C19 Chapter 19

Though Xie Xuan was the Third Young Master of the Xie family, he had been raised as the heir. As long as he lived, he was guaranteed to become the next head of the family.

When the future head of the Xie family publicly proposed, his word carried weight. If Chu Jiuge nodded, the marriage was as good as settled.

And if she married into the Xie family as Xie Xuan’s lifesaver, then given the family’s sense of honor, as long as Chu Jiuge didn’t do anything reckless, she would definitely live very well there...

It had to be said, Xie Xuan’s proposal was deeply tempting. And even setting his status aside, his looks were exactly Chu Jiuge’s type.

Xie Xuan was the very image of a gentleman, refined and upright. Even with his clothes in disarray, he still carried himself with effortless grace. Just looking at him was pleasing.

Marrying a man like that, even without love between them, Chu Jiuge was sure she could live well and be happy, but...

She couldn’t marry him.

The original host’s wish was to marry the North Duke. She could only, and had to, marry the North Duke.

“Thank you for your kindness, Third Young Master, but I can’t marry you.”

“Why?” There was actually a woman in this world who could refuse his proposal?

“Why?” If Chu Jiuge wouldn’t marry, could it be because of me?

...

The two questions came one after the other. The first was from Xie Xuan, the second from Xiao Jing’an.

“If saving someone means I have to marry them, then how many people would I have to marry? I saved you, and the Xie family is helping me deal with those two people and owing me one more favor. That’s enough.” Chu Jiuge wasn’t greedy, though she felt she was already asking for quite a lot.

“That’s not the same. You did this for me—”

“Stop!” Chu Jiuge cut him off. “It’s all the same. Today, it just happened to be you. If it had been anyone else, I still wouldn’t have stood by and let them die. Third Young Master, all you need to do is keep your promise, help me deal with those two, and make sure I can get married tomorrow without any trouble.”

That wish of the original host’s... she had to fulfill it.

“You still want to marry the North Duke? I can speak to the Emperor for you and have the engagement canceled. Don’t worry, the North Duke won’t make trouble for you.” After what had happened, Chu Jiuge could hardly believe the North Duke would truly not mind.

Leaving aside the fact that Chu Jiuge had done something downright shocking by kissing him in public, lips pressed together and tongues tangled, just what happened at the city gate was enough that the North Duke couldn’t possibly ignore it.

Running away together, fighting in public, writing Xiao Jing’an a love letter and asking him to elope, offending both the Xiao and Yuan families... any one of those would be enough to make a man refuse to marry her.

“No need. I’m getting married.” She had to get married, even though...

She felt like she really shouldn’t.

“If you’re going to marry the North Duke, then why did you write Jing’an a love letter and ask him to run away with you? What exactly are you playing at?” Yuan Yunhua had been dragged along by Xiao Jing’an the whole time and hadn’t had a chance to speak. Now that she finally did, she immediately went after Chu Jiuge.

“If I said I didn’t write it, would you believe me?” Chu Jiuge directed the question at Yuan Yunhua, but her eyes were on Xiao Jing’an.

Sure, Xiao Jing’an was handsome, but to her he was just a boy, practically a kid brother. No matter how desperate she was... there was no way she’d go after someone that young.

Compared to Xiao Jing’an, she preferred someone mature like Xie Xuan. Too bad... she was already spoken for.

“The handwriting is yours, and it was written on peach blossom stationery that only you know how to make. If you say you didn’t write it, who’s going to believe that?” Yuan Yunhua looked at Chu Jiuge with open disdain, making it obvious she didn’t believe a word.

Chu Jiuge didn’t bother explaining further. Instead, she gave Yuan Yunhua a pointed look. “Miss Yuan, now that the Third Young Master is alive, shouldn’t you be dropping to your knees and apologizing to me?”

She was petty by nature. She remembered kindness, but she never forgot a grudge either. Yuan Yunhua had picked at her again and again, so she could hardly blame Chu Jiuge for refusing to play nice.

“You...” Yuan Yunhua’s face went pale, and she instinctively edged closer to Xiao Jing’an.

“What? Thinking of backing out now? Is this how great families raise their children? You can afford to win, but not to lose?” Chu Jiuge pressed, and Yuan Yunhua’s face darkened, making the wound on her cheek look even more grotesque.

Chu Jiuge knew when to stop. “If you can’t afford to lose, then just say so. It was only a bet. If Miss Yuen wants to honor it, she can. If not, forget it.”

After saying that, Chu Jiuge didn’t give Yuen Yunhua a chance to respond. She said a quick word to Xie Xuan, left the furious Yuen Yunhua behind, and headed back toward Chu Mansion...

She still had to return to the Chu family to get married.

Before leaving, Chu Jiuge deliberately glanced toward the city gate and saw that the maid in pink who had betrayed her was indeed still there.

Chu Jiuge didn’t care. With a faint smile, she walked away calmly...

A servant who betrays her master never ends well. She wouldn’t even have to lift a finger—someone else would take care of her...