Chapter Fifteen: Don’t Even Dream of Marrying into a Wealthy and Powerful Family

As dusk settled, after having dinner in her own courtyard, Chu Xi, nursing her injuries, went to bed early.

Suddenly, Madam Xu lifted the curtain and entered the front hall.

Not seeing Chu Xi, she asked Caiping, “Has the young lady gone to rest so early?”

Caiping smiled and replied, “So many events have happened these past two days. The young lady’s health was already compromised during her time at the Duke of Zhen’s residence. Today, she was pushed down by the Qian family, which aggravated her old injury. She went to rest early.”

Madam Xu’s face showed sympathy as she nodded and sighed, “She’s truly been through so much.”

Caiping asked, “What brings you here, Madam?”

Madam Xu smiled and said, “The madam sent me to deliver a message. Tomorrow morning, she wants the young lady to dress up carefully. There is a gathering, and she plans to take the young lady out to see the world a bit.”

Upon hearing this, Caiping’s expression immediately darkened.

“Can’t the madam let the young lady rest quietly? Her body is already frail, and now with her injuries, she’s only just returned after a short time. When will she ever have peace?”

Madam Xu frowned slightly at these words but dared not argue further.

“I have conveyed the madam’s message. Please inform the young lady,” she said, then turned and lifted the curtain as she stepped away.

Caiping, furious, muttered harshly, “How can there be such thoughtless and heartless mothers in this world?”

Chu Xi, lying in the inner chamber, had overheard everything. After softly coughing twice, she said to Caiping, “Enough. You should rest too.”

For Chu Xi and Caiping, this was the most comfortable and peaceful moment they had experienced in three years; the room was warmed by burning charcoal and furnished with a bed and clean, cozy quilts. Despite the heavy burdens on her mind, Chu Xi slept soundly.

The next morning, Caiping fetched warm water for Chu Xi to wash and prepare herself.

“I wonder what scheme they have today. Why take the young lady out when she’s clearly unwell?” Caiping had a bad feeling.

Chu Xi remained calm. “Make the makeup light. Don’t attract too much attention.”

“Yes, miss. Perhaps we should speak directly with Mo Zixiao and ask him to propose formally. He and the young lady were originally betrothed.”

Chu Xi gave a helpless smile. “That engagement was null the day I was forced into the Duke of Zhen’s household. Now, the one they want to marry Mo Zixiao is Qian Mengyun.”

The General Huya, a third-rank official, was a coveted match for the noble daughters of the capital.

Thinking of this, Chu Xi wondered, “Qian Mengyun is already eighteen. Even if the marquis favors her, would he really keep her for so long?”

Caiping chuckled, “Miss, you forget—it’s not the marquis wanting to keep her, but that she has no good match now. Among all the noble families and imperial kin in the capital, who would marry a fake? Even a concubine-born child is still blood-related. Qian Mengyun is worth nothing. She’ll never be accepted into a prestigious household.”

Chu Xi raised her eyes to Caiping. “Don’t gloat. At least she is cherished by the marquis and his wife and remains unwed. Compared to me, she’s far better off.”

Caiping was unconvinced. “So what? In my opinion, Mo Zixiao still has feelings for you, or else he wouldn’t have stood up for you yesterday.”

Right now, Chu Xi dared not dwell on such matters. Not even the fate awaiting her upon waking tomorrow was within her control.

“Be cautious with your words in this marquis’s household. After all, Qian Mengyun was your former mistress.”

Mentioning this stirred Caiping’s anger and hatred anew.