Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 513 - 517: Miscarriage (1)
The simple decor and dim candlelight exuded a mysterious aura everywhere.
This is the study of successive title heirs of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, never allowing idle people to enter, and even the Second Madam has only been here once since entering the mansion.
Teng Qiuniang was somewhat excited.
She looked excitedly at the man standing with his back to her. Whether in the past, now, or in the future, he was the person she loved the most, the person she would devote her life to.
"Marquis!" Teng Qiuniang shed tears, her voice choked as she said, "I have disturbed you several times, and I really feel very apologetic." Her low sobs carried a sense of helplessness, that if anyone else heard, they would surely feel sympathy: "But I truly have no way out..."
Xiao Yanyi turned around and looked at her, his expression gently blurred in the flickering candlelight, his jade-like face seemingly emanating a warm glow. He said, "I’ve told you before, I am powerless regarding the Teng Family’s matter!"
"No!" Teng Qiuniang walked over and knelt before him: "The Marquis can find a way, just a few words on my brother’s behalf before the Emperor, asking the Emperor to give my brother another chance with the Internal Affairs Office!" Teng Qiuniang looked up at Xiao Yanyi, her makeup delicate and charmingly pitiful, kneeling at his feet.
"How can a promise be taken back once made?" Xiao Yanyi frowned: "I’ve already spoken to your brother; if he understands, he should know that no matter whom he pleads with now, it won’t help. Only he can help himself."
Xiao Yanyi always spoke lightly, but Teng Qiuniang knew that lightness didn’t mean it lacked authority. His manner of speaking clearly indicated he had said all he would say and wouldn’t elaborate further.
But she was unwilling to give up; the Teng Family was her support and retreat: "No, my brother has worked so hard to achieve what he has today; how can he simply give up? Back then, when the Emperor was in Shandong, without our Teng Family, even if he had extraordinary abilities, he could not have ascended the throne. The Emperor promised my brother that the Teng Family would become the greatest Imperial Merchant, the largest porcelain and grain shipping merchant in Great Zhou." She crawled a few steps and grabbed Xiao Yanyi’s hem: "The Emperor won’t forget, so there must be some misunderstanding. Just ask the Marquis to explain to the Emperor, and the Teng Family will be fine."
"Talking nonsense, do you know what you’re saying!" Xiao Yanyi’s face also darkened, his gaze dropping to Teng Qiuniang’s hand gripping his hem, his eyes gradually focusing, his voice carrying a hint of coldness: "There’s no need for further words, leave now, this matter ends here, and this is not a place you should be."
After speaking, he flung his sleeves and stood up, turning his back to Teng Qiuniang.
Teng Qiuniang was stunned, looking at Xiao Yanyi with hopeless eyes, making a final struggle, saying: "Marquis, I beg you... for the sake of my wholehearted service to you these years, for the sake of my deep love for you, help my brother!" She began crying again, speaking in a low voice: "Since marrying the Marquis, I’ve never regretted it. Even when the Imperial Physician told me I could never have children again in this life, I’ve loved the Marquis without any bitterness. As long as I’m by your side, even from afar, I feel that the sky is blue, the flowers are fragrant, and every day is utterly splendid..." As she spoke, she stood beside Xiao Yanyi: "I can do anything for the Marquis, even if it leads to my ruin, I would be euphoric. But without the Teng Family, there wouldn’t be the person I am today. Human kindness leads to gratitude, so I cannot neglect my own family. I beg the Marquis, help Qiuniang, help the Teng Family."
Her words were filled with tears and true emotions.
"Enough!" Xiao Yanyi thought of the scene when Teng Qiuniang first entered the door; if it weren’t for her, how would Tong Xihua die early, if not... how would later events have happened.
Love? What is love? He didn’t know!
His gaze fell on the map of the Great Zhou’s territory hanging on the wall, as if seeing through the map to a faraway place, without a trace of emotion: "Leave!"
The tone was calm, but leaving no room for negotiation.
Teng Qiuniang was dazed, never having heard Xiao Yanyi speak in such a tone; he was always like gentle water, not passionate but making you constantly feel pampered and comforted.
But at this moment, it was as if she didn’t recognize him.
She clutched her handkerchief, suddenly turning and standing in front of Xiao Yanyi, blocking his view.
"Marquis, how cruel you are; the Teng Family is not only my maternal family but also that of the Fifth Madam. Even if you look at nothing else, you should look at Fifth Young Master, look at Sheng!"
"I’ve said." Xiao Yanyi was full of anger: "There’s no need to discuss this any further; you should talk to your brother, let him think about how to save the Teng Family!" After speaking, his gaze fell back to the map of the territory. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
He was not moved in the slightest.
His heart was as firm as iron. Who said the men of the Xiao Family were affectionate and deeply emotional? Who said the men of the Xiao Family were most devoted?
Teng Qiuniang retreated a step.
She thought of all these years of expectation, only to be met with such a cold reception now, when she could have had a proper grand wedding, yet now she was a humble concubine in the backyard, pouring so much but unable to receive his help in a crisis ...
"Marquis!" Teng Qiuniang, full of despair, reached for Xiao Yanyi’s hand, only for him to pull away to avoid her. She was stunned and then saw the unconcealed disgust in Xiao Yanyi’s eyes; incredulously, she questioned, "Does the Marquis despise me?"
Xiao Yanyi did not look at her.
Suddenly awakening, realizing something, Teng Qiuniang began to laugh...
"The Marquis doesn’t like me?" She said with a smile, then suddenly her smile vanished, staring intensely at Xiao Yanyi: "So the Marquis doesn’t like me... then why did you marry me in the first place? Why?"
Absurd!
Xiao Yanyi shouted, "Come!"
"Yes! I’ve remembered, the Marquis was forced to take me... yes." Teng Qiuniang suddenly grabbed Xiao Yanyi’s sleeve, staring at him, mockingly laughed: "I’ve remembered, it seems the Marquis never said he liked me... from beginning to end it was all my own wishful thinking, wasn’t it."
The guard outside had already come in.
Teng Qiuniang seemed unaware, curling her lips into a sardonic smile: "I’ve remembered, it doesn’t matter whom the Marquis marries, none of it was his own decision, even the Commandery Princess was not whom the Marquis voluntarily married." Pausing, she stared at Xiao Yanyi, aggressively asked: "Then who does the Marquis love? Love Tong Xihua?" Impossible; if he loved Tong Xihua, Tong Xihua wouldn’t have died back then, so who does he love?
In an instant, he suddenly thought about the verbal agreement between the Tong Mansion and the Marquis Mansion after Tong Xihua’s death, where the Tong Mansion was to marry a daughter into the family as the successor.
The Tong Family had only three daughters left to marry at that time, Tong Xiyan being the legitimate daughter, First Madam Tong would not let the legitimate daughter be a successor, so who would they marry? Tong Xiqiu or the Eighth Miss, Tong Xiyu?
