Chapter 91: Will You Be Responsible to Me? (First Update)

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Wu Qinglin had already been unusually emotional today, stirred up by Xiao Yue. Seeing this, his expression immediately darkened.

Wu Tan suddenly lunged forward and leapt onto Xiao Yue. Instinctively, she looked up and, upon seeing his face, her first reaction was that she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide with shock.

Xiao Yue hadn’t expected to be tackled the moment he entered, his brows furrowing slightly.

Their eyes met.

Wu Tan’s expression stiffened, and her face flushed bright red in an instant. The next moment, as if pricked by a needle, she immediately let go and jumped down, retreating several steps in alarm.

Though these two grown-ups playing around like this might be seen as improper if word got out, the matriarch doted on the children and, since it was in her own room, she only watched the commotion with amusement, finding nothing wrong.

What she didn’t expect was that Wu Qinglin would rashly bring a strange man inside.

Wu Tan retreated to the heated kang bed and leaned directly against the matriarch’s side, with no room left to back away.

The matriarch felt a sudden pang of unease and quickly placed her hand on Wu Tan’s shoulder to soothe her, then turned to Wu Qinglin and asked, “Qinglin, what is this about...?”

“Madam Matriarch Wu, I am Prince Xiao Yue. A few days ago, at my grandmother’s house, I had the honor of meeting you,” Xiao Yue spoke smoothly before Wu Qinglin could answer.

The matriarch’s memory wasn’t poor; it was just that his sudden entrance had distracted her attention entirely to her granddaughter’s improper behavior with a stranger, so she hadn’t carefully registered his face.

Now that Xiao Yue spoke, the matriarch finally took proper notice and was instantly surprised. “Your Highness, Prince Sheng?”

The Wu family had no dealings or closeness with the Sheng Prince’s residence. Seeing Xiao Yue appear so suddenly before her naturally caused the matriarch some worry.

“Madam Zhou, quickly!” She snapped out of her thoughts, urgently calling for Madam Zhou to assist her in getting up.

At this moment, Xiao Yue appeared modest and courteous, stepping forward and raising his hand to gently stop the matriarch’s movement. “Madam Matriarch, please don’t be so formal. Please have a seat. I only came by to pay my respects and will leave shortly.”

Having been a First Rank Lady of Honor for many years, the matriarch was composed and did not refuse. Instead, she smiled and said, “Your Highness’s visit to our residence is an honor I was unaware of—it is truly a neglect on my part.”

As she spoke, she shot a scolding glance at Wu Qinglin.

Wu Qinglin had suspected Xiao Yue’s intentions toward Wu Tan all along. Just now, seeing his sister throw herself into Xiao Yue’s arms and give him an advantage made him angry, his face stern. Only upon receiving the matriarch’s glare did he quickly compose himself and apologize, “It was my grandson’s oversight. I thought His Highness was merely coming to borrow two books, so I didn’t want to trouble the matriarch. I didn’t expect the prince to be so courteous as to pay his respects personally.”

Xiao Yue smiled gently. “A guest is always welcome.”

The matriarch couldn’t truly blame Wu Qinglin. Though she was puzzled by this sudden, inexplicable visit from the Sheng Prince to borrow books, she only smiled politely. “It was our family’s rudeness. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”

At this moment, Wu Tan had lowered her head deeply, looking very childish after having done something wrong.

Though the previous incident had been somewhat embarrassing, the matriarch knew her granddaughter’s temperament well. Seeing her in such a subdued state for the first time, she affectionately stroked her hair and continued speaking to Xiao Yue, “The children are playful and have gone a bit too far in their mischief. Please pardon them. As for the young lady’s earlier impertinence, please don’t take it to heart.”

“Not at all!” Xiao Yue glanced at Wu Tan, noticing her listless expression and her wish to disappear from sight. He found it strange—

Today, when he saw her again, he surprisingly didn’t feel irritated.

