Shuse Jinjia

Xie Zhaotang was full of questions. Ever since Aunt Shen was bitten by a dog, she had been staying in Baohua Village. What had she been doing? How had she managed to push for their marriage?

Seeing that Xie Zhaotang knew nothing, Xie Shou lowered his voice and said, "Chun'er found out that after Aunt Shen was bitten that day, Xu Muyuan went to the Xie family. He told Xie Linzhu that as long as she would allow you to come into the family as a concubine, he would go back to Madam Xu to propose marriage."

"Chun'er said that Xie Linzhu smashed things in the house when she got back. After that, Madam Xie asked Wang Mama to find her two doses of medicine to prevent her from having children. Fourth Miss, Madam Xie is asking you to go back to the Xie family again. You must be careful about what you eat and drink."

Xie Zhaotang asked incredulously, "You mean Xu Muyuan got Xie Linzhu's permission, so he wants to marry her quickly so I can become his concubine?"

Xie Shou nodded and advised, "The Xu family is backed by the Pei family, and the Pei family is backed by Prince Chen's Duan family. Rather than handing you over to Lord Gong, Madam and Master will only try to please the Xu family."

Xie Zhaotang was so angry that he trembled all over.

Xu Muyuan, did she desecrate his family's ancestral graves?

He didn't even ask her what she thought, and presumptuously arranged her life. Was he so sure that she could only be his?

Who else could Madam Xie give the infertility medicine she prepared to? She was thinking that if Xu Muyuan insisted on having her, then she would give it to him!

If she were the original owner of this body, she would be powerless to resist, and her life would be completely ruined by Madam Xie and Xu Muyuan!

Xie Zhaotang originally intended to sabotage Xie Linzhu and Xu Muyuan's marriage to vent her anger on behalf of the original owner of this body, but now she only wants to send these two bitches together.

Imagine how surprised Xu Muyuan would be to see Xie Linzhu's face covered in sores when he lifted the bridal veil?

Tie them up!

"Fourth Miss, I think your marriage to General Zhu can't be delayed any longer. Let General Zhu come and propose marriage!"

Xie Shou suggested, "If the imperial court bestows rewards and your rank surpasses General Zhu's, then he'll look down on General Zhu again!"

Xie Zhaotang thought for a moment and frowned: "It might not work out even if we bring it up now. The Xu family is already using me to keep the Xie family hanging. The Xie family won't give me away until Xie Linzhu marries into the Xu family."

"I'll only get a way out for me after they've gone into the bridal chamber and the deed is done."

Xie Shouyi thought Xie Zhaotang's analysis made sense, and he frowned as well.

"Fourth sister...I need to talk to you!"

Huo Ling's voice came from the other side of the courtyard.

"Let's leave it at that for now. Let me know when you find out when their wedding is set!"

Xie Zhaotang went back.

Huo Ling told Xie Zhaotang that Huo Beiyu and Duan Chengyu were looking for her, so Xie Zhaotang went to the Huo family with Huo Ling.

Huo Beiyu was worried that bringing up her marriage in front of Duan Chengyu would embarrass Xie Zhaotang, so he met with Xie Zhaotang alone in his study.

He spoke frankly to Xie Zhaotang.

"Fourth Miss, regarding your suggestion to build a winery, a paper mill, or even sell tooth powder and toothpaste, Duan Chengyu and I have discussed it and are willing to do it. However, since you are currently with the Xie family, it is inconvenient for you to do these things."

"We've been thinking that if you and Zhu Feng could get married soon, it would make things much more convenient in the future. We called you here today to ask for your opinion."

"If you want to marry Zhu Feng, I'll have my grandmother act as his matchmaker and ask your family to arrange the marriage."

Xie Zhaotang stared blankly at Huo Beiyu.

With Old Madam Huo's intervention, Xie Jianghuai might agree to the marriage out of respect for her.

But is Zhu Feng really a good match for her?

Thinking of Zhu Feng's mother's snobbishness and his sister-in-law's sarcastic remarks, Xie Zhaotang hesitated and remained silent.

Huo Beiyu frowned as she stared at him. Was this little girl plotting something again?

He said in a deep voice, "Fourth Miss, aren't you just trying to find a way out for yourself by tacitly allowing Zhu Feng to get close to you?"

"What, you've grown too big for your britches? You think you can save Prince Duan and me, and then make money for us too? You're getting greedy now?"

Huo Beiyu became wary when he thought about Xie Zhaotang's desire to marry into a wealthy family. He had said that as long as she saved Duan Chengyu, he would owe her a favor, but that did not include marrying her!

He said coldly, "Let me tell you, if you harbor such thoughts, what we can give you, we can also take back..."

Looking at his gloomy face, Xie Zhaotang felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head and made her feel cold all over.

She knew that from the beginning of her cooperation with Huo Beiyu and his group, their status was unequal.

But she felt that after spending these days together, they could at least be friends and treat each other as equals.

Unexpectedly, Huo Beiyu still maintained his aloof demeanor, privately suspecting that everything she did was merely a ploy to climb the social ladder...

"Heh... Young Master Marquis is quite adept at changing his expression!"

Xie Zhaotang gave a mocking smile: "It's normal for men and women to get to know each other before marriage, in your eyes! But for me, it's about climbing the social ladder..."

"For your convenience, I have to get married. If I don't listen to you, I'll be greedy!"

"What you can give me, you can also take away... Heh, what have you given me? Did I receive a single penny from the pharmaceutical company, or did I gain some benefit by taking advantage of your power?"

She gave a cold laugh: "My marriage is none of your business... From this moment on, our cooperation ends here. I don't need a partner who disrespects me... Consider all the sacrifices I made before a gift to you!"

"I only ask that you show mercy and not make things difficult for me in return for saving my life!"

After saying that, Xie Zhaotang turned and walked out.

Huo Beiyu was taken aback. Had his words been too harsh? Had they hurt her?

Just as she was about to leave the study, Huo Beiyu rushed forward and grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry, I used too harsh a language. I apologize... That's not what I meant!"

"Let go!"

Xie Zhaotang struggled but couldn't break free, and looked coldly at Huo Beiyu.

"Don't you know that men and women shouldn't touch each other? Aren't you afraid I'll shout 'molestation' and use that as an excuse to pester you?"

Huo Beiyu's face twitched, and he said patiently, "I know you didn't mean it that way, really... I misspoke... I promise I won't say such nonsense again, please forgive me this once?"

He was filled with remorse as he thought about how she avoided him while he was bandaging her wounds. How could he have been so quick to say those things!

"No……"

Xie Zhaotang shook his head: "Young Marquis, that day at the Yiweizhai teahouse, when I saw those ivy vines, it reminded me of something... I want to ask you, when Chun'er and I were talking downstairs that day, did you hear our conversation?"

Huo Beiyu nodded.

Xie Zhaotang smiled sarcastically, "Just as I thought."

She pulled away from Huo Beiyu's hand.

"Young Master, it's alright if you heard that. I'll admit it to your face: I just want to marry into a family more powerful and influential than the Xie family!"

"I don't want my fate to be controlled by others, nor do I want my younger siblings to become stepping stones for the Xie family... Everyone looks out for themselves, and I don't think I'm wrong!"

She gave Huo Beiyu a cold look, uttered a sentence, and walked out the door.

"It doesn't matter if you look down on me, I don't care... We're on different paths, so let's part ways here..."