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

Xie Wanyi was unable to maintain her usual composure.

She had previously thought that her cousin Qingyu was elegant and quiet, and would definitely look down on a spoiled and arrogant noblewoman like Xi Lingxian; Xi Lingxian was also so unconventional and chased men all over the city, and her cousin had always disliked people who did not follow the rules, so he certainly wouldn't like Xi Lingxian either.

But now...

She could no longer deceive herself.

Whether it's Uncle Wang Dun's attitude towards the Xie family or Cousin's increasingly unusual behavior towards Xi Lingxian, it's enough to show that the Wang family's current generation's marriage alliance target has abandoned the Xie family.

Xie Wanyi faced the truth with resentment and indignation.

Mingming had always believed that her elders would marry her cousin Qingyu when she was young.

Shen Qingdai, filled with righteous indignation, said, "Xie Wanyi, what a mess your sister has made! How does your Xie family plan to explain this?"

Xie Wanyi said apologetically, "Miss Shen, Miss Xi, what happened today was wrong of the Xie family, and my younger sister was also confused. I am willing to apologize to Miss Xi on her behalf; however, this matter is of great importance and I am really worried that if it gets out, it will damage my younger sister's reputation. I beg Miss Xi to be magnanimous and let us resolve this matter peacefully."

Shen Qingdai gritted her teeth: "No way! How many times have you sisters targeted Fanfan? Every time it's full of malice. In the past, it was one thing to be sharp-tongued and say a few words, but this time you directly plotted to cause her to fall off her horse and try to kill her. The Xie family really has a fine family tradition."

Xie Wanyi nodded. "Miss Shen... Wanru really didn't mean it. She... she was just being childish and mischievous. She absolutely didn't intend to harm Miss Xi. Did you really have to make such a scene and embarrass both families?"

"Miss Xi, it's good to be forgiving. You're not seriously injured, so why hold onto this little thing and make a scene?" Xie Mingshuo, the second son of the Xie family's eldest branch, couldn't help but speak up. As Xie Wanru's second brother, he naturally protected his sister.

Xi Lingxian was truly amused and annoyed by the shamelessness of this family.

"I am safe and sound because the Prince of Chenliu rescued me out of righteousness and because I am lucky to be alive, not because Xie Wanru showed me mercy."

"Everyone knows what happens when you fall off a mad horse. How dare you say Xie Wanru was just joking around like a child? You don't care about other people's lives at all. Is this the family tradition of the Xie family of Chenjun?"

Xie Wanyi's face turned pale, seemingly not expecting her to be so aggressive.

"Miss Xi, we will accept any apology the Xie family may offer, but could you please refrain from making such a scene in public? If word gets out, it won't be good for your reputation, will it?"

"You did something wrong, and I'm merely asking for legal punishment, and that makes me look undignified?" Xi Lingxian raised her head, her gaze cold and sinister. "Miss Xie, have all those Confucian classics you've studied gone to waste?"

"That's enough, Xi Lingxian, don't go too far!"

The other members of the Xie family originally didn't want to get involved, but they couldn't help themselves as Xi Lingxian's words became increasingly outrageous.

In large families, everyone shares the same fate, and even if Xie Wanru is wrong and Xie Wanyi is biased towards her, they cannot admit it in public.

Everyone else present looked at Wang Jue.

The Wang family of Langya was highly respected, and whenever there were disputes among the other families, the Wang family would send people to mediate.

Today's matter may be big or small, but in the end it is just a matter between noble ladies, and it is not worth taking to the heads of the families.

Xie Mingshuo, relying on the long-standing friendship between the Wang and Xie families and the fact that Wang Jue and they were cousins, didn't take Xi Lingxian seriously at all.

"Are you still putting on airs? Going back three generations, the Xi family was just a poor military household. They only achieved their current status by being lucky enough to hold military power for a few years..."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold glint flashed.

Xi Lingxian placed her hand on her waist, and with a crisp "clang," a soft sword was drawn from her waist, its blade shimmering in the sunlight with a silvery-white arc.

The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, trembling slightly.

The entire room fell silent. Xie Mingshuo's eyes widened, and he took two steps back.

"That's enough!"

Wang Jue's sharp gaze swept over the two sides who were arguing fiercely.

"Young Master Xie, you just said that the Xi family went back three generations to a poor military family. Then tell me, what was the Langya Wang family three generations back to?"

Everyone was stunned.

Three generations back, the Langya Wang clan were the brothers Wang Xiang and Wang Lan;

Wang Xiang was known throughout the world for his filial piety, lying on ice to catch carp; Wang Lan was renowned for his brotherly love, and his family had produced many officials for generations.

Going back further, Wang Xiang's father was only a county magistrate.

The ancestors of the Wang family also rose from humble beginnings.

No family is born a noble family.

Xie Wanyi gave Wang Jue a deep look, then lowered her head and left.

The other members of the Xie family looked at each other, then slunk off and followed.

The stadium, which had been tense just moments before, was now mostly empty.

A breeze blew by, causing the stray hairs at Xi Lingxian's temples to flutter gently.

She suddenly raised her head and looked at Wang Jue.

"Young Master Wang, I have something to say to you."

Wang Jue's eyebrows twitched slightly.

He glanced at her and nodded slightly.

"There are fewer people over there." He turned his head and gestured to the willow grove on the east side of the stadium.

The two walked one after the other along the path beside the stadium and into the depths of the willow grove.

"Does your hand still hurt?"

He reached out to grasp her wrist, but the instant his fingers touched her skin, Xi Lingxian abruptly pulled her hand back.

Wang Jue's hand froze in mid-air.

Xi Lingxian stepped back half a step.

Why?

"I've said it so many times already," she said, her voice trembling unmistakably, "Why are you still bothering me?"

Wang Jue's gaze froze.

"Wasn't the price I paid in my past life enough? Why can't you just let me go?"

Wang Jue remained silent.

But those eyes, which were always as clear and cold as a frozen pool, seemed to have been struck by something. The pupils trembled slightly, and a crack appeared on the surface of the ice deep within the eyes, from which something poured out.

"Why are the Xie sisters targeting me? Why does Xie Wanyi dislike me? Why is Xie Wanru trying to harm me?"

Her voice rose a few decibels, filled with a lifetime of suppressed grievance and anger, "Isn't it all because of you? They thought I was going to marry you, that I stole their place, so they hate me to the core. But I don't want to marry you! I never wanted to marry you again!"

Even though we were married in our past life, didn't Xie Wanyi still harbor ulterior motives?

She took a deep breath and suppressed her surging emotions.

"Whether I brought this on myself or was ignorant and arrogant, the price I paid for getting close to you was painful enough. If I could do it all over again, I would only want to take good care of myself, my father, and my brother. I never want to get involved in your Wang family's scheme again."

After she had vented her emotions and calmed down, Wang Jue suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

His knuckles tightened, with a force so great it felt like he was going to crush her bones.

Xi Lingxian was pulled so hard that she staggered half a step and almost bumped into his arms.

"Do you know what you're saying?" His voice boomed down from above, low and hoarse.

Xi Lingxian raised her head and met his gaze.

His brows were furrowed, and there seemed to be two dark flames burning in his eyes, making his eyes red, but his expression remained cold.

Cold and heat coexisted on his face, contorting into a chilling expression.

"I've made myself very clear." She steadied her voice, trying to pull her hand away. "Let go."

Wang Jue gripped it even tighter.