Chapter Sixty: A Grandmother’s Advice

Xiao Yi, with his protective nature, sensed that Wang Yunzhi had come for his woman. Otherwise, what familial ties did Wang Yunzhi have with the Xue family? Why else would he flee disaster and end up at the Xue residence?

Xiao Yi turned to Xiao Yidao and said, "Go send a notice to the Xue family. I wish to stay there for a few days!"

Xiao Yi was momentarily speechless. How brazen! As if their house was his, and he could come and go as he pleased.

Xiao Yi hesitated, "Master, it's not that I won't carry out your orders, but we need a proper reason. Why are we going to the Xue family this time?"

Xiao Yi replied, "Isn’t it simple? Just say I'm going to see Xue Jingren. Any reason will do—feasting, entertainment, whatever!"

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "But Xue Dalang isn’t one for feasting or entertainment. He went to fetch his brother and isn’t even home!"

Ah, that makes it difficult to use Xue Jingren as an excuse.

Xiao Yi stroked his chin, thinking aloud, "How can I go to the Xue family then?"

...

Xue Fanzhi arrived at the matriarch's room, where the old lady was chatting idly with Madam Jiang.

Seeing her enter, the old matriarch gently beckoned, "Eighth daughter, come here. Grandmother has something to say to you."

So direct—Xue Fanzhi noticed the old lady’s solemn demeanor and hurried over, kneeling across from her.

Madam Jiang, sensing the conversation was private, quietly withdrew and closed the door behind her.

Once the others had gone, the old matriarch’s face turned stern. "Eighth daughter, I ask you: do you truly wish to break off your engagement to Qin Jianyu?"

Xue Fanzhi was stunned. Where was this coming from? Hadn’t they already agreed to dissolve the engagement? Why ask again?

She feared her grandmother might change her mind. If the third branch or the Qin family had made some promise to the old lady, her life would be ruined.

She recalled that, though her previous life was stifling, her marriage had been at least peaceful. In this life, she had resolved to stand on her own, and would never let that faithless Qin Jianyu ruin her.

With this resolve, Xue Fanzhi pleaded, "Grandmother, you know about Qin Jianyu and Lady Kong—it’s a settled matter. No matter his wealth or looks, I want nothing to do with him. I haven’t yet broken off the engagement simply to prevent the Qin family from bullying us and to fight for my own dignity, waiting for the right moment. But to marry him is out of the question. Grandmother, you dislike Qin Jianyu as well; please help me!"

The old matriarch saw the determination in her eyes and nodded, her tone softening, "If you feel so strongly, I am at ease."

Xue Fanzhi looked at her grandmother, puzzled.

The old matriarch chuckled, "You young girls are at the age when feelings awaken. Sometimes, you ignore your elders’ well-intentioned advice, and believe only the sweet words of faithless young men. I feared you’d be swayed by Qin Jianyu’s youth and looks, and regret it if he begged you later. If that were true, you might as well marry him now and save yourself the trouble."

Xue Fanzhi understood: the old lady detested Qin Jianyu, and was testing her resolve.

Fortunately, she was clear-minded in this life, and her words conveyed her disdain for Qin Jianyu—she would never be with him. In her previous life, she had been too timid, and the old lady must have assumed she was willing, and would never have protected her.

How fortunate!

Xue Fanzhi straightened her back and shook her head, "Granddaughter wants nothing to do with Qin Jianyu. I’m counting on you, Grandmother, to help dissolve this engagement!"

The old matriarch finally smiled, drawing Xue Fanzhi to sit beside her and taking her hand. "You are so sensible; now I am truly at ease."

In fact, the matriarch had her own ideas about Xue Fanzhi’s marriage. She would never force her granddaughter to marry someone, but if a man had a bad character, she would insist she not marry him.

With her status as a daughter of the Shen family, she believed she could secure a good future for her granddaughter.

Looking at Xue Fanzhi again—big bright eyes, delicate cheeks still soft with youth, a budding beauty. Truly, this granddaughter inherited the best features from Xue Yang and Lady Jin, and would only grow more lovely. If she resembled Xue Yang alone, the old lady would not favor her, for Xue Yang looked just like the concubine who had ruined her marriage.

Their married daughter, Yingniang, was the spitting image of Xue Yang and that concubine—she could hardly bear to look at her.

The old matriarch pushed aside unpleasant thoughts and continued, "Besides asking about Qin Jianyu, there is another matter: several young gentlemen have arrived at the house. Don’t be swayed by their decent appearance or good family backgrounds."

"Let me make it clear: that Sun lad—not only is his family in decline, but his temperament is problematic. I’ve heard from those who received him that he grows sullen at the slightest offense. More importantly, I had Madam Qin investigate, and that boy likes to mistreat the maids and animals at home. He’s no good sort. Such a person is not fit to be a husband—you should not even speak to him, nor get close. Think of them as refuse; if you pay them any mind, it only means you are a dung heap yourself. Do you understand?"

Xue Fanzhi was secretly alarmed—the Sun lad’s reputation was already infamous in her grandmother’s eyes. He could kill at the drop of a hat; it was not a matter of being good or bad, but possibly deranged.

She felt a pang of sadness. In her previous life, her grandmother surely knew what kind of person Sun was; he stayed at their house for a long time, yet she had never warned her. Of course, she hadn’t provoked him then, but he had indeed destroyed her happiness.

Then she wondered: if her grandmother knew Sun’s character, did Xue Jiaoyue know? Was Jiaoyue’s approach to Sun deliberate or accidental? Her injury in her past life—perhaps it was not merely an accident.

As Xue Fanzhi nodded obediently, the old matriarch continued, "And as for Wang Xun, let me tell you, he isn’t just any Wang family son; he is the legitimate heir of the Wang family from Black Robe Alley. Don’t be like those fanciful girls who think that just because he comes to our house, we are equals. We are not. The Wang family is far above us; their sons marrying princesses is already beneath them, let alone us. Do not let yourself be tempted by Wang Xun. When you see him, you needn’t avoid him as you do Sun, but it’s close."

She meant Wang Yunzhi!

Xue Fanzhi secretly smiled. How could Grandmother think she would fancy Wang Yunzhi, that reckless rake?

But she couldn’t blame her. Even without knowing his true background, Wang Yunzhi’s handsome looks were enough to attract anyone. The matriarch had surely met him and thus offered this advice.