Chapter 10

Chapter 10

At noon.

After finishing her lunch, Ming left ahead of the others.

She managed the Duke Protector's household and had two children to care for, so she naturally had little free time for herself.

Only Xiao Baozhu refused to leave.

Having faced a lot of hardship at home lately, she was finally out and, seeing that Xu Duanyi did not blame her, she became proud again.

No matter how Ming called her, she simply said, "Cousin is alone at home; I want to stay and talk with her!"

Then she left Xu Duanyi and Ming behind, rushing back to the house ahead of them.

"This girl!"

Ming didn't know how to handle her.

Xu Duanyi, however, didn't mind. Seeing Ming's dilemma, she smiled and said, "It's been a while since I've had a good chat with Bao Zhu. Since she wants to stay, let her stay."

"After all, I'm alone at home. Having Bao Zhu with me makes it a bit livelier."

Seeing that Xu Duanyi truly didn't mind, Ming also felt relieved. The family had been in upheaval over this matter, especially her husband... If Duanyi was willing to keep Bao Zhu, her husband might also relax and be less angry.

After all, they are siblings by blood. They can't really keep fighting like this.

She isn't a Xiao by birth. If she lets her husband and Bao Zhu remain at odds, it will be her who suffers in the end.

Her mother-in-law had been a bit resentful of her lately.

Being a daughter-in-law is never easy.

Ming felt grateful to Xu Duanyi and, as Xu Duanyi saw her off, she held her hand and gave it a light pat.

She also reminded her again.

"She is still infatuated with that Liu Xun, you..."

Xu Duanyi knew what Ming was about to say and softly replied, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I know. I won't let Bao Zhu go after Liu Xun."

Ming was now completely at ease.

Although Duanyi has a gentle nature, she is not a spineless girl. If she really wants to keep Bao Zhu in check, Bao Zhu won't dare to make a fuss.

"In a few days, I'll come to take her home. These few days will be hard on you."

Ming only let Xu Duanyi escort her to the second gate of the courtyard, not allowing her to see her off outside the mansion.

Xu Duanyi didn't insist and watched as Ming and her maid walked away before returning with Shiyu. Seeing Shiyu pouting and looking unhappy.

Xu Duanyi knew why she was like this and couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, you could hang an oil pot from that pout."

"Go and tell Donggu to prepare a room for Bao Zhu."

"You haven't had a good rest for a while. Didn't your sister-in-law just have a baby? Spend these few days playing with your little nephew."

"Master..."

Although Shiyu was simple-minded, she could still sense that her mistress was deliberately sending her away.

The cousin's young lady had always been capricious, and Shiyu feared her mistress might suffer.

But Xu Duanyi's tone, though gentle, brooked no argument: "Be obedient."

Shiyu had no choice but to lower her head and nod reluctantly.

Afterwards, Shiyu went to her mother to arrange the matter, while Xu Duanyi returned to her room. When she got back, Xiao Baozhu was calling her personal maid to redo her makeup.

Seeing that Xu Duanyi had returned alone, she knew her sister-in-law had already left.

She was thrilled and knew how to play the sweet card.

Looking at Xu Duanyi, she said, "I knew you were the best to me, cousin!"

"Cousin, I need to use your dressing table. I have to go out later." Fearing Xu Duanyi might not agree, she quickly added, "I'll be back soon!"

Xu Duanyi knew what she was up to.

Instead of replying to Xiao Baozhu, she spoke to her maid: "You may leave first."

Xiao Baozhu's maid hesitated but eventually stepped outside.

"Cousin?"

Xiao Baozhu, confused, looked at her.

Xu Duanyi stayed seated on the window-side bed.

The light from the window shone on her.

She sipped her tea before speaking gently to Xiao Baozhu: "Bao Zhu, you can stay as long as you want, but seeing Liu Xun is out of the question."

Xiao Baozhu was stunned, her face flushing red.

Whether from embarrassment or shame, it was unclear.

