Volume 3, Chapter 287 – Chi Xiyan, Are You Really That Eager to Marry Him?

Song Shutao felt the muscles in her cheeks go stiff.

She genuinely wanted to say that she hadn’t been hurt at all.

A body formed from spirit ink could be repaired with spiritual energy even if its vital points were pierced through.

Besides, that maid hadn’t even touched her.

There was one thing that struck Song Shutao as very strange, though. When the maid had drawn her dagger, she had felt, in no uncertain terms, a genuine threat to her life. Her spirit core had trembled under the pressure of that crisis.

A body formed from spirit ink had none of the vital points of a normal human, but it did have a spirit core that maintained the form.

The spirit core was like the heart of this body. If it were destroyed, the body would dissolve in an instant.

And if someone were to forcibly shatter the spirit core, Song Shutao’s soul would suffer real damage as well.

What on earth was that maid? That ferocious fighting style was nothing like what you’d expect from a maid raised by a merchant family.

Never mind the Chi family. Even in the Song household, Song Shutao had never seen a maid like that.

Her gaze swept toward Bu Lianshuang, suspicion flickering in her eyes.

“Shuang’er, stand down.” Lu Zhuxin turned and shot Bu Lianshuang a glare, then looked back at Song Shutao. “Young Master Song, this matter started because of Muxue. It has nothing to do with Shuang’er. It was Muxue who failed to think things through, and that is what caused Young Master Song such a fright. The fault clearly lies with Muxue. What sense would it make to push the blame onto a maid?”

“My lady! Please stop saying that, this is my fault!” Bu Lianshuang also raised her voice. “I struck too hard and hurt Young Master Song! Since when is it right for a young lady to take the blame for her maid?!”

“Stop talking, Shuang’er. This is not your place to speak!”

“My lady! This really is my fault!”

The two of them arguing back and forth left Song Shutao’s head buzzing.

It was then that a cold female voice cut in.

“I think neither of you made a mistake. The one who did is me.”

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It was Chi Xiyan’s voice.

Lu Zhuxin fell silent. Her neck stiffened as though it had rusted over, and she slowly turned to look at Chi Xiyan. “Sister…”

Chi Xiyan looked at the girl, who was wearing the most guilty expression imaginable, and felt equally exasperated and amused. “Now you know to be afraid? Where did all that swagger from before go?”

Lu Zhuxin put on a fawning smile and slowly shuffled her way in front of Chi Xiyan. “Sister, I know I was wrong. Please don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

She tugged at Chi Xiyan’s sleeve, swaying back and forth, dragging out her words with a long, pleading lilt. “Just forgive Muxue, won’t you~!”

Bu Lianshuang watched Lu Zhuxin put on this ingratiating display and quietly tightened her fist inside her sleeve.

She couldn’t stand seeing the little fox lady lower herself like this to fawn over a human.

“Eldest Miss.” Bu Lianshuang stepped forward, her voice low and firm. “This matter is entirely my responsibility and has nothing to do with Second Miss. Please, Eldest Miss…”

Chi Xiyan cut her off. “Did I say you weren’t at fault?”

Her voice had gone cold, and her gaze turned icy.

“What has Luluo been teaching you?”

“As a servant, you acted without regard for anyone above you, defied your superiors, and affronted an honored guest. You have thrown all of the Chi residence’s dignity into the dirt.”

“Come find your own punishment when we return.”

Bu Lianshuang lowered her head, both fists clenched tight inside her sleeves. She said nothing.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuxin tugged at Chi Xiyan’s sleeve again. “Sister~!”

“…” Chi Xiyan drew a slow, deep breath. “You too. Be quiet. Acting spoiled doesn’t work on me.”

Lu Zhuxin immediately raised her hand and covered her own mouth.

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Chi Xiyan seemed genuinely angry.

Lu Zhuxin watched her, blinking her wide eyes, slow and fluttering, as though they had something to say on their own.

Chi Xiyan turned her head away and didn’t look at her again.

“Eldest Miss.” The study hall elder stepped forward and cupped his hands toward her.

