"Girl, you must listen to me. The person will stay with you. Here is the contract. I have other matters to attend to, so I’m leaving first."
What?
How can someone be so assertive!
No, how can he be so forceful with me?
Watching General Xia leave, Molan quickly entered the room.
"Miss?"
"Du Ruo will stay by my side, Du Xuan will go to Panpan’s side."
"Miss?"
Molan wanted to ask if it was because she hadn’t served well.
"General Xia said they have skills that can protect us when it’s crucial."
This truly is a skill none of us possess.
Fine, as long as they can keep the master safe.
They don’t need to do other chores; they’ll step in when there’s danger.
"Miss, General Xia..."
"You go ahead and make arrangements, let me be alone for a while!"
Even Xiao Chunyu didn’t expect the person she once saved would be him, nor did she expect that when everyone else retreated at the mere mention, he would stand up and vow to protect her and her daughter’s safety.
So sudden!
Xiao Chunyu couldn’t even dare to imagine what he meant by protection?
Or perhaps, he just intended to take her into his back courtyard?
No, no, the Xiao family ancestral instruction says: Men do not take concubines; women do not become concubines. This absolutely cannot happen.
The Xia family, Mrs. Xia sighed upon hearing her son went next door again.
She wanted to stop him, but her heart lacked the strength. No wonder her son, not young anymore, found fault here and there, unable to be satisfied. It turns out the real issue was him.
You say this won’t cost her life?
The Xia family’s foundation!
Unable to help but ask the ancestors for forgiveness, she couldn’t protect her son and cut off the Xia bloodline. There’s truly no way to answer to the patriarch in the afterlife.
Just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes.
"Madam, the General is here."
The elderly lady quickly wiped away her tears.
"Mother, are you well?"
"Well."
Well, my foot! Early in the morning, instead of greeting me, you run next door, then come back.
"Just in time, you’re here. I’m heading back to the mansion today."
No more watching, best return to the General Mansion.
Claiming to go to the estate for relaxation was, in fact, to rile her up.
Nothing went smoothly. She simply didn’t want to stay one more day.
"Mother, if you want to return, that’s fine, but I’d like to ask you for a favor."
"What favor?"
"Please have the official matchmaker propose marriage to the Xiao family."
"You..." Are you serious? So urgently?
Mrs. Xia swallowed her words back.
Sigh, her son’s illness required a marriage soon. The young misses from esteemed families she once considered were out of reach, yet to have her take in a discarded woman shunned by the Capital’s social circle as a daughter-in-law was hard for her to accept.
"If Mother is unwilling to handle it, then I’ll have to ask someone else."
"What’s this? It’s said that a son forgets his mother after marriage, yet you haven’t even wed, and you’re already forgetting your mother?"
"No, Mother, I understand you’re upset. You’re getting older and not in the best health; I’m afraid you’ll be burdened." That’s why he sought his mother to arrange for someone to propose; it’s not that he can’t do it himself.
"Alright, let’s speak of this later."
Mrs. Xia felt indeed quite discontent!
Even toward her own son, she was dismissive.
"Yes, I take my leave."
General Xia left the inner courtyard, looked up at the sky, and suddenly had an idea.
Fine, let’s do that!
What Mrs. Xia didn’t expect was, three days after returning to the General Mansion, she received a decree: The Emperor personally bestowed marriage, General Huaiyuan and Xiao Chunyu were to wed on an auspicious date!
This decree practically stirred a thousand waves.
If previously many didn’t know who Xiao Chunyu was, after the Wu family’s incident, everyone knew her name—no, her reputation!
This was a woman everyone feared and kept their distance from; who could have imagined that one day, she would be personally betrothed by the Emperor to General Huaiyuan, Xia Guangcheng.
There were all kinds of rumors.
Some said the Emperor deliberately suppressed General Xia’s power; after all, his young achievements overshadowed the ruler, he needed a warning.
Others said the Emperor was compensating in a way for the wrongful execution of Doctor Xiao, hence giving the discarded woman to General Huaiyuan.
Overall, the streets were abuzz with this marriage.
At the estate, Xiao Chunyu was dumbfounded upon receiving the decree.
No doubt, this imperial will was secured by him in the palace.
Rumor had it that the Emperor valued him greatly.
Indeed, how many have the honor of a royal betrothal?
"Miss, you and General Xia?" Molan still feared him; those eyes could kill. Would he treat Miss well when she became his wife?
"Ah..." Xiao Chunyu sighed: "Don’t know if it’s fortune or disaster."
"What should we do then?"
"What can we do, prop up your Miss, prepare the dowry, and marry!"
It’s the Emperor’s decree, how could she resist?
The prestige required to gain a royal betrothal, one must be content and cherish blessings.
When leaving the Wu family, she was in utter desolation, resolved to perish together and filed a grievance.
The outcome was her victory, she survived.
Though surviving, she was scarred, shattered into pieces.
Recuperating at the estate, she reorganized and set out anew.
Life gradually improved, she had her ambitions and direction, she believed she could lead a good life with her daughter without relying on or marrying a man.
She was prepared for a lifetime without marriage.
Who knew fate would play such a grand prank, bringing a royal decree from above, assigning her to the most eligible bachelor in the Capital, General Huaiyuan.
Is it a blessing or a curse?
Countless young ladies must have ground their teeth in envy and cursed her.
One thing’s undeniable: as she steps out as the General’s wife, many will both resent and envy her.
"Miss is right." Nanny Zhou said to Molan: "The master has good fortune; we should be happy, not sulking."
"Nanny, the servant just thinks..."
"Shut your big mouth. Thoughts or no thoughts, it’s a fact," Nanny Zhou said: "Miss, let’s look over the dowry."
"Alright, let’s see."
This counts as luck, no? Had it been a year ago, she wouldn’t have had much to present as a dowry, but after a year of effort, Treasure Pavilion produced batch after batch of good things, and her wealth became substantial.
The master and servants were discussing the dowry when the gatekeeper reported that gifts arrived from the palace.
Without reason, what gifts?
Upon receiving them, they learned that the Empress sent these adornments.
Gold, silver, jewels, and fabrics, all included.
"This humble woman thanks the Empress."
Truly moved, the Empress was genuinely generous!
"Miss Xiao, these items were actually given by the Prince," Nanny Lin explained: "The Prince misses Miss Panpan dearly..."
"Tomorrow, I’ll take Panpan to the palace to express gratitude."
"Good, the old servant will return to the palace to report."
No wonder she earned the favor of the Empress and the Prince; truly perceptive!