Chapter Ninety-Seven: An Unpleasant Parting

Even a fool could hear the sarcasm in Xue Fanzhi’s words.

Wang Yunzhi was certainly no fool. He felt as if Xue Fanzhi had taken the dagger he had just dropped and plunged it right back into him. His handsome face flushed with indignation. Glancing down at the box and thinking of the care he had put into its contents, he said coldly, "It is not the custom for a gentleman to take back a gift once given. If you do not want it, then throw it away!"

Xue Fanzhi threw the box out the door without a second thought and called to Hongxiao, "Let's go!"

She strode away without ever looking back.

Hongxiao stood frozen. She had never seen a young lady so decisive; it was terrifying! Yet, compared to that gentleman from the Wang family, her mistress was perfectly justified. Who gave him the right to look down on others? A grown man, mocking a girl for her attire—it was incredibly rude and lacked all breeding. Seen in that light, her mistress was truly impressive. Keeping a calm expression, Hongxiao felt an inner rush of excitement as she took quick, short steps to catch up.

Under the sunlight, the worn, faded clothes Xue Fanzhi wore looked jarringly stark against her upright, slender frame.

*She has an even worse temper than I do,* Wang Yunzhi thought, pressing his lips into a thin line. A sense of annoyance, as if something were slipping out of his control, lingered in his heart. A moment later, he looked down at the brocade box lying on the brick floor, clenched his fists, and picked it up after all.

***

In Old Madam Xue’s room, she had only just dismissed her clansmen. She had to keep a close eye on her young charge; there was so much to do, and her twilight years were proving quite fulfilling. That was when she received news of the unhappy parting between the girl and the Wang family gentleman.

The news was brought by Nanny Jiang, who had personally investigated the matter to ensure there were no errors. Nanny Jiang was puzzled and asked the Old Madam in a low voice, "Old Madam, what could that gentleman from the Wang family possibly mean? It seemed he came to bring a gift, yet he turned around and called our young lady shabby. Is that something a gentleman of a noble house should say? Isn't it a bit..." It was simply too heartless to leave someone in such an awkward position.

Old Madam Xue felt a pang of self-reproach. She blamed herself; she had spoken of treating the Eighth Lady well, yet she had overlooked such a significant matter. The girl had arrived with nothing, not even enough clothes to change into, and now she was being mocked for it. She was still just a child—this was truly her fault, entirely her fault!

Old Madam Xue sat on her bed and said to Nanny Jiang in a calm tone, "Do not blame the Wang gentleman. Do you know what kind of opulence the Wang family lives in?"

"I have heard their kitchen alone has over a hundred servants, and there are some who do nothing but peel scallions all day!"

Nanny Jiang was a servant who had grown up in wealth and considered herself worldly, but she still found it hard to imagine such extravagance. "A person specifically for peeling scallions? Doing nothing else? Isn't that a waste?"

Old Madam Xue smiled, a look of envious melancholy in her tone. "The Wangs were born to be wasteful!"

*Ah?* What kind of family was born to be wasteful? They must be so wealthy and possess so much that not being wasteful would be an insult to their fortune. Nanny Jiang fell silent, truly longing to witness the grandeur of the Wang family. In that case, she mused, the members of the Wang family must have been great philanthropists in their past lives—otherwise, how could they have been reborn into such a station?

Yet, she remained indignant. "No matter how wealthy they are, they cannot speak of our young lady like that!" The Old Madam adored Xue Fanzhi, and by extension, Nanny Jiang had come to cherish the girl as if she were her own granddaughter.

In truth, Old Madam Xue also felt Wang Yunzhi’s behavior was excessive. The young master of the Wang family was not known to be unrefined, nor was he the type to point out someone's appearance. People said he was arrogant, yes, but he was not a bully; his was a cold, distant pride. He rarely bothered with others, so he would be even less likely to criticize someone’s clothing. If he truly looked down on someone, he likely wouldn't even deign to glance at them.

Why then had he chosen to criticize her granddaughter for being shabbily dressed?

A faint notion began to surface in the Old Madam’s mind, but she quickly suppressed it. Regardless of the reason, it could never come to pass. She shook her head inwardly, choosing not to explain her thoughts to Nanny Jiang.

"The Wang family’s Great Matron is a Grand Princess," she said instead. "The Second Madam is the Emperor's youngest sister, the Protecting-the-Nation Grand Princess. Even the gentle First Madam is the eldest daughter of Xie Feng. All the daughters-in-law are of noble or wealthy birth. With all the female elders in the family being such figures, it is no surprise that the young master finds our shabby little girl beneath his notice."

Wang Yunzhi was the second son of the Protecting-the-Nation Grand Princess of the second branch. The eldest son of the Wang family had four daughters but no sons, meaning the sons of the Protecting-the-Nation Grand Princess were the heirs to the family headship. The head of the Wang family was a figure whose status rivaled that of the Emperor; he was in a completely different league from Xue Yang.

Nanny Jiang nodded in understanding, but her tone remained sharp. "Still, he had no right to humiliate our young lady. We didn't invite him here, after all!"

Indeed, it was understandable, but it was not to be condoned, especially when it was their own girl being targeted. Old Madam Xue harbored her own grievances against Wang Yunzhi, though she felt a secret relief: since the young master had offended her granddaughter, and the girl did not care for him either, it saved them from the trouble of a real attachment.

She could hide the rift between Xue Fanzhi and Wang Yunzhi from others, but not from herself. After Wang Yunzhi’s visit, she had spoken with Xue Fanzhi, and the girl had told her everything. Previously, the Old Madam had found it strange that Wang Yunzhi would seek refuge in their home; their kinship was distant, and the Wangs had plenty of other relatives. Why insist on owing her a favor?

After hearing the truth, she began to understand a little. Perhaps Wang Yunzhi had come for the Eighth Lady—perhaps because she knew his secrets, or perhaps because of the girl herself. Today, the latter suspicion grew stronger. The Wang family was far too powerful; she would never send her granddaughter to be a concubine for them. Her greatest fear was that the Eighth Lady might be taken in by Wang Yunzhi’s fine appearance. Seeing how the girl understood everything, she felt at ease.

***

After leaving, Wang Yunzhi felt utterly depressed. Yuanbao followed behind him, his expression cautious. "Young Master, did the Eighth Lady serve you sweet potatoes?"

Wang Yunzhi looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Sweet potatoes cause bloating, which is why you look so puffed up with anger!"

Wang Yunzhi: "..."

Suddenly, the all-capable Wang Yunzhi realized his servant was actually quite humorous and had his merits. An urge to unburden himself took hold, and he recounted everything that had happened in the room.

Yuanbao covered his mouth in shock. "Heavens! Young Master, you actually mocked a young lady’s clothes? You aren't trying to win her heart at all, are you?"

Wang Yunzhi regretted it too, but he flushed and snapped, "Who is trying to win a lady’s heart? Does your master need to chase anyone?" Young ladies lined up to throw themselves at him, after all.

Yuanbao raised an eyebrow in the dark. That was hard to say; some people were just contrary—they didn't want what was offered freely, but insisted on chasing after those who didn't want them.