CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 293: ENGAGEMENT (1)

Xiqiu’s gaze swept over his head, to that familiar hairpin, and with a faint smile, she said, "The Great Governor now holds a high position, but his habits remain unchanged. His skill at entering others’ residences by night and intruding into young ladies’ chambers is still as practiced as ever."

"Not practiced elsewhere, only here!" Fourth Master Xiao replied without expression, pouring himself a cup of tea with ease, raising an eyebrow at Xiqiu. She sat across from him, beaming, dressed in a half-worn plain white overcoat, like a lotus in clear water, quietly exuding fragrance when you least expect it... He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did you know I was coming?"

"What does it matter if I knew or not? The Great Governor has always liked to act unexpectedly!" As Xiqiu spoke, the smile in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a dim, elusive expression.

Fourth Master Xiao looked up at her, just like that time at Puji Temple, and asked, "Are you... unhappy?" This time Xiqiu did not deny it, and Fourth Master Xiao continued, "Is it because of my proposal?"

Xiqiu remained silent, and Fourth Master Xiao’s face darkened as he said, "Was the rejection your idea?" His voice carried a hint of displeasure!

"Does the Great Governor think I have the right to dictate my own marriage?" She was smiling, but her eyes were cold: "Just as the Great Governor doesn’t need to inform me when proposing, my parents naturally don’t need to notify me when rejecting. The Great Governor thinks too much!"

Fourth Master Xiao’s furrowed brows relaxed. He looked at Xiqiu and said, "Don’t worry, I have a way to ensure you smoothly marry me."

How presumptuous!

The emotions Xiqiu had held tight inside suddenly broke apart. She stood up, glaring at him and said, "What makes you think I would marry you? Do you think that with your status, being willing to marry a disreputable little concubine’s daughter like me, I should laugh myself awake from the dream? Should I be grateful and accept without a thought? So you don’t consider my feelings, proposing at the Tong Mansion, assuming I would agree?"

Fourth Master Xiao’s face was solemn as he looked at Xiqiu: "That is why I came!" He paused before continuing, "To tell you that I want to marry you, it has nothing to do with status, has nothing to do with reputation, it’s simply because it’s you!"

Xiqiu, her face flushed with anger, grabbed the black wood box containing the Hetian Jade Hairpin from the table and threw it in front of Fourth Master Xiao: "Don’t tell me these things, take your hairpin, and get out of my room immediately!"

Fourth Master Xiao also stood up, looking at the box, and said: "I said I would come back for it, but not now!" He looked down at Xiqiu and asserted, "Moreover, my true intention was to gift it to you, and once given, how can I take it back?"

Xiqiu was full of rage: "So when you give it to me, I must keep it well? Great Governor, I remember your kindness in saving me multiple times, but these are mere gratitude and mean nothing beyond that. If you ever need my help in the future, I will assist fully, but as for marriage, it is out of the question!"

"I only want you to marry me!" he said gravely, watching her tightly furrowed brows, and asked, "Are you this angry because I didn’t inform you beforehand, thus wounding your pride? But if I had told you in advance, would you then have agreed?"

Xiqiu was taken aback, and Fourth Master Xiao, with a mocking look, said, "So, whether I say it or not, the outcome is the same!" He looked deeply at Xiqiu and said slowly, "You are always patient within the mansion; in front of your legitimate mother, you are obedient and sensible without complaint, yet conceal a very strong sense of pride. You can’t stand others making decisions for your matters, which is why you resist like this?" He recalled Xiqiu’s conversation with the Third Miss of the Tong Family at Taohuawu in Uncle Mansion, her unperturbed and simple demeanor during the Marquis Mansion marriage proposal, the small tactics she played concerning the Hong Mansion’s marriage proposal, and how she remained cold and detached when Xu Tianqing took it upon himself to elope with her!

Xiqiu laughed coldly: "The Great Governor thinks too highly of me. I’m nothing more than a weak and incapable, small concubine’s daughter, always living by watching others’ expressions!" She squinted at Fourth Master Xiao: "So, please take back your things, we are different people and cannot have any intersection!"

Fourth Master Xiao was unyielding: "Whether we are alike or not is for me to decide!" He paused, with an uncompromising tone: "Whether there is an intersection or not, I will determine too! You just wait for the wedding day, to become Fourth Madam Xiao, and from then on, as long as I, Xiao, live, you shall have a secure life!"

Xiqiu plopped down on the chair, crying softly, wondering why she was sick, why she had to die, and after dying, why she had come to this damned place. She could not shout or laugh, having neither freedom nor future, all in someone else’s control, including life and death... She never felt so small, as small as an ant, easily crushed to death without a trace.

Indeed, she was very tired, extremely tired!

No one asked if she could bear these burdens; no one asked if she desired such a life because she had no choice. Like a self-conscious dancer with a grand stage in mind, she could only dance in a foul-smelling two-square-meter bathroom, her beautiful pose unable to change the nauseating feeling brought by the environment!

She wept helplessly, remained silent for a long time...

Fourth Master Xiao silently watched her, silently listening to her cries, his narrow phoenix-like eyes flashing with intense pain. After a long moment... he reached out and placed his hand on Xiqiu’s shoulder, speaking each word emphatically, "Marry me, let me protect you for a lifetime!"

The young lady was in low spirits, so Chunliu and Chunyan even softened their footsteps. They heard everything clearly last night; someone was speaking in the young lady’s room, and they heard her crying, yet when they opened the door, they saw nothing but the young lady sitting in the chair expressionless. When she saw they were in, she said nothing, disrobed, and went to bed, sleeping until the sun was high. If not for fear of Nanny Qian and Nanny Lai, and the stewards waiting too long, they would not have had the heart to wake her up.

After waking up, the young lady still maintained her usual smiling demeanor, fresh and serene as ever, but they felt something had definitely changed. However, after discussing for a long while in the room, they did not arrive at any conclusion.

Who was that person, and why did the young lady cry?!

Chunyan looked anxiously at Xiqiu and asked, "Miss, Nanny Qian just sent over the festival gift list for Dragon Boat Festival; the usual residences are all listed here." Xiqiu smiled, took the list, and nodded, "Handle it like previous years, and have Nanny Lai prepare it." Chunyan nodded and turned to leave, but Xiqiu called her back: "Send double gifts to Jiang Mansion and deliver two bolts of plain white and two bolts of deep red Hangzhou silk to Miss Jiang!"

Now everyone is wearing mourning clothes, and with summer approaching, the price of Hangzhou silk on the market has soared several times, and it’s hard to find even if you have money.

Chunyan took the list and left the room, and then Nanny Lai arrived. Xiqiu gave out the Dragon Boat Festival money and tidied up to head over to Madam Xia.