Chapter Thirty-One: Pork Intestines

Meng Zhenyue saw the panic in Zhao Zhizhi’s eyes and softened her tone:
“I heard you were at the theater, so I came to find you. I just didn't expect to run into him the moment I entered.”

“I… I…” Zhao Zhizhi quickly averted her gaze from Xiao Jichen, tightened her cloak, and, as if avoiding a venomous snake, lowered her head to pull Meng Zhenyue toward the door. “Sister, let’s go first. We can talk about this later.”

Meng Zhenyue had intended to leave, but Xiao Jichen raised an eyebrow and laughed, “So afraid of me? Your dear father is the one who wants you to marry me, after all.”

As he spoke, he picked up the teapot from the table and poured it over the incense burner. Then, he sat down swaggeringly, leaning back lazily in his chair. Seeing this roguish attitude, Meng Zhenyue’s earlier suspicion—that Xiao Jichen’s hidden motives were not simple—wavered slightly.

“Wait,” Meng Zhenyue held Zhao Zhizhi back and asked, “Where did you go just now?”

At these words, Zhao Zhizhi’s delicate frame trembled with fear. She bit her lip, struggling, and tried to lower her head in evasion. However, seeing her sister’s stern and solemn expression, devoid of any smile, an awe-inspiring authority bore down on her.

Realizing she had no choice but to speak, Zhao Zhizhi pursed her lips, shuffled closer to Meng Zhenyue, and whispered falteringly in her ear:
“I... I went to eat spicy pork intestines. I was afraid of being seen, so I hid under the vendor’s stall.”

Meng Zhenyue believed her. Indeed, when Zhao Zhizhi drew near, she smelled a hint of spice and grease. She stared at her sister in stunned silence. Regardless of the misunderstanding, she had lived two lifetimes and never realized her delicate sister had such a penchant for offal—something even country folk rarely touched, let alone the daughter of a Marquis. Seeing her sister’s shocked expression, Zhao Zhizhi hung her head in even greater shame.

Since that was the reason for her absence, Meng Zhenyue’s perspective on Xiao Jichen shifted again. After a moment of contemplation, a plan to completely escape this marriage took shape in her mind.

Meng Zhenyue patted Zhao Zhizhi soothingly and said, “Don’t rush off. Since neither of you is satisfied with this engagement, I have a way.”

She quickly closed the door, pulled Zhao Zhizhi to the table to sit, and took a seat herself. Xiao Jichen chuckled and looked at Meng Zhenyue, “Such a beauty, how do you know I am dissatisfied?”

Meng Zhenyue remained unmoved, speaking in a business-like tone, “Grand Tutor Xiao is unhappy with the Marquis of Chengwu’s estate. If Young Master Xiao goes against his father’s wishes, I fear your relationship with him will only worsen.”

Xiao Jichen had lost his mother at a young age, and his maternal grandfather’s family was at odds with his stepmother and the Grand Tutor’s political faction.

Perhaps Xiao Jichen was in an awkward position, struggling to survive, which was why he dared not reveal his true character?

As Meng Zhenyue finished speaking, Zhao Zhizhi gathered her courage and spoke up: “I... I have a terrible illness!”

A moment later, Xiao Jichen’s expression grew slightly more serious. “Tell me about it.”

Fifteen minutes passed.

Xiao Jichen strode out of the room, followed a few paces behind by Zhao Zhizhi, who only dared to look at the path at her feet. Beside Zhao Zhizhi stood two elderly matrons.

“Marchioness!”

Before long, they found the Marchioness at the corner of the stairs. She was pacing anxiously, wearing a veil hat. Xiao Jichen called out to her. The Marchioness stopped abruptly, looked toward the voice, and Xiao Jichen bowed, “Greetings to you!”

Seeing it was the Third Young Master Xiao, and that her daughter was standing nearby, neatly dressed, the Marchioness was stunned, looking back and forth between them. She didn't know what to say; she even forgot the basic pleasantries.

She had been timing her entry, intending to take her daughter away. She would never let her daughter lose her virtue; she only needed a pretext to claim Xiao Jichen had been improper. But when she tried to go upstairs, she realized she couldn't get close—the Grand Tutor had secretly stationed guards! Now, seeing them emerge unscathed, she was completely confused.

Her daughter walked to her side, hiding behind her as if frightened. “Mother.”

The Marchioness instinctively patted her daughter, then suddenly had an epiphany. Regardless of the circumstances, being alone with a man was improper! She could still demand an explanation.

The Marchioness immediately stiffened her face, ready to exert her authority, but before she could speak, the Third Young Master Xiao cut her off. He stood with his arms crossed, eyes wandering toward passersby as he said:
“Indeed, I just happened to meet Miss Zhao. The young lady is, well, quite beautiful...”

Seeing this, the Marchioness became even more displeased and was about to interrupt when she heard a soft cough. Only then did she notice the two matrons following a short distance behind him. These must be the Grand Tutor’s people, the reason for Xiao Jichen’s aloofness.

As she worried, she realized that with the elderly matrons present, they hadn't exactly been alone together... what was she to do now?

Amidst her distress, Xiao Jichen’s somewhat formal voice reached her.
“The two matrons sent by my father to keep an eye on things are also very satisfied. When we return, they will speak well of my marriage to my father.”

These words were like a godsend to the Marchioness. She was overjoyed, yet found it hard to believe. Was it really that simple? Her emotions surged, but she didn't dwell on it, thinking she should offer a few words of modest refusal so as not to appear desperate to marry off her daughter.

But again, she couldn't get a word in. The Third Young Master smiled at her, lacking any decorum:
“Is the Marchioness waiting for someone? I just invited Miss Zhao to watch a play, and she said she had to ask you first. I am here to ask now—would the Marchioness be willing?”

The Marchioness felt deep disdain, her lips twitching under her veil. If not for the control of half the Zhao army, she would never have promised her daughter to such a man. Now that her goal was achieved, she didn't need to let her daughter suffer further.

“No, we were just about to return,” the Marchioness said, suppressing her dissatisfaction.

She turned around, a smile appearing on her face, and spoke to the two matrons with an air of intimacy and status:
“The Marquis always says that Grand Tutor Xiao is a man of great understanding who does not dwell on trifles. Seeing such sensible matrons today, I finally believe it.”

To those who didn't know the complicated history between the Grand Tutor and the Marquis of Chengwu, this sounded like a random remark, but it was, in fact, a subtle confirmation of the marriage.

With that, the Marchioness, her mind at ease, took her precious daughter and left the theater.

Xiao Jichen watched the Marchioness’s retreating back, his narrow eyes squinting slightly. He turned to the two matrons and said, “Your task is done. Get lost.”

Before the matrons could show their indignation, Xiao Jichen strode away, muttering discontentedly, “Following me like gatekeepers—no young lady would dare come near!”

He had indeed stayed in his residence for the past two days, but today, people had appeared one after another—in various ways—to inform him that a stunning new maid had arrived at the theater, or that a new beauty had appeared at the flower house. He knew full well this was all orchestrated by someone.

As for today’s events, he would have to properly interrogate the daughter of his adversary!

When Xiao Jichen arrived at the spot where Meng Zhenyue had been hiding, there was no one left to be seen.