A Marriage Proposal

Xiao Ruotong nodded. "It's good that you understand."

She came over not only to comfort Zhao Ruxi, but also to remind Zhao Ruxi of this matter.

After saying that, she stood up and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back now."

"You've come all this way, sit for a while. We haven't chatted in ages," Zhao Ruxi said.

Since the painting class of the Northern Painting School disbanded, she had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet with Xiao Ruotong.

She had too many things to do, and Xiao Ruotong moved back to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence. The classes at the Beining Women's Academy were also concentrated together, so Xiao Ruotong only needed to attend classes for two days in a ten-day period and didn't have to travel anymore. Therefore, the two of them didn't have time to chat together.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruotong turned to her maid and instructed, "Send someone back to the manor to inform them that I have arrived at the Earl of Suiping's Residence and will be returning later."

Seeing the maid leave, Xiao Ruotong sat down again and asked Zhao Ruxi, "I heard that Princess Pingyang invited you to the Capital Women's Academy, but you refused?"

Zhao Ruxi nodded and asked with a smile, "Who told you that?"

Xiao Ruotong has always been oblivious to what's going on around her and has a very simple mind. Others know her personality and never gossip about her.

This was an extremely shameful matter for Xiao Yuyue. She herself would not talk about it, and those who feared her and Consort Jin would not spread it, so very few people should know about it.

If the academy hadn't started its holiday, Xiao Ruotong might have heard about it from Madam Cui and the others. But since the academy was on holiday, and Xiao Ruotong didn't like going out, it would be strange if she had heard about it.

"Princess," Xiao Ruotong said.

Zhao Ruxi suddenly realized. "Oh, right."

Grand Princess Shangde and Princess of Zhennan were very close friends. When Xiao Ruotong's marriage ran into trouble, it was Princess of Zhennan who entrusted her to Grand Princess Shangde so that she could go to the Beining Women's Academy to relax.

Grand Princess Shangde couldn't tell others about this, but she didn't need to hide it from the Princess of Zhennan.

Although Zhao Ruxi suspected that Mei Zhongjun's attack today might have been instigated by Xiao Yuyue, she had no evidence. Besides, the matter ended after Grand Princess Shangde gave her an estate.

She waved her hand. "I'm fine."

Zhao Ruxi noticed that Xiao Ruotong seemed listless, had lost some weight, and didn't look as healthy as before.

She asked, "Are you alright?"

Xiao Ruotong sighed, "It's nothing. It's just that my mother keeps trying to arrange a marriage for me."

She rubbed her temples. "Xiaoxi, tell me, does a woman really have to get married? It's not like my family can't support me. I don't need them to support me either. With my dowry and the money I make from selling calligraphy, I can live comfortably for the rest of my life. I don't know what she's thinking, always wanting me to serve others and live at their mercy."

"Most people believe that a woman's ultimate destiny is marriage." Zhao Ruxi nodded in agreement.

This is true not only in ancient times but also in modern times. The army of people urging others to get married is enormous, and young people dread the mere mention of it.

If she hadn't been forced into that ridiculous arranged marriage in her past life, she would be living a carefree and happy life in modern times.

Xiao Ruotong probably had no one to confide in, so she complained to Zhao Ruxi for quite a while before taking her leave.

Zhao Ruxi saw her off and had just returned to Slender Bamboo Courtyard when Lady Zhu arrived and asked, "Has the County Princess of Qingyang returned?"

"Yes."

Seeing that her expression seemed off, as if she had something to say, Zhao Ruxi asked, "What's wrong?"

"Sigh." Lady Zhu sighed, "Haven't you heard? The heir of the Duke of Ying got married half a month ago, to a daughter of the Duke of Wei. County Princess of Qingyang must be feeling terrible."

Zhao Ruxi thought about Xiao Ruotong's appearance just now, and she was not sure whether Xiao Ruotong was sad because of the Duke of Ying or because of the Princess of Zhennan's urging for marriage.

I suppose it's for the former.

After all, they were husband and wife, and childhood sweethearts; there are still feelings involved. It's not something you can just let go of as you please.

"Which young lady from the Duke of Wei's Residence? Doesn't the Duke of Wei's family care that the heir of the Duke of Ying has an illegitimate eldest son?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

"I don't go out much, and I only heard about it from someone else, so I don't know the specifics. It seems to be a legitimate daughter. As for what to do with the eldest son born out of wedlock, that's their business," said Lady Zhu. "If that Miss Qi can't have a son, that's fine; but if she can, raising the eldest son out of wedlock, crippling him, or even killing him is just a matter of a single thought. Aren't such sordid things common in wealthy and powerful families?"

Zhao Ruxi frowned. "That's why I hate families like that the most."

Lady Zhu waved her hand. "This has nothing to do with social class; the key is the people. Look at the Peng Family your eldest sister married into; their family traditions are very upright."

As soon as she finished speaking, a maid came in to report, "Madam, Miss, the eldest young lady has returned and is paying her respects to the old lady."

Lady Zhu and Zhao Ruxi exchanged a glance. "Could it be that you've come because of your competition?"

Zhao Ruyu's father-in-law is Peng Guoan. Having been delayed for so long, Peng Guoan should be home by now. It's understandable that Zhao Ruyu came to check on Zhao Ruxi out of concern.

Zhao Ruxi wasn't familiar with Zhao Ruyu, so she said to Lady Zhu, "Perhaps there's something else going on. Go and see if my elder sister wants to see me, then send someone to fetch me."

Lady Zhu was also worried that Zhao Ruyu had come back to complain because she had been wronged at her husband's family, so she did not insist on letting her youngest daughter go out.

"Okay, you rest. I'll go take a look." She said, getting up and leaving.

After a short while, a maid came to call Zhao Ruxi: "Madam says that the eldest young lady requests the fifth young lady to come over for a talk."

Zhao Ruxi then went to the inner hall.

Zhao Ruyu had indeed returned on her father-in-law's orders.

As soon as they met, she smiled and said, "My father-in-law was worried and asked me to come back to see you. He was concerned that you had suffered such a great injustice and were feeling bad. I just heard from my mother that you didn't take it to heart, so I'm relieved."

Zhao Ruxi naturally expressed her gratitude.

The two were not familiar with each other. They had met once or twice before, but only when the old lady was ill or at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence. They were always in a hurry and never sat down to have a proper conversation. When they met, they acted like strangers and spoke very politely, which made Lady Zhu sigh.

With the child on her mind and a large family to serve, Zhao Ruyu, seeing that it was getting late, took her leave.

After she left, Lady Zhu smiled at Zhao Ruxi and said, "Your eldest sister just said that Lord Peng is interested in forming a marriage alliance with us, referring to the fourth son of the Peng Family family's eldest branch."

"The Peng Family has a clean and upright family tradition; they only allow a woman to take a concubine if she is childless by the age of forty. Although the whole family lives together, they live in harmony. Otherwise, I would never have married your eldest sister into their family back then."

"As for the Fourth Young Master, I met him once two years ago. He's only two years older than you, quite handsome, and I've heard he's very intelligent and hardworking. He's already passed the provincial examination at a young age. He'll definitely pass the imperial examination the year after next."