Chapter 551: I Will Treat Her Well for My Entire Life
Chapter 551: Chapter 551: I Will Treat Her Well for My Entire Life
Seeing her father and brothers looking ready to march to the Lu residence and kill Lu Shaoyuan, Shen Ningning stomped her foot in frustration.
"Father! Brother! And you, Second Brother! Third Brother! Second Uncle! What do you think you’re doing?!"
She pressed her red lips together. "I genuinely want to marry Lu Shaoyuan. He didn’t force me—I was the one who brought it up first."
Xie Ming’an simply couldn’t handle the shock.
"Sister! You... you... this makes no sense! Even if you were to fall for someone, shouldn’t it be the Crown Prince?"
His words struck a nerve. Shen Ningning’s expression clouded over, and she turned away.
"You rotten Second Brother! You’re only saying that because you think Lu Shaoyuan is inferior to you."
Xie Ming’an thought she was angry and hurried over to placate her. "That’s not what I meant. It’s just... this is all so sudden."
Xie Suzhi gazed at his daughter’s form. "Ningning, do you truly understand what marriage means?"
Shen Ningning sighed. "Of course I do. Marriage is like when Mother married you, Father. It’s when two people who love each other live in harmony and raise children together."
When she finished speaking, the expressions on all the Xie men’s faces froze.
’Their precious Ningning was already fantasizing about having Lu Shaoyuan’s children.’
’Could she really be in love with him?’
Xie Ming’an couldn’t accept it. "Ningning, you... Fine! I’m washing my hands of this. You can discuss it with Father and the others yourself."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
’He had to get to the Ministry of Justice and take his anger out on a few inmates to quell the storm brewing inside him.’
Shen Ningning sat down.
She said earnestly, "Lu Shaoyuan and I have already discussed this. If I find I can’t adjust to living with him after the wedding, I can still move back here and live with all of you."
Xie Mingxu frowned. "Then what’s the point of getting married at all?"
"Who says a married couple has to live together? He respects me, so I can do as I please."
Xie Suzhi’s expression softened a fraction, but his lips remained drawn in a tight line.
"What does the Lu family have to say about this?"
The words were barely out of his mouth when a servant rushed in from the main gate. "Master! Second Master! The Lu family has sent a matchmaker with betrothal gifts!"
All the Xie men frowned in unison, their expressions growing colder.
"In such a hurry? We haven’t even agreed," Xu Jingxi said, telling the servant to send the matchmaker away.
But to their surprise, Shen Ningning quickly stood up. "Let the matchmaker in!"
Xie Suzhi and the others looked at her. On the young woman’s fair face was a look of pure joy, as if she couldn’t wait to marry Lu Shaoyuan right this second.
Seeing her so full of anticipation, Xie Suzhi felt a slight pang in his heart.
’His wife had passed away young, and he already felt he hadn’t done right by his daughter. If he were to disregard her wishes now, he was afraid it would break her heart.’
At this thought, Xie Suzhi sighed. "Fine. Let the matchmaker come in."
Xie Mingxu became anxious. "Father!"
Xie Suzhi raised a hand, silencing him.
When the beaming matchmaker entered, the intimidating atmosphere in the main hall almost scared her from stepping over the threshold.
Chancellor Xie and Second Master Xie sat in the seats of honor, one to the left and one to the right. The painting behind them, a fierce tiger descending a mountain, was incredibly menacing.
Xie Mingxu and Xu Jingxi stood behind their respective fathers.
Aside from the absent Xie Ming’an, all four Xie men present had gazes as cold as ice.
The matchmaker had been plying her trade for half her life, and her visits to other families were always joyous occasions.
This was the first time she had ever made a house call and found the bride’s family so unwelcoming.
Shen Ningning stepped forward. "Matchmaker, please, have a seat."
The matchmaker finally composed herself. She offered a greeting with a strained laugh but didn’t dare to sit, instead quickly stating the purpose of her visit.
"Mr. Xie, Mrs. Meng sent me on behalf of the joyous union between Second Young Master Lu and the Princess. You see, the preliminary gifts are all in the courtyard. If your family is amenable, I can report back to Mrs. Meng, and she can proceed with the formal betrothal."
