She dropped to her knees and crawled to Chen Gongrang. Holding onto his robe, she tremblingly said, “Uncle, you said you’ll convince General Ran to marry me, you can’t go back on your words. If I can’t be his wife, then I’d rather stay unwed. I don’t care if it takes ten or twenty years. There will be one day when I’ll make him turn around to look at me; he’ll make me his wife, then!”
She was determined in her speech, and was completely serious about what she was saying.
But saying such a thing at this time had sounded rather like a threat. Even Chen Gongrang who had the best temper was displeased.
He stood up, flung his long sleeves, and strode ahead. “Stop causing embarrasment to yourself. Go home.”
Only the young ladies went home, of course. Chen Gongrang could not act inappropriately just because of the girls’ triviality; he had to remain at the banquet until its conclusion.
With the guards’ escort, the girls’ carriages drove on the dark street, their rolling wheels clanking along.
Chen Rong looked at the carriage alongside hers. There, desperate and heartbroken sobs remained. One second they filled her with glee, the next they made her sympathize with the heartache she once knew.
It was fortunate that there were very few vehicles on the streets. With only commoners walking on foot, they did not draw too much attention to themselves.
“I hate you!” Chen Wei all of a sudden blurted.
She was, of course, talking to Chen Rong.
Chen Rong coldly snapped, “Chen Wei, let’s be clear that I’ve never solicited General Ran. He’s the one who says he wants to marry me.”
“It must be you,” Chen Wei screamed. “You must have flattered him whenever you have the chance, you must’ve put on that fake smile and tell him what he wanted to hear, and pretend to be bashful so that he would think that you like him. Why else would he say what he said!”
Chen Rong hadn’t expected her cousin to still understand her so well after two lifetimes.
She inwardly sneered and then unceremoniously returned, “General Ran is a heroic man. There’s no shortage of admirers who blush at the sight of him. Ah Wei, you must know that my name is now completely tied to Wang Qilang. What you need to do is change General Ran’s mind. What use is it to bear a grudge against me?”
Her words woke Chen Wei up.
Instantly, sobbing filled her carriage.
When the blubbering eventually softened, Chen Wei stopped her tears and said, “You’re right.”