Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 21: Relentless Entanglement

Xie Wanqing gave a soft "Oh" and asked again, "What if I marry into the family, live a difficult life, become depressed, and ultimately angered to death by him and his concubines?"

As soon as the words fell, Xie YanYu suddenly stopped, pulling his sister by the shoulder, looking down at her and asking, "What do you mean by that?"

"Haven’t I been dreaming a lot these days?" Xie Wanqing sighed lightly, nonchalantly saying, "Those dreams were quite terrifying, scaring me so much that I no longer dare be fixated on Lu Ziyuan."

Xie YanYu was well aware of his sister’s recent suffering due to nightmares.

Upon hearing this, he was only slightly taken aback, then comforted, "Dreams are false, don’t immerse yourself too deeply and confuse them with reality."

Xie Wanqing smiled and responded, "Alright."

As long as she stayed away from Lu Ziyuan, she certainly wouldn’t suffer nightmares anymore or be unable to distinguish between dreams and reality.

...

Having clearly stated everything to Lu Ziyuan, Xie Wanqing slept very well that night.

She wholeheartedly believed that this time their engagement would surely be canceled, right?

After all, with Lu Ziyuan’s pride, being rejected like this, he should surely never be stubbornly unwilling to return the marriage contract.

But the next morning, just as Xie Wanqing finished dressing and was about to go pay respects to Mrs. Zheng at Brocade Hall as usual, the gate of Jianxia Courtyard was knocked upon first.

Startled, Xie Wanqing asked, "Why has Nanny come?"

Nanny Zhang was Mrs. Zheng’s dowry maid, who watched the Xie siblings grow up, having some respect within the Xie family, capable of making a special trip...

"Madam Lu arrived unannounced and has been received into Brocade Hall," after greeting, Nanny Zhang reported, "Worried you might run into her directly, Madam asked me to quickly inform you."

Lu Ziyuan has not yet been crowned, not conferred as a Marquis, though he is the only male in the Lu family, but still just a Princely Heir, and Madam Lu is presently Marchioness Wuyuan.

Being a loyal family esteemed by the Holy Emperor, and a First-Grade Imperial Decree Lady, of considerable rank, Mrs. Zheng dared not reject people like she did with Lu Ziyuan, instead opening the door wide and receiving her. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

At this hour, when her daughter was supposed to pay respects, she hurriedly sent her trusted maid to inform.

As a young lady, she fears her daughter might find it hard to speak rejection upon seeing the usually kind elder, being coaxed in a few words.

Xie Wanqing immediately grasped her mother’s intention, furrowing her brows tightly, confused why, after being clear yesterday, the Lu family would come again today.

Moreover, the visitor being Madam Lu.

She swiftly pulled out the hairpin, removed the lip balm, changed to plain sleeping attire, lay back on the bed, then said, "Go tell Mom I caught a cold yesterday; to avoid passing illness to her, I won’t be paying respects today."

Nanny Zhang bowed and accepted the task.

Xie Wanqing added, "I am not feeling well, today Jianxia Courtyard will be closed to visitors, please ask Mom not to worry, there’s no need to come visit."

Everyone inside understood who might come to visit.

Nanny Zhang revealed a slight smile, "Old servant understands, young lady rest assured, no one will disturb your rest today."

Forcing a smile, Xie Wanqing waited until the room was empty, then could no longer maintain her composure, sinking her face.

Looking around, finding nothing handy, she could only grab a soft pillow and throw it fiercely, trembling with anger.

What on earth does Lu Ziyuan want!

Why just won’t he let her go!

Isn’t it clear enough!

He doesn’t even like her, wants a wife who can accept his widespread concubinage, why is he stubbornly clinging to her!

Could it be she rejected him too bluntly yesterday, damaging his pride, leaving him unwilling?

Otherwise, Xie Wanqing truly couldn’t fathom why he was so persistent with her.

It must be that ridiculous self-esteem of his, allowing no one to leave him first.

The clearer she thought, the angrier Xie Wanqing became, furious to the point of her head throbbing with pain.

Pretending to be sick, she was truly going to be angered into illness.

Why is he allowed to wrong her!

Why!

When Erqing brought in the breakfast, seeing the mistress looking tormented by illness, she internally complained that the lady was quite adept at playing sick.

Until she approached and saw the young lady on the bed glaring angrily, eyes tinged red with fury, seemingly ready to shed tears.

As a trusted servant, she guessed the mistress was annoyed with the Lu family’s refusal to properly cancel the engagement, quickly comforting, "Young lady, rest easy. Madam understands your intentions, even if Madam Lu personally comes to apologize, she certainly won’t relent."

"I certainly believe Mother will send them away," Xie Wanqing took Erqing’s hand, biting her lip and crying, "I just hate Lu Ziyuan’s relentless pursuit!"

Erqing was startled, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, "Please don’t rush, both Marquis and Madam care deeply for you, as long as you don’t want to marry, the engagement won’t go through."

Xie Wanqing understood this reasoning but was just vexed and agitated.

She was frustrated by Lu Ziyuan’s unreasonable behavior.

Why is he allowed to deceive her, disappoint her, treat her coldly and warmly, toy with her like a puppet, always giving a token of sweetness amidst extreme coldness.

Coaxing her to indulge, sinking deeper.

But the moment she woke and sought to escape, to save herself, he refused to let go.

Previously, Xie Wanqing thought the engagement was easy to cancel, not believing Lu Ziyuan would be too attached to the marriage, but with Madam Lu personally visiting, that notion had to change.

His own mother being dispatched indicated how seriously the Lu family regarded this marriage, already quite obvious.

If Lu Ziyuan insisted on not canceling the engagement, Xie Wanqing had to admit her wish for a swift annulment to regain freedom might not be so simple.

Lu Ziyuan was deeply trusted by the current Holy Emperor, treated as well as the princes without the slightest difference.

Young in age but already wielding command of the City Guard Army, holding a third-rank official title.

The Holy Emperor placed great expectations; princes showed no jealousy, instead seeking to befriend him.

After all, Old Marquis Lu guarded the Northern Border his entire life, though his body perished, his might persisted, remembering the nine lives of the Lu family’s three generations, Lu Ziyuan receiving great favor caused only praise of imperial grace.

As long as Lu Ziyuan did not rebel, even if the Golden Throne Hall saw a new occupant, his favor would never cease.

So if Lu Ziyuan persistently refused the cancellation, carrying it to the Golden Hall, allowing the Holy Emperor to decide, the outcome remains uncertain.

The Xie family might have hereditary marquis status, but compared to the Lu family that sacrificed three generations and nine lives for the nation, it was ultimately inferior.

When the imperial edict proved hard to defy, even if the Xie family was unwilling to marry off the daughter, they might have no choice.

That’s what Xie Wanqing was worried about.

She took a deep breath, feeling slightly bitter.

How ridiculous, day by day wishing to wed into the Lu family, she now finds herself fretting over Lu Ziyuan’s entanglement, worried to this extent.