"If it weren't for me, the Xie family wouldn't be any worse off than the Qin family today. Originally, your maternal grandmother and the old Madam Xie were very good friends. Because Xie Chen left, the relationship between the two of them..." Madam Da Qin sighed helplessly.
Qi Zhenzhen knew that the old Madam Qin and the old Madam Xie had been willing to arrange a marriage.
Firstly, they knew each other's background, and secondly, in their eyes, the children of their own sisters were indeed good matches.
Xie Chen had always seen Madam Da Qin as the person he would spend his life with.
At that time, it was said that the old Madam Gu had proposed to Madam Da Qin, but if Madam Da Qin had been unwilling, the old Madam Gu could not have succeeded.
Because of this matter, the old Madam Xie was angry with the old Madam Qin and also with Madam Da Qin.
Xie Chen left home in anger, and his displeasure escalated into fury. For years, the Xie family had been at odds with the Qin family. The old Madam Qin, feeling she was in the wrong, yielded everywhere.
"The old Madam Xie was very happy when Xie Chen returned. But Xie Chen refused to marry and have children according to her wishes, which reignited the resentment she had accumulated over the years," Madam Da Qin said with a wry smile. "She won't fight for the bun, but she'll fight for her pride. She will definitely oppose it with all her might. I cannot selfishly put Xie Chen in a difficult position."
Moreover, Madam Da Qin was also insecure.
She was a divorced woman; how could she be worthy of Xie Chen?
In her youth, she admired the heroism of military men. Gu Changwei was also handsome, completely different from those rough, bearded, loud military men. With just one glance, she fell for him.
She clearly remembered the day she told Xie Chen that she wanted to marry Gu Changwei, and the loneliness and disappointment in Xie Chen's eyes.
She understood, but she pretended not to.
At that time, she felt that her life should follow her heart.
"Mother, I think you're overthinking things. In this matter, there's no right or wrong, and no one has wronged anyone," Qi Zhenzhen tried to comfort Madam Da Qin.
Matters of the heart, their emergence and their end, could not be controlled.
Moreover, at that time, it was the elders of both families who intended it. As for Xie Chen, Qi Zhenzhen believed he had been interested in Madam Da Qin from the very beginning. Although Madam Da Qin had not responded to him, Xie Chen believed that marriage was a matter of parental decree, and feelings would develop after marriage.
In short, as an outsider, Qi Zhenzhen felt that Madam Da Qin had done nothing wrong.
It was not as if Madam Da Qin had been stringing Xie Chen along, nor that Madam Da Qin was shameless and using Xie Chen as a fallback.
After Madam Da Qin married Gu Changwei, Xie Chen left.
Even though Xie Chen had returned to the capital during this period, Madam Da Qin had strictly adhered to propriety and never met Xie Chen.
Therefore, Qi Zhenzhen felt that if Madam Da Qin had developed feelings for Xie Chen today, she shouldn't distance herself from him because of gossip or others' opinions.
As for the old Madam Xie, she was well aware of Xie Chen's firm stance over the years.
Qi Zhenzhen believed that compared to having her son accompanied by someone in the future, she should be able to let go of past grievances and hatred.
As a mother, she wanted her child to be happy and free of regrets more than anyone.
Furthermore, as an elder who had watched Madam Da Qin grow up, she understood Madam Da Qin's character intimately.
At the very least, none of this was orchestrated by Madam Da Qin.
Madam Da Qin patted Qi Zhenzhen's hand. "Let's not think about these things. Right now, I just want to peacefully watch you and A Nian live a harmonious life. If you are well, I am well. When you move out of the Duke's mansion, I will come to stay with you for a while and help you with the children. At my age, I don't ask for much."