Chapter 119: Asking for Her Hand in Marriage

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Just as Xu Ruo jin was about to leave, Madam Yang came out of her courtyard.

When Chen had gone to prepare the carriage, one of the maids had asked a few nosy questions and then promptly reported everything to Madam Yang.

Hearing this, Madam Yang had been terrified. She rushed out of the courtyard at once, and when she saw Xu Ruo jin about to leave, she immediately seized her and dragged her back.

“What do you think you’re doing? Haven’t you disgraced us enough already? Get back inside!”

Xu Ruo jin stumbled when she was yanked. Had Springweed not caught her, she would have taken a nasty fall.

Without giving Xu Ruo jin a chance to argue, Madam Yang glared fiercely and scolded her.

“They’re already demanding an answer from you. If you go out there, will you admit it or deny it? The Zhang family is your future husband’s family. If you nod, your reputation will be ruined. If you shake your head, you’ll only look as though you’re taking the Liang family’s side. How will the Zhang family marry you then? Go back to your courtyard and wait quietly!”

Madam Yang’s words left Xu Ruo jin momentarily stunned.

“Father has already agreed to let me deal with this myself.”

“Master?”

Madam Yang drew her brows tightly together, refusing to believe her.

“Stop trying to fool me. Why would Master ever let you show your face? Go back. I’ll discuss this with him and properly placate Young Master Zhang. The New Year is almost here—making such a scene at the main gate, aren’t you ashamed?”

“He clearly came here to make trouble. How exactly do you intend to placate him?”

“Isn’t this all because of your entanglement with Liang Xiao? If nothing else will do, then become his secondary wife. Otherwise, who would still be willing to marry you?”

Madam Yang was filled with resentment. Because of Xu Ruo jin, she had already been scolded several times by her husband—something that had never happened before.

The Mo family had poured an entire basin of filth over her, and was it not all because of that wretched girl, Xu Ruo jin?

Although Master Xu had forbidden her from interfering in the matter any further, Madam Yang still believed that marrying the girl into the Zhang family was the best solution.

Recalling what her eldest son had once said, she thought: If Zhang Zhongheng refused to marry her, who else would have her?

Her reputation was already this ruined…

She had originally thought that Young Master Yan’s arrival in Zhonglin County might turn things around. Who could have guessed that matters would only grow worse?

“I told you long ago that I would rather die than become a concubine!”

Xu Ruo jin’s sudden retort startled Madam Yang as well. Beating her chest, she roared:

“What are you shouting about? If it weren’t for you, you miserable wretch, would Master have scolded me so harshly? Would outsiders have slandered me as a vicious thief of a woman? Who gave you the right to speak? Get out! I should never have kept you alive back then. I should have strangled you myself. Don’t forget what I told you from the beginning: if you fail to marry into the Zhang family, you’d better watch your skin!”

Xu Ruo jin’s temper flared.

“Very well, then. Strip my skin off right now. That will save me the trouble of using that white silk sash!”

“W-What white silk sash? You wretched girl, you dare talk back to me?”

Madam Yang did not know that Xu Yaohui had secretly given Xu Ruo jin a white silk sash. Furious, she stepped forward and twisted Xu Ruo jin’s arm, then ordered the older servants beside her:

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“Tie her up and drag her back inside. She is not to come out and cause trouble again. You’ve completely disgraced the Xu family! We should have compromised with the Zhang family long ago. Everything has come to this because of you!”

The older servants moved forward to seize Xu Ruo jin. Springweed tried to shield her, but one of the women shoved her aside.

Xu Ruo jin bent down to help Springweed, only to be grabbed by the servants.

Madam Yang was about to continue berating her when Xu Ruo jin suddenly looked toward the gate.

Yan Hongwen stood there, staring at Madam Yang with a livid, bruised face.

Following Xu Ruo jin’s gaze, Madam Yang saw Yan Hongwen glaring at her.

“Oh my, Young Master Yan! Please don’t be angry. We’ll resolve this at once. We absolutely won’t let Magistrate Yan lose face. Alas, it’s all because I failed to discipline them properly. You see…”

“Is this how you usually treat her?”