Wu Qinglin truly didn’t want Xiao Yue to linger in their residence any longer. He took a deep breath and said, “Your Highness, didn’t you say you were in a hurry to return? Allow me to escort you.”

This was a rather rude way of bidding someone farewell.

Though the Sheng Prince’s status made his visit sensitive, and the matriarch noticed her usually prudent eldest grandson acting unusually, she was a decisive woman. Having already entrusted him with managing the outer courtyard, she trusted his judgment and said nothing further.

Xiao Yue could sense Wu Qinglin’s hostility, but it wasn’t because of any grudge against him; he had planned to leave anyway. He nodded slightly to the matriarch, “Then I will take my leave. Today’s visit was an impromptu decision after unexpectedly meeting the heir Wu. I did not prepare a gift for you, Madam Matriarch, which is a great oversight. Please forgive me. Next time I come, I shall make amends.”

These were all polite words, not to be taken too seriously. The matriarch nodded in return, smiling, “Your Highness is too courteous.”

She was about to see him off with a smile when suddenly Xiao Yue’s gaze shifted to Wu Tan beside her. He asked with a teasing smile, “Second Miss, why so silent today? Are you going to pretend you don’t know me again? Or are you pondering how to make amends for what happened earlier?”

His words were undeniably somewhat frivolous.

The matriarch was startled, her expression stiffening. She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it—she really couldn’t engage with this topic.

If Xiao Yue said such things, they could be taken as a joke. But if a family elder intervened, any explanation or refusal would seem overly deliberate.

She turned to Wu Tan, anxious to see how the young lady would respond.

Wu Tan always felt vexed whenever she saw Xiao Yue. Alone with him, it was bearable—she knew his nature well enough to understand he wouldn’t truly harm her. If annoyed, she could bare her teeth and glare to vent.

But in front of others, she could only swallow her pride, afraid of being caught in any misstep or weakness.

Xiao Yue’s words were ambiguous, neither fully serious nor entirely playful.

Wu Tan was determined to ignore him. She clenched her dress’s edge, lowered her head, bit her lip, and remained silent.

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Lin Yanyao sensed something was wrong. She hurried over, slipping past Wu Qinglin to grab Wu Tan’s hand, concern in her voice. “Tan’er, what’s wrong? Were you scared just now?”

Though Wu Tan had bumped into Xiao Yue, in matters of propriety between men and women, girls always bore the brunt.

Whether the Sheng Prince’s words were intentional or not, it would be best to just pretend nothing had happened. Why say such things?

Wu Tan remained silent, head bowed so low it was impossible to discern her exact expression. Lin Yanyao glanced at Xiao Yue and said deliberately, “His Highness was only joking.”

As a younger family member, she could say such things without consequence, smoothing over the awkward moment.

This time, Xiao Yue didn’t pick a fight. He smiled faintly, nodded slightly to the matriarch, and turned to leave.

Upon entering the room, Wu Qinglin’s face remained stern. He glanced at Wu Tan once more, sighed helplessly, and followed Xiao Yue out to escort him.

Once they left, the matriarch breathed a sigh of relief.

Wu Tan lifted her face, eyes shimmering with tears, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The matriarch’s heart softened slightly.

Since she had caused the matter, Lin Yanyao felt guilty and quickly apologized, “Tan’er, don’t cry. It was all my fault for teasing you. Why don’t you hit me a couple of times to let off steam?”

She actually grabbed Wu Tan’s hand, inviting her to strike.

Unexpectedly, Wu Tan held out her hand instead and said, “Where is my hair ribbon? Give it back!”

“Uh...” Lin Yanyao didn’t quite follow her train of thought. They exchanged glances briefly before Wu Tan broke into a smile.

“You...” Lin Yanyao, seeing her radiant smile and carefree demeanor as usual, suddenly understood—

The girl had been pretending to scare people!

Though a little ridiculous, reflecting on it, the Sheng Prince’s imposing manner earlier was indeed intimidating, so she let it go. But when she looked down, she realized her hair ribbon was missing.

