Tiger Owl

Chapter 139 Complete Breakup
Inside the Xu family's inner hall, two groups of people sat on either side of a long table. On one side was Madam Xu, along with her husband Xu Zhen and son Xu Kun. On the other side were three people: Xu Qiu at the head of the table, Xu Wei with his head bowed in the middle, and the elder brother Xu Peng. None of the six spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

"When are you leaving, my dear nephew?" Xu Zhen asked with concern.

Xu Qiu smiled and said, "I'll leave next spring. Anyway, I don't have anything to do, so it doesn't matter whether I go early or late."

"After all, he is the Imperial Censor!"

Xu Zhen laughed and said, "Although nothing serious has happened, his status is much higher than that of the Prefect of Kuaiji Commandery, don't you think?"

Xu Qiu forced a smile but couldn't answer.

At this moment, Madam Sun, who had been staring at Xu Wei with a gloomy face, spoke up, "I didn't expect you to still have the nerve to come back?"

The entire inner hall seemed to be frozen solid. Xu Wei slowly raised his head and stared coldly at Madam Sun.

Xu Zhen gently kicked his wife from below, and only then did Sun notice that Xu Qiu's face looked extremely unpleasant.

She could only soften her tone, "However, for your father's sake, I can let it go. I'll consider you young and ignorant. But if you want to return to the family, you must agree to three conditions. Otherwise, don't even think about it."

Xu Peng looked at his father in surprise. Had they really talked? If they had, why was Madam Sun still being so aggressive?

Xu Zhen felt a little embarrassed. He had talked to Xu Qiu twice, but there were some things he hadn't told his wife. At this moment, Xu Zhen regretted it. He should have had a good talk with his wife yesterday.

Unexpectedly, Xu Wei calmly asked, "May I ask, Madam, what are the three conditions?"

"What did you call me?" Mrs. Sun's eyes widened suddenly.

"When did Wei'er return?" Xu Zhen quickly tried to change the subject.

Sun glared fiercely at her husband, and Xu Zhen dared not say another word.

Xu Wei calmly said, "You are my grandmother, the true head of the family, and the old lady Xu. What you call me is not important. What is important is your three conditions. I would like to hear the conditions that the Xu family has offered me."

Xu Kun also realized that the situation was not good. Xu Wei was not there to apologize at all, and her mother's attitude would only escalate the conflict.

"Mother, why don't you rest for a bit, have some tea, and then we can talk slowly."

Sun snorted and said, "You all get out! I need to talk to Awei alone for a bit. Hurry up and get out!"

All four men got up and left, leaving only Madam Sun and Xu Wei in the inner hall.

Madam Sun sighed and said, "Awei, you were raised by your grandmother since you were a child. You haven't forgotten this kindness of raising you, have you?"

Xu Wei lowered her head and whispered, "I have never forgotten my grandmother's kindness in raising me!"

Mrs. Sun nodded. “I can take your two runs away from home as childish ignorance and I can forgive you. But we have to look forward. Let bygones be bygones and let’s talk about the future.”

Xu Wei nodded silently. Sun glanced at Xu Wei and continued, "I just mentioned three requests, and I've considered them. I doubt you'd be willing to apologize and admit your mistakes, so let's leave it at that. As for not being allowed to run away from home again, I don't think that's meaningful. I'll just make one request! Is that alright?"

Xu Wei pondered for a while and then said, "The requirement is not about the quantity, but about whether I can accept it. Please tell me, Grandmother!"

Madam Sun said slowly, "Actually, I only have one request: I will decide your marriage, and you must completely obey me. How about it?"

Xu Wei sneered, "Didn't Grandmother decide to marry me off to Sun Yi? Has she already found me another husband?" "Sun Kuang, he's only three years older than you. Haven't you liked him a lot since you were little?"

Xu Wei firmly shook her head, "Please forgive my granddaughter for not accepting this request!"

"Bang!" Madam Sun slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her eyes fixed on Xu Wei like a hawk's. "Say that again?"

Xu Wei slowly stood up and walked outside. After a few steps, she stopped and turned back, saying, "I will never agree to this!"

Madam Sun clenched her fists tightly, and finally exploded, roaring, "Get out! Get out of here! From today onwards, I have no granddaughter like you, and you will never set foot in the Xu family again!"

Xu Wei walked out of the inner hall without saying a word, and Qin Yan immediately appeared behind her and followed her out.

The four men in the courtyard stared in disbelief. Xu Qiu hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Wei'er, what happened?"

"Father, I'll be returning to the manor now. Tomorrow I'll leave Dantu and return to Yuzhang County. I'll write to you later. I'm leaving now."

At this moment, Madam Sun came out and roared, "Nobody stop her, tell her to get out!"

Xu Wei walked away without looking back, and Xu Zhen stomped her foot in anger, "How could you do that?"

He turned and left in anger. Xu Qiu and his son bowed to Madam Sun and hurriedly chased after him.

Only Xu Kun sighed and said nothing. He actually hoped that Xu Wei could withstand the pressure from his mother. Otherwise, if Xu Wei weakened and angered Gan Ning, the alliance between Jiangdong and Yuzhang County would be over.

With Xu Wei leaving, although she has completely broken with the Xu family, it is at least a family matter and will not affect the relationship between Jiangdong and Yuzhang County.

"Please calm down, Mother. Since there's no way to change her mind, let her be!"

Xu Qiu and his son chased after him out of the mansion, but Xu Wei had already boarded the carriage.

"Wei'er, are you really going back to Yuzhang County?" Xu Qiu asked anxiously.

Xu Wei sighed and said, "Father, everyone in Yuzhang County knows that I am General Gan's woman. My grandmother is forcing me to marry Sun Kuang. How can I accept that? There is no need for me to stay here any longer. If Shangxiang hadn't come to see me this afternoon, I would have left."

"Why don't you go to Xuchang with your father?"

Xu Wei shook his head. "If Father goes to Kuaiji County, I will definitely go back with you. But I can't go to Xuchang. Cao Cao might detain me and use me to control General Gan. I can't take that risk."

"But if you don't go to Xuchang, how can you have a grand wedding?"

Xu Wei smiled and said, "Next spring, General Gan will send someone to propose marriage. You can just agree. As for the marriage, I can marry from my cousin Xu Shu's residence. Also, my third brother Xu is in Yuzhang County. He and Xu Shu can handle things. Or my second brother can come to Yuzhang County."

Xu Sange is Xu Sheng, Xu Qiu had almost forgotten.

Xu Peng quickly said, "Father, this plan is good. The proposal can be made in Xuchang, and the five gifts can all be exchanged in Xuchang. It has nothing to do with my sister. When she finally gets married, she will be married out of Xu Shu's mansion. I will go there then, and that will solve the problem."

Xu Qiu thought about it and realized that this was the only option. "Alright! Let's proceed with this plan for now. Fortunately, you have the envoy from Yuzhang County to protect you, so the Xu family won't dare to do anything to you. You can set off first thing tomorrow morning!"

Xu Qiu turned to his son and said, "You are responsible for sending your sister back to Yuzhang County."

(End of this chapter)