Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Making Amends for Him

Liang Rao shook with anger at Shang Xing Yu’s words.

First Madam Liu’s face also flushed red. Veins bulged on her forehead as she pointed at Shang Xing Yu’s back and shouted, “Madam Shang, what does Young Master Shang Er mean by this?”

First Madam Liu snapped, “Is he looking down on my second miss and refusing to take responsibility?!”

Or was Shang Xing Yu actually aiming for her Yan’er?

How dare he!

A useless playboy, and he still dared to dream about her daughter. He should have looked in a mirror first.

First Madam Liu stormed out of the Fengguo General’s Residence in rage.

Before leaving, First Madam Liu also threw a few sharp, mocking remarks at Liang Rao.

First Madam Liu cursed on the way back, “What a thing. A rotten playboy. Liu Manor was already generous enough not to argue over his reputation, and now he’s actually acting picky!”

First Madam Liu spat, “Wishful thinking!”

By the time First Madam Liu returned home, she was so angry that she drank two full cups of tea.

When Liu Yan heard Shang Xing Yu’s reaction, Liu Yan actually sneered.

So it really had been an act.

Back then, he had looked so indifferent and dismissive. He had not even bothered to say a word.

Now he was suddenly acting like he cared.

How ridiculous.

Did he not know what kind of person he was?

If he had not saved her, she would not have even looked at trash like him twice.

Liu Yan sat down and soothed her: “All right, Mother. Why bother arguing with someone like that?”

First Madam Liu panted, still fuming: “Fine!”

First Madam Liu said, “A toad trying to eat swan meat. I want to see what kind of woman he’ll manage to find in the future!”

Liu Yan frowned: “So Mother isn’t planning to marry Second Sister to him anymore?”

First Madam Liu sneered, “He’s already acting picky. Why should we chase after him?”

Liu Yan bit her lip: “But the news that he saved a young miss from Liu Manor has already spread. If he refuses to marry Second Sister, and then they drag me into it…”

Liu Yan’s voice shook: “Mother, I would rather die than marry him!”

Seeing her daughter like this, First Madam Liu’s heart softened at once.

After a moment, First Madam Liu clenched her teeth. A vicious look flashed through her eyes: “Don’t worry. Then we’ll make sure he can’t refuse.”

Liu Xu’s courtyard was small and tucked away.

A thin, fragile figure sat blankly by the window.

How could this happen?

The one who fell into the water had not been her. The one who was rescued had not been her either.

So why was it still her who had to be married off?

And…

To a worthless playboy like that.

The more Liu Xu thought about it, the more bitter she felt.

Liu Xu was a concubine-born daughter of Liu Manor.

Her mother had looked delicate and weak, and because of that, Father had loved her deeply.

But seven days after giving birth to Liu Xu, someone found her mother in bed with a lowly coachman.

Her birth mother and that coachman were quietly executed.

Father suspected that Liu Xu had been the result of her mother’s affairs with another man, and Father ignored Liu Xu completely.

All these years, Liu Xu had lived at the estate, relying on Nanny as they depended on each other to survive.

It was not until last year that Liu Xu finally found a chance. When Father went to the estate, Liu Xu let him see how miserable her life was, and she showed him her longing for him, so she was able to return to the manor.

Father had even started to pity her.

Liu Xu did not ask for a husband with power or status. She only wanted someone who would care about her, someone of decent character.

But…

Shang Xing Yu…

He was a useless waste. Even though he was a legitimate son, he had an outstanding elder brother above him.

In the future, once Grand General Shang died and the General’s Residence no longer protected him, Shang Xing Yu would not even be as good as the street thugs…

Liu Xu’s eyes turned red.

Liu Xu carefully took out a crude wooden butterfly carving from her dressing box.

On it were rough lines that read: From now on, we would be phoenix butterflies, flying together over the flowers; I sent this to the one who understood me, and our joined hearts would never betray each other…

The door behind her creaked open.

Liu Xu panicked and stuffed the carving back into the dressing box.

First Madam Liu did not even look at Liu Xu. First Madam Liu ordered the old servant women behind her: “Drag her out. Pour water on her!”

The old servant women answered: “Yes.”

They rushed forward. Before Liu Xu could react, she was dragged into the courtyard.

Then bucket after bucket of icy water was dumped over Liu Xu’s head.

