“Uh…” Wang Qingchen felt a little awkward. “It’s just that I was too shocked. After all, that Young Master Fu just now seemed like a very proper person. I never expected him to do such a thing, completely disregarding the relationship between your two families and the agreement they made… Since the two families had already decided, they should adhere to the agreement. If they weren't satisfied, they shouldn't have agreed in the first place. Backing out now only harms the harmony between your two families, and the damage to your younger sister is even greater…” After all, a woman’s reputation was very important in this era.

The question Wang Qingchen left unspoken was about the strict hierarchy between main lineage and concubine-born children, especially in prominent families like the Xia’s. How could the Fu family allow their son to act this way? Rejecting the main daughter to marry a concubine-born one—more importantly, this action would certainly sour the relationship between the two families, perhaps even making them irreconcilable enemies. Also, why would Young Master Fu want to marry a concubine-born daughter? There must be a story behind it. However, Wang Qingchen kept these questions to himself. After all, these were private matters concerning another household. Setting aside whether Xia Wentao would even answer, given their friendship, he couldn't bring himself to pry. How could a friend constantly seek out gossip about his friend's household!

“Don’t just say you were surprised; even those of us close to both families never imagined he would do such a thing. After what he did, he still married as usual, but my sister…” Xia Wentao shook his head, paused as if making a momentous decision, and then asked, “My sister suffered this setback. Although she wasn't formally jilted, her reputation is still greatly damaged. If it were you, would you look down on her?”

Although Wang Qingchen was slightly puzzled why Xia Wentao would ask him this, he attributed it to Xia Wentao wanting to hear comforting words from a friend. Thus, he replied with firm conviction, “No, absolutely not. After all, your sister is the most innocent and most damaged party in this entire affair. Since it wasn't her fault, how could I possibly look down on her!”

Wang Qingchen’s answer greatly satisfied Xia Wentao, instantly elevating his opinion of Wang Qingchen as a potential brother-in-law another notch. However, he knew this was not the time to reveal his full intentions, so Xia Wentao merely commented, “If only everyone else thought as you do.”

Thus, before Madam Xia and Master Xia had fully settled on whether Wang Qingchen was a suitable son-in-law candidate, they learned from their son about this incident that significantly boosted Wang Qingchen’s standing.

As for Wang Qingchen, since he wasn't entirely confident about passing the metropolitan examination and didn't feel an absolute necessity to pass it, he settled into a pleasant routine: occasionally studying and discussing literature with Zhao Cheng, and sometimes being invited out by Xia Wentao for relaxation or to socialize with new acquaintances. While Wang Qingchen enjoyed this ease, the day for Fu Lan and Xia Wanyu’s wedding soon arrived.

Previously, Xia Wentao had hesitated over whether to invite Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng when his concubine-born sister was getting married. However, considering that Xia Wanyu was now effectively treated as the main daughter of the household, her wedding was a major event that warranted invitations. Moreover, since Wang Qingchen was a very likely future son-in-law of the Xia family, it was best to invite him. And if Wang Qingchen was invited, Zhao Cheng naturally had to be invited as well.

Having made up his mind, Xia Wentao suddenly had an inspired thought: since Wang Qingchen was the son-in-law candidate he favored, surely he should do something! Soon, a scheme involving Wang Qingchen and Xia Wanting took shape in his mind.

On the day of Xia Wanyu’s wedding, perhaps due to the occasion, Xia Wanyu’s health seemed markedly better than before, and her complexion had improved considerably. I am finally marrying into the Fu family, she thought with malicious glee. As for Xia Wanting, she’ll certainly never marry anyone better than the Fu family in this lifetime! Every time she considered this, a feeling of triumph filled her heart—was it the satisfaction of having thoroughly retaliated against her stepmother, or the sheer joy of having successfully usurped the main daughter’s marriage?

Regardless of Xia Wanyu’s thoughts, Xia Wanting, though now clear about Fu Lan’s true character, still felt a sting in her heart knowing that Fu Lan was marrying her half-sister today. She couldn't manage to appear indifferent. Thus, Xia Wanting informed Madam Xia that she felt unwell and would not be coming out to help host the female guests arriving today. Madam Xia naturally granted this request, as she too wished to shield her daughter from potential mockery or condescension.

