Chapter 15 Rules “What did you say!”

Chapter 15: Propriety

"What did you say!" Zhong Yao exclaimed.

It's proper to greet the hosts first before mingling at a banquet.

Zhong Yao and Madam Zhong followed the maid inside, passing many people along the way. Most were noblewomen or young ladies from prominent families, surrounded by others fawning over them. Occasionally, they encountered a few who had dealings with the Zhong family, and both parties exchanged polite greetings.

Upon reaching the main hall, they heard cheerful laughter even before stepping inside. Once inside, Zhong Yao realized her earlier description "surrounded like stars around the moon" had been premature.

In the hall, it was Old Madam Xie who was surrounded. Beside her was Xue Fang, his face impassive. Further out were the wives and daughters of prominent officials in the capital.

Seeing newcomers enter, a few had already stopped their chatter to look over. Zhong Yao quickly lowered her head, preparing to follow Madam Zhong forward to pay their respects, when she heard someone say, "You're here."

The voice was slightly hoarse, almost androgynous at first listen. Among the people Zhong Yao knew, only one person had such a voice.

She looked up and saw Xue Fang, dressed in a bright pomegranate-colored gauze dress, walking toward her. His steps were so hurried that Zhong Yao had only blinked twice before he was right in front of her.

When had Xue Fang ever treated Zhong Yao so amiably?

"Yes," she nodded. Thinking of how she usually interacted with her friends, she curved her lips into a smile, tugged at Xue Fang's sleeve, tilted her head, and said with a grin, "Fangfang, this outfit really suits you. You look as beautiful as a celestial fairy."

Xue Fang's expression stiffened, and his gaze toward her instantly grew several degrees fiercer.

Zhong Yao openly snickered, not only showing no remorse but also pulling him around to examine him from all angles.

"Which family's young lady is this?" Old Madam Li asked curiously, looking toward Old Madam Xie with a teasing tone. "How come as soon as she shows up, your granddaughter runs off with her, ignoring us old folks?"

Old Madam Xie, despite her age, had eyes that shone with undiminished sharpness. Her piercing gaze swept over Zhong Yao as she asked, "Zhong Yao?"

Zhong Yao immediately withdrew her hand, followed Madam Zhong forward a few steps, and formally greeted everyone in the hall.

Xue Fang was one of the focal points of today's adoption banquet. Anyone who saw him felt compelled to praise him for being refined, lively, and clever, but at his core, he was a twelve-year-old boy, and each additional word of praise added to his irritation.

But Xie Chi had been ambushed because of him, so he had to take responsibility. No matter how irritable he felt, he had to endure it.

He managed to endure, but the expression on his face grew colder and colder.

Before all the guests for the adoption banquet had even arrived, his reputation as the "Ice Beauty" had already spread.

Zhong Yao was the first to elicit a reaction from the "Ice Beauty"—an urgent one, no less—instantly capturing everyone's curiosity.

However, after she and Madam Zhong introduced themselves, the expressions of everyone in the hall shifted from curiosity to something more knowing.

Only Old Madam Li, who had asked the initial question, remained unaware. She praised, "What a bright and graceful young lady. How old are you?"

Madam Zhong glanced sideways at the stern-faced Old Madam Xie, carefully forcing a smile as she replied, "She just celebrated her seventeenth birthday."

"Seventeen, huh," Old Madam Li asked again. "Is she betrothed yet?"

The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew awkward.

Madam Zhong awkwardly shifted to block Zhong Yao slightly, answering vaguely, "Her father can't bear to part with her and wants to keep her at home for a few more years..."

As soon as these words were spoken, a snicker was heard in the hall.

Old Madam Li sensed something amiss, looking around. Soon, a woman approached and whispered into her ear.

Quickly, Old Madam Li's regard for Zhong Yao cooled. She said, "She's a good girl too," then turned to chat with others.

Zhong Yao was left standing aside, feeling slighted.

How infuriating.

If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have broken off the engagement with that bastard—she should have dragged his entire household down with him!

Fuming inwardly, Zhong Yao noticed Madam Zhong trying to pull her away to avoid the situation. Just as she was about to move, Old Madam Xie's voice came, "Fangfang, bring Miss Zhong over to keep me company for a chat."

Xue Fang was impatient with circulating among the women but remembered his role. He stepped forward to go to Old Madam Xie's side, then noticed Zhong Yao hadn't moved and stopped to look at her.

Zhong Yao was being held back by Madam Zhong.

Old Madam Xie seemed to sense this and added, "By the way, I heard your family had some trouble recently? It must have been difficult for you to come celebrate for an old woman like me despite the troubles at home..."

Then she called a maid over and said, "Go see where Madam Xu and Madam Chen are. Take Madam Zhong to chat with them, so she can relax a bit."

This was just what Madam Zhong wanted, but she worried her daughter might face bullying alone with this fierce old madam...

"Go ahead," Zhong Yao whispered. "I'll stay with Fangfang and keep the old madam company for a while, then go rest in the side room later."

Seeing her chance, Madam Zhong gave Zhong Yao's hand a squeeze, bowed once more to Old Madam Xie, and followed the maid away.

Zhong Yao spoke confidently, but influenced by Madam Zhong, she was in awe of Old Madam Xie. After sitting beside Old Madam Xie with Xue Fang, her entire body stiffened, her gaze fixed straight ahead, and her breathing grew shallow.