"Cousin, what are you talking about? I'm not going to see him, I just..." She tried to make up an excuse, but under Xu Duanyi's soft yet piercing gaze, she couldn't go on.

After stammering for a while.

She finally gave up.

"...Alright, I won't go see him."

Having finally gotten away, she didn't want to anger her cousin again. Xiao Baozhu knew better; her cousin wasn't like her mother or sister-in-law. Though kind, if truly angered, even her mother and grandmother might not be able to protect her.

"Come here."

Xu Duanyi put down her teacup and gestured for her to come.

As Xiao Baozhu trudged over, Xu Duanyi took her hand and sat her down beside her, advising gently, "I'm not stopping you, but since you're not married to him yet, people might talk if they see you together."

"Who dares to gossip!"

Xiao Baozhu was defiant, clearly unafraid.

Under Xu Duanyi's watchful eye, Xiao Baozhu finally reined herself in a bit, waving her handkerchief and saying, "Got it, I won't go."

Xu Duanyi suddenly said, "I've already asked your sister-in-law about it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Baozhu, who had been looking down, immediately raised her head.

She guessed what her cousin was about to say.

Her eyes lit up as she looked at Xu Duanyi.

Xu Duanyi didn't hide anything, looking at her and saying, "Once you marry him, you'll see him every day."

"Really?"

Xiao Baozhu was so thrilled she could hardly contain herself!

She thought her elder brother was so insistent that the family would disagree, but she didn't expect... She was overjoyed, almost ready to jump for joy.

Xu Duanyi, being three years older, had practically watched her grow up and knew her temperament well.

Seeing her like this, she was also somewhat surprised.

"Do you really like him that much, huh?"

Xiao Baozhu was only fifteen after all, and hearing this question, she showed a bit of a young girl's infatuation, blushing and speaking softly, "Cousin, you have no idea how amazing Liu Lang is."

Of course, Xu Duanyi didn't know.

She didn't think someone who got involved with her while still engaged to another, and even had relations, could be a good person.

But as her cousin, she couldn't just come out and say it.

Even sisters can easily fall out, let alone cousins.

Besides, she figured Bao Zhu had probably heard plenty of such warnings lately, and since they hadn't worked, it just showed how skilled Liu Xun was.

"Tell me, how has he been good to you?"

"And how did you two meet?"

Xiao Baozhu, full of love and with no outlet for her feelings, naturally didn't hide anything when Xu Duanyi volunteered to listen.

She eagerly spilled everything to Xu Duanyi about how she and Liu Xun met and how he treated her.

After listening, Xu Duanyi could only sigh that Bao Zhu was still too young.

The so-called chance meeting she described, and Liu Xun's initial claim of not knowing who she was, were full of holes.

Bao Zhu had always been active in the capital, and anyone could easily find out who she was with a little inquiry.

But Liu Xun was indeed formidable.

He had charmed the young girl into infatuation, and upon learning her identity, he deliberately began to distance himself from Bao Zhu.

He said he wasn't worthy.

But his actions didn't show a hint of that.

If he truly felt unworthy and didn't want to ruin Bao Zhu's marital fate, he should have made it clear and kept his distance, instead of being evasive and using retreat as a form of advance.

Sister-in-law was spot on about one thing.

Bao Zhu has been completely pampered by her family, and thus doesn't understand the depths of people outside.

However, not everyone can possess such a temperament.

She herself couldn't be like that.

"Cousin, since I've told you, you must stand by me." Xiao Baozhu knew her family disliked Liu Xun, so she thought of pulling Xu Duanyi into her camp.

To speak up for her and Liu Xun in the future.

Xu Duanyi neither agreed nor disagreed, instead countering with a question, "That time, was it really you who took the initiative?"

"Cousin!"

Xiao Baozhu's face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she withdrew her arm from Xu Duanyi's, covering her face instead.

Finally, she whispered, "Liu Xun was unwilling, I forced him."

Xu Duanyi, seeing her blush while still defending Liu Xun, fell silent.

In such matters, if a man truly didn't want to, could he really be forced?

