Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Idle Talk Qin Mengting had her heart set on Meng Qingtang. Since everyone said Xie Yunting would definitely choose her, she came to Xie Yunting to make things clear. She announced herself and found Xie Yunting. "General Xie, you know I don't want to marry you, right?" Xie Yunting said he knew now. "Do you have a lover?" Hearing the word "lover," Qin Mengting's face flushed red. She still had her wits about her and didn't admit to her feelings for her cousin. "I'm an unmarried young lady from a respectable household—how could I have a lover? I'm just making it clear that I don't like you. I've hated martial, sword-wielding generals my whole life. If you choose me even though I don't like you, our life together won't be pleasant." Xie Yunting said, "That's true." "My fourth sister is also quite capable. If you choose her, she won't embarrass you." Qin Mengting vigorously recommended her cousin. Xie Yunting looked at Qin Mengting. To be honest, he rather admired her courage. Compared to scheming behind the scenes, someone like Qin Mengting who directly said she didn't like him was something he could accept more readily. But Xie Yunting wouldn't agree right away. "Previously, your family tacitly agreed that you would marry me, then later wanted to switch. To be honest, this marriage arrangement has left a bad taste in my mouth. Neither you nor your fourth sister do I want." Hearing this, Qin Mengting was displeased. The Qin family had been a scholarly household for generations—it was Xie Yunting who wasn't worthy of the Qin family. How dare Xie Yunting be so picky? "Miss Qin, please take your leave. I understand your meaning," Xie Yunting said. "Then what do you think?" Qin Mengting urgently wanted an answer. Xie Yunting deliberately kept her hanging. "I don't even know what your fourth sister is like. Why should I agree immediately? Miss Qin, right now it's your Qin family that's stuck in a bind, not me, Xie Yunting, who's in a difficult position." Qin Mengting felt Xie Yunting was being unreasonable. She had said all that, and Xie Yunting still wouldn't give her a definite answer. She grew even more disgusted with Xie Yunting. But she had never argued with a man before. Coming to the Xie residence was already the most she could manage, let alone forcing Xie Yunting not to choose her. Qin Mengting could only leave in a huff. Xie Yunting was sitting on the stone table with one foot propped on the stone stool. Seeing Lady Cui and her daughter enter, he hastily jumped down. "Sister Cui, why have you come?" Cui Lingrong told him about the two Qin sisters. "From what I can see, the fourth Miss Qin is willing to marry you, but she's quick-witted and somewhat snobbish." "Thank you, Sister Cui. I have a better idea now," Xie Yunting said. Song Yu was curious. "General Xie, which one will you choose in the end?" Qin Mengting was desperate to marry her cousin. In her view, Xie Yunting had no choice but to marry Qin Mengyao. Likewise, Xie Yunting didn't give a direct answer. "It's still early. No need to rush to conclusions." Cui Lingrong knew Xie Yunting had his own plans. "Then if you need anything else, General Xie, just let me know. We won't disturb you any longer." "Sister Cui is going to see Brother Cui, right? I'll go with you." Xie Yunting cheerfully ordered horses to be prepared and accompanied Cui Lingrong and her daughter to visit Cui Zeyu. Cui Zeyu was young after all, and quickly regained his strength. When Cui Lingrong saw her younger brother able to walk normally on the ground, the weight on her heart finally lifted. Song Yu said happily, "Uncle is better now. Mother can sleep well." Cui Zeyu reassured everyone. "I've been in business for years and know some martial arts. My constitution isn't too weak. In a few days, I can go to the cloth shop and do business." Cui Lingrong mentioned the shop front that County Princess Rongjia had given. "I looked at it. That shop has an excellent location—whatever business you run there, it'll make money. See whether you want to rent it out or open your own shop." Cui Zeyu thought for a moment. "Since Sister has thoroughly clashed with County Princess Rongjia, doing other business won't be easy—someone might cause trouble. Better to sell it quickly while County Princess Rongjia is still under house arrest." Only when the banknotes were in hand was it real money. Cui Lingrong said she would follow Cui Zeyu's advice. The two talked for a while, and then Cui Lingrong had to return. Xie Yunting again attentively offered to escort Cui Lingrong and her daughter back to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "It's only a few steps away. I won't feel at ease unless I see you home." Cui Lingrong had no choice but to agree. She and her daughter rode in the carriage together, while Xie Yunting rode on horseback. On the way back, Song Yu wanted to buy some pastries from Baosu Studio. Cui Lingrong had the carriage stop at the roadside while Song Yu and Caiyue went to buy the pastries. The setting sun dyed half the sky red. From a teahouse by the roadside came the chatter of common folk: "Do you know? That County Princess Rongjia of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion—she's terribly jealous. She actually tried to murder her husband's legitimate wife's younger brother!" "Tsk tsk, something like that happened? Wait, I remember now—isn't she the Commandery Princess Rongjia who married the Marquis of Jiangyuan as an Equal Wife?" "What Commandery Princess? She's a County Mistress now!" "A County Mistress, huh. She's still lucky. If not for her Rong Prince Mansion background, she'd definitely have been divorced." At that moment, a shop assistant came over to remind them. "Guests, please stop talking. Prince Rong is favored—how can common folk like us discuss such matters?" "What are you afraid of? He was favored before, but with his daughter doing something like this, do you think The Emperor would still favor Prince Rong?" "That's not necessarily true. A married daughter is like water poured out—what does County Princess Rongjia have to do with Prince Rong?" The shop assistant said, "No matter what, they're still a prince and a county princess. One finger pressing down on us would be enough to crush our bones. As for Marquis Jiangyuan's original wife, she's truly pitiful—no family background, and she has to be overshadowed by County Princess Rongjia. I'm afraid only she knows the bitterness of it all." At this, everyone nodded in tacit agreement. Then someone else spoke up, "If you ask me, that original wife won't come to a good end sooner or later. Right now it looks like County Princess Rongjia is the one being talked about, but Prince Rong still holds great power. Who knows when the Cui family might fall, and Lady Cui will be divorced along with them. Just you wait and see—she'll have it even worse... Hey, who are you?" Before the man could finish, Xie Yunting climbed straight in through the window and poured a teapot of hot tea over the man's face. "What business is it of yours who I am? Watch your mouth, or next time it won't be hot tea—it'll be boiling water!" Everyone was startled, and only after a moment did someone recognize Xie Yunting. "That just now—that seemed to be General Xie!" "Why would he help Lady Cui?" "Who knows?" Song Yu returned quickly, and Xie Yunting escorted Cui Lingrong and her mother to the gates of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "Sister Cui, don't mind what those dogs said. You have a kind face—you'll outlive everyone!" Cui Lingrong was quite grateful to Xie Yunting for standing up for her. In that situation just now, she couldn't have shown herself. "General Xie, thank you. I recall you enjoy drinking—I brought some fine wine from Suzhou. I'll have someone send it to you later." She smiled gently, giving one a feeling like a spring breeze. Xie Yunting watched until Cui Lingrong entered the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion before mounting his horse and riding away. What he thought to himself was: this marriage with the Qin family absolutely must not happen.