Most importantly, she didn't know how much Xie Chi had told Old Madam Xie.

Xie Chi had especially little patience with her—poking him might not even elicit a response—and his actions were far from considerate.

As for Xue Fang, he was just a puppet on a string. Apart from maintaining a deadpan expression and pretending to be mute, he refused to be of any help.

So annoying!

While Zhong Yao was inwardly complaining about these two, Old Madam Xie was observing her.

After speaking with Xie Chi that day, she had initially thought Xie Chi had his reasons. Since he didn't tell her exactly what was going on, she decided not to interfere.

But upon further reflection, what if what Xie Chi said was true?

No matter how aloof he usually acted toward women, he was still a man.

What if this Miss Zhong was exceptionally beautiful?

After all, he was a man... men... ah!

Old Madam Xie decided to see this Miss Zhong for herself, which led to today's situation.

Now that the person was right before her, she noticed Miss Zhong was indeed very beautiful—a sweet, gentle beauty. Perhaps because her cheeks were porcelain-white and slightly round, she appeared very soft. Sitting still, she resembled a smooth, lustrous pearl.

Finding her attractive, sincerely or otherwise, was certainly possible.

Judging by appearances alone, Old Madam Xie was satisfied with Zhong Yao. Her family background was somewhat low, but that wasn't unacceptable. Her mother... hmph, could be tolerated.

But disrespect toward mothers-in-law and elders—that would not do!

She wasn't a bad grandmother who would bully her granddaughter-in-law or sow discord between her grandson and his wife, but she couldn't let a junior ride roughshod over her either!

"Do you know how to read and write?" Old Madam Xie asked.

"Answering the old madam, yes, I do," Zhong Yao turned toward Old Madam Xie and replied honestly. Zhong Yao felt Old Madam Xie was picking on her. Her father and brothers were all scholars—how could she not know how to write?

But she restrained herself and answered meekly.

However, others didn't see it that way.

Looking at her timid appearance, Lady Xie thought her dark, lively eyes were quite beautiful—though for some reason, they seemed to glisten with unshed tears…

Even like this, she was lovely, evoking pity, just the type to tug at a man's heartstrings.

On the other hand, Lady Xie felt she had merely asked a simple, ordinary question, yet this girl put on such a pitiful, bullied act… while in private, she could act coy and spoiled with her grandson…

This girl was definitely trouble!

Lady Xie took a sip of tea and asked lightly, “I heard from Fangfang that you two met because of those reckless bandits, and you even took a knife for Fangfang… Has the wound fully recovered?”

Zhong Yao blinked, realizing that Xie Chi hadn’t told his grandmother the truth.

He didn’t even tell his own grandmother the truth. No wonder he forbade her from telling her parents.

“Speak!” Lady Xie snapped.

Zhong Yao was startled and quickly replied, “It’s mostly healed…”

“Since you’re injured, you should go out less, stay home more to read and write, and recuperate,” Lady Xie said. “Reading more teaches propriety and a sense of shame.”

Zhong Yao’s face flushed bright red—with anger!

These words were a clear accusation of shamelessness.

She knew it was because of what she said when breaking off the engagement. Those words were indeed a bit excessive, but what did that have to do with Lady Xie?

She wasn’t going to be the Yong’an Marquis’s granddaughter-in-law anyway!

Knowing her words from that day had spread, Zhong Yao had imagined how others might talk about her. Along the way, she had noticed people avoiding her, like now—to express their distance from her, people in the hall were chatting in small groups, with hardly anyone gathering around her.

…But being insulted to her face was a first!

Zhong Yao’s tears were about to fall.

She felt wronged but couldn’t explain, and she definitely couldn’t cry, lest she become a laughingstock.

Zhong Yao turned aside, silently wiping her tears.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Lady Xie couldn't abide her like this and her tone grew harsher.

Zhong Yao swallowed her grievances, glanced at her with tear-filled eyes, and answered in a choked voice, “…I was thinking about something…”

Lady Xie said, “An elder is speaking to you, and here you are, lost in thought? Is this how your mother taught you?”

Zhong Yao bit her lip and stayed silent.

Lady Xie didn’t like girls with this kind of temperament, but this girl might not even become her granddaughter-in-law—she was meddling a bit too much.

It couldn’t be helped. Others had their children and grandchildren around, while she, an old woman, was all alone. Here, at last, was a girl who caught her grandson’s eye, and she couldn’t help but overthink and ask too much.

This was truly too annoying.

Lady Xie didn’t want to be the villain who bullied the younger generation. Glancing at the girl who looked utterly humiliated by her words, she tried her best to soften her tone and asked, “What were you thinking about?”

“I was thinking…”

Zhong Yao hated this old lady—she bullied her mother, then came to bully her, and while bullying her, she still managed to belittle her mother.

Her grandson still owed her a favor!

Seething but not daring to speak, Zhong Yao bit her lower lip and weakly said, “…I was thinking… after getting married, if my mother-in-law is too fierce, how to put her in her place…”

“…?” Lady Xie suddenly turned her head, asking in disbelief, “What did you say?!”

Zhong Yao sprang to her feet, trembling as she said, “I said my wound hurts… it hurts so much, I’m about to faint from the pain…”