Chapter 4: and

If the First Madam were to find out that the Eldest Miss’s trip to the front courtyard had anything to do with her, a sound thrashing would surely be inevitable. Yet, she also knew this matter could not be kept hidden; the First Madam had likely already received the news by now.

The First Madam, née He, hurried to her daughter’s courtyard, her heart filled with worry as she heard the sound of things being smashed inside the room.

On the way, she had already learned from the maid, Xiayue, that Ru’er had originally intended to sneak a peek at the young master of the Huo family, only to hear the news of the engagement being called off.

The servants in the courtyard saw the First Madam approaching and bowed in unison: "Greetings, First Madam."

Née He walked quickly to the door and knocked lightly: "Ru’er, open the door. Mother has something to say to you."

Hearing her mother’s voice, Xiao Yunru opened the door and threw herself into Née He’s arms: "Mother, how will I have the face to see anyone in the future?"

Née He felt heartache for her daughter, but since things had reached this point, she absolutely could not let her daughter pine for the Huo family any longer. She wanted to find her daughter a match with a higher status than the Huo family, to make them regret their decision.

She ordered the maids to tidy up the room, then dismissed everyone and pulled her daughter down to sit: "Ru’er, since the Huo family is so heartless and unrighteous, you must stop thinking about their young master. Rest assured, Mother will certainly find you a match even better than the Huo family."

Xiao Yunru cried even more bitterly in her mother’s arms: "But Mother, I am fond of the Huo family’s young master."

Née He said with some reluctance: "The Huo family’s young master has no place for you in his heart. Do not mention this again, lest you become a laughingstock."

Xiao Yunru looked up at her mother, her face tear-streaked: "Mother, what are you saying?"

At this point, in order to make her daughter give up completely, a flash of calculation crossed Née He’s eyes. She thought to herself that she had no choice but to use a strong medicine.

After her daughter looked up, she spoke softly: "The person the Huo family originally favored was Yunyi of the second branch. It was only because I saw how fond you were of the Huo young master that I privately sought out your second uncle to have the engagement ceded to you.

Now that the Huo family has acted in bad faith, who can say what their true intentions were? It is better not to marry into such a family."

Upon hearing her mother’s words, Xiao Yunru said in disbelief: "Mother, how is this possible?"

She pulled away from Née He’s embrace, shaking her head: "Mother, you are lying to me, aren't you?"

Née He took her daughter’s hand and comforted her: "I am your mother; how could I lie to you about such a thing?"

Xiao Yunru closed her eyes and covered her ears, not wanting to hear her mother speak anymore. She truly could not accept this fact; she could not accept that the man she admired had actually favored that wretch, Xiao Yunyi, from the very beginning.

She had always been jealous of her cousin’s looks, and now, learning from her mother that this marriage had actually been begged for, she began to harbor a deep hatred for her cousin, Xiao Yunyi.

At the same time, she also grew to hate the others in the second branch. Her second uncle and aunt had to have their accident at the worst possible time—right before her wedding. If not for their misfortune, the Huo family would never have come to call off the engagement.

Xiao Yunru looked up abruptly: "Mother, I want to make sure Xiao Yunyi has no good days ahead. When Second Uncle was alive, every good thing in the manor was given to the second branch first. I have long since had enough of that."

Née He reached out and patted her daughter’s shoulder, her eyes full of calculation: "Rest assured, times have changed. Now, those brats from the second branch have to rely on our first branch to survive. Manipulating them will be an easy task."

Xiao Yunru was still fond of the Huo young master, and she began to cry again, but thinking of the Huo family’s cold-heartedness, she agreed with her mother’s words in her heart.

Née He comforted her: "Ru’er, stop crying. With the Prince Jin’s Mansion behind us, we will certainly be able to find you a husband to your liking."

The update for today is finished. Thank you for your support, my dears!

(End of chapter)