Yan Hongwen interrupted Madam Yang and questioned her sharply.

Madam Yang was taken aback.

“W-What do you mean, how do I treat her?”

“I’m talking about her.”

Yan Hongwen pointed at Xu Ruo jin. Madam Yang immediately understood.

“It’s all because I failed to teach her properly. Strictly speaking, a marriage to Magistrate Yan’s family would be a great honor for her, but this girl has no sense of propriety and still wants to go outside and cause trouble. Young Master Yan, you are magnanimous—please don’t blame her.”

Yan Hongwen’s eyes reddened with rage. Seeing that the servants were still gripping Xu Ruo jin, he barked:

“Take your filthy hands off her! She is the young lady of this household. How dare you treat her like that?”

Xu Ruo jin froze. Madam Yang stared at him in astonishment, her mouth hanging open.

“Young Master Yan…”

Yan Hongwen strode forward and slapped Madam Yang viciously across the face.

“You old, vile hag.”

After being struck, Madam Yang’s pain was nothing compared with her shock.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Yan Hongwen would raise a hand for this girl.

Then, as a thought flashed through her mind, her intentions grew even more twisted. She dropped to her knees and pleaded with him:

“Young Master Yan, I was foolish. Please, you must forgive me. Have you taken a fancy to this girl? If you like her, then take her away. The Xu family will accept it even if she serves you as an ox or a horse…”

Madam Yang’s words nearly made Yan Hongwen stagger backward in fury.

He was just about to kick the woman away when Xu Ruo jin suddenly bolted toward the gate.

Yan Hongwen immediately stopped her.

“You cannot go.”

“I’ll go even if it kills me!”

Xu Ruo jin had never known she could run so fast.

She raced through the main gate in a single breath, only to find Zhang Zhongheng, Liang Xiao, and a crowd of others all watching her.

Naturally, Zhang Zhongheng knew nothing of what had happened inside the Xu residence.

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At that moment, all he wanted was to force Xu Ruo jin to admit that Liang Xiao had carried her out of the lake, and then have the two adulterous lovers condemned.

“Since you’ve come out, then say it plainly. Did Liang Xiao carry you out of the lake?”

Zhang Zhongheng’s aggressive questioning made Xu Ruo jin turn sharply toward him.

“What exactly do you want?”

“Just tell me whether it is true or not. I will seek justice for you.”

“There’s no need. You are not worthy.”

Xu Ruo jin’s words made Zhang Zhongheng draw a sharp breath.

“How dare you! I am your betrothed husband.”

“I would rather die than marry you.”

Her answer shocked everyone present.

Only moments ago, they had assumed that Young Master Zhang had come to the Liang family’s gate to demand justice for the Xu family.

But now that Miss Xu had appeared, matters seemed rather different from what everyone had imagined.

Zhang Zhongheng’s lips trembled. Clenching his teeth, he said:

“Don’t be so ungrateful!”

“So what? Why don’t you break off the engagement, then?”

Xu Ruo jin’s retort left Zhang Zhongheng speechless.

At that moment, Liang Xiao suddenly spoke.

“I admit that I carried Miss Xu out of the lake. I did so to save her, but I failed to consider the effect on her chastity. That is my crime.”

Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. Xu Ruo jin was so astonished that she seemed unable to breathe.

Liang Xiao—the cold-faced man. What on earth was he trying to do?

Xu Yaohui and Yan Hongwen had already reached the Xu family’s gate. They had been about to step outside, but upon hearing Liang Xiao’s words, both stopped in their tracks.

“Are you insane?” Xu Ruo jin screamed at him.

Liang Xiao remained as composed as ever. He clasped his hands before him, as though Xu Ruo jin alone existed in his eyes.

“I have come to the Xu residence today for two reasons. First, to offer Miss Xu a formal apology. Second, to protect Miss Xu’s good name. I, Liang Xiao, am willing to marry Miss Xu as my wife!”

Xu Ruo jin staggered and nearly fell.

Inside the Xu residence, Yan Hongwen heard the announcement and bit his tongue until it bled.

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