“I was so nervous just now. Could it have fallen somewhere?” Lin Yanyao searched suspiciously but to no avail.

The matriarch said, “It’s not a precious item. There were many people in the room earlier; it might have been kicked under a cabinet. When the girls clean later, it should turn up. Now, let’s tidy up for dinner.”

Madam Zhou helped the matriarch put on her shoes. Though she said nothing more, the incident with Xiao Yue left her feeling unsettled.

Wu Qinglin escorted Xiao Yue away and soon returned.

No one mentioned the earlier incident again; they sat down to eat with laughter and conversation.

After the meal, the matriarch told Wu Tan, “I’m going to rest this afternoon. Take Yao’er to the Mirror Spring Study to play.”

“All right, Grandmother!” Wu Tan replied cheerfully, seeming carefree, as if she hadn’t thought much about Xiao Yue’s arrival.

Lin Yanyao bowed respectfully to the matriarch and held Wu Tan’s hand as they left.

Once the two had gone, the matriarch and Wu Qinglin entered the adjacent heated chamber. Sitting down, she asked seriously, “What’s the meaning of this Sheng Prince? Why would he suddenly come to our residence? Both our families command troops. You brought him here...”

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing her tone was too harsh.

Wu Qinglin sat across the table, expression grave and troubled. “I know this is improper, but his status is what it is. If he wants to come, I cannot just turn him away.”

The matriarch opened her mouth but had no words. Then she recalled his last frivolous remark, growing even more displeased, her face darkening. “I think he’s inappropriate. A prince of such stature speaks so flippantly? Luckily, Tan’er is still young and managed to brush him off with a few words. Otherwise, his previous remarks would have tarnished her reputation.”

Hearing this, Wu Qinglin could only smile bitterly. “Grandmother, perhaps you should consider arranging a marriage for Tan’er soon?”

The matriarch frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“To be honest, I suspect the prince’s purpose in returning to the capital isn’t simple,” Wu Qinglin said, unusually serious, unsettling the matriarch. “When he was in my study, I tried to probe, but he kept hinting at Tan’er between the lines. That worries me greatly.”

Wu Qinglin’s fingers unconsciously curled into a fist, pressing hard against the table’s edge.

The matriarch nearly jumped up, her voice rising sharply. “What?”

The maids cleaning outside turned to look.

Madam Zhou quickly waved them away.

The matriarch stared anxiously at Wu Qinglin’s face, asking again, “What do you mean by that? What hinting at Tan’er?”

Wu Qinglin, unusually agitated, had no choice but to reveal the truth. “Tan’er has been hiding things from me. Today, I learned she had private contact with the Sheng Prince.”

The matriarch could no longer sit still. She stood abruptly, panic overtaking her, her eyes darting about. “What does this mean? I thought she simply bumped into someone today. Why is she acting so coy? That’s not like her... But... but... this isn’t right!”

Suddenly remembering something, she turned incoherently and gripped Madam Zhou’s hand. “Have you confirmed this with the maid beside Tan’er?”

“Uh...” Madam Zhou, caught up in the matriarch’s anxiety, became flustered herself. “I meant to ask Apricot yesterday, but she went out with Second Miss. Later, other matters came up, so I didn’t get the chance.”

The matriarch’s face was full of urgency.

At first, she had doubted Madam Zhou’s words about Wu Tan favoring some boy. Now, the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became—

Her granddaughter was clever but still young. The Sheng Prince’s status, appearance, and manner were impeccable. If he truly intended to seduce her, had her granddaughter already fallen for him and been harmed?

Wu Qinglin saw her worry and, somewhat exasperated, pulled her back to sit on the kang bed, frowning. “Grandmother, what are you thinking! Tan’er knows better than to be reckless. The court’s affairs are complicated; she likely understands them as well as we do. She’s not foolish enough to be easily fooled. I’m only saying that the prince’s repeated private approaches to her show he has designs.”

The matriarch looked at him doubtfully.