But since things had come to this, saying more was useless, and might even cause a rift between them. Xu Duanyi could only gently stroke Xiao Baozhu's head and say, "If Liu Xun ever mistreats you, remember to tell me and sister-in-law."

"Liu Xun would never bully me~" Xiao Baozhu said with conviction.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her cousin still watching her, knowing her cousin cared for her, she smiled and took Xu Duanyi's arm again, saying obediently, "I know."

"But if he really dares to bully me, I won't let him off lightly, without you and sister-in-law having to step in!"

...

Unlike Xu Duanyi, Xiao Baozhu was not one to stay idle.

After barely staying with Xu Duanyi for two days, she couldn't stand it anymore and, before Ming could come to fetch her, found an excuse to go home.

Seeing her determination to leave, Xu Duanyi didn't try to stop her, only arranged for her to be safely escorted back to the Duke Protector's residence, and specifically instructed the accompanying guards to ensure she was delivered to the residence without letting her leave midway.

She feared Xiao Baozhu might seek out Liu Xun again.

If something else happened, she wouldn't be able to escape blame.

For the next few days, Xu Duanyi didn't go out, continuing to stay at home copying Buddhist scriptures.

Three days later.

Xu Duanyi finally took a carriage to the Imperial Grace Temple.

Every year, she visited to pray for her mother's well-being and to wish for her father's safety.

Having come so often, the monks in the temple knew her well.

Xu Duanyi did not have anyone guide her and went to the main hall as usual to make her wishes, added oil to the incense burner and made monetary offerings, then placed the sutras she had copied in the small chapel where her mother's memorial tablet was enshrined.

Afterward, she spent a long time talking to her mother's memorial tablet before coming out.

"Would you like to have the vegetarian meal here before heading back, or shall we leave now?" Shiyu was waiting outside and quickly asked her when she came out.

Xu Duanyi said, "You go to the meditation room first and have someone prepare lunch. I still have a place to go."

This indicated her intention to stay for the meal.

Shiyu's eyes lit up with a smile.

She had long craved the delicious vegetarian dishes at Huang'en Temple.

Assuming her master was going to fulfill a vow, she didn't press to accompany her. She handed her the hand warmer and said, "Then I'll go and make the arrangements."

Xu Duanyi nodded.

After Shiyu left, she called a guest monk and asked if the chapel of the Grand Princess was occupied that day.

If it was unoccupied, she would go to offer incense.

Only the temple monks knew she annually brought two sutra copies for the deceased to Huang'en Temple.

One for her mother.

And one for Uncle Xie and his family.

The guest monk understood her intentions.

Thinking of the person in the abbot's meditation room and how that person always came in secret, it was not appropriate to say he was there.

Considering the time.

That person should still be with the abbot, so it should be fine.

The guest monk, fearing to arouse Xu Duanyi's suspicion, did not hesitate for long and clasped his hands together, saying, "It's empty, Your Highness. You may proceed."

"Thank you, Master."

Xu Duanyi also clasped her hands together and thanked him.

Unbeknownst to Xu Duanyi and the guest monk, Xie Qingya was in the chapel at that very moment.

Looking at the three memorial tablets in the chapel, Xie Qingya's gaze hidden in the dim light was obscure.

Overcome with guilt, he couldn't bring himself to look.

Xie Qingya closed his eyes.

He closed his eyes to escape, but after closing them, he could still see many things. It was as if he saw scenes of war and flames.

He saw his father and brother lying lifeless on the ground.

And his once bright and radiant mother, who eventually passed away in sorrow.

Xie Qingya's hands, clenched tightly behind his back, trembled uncontrollably.

"Father, mother, elder brother..."

Xie Qingya's voice was hoarse, and he dared not open his eyes.

Until he heard footsteps coming from outside, Xie Qingya was suddenly pulled back. He opened his eyes abruptly.

His earlier vulnerability vanished, replaced by a dark, brooding demeanor.

Xie Qingya turned around and saw the shadow outside the door. Not knowing who it was, he did not wait for the person to enter but quickly hid behind the altar table.