“Same goes for you.” Chi Xiyan’s voice remained cool. “The study hall is a place of learning. Private fighting within the study hall is forbidden.”

“As the study hall elder, you failed to stop their nonsense in time. That is a dereliction of duty.”

Now it was the study hall elder’s turn to be at a loss.

Had he done something wrong? He had only been thinking that letting Song Shixuan, the Chi family’s future son-in-law, show off a little in front of everyone would be a good look for all of them.

Wasn’t that doing right by the Chi family?

He hadn’t expected Song Shixuan to lose to a maid.

The elder felt thoroughly aggrieved.

Only after reprimanding all three of them did Chi Xiyan finally look toward Song Shutao.

“I apologize, Young Master Song. Xiyan has failed in her oversight, and as a result you’ve had such an unpleasant experience here at the Chi family.”

“In a moment, Xiyan will personally tend to your injuries.”

“Ah, I’m fine.” Song Shutao waved her hands repeatedly. Chi Xiyan’s presence just now had been overwhelming. It felt like even a dog passing by might get a scolding from her. Song Shutao had nearly felt she was about to be dressed down herself. “I really am fine. Thank you for your concern, Miss Xiyan.”

The expression on Chi Xiyan’s face eased somewhat. “We will eventually be husband and wife. Between the two of us, there is no need to be so formal.”

Song Shutao smiled stiffly.

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Chi Xiyan then looked out at the crowd around them.

The young people who had only just been whispering and watching immediately fell quiet.

Those caught in her gaze didn’t dare hold it.

As the eldest daughter of the Chi family, Chi Xiyan commanded no small amount of authority within the Chi residence.

Chi Xiyan paused, then said, “Look at yourselves. Is this what the Chi family’s teachings have given you? The habit of gossiping about others?”

“Young Master Song has only just returned from the battlefield.”

“Not long ago, he was training in the Demon Territory. He was careless and let slip his identity, and was hunted down by the demons there. He barely escaped with his life.”

“Lucky to have survived at all, he nonetheless sustained heavy injuries.”

“Young Master Song’s visit to the Chi family is in part to draw upon the Chi family’s resources in order to recover.”

“He was never supposed to be in any physical altercation. If his injuries worsen, not one of you could bear the responsibility.”

Surprise registered on the faces of the young crowd around them.

None of them had imagined that Song Shixuan, who appeared perfectly fine on the surface, was carrying serious wounds.

And precisely because of those serious wounds, he had been unable to beat the maid at Second Miss’s side.

Seen that way, the maid had won in a rather unsavory fashion.

With just a few brief words from Chi Xiyan, the doubts the Chi family’s young people had harbored toward Song Shixuan dispersed considerably.

Only Bu Lianshuang kept her brows tightly knit.

She had crossed hands with that Song person herself, so she knew perfectly well what state she was in.

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That Song person hadn’t been injured at all. She had lost purely because she wasn’t good enough.

Song Shutao pulled at the corner of her mouth but held her silence nonetheless.

In a certain sense, Chi Xiyan wasn’t wrong. Song Shixuan had indeed suffered grievous injuries because of the demon clan.

Injuries that had struck at his very foundation.

If that weren’t the case, it wouldn’t have been her standing here in his place.

Lu Zhuxin, for her part, let out a quiet, displeased click of the tongue in her heart.

Chi Xiyan really was skilled. A few simple sentences had wiped away the stain of “Song Shixuan” losing to a maid.

They weren’t even married yet, and she was already this devoted to protecting that man’s reputation?

She really couldn’t stand the thought of her precious future husband’s name taking any damage, could she?

Chi Xiyan cleared her throat and continued, “There is also one other matter I can tell you all in advance.”

“Three days from now, the family head will hold an engagement banquet for Young Master Song and myself, formally announcing our marriage to the world.”

“At that time, our wedding date will also be set.”

“From here on, when you encounter Young Master Song within the Chi family, treat him as you would treat me.”

“Is that understood?”

Hearing this, the color drained from Lu Zhuxin’s expression.

Three days from now?

Chi Xiyan, are you really that eager to marry him?!