Liu Xu tried to cry out, but her weak body could not fight women who had done hard labor for years.

Her limbs were held down and her mouth was blocked.

When the last bucket was emptied, Liu Xu’s face was deathly pale. Her teeth chattered as she collapsed on the ground.

Only then did First Madam Liu look down at her: “Xu’er, don’t blame Mother.”

First Madam Liu said coldly, “Today you fell into the water and were saved by the Shang Family’s second young master. In front of everyone, your chastity was ruined.”

First Madam Liu continued, “If he agrees to marry you, then fine. But if he refuses…”

First Madam Liu said, “Then you either die, or you go to the family temple and spend your whole life there.”

After that, First Madam Liu looked at Nanny: “Go spread the message. Say that Young Master Shang Er ruined our second miss’s chastity.”

First Madam Liu added, “Say that Second Miss threw herself into a well, and that someone luckily found her and pulled her out.”

Nanny answered: “Yes!”

Nanny hurried out.

That night, the Imperial Palace held a banquet to welcome an envoy.

Outside the Imperial Palace, the winds also stirred.

Compared to a palace feast they could not see or touch, the commoner cared far more about the noble gossip many of them had witnessed with their own eyes yesterday.

Someone said, “Did you hear? Miss Liu the Second, the one who was rescued yesterday after falling into the water, threw herself into a well!”

Someone else gasped, “What? Why? She was finally saved, and then she jumped into a well? Was she trying to die from the start?”

A third person scoffed, “How could that be? I heard her chastity was ruined when she was pulled up, and the one who saved her, Young Master Shang Er, refused to marry her.”

Another person hesitated, “Is it really that serious?”

Someone sighed, “Of course it is. Noble ladies aren’t like us ordinary commoner. They value chastity more than anything.”

That person added, “And she was held by another man. What good husband could she still find?”

Someone clicked their tongue, “Sigh. Poor thing. Then why won’t Young Master Shang Er marry her?”

Another person answered with disdain, “What else? He’s arrogant and thinks she’s not good enough because she’s a concubine-born daughter.”

Someone else grew angry: “So what if she’s a concubine-born daughter? She’s still a person!”

That person went on, “I know that Young Master Shang Er. He’s a famous useless playboy in capital city. Miss Liu the Second didn’t even mind that he was trash. How does he have the face to look down on her?”

With Liu Manor pushing the story along, the matter spread fast, and the rumors became more and more twisted.

Later, some people even claimed that Shang Xing Yu had done disgusting things to Miss Liu the Second while “saving” her. That was why she had no choice but to want to marry him.

But once Shang Xing Yu learned that Miss Liu the Second was only a concubine-born daughter, he refused to take responsibility, and so on.

First Madam Liu was very satisfied.

She did not believe Shang Xing Yu would still dare to refuse when the rumors had already reached this point.

At this moment, the Fengguo General’s Residence was probably about to panic.

In a little while, Shang Xing Yu might even come to Liu Manor to apologize in person.

First Madam Liu had guessed correctly.

Right then, in the Fengguo General’s Residence, Shang Tian Hao’s face was so dark it looked stormy.

Every person he sent out to find Shang Xing Yu returned with nothing.

Someone urged, “Father, we can’t let this go on. If Miss Liu the Second really has an accident, then Xing Yu’s reputation will be completely ruined…”

Shang Tian Hao snapped, “If it’s ruined, then it’s ruined!”

In the end, he was a rebellious son anyway.

Shang Xiu Yuan sighed: “Not only Xing Yu. The residence will be dragged down too.”

Shang Xiu Yuan continued, “Since we can’t find Xing Yu, I’ll go in his place. I’ll go to Liu Manor and apologize for him, and also make our General’s Residence stance clear.”

Shang Tian Hao nodded: “Fine.”

Shang Tian Hao’s voice held both relief and anger.

A merchant’s daughter really was a merchant’s daughter. Even the child she gave birth to had no sense of responsibility at all.

If it had not been for the Qin Family’s military funds back then, why would he have ever agreed to marry Qin Meng Cen?

Forget it.

Shang Tian Hao warned, “Go, but remember to make it clear. You’re going there for Shang Xing Yu.”

Shang Tian Hao added, “Don’t let outsiders misunderstand.”

Shang Xiu Yuan lowered his head: “Father can rest assured.”