Chapter 4 - How can one face anyone after Chapter 4

Autumn Yang was anxious in her heart: if the lady of the house knew that it was she who had instigated the young mistress to go to the front yard, she feared she could not escape a beating. She also understood that this matter could not be kept secret, and presumed that the lady of the house must have received the news by now.Lady He hurried to her daughter's courtyard, and before she arrived, she could hear the sound of crashing and smashing from inside the house, which filled her with worry.On the way, she had already learned the details from the maid Xia Yue—the girl, Ru, had gone to sneak a peek at the young master of the Huo family but accidentally overheard the news of the betrothal being called off.The servants in the courtyard hurriedly greeted the lady of the house as she arrived: "Greetings, madam."Lady He quickly approached and gently knocked on the door: "Ru, open the door, mother has something to say to you."The door opened in response, and Xiao Yunru threw herself into Lady He's arms, weeping uncontrollably: "Mother... will I ever have the face to see anyone again?"Lady He held her daughter close, heartbroken, but she also knew that the situation had reached this point, and the Huo family was absolutely out of the question. At this moment, she only wanted to find a more prominent marriage for her daughter, so that the Huo family would regret it deeply.She coldly ordered the maid: "Clean up the room." After the servants had left, she sat down with her daughter and said resolutely, "Ru, the Huo family is so heartless and ungrateful, you should just give up on them! Don't worry, mother will definitely find you a better marriage than the Huo family."Hearing this, Xiao Yunru cried even more sorrowfully in her mother's arms: "Mother... but my heart only has the young master of the Huo family!"Lady He couldn't bear it, but to prevent future troubles, a calculating glint flashed in her eyes, knowing that she had to take strong measures. She waited for her daughter to lift her tearful eyes before slowly revealing, "At this point, mother won't hide it from you. The person the Huo family originally took a fancy to was Yunyi from the second branch. It was mother who, seeing your wholehearted devotion, privately sought your second uncle and fought for this marriage, giving it to you."She paused, then emphasized, "Now that the Huo family has broken their promise and acted treacherously first, who knows what their intentions are? Such a family is not worth marrying into!""Mother?!" Xiao Yunru suddenly pulled away from Lady He's embrace, shaking her head in disbelief, "You're lying to me, aren't you? How could this be possible?"Lady He took her daughter's hand and said solemnly, "I am your mother, how could I lie to you about such a thing?"Xiao Yunru felt as if she had been struck by lightning, suddenly closing her eyes and covering her ears, refusing to listen any longer. She could not accept this cruel reality—the person she deeply admired had originally set his sights on that despicable woman, Xiao Yunyi!The jealousy she felt towards her cousin's beauty on a daily basis instantly turned into a poisonous vine, entwining around her heart. Learning that this marriage was something she had "begged" for made her feel immensely humiliated. A deep-seated hatred, like a venomous snake, bit at her heart, firmly locking onto her cousin Xiao Yunyi.This hatred spread, encompassing the rest of the second branch as well: why did her uncle and aunt have to get into trouble just before her wedding? If it weren't for this, would the Huo family have called off the engagement?Xiao Yunru suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with resentment: "Mother! I want Xiao Yunyi to suffer! In the past, when my second uncle was alive, all the good things in the mansion were always given to the second branch first, and I've had enough of it!"Lady He gently patted her daughter's shoulder, her eyes filled with undisguised calculation: "Don't worry, times have changed. Now those few from the second branch all rely on our first branch to live, so it's easy to control them, isn't it?"Xiao Yunru thought of the young master of the Huo family's heartlessness, and her heart ached again, tears welling up once more. But listening to her mother's words, the hatred overcame the heartache, and she finally bit her lip and nodded.Lady He wiped away her daughter's tears and comforted her: "Ru, don't cry. With Prince Jin's mansion here, mother will definitely find you a satisfactory marriage."