Produce Your Proof
Zhao Yuanliang did not want people laughing at the marquis's manor either, so he immediately urged Lady Wei, "Enough. Let's talk inside. If they refuse to acknowledge it, it won't be too late to report them to the authorities then."
Lady Wei naturally had no wish to involve the authorities. What she had just said was purely meant to frighten Xu Yongyi.
Only then did she release Xu Xue, though her eyes remained fixed on Xu Xue and Xu Xi, as if the two would cause trouble the moment she looked away.
Xu Xi rolled her eyes inwardly and took Xu Xue's hand. "Come on, let's talk inside." She led the way toward the courtyard gate.
Before long, the two entered the Xu family's main hall. Lady Wei and Zhao Yuanliang followed close behind, with Xu Yongyi right after them. Zhao Ruyu stood by the door without going in, and Matron Li and Fushu also stood at the entrance.
Xu Chengguan and Zhang Chenglin had been right behind Xu Yongyi, but once they entered the courtyard gate, their steps slowed. They hesitated for a long time without climbing the two steps.
The waters between the Xu family and the marquis's manor seemed rather muddy. Was it still possible to choose not to wade in?
When Zhao Yuanliang saw them, he hurriedly called out, "Village Head Zhang, Clan Leader Xu, please come in and serve as witnesses."
Xu Chengguan and Zhang Chenglin had no choice but to brace themselves and enter the hall. At Zhao Yuanliang's indication, they sat down.
Two young maids and a manservant had already been stationed at the courtyard gate on Matron Li's orders. Xu Chengguan's son, Xu Mingsheng, stood guard with them. The villagers who gradually gathered to watch the excitement did not dare follow them into the courtyard.
Zhao Yuanliang was the first to speak. He asked Xu Yongyi, "Are you Xu Yongyi?"
"Yes." Xu Yongyi nodded, full of unease.
"Tell me honestly, which one is my daughter?" Zhao Yuanliang's gaze was piercing as he looked at Xu Yongyi.
Xu Yongyi pointed at Xu Xue. "This is my daughter. Her name is Xu Xue, and she's thirteen this year, half a year younger than Xu Xi. Back then, I watched the midwife carry her out of the birthing room. Xu Xi was still in the city with my elder brother and his wife at the time. How could there have been a mistake?"
He turned to Xu Chengguan. "Third Uncle, Granny Wang from the neighboring village delivered her back then. You even came to the third-day washing ceremony, didn't you?"
He looked at Zhao Yuanliang again. "Second Master, if you don't believe me, I can send someone to fetch Granny Wang from the neighboring village and the aunties from the neighborhood who helped out at the time to testify. Everyone in the village knew when Xiaoxue was born, and they watched her grow up. How could there be a mistake?"
Since Xu Xue was unwilling to go to the marquis's manor, Xu Xi naturally would not let Lady Wei make unreasonable trouble.
She spoke up as well. "When the matron from your manor came yesterday, I told her to bring proof. It's the same with this performance today: produce your proof! You can't just flap your lips and declare so-and-so your daughter, can you? Wasn't it enough to come and claim me yesterday? Today you've come back and picked someone else. Aren't you being a little too casual about claiming a daughter? Do you really think the people of Little Banyan Village are so easy to bully that we'll let you declare whoever you like your daughter?"
She glanced at Village Head Zhang Chenglin, then said coldly, "If you keep making accusations at random here, I'll go to the county yamen tomorrow and beat the drum to seek justice. A girl the Xu family raised well can't just be forced to go with you on a whim. Who knows what you mean to do with her once you take her back? Abducting and trafficking respectable women is a serious crime. Don't think you can disregard the laws of the land just because you're from the marquis's manor!"
Those words not only made Zhao Yuanliang turn pale and left Zhang Chenglin and Xu Chengguan looking grim, they also gave Xu Yongyi quite a fright.
When the people from the marquis's manor came to acknowledge a relative, he had been reluctant to part with Xu Xi, but had still thought it a good thing. If Xu Xi truly was a young lady of the marquis's manor, she certainly should not continue to suffer hardship with them.
He truly had not expected such a possibility.
Now he really did not dare let Xu Xi return with Zhao Yuanliang and Lady Wei.
He said, "That's right. If you're here to claim someone, produce your proof, preferably a document from the authorities. Otherwise, neither of the girls in my family can go with you."