Chapter 10: Flower Sedan at the Door

Xue Zhao's analysis of the pros and cons was logical and convincing. Xue Shi was immediately dumbfounded, and Xia Ziwu was stunned, at a loss. This news was like a bolt from the blue for her, who was full of anticipation.

"Impossible, right? It's just falling from the second floor. How could it be so serious? A few days of rest and she'll recover," Xue Shi seemed to be consoling herself more than anything.

"That's nonsense! People can die from a fall, you know? I heard that Meng Jinglun was screaming in pain all the way to the Minister's residence, and they wouldn't even let anyone touch him," Xue Zhao said.

Xue Shi was skeptical, "Is that true?"

"Do you still not trust me, your brother? The Meng family has kept this matter under wraps, not letting anyone in the residence spread the news, for fear of causing trouble before the big wedding. I went to the Meng residence after hearing the news, found their gatekeeper, and spent twenty taels of silver to get the exact information," Xue Zhao said.

Before Xue Zhao finished speaking, Xia Ziwu had collapsed on the bed, her eyes staring blankly.

Xue Shi lamented, almost pounding her chest and stamping her feet, "Such a good marriage, with impeccable family background and character. Can it really end like this?"

"What's the use of not ending it? Is it worth sacrificing Ziwu's happiness for a lifetime? A broken leg is not like any other injury. Perhaps it will make our daughter a widow for life," Xue Zhao said.

Xue Shi felt completely at a loss, "What should we do?"

Xia Ziwu took off her phoenix coronet and threw it on the ground, the beads rolling all over the floor.

"What should we do? What else can we do? I, a daughter, will end up marrying a cripple? Be a widow for life? Useless as a scholar, if he doesn't achieve anything in the future, what's the use even if he's from a prestigious family? Will I be laughed at for the rest of my life?" Xia Ziwu said.

Xue Shi picked up the coronet from the ground, her lips twitching with pain, "If you don't want to marry, then don't. But why throw a tantrum like this? Besides, the wedding sedan is about to arrive. If you say you won't marry, then what about your grandmother? How can I explain it to her? Who will marry a daughter who has called off her engagement? It will be difficult to find such a good marriage again."

Xia Ziwu, in a fit of anger, said, "I don't care. I won't marry, even if I die."

Xue Zhao, seeing the mother and daughter at odds, hurriedly intervened, "Lower your voices, don't let others hear us."

Ignoring him, Xia Ziwu began to tear at her wedding dress, "This marriage was never mine to begin with. Even if it's called off, it will only bring shame to me, Xia Anran. I absolutely won't marry!"

Unintentionally, Xue Zhao came up with an idea, "How could I forget about this? Xia Anran has always wanted to get married. Why not fulfill her wish? It would not only elevate her status by marrying into the Minister's family, but also bring us the betrothal gifts. It would be a win-win."

He was quite pleased with his idea, but to his surprise, the mother and daughter, who had just been at odds, immediately retorted in unison, "No way!"

"Why not?"

"Even if Meng Jinglun is paralyzed, the glory of the Minister's residence remains. I absolutely cannot let that woman's daughter have such an advantage. In the future, both Ziwu and Zixin will be looked down upon!" Xue Shi said indignantly.

"That's right. It's best to find a beggar with festering sores and scabs to marry her off. I absolutely cannot let anyone surpass me," Xia Ziwu echoed, filled with resentment.

It was truly a narrow-minded view!

Just as Xue Zhao was about to persuade them, there was suddenly a commotion outside, with hurried footsteps approaching the new room. The maid Chang Jing knocked on the door and cheerfully urged, "Madam, Miss, the Meng family's wedding sedan has arrived early."

The three of them were taken aback and looked at the sky outside. Xue Shi couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Isn't it still not an auspicious time?"

The matchmaker sent by the Meng family was being escorted into the courtyard, laughing and making a fuss, and the joy could be felt even through the door crack.

"This marriage is rushed, so there are many inadequacies. That's why we were urged to start early, pick up the bride, and parade around the capital before entering the residence for the ceremony," the matchmaker explained.

"Has the groom arrived?" Xue Zhao asked cautiously from behind the door.

"No, according to the customs of the capital, the groom does not need to personally welcome the bride."

This explanation seemed reasonable, but Xue Zhao suddenly had doubts, "Sister, look, the Meng family is clearly feeling guilty, afraid of rumors spreading, so they hurriedly came to welcome the bride. Once our girl is on the wedding sedan, we can't turn back. What are they up to?"

Mrs. Xue had not spoken yet, but Xia Ziwu had already rushed forward, pulled open the door, and shouted at the crowd outside, "Tell that surnamed Meng, I, Miss Xia, will not marry!"

In addition to the people from the Meng family who came to propose, there were also guests who came to congratulate the Xia family. Xia Ziwu's unbridled shouting startled Mrs. Xue, who hurriedly pulled her back, slammed the door shut, and scolded her sternly.

"It seems that your mother has spoiled you too much in the past. How can you be so willful? Aren't you afraid that your fierce reputation will spread, and no one will come to propose anymore?"

Seeing her mother still hesitating, Xia Ziwu's nose tingled, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. "Anyway, if mother insists on letting Ziwu get into the bridal sedan, Ziwu would rather become a nun."

Unable to bear seeing her eldest daughter wronged, Mrs. Xue immediately surrendered, "If you don't want to marry, then don't. But can't you be more cautious? We need to catch the Meng family's handle and slowly wear them down, so that the Meng family will be the first to propose to cancel the marriage. As for the betrothal gifts, the Meng family won't be able to take back a single penny."

"If the Meng family cancels my marriage, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing if it spreads? Are we willing to give up our dignity for the sake of those betrothal gifts?"

Xia Ziwu immediately opposed Mrs. Xue's suggestion.

"Mother naturally has a way to make the Meng family suffer in silence."

After a few words of reassurance, Mrs. Xue managed to pacify Xia Ziwu and opened the door. She sighed helplessly at the guests in the outer room and forced a smile at the matchmaker, "How can a groom not personally come to welcome the bride, and the bride rushes to enter the door? It's no wonder that our daughter is so angry. Doesn't this mean that they don't take our Xia family seriously?"

The guests at the door whispered to each other, discussing the situation. Although it was customary for the husband's family to marry down and the wife's family to marry up, the marriage between the official's family and the assistant official's family was still a matter of high social status. How could Mrs. Xia be so confused? She was nitpicking at such trivial matters. In the capital, the custom for the bride's family was for the uncles and brothers to escort the bride to the groom's family.

The matchmaker smiled awkwardly, "Mrs. Xia, I have been running around for this marriage, and I have explained every detail clearly. As the saying goes, customs vary within a hundred miles. In the capital, the groom does not personally welcome the bride, but stays at home to kick the bridal sedan. We made it clear in advance, and you didn't object. Why are you changing your mind and finding fault at this critical juncture?"