If her mother were to see this, it would likely cause another uproar.
But as soon as she rounded the screen wall, she saw Madam Liang standing in front of the main hall with a livid face, staring intently at the four gift boxes in her hands.
"Throw it away." Madam Liang's gaze sent a chill down Xu Hui's spine. She had never seen her mother look at her with such cold eyes. After coldly uttering those two words, Madam Liang fell silent.
Xu Hui tried to reason with Liang.
Unexpectedly, Madam Liang snatched the gift box from her hand and violently threw it towards a small flower bed in the yard.
"Mother, what are you doing!" Xu Hui hadn't expected Liang Shi to show her no mercy at all. Her face flushed red as she said, "This is, after all, his kind intention—"
Without even glancing at Xu Hui, Madam Liang turned and went into the house.
Xu Hui blushed deeply and could not say anything more, so she followed Liang Shi into the house.
She was thinking of having another serious talk with her mother about her relationship with Chen Qian, since after all this commotion, her marriage to Chen Qian was practically a done deal. But she still hoped her mother could understand her, just like the last time she insisted on breaking off the engagement, her mother ultimately sided with her.
"Mother, please don't be angry, I—" Xu Hui's words were interrupted by Madam Liang. Madam Liang was usually amiable and rarely got angry. But today, Madam Liang's eyes seemed to hold two blocks of ice, making people feel cold.
"Kneel down."
Xu Hui looked at Liang Shi in disbelief, but found that Liang Shi's expression was serious and there was no hint of joking.
She was in the wrong first, and Xu Hui was feeling guilty, so without much hesitation, her knees buckled and she knelt on the cold bluestone slab.
"Explain to me clearly how you met Chen Qian and what your relationship is now!" Madam Liang looked at Xu Hui expressionlessly, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't hard to see the deep disappointment and heartache hidden in her eyes. She was filled with regret; she had spoiled and indulged her daughter, which had led to this disaster.
If I hadn't agreed to Hui Niang's request to break off the engagement with Zheng Xing back then, none of this would have happened now.
It's all because she was too soft-hearted towards Hui Niang!
Xu Hui hesitated for a moment, then only picked out the less provocative parts about Liang Shi and managed to piece together a story of Chen Qian rescuing a damsel in distress.
Over time, the two developed feelings for each other and secretly pledged their lives to one another.
"You must cut off all contact with Chen Qian immediately." Madam Liang said firmly and without hesitation, "Even if I don't marry Zheng Xing, I cannot marry this man!"
Xu Hui was immediately displeased, but since she had made a mistake this time, she held back and said in a gentle tone, "Mother, why are you prejudiced against Young Master Chen? Young Master Chen's family background, appearance, and abilities are all far superior to Zheng Xing's. Why are you so averse to him?"
Seeing that she remained stubborn and unyielding, Madam Liang was both angry and furious. "How could I have given birth to such a shameless daughter! You two have secretly pledged yourselves to each other without parental consent or a matchmaker's consent. If word gets out, what will become of your reputation?"
"Even if you stay at home your whole life, I will never marry you off to that Chen Qian!"
Madam Liang also harbored deep hatred for Chen Qian. On one hand, Xu Hui's lack of respect and vanity led her into his trap—as a mother, Madam Liang was still more inclined to side with her own daughter. Madam Liang believed that Chen Qian had seduced her daughter first.
On the other hand, if Chen Qian truly liked Xu Hui, he would never have embarrassed them in front of outsiders. She felt that Chen Qian had deliberately put them in such an awkward situation.
"Mother, I love Chen Qian!" If she were to give in to her mother's words again today, Chen Qian probably wouldn't agree. Besides, Chen Qian had already taken her body; who else could she marry?
Liang remained silent with a cold expression.
Xu Hui steeled her resolve and decided to use her trump card.
"Mother, I've already slept with him." Her face flushed crimson, but she gritted her teeth and said, "I have no choice but to marry him!"
Upon hearing this, Lady Liang nearly fainted.
******
In the days since Qingping returned, Nian-ge'er remained in the main courtyard. Every day he continued to study with Anran, and Anran would play with him whenever she had free time, seemingly no different from before Qingping's return.
But... Anran still felt that something was wrong. She felt that Nian Ge'er was sometimes as affectionate as usual, and sometimes he was somewhat distant.
Especially after returning from Qingyuan Temple that day, Nian-ge'er seemed to avoid her, and his eyes held a hint of fear when he looked at her. After all, Nian-ge'er was young, and even if he wanted to hide it, it would be easy for her to notice. An Ran hurriedly inquired with Bi Luo and the others who remained at home, and the reply she received was that nothing unusual had happened. Qing Ping had simply played with him in the garden for a while, and when Nian-ge'er returned to the main courtyard, Qing Ping also tactfully returned to Yilan Courtyard.
Could it be that the problem doesn't lie with Qingping?
In the following days, Nian-ge'er became as close to her as ever, insisting on sleeping with her, but was eventually dragged out by Lord Lu with a stern face.
An Ran pondered silently, but for a moment she still had no clue.
"Nian-ge'er, take a break." Seeing that Nian-ge'er was still studying at his desk, Anran personally brought over a plate of steaming white sugar cakes and invited him to come down and have some snacks. She first brought over a bowl of honey water and let Nian-ge'er drink some, and then took out a piece of white sugar cake from her handkerchief and gave it to him.
After washing his hands, Nian Ge'er carefully ate the white sugar cake in his hand, holding a handkerchief in his hand.
“Madam, Third Aunt sent you a message, saying that if you are free this afternoon, she would like to invite you to come back to the Marquis’s residence together.” Anran was coaxing Nian’er to eat some snacks when Cuiping lifted the curtain and came in to report.
An Ran looked up in surprise and asked softly, "So urgent? Did Third Aunt say what it's about?"
Cuiping shook her head and handed over an envelope. "This was sent by the messenger from Third Aunt."
An Ran took the letter, opened it, and saw that someone from Chen Qian's side had come to pay their respects at the Marquis of Nan'an's residence. The Grand Madam wanted the two best-married daughters of the family to return home, which would also save face for them.
Of course, these were not Madam Tai's original words, but rather a summary that Third Sister herself gave to An Ran.
An Ran had guessed as much as she had. After reading the letter, she shook her head and smiled. She asked Qingmei and Qingxing to take good care of Nian Ge'er, and then went to her desk and wrote a short letter to Third Sister. "Send the messenger back and tell him that I will go to Prince Yi's mansion at noon."
Cuiping agreed and went. Anran still got up and watched as Niange'er ate two pieces of white sugar cake, then ordered someone to remove the plate.
"We'll have lunch soon. If you eat too much, you won't be able to eat lunch." An Ran patted Nian Ge'er's hand and said softly, "Lunch will be all your favorite dishes."
Nian-ge'er's eyes lit up, and he nodded obediently.
"Mother, are you going out?" Nian-ge'er had overheard Cuiping's words. He looked at Anran with pleading eyes and asked pitifully, "Can I come with you?"
An Ran patted Nian Ge'er's head and smiled gently, "Mother has something to do today. How about we take you to visit your uncle and aunt another day?"
Normally, when visiting the Marquis of Nan'an's residence, An Ran would never mind bringing Nian Ge'er along. On the contrary, she hoped that Nian Ge'er would have more contact with the outside world and develop a more lively personality. However, today she felt that it was rather strange that the Grand Madam had asked her and Third Sister to come over.