The Song Family finished their dinner.
Everyone returned to their own rooms.
Xie Ruotong, accompanied by Qiao’er, went back to her courtyard.
All the way, Qiao’er was indignant, "Miss, why are you always yielding to the Second Miss? Not only has she snatched the young master, but she also wants to compete with you for the position of housewife. If in the future everything falls into the hands of the Second Miss, how will we live then!"
"Aren’t we living at the Song Residence without having to pay for food and drink, isn’t that good enough?" Xie Ruotong was in a great mood, clearly teasing Qiao’er.
Qiao’er was almost driven mad by her mistress. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn N0velFire.ɴet
How can she be so unambitious.
Now that the Second Miss is favored, the mistress should be focusing wholeheartedly on pleasing the old Master and Mistress of the Song Family, how can she let the Second Miss steal the limelight?
If the Second Miss manages to organize the birthday banquet succesfully, the elders of the Song Family will no doubt look at her differently, and even the young master will definitely like the Second Miss more.
The more Qiao’er thought, the more desolate she felt.
"Qiao’er, it’s not that I am unwilling to cede ground," Xie Ruotong could sense Qiao’er’s anxiety, and explained, "Just now, the look Song Yanqing gave me was very clear. If I refused, I would have offended Song Yanqing. It’s not that I’m afraid of offending him, but after all, we live under the same roof, and it’s better if everyone respects each other as guests. Moreover, once Song Yanqing spoke, my mother-in-law certainly wouldn’t want to contradict her son, but she also doesn’t want to upset me, so her silence was actually waiting for me to express my stance. If I’m not a bit more magnanimous, they will think I’m petty and unreasonable."
Qiao’er hadn’t thought about this much.
"Xie Ruilin is very smart. She knew that Song Yanqing would definitely speak up for her, so she expressed her wishes in front of the whole family. If I don’t yield, I will appear unbenevolent and selfish. If I yield, her wish is fulfilled. Either way, she wins," Xie Ruotong said indifferently, "So as for today’s matter, we can only comply with Xie Ruilin’s wishes."
"Does this mean that whatever the Second Miss wants in the future, as long as the young master supports her, she can have it?" Qiao’er said excitedly.
Xie Ruotong did not respond.
Anyway, let’s try to live peacefully.
"Xie Ruotong." Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from behind.
Xie Ruotong and Qiao’er turned around to see Song Yanqing approaching them.
Every time Qiao’er saw the young master, sparks would light up in her eyes.
She always felt that one day the young master and the mistress could be together.
One day, the young master will surely recognize the mistress’s good qualities.
Xie Ruotong stopped walking, waiting for Song Yanqing to come over.
"Do you have something to discuss, my lord?" Xie Ruotong asked distantly but politely.
Every time Qiao’er watched the mistress’s attitude towards the young master, she really wanted to speak up for her.
Can’t the mistress be a bit more enthusiastic?!
Every time the young master approaches her, she asks if there’s something he needs?
In marriage, who says interactions must only happen when there’s a matter to discuss?
Qiao’er was truly getting impatient.
"About tonight’s matter, let me explain a bit," Song Yanqing said.
"What matter?" Xie Ruotong smiled slightly.
Appearing totally unconcerned.
"It’s about Lin’er wanting to arrange my mother’s birthday banquet. I worried it might upset you a bit."
Knowing she’s upset yet still doing it.
Doing it, yet coming to explain afterward?
She’ll let him feel a bit better.
Xie Ruotong chuckled, "Lin’er and I are truly sisters, and I really don’t mind that much. If she likes and wants to try, I naturally support it."
"Do you really think this way?" Song Yanqing looked at her.
He felt that he was indeed somewhat imposing on Xie Ruotong today.
Xie Ruotong, since marrying into the Song Family, had always been virtuous and well-behaved, and towards him, she was compliant. He had thought not to burden the feelings between Xie Ruotong as spouses, hence granting her the rightful influence she should have in the Song Family. Today, when Xie Ruilin actively proposed organizing the birthday banquet, he actually disapproved a bit inside, but couldn’t bear seeing Xie Ruilin cry, so he had spoken up for her, thinking to talk properly with Xie Ruilin later, to avoid such situations in the future.
Now, he came specifically to apologize and express gratitude.
Unexpectedly, Xie Ruotong was truly this magnanimous and indifferent.
He began to doubt even more the real reason why Xie Ruotong married him.
Not love, not a true place of belonging, just... an arrangement by her parents, a marriage brokered by matchmakers?!
"I really think so. Thus, my lord need not feel indebted to me. To put it plainly, Lin’er and I are real sisters, and as her elder sister, it is proper for me to accommodate and take care of her," Xie Ruotong smiled sincerely.