Chapter 120: Chaos Unleashed

Zhang Zhongheng stood frozen in place, his mouth agape, unable to close.

The surrounding crowd erupted into an uproar; the clamor of their discussion had long since drowned out the sound of the firecrackers on the street.

"W-what did you say?"

Zhang Zhongheng’s lips trembled with rage as he pointed at Liang Xiao.

Liang Xiao, hands clasped behind his back, held his head high, gazing down at him as if from a position of superiority. "I am willing to take responsibility for my recklessness and take Miss Xu as my wife."

Zhang Zhongheng immediately leaped up, shouting, "Bullshit! She is a woman betrothed to me!"

"But has she entered the doors of the Zhang household yet? Such matters should be decided by Master Xu."

"What right does he have to decide? He wouldn't dare!"

Zhang Zhongheng was so furious that his words were incoherent, spoken without a thought. Liang Xiao’s mocking look made him realize his mistake, but the words were already out; he could no longer bear the strange, judgmental gazes of those around him.

He had rushed to the Liang residence this morning claiming to seek justice on behalf of the Xu household. Now that Liang Xiao had followed him here, admitted his fault, and even expressed a willingness to take responsibility, Zhang Zhongheng found himself overstepping his bounds with Master Xu?

Wasn't this temperament far too arrogant? Why did the whole situation feel so wrong?

The bystanders were mere observers, interested only in the gossip. They didn't care whose official rank was higher or who wielded more power; in their eyes, both were wealthy, powerful families, and there was no difference between them. They were simply waiting to see who would be the one to suffer more.

Xu Ruojin was so shocked she could not speak. She never expected Liang Xiao to do something like this. Had he lost his mind? It was bad enough that Zhang Zhongheng was trying to force her into a corner, but now Liang Xiao was here to force a marriage?

By admitting to an intimate encounter with her, he had made it impossible for her to go to the Zhang family, and no other family would dare propose to the Xu household. If she were to marry, she would have to marry into the Liang family. They were using her as a bargaining chip for their petty rivalry. She had originally held a decent impression of him, but now it seemed he was cut from the same cloth as Zhang Zhongheng.

Before she could think further, Mother Huang emerged from the house and pulled her back inside. The situation no longer allowed for her to linger outside.

Xu Yaohui was already drenched in sweat, completely blindsided by how far things had escalated. As the head of the Xu family, it was highly inappropriate for him to step forward now, so he could only instruct Chen Cai to go out and send them away.

"Gentlemen, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I wish you all a prosperous New Year and great fortune. Today's incident was merely the rashness of our Second Miss; please do not take offense. The Master is not currently in the residence, and the Second Miss is the only one in charge at the moment. Why don't you all head back for now?" Chen Cai said with a beaming smile, bowing deeply.

But who could fail to see that he was lying?

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, only one person in charge at the estate? No one in their right mind would believe such a story. However, no one could force their way into the Xu residence to verify it. Liang Xiao bowed in return. "I shall send a matchmaker to propose marriage tomorrow. I hope you will convey this to Master and Madam Xu. Farewell!"

With that, Liang Xiao turned and walked away. The crowd instinctively parted to make a wide path for him, watching his burly figure disappear into the bustle of the street.

Zhang Zhongheng, fuming, looked at Chen Cai and threatened, "I am going in."

"Sir, the Master really isn't here."

"Don't give me that nonsense. Do you take me for a fool?"

Zhang Zhongheng's threat made Chen Cai shrink back. "It’s not that this servant is lying; he truly is not here..."

"Where is Yan Hongwen?" Zhang Zhongheng wanted to see him more than he wanted to see Xu Yaohui.

Chen Cai spread his hands helplessly. "Why would Young Master Yan be at our residence?"

"Fine, have it your way!"

Zhang Zhongheng’s mind was in total disarray. He realized he had fallen into Liang Xiao’s trap. He had intended to cause trouble for Liang Xiao, but now the roles had reversed, and he had become a laughingstock. And then there was Mo Rong! Her disappearance must be connected to this.

Zhang Zhongheng was filled with anxiety, but gnashing his teeth was useless. He had no choice but to return home, calm down, and decide how to handle the situation.

Chen Cai had long since gone back inside and bolted the gate. The moment the Xu family doors closed, Xu Yaohui felt his heart settle slightly.

"Young Master Yan, what do you think of this matter..."

"I won't marry!" Xu Ruojin’s face was flushed with anger. "I won't marry anyone."

"That is enough nonsense," Xu Yaohui said, looking at Mother Huang and Chuncao. "Take the Second Miss back inside."

"Yes."

Xu Ruojin did not want to leave, but Mother Huang was strong, and Chuncao, fearing something might happen to her mistress, leaned in and whispered, "Second Miss, please calm down. It is better to return to your courtyard."

Chuncao grasped her hand, and Xu Ruojin felt something like a small slip of paper being pressed into her palm. She looked at Chuncao, who gave a subtle nod. Angry as she was, Xu Ruojin could only half-reluctantly head back to her courtyard.

Seeing his daughter leave, Xu Yaohui dismissed the servants, leaving only himself and Yan Hongwen to speak in private.

"Young Master Yan, that things have reached this point is truly unexpected. What do you think..."

"Liang Xiao, he is ruthless!" Yan Hongwen ignored Xu Yaohui’s question. "As for Zhang Zhongheng, he deserves it!"

"What should I do?" Xu Yaohui felt as if his head were about to burst; he was completely at a loss.

Yan Hongwen sneered. "I was only sent by my father to mediate this matter. You are Miss Xu’s father; why are you asking me what to do?"

Xu Yaohui froze, staring blankly at Yan Hongwen.

The cold, cruel glint in Yan Hongwen’s eyes was undisguised. "I only wish to remind you, Master Xu, that you should understand what your role is, and what the people in your household represent. Tread carefully!"

With that, Yan Hongwen rose and left. Xu Yaohui wanted to stop him, but he didn't dare reach out. Yan Hongwen’s words left him feeling uneasy, sensing that something was terribly wrong. He had Chen Cai ask what had happened when he left. After inquiring, Chen Cai reported that Madam Yang had been scolding the Second Miss, and Yan Hongwen had witnessed it.

Xu Yaohui felt a sharp, unbearable pain in his chest and nearly fainted from fright. He hurried to his study to write a letter, ordering it to be sent to Magistrate Yan immediately.

Back in her courtyard, Mother Huang still had not left. It was clear she had been sent to keep a close watch on her.

Xu Ruojin called Chuncao into the inner chamber to help her change, blocking Mother Huang at the door. "Chuncao is enough; Mother Huang, please wait outside."

Mother Huang found herself a pretext. "This old servant will go prepare some soup to settle your stomach. You must be exhausted after such a morning."

Xu Ruojin nodded and pulled Chuncao inside. Once the door was shut, she pulled Chuncao onto the bed and lowered the curtains.

"Where did this come from?"

"This servant doesn't know. It was tucked in the embroidery bag; I only recognized a few words."

Xu Ruojin frowned and gently unfolded the thumb-sized note. It contained only a few characters: "Prepare wine and wait for me; see you at the start of the Hour of the Ox."

Xu Ruojin crumpled the note into a ball. Was the person who wrote this Liang Xiao?