marriage, she had even boldly written in the Xin Guo Newspaper, denouncing the chaotic state of the warlords, saying they carved out their own territories and divided the land.
When she first married into the Marshal's residence, she treated her husband, Xie Chengxiao, with utter disdain, finding fault with everything about him.
In short, she looked down on him from head to toe.
Even towards Marshal Xie Zhenning, her father-in-law, she was only superficially polite.
She considered them all to be nothing but crude men who only knew how to fight.
The loud thud of her kneeling shocked everyone.
Seeing this, Xie Manyu hurried forward to try and pull her up.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"
Bai Baozhu remained unmoved and kowtowed heavily once more.
When she raised her head again, her eyes were already glistening with tears, and she said in a choked voice,
"Marshal, I know I was absurd before, but I sincerely want to reform."
"Chengxiao treated me so well in the past, yet I was blind and foolish. I know it's all my fault. I only beg you to give me another chance."
Xie Zhenning remained silent.
Instead, a flash of impatience crossed Xie Chengxiao's dark eyes.
He said coldly,
"You said the same thing the first time you ran away at the train station."
What had Bai Baozhu said back then?
She was too scared.
Arriving alone in the Northwest, unfamiliar with the place and the people, about to marry a complete stranger she had never even met.
So she wanted to take the train back home.
This explanation was far too feeble, but Xie Chengxiao simply chalked it up to her spoiled young lady temperament and didn't take the matter to heart at all.
Seeing her admit her mistake, he let it go lightly.
Who could have expected the second escape... would be with her lover, Xu Yanci.
Seeing her husband's cold expression and the Marshal's silence, Bai Baozhu could only kowtow to Lan Yingniang.
"Second Concubine, please, I beg you, put in a good word for me."
"We are both women. You understand my feelings best, don't you?"
How would Lan Yingniang dare to intervene in this matter? She was merely a second concubine; the Young Marshal's marriage was naturally decided by the Marshal himself.
Xie Manyu stamped her foot in frustration and finally turned her ire toward Bai Liuyue, who had been silent all along.
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't come, Father and Brother wouldn't be sending Sister-in-law away!"
Bai Liuyue, who had been quietly eating her fresh fish soup with her head bowed, slowly put down her spoon and looked up.
On her porcelain-white face, her light brown almond-shaped eyes lifted slightly.
She pointed at herself and asked, "Me?"
Xie Manyu snorted an angry 'hmph'.
Bai Liuyue unhurriedly picked up a handkerchief and dabbed the corners of her mouth, ensuring everything was proper and flawless.
Then she said, measured and calm,
"Arranged by parents and matchmakers, Grandfather sent me here to marry the Young Marshal."
She then pointed at Bai Baozhu kneeling on the floor.
"As for my cousin... her sudden kneeling did startle me."
"But my cousin's kneeling, my cousin's crying, have nothing to do with me, do they?"
"These were all Grandfather's decisions."
After speaking, her clear eyes blinked, looking somewhat dazed.
That look seemed to say, 'Isn't that right?'
Xie Manyu fell silent.
Both Xie Zhenning and Xie Chengxiao glanced sideways at this quiet and gentle Second Miss Bai, surprised that her reserved nature could produce such words.
So perceptive and straightforward.
A person with an innocent heart.
Bai Baozhu's sobbing halted. She glanced at Bai Liuyue out of the corner of her eye and bit her lower lip.
A dark glint flashed in her eyes.
She kowtowed heavily towards the floor once more.
Thud—
This time the sound was extremely loud.
After kowtowing, her body trembbled and she collapsed onto the floor, as if having completely fainted.
Xie Manyu, beside her, was frantic with worry, shaking her body and crying out,
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, are you alright?"
Chaos ensued.
The meal ended hastily.
Bai Baozhu was helped upstairs by Nanny Wu and Xie Manyu. Just as they were about to enter Xie Chengxiao's room, he spoke up to refuse.
"I've already given her the letter of divorce. It's not appropriate. Take her to a guest room on the third floor."
Xie Manyu pouted and muttered under her breath, "Brother, you're truly heartless."
Xie Chengxiao didn't comment.
Once, he too had offered his sincere affection and warmth to this new wife, but what she gave him in return was belittlement, humiliation, even trampling his feelings underfoot.
A cold glint flashed between his brows.
He turned, ready to head back to his room.
His firm chest unexpectedly collided with a soft, fluffy head. Xie Chengxiao took half a step back.
Only then did he notice Bai Liuyue's porcelain-white face tinged with a faint blush, her lips pressed together nervously, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes, looking at him, at a loss.
"Something wrong?" Xie Chengxiao's tone was stiff.
Bai Liuyue nodded her head, looking very obedient.
Xie Chengxiao waited for her to state her business.
Instead, he saw the person before him open and close her small mouth, uttering a few words.
"Brother-in-law, you're so fierce."
He was fierce?
Xie Chengxiao instinctively touched his own face, realizing his brows were tightly knit. His expression certainly couldn't be called gentle.
Right, this one before him was just a young girl.
About the same age as his sister Manyu.
She must be frightened.
He tried hard to tug the corners of his mouth, attempting to appear more approachable.
"Something wrong?" This time his tone was better.
"Mhm."
Bai Liuyue nodded her head, reached out, and tugged at his sleeve.
Xie Chengxiao was stunned.
You must understand, since childhood, apart from his own sister Xie Manyu, no one had ever been this familiar with him.
Not even his former wife, Bai Baozhu.
The girl's slender, soft, pale fingertips rested on his dark military uniform, round and lustrous, extremely lovely.
His body stiffened, the tips of his ears feeling slightly warm.
He instinctively flinched, taking another half-step back.
But Bai Liuyue's hand, tugging at his sleeve, did not let go.
Xie Chengxiao realized this wouldn't do, his tone carrying a slight reprimand.
"Let go!"
If an ordinary woman were subjected to his sharp gaze, she would likely be flustered.
But Bai Liuyue seemed to react half a beat slower, shaking her head slightly.
"No."
"Not what?"
"Brother-in-law." Bai Liuyue loosened her grip on his sleeve slightly, turned her clenched little hand over, and opened it palm up.
A golden falcon medal lay in her palm.
Only then did Bai Liuyue slowly say, "Your shoulder insignia, it fell off."
This falcon-style medal represented the Xie family warlord faction.
Different warlords had different insignias.
It was extremely important.
Xie Chengxiao then realized that her tugging on his sleeve wasn't just making a fuss; she really had something to tell him.
His cheeks felt slightly warm, and he glanced at her apologetically.
But his eyes met the girl's clear, transparent almond-shaped eyes, completely free of any impurities.
Very beautiful.
Very pure.
Xie Chengxiao saw his own reflection in those eyes—his face stern and cold, looking quite intimidating.
This young Bai girl hadn't even been scared to tears.
"Brother-in-law." Bai Liuyue seemed somewhat impatient now, wiggling her open palm.
Prompting him to take the fallen insignia.
"Oh, right, thank you."
Xie Chengxiao instinctively reached out. As he retrieved the shoulder insignia, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against her warm, fair palm.
Although it was an unintentional act, a faint pink still tinged the rims of his ears.
