If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

After leaving Shou'an Hall, Madam Yu went straight to her own courtyard.

Xi Yao and Xi Hui followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

No one spoke the entire way.

Once inside, Madam Yu sat down on the couch. Staring at the tea leaves floating in her cup, she suddenly spoke:

"Hui'er."

Xi Hui stepped forward: "Mother."

"As for Cailing," Madam Yu looked up at him, "how long has it been since you last saw her?"

Xi Hui lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged: "I saw her once last month, in the garden. She said that my eldest sister hasn't been making any moves lately, and everything is as usual."

Madam Yu's brows furrowed even more deeply.

"So, what's your opinion on what happened today?"

Xi Hui remained silent for a moment.

"Even my son isn't sure," he said in a low voice. "My older sister never used to care about these things. People came and went in the yard, and she never asked any questions. But these past few days..."

Xi Yao couldn't help but interject, "Mother, could it be that she's discovered something? Otherwise, why would she suddenly want to marry Cailing off?"

Of course, Madam Yu had considered this possibility. But if she had really discovered something, given Xi Lingxian's righteous indignation and arrogant nature, why would she have simply married Cailing off?

She should have made a scene and embarrassed the mother and daughter.

Yu put down her teacup and gently tapped her fingers on the table.

"Hui'er," she suddenly said, "go and tell Cailing."

Xi Hui raised his eyes.

"Let her figure something out," Madam Yu said. "Just keep complaining that she can't bear to leave her mistress and doesn't want to remarry. If she can stay, then she can. If she can't stay..."

She paused for a moment, then added, "We need to let her leave quietly, so she doesn't cause us any trouble."

Xi Hui agreed.

Xi Yao muttered, "Mother, I don't feel at ease. Xi Lingxian has been acting... strangely these past few days."

Yu was also uneasy.

The girl used to be like a pool of clear water, the bottom of which could be seen at a glance. But now, the pool of water has suddenly become deep, so deep that she can't see through it.

This feeling is very unpleasant.

The sunlight streaming in through the window fell on Yu's face, creating a play of light and shadow.

The news that the eldest daughter was going to arrange a marriage for Cailing quickly spread throughout the mansion. This was a great honor for the servants, and for a time, all the stewards, servants, and maids in the mansion were envious.

……

Qiluan Pavilion

Cai Ling walked into the inner room, her knees buckled, and she knelt down.

"Girl!"

Cailing knelt on the ground, crawled two steps, and looked up at Xi Lingxian. "My lady, I... I don't want to get married. I just want to stay with you and serve you. Please, my lady, don't send me away..."

As she spoke, she kowtowed repeatedly.

Xi Lingxian got up, walked over to her, bent down, and helped her up.

"What are you talking about?" her voice was gentle. "Get up."

Cailing refused to get up, but just looked up at her with teary eyes.

Xi Lingxian sighed, used some force, and managed to pull the person up.

She took Cailing's hand, making her stand beside her, and her gaze fell on Cailing's face.

"When you reach a certain age, who doesn't get married?" She patted Cailing's hand. "Do you expect her to stay by my side forever and remain an old maid?"

Cai Ling opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Xi Lingxian continued, "Don't worry, I won't mistreat you in your marriage. I'll give you a sum of money as a dowry and a clean little courtyard. You can come back to see me anytime during festivals."

As Cai Ling listened, her heart sank lower and lower.

She can't leave. How can she leave?

She's gone. What will happen to the Third Young Master? If she gets married like this, how will she ever see him again?

Cai Ling's tears flowed even more fiercely.

She knelt there, crying and kowtowing, repeatedly saying, "This servant doesn't want to get married," "This servant just wants to follow the young lady."

Xi Lingxian looked at her and said, "If you cry again, it will make it seem like I'm not letting you have a good time."

Cai Ling raised her head and met the girl's gentle eyes.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a chill down her back.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then heard her master say again:

"Go down and rest well. You don't need to work these days, so take care of your health and prepare to be a bride."

Cai Ling was helped out the door.

Standing under the eaves, the sunlight fell on her face, warm and comforting.

But all she felt was a chill seeping into her bones.

Within two days, the servants' circle in the Xi household became lively.

The young lady was to find a husband for Cai Ling.

When this news came down from above, some people couldn't believe it at first.

Who is Cailing? She is the young lady's head maid, an old servant who has been with her for several years. How can she be married off so easily?

The messenger spoke with great detail: the young lady herself said that she would find a good family for Cailing, with a generous dowry and a small courtyard for her.

Now, everyone's minds started to race.

Who in the manor doesn't know Cai Ling? She's fair-skinned and has regular features. Although she's not a top beauty, she's still quite pretty and charming.

More importantly, she was someone close to the young lady, and the monthly allowance and bonuses she had accumulated over the years were probably more than an ordinary family could save in a lifetime.

The young lady also said she would give money as a dowry and build a small courtyard; if she were to marry her, it would be a win-win situation, bringing both wealth and a beautiful woman.

So, in the past few days, any servants or young stewards who had the chance to go to the front yard started asking around.

"What does Sister Cailing usually like?"

"Does Sister Cailing have any taboos?"

"When will the selection process for the girls begin? And how will it be conducted?"

In the afternoon, Cailing went to the back room to get something. As she passed the small alley behind the servants' quarters, she suddenly heard people talking inside.

"Cai Ling's hands are so white and delicate, you can tell she's never done any rough work."

"But can the people around a young woman be the same?"

"I wonder who will be able to marry her. If I could marry her, I would gladly bring her water to wash her feet every day."

A burst of crude and noisy laughter came from inside the room.

Cailing clenched the handkerchief in her hand and walked away quickly.

She went back to her room, closed the door, leaned against it, her chest heaving.

The servant in the front yard was clumsy and spoke bluntly, spouting nonsense.

The younger managers are better, but they are only more respectable than the servants; deep down, they are no different.

She recalled those words from earlier and felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

What kind of situations hasn't she seen over the years? What kind of respectable people hasn't she met?

Ordinary servants and stewards no longer caught her eye.

Only the Third Prince...

The third son, Xi Hui, was handsome and spoke gently.

That kind of person is the one she should be waiting for.

But now, those people, those vulgar and despicable people, are actually talking about her behind her back and thinking about marrying her.

Cai Ling's tears fell.

She doesn't want to.

She didn't want to marry those men. No stewards, no servants, no riches or fancy houses—she didn't want any of them.

Even if it meant becoming the third young master's mistress, concubine, or maid, she would rather not marry those men.

Suddenly, soft footsteps sounded outside the door. Someone knocked.

"Sister Cailing? Are you there?"

It is a peach branch.

Cailing hurriedly wiped away her tears and replied, "Yes. What is it?"

Peach Blossom's voice came from outside the door: "The young lady asked me to ask you what you look for in a future husband? Do you want someone honest and reliable, or someone clever and capable? People in the front yard are asking about him. The young lady said it's up to you to decide."

Cai Ling opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Taozhi waited a while, but received no response, so she knocked on the door again: "Sister Cailing?"

"I..." Cai Ling's voice was hoarse, "I understand. Let me think about it."

Tao Zhi responded, and the footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Cailing sat there, gazing at the sunlight outside the window.

She needs to go find the Third Young Master.

The young woman was determined to marry him off.

If she doesn't beg the Third Young Master now, it will truly be too late.