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

Zhou Shuhuai was forced to make a choice, but it can't really be called being forced.

The Langya Wang clan has countless ways to make someone disappear from the world; if he resists stubbornly, it will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

He liked Xi Lingxian, but not to the point of risking his life for her.

Everything changed overnight.

Xi Lingxian only learned the truth after reading the letter the gatekeeper sent her, and she felt both ashamed and angry.

It is shameful that Zhou Shuhuai did nothing wrong, yet he was humiliated for no reason. What scholar in the world could bear such humiliation?

What's infuriating is that Wang Jue's words truly came true.

Because of his position, he doesn't need to lift a finger to do what he wants; there are countless shrewd people around him willing to do it for him.

She was filled with sorrow.

Perhaps Father and Elder Brother are right. Ever since the incident of deposing the Crown Prince, no one in the world except the men of the Langya Wang clan has been able to get close to her.

But why should they? The Wang family can do whatever they want; they're too domineering.

Because of Zhou Shuhuai's "farewell letter," she was listless all day and barely touched her chopsticks for breakfast.

The eldest daughter was the master's darling, and the kitchen staff, seeing the returned food, hurriedly reported it to the master.

At breakfast time, Xi Jian arrived at Qiluan Pavilion.

As soon as the food was set out, Xi Lingxian saw her father, stood up, and her little face still looked listless.

Xi Jian was puzzled. "You've really fallen for that guy surnamed Zhou?"

She shook her head, her face full of resentment. "My daughter is angry with the Wang family. She's using the pretense of avenging me to block all my escape routes."

Xi Jian breathed a sigh of relief, "What's the big deal? At worst, you won't get married. Your father will find you a few handsome young men to take turns keeping you company."

Xi Lingxian choked on her tea, coughing violently and her cheeks turned bright red.

"Father!"

"What did you say?"

"Look how scared you are! What's the big deal?"

Xi Jian pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you prefer someone like Wang Jue, or someone like Zhou Shuhuai? Or do you like them both?"

"Father will have the steward go to the Qinhuai River and pick out ten or eight male prostitutes."

Xi Lingxian knew her father was just trying to cheer her up, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Father, I'm really not sad, so please don't worry."

"If I find someone I like, I'll let you make the decision."

……

Shenshi Qiluan Pavilion

Ms. Yu had been bedridden for many days and had seen many doctors, but her condition did not improve.

She was suspicious and wanted to invite the doctor from Ji'an Hall to take her pulse.

The steward dared not act on his own and reported to Xi Lingxian, asking the young lady for instructions.

Xi Lingxian had reviewed Yu's medical records. The doctor's instructions were all about "deficiency of qi and blood, and proper recuperation," and there was no incurable disease.

"Young lady, the madam's temper has become increasingly irritable and volatile. She beats and scolds the servants day and night if things don't go her way, and the servants who serve her are suffering terribly."

Irritable and short-tempered?

The symptoms are so familiar.

Could it be the Yu family?

Xi Lingxian's first thought was that Yu Shi might have also been drugged with bewitching powder and dream-inducing incense, but then she felt something was off.

That thing came from the Yu family; there was no way the Yu family wouldn't have discovered it.

"The lady is delirious from her illness; there's no need to pay attention to her delirious ramblings. Just have the servants take good care of her."

In her previous life, when she was seriously ill and suspected that the doctor had been bribed and wanted to have someone else take her pulse, Zhou Mama, who had been bribed by Madam Yu, also gave her the same perfunctory treatment.

The karmic retribution we are experiencing now is a sign that Heaven has eyes.

For several days in a row, Zhou Shuhuai received a constant stream of letters.

Xi Lingxian initially kept an eye on it, but later she simply ordered her servants not to send any more.

He was unwilling to marry into her family, and she was unwilling to marry down. Since they couldn't reach an agreement, exchanging letters would only create misunderstandings in the eyes of outsiders and was completely meaningless.

Xi Lingxian quickly lost the energy to think about Zhou Shuhuai. She received an invitation personally sent by Madam Xie, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family. The invitation was sincere, apologizing for the inappropriate words and actions of her two daughters and nieces at the tasting event, and inviting her to her residence for a gathering, striving to turn hostility into friendship.

The invitation from the matriarch of the Langya Wang clan was a favor that even the Empress could not refuse, let alone a junior like Xi Lingxian.

Peach Branch said tremblingly, "Young lady, if you don't want to go, we can pretend to be sick. It's alright if you don't go."

"Why not go? They invited me out of kindness, and if I pretend to be sick at this time, wouldn't it make me look scared?"

"what?"

"The daughters of the Wang and Xie families spoke to you so rudely, I thought..."

Xi Lingxian was not afraid of them at all.

The reason we didn't want to break up in our past life was because we loved everything about the house.

She admired Wang Jue and naturally wanted to be filial to his mother, love his sister, and truly become a family with them. For this, she was willing to compromise herself to accommodate others.

Not now.

She has plenty of time to play with them and vent the anger she's been holding in since her past life.

Having lived under the same roof for three years in her previous life, Xi Lingxian had some understanding of Madam Wang, Xie, and her two daughters. They disliked her, firstly because they resented her for taking the position that should have belonged to Xie Wanyi, and secondly because they disliked her excessive dressing and overly glamorous appearance.

Xi Lingxian understood the former, but found the latter incomprehensible. She wondered what business it was of theirs if she liked to dress up, and how nosy she was.

On the day of the banquet, the weather was fine and sunny. Xi Lingxian was dressed very beautifully, with her hair styled in a fairy bun and adorned with a dangling ornament between her eyebrows. She wore a pink and floral-patterned long-sleeved shirt with a gold gauze shawl, and underneath was a lantern skirt with butterflies and flowers. She was also wearing a jade sash, which jingled as she walked, making her look like a fairy descending to earth.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman in the mirror, Xi Lingxian thought to herself that Madam Wang and the others disliked her because she thought her appearance was too much and overshadowed their brilliance.

Lady Wang hosted a banquet to apologize to the Xi family's daughter, and naturally, she invited others to join her.

As the main guest of today's banquet, Xi Lingxian attracted countless people to turn their heads to look at her as soon as she appeared.

"Sister Lingxian."

A cheerful and friendly shout came from behind. Xi Lingxian looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small, lively butterfly flying out from among a group of fragrant clothes and hairpins.

Xie Wanting's almond-shaped eyes sparkled, and she greeted everyone with polite demeanor, "Sister Lingxian, it's been a long time."

"Sister looks so beautiful today... no, you always look beautiful. No matter what clothes you wear, they always look better on you than on anyone else."

That's natural.

Xi Lingxian thought to herself that she had put a lot of effort into dressing up today. Madam Wang did not like women with overly glamorous appearances, but she liked them and wanted to dress like that.

It would be best to talk about it to her son often, so that he would feel at ease and obediently marry her eldest niece.

"Wan Ting is so good with words, her little mouth is like it's eaten honey."

As they were talking, the other noble ladies arrived.

Xie Wanyi and the other three knew exactly why they had come today. They looked embarrassed and lowered their eyes, not looking directly at each other for a long time.

Madam Wang walked over surrounded by other women. When she caught sight of Xi Lingxian, who was surrounded by admirers and looked as beautiful as a flower, her originally dignified and composed face froze for a moment.

With her glamorous and alluring beauty, she bears no resemblance whatsoever to a virtuous wife.

The head of the family is truly muddle-headed!