Who would go to such lengths to spread a message about him accommodating a woman in the courtyard?
It's merely an affair, not enough to use as a reason to bring him down; even if his political enemies found out, there would be no need for a big announcement.
Upon closer inspection, the only beneficiary would be Liu Manrou.
Lu Ziyuan glanced at the plaque of the Marquis Xuanping Mansion, his handsome face slightly showing some agitation.
The girl, usually so sensible and well-behaved, why is she so temperamental this time?
The unpleasant parting a few days ago, in fact, Lu Ziyuan didn't take it to heart.
On the contrary, these days he has been waiting for that girl to reflect on her mistakes and take the initiative to apologize to him.
After all, it's always been like this over the years, whenever they had a misunderstanding, she would surely come sincerely apologize in a few days.
And he never made things difficult for her, forgiving her easily each time.
He was too busy, busy establishing himself in court, busy achieving feats, busy seizing power and influence, where had he the time to mind her trivial lovesick thoughts.
Many times, when they had a disagreement, it was only when Xie Wanqing came to apologize that Lu Ziyuan realized, during her disappearance for a few days, she was actually angry with him.
This time, he thought it would be the same, but unexpectedly, what he received was Xie Shu coming to ask for their engagement certificate.
... Annul the engagement?
Lu Ziyuan let out a cold laugh, glanced once more at the firmly closed door in front of him, and turned to leave.
Apart from her, he had never intended to marry anyone else.
......
The next day, the Lu Family sent a letter, addressed to Xie Wanqing.
It was personally written by Lu Ziyuan's sister, Lu Xiyao, inviting her to a flower-viewing banquet, without mentioning the engagement annulment proposed by the Xie family yesterday, only writing about how well the pink roses bloomed in her courtyard this year.
Xie Wanqing's gaze landed on the few graceful characters gilded in gold on the invitation, without reaching to take it, she asked softly, "Who delivered this? Are they still here?"
The maid holding the invitation said, "The steward from the Lu Family came, the gatekeeper feared you might have instructions, so he didn't dare let them leave, they're still waiting at the door for a reply."
"Just as well, have him take it back," Xie Wanqing's tone was calm, her emotions unreadable: "Please tell Sister Xiyao that my ties with the Lu Family are severed, from now on, any invitations from them are unnecessary, I will not attend."
"Yes." The maid curtsied and withdrew.
Watching the maid's retreating figure, Xie Ruyu, sitting nearby, barely raised her eyebrows and said sourly, "It's a pity that Sister Wanwan has broken off contact with the Lu family lady."
Best friends who grew up together, not sisters by blood but closer than sisters, sharing a deep bond, now cut off because of a failed betrothal between families, anyone would find it regrettable.
Xie Wanqing didn't perceive the underlying tone in her words, just smiled faintly: "There was no true affection to begin with, so why speak of regret."
Thinking of that girl who once affectionately called her Sister Wanwan, Xie Wanqing's heart felt somewhat bitter.
Lu Xiyao was of the same age as her, their birthdays less than half a year apart, sweet-talking and loved clinging to her, closer than Xie Ruyu in Xie Wanqing's heart before, Lu Xiyao felt more like her own sister.
But it was this very sister, after she married into the Lu Family, for unknown reasons, suddenly became cold to her.
Even when Er Xia was accepted as a concubine by Lu Ziyuan, every time they met the three of them, her attitude towards Er Xia was warmer than towards her legitimate sister-in-law.
Xie Wanqing knew Lu Xiyao probably didn't think much of Er Xia's behavior, nor did she really want to be friends with Er Xia.
It was simply because she understood her, knew that Er Xia's betrayal would certainly deeply affect her.
To make her unhappy, she deliberately befriended Er Xia.
Lu Xiyao succeeded, she indeed felt unhappy, deeply frustrated, and hurt.
One whom she had treated sincerely as a sister, and a maid who had served her since childhood, both betrayed her at the same time; Xie Wanqing is only human, and couldn't stay unaffected.
Even now, Xie Wanqing didn't know why, in her dream, Lu Xiyao suddenly began to dislike her so much.
To the point of extreme hatred, wishing her dead.
Now forewarned by the dream, she would not repeat the same mistake, nor could she seek clarity from her.
Unless she could continue dreaming, otherwise, Lu Xiyao's change of attitude might be destined to remain an unsolved mystery.
Lost in her own thoughts, Xie Ruyu nearby furrowed her brows slightly, thinking it might be because of Lu Ziyuan, with Lu Xiyao siding with her own brother and saying something to her cousin, immediately brushed aside her sour feelings, saying disdainfully, "The Lu Family certainly has no good people."
Even the one she envied most, Lu Xiyao, turned out to be insincere.
"Don't speak nonsense," Xie Wanqing looked completely disapproving, said sternly, "Old Marquis Lu spent his life guarding the Northern Border, achieving countless military feats, with countless Lu men dying on the battlefield, such a loyal and righteous family must not be insulted lightly."
Even Lu Ziyuan himself, though he had not yet been on a real battlefield, but these two years leading troops to eliminate bandits and suppress chaos, his spear stained with the blood of many traitors.
In matters of love and affection, he might not do well, but in serving the country, he is certainly worthy of being called a young hero.
Xie Ruyu also knew her words were excessive, upon hearing this, said sheepishly, "I just don't like Lu Xiyao, you were so good to her, she..."
"I know you're standing up for me, but she hasn't actually offended me," Xie Wanqing poured a cup of tea for her cousin, saying, "Ignore her from now on, our families broke off the engagement, it's best to not interact again."
Xie Ruyu suddenly beamed, "That would be best."
Her biggest dislike for Lu Xiyao was that she always clung to her cousin.
She only had this one sister; even if they quarrelled from time to time growing up, it was still a family matter, and without Lu Xiyao, Xie Ruyu firmly believed that their sisterly bond would not have only improved now.
......
The Lu Family sent invitations three days in a row, starting with the younger Lu Xiyao, then the second lady of the Lu Family, until finally Lu Ziyuan's birth mother, Madam Lu, each inviting Xie Wanqing to visit.
Mrs. Zheng went from calmly observing initially to now feeling annoyed and angry, truly furious.
What kind of family seeks reconciliation, truly wanting to save a betrothal, with such high-handed tactics?
Their Xie family had already personally visited to annul the engagement, yet apart from Lu Ziyuan coming that day, the Lu Family acted as if nothing happened, still thinking that an invitation card could make their daughter come back of her own account.
Did they think the annulment was a joke?
Xie Wanqing gently patted her mother's back to soothe her, speaking calmly, "The way I treated Lu Ziyuan before, the ladies of the Lu family probably assumed I wouldn't let go of him, perhaps even thinking I've regretted it by now, it's just that having spoken about the annulment, I find it hard to retreat gracefully, so sending invitations is probably their way to give me an out."