Chapter 28 — Taking the Long Way Around
Princess Xiuning nodded. “Old Madam, Ah Ning really put her heart into this.”
Seeing that Xie Ningtang liked the idea, Old Madam Xie finally smiled as well.
Only then did she remember—Xue Ning was preparing a family-recognition banquet, and just as Xie Ningtang had arrived in the capital and moved into the marquis estate, she happened to run into Madam Jiang’s birthday celebration. In all the bustle, everyone had overlooked the girl completely.
If Xue Ning hadn’t brought it up today, even Old Madam Xie herself would have forgotten that this child had left her hometown behind and come alone to the Marquis Manor. They hadn’t even held a proper welcoming family dinner for her.
Who knew how hurt and lonely she must have felt?
Old Madam Xie quickly beckoned Princess Xiuning over to sit beside her, gently patting the girl’s flushed cheek.
“In that case, we should first hold a welcoming banquet for Tangtang. No need to invite outsiders. Just our family gathered together—something lively and warm.”
Madam Jiang smiled. “Old Madam is right. It’s my oversight as well. Shall we do it tomorrow?”
The recognition banquet was only five or six days away anyway. There was no need to make the welcoming dinner extravagant, and family banquets were exactly the sort of thing she excelled at arranging.
Old Madam Xie nodded, then looked around at the younger generation in the room.
“All of you call yourselves noble young masters and young ladies of the marquis household, yet none of you were as thoughtful as Ah Ning.”
The words sounded like praise.
But they also made it clear that, in the old madam’s eyes, Xue Ning was still an outsider.
Xue Ning heard the implication perfectly well. She simply pretended not to.
Old Madam Xie soon realized what she had said, though she didn’t dwell on it.
After all, a girl would eventually marry out of the family.
The marquis estate had raised Xue Ning for years; naturally, she would remember their kindness.
“Enough. Everyone may go.”
Supported by Nanny Ye, Old Madam Xie rose to her feet.
The young ladies and young masters below followed suit.
Princess Xiuning’s status was noble, and aside from Su Man, Su Xi and the others surrounded her with particular enthusiasm.
Only Su Qing behaved strangely today.
Her lips were pressed tight, fingers twisting together, as though she wanted to speak but couldn’t bring herself to.
From a distance, Xue Ning glanced at Su Qing’s pale little face and curled her lips almost imperceptibly.
…
The moment Old Madam Xie dismissed everyone, Xue Ning turned to leave.
Su Man immediately rushed over and hooked her arm through hers. Her sweet, lively face still carried the warmth from inside the room.
But the second they stepped outdoors, the cold nearly froze them both. White mist puffed from their mouths with every breath.
Su Man had gone to visit her maternal grandparents yesterday and hadn’t been home. The moment she returned, she heard what had happened to Xue Ning at Zhen’guo Temple. She had been furious and worried ever since, and had been waiting all morning for a chance to talk to her.
The instant the gathering ended, she hurried over to catch her.
“I told you long ago to let Eldest Brother accompany you, but you refused to listen. In previous years, with him protecting you, who would’ve dared target you?”
“But nothing happened to me.”
“You’re still being stubborn.” Su Man glared at her. “Luckily nothing serious happened. But if it had—what would you have done?”
Xue Ning answered lightly, “What else could I do? I would’ve married him.”
Su Man shot her an irritated look. She knew perfectly well Xue Ning didn’t mean it.
“That Heir Cao is a terrible man. His backyard is full of bedchamber maids and concubines, and outside he spends all his time in brothels and pleasure houses. Who knows how many women he’s had? I heard none of the noble girls in the capital want to marry him. His mother’s probably still worrying about where she can trick some poor girl into becoming his legal wife. If you married into that family, what good would come of it?”
Xue Ning thought to herself that it probably wouldn’t be any worse than marrying Su Zhan.
Most men in this world were fickle anyway. She had long since grown indifferent toward marriage.
She no longer hoped for sincerity.
No longer hoped to be loved.
All she wanted was someone she understood—someone decent, someone who respected her and treated her kindly.
Just like Madam Jiang and her husband: maintaining surface-level harmony and affection was already enough.
To marry early, leave the Xuanyi Marquis Manor, and stay far away from Su Zhan—
that was her greatest wish now.
Snow swirled thickly around them as Su Man continued chattering away.
“So it really was the Bodhisattva protecting you. I heard someone saved you? A man?”
Xue Ning nodded. “Mm.”
“Do you know him?”
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Xue Ning shook her head.
Putting on the airs of an older sister, Su Man said, “If you ever run into him again, you absolutely must thank him properly.”
Xue Ning obediently replied, “Don’t worry, Third Sister. I understand. If I ever meet that gentleman again, I’ll definitely prepare a generous gift to repay him.”
“You…” Su Man, third among the sisters and only a few days older than Su Qing, greatly enjoyed acting like the elder sister in front of Xue Ning. “Ah, right—!”
She suddenly gasped dramatically.
Xue Ning hurriedly asked, “What is it, Third Sister?”
Seeing her tense up, Su Man burst into laughter, eyes shining brightly.
“I heard today that Heir Cao was thrown into the prefectural prison. Last night the old earl bailed him out personally, then gave him a brutal beating with the family cane. They say he’ll probably be bedridden for at least half a year.”
Xue Ning blinked, confusion spreading across her face.
“But wasn’t it only a theft charge? Would the old earl really be that furious?”
Su Man shook her head. “I don’t know either. It’s just what I heard. But honestly, it serves him right. Forget him—we’ll only ruin our mood talking about him.”
Xue Ning frowned slightly.
She suddenly remembered her previous life.
After she and Cao Jin had been caught together in bed, only a few days later, Cao Jin had mysteriously drowned.
At the time, her own life had already been in complete chaos. She had no energy left to care about anyone else.
She only heard from Baochan later that Su Zhan had personally examined Cao Jin’s body and concluded that he’d gotten drunk and accidentally fallen into the Bian River.
Back then, the news had terrified her so badly that she couldn’t sleep for days and nights. Her mind had nearly collapsed under the strain.
And Su Zhan had only looked at her with that cold, emotionless expression of his—without offering even a single word of comfort.
Her heart had broken completely. She fell ill for over half a year and shut herself away from the world.
As for the Jiqing Earl Manor, she had never bothered to ask about them again.
Later, the Cao family left the capital entirely.
And after that, she too departed from Tokyo.
Could it really have been the Bodhisattva of Zhen’guo Temple, along with her late parents, protecting her?
Surely it couldn’t have been Su Zhan venting her anger for her?
The thought made even Xue Ning laugh at herself.
“What are you smiling about?” Su Man waved a hand in front of her face.
Xue Ning snapped back to herself and smiled faintly. “Nothing. Come on, let’s head back together.”
Su Man immediately brightened. “Perfect timing. Help me think of a gift for Princess Xiuning.”
The two girls linked arms and walked beneath the corridor together.
The wind and snow were so fierce that even thick fox-fur cloaks and hoods couldn’t keep out the cold.
In the end, Su Man simply pulled her through a moon gate, planning to take the shortcut past Mingyue Pavilion.
Xue Ning immediately slowed.
By the time they neared Mingyue Pavilion, her steps had completely stopped.
She would rather walk farther, rather endure more snow, than go anywhere near Su Zhan’s residence.
After all, in her previous life, nearly half her lifetime had withered away inside Mingyue Pavilion.
After marrying Su Zhan, she had been shut away there like some treasured object placed high upon a shelf—living alone in that vast pavilion, day after day, night after night, waiting for a husband who never wished to come home.
Even the rare moments they shared a bed had only brought her pain.
And her unborn child…
had also died there.
Even after the passing of two lifetimes, the memory still twisted through her chest like a blade.
Xue Ning didn’t want to return to that cold, lifeless place ever again.
Not even half a step closer.
Su Man looked at her in confusion. “Wouldn’t it be faster to pass by Eldest Brother’s courtyard gate? The snowstorm’s getting worse. You just fell into the water recently—what if the cold gets into your body?”
