Chapter 56: Forgive Me, Madam

That day, when the announcement of his failed adoption by the Du family was made public, Xu He had even breathed a sigh of relief.

He never expected that only two days later, Du Yu would show up at his door, bluntly presenting the formal documents.

Wasn't this a blatant attempt to force his hand?

Xu He felt a surge of resentment.

But upon reflection, he straightened his posture slightly. "If we are to recognize this kinship, it must be done properly and with dignity. Otherwise, wouldn't outsiders criticize the Marquis's household for lacking decorum?"

Du Yu showed his displeasure. "Why are you being so difficult? Is being an adopted son of our Marquis's household not good enough for you? If you sign this today, I will immediately go to Prince Jingyang and request a two-rank promotion for you. This is a tangible benefit!"

Xu He sneered inwardly.

*Prince Jingyang? The Prince's mistress is right here in my Xu family's house!*

*If I truly needed his help, would I ever have needed your Du family?*

Xu He set down his teacup. "The Heir is being far too hasty; it shows a lack of foresight. I am not worthy of such high regard from the Heir."

Having never seen him so defiant, Du Yu's expression darkened visibly. He slammed his teacup onto the table with a heavy thud.

"What is the meaning of this? Are you suggesting you no longer wish to acknowledge this kinship?"

Watching from the shadows, Yuetang frowned. She leaped down from the wall, gave a signal to Wei Zhang, who was keeping watch, and withdrew.

"The Du family is still forcing Xu He to accept the adoption. This is highly unusual. What exactly are they so desperate to use him for?"

After entering the room, she pulled off her veil and exhaled with a frown.

Wei Zhang said, "Aside from being the only Jinshi personally appointed by the Emperor, Xu He also holds a position in the Secretariat. If there is a directive from above, it is not impossible."

Yuetang paced the room twice before stopping. "Call him in here."

While the standoff continued in the main hall, a maid brought word of Wei Zhang's message to Xu He.

The previously defiant Xu He suddenly flinched, causing a few drops of tea to spill from his cup.

Assuming Xu He had some other scheme, Du Yu sneered, "To suddenly break off an engagement that was proceeding smoothly—we can overlook it out of sympathy for your circumstances. Now, offering you this sworn brotherhood is an honor. Yet you continue to make excuses. Xu He, if you dare play tricks in front of me, you had better consider your own weight first!"

Ever since that day when Yuetang had put him in his place, Xu He had not dared to underestimate her. Moreover, she had Prince Jingyang backing her.

Now that she had sent word, how could he not take it seriously?

Weighing his options, he ignored Du Yu's intimidation. He simply cupped his hands in greeting. "I ask the Heir to please wait a moment. That woman is quite overbearing; I shall go inside first to see what the matter is."

Without waiting for Du Yu's consent, he walked straight out and entered the Qingyun Pavilion.

Yuetang asked him, "What did Du Yu come for?"

Xu He replied, "He brought the documents to demand I sign the kinship agreement immediately."

"And will you agree?"

"Naturally not."

Yuetang's lip twitched slightly. "Can you hold your own against the Marquis of Guangling's household alone?"

Xu He's lips curled into a slow smile as he glanced at her. "I cannot. But don't I have you, my Lady? The Du family is nothing before the Prince's manor. To manipulate the Du family, I believe it would take only a single word from you to the Prince."

*This woman is tricking him!*

*Tricking him so much that he feels like a fool!*

But she was right; he could no longer make her leave. Nor was there any need to let her go.

However, since she was going to take over his territory, shouldn't she at least provide some benefits?

It had been five or six days, and he hadn't even managed to have a proper conversation with Prince Jingyang. Now that Du Yu was forcing his way in, would he really let such a powerful force go to waste?

"The Lady surely wouldn't want Du Yu to know about your relationship with the Prince," he said, walking up to Yuetang, his eyes tinged with a hint of malice. "As long as the Lady steps forward to help me resolve this trouble with the Du family, I can provide cover for whatever dealings you have with the Prince in the future."

Yuetang looked at him, standing so close, and smiled faintly. She used her eyes to signal Wei Zhang, who was watching coldly from a distance, to stay back. "The Scholar is threatening me."

"It doesn't matter how," Xu He handed her a brush. "I am currently in a crisis. As long as the Lady sends word to the Prince, I believe my troubles will be resolved instantly."

Yuetang took the brush, but suddenly pressed it down onto his wrist, driving it toward the table with relentless force until he could no longer move!

"Is that so?" she arched an eyebrow.

Xu He had been certain she would agree. After all, so many people had witnessed Yan Bei's loss of composure regarding her that day. Now that she bore the name of his "Madam Xu," meeting in public would be difficult. If he acted as her nominal husband to provide cover, everything would be seamless!

But the brush, which should have been light, suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, making him feel as though his very bones were about to shatter!

He instinctively tried to pull back, but he couldn't move an inch! Not only could he not pull away, but he was certain that if he persisted much longer, his hand would be ruined!

He stared at Yuetang in shock.

But Yuetang's expression remained unchanged, as calm and casual as if she were joking with him. "You are a man of letters. If you lose this right hand that holds the brush, how will you write your essays?"

She looked up, her gaze as gentle as moonlight. "If you cannot write, let alone rise in rank and command the imperial court. Xu He, you are not worthy of making deals with me, let alone threatening me."

Her gaze was calm, but her words were piercingly cold.

Xu He broke into a cold sweat, his face turning as white as paper. His body hunched over to accommodate the pressure on his wrist. He looked at the woman before him in terror, his soul feeling as though it were fleeing his body.

He could not believe that a woman who appeared to be nothing more than a pampered noblewoman possessed such formidable martial arts! He was a man in his prime, yet this woman had brought him to his knees with nothing but a brush!

*Thud!*

His body went limp, and he fell to his knees. Gasping for air, he looked at Yuetang in terror. "Please... Madam, forgive me!"

Yuetang's voice was cold. "Do you dare to be insolent again?"

Wiping away sweat, Xu He shook his head. "Whatever your command, please instruct me!"

Yuetang withdrew the brush. "Get out. Go and agree to his terms."

Xu He was startled. "Agree?"

"Yes." Yuetang tossed the brush forward, watching it whistle through the air and lodge itself firmly into a crack in the cabinet. "Agree to him. After that, tell me every single thing the Du family says to you, word for word. And then..."

She glanced at Wei Zhang at the door. "From this day forward, this subordinate named Zhang will be your personal attendant. Wherever you go, you take him with you. Including when you go to perform your duties at the yamen. Do you understand?"

Gripping his now-numb wrist, Xu He's lips trembled as he nodded.