"But you are already of age. Even if Father climbs as fast as he can, it will take at least ten years to go from the third rank to the first. Do you think the Ninth Prince will wait for you for ten years?"
Liang Pan's words shattered the beautiful dream in Liang Luo's heart. She covered her face with her hands and wept bitterly.
"Then what should I do? It was finally decided that Miss Wei is not marrying him, but I still have no chance?"
Liang Pan stepped forward and patted her sister's shoulder in comfort.
The pain she felt now was real, but if it could make her wake up, it would only be a good cry and a few days of sadness.
But if she insisted on forcing it, her entire future life might not be smooth.
So, she hardened her heart and said to Liang Luo.
"It's just that you two have no fate. Sister, you should rest at home these days. After the New Year, everything will get better. Then, Father and I will definitely find you a suitable husband, and you can live a happy life. Isn't that also a good thing?"
Liang Luo did not answer her, instead continuing to vent her grief.
For the entire afternoon, Liang Luo locked herself in her room, refusing to eat, drink, or see anyone.
As the sun set, the entire city of Dongdu was bathed in a soft, golden-orange hue, transforming the winter chill into warmth.
The maids heated the evening meal again and again, but still could not get her to open her door.
"Forget it, let her be. She'll come out when she comes to her senses," Liang Pan said to Liang Luo's maids, standing in the courtyard.
"Yes."
Just as Jinxiu was about to take the food away, Liang Luo pushed open the door and came out.
The sorrow was gone from her face. Although her eyes were red, she seemed to have shed a heavy burden. She said softly, "Bring it in. I'm hungry."
"Okay." Jinxiu was overjoyed. As long as her young lady was willing to eat, everything else could be discussed. She carried the food inside, with Liang Pan following behind.
She had barely eaten half a bowl of rice when a flustered maid ran in, panting, and said.
"Miss, something bad has happened. They are all spreading rumors outside that you caused trouble at Fahua Temple. Not only did you speak disrespectfully to the Xu family, but you also disregarded the Feng family. They are all saying..."
"Saying what..." The anger that Liang Luo had suppressed suddenly flared up again. "Say it, what are they saying!" she shouted.
The maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, trembling, and said, "They say you are ill-bred, and also... and also that you disliked Miss Xu, which is why you schemed for Young Master to be with Miss Wei."
The words became quieter and quieter, until finally, they were as faint as a mosquito's hum, but Liang Luo heard them all clearly.
With a snap, she broke a pair of chopsticks. Her gaze towards her brother was no longer as trusting as before, but instead held a hint of resentment.
"Nonsense! What does this have to do with you? Have you found out where this news came from?"
"Your servant doesn't know either. It was a woman who went out to buy vegetables from the second gate who told me. She said it's all over Dongdu, and she heard it from the vendors."
Liang Luo irritably overturned the food in front of her, her face filled with hatred.
"Stop asking. Who else could it be? The Xu family has long been our mortal enemy, and they've been trying to bring us down for more than a day. If it's not from their family, then who else could it be!"
She had already decided that it was Xu Mingyue's doing, and her hatred for her reached a point of no return.
Liang Pan, however, felt that there might be a misunderstanding. The Xu family were not people who would spread gossip behind people's backs. Perhaps someone else was secretly causing trouble...
Just as the Liang family was troubled by rumors, Wen Yuwei, who had returned to the Wen and Xu families, was holding a brush and painting.
A painting of green mountains, bright moon, and pine trees came to life on the paper. The brushstrokes were smooth, the imagery was distant, and the ink was used perfectly. Wen Yuwei looked at it and, satisfied, put down her brush. "When the ink dries, find someone to mount it. I'll send it along with the birthday gift to Father for his birthday."
Xia Lu, while not a connoisseur of painting, couldn't help but praise her young lady.
"Father will surely like it. The walls of the study at home are all hung with your paintings, Miss."
Yes, when it came to her own father, Wen Yuwei showed a rare softness.
"What about the message you were asked to deliver?"
"Miss, please rest assured. I found strangers and started spreading the news from the marketplace, using people from the lower strata. It's spreading fast. I just heard the cooks and the old women in the kitchen discussing it."
"Good, then be careful not to let anyone catch you."
"Your servant is cautious and will not."
Wen Yuwei nodded with satisfaction, took the freshly brewed hot tea, and watched the tea leaves float up and down. The calculating smile on her lips was chilling.
Soon, the Feng, Xu, and Bai families also received the news.
It was already dusk when Xu Mingyue and Bai Siruo came to visit Feng Jinyao.
Without further ado, they brought up the matter.
"Ayao, Mingyue did not do this."
"I know."
"But they are speaking ill of the Liang family outside, and everyone will point fingers at Mingyue. It took so much effort to recover from the engagement cancellation, and now she's caught up in it again? I told you, no one in the Liang family is good. They are naturally against Mingyue."
Bai Siruo was very angry but didn't know how to help her dear friend clear her name.
Feng Jinyao had someone serve tea and put down the book she had been reading halfway. She comforted the agitated Bai Siruo and also quietly glanced at Xu Mingyue, asking with a faint smile.
"Sister Xu, do you already have a way to help the Xu family escape this turmoil?"
Xu Mingyue looked at her with admiration. "You are so young, yet you are very perceptive."
The words were not explicitly stated, but the two exchanged a knowing smile, seeing admiration in each other's eyes. Bai Siruo, on the other hand, looked depressed. Do these two have a secret?
"Cousin, don't worry. Sister Xu has her own methods. What you need to do now is to keep your mouth shut. No matter who asks, just say you don't know."
Her brows furrowed even deeper. "Why is that?"
"You'll know in a couple of days," Xu Mingyue said cryptically.
This statement made Bai Siruo even more confused. Was she stupid? Why couldn't she see their plan?
Fearing that Bai Siruo would continue to question, Feng Jinyao changed the subject.
"What about that cousin from the Bai family? Why isn't she causing trouble these past few days?"
"Oh, she's in the backyard taking care of Third Aunt. She was disciplined by First Aunt last time and is still groaning in pain." Her eyes showed great dislike for the Shen mother and daughter.
Feng Jinyao, however, recalled something from her previous life. The Bai family was not prosperous, with only two granddaughters. If they married, the Bai family would be empty. Without grandchildren, even if her maternal grandfather and uncles supported the family, it would only be a fleeting moment.
Perhaps, she still needed to find that person.
But to find him, it seemed she would have to start with Shen Shi and Bai Sihan.