Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 509

The two young ladies couldn’t detain him. The elder one casually mentioned, “Mr. Wen, be cautious while walking. Not far from here is my elder sister’s residence. She has some unconventional habits… If there’s any misunderstanding, I hope Mr. Wen will be understanding.”

The other one quickly added, “Sister, how can you say that about our elder sister? She’s just raised in the countryside, a bit unruly in nature, but her character is still good.”

“I misspoke,” apologized the girl who spoke first, “But only Mr. Wen heard it. Mr. Wen is a gentleman, and I believe this won’t be spread around, right?”

Even a fool could understand that people from such families wouldn’t accidentally reveal their shortcomings. They deliberately spoke for Wen Lang’s benefit.

Wen Lang pretended not to notice, indicating that he hadn’t heard anything. After a polite bow, he left.

The two young ladies from the Marquis’s Mansion didn’t linger in this secluded place and left together.

Once the outside was completely quiet, Xu Qingchuan and Miss Xie emerged from behind the rock.

With a faint blush on her cheeks, Miss Xie touched her face and smiled, saying, “I must have made Brother Xu laugh. With Brother Xu’s intelligence, you probably guessed that they were talking about me, right?”

Xu Qingchuan nodded slightly, but quickly said, “Don’t mind what they say. I think… anyone who knows you will think highly of you. You are not the mischievous person they described.”

Miss Xie waved her hand casually, “Oh, if I cared about what others say, I wouldn’t be able to live my life.”

However, she was still somewhat uncomfortable. Miss Xie didn’t mention asking Xu Qingchuan for help in keeping watch, but forced a smile and said, “Actually, I didn’t have any other reason for leaving the mansion. Mainly, I wanted to reply to your letter and have a meal at ‘Food of Heaven’. Now that I’ve encountered Brother Xu, there’s no need for me to make another trip.”

After saying this, she handed him an envelope and waved to bid him farewell.

Xu Qingchuan watched her walk away, initially with light and brisk steps. However, as she approached a point where he could barely see her, her pace slowed considerably, and her slender figure appeared somewhat lonely.

How could a daughter of Marquis Yun Yang be in such a situation?

Even after returning home, Xu Qingchuan remained concerned about this matter. After much hesitation, he had someone inquire about it.

After the inquiry, he learned that Miss Xie was actually born out of wedlock. She was the child of Marquis Yun Yang when he was still the heir, born from a relationship with a maid in the mansion. For a prestigious family, having an illegitimate child before the legitimate ones was not honorable, especially for a literary aristocratic family like Marquis Yunyang, who sought to conceal such an existence.

Therefore, Miss Xie was fostered in the Marquis’s hometown from a young age until she reached marriageable age, when she was brought back to the capital.

Growing up like a wildflower, she was not accustomed to the rules and constraints of the Marquis Yun Yang’ Mansion. Consequently, the Marquis and his wife, thinking she was difficult to discipline, wanted to marry her off as soon as possible.

Since they wanted it done quickly, the Marquis and his wife naturally would not choose the best candidates for her.

Feeling cornered, Miss Xie packed her belongings, intending to run back to her hometown, but she was intercepted on the way.

Xu Qingchuan had few friends, and Miss Xie was considered one. Another was Wen Lang, and it was Wen Lang who helped him inquire about this.

After hearing the story, Wen Lang shook his head and sighed, “No wonder those two legitimate daughters talked about her like that in front of me. Originally, this elder Miss Xie has no support, and because she wasn’t raised in the Marquis Yun Yang’s Mansion, even if her reputation is slightly tarnished—it doesn’t matter as long as it’s not something disgraceful—it wouldn’t affect those legitimate daughters.”

Xu Qingchuan couldn’t help but sigh as well.

With her talent and seemingly happy and carefree appearance, who could have guessed that she led such a difficult life?

The two sat in silence for a while, and Wen Lang poured some more tea for Xu Qingchuan, saying, “Although we’ve known each other for a short time, being from the same place and having some connections, I don’t treat you as an outsider. If you’re interested in Miss Xie, go ahead and propose. A noble Hanlin paired with Marquis Yun Yang’s illegitimate daughter would be considered a suitable match. Otherwise…  Ah, you don’t know what kind of people the Marquis and his wife are suggesting for her.”

Upon further inquiry, it turned out that Marquis Yunyang had previously introduced several scholars to her. Surprisingly, the most frequent visitor was a widowed bachelor over thirty with a bunch of children.

No wonder Miss Xie decided to run away.

With good intentions, Wen Lang advised Xu Qingchuan. Taking his advice to heart, Xu Qingchuan listened, and when he returned, he opened Miss Xie’s letter.

The letter, as usual, was filled with light-hearted and humorous stuff about the food she had eaten recently and the books she had read.

Looking at such a letter, who could imagine that she wasn’t doing well?

Normally, Xu Qingchuan wrote his replies very quickly. This time, however, he hesitated several times and spent half the night pondering. He got up, took out the letters exchanged between them over the past six months, and carefully read them again.

Afterward, when he picked up the pen to write, he asked Miss Xie’s full name.

Asking the name, proposing, betrothal gifts, submitting betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and welcoming the bride into the groom’s home are the six traditional Chinese wedding rituals.

He knew that Miss Xie should understand his intentions.