As for Wang Qingchen, even though he had learned about the Xia family’s private affairs and their attitude towards the marrying daughter from Xia Wentao earlier, he still needed to conduct himself properly. His presence today was largely due to his relationship with Xia Wentao and the Xia household, rather than the principals of the wedding. Wang Qingchen presumed Xia Wentao felt the same way. Therefore, he meticulously prepared both his attire and the gift he brought for the Xia residence.

Seeing how seriously Wang Qingchen took the event, Zhao Cheng followed suit and also made preparations. On the wedding day, the two arrived neither too early nor too late, making their way to the Xia estate together.

Because many servants at the Xia residence had witnessed the young master’s respectful attitude toward them during their last visit, even though there was a significant disparity in status compared to many other guests arriving today, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng still received warm greetings.

Xia Wentao only greeted them briefly when they first arrived before becoming busy attending to other guests.

Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng did not feel slighted; after all, as the eldest son of the Xia family, Xia Wentao had plenty to manage today. At that moment, Wang Qingchen had no idea that even while busy, Xia Wentao was dedicating more of his attention to him than to any other guest.

Once most of the guests had arrived, Xia Wentao finally managed a moment to catch his breath. Instead of attending to other duties, he immediately went over to Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng to introduce them to some of the attendees.

Among these introductions were several of Xia Wentao’s close friends in the capital—men from families far wealthier than the Wangs. Seeing Xia Wentao introduce Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng with such solemnity naturally led these gentlemen to regard the two with greater respect.

After the introductions were made, conversation naturally flowed. Just as everyone settled down to laugh and chat, Xia Wentao "accidentally" spilled tea onto Wang Qingchen’s attire, drawing everyone’s attention to them.

Xia Wentao offered profuse apologies, but Wang Qingchen himself seemed unconcerned; after all, accidents happen. There wasn't much tea spilled, and ordinarily, Wang Qingchen would simply let his clothes dry on their own. However, with so many people watching today, continuing to wear the damp garment would indeed be rather unseemly. Consequently, Xia Wentao instructed a servant to take Wang Qingchen to his private quarters to change into some of his own clothes.

Wang Qingchen considered the occasion and did not refuse, following the servant away. As Wang Qingchen departed with the attendant, a smile of complex, unreadable meaning curved the corner of Xia Wentao's lips.

Wang Qingchen was led by the servant directly to Xia Wentao’s quarters to change. For some reason, Wang Qingchen felt the servant was odd—his movements were clumsy, and he seemed deliberately slow. However, this thought merely flashed through his mind; he didn't dwell on it, perhaps the servant excelled in other areas!

Little did Wang Qingchen know that the servant leading him was racking his brains trying to figure out how to stall for time. Just as the servant felt he couldn't delay any longer, he spotted another servant quietly nodding at him from a distance. The leading servant finally relaxed, stopped dawdling, and soon helped Wang Qingchen change his clothes before leading him back.

Although Wang Qingchen sensed an odd inconsistency in the servant’s behavior, he didn't give it much thought. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder, Is this the way back? Perhaps I misremembered the route?

As Wang Qingchen followed the servant, he began to hear the voices of several female guests approaching from ahead.

“…Do you really think Xia Wanting is ill?” one voice asked.

“Who knows? Her half-sister is marrying today, and she suddenly gets sick. Isn’t that too coincidental?”

“Hey, let me tell you something—I actually heard that today’s groom was originally supposed to marry Xia Wanting!”

“Ah? No way…”

“Yes, who told you that? Don't tell me you’re tricking us!”

“I knew you wouldn't believe me. I didn’t know either, but the other day, I accidentally overheard my sisters-in-law talking about it. They said the Fu family originally intended to marry Xia Wanting, but then, for some reason, the Fu family’s eldest young master insisted on marrying the Xia family’s concubine-born daughter…”

“That can’t be true! Then Xia Wanting truly is pitiful!”

“Indeed…”

...

The women chatted animatedly, completely unaware that the subject of their discussion was standing just around a corner, listening intently!

As Wang Qingchen approached, he had been listening closely. However, as he listened, the servant leading him suddenly gasped softly, “Second Miss!”