Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 49:

"Bang!"

"Does this mean the Xie family has no one to stand up?" Xie Shu slammed the table, his anger palpable.

After Xie Yanyu returned his sister to her courtyard, he sought out his father to report the matter, omitting the indecent details, simply stating that Lu Ziyuan had obstructed his sister and refused to let her leave.

Seeing his father in such a rage, he calmed his voice and said, "Lu Ziyuan has been arrogant, offending many over the past two years. Surely someone will voice this matter at tomorrow’s court meeting. Father, you might as well draft a memorial and ask the Holy Emperor for justice."

Xie Shu had the same thought. Upon hearing this, he pondered briefly, then summoned his confidant and instructed, "Invite Lords Liu and Jiang to our residence for a discussion."

These two lords were on good terms with the Xie family and carried weight in the court. If the three of them submitted a joint memorial, even if the Holy Emperor favored the Lu family, he would at least have to consider the matter more carefully.

After all, in terms of reason and emotion, it was Lu Ziyuan’s fault from the start.

While the Xie father and son were discussing how to seek justice, Mrs. Zheng, having heard the news, arrived at her daughter’s Jianxia Courtyard.

After her bath, Xie Wanqing left the washing room, only to find her mother waiting for her inside.

Mrs. Zheng took a cloth to personally dry her daughter’s hair, looking at her daughter’s jade-like face in the copper mirror with affection. "My child, you suffered grievances today."

Xie Wanqing’s nose tingled with emotion. To avoid worrying her mother, she forced a smile and said, "He didn’t gain any advantage. He had a scuffle with Pei Family’s guard, and many were watching. I’m sure more people laughed at him than at me."

After all, even after breaking off the engagement, it was he who blocked a young lady, refusing to let her leave.

From anyone’s perspective, Lu Ziyuan’s behavior today was indeed without grace or decorum.

While Xie Wanqing was merely a fragile woman entangled by her former fiancé.

On another note, the more unwilling Lu Ziyuan was to let go, the more it proved Xie Wanqing’s value.

But...

Mrs. Zheng led her daughter to sit down, observing her closely, tentatively asking, "Wanwan, be honest with me. Does Heir Pei have feelings for you?"

Xie Wanqing was taken aback. After hesitating for a long time, she finally told the truth.

Except for the secretive detail of Pei Yuqing being the leader of the Qingtian Guard, she recounted everything from their first meeting to him protecting her today.

Mrs. Zheng was somewhat astonished. "You mean he has secretly admired you for a long time, yet you can’t recall when you met him?"

She frowned slightly, with a hint of disapproval. "By age, he’s a full eleven years older than you."

"I didn’t say I wanted to marry him," Xie Wanqing, unable to admit her proposal was rejected, whispered, "Besides, being eleven years older isn’t that much. He looks just like someone in their early twenties to me."

Pei Yuqing had recently visited the Xie Residence, and Mrs. Zheng had indeed seen him. Remembering his appearance, she couldn’t help but nod. "Indeed, he’s handsome and refined, and his temperament seems much better than Lu Ziyuan’s."

Lu Ziyuan, with his nasty temper, showed no interest when the two families were engaged. Yet now, after the engagement was broken, he became clingy.

Relying on his martial prowess, he dared to do something like blocking a girl from leaving.

In comparison, Mrs. Zheng truly felt the eleven-year age difference was insignificant.

"If Wanwan is willing, I won’t object..."

But then she hesitated again. "However, is Heir Pei’s health truly as fragile as rumored?"

...It doesn’t seem like that.

"Rumors are misleading, from what I’ve observed, he seems very healthy," Xie Wanqing, seeing her mother’s satisfaction, quickly added, "Mother, don’t overthink. I haven’t planned on marrying anyone yet."

Truthfully, she had no intention of marrying. The dreadful memories of her married life in her dreams lingered vividly, and she was thoroughly afraid.

Staying by her parents as their daughter was much more enjoyable than being someone else’s wife or daughter-in-law.

However, just the sight of her enjoying flowers alone today drove Lu Ziyuan to madness. If she remained unmarried, would he allow her any peace?

Thinking of the future days where she might be perpetually entangled by Lu Ziyuan, Xie Wanqing felt a wave of despair.

The idea of hastily settling her life once again surged uncontrollably.

Today, she had not yet married. With the previous engagement, his rough behavior, while obnoxious, could be argued as ardent love, unable to let go of a former fiancée, seeking to reconcile.

But once she was married to someone else, if Lu Ziyuan dared to intercept her again, it would be an act of abuse.

The idea of marrying to escape Lu Ziyuan’s entanglement re-emerged, growing more compelling.

Mrs. Zheng stayed to dine with her daughter before leaving.

That night, Xie Wanqing lay on her bed, turning over many thoughts.

Counting the men she knew, if truly considering marriage, Pei Yuqing was undoubtedly the best choice.

After all, considering today’s madness from Lu Ziyuan, she still felt uneasy. If she married someone of lesser standing, he likely wouldn’t relent easily.

However, Pei Yuqing’s status was prestigious. The Eldest Princess was the Holy Emperor’s eldest sister, and she held significant influence.

He was also the Emperor’s direct nephew, of close blood, and the Eldest Princess had long wished for him to marry.

If she truly married into Duke Pei Mansion as the heir’s wife, no matter how outrageous Lu Ziyuan was, no matter how accomplished, he would have to weigh his actions.

Most importantly, Pei Yuqing’s character was admirable. After things settled, if she wished to regain her freedom, he surely wouldn’t refuse.

With such thoughts, Xie Wanqing couldn’t think of a better candidate than him.

If she were to marry someone as noble as jade, she surprisingly didn’t feel any aversion.

Before drifting to sleep, Xie Wanqing was still thinking, thankfully Lu Ziyuan would be leaving the Capital for a few months, giving her some breathing room.

At least this would give her time to calm down and think carefully about what she should do.

Until she drifted off, her mind muddled with thoughts, she finally fell asleep.

Perhaps due to her poor quality of sleep lately, or the shock from earlier in the day, she didn’t know how long she had been asleep before she felt a thirst and groggily opened her eyes to find a shadow by her bed.

At first, she thought she was seeing things, but when the shadow remained after blinking, she was startled, jumping up and about to scream when a hand covered her mouth.

"It’s me," the person said in a deep, calming voice, patting her shoulder gently. "The night attendants in the courtyard have been put to sleep, but you still need to keep quiet, don’t alert the guards patrolling the outer courtyard."

After all, if she screamed and a crowd of guards burst in to see a man standing by the lady’s bed...

A low chuckle came in the dark, and the hand over her lips released.

"Lu Ziyuan!" Xie Wanqing clutched her blanket, shrinking to the bed’s corner, her voice urgent and angry, filled with disbelief. "Are you insane!"