Satisfied

An idle remark can strike a chord in the listener. As Xu Xi listened to the two of them, a thought stirred in her mind. Could it be that this body isn't Lady Wei's child, but Lady Zhu and Zhao Yuanxun, the Marquis of Suiping's, child instead? Otherwise, why would Lady Wei care so little about this child? And why had she insisted so desperately on acknowledging Xu Xue as her daughter that day?

But she immediately laughed at herself for being oversuspicious.

She had read the novel all the way to the end. Though she had gulped it down whole and remembered few details, the female supporting character shared her full name. Although she had been angry at the girl for failing to stand up for herself and hadn't much liked her, she had still read her story carefully. Nowhere had it said that the original owner was Lady Zhu's daughter rather than Lady Wei's.

Clearly, she was thinking too much.

Since it was Lady Zhu who had come, Xu Yongyi and Xu Chongwen, being men, did not enter the main hall. Instead, they invited Steward Liu to Xu Chongwen's study to talk. Lady Zhu went into the main hall with Madam Xie and the others.

Once the guests and hosts had taken their seats, Lady Zhu looked at Xu Xi and said, "Matron Ruan has passed on the matters you raised. As the marchioness, I promise you that the marquis's residence will not stop you from studying at the Women's Academy, nor will it stop you from keeping in contact with the Xu Family. You may also come and go freely from the marquis's residence, as long as you have a legitimate reason. As for your household registration..."

She looked at Xu Xi. "Strictly speaking, that won't do. Now that you've been acknowledged and brought back, how could your registration remain under the Xu Family's name?"

As she said this, she watched Xu Xi's expression.

But Xu Xi's expression did not change in the slightest. She merely gazed at her with a pair of bright, clear eyes, seemingly waiting for her to continue.

Lady Zhu was a little surprised. This was the first time she had seen someone so young with such a composed temperament.

She stopped keeping her in suspense and continued, "But you want to study, and the Women's Academy's rules are especially rigid. If you change your household registration, you won't be able to attend. There are so many noble young ladies in the capital that they fight until their heads bleed over those few dozen places each year. Getting in to study is no less difficult than a man taking the imperial examinations. The old madam, the marquis and I discussed it back and forth, and this was the only makeshift solution we could come up with: we won't transfer your registration back for now. We'll talk about it again when you've finished your studies or become engaged."

Xu Xi had known this would be the result.

Seeing that Xu Xi's expression remained the same after hearing this, revealing neither joy nor anger, sorrow nor happiness, Lady Zhu's smile deepened a little. She asked Xu Xi, "Do you have any other concerns?"

Xu Xi shook her head. "No."

Lady Zhu nodded. "All right, then. See if you have anything to pack. If not, we'll set off for the capital shortly."

Ever since stepping down from her carriage, Lady Zhu had been exceptionally brisk and straightforward in everything she said and did, getting straight to the point and making herself perfectly clear. She was entirely unlike Lady Wei, who was like a white lotus. Seeing this, Xu Xi quite liked her personality. With such a mistress in charge, she supposed life at the marquis's residence wouldn't be difficult.

"There's nothing to pack." She shook her head. "I'll come back to see Uncle and Aunt from time to time, so I'll leave my everyday things here."

"All right." Lady Zhu turned to Madam Xie. "Miss Xi has lived with the Xu Family for more than ten years. This is another home to her, and you are her family. If anything comes up in the future, you may also come to the marquis's residence to see her."

She said this because she knew what sort of people the Xu couple were. Otherwise, Lady Zhu could not have agreed to let Xu Xi have much contact with the Xu Family.

"Thank you, thank you," Madam Xie said gratefully. She, too, had a very good impression of Lady Zhu.

"Why don't you come to the marquis's residence with us for a visit? You can see her there yourselves and have a look at where she'll be living, so you can set your minds at ease. You can also learn the way," Lady Zhu said with a smile.

"We won't impose," Madam Xie hastily declined.

She did want to see where Xu Xi would be living, but if she followed them to the marquis's residence now, people would look down on Xu Xi and think the Xu Family had gone to cadge something. If the marquis's residence insisted on giving her a gift of thanks and she couldn't refuse it, that really would confirm their suspicions.

Lady Zhu exchanged a few more polite words with her, but seeing that Madam Xie was firm, she said no more. In her heart, she was even more satisfied with the Xu Family's character.

"Madam, the clan leader is here." Steward Liu's voice sounded outside the room.

When they entered the village, they had sent a servant boy to Xu Chengguan's house. After all, the marquis's residence was taking Xu Xi away; they couldn't simply do so without a word. They had to inform the clan leader as a mark of respect for the Xu clan.

Lady Zhu told Matron Ruan to invite Xu Chengguan in. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she gave Matron Ruan a look.

Matron Ruan rose and said to Xu Xi, "Miss Xi, didn't you say you needed to pack? This old servant will go with you. When I was young, I was the best at packing."

Xu Xi had only just said she didn't need to pack, yet now Matron Ruan was asking her to do just that. Xu Xi realized that she had something to say, but Lady Zhu wanted to speak with Xu Chengguan, and it wasn't convenient for her to hear it.

She excused herself to Lady Zhu and Xu Chengguan, then followed Matron Ruan out of the main hall and toward the room where she lived.

A young maid was already waiting at the entrance to the main hall, carrying a bundle. When she saw them come out, she hurried after them.