Chapter 104: Acceptance

Xu Ruo Jin found the past few days unnervingly calm, leaving her mind restless.

Although she continued reading medical books and brewing wine daily, whenever she had idle moments, she felt as if something sudden was about to happen.

Zhang Zhong Heng had already made such a fuss; by now, there should have been some sign of movement.

Yet, after so many days, apart from Jiang Ming Shuang’s visit and her mention once of Madam Zhao’s proposal to Madam Zhang, there had been no word at all from the Zhang family.

Something was wrong!

Though she couldn’t figure out what scheme the Zhangs might be plotting, the situation was definitely off.

Or perhaps, the problem lay within her own family?

Thinking of Lady Yang, who had questioned her thoroughly after Jiang Ming Shuang left, she hadn’t been seen around in days.

Should she go check on her?

With this thought, she resolved to act immediately.

She called Hong Xing to take over watching the house from Chun Cao, then took Chun Cao with her to the main courtyard.

At this very moment, Xu Zi Lin was talking with Lady Yang about Xu Ruo Jin’s engagement to the Zhang family:

“Mother!”

“I understand how much this matter affects our family, but now that it has come to this, there must be a resolution, right?”

Xu Zi Lin looked worried and exhausted. “If we keep waiting silently like this, my sister isn’t getting any younger. Everyone in Zhonglin County already knows she was betrothed to the Zhangs. If the Zhang family backs out, who would still want to marry her? That would only delay her even further.”

Lady Yang frowned deeply, gritting her teeth: “But becoming a concubine... what if the Zhang family regrets it later?”

“I’ve already thought it through,” Xu Zi Lin said. “Although as a concubine, this marriage must be done openly and properly. I’ll provide the money for the dowry and the shop and estate, giving my sister an equal share. The Zhang family won’t dare to overstep.”

Xu Zi Lin’s eye twitched as he added slyly, “Besides, haven’t you forgotten? This is Zhonglin County after all. If the Zhang family can marry into our family, no one else would marry his daughter to be the main wife. That would be courting death. I’m not boasting, but the county magistrate’s mansion looks down on them, and the county deputy’s daughter would never agree. Are they going to bring a main wife all the way from the capital? Who would marry the Zhang family’s illegitimate grandson and just stay stuck in Zhonglin County, playing petty lord for life? There’s no future in that.”

“So, in the end, the main wife’s position belongs to my sister!”

Lady Yang was somewhat moved by Xu Zi Lin’s argument. “But... that girl has many tricks up her sleeve. I’m afraid she’ll cause trouble and refuse.”

“Why would she refuse?” Xu Zi Lin’s voice rose sharply. “She is a daughter of the Xu family, has been fed and clothed all these years by us, what has she contributed in return? Marriage arrangements are decided by parents; we don’t need to ask her opinion.”

Lady Yang immediately agreed, “You’re right. I can’t be intimidated by her words. I don’t believe she’d really want to die.”

“Mother, is that settled then? You should discuss it with Father tonight. Oh, and don’t say it was my idea, okay?”

Xu Zi Lin reminded her deliberately. Lady Yang playfully slapped him, “You’re always the one making plans behind the scenes. When it comes time to negotiate, you always run away!”

“I’ve already put up the money, haven’t I?” Xu Zi Lin laughed, slapping his thigh.

Having gotten Zhang Zhong Heng’s two thousand taels and spent one thousand, he wasn’t worried about the remaining thousand in his pocket.

Estates and shops can be of varying quality.

A small grocery store or a remote estate can be bought for a hundred or so taels combined. If he picked the right ones, this thousand wouldn’t be enough—only a fool would be careless with money!

After discussing the matter, Xu Zi Lin and Lady Yang quickly prepared to leave.

He was eager to go find Zhang Zhong Heng to demand the remaining thousand.

As he turned and stepped outside, he saw Xu Ruo Jin standing silently at the door.

Startled, he took a few steps back, nervously patting his chest. “Second sister, why are you standing here quietly? Come inside, Mother is waiting for you.”

“My mother has fed and clothed me, yet I have done nothing for her. I should stand here obediently and wait for the maid’s summons,” Xu Ruo Jin replied calmly.

Xu Zi Lin’s heart tightened.

Had she overheard the conversation with Lady Yang?

His brow furrowed. “Believe what you want, but I’m doing this for your own good!”

“I wonder what good deal you got from Zhang Zhong Heng? Tell me so I at least know my value. If it’s too low, you’ll have to ask for more. If it’s too high, maybe I should go have a drink,” Xu Ruo Jin said sharply, striking at his very core.

Xu Zi Lin was speechless.

When had this girl become so sharp-tongued?

Especially her indifferent gaze, as if piercing straight through him, making him want to flee quickly.

“What nonsense are you saying? I’m leaving,” Xu Zi Lin exclaimed and hurried away in two quick strides.

Seeing the expression fall from the young lady’s face, Chun Cao hurried over to comfort her, “Second Miss, Master has always been like this.”

“It’s nothing. I just need a moment to calm down,” Xu Ruo Jin forced herself to suppress the rising anger inside, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t subside.

She had felt uneasy all morning, wanting to check on Lady Yang, but before she could even enter, she overheard Xu Zi Lin’s conversation with Lady Yang.

Though she didn’t catch every word, the gist was clear: they intended to send her to the Zhang family as a concubine.

If Xu Zi Lin wasn’t colluding with Zhang Zhong Heng, she wouldn’t believe it for a second.

No betrayal by those closest to her felt more bitter.

After all, she had called Xu Zi Lin her eldest brother...

Though ordinarily they had little connection, Xu Ruo Jin had never paid much attention to him.

But she never expected that scoundrel Zhang Zhong Heng would target her through Xu Zi Lin.

He was so calculating!

Chun Cao whispered beside her, “Second Miss, shall we still visit Madam?”

“There’s no point now. Big Brother has already persuaded her, but Father makes the final decision. It depends on what Father decides.”

Xu Ruo Jin turned away without sending the maid to fetch Lady Yang and decided to return.

As they walked slowly back, Xu Ruo Jin pondered deeply.

Her situation was dire now...

If Father agreed, she would truly be sent to the Zhang family as a concubine.

If that was the outcome, would she seek death?

In the past, she had always been ashamed of “suicide.” Life was a precious gift from Heaven; ending it in hardship was cowardly.

But now, faced with her own fate, she felt confused.

A coward?

Xu Ruo Jin would never be a coward.

No matter how life treated her, she would carve out a path for herself!

Having resolved this, Xu Ruo Jin hurried back with Chun Cao.

She called Hong Xing close and instructed, “Go find Mother Huang and ask for two feet of white silk.”

“Huh?” Hong Xing was startled. “Second Miss, why do you need white silk?”

Xu Ruo Jin smiled gently. “For ending my own life.”