Unable to decline, Shen Yuning followed Xue Yuxin all the way to the back of the horse ranch. There, in a pavilion, sat two gentle - looking men. She had seen one of them before. It was Zhu Bin, the young master of the Zhu family, who had ridden on a tall horse behind General Zhu on the day the Zhu family's troops returned triumphantly to the capital.
The other man was blocked by Zhu Bin, so Shen Yuning couldn't see clearly. However, there was a faint glint on his face, giving her a sense of familiarity.
As they got closer, Zhu Bin stood up and saluted them, saying, "Miss Xue, Second Miss Xue."
What shocked Shen Yuning was not that Zhu Bin had misaddressed them, but the tall man beside him wearing a silver mask. The mask covered his entire face. He was dressed in a black robe, and nothing could be seen clearly. Yet, for no reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity, as if he were someone who had been by her side every day.
She exclaimed, "Xuanzhi?"
As she took a step forward, the masked man seemed startled and took a step back, hiding behind Zhu Bin.
Seeing this, Zhu Bin quickly smiled and said, "Second Miss, have you mistaken someone? This is my cousin, Zidu. He's not the Xuanzhi you mentioned. He was injured in the battle, and his face was terribly scarred. That's why he has to wear a mask."
Xue Yuxin also tugged at Shen Yuning and asked, "Yuning, what's wrong with you?"
Shen Yuning stared blankly at Zidu for a long time. Yes, her Xuanzhi was about the same height as her, while this young master Zidu was a head taller. Xuanzhi was thin and weak, but the young master in front of her was clearly a strong and robust man.
Why did she think this person was her Xuanzhi?
She lowered her head and curtsied to apologize, saying, "Sorry. Maybe I miss my younger brother so much that I misrecognized him for a moment."
Zidu, standing some distance away, pretended to support her from afar and said, "It's okay."
The last shred of hope in Shen Yuning vanished. This man's voice was gentle and pleasant, which was completely different from Xuanzhi's hoarse voice. He was really not Xuanzhi.
At this moment, she remembered that when the Zhu family returned to the capital, she had seen a blurry, glinting object beside Zhu Bin on the horse. It was the silver mask on this young master Zidu's face.
Xue Yuxin sat down and explained to Zhu Bin, "Sir, you may not know much about the affairs of the Xue family. Sister Yuning is no longer a miss of the Xue family. She is the Lady Rongchang personally enfeoffed by the emperor."
Zhu Bin showed a surprised expression and sized up Shen Yuning from head to toe. "You are Lady Shen?"
Shen Yuning raised her head and asked, "Do you know me?"
They had met when they were young. When Zhu Bin was in the capital, he often saw the two sisters of the Xue family. But at this moment, what Shen Yuning asked was not whether he knew the second miss of the Xue family, but Shen Yuning herself.
Zhu Bin scratched his nose and came to his senses, saying, "I'm afraid there are few people in the Great Zhou who don't know about the deeds of Lady Rongchang."
Shen Yuning blushed and said, "They are just some trivial matters. Not worth mentioning."
This Zhu Bin was an honest - natured person. He shook his head seriously and said, "In my opinion, the fact that the lady can speak up for the common people of the Great Zhou is by no means a trivial matter. If everyone put the common people of the Great Zhou first, why would the Great Zhou not prosper?"
All Shen Yuning could think about was that Zhu Bin was a young general of the Zhu family. Although he might not have met a small soldier like Xuanzhi, it might be more appropriate to entrust Zhu Bin to inquire about Xuanzhi.
However, when Zhu Bin heard Shen Yuning's words, he looked embarrassed. He subconsciously glanced at Zidu beside him, then scratched his nose and forced a smile. "This..."
Zidu's gentle voice interrupted Zhu Bin. "What the lady asks for is just a small matter. We'll look into it later. But according to what the lady said, you've already sent someone to check, but there's no news about this person. Could it be that this person didn't join the army?"
"Impossible." Shen Yuning shook her head seriously. "Xuanzhi has a passionate love for the country. He would never escape halfway. He's not such a person."
Zidu lowered his head slightly and picked up the teacup to drink tea.
From this angle, seeing the corner of his jaw and lips that were not covered by the mask, Shen Yuning's heart pounded. This look was actually somewhat like Xuanzhi's mouth.
Maybe her gaze was too intense, because even Xue Yuxin couldn't help but tug at her. "Yuning, I know you miss your younger brother, but you can't just mistake anyone for him."
Zidu smiled slightly, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked softly, "Could it be that I look a bit like your younger brother? How old is your younger brother?"
Shen Yuning withdrew her gaze. Except for the way he pursed his lips, where did he look like Xuanzhi? Xuanzhi was a stubborn child, not at all gentle.
"He's also going to be eighteen this year. Before he left, he was about the same height as me. It's been two and a half years. Maybe he's grown a bit taller. He was thin and weak. I don't know if he's been eating well and how he's grown in the army these years... I haven't received a letter from him for nearly a year. I don't know what's happened to him. There's not a single bit of news."
Saying this, Shen Yuning pouted. "If I see him again, I'll surely grab his ears and give him a good scolding."
Zhu Bin stared blankly at her and forced a laugh. "The lady has a really good relationship with your younger brother."
After that, it was just Zhu Bin and Xue Yuxin talking to each other. These two young people didn't seem to be as eloquent as usual. Their words didn't make much sense, but neither of them seemed to notice.
As the on - lookers, Shen Yuning and Zidu just silently held their teacups, saying nothing, each lost in their own thoughts.
