Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Severing Ties

Shao Yao walked cautiously and steadily, step by step, and when she reached the carriage, she said, “This maid is a little late, as I feared spilling the tea, so I walked a bit slowly. Please forgive me, ladies.”

“This is Junshan Silver Needle that the Marquis instructed this maid to bring,” Shao Yao said, “The Marquis was concerned that the two ladies didn’t bring any tea and could choke on the snacks.”

Fu Mingzhu glanced at Fu Shinian and then said, “Thank you, Marquis. I didn’t expect the Marquis to be so meticulous.”

“The Marquis instructed this maid to attend to both ladies here directly,” Shao Yao said.

“How could we accept this?” Fu Mingzhu said politely.

“It’s no bother at all, as the Marquis doesn’t require much service from this maid anyway.” Shao Yao smiled as she boarded the carriage, leaving Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian with no way to refuse.

Only then did Jing Lai smile and say, “I’ll go report to the Marquis that everything has been delivered.”

“If the ladies need anything else, just inform the doorman, and he will relay the message,” Jing Lai added.

Fu Mingzhu: “…”

Fu Shinian: “…”

Thinking of Xiao Chengyu, Fu Mingzhu felt a bit troubled.

Fu Shinian was utterly devoted to Xiao Chengyu, even willing to risk her life.

Naturally, Xiao Chengyu had some goodwill towards Fu Shinian and treated her differently from others, but compared to what Fu Shinian gave, it was insufficient.

Moreover, since returning from Ganning to the capital, several months had passed.

Besides being more attentive to Fu Shinian than others, Xiao Chengyu has shown no other intentions.

If it was in the past, when Xiao Chengyu was in poor health, Fu Mingzhu could understand his unwillingness to involve Fu Shinian.

But now that Xiao Chengyu is evidently in good health, yet still behaves this way, one part good, but unwilling to commit.

It seemed as though he was keeping Fu Shinian hanging, making Fu Mingzhu a bit displeased.

“It’s really too much trouble for Miss Shao Yao,” Fu Mingzhu said, “The Cheng Family’s shop is nearby; if needed, I can have someone come over at any time.”

“There’s no need to trouble Miss Shao Yao here,” she added.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Shao Yao quickly replied, “You are too polite, Miss, how could there be any trouble for this maid.”

“Moreover, these are the Marquis’s instructions. Even if you don’t need this maid’s service, I have to stand by the carriage,” Shao Yao said pitifully.

Fu Mingzhu: “…”

Ha!

Even those around Xiao Chengyu are so cunning.

Shao Yao hurriedly opened the food box, “The Marquis knows you like osmanthus cake and date soft pastry, so he added extra of these.”

“Please thank the Marquis for me,” Fu Shinian said, “But please also tell Miss Shao Yao to inform the Marquis that he doesn’t need to be so courteous in the future. I never intended to trouble the Marquis. If the Marquis persists, I might not even dare to pass by the Marquis’s gate next time.”

Shao Yao didn’t dare speak.

See, the Marquis has indeed upset the second young lady.

If she were the second young lady, she’d be upset too.

Though the Marquis said he couldn’t accept the second young lady, he still persists in treating her well. What kind of behavior is that?

“I will relay the message,” Shao Yao could only say.

Fu Mingzhu was pleased with Fu Shinian’s reaction. It’s exactly how it should be—don’t let Xiao Chengyu look down on her.

Does he really think the girls of the Fu family can’t do without the Changping Marquis’s mansion?

“In that case, why don’t Miss Shao Yao return and deliver the message now?” Fu Mingzhu said, “We have enough maids here.”

“We thank the Marquis for the cakes,” Fu Mingzhu said with a faint smile.

Shao Yao carefully looked at Fu Mingzhu, realizing that she was annoyed, and had no choice but to say, “Yes, this maid will report back to the mansion.”

Shao Yao got off the carriage and, just as she entered the mansion, the sound of gongs and drums came from outside again.

Fu Mingzhu didn’t want Fu Shinian to dwell on Xiao Chengyu’s matters, so she quickly said, “Lin Qingqing’s sedan chair has arrived.”

Fu Shinian quickly withdrew her gaze from Shao Yao, unbeknownst to her, and saw Lin Qingqing’s sedan chair at the gate of the Marquis’s mansion.

But no one came out to greet her.

Lin Qingqing had no choice but to sit inside and wait.

After a while, Housekeeper Jiang finally ran out and said beside the sedan chair, “I must trouble the second young madam to get off the sedan.”

Lin Qingqing coldly asked, “Where is the second young master?”

“The second young master’s face injury hasn’t healed, and there are many onlookers outside. The second young master doesn’t want to come out,” Housekeeper Jiang explained, “It has to trouble the second young madam to enter the mansion and conduct the marriage ceremony with the second young master.”

“You…” Lin Qingqing grasped her fan tightly.

The Marquis’s mansion shamelessly insulted her.

Even Xiao Fengxing would not come to protect her.

Yet the marriage cannot be annulled.

Housekeeper Jiang, having said that, fell silent.

It seemed that if she didn’t get off the sedan, they would all wait like this.

Lin Qingqing had no choice but to bite her lip and step off the sedan with tears in her eyes.

Other people’s weddings are lively and bustling.

Why is hers so simple, turning her into a joke?

This was completely different from the grand wedding she had envisioned.

After getting off the sedan, when the sound of gongs and drums stopped, the voices of the people reached Lin Qingqing’s ears.

“I’ve never seen such a wedding.”

“It’s really shameful.”

“Might as well have entered through the back door in the sedan.”

“Entering through the back door, wouldn’t that make her a concubine?”

“Even if she is the main wife, if she enters in this way, she won’t be able to assert dominance over the concubines. Knowing that her husband’s family doesn’t value her, who would take her seriously?”

All these words reached Lin Qingqing’s ears. Her grip on the fan handle tightened, and her lips were bitten until they bled.

Shao Yao, upon entering the mansion, didn’t care about Lin Qingqing and ran all the way to Xiao Chengyu’s study to relay Fu Shinian’s words.

“Marquis, the second young lady truly wants to sever ties and keep her distance from you,” Shao Yao said, “In essence, the second young lady’s words were telling you to mind your own business in the future.”

Xiao Chengyu: “…”

“Marquis, even if you are angry, this maid must speak her mind today,” Shao Yao continued without letting Xiao Chengyu interrupt, “The second young lady was willing to risk her life for you, yet you told her you couldn’t return her feelings. Anyone would be sad.”

“But the second young lady is decisive. Since you said so, she will avoid you in the future to prevent you from misunderstanding that she still harbors feelings.”

“The second young lady is proud. She’s made her stance clear, yet you claim not to be able to reciprocate while still treating her well. What kind of behavior is that?” Shao Yao said, “Anyone would respond the same way the second young lady did. Frankly, I think her reaction was quite courteous given the circumstances.”

After finishing, Shao Yao knelt and lowered her head, saying, “This maid knows I’ve overstepped and will go to receive my punishment.”

Having spoken, Shao Yao ran off.

Xiao Chengyu: “…”

Xiao Chengyu turned to ask Jing Lai, “Did I say I was going to punish her?”

“No,” Jing Lai replied, “But Shao Yao is usually a very disciplined person. Had she not truly been unable to hold back, she wouldn’t have spoken this way. Knowing she was disrespectful to you, she…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep