Chapter 860: Chapter 815: I Am Willing to Marry (Part 2)
Capital, Xie Mansion.
The night was already very deep, but the Shuijing Hall where Yang allocated tasks to the housekeeper during the day was still lit.
The family sat upright in tense silence.
Uncle Xie and Aunt Xie sat at the upper seat.
Xie Zheng and Yang sat on the right armchair, Xie Tao and his wife on the left armchair, while Xie Feng stood behind his parents, his complexion noticeably poor.
The hall was silent for a long time before Aunt Xie broke the stiff atmosphere, "Eldest, speak up, what should we do about this? We need to think of a way quickly."
Xie Zheng hesitated slightly, "Iâve already sent a message to Ningzhou, hoping Third Cousin and his family will hurry back after seeing it. Or should we wait until they return?"
"We can wait, but can the Liang Family wait?" Aunt Xie said sternly, "These days they keep coming to ask for her. If we donât let her go soon and Liang Jun really stirs things up with the government, do you realize how much it would affect you if the matter spreads?"
Xie Taoâs wife scoffed, "If you ask me, itâs all Fengâs fault. Of all the people to marry, he insists on marrying such a troublemaker. Now that somethingâs gone wrong, she hides in our home. Sheâs relying on your affection for her, knowing you wonât throw her out. She refuses to leave, affecting your fatherâs career. What will you do?"
Xie Feng kept his lips tightly sealed without saying a word.
"Enough!" Uncle Xie shielded his grandson, "When Feng asked for her hand, he didnât expect her to be such a troublemaker."
Xie Taoâs wife remained indignant, "Iâm just puzzled. Feng is so well-off, and back then there were many matchmakers offering to introduce him to daughters of government officials. What did he see in her? How can someone like Song Qi, so unrefined, be liked? A romantic fool, truly eye-opening!"
Xie Feng raised his head to glance at her, his fist clenched tightly, "Second Aunt, please stop."
Aunt Xieâs expression darkened slightly, thinking to herself that anyone capable of such talk isnât well-mannered either. Besides, she herself was once a troublemaker, wasnât someone willing to take her back then? Now itâs like the pot calling the kettle black, completely oblivious to oneâs own shortcomings.
Aunt Xie didnât particularly like Song Qi, but after all, Song Qi was her own brotherâs granddaughter. Itâs only natural for her to say a few words about her; itâs proper. Hearing her daughter-in-law speak so sarcastically felt irritating, as if implying the Song family lacked manners.
Yang found it inappropriate as well and spoke up, "At a time like this, letâs not discuss whoâs right or wrong. Third Cousin and his family canât return quickly, and the Liang Family keeps demanding. We need to find a compromise soon; otherwise, if this escalates and spreads, it will damage the reputation."
"Isnât everyone just trying to protect your main familyâs reputation?" Xie Taoâs wife said, "But weâd prefer to kick her out and clear any ties, yet will Feng agree? As long as Feng disagrees, this issue canât be resolved."
Yang sighed quietly and turned to look at Xie Feng.
Xie Fengâs brow furrowed even deeper, his clenched fists never loosening. Faced with his motherâs gaze, he only spoke in a low voice, "Iâll go talk to her properly."
Xie Taoâs wife rolled her eyes, as if she couldnât believe him, feeling as though she didnât know what concoction that troublemaker had fed him, as if he were bewitched and absolutely insistent on her!
Yang spoke softly, "Feng, this concerns your fatherâs future. This is not the time for romantic emotions. Mother hopes you can see the bigger picture."
"I understand." Xie Feng replied with three words and immediately left the Shuijing Hall, heading directly to the guest courtyard to find Song Qi.
Song Qi at this moment was curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees. Hearing a knock at the door, she was startled, "Who is it?"
"Itâs me." Xie Fengâs voice was low.
Song Qi bit her lip, composed herself, "Oh, itâs Brother Feng, come in, the doorâs not locked."
Xie Feng pushed the door open, the outer room unlit, only a dim lampshade illuminating the inner room dimly.
Xie Feng stood outside the floor screen, ensured Song Qi could hear his voice, and didnât step further.
Seeing he was reluctant to come in, Song Qi suddenly sniffed, "Brother Feng, are you thinking of driving me away too?"
"I, I didnât." Xie Feng said, "Itâs late at night, Iâm still an outsider, not convenient to meet directly."
Song Qi asked him, "Do you believe me?"
"I..."