The servants and maids beside them looked at each other, feeling that their masters were very strange today. But if asked to say exactly what was strange, they themselves didn't know.
Xue Yuxin saw Shen Yuning onto the carriage. She was a bit reluctant to part. She really wanted to spend more time with Yuning, but she was afraid of being seen and afraid that the second branch of the family would make a fuss if they found out. So she had to hold back. Only after Shen Yuning's carriage had gone far away did she turn back and get into her own carriage.
After the carriage had traveled for a while, Cuizhu whispered, "The lady is really nice."
Xue Yuxin's eyes turned red again. When Yuning was around, the family was so harmonious and happy. Now it was so desolate. The first and second branches of the family hadn't officially separated but still lived in the same compound, except that a wall had been built in the middle. However, the second branch still caused trouble every now and then. After all, the grandmother was still alive. They had to endure it and also take care of the grandmother's health, so they were quite lenient towards the second branch.
As soon as she returned to the Marquis Mansion, she saw the aunt beside her mother waiting at the door. As soon as she saw Xue Yuxin coming back, the aunt immediately stepped forward and said, "Miss, you're finally back. Madam, she..."
Xue Yuxin quickly asked, "What's wrong with my mother?"
The aunt led Xue Yuxin inside and whispered as she walked, "Someone from that side came and caused a big scene, saying... saying that you're trying to snatch their marriage. They wouldn't let it go, and it made Madam so angry that she fell ill..."
Anger welled up in Xue Yuxin's heart. She rushed inside quickly. "I'm snatching her marriage? How shameless!"
The aunt trotted to keep up. "I don't know what's wrong with the Xiao family. They sent a visiting card saying they wanted to meet the old madam and Madam. It seemed that they wanted to propose a marriage for their second young master to you..."
It was normal for the Xiao family to look down on Shen Yuning, but why did they use her as a bargaining chip? Xue Yuxin stopped in her tracks and spat on the ground fiercely. "The Xiao family has a lot of nerve. Just because the Xiao family has a niece like Xue Yujiao, even if I can't get married and have to become a nun, I'll never marry into the Xiao family!"
The aunt quickly spat three times and murmured, "Forgive me, Bodhisattva." Then she said, "Don't worry. No matter what, your father and mother will protect you. They won't let you marry into such a family. They don't even think about it. You're the legitimate miss of the Marquis Mansion. What is the Xiao family? How dare they even have such thoughts about you?"
Xue Yuxin knew very well in her heart that the Xiao family had more than one plan. More importantly, the Xiao family didn't want to marry Xue Yujiao. But that was the business between the Xiao family and Xue Yujiao. What did it have to do with her? Did they think that since she was now ignored, they could also come and have thoughts about her?
After seeing her mother, she rushed to the Muhui Hall in a hurry. Inside the Muhui Hall, it was in a complete mess.
Xue Yuxin anxiously entered the inner room. It was very hot, but the room was tightly closed. Two old maids were kneeling on the ground, crying. The maids were standing around the bed, trying to persuade them.
On the bed, the old lady was gasping weakly. She tightly closed her mouth and refused to take the medicine.
Xue Yuxin immediately knelt on the ground and covered her mouth, crying.
Only then did the old lady show some reaction. She reached out her hand and gently beckoned. "Ning girl..."
Xue Yuxin stepped forward and held the old lady's hand. She tried to look angry and said, "Grandma is partial. You only remember Yuning and forget about me."
The old lady opened her eyes and looked for a while. A smile appeared on her face. "So it's Xin girl."
Tears welled up in Xue Yuxin's eyes. She rubbed her face against her grandmother's hand.
The old lady said again, "Xin girl, from now on, listen to your parents and elder brother. Don't be so willful anymore... When your mother finds a good family for you in the future, don't refuse again. Do you understand?"
Xue Yuxin raised her head and said, "Grandma, I want to accompany you."
The old lady became more sober. She reluctantly took the medicine and propped herself up. "I can't manage anymore, Xin girl. I'm old, and I don't want to manage anymore. If I'm not here, you should separate the family properly and live a good life..."
Marquis Xue came in from outside. Just as he heard this, he quickly stepped forward and knelt down. "Mother, what are you saying? Are you going to leave your son?"
The old lady's cloudy eyes looked at her eldest son kneeling on the ground. "Is Ning girl okay?"
Marquis Xue quickly nodded. "She's fine. The case from a while ago has been solved, and the emperor has rewarded her."
The old lady shook her head. "I always thought that once all of you got married, I could rest assured. But now, with the family in such a state, I'm afraid I won't be able to wait..."
Xue Yuxin quickly held her grandmother's hand tightly. "No, no. Grandma will be able to wait. Grandma will not only see me get married but also help me raise my children..."
The old lady laughed. "You're such an immodest child... Has Ning girl found a husband's family?"
"She has..."
Just as Marquis Xue was about to answer, he heard his daughter's voice. He was a bit surprised and looked at his daughter. Yuning was clearly still single and had no intention of getting married. Then he understood that his daughter was just trying to comfort her mother.
Xue Yuxin continued, "She has, Grandma. I saw Yuning today. She told me that she's found her ideal husband. It's just that some things have delayed the wedding for the time being."
The old lady turned her head and quickly asked, "She's found someone? Which family's young master is he? What's his name? Is it a good family?"
Xue Yuxin was silent for a moment. Her mind was working fast, and she just made up a story casually. "He's a cousin of the Zhu family. He's a very nice person. His name... is Xuanzhi. I've seen him. He's very good - looking and a very capable young general!"