At least he didn't give her hope, but chose to pierce her naivety.
Yes, indeed, he had no need to lie to her.
After all, in his eyes, she was deeply in love with him, and no matter how ruthless and heartless he might be, she would resolutely follow him.
Lu Ziyuan looked at her reddened eyelids, opened his mouth to say something, but another person involved had unknowingly walked up close in the distance.
She must have heard the conversation over here. The woman in a plain dress slightly tilted her neck and performed a charming curtsy, softly saying, "I have met Sister."
Xie Wanqing's body suddenly froze, and she slowly turned to the side, her expression calm: "What did you call me?"
The woman seemed frightened, her eyes subtly widened, and she glanced cautiously at Lu Ziyuan, murmuring, "Mr. Lu, have I overstepped my bounds?"
"Indeed, you have overstepped," Xie Wanqing regarded this concubine who repeatedly provoked her in dreams, and said lightly, "My mother only has one daughter, me, and she didn't give me a sister. Nor do I have the hobby of randomly recognizing sisters. Remember, don't call me wrong next time."
"Wanwan!" Lu Ziyuan squinted his eyes slightly, staring at her with sharp eyes: "Rou Niang came alone with me from Bianzhou to the Capital, with no one to rely on. Calling you Sister warrants such sarcasm from you? Since when have you become so mean?"
"Mr. Lu, please don't be upset with Sister... with Miss Xie because of me," Liu Manrou's face was full of fear and timidity: "I only thought that since we both serve our lord, and you are the legal wife, it would be appropriate for me to call you Sister... Ah!"
Before she could finish her words, Xie Wanqing had already slapped her, and the woman received it well. Instantly, a full handprint appeared on her delicate and beautiful face.
Xie Wanqing smiled while massaging her palm, speaking nonchalantly: "I originally didn't want to hit anyone, but you deserve it. I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the Marquis Xuanping Mansion. What status do you have to call me sister?"
It's so ridiculous. Her mother hadn't given her a sister, yet because she was about to marry, she inexplicably became a maid's sister.
Was the version of her in dreams crazy?
Rou Niang's face quickly swelled up. She held her face in one hand and supported her belly with the other, almost falling to the ground, crying pitifully.
Lu Ziyuan reached out, grabbing her arm to pull her up, his eyes still fixed on Xie Wanqing, his face so dark it was hard to look at, all patience exhausted: "Do you even know what you're doing? How many men in this world have only one wife and don't take concubines? Especially with the circumstances of my Lu Family?"
"Mr. Lu, please don't be angry; it's my fault that Miss Xie is upset. It's only right for her to punish me." The woman at his side wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her face tear-stained, yet still humbly accommodating: "I won't dare again."
Xie Wanqing gazed at the couple before her. Indeed, they appeared genuinely enamored, making her seem like the villain in a story who breaks apart a loving couple.
After a long, silent standoff, she suddenly became curious, "You've only been to Bianzhou for two months. How did you come to meet such a well-matched lady there? Could you tell me how you met?"
As soon as she finished speaking, seeing Lu Ziyuan's suddenly cold eyes, she waved it off, saying, "Never mind if you don't want to say."
"Usually, when reading those novels, I never imagined there could truly be such passionate lovers in this world that makes one want to cry just by hearing about it," She was moved to tears, wiped them away, and praised: "Since I have been fortunate enough to see it, I must fulfill it."
She thought even if his attitude towards her had grown colder, it was only because he had to mature under heavy responsibilities, forced to become steady.
This engagement of theirs was one of mutual affection and understanding; there wouldn't be a third party involved.
Now it seemed, she had misunderstood.
Since it was a mistake, it should be corrected.
"Brother Ziyan, this is the last time I'll call you that," Xie Wanqing stood up straight, took a deep breath, her expression gradually serious, and earnestly said: "Actually, you should have told me these thoughts sooner, so there wouldn't be an engagement between us."
"Xie Wanqing, what do you mean?" Lu Ziyuan's expression changed, stepping forward, attempting to grab her shoulder, but Xie Wanqing stepped back twice, dodging, and raised her voice: "Have I not made myself clear?"
Her tone was calm: "Let's call off the engagement. Just thinking about how many 'good sisters' I would have because of you makes me laugh."
As she spoke, remembering how she was humiliated in the dream, she couldn't help but laugh, staring blankly at the stern face before her.
If she hadn't had those dreams, if she hadn't suffered and cut ties in dreams.
She might have genuinely persisted in marrying him. Even if she knew he had a concubine, she wouldn't want to let go of their years of affection easily.
The sudden 'calling off the engagement', even the tearful Liu Manrou stopped crying, her face full of astonishment.
This was the first time she had seen the Princely Heir's fiancée, dressed in light green riding attire, looking heroic, with a pretty face, red lips, white teeth, and picturesque eyebrows—a girl who obviously had never suffered grievances.
This was a famous noblewoman of the Capital, and only someone of such status could marry into the Wuyuan Marquis Mansion with the status of a legal wife.
And only such a noblewoman who had never suffered grievances could easily say 'call off the engagement.'
Lu Ziyuan's face had completely changed. He took a step forward, and in two strides, reached in front of Xie Wanqing, grabbing her shoulder, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Xie Wanqing pulled away from the hand that had just grasped Liu Manrou's arm, nodding lightly: "I know."
"Then do you know that marriage is not a child's play, and there are only fifty-one days left until our wedding?" Lu Ziyuan didn't let go, even tightening his fingers, and with a height advantage, he was overwhelmingly imposing: "For an insignificant woman, do you want to call off the engagement with me?"
With the light behind her, Xie Wanqing couldn't see his face clearly. Hearing his words, she just found it amusing.
This woman he brought back from Bianzhou probably already has his eldest son in her belly. How could she be insignificant?
"I've thought it through very clearly, Lu Ziyuan. I like you, but I can't handle having numerous 'good sisters' because of you,"
She bore the grip on her shoulder, trying hard to keep her voice extremely calm: "These insignificant women you talk about will be your legitimate concubines in the future. They will bear your children, and you will sleep with them."
Just saying it out loud made her feel unbearable. She took a deep breath and looked at him, saying, "I can't be the generous and tolerant marchioness in your heart, who for the sake of the Lu Family's lineage, not only can't be jealous but also has to arrange breeding times for you and them."
Dead silence.
Lu Ziyuan seemed to be deep in thought, unexpectedly stunned.
"It was previously my immaturity that failed to consider the pressure of lineage on the Lu Family that rests on your shoulders, causing you difficulty. I'm sorry, it won't happen again." Xie Wanqing pried open his fingers on her shoulder one by one, "Now, please let me go."