"Elder sisterâs death really has nothing to do with me." Song Qi then started to sob softly, "Both my parents and my third uncle and aunt have all returned to Ningzhou. I was alone and bored, just wanted to find her to hang out. I donât know why she suddenly had a premature birth, really itâs nothing to do with me."
Listening to the girlâs cries, Xie Feng couldnât help but feel distressed, "What did you say to her at the time? As long as you prove youâve done nothing, the Liang Family has no reason to capture you."
"I... I didnât say anything." Song Qi hugged herself even tighter.
Because Song Jiao kept refusing to help plead with the grandma on her behalf, she impulsively said that day, "I would rather be a concubine to Brother-in-law Liang than marry Xie Feng, that country bumpkin."
At the time, both sister and brother-in-law were present. After hearing this, sister soon complained of stomach pains.
Taking advantage of the chaos, she escaped from the Liang Family and hid back home, thinking that at worst, sister would only have a premature birth and lose the child, but never imagined that the news returned to the Song family was death.
A fatal accident.
Just the day before, her sister who was begging her with various acts of affection was now lying quietly in the coffin.
Song Qi was terrified. When the Liang Family came to capture her to appear before the officials, she had nowhere to escape and could only come to the Xie family.
Xie Feng liked her and surely wouldnât let her be taken away.
After hearing, Xie Fengâs expression was suspicious, "You really said nothing at all?"
"I just made a joke." Song Qi cried, "How was I supposed to know elder sister couldnât take a joke, that those words could be taken seriously."
"What joke?" Xie Fengâs brow furrowed deeply.
"Brother Feng, please donât ask." Song Qi wiped her tears, "Iâve seen the invitations your family sent to the Song Mansion. I didnât cause trouble; it was just the servants speaking nonsense. Iâm willing to marry you."
Not hearing Xie Feng speak, she continued, "Grandmother says Brother Feng has a good nature and will treat me well for life. I always listen to grandmother."
Xie Feng was somewhat moved, "Qi Qi, you..."
"But now, Aunt Xie wonât tolerate me." She spoke, crying again, "Your parents wonât tolerate me either. Even if I want to marry you, they wonât agree."
Xie Fengâs heart ached, "Qi Qi, if you are truly innocent, I wonât let the Liang Family take you away."
"Of course Iâm innocent." Song Qi looked towards the screen where Xie Feng stood, "Thatâs my blood sister, Iâm too concerned for her to harm her."
Xie Feng also felt that Qi Qi, only over ten years old and not yet of age, couldnât be so malicious as to cause her sisterâs fatal accident. Perhaps the Liang Family, fearing the Song family would blame them, pushed all the blame onto young Qi Qi to lessen the Song familyâs anger.
Thinking this way, he comforted, "Qi Qi, itâs late, you should sleep. Iâll visit the Liang Mansion first thing in the morning and see if I can persuade Brother-in-law Liang not to trouble you."
Hearing he wanted to go to the Liang Family, Song Qi panicked, "Brother Feng, brother-in-law is still angry. Going will only provoke him further, better not to disturb him?"
Xie Feng said, "If I donât go, their family wonât rest, and my parents and grandparents wouldnât let you stay."
"But..." Song Qi was torn, then decided that brother-in-law likely wouldnât reveal what she said publicly, lest he damage his own reputation. Even if he did say it, sheâd firmly deny it, thinking he wouldnât do much.
Steeling her nerves, Song Qi weakly said, "Everyone thinks itâs my fault. I only have Brother Feng now. Thank you for willing to help me."
These words undoubtedly established Xie Feng as a heroic figure capable of protecting the young girl. His heart softened, "Donât worry, Iâll protect you."
...
The next morning, just as Xie Feng was about to head to the Liang Family, he was stopped by Xie Zheng, who asked where he was going.
Xie Feng lied quickly, "Nothing much, just going out for a walk."
Xie Zheng stared at him closely, "You want to go to the Liang Family?"
Exposed, Xie Feng felt lacking in confidence, unable to lie to his father, so he had to confess, "Elder Cousinâs situation requires someone from our family to visit."
"Thatâs your motherâs responsibility, not yours."
"Father." Xie Feng pressed his lips, "I just want to ask Brother-in-law Liang alone, if thereâs any misunderstanding, Qi Qiâs only fourteenâhow could she harm her own sister?"
"If thereâs truly injustice, the government will investigate. You canât help, stay in your room properly. Youâre forbidden to step outside without my orders." Xie Zheng directly imposed house arrest.
Xie Fengâs face changed, "Father!"
Xie Zheng sternly said, "Any more words, and I will have Song Qi thrown out!"
Xie Feng had to keep quiet, obediently returning to his own courtyard.