Shen Ningning lifted her gaze to the courtyard, which was filled to the brim with chests.
They had nearly filled the spacious courtyard, yet more were coming. The Meng family’s servants were still moving back and forth, carrying more chests.
Shen Ningning’s heart clenched.
’She had specifically told Lu Shaoyuan not to make such a big fuss.’
’How could there be so much for just the preliminary gifts?’
’When it came time for the formal betrothal, were they going to fill both the inner and outer courtyards?’
Xie Suzhi said, his face impassive, "If we are to discuss a marriage between our families, sending only a matchmaker is highly insincere. I suggest you go back and tell Mrs. Meng that she and Second Young Master Lu should come to see me in person if they wish to discuss this matter."
The matchmaker’s face immediately broke into a joyous smile as she flicked her handkerchief.
"As it happens! Mrs. Meng and Second Young Master Lu are waiting in a carriage just outside. They came with me today. They had wanted to come in and pay their respects to you, sir, but that would be a breach of etiquette, wouldn’t it? That’s why they had me come in first."
In Cangyun Country, the custom for marriage negotiations was for a matchmaker to first visit the bride’s family to propose a list of betrothal gifts.
If the bride’s family agreed, the groom’s parents would then be invited for a detailed discussion. After that, the two families would exchange cards bearing the couple’s birth details for astrological compatibility.
Once these cards were exchanged, the engagement was considered settled.
Xie Suzhi hadn’t expected Mrs. Meng and her son to be in such a hurry.
Thus, however reluctant he was, he nodded for Shen Ningning’s sake.
"Show Mrs. Meng and Second Young Master Lu in."
The matchmaker hurried away to relay the message.
A moment later, Mrs. Meng entered with Lu Shaoyuan, dressed in magnificent attire for the formal occasion.
Mrs. Meng was one of the wealthiest people in Cangyun Country, and her imposing aura went without saying. Her exceptionally well-preserved face beamed with triumphant delight.
"Chancellor Xie," she said, offering a polite, cupped-fist salute.
Lu Shaoyuan, at her side, also bowed with a frank and dignified air, but his lowered hand couldn’t help but nervously clutch his sleeve.
’It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous.’
He glanced at Shen Ningning, who offered him a slight, reassuring nod.
Lu Shaoyuan instantly felt a little more at ease.
Xie Mingxu did not fail to notice this subtle interaction between his sister and Lu Shaoyuan.
He felt a pang of indescribable sadness.
’He had only one premonition: this marriage between their families was, he feared, going to happen.’
Xie Suzhi had someone offer them seats. The moment Mrs. Meng sat, she began, "I truly never imagined I would be so blessed as to have Ningning for a daughter-in-law. I feel as though I’ve watched her grow up."
Before Shen Ningning had been welcomed back into the Xie family, Mrs. Meng had helped her a great deal.
Xie Suzhi was aware of this.
He smiled faintly, though his eyes held no warmth. "Perhaps it is fate that brings the two of them together."
Mrs. Meng was an excellent conversationalist, and filled with cheer, she engaged Xie Suzhi in a lively back-and-forth.
Throughout the conversation, Lu Shaoyuan remained quiet and composed, only nodding from time to time.
’He was mainly worried that being too chatty would make Chancellor Xie see him as unreliable.’
Unexpectedly, Xie Suzhi soon directed the conversation toward him.
"Second Young Master Lu, I have been listening to your mother. Since you are the one who wishes to marry Ningning, I would like to hear what you have to say for yourself."
Mrs. Meng looked back, giving her son an encouraging glance.
’Before they arrived, he had been chattering with excitement. Why was he suddenly mute in front of Chancellor Xie!’
Lu Shaoyuan stood up, momentarily tongue-tied. It was as if he had a million things to say but didn’t know where to possibly begin.
Suddenly.
He lifted his robes and dropped to his knees.
Second Master Xie, who was in the middle of sipping his tea, nearly dropped the cup.
Everyone was shocked, and even Shen Ningning was taken aback for a moment.
Lu Shaoyuan’s voice rang out, firm and resolute. "I swear! I will treat her well for my entire life!"