Wu Qinglin trusted Tan’er to control herself but wasn’t so sure the same could be said for—

A girl of twelve or thirteen, just awakening to love, suddenly pursued by a nobleman handsome and refined in every way...

Wu Qinglin could tell no few words would convince her. So he didn’t dwell on whether Wu Tan had feelings for Xiao Yue and instead addressed the core issue. “Grandmother! Father commands great forces, and no one has yet replaced him guarding the southern border. Our Dingyuan Marquisate is well respected and feared by the emperor. Regardless of the prince’s intentions, we cannot associate with him. We all understand this—grandmother, you, and Tan’er alike. The problem is the prince’s special status. If he truly wants to use Tan’er to bind us to him... if he says he wants Tan’er, none of us can refuse. That is the most troublesome issue now.”

The matriarch suddenly felt a chill, gasping sharply, then helplessly muttered, “But what am I to do about this sudden, inexplicable matter? We can’t just marry Tan’er off to anyone on the street to avoid him, can we?”

Indeed! Xiao Yue could never be a suitable match for Wu Tan. But if, just to avoid him, they hastily married her off to someone else...

Putting aside the trouble such a decision would bring the Dingyuan Marquisate, it might as well be marrying Wu Tan to Xiao Yue!

Wu Qinglin knew his words were futile. After a moment’s thought, he sighed and conceded, “Fine! Fate is fate, we cannot escape misfortune. But we should at least consider Tan’er’s marriage sooner rather than later.”

The matriarch, restless, nodded absentmindedly.

Wu Qinglin left the main courtyard intending to speak with Wu Tan but remembered Lin Yanyao was with her, so he turned back to the front courtyard.

Meanwhile, Wu Tan dragged Lin Yanyao, rushing back to the Mirror Spring Study.

Since Lin Yanyao had come to see her, Wu Tan’s first thought was that the inquiry they had asked her to make yesterday had yielded results. Her heart was both anxious and excited.

But Lin Yanyao had arrived while she was with the matriarch, who was hospitable. To avoid arousing suspicion, she had restrained herself and, with Xiao Yue’s interruption causing delay, she was growing impatient on the way back.

“Cousin, did you find anything about the matter I asked you to inquire about yesterday...?” Upon entering, she quickly dismissed the maids and closed the door, pulling Lin Yanyao to sit on the inner room’s bed.

Lin Yanyao forced a smile. “Yes! I asked for you...”

As she spoke, she carefully chose her words, wanting to minimize the shock and hurt. But before she could finish, Cheng Cheng knocked on the door. “Miss, cousin, someone from the Lin family is here. They say it’s urgent.”

Lin Yanyao often visited Dingyuan Marquisate to see Wu Tan. If it weren’t something urgent, the Lin family wouldn’t have sent someone specifically to find her. Why couldn’t this matter wait until evening?

Wu Tan and Lin Yanyao exchanged a glance. Lin Yanyao even suspected that Lady Li might have thought she would tell Wu Tan today and hurried to send someone to fetch her back.

Wu Tan was on alert and got up to open the door. “What is it?”

Cheng Cheng said nothing but motioned for a woman behind her to come forward—Yang Mama from Lady Li’s attendants.

“Yang Mama?” Lin Yanyao was surprised upon seeing her. “Why are you here? Did Mother send you for me?”

“Miss!” Yang Mama politely smiled, first bowing to Wu Tan, then lowering her voice to Lin Yanyao, “The Jiang family has come to formally propose!”

—— Side note ——

System: Congratulations, player Xiao Yue, you have obtained a trial use of the “Neck Pendant” for three seconds. Please experience it promptly!

Imperial Uncle: The trial feels very good. Suddenly want to take it home myself (〃——▽——〃)

System: Congratulations, player Xiao Yue, you have unlocked hidden boss “Rampaging Brother-in-Law,” opening the hidden quest “Brother-in-Law’s 49-meter Great Sword”!

Imperial Uncle: →_→

P.S.: This is a male protagonist collectively opposed by the heroine’s entire family~

This novel is an original release. Please do not repost!

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