Xu Nian’an looked at him crying so pitifully, she didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. With a stern face, she said, “Those ‘rotten peach blossoms’ you provoked outside has come to trouble me, and I haven’t even said anything yet, but you’re the one crying! What is this? Does whoever cries the loudest automatically have the right?”

烂桃花 (làn táohuā): "Rotten peach blossoms." While "peach blossoms" refers to romantic luck or suitors, "rotten" peach blossoms refers to unwanted, troublesome, or low-quality romantic entanglements/pursuers.

Zhao Huanxi was crying while shouting, “Who provoked her? I didn’t do anything, and she just clung to me. How is that my fault?”

“Of course it’s your fault! Who asked you to have such a face that attracts so much attention?”

“What’s wrong with my face? Did I choose to have this face? Wasn’t it given by my parents? Besides, even if this face attracts attention, I only want to attract you, the honeybee, not her, that wasp, okay?”

“Pfft!” Hearing him compare Qingxiang Junzhu to a wasp, Xu Nian’an couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

“You’re still laughing!” Zhao Huanxi felt even more aggrieved and was about to start crying again.

Xu Nian’an reached out to cover his mouth, her eyes filled with amusement as she said, “Alright, stop crying, aren’t you embarrassed if the maids hear you?”

Zhao Huanxi, with tears in his eyes: “Mmm mmm mmm mmm!”

Xu Nian’an then asked him, “She told you that I’m going to give you up to her. Did she say how exactly I’m supposed to do that?”

Zhao Huanxi pushed her hand away and angrily glared at her, saying, “She did say it! She said you gave her the idea, to go back and tell her parents, and then have her father, Su Wangyé, speak to my Zufu. As long as the elders agree, you would divorce me! She also said you don’t care about me at all!”

Xu Nian’an asked, “Then let me ask you, if you went to Zufu and said that you fancied another man’s wife, and asked him to go speak to her elders so that she could divorce her husband and marry you, do you think Zufu would agree?”

Zhao Huanxi’s first reaction to this question was: Agree? No way, my legs would probably be broken! Then he realized what she was getting at and, with his tear-stained eyes wide open, looked at Xu Nian’an and asked, “Do you mean that her parents wouldn’t agree either? But when she talked to me, she seemed so confident. Maybe her parents are just foolish?”

“She’s too young to understand that there’s a difference between her parents spoiling her and indulging her. Doesn’t your mother spoil you? When you wanted to paint instead of study, did she let you? Painting isn’t even something terrible. If Su Wang Yé and Wang Fei were foolish enough to help their daughter steal someone else’s husband, their household’s bad reputation would have spread long ago. Since we haven’t heard of such a reputation, it proves that Su Sang Yé and Wang Fei are still sensible. Besides, even if they were foolish, Zufu isn’t, so it still wouldn’t happen, right?”

With this analysis, Zhao Huanxi finally understood. He wiped his eyes and nervously glanced at her from the corner of his eye, asking, “Then, why did you say those things to her?”

“She was pestering me in the Ying Guogong Residence, demanding that I give you up to her and being so unreasonable. If I didn’t come up with something to fool her and get away, how could I have extricated myself? If things got out of hand, neither side would save face, right?” Xu Nian’an took out a handkerchief and helped Zhao Huanxi wipe away the tear stains on his face.

Zhao Huanxi, realizing that he had misunderstood her and had even lashed out at her while crying, felt ashamed and lowered his head, unable to look at her.

Xu Nian’an softly asked him, “Not angry anymore?”

Zhao Huanxi nodded, “En.”

“You’re not angry now, but it’s my turn to be angry!” Xu Nian’an said, pulling his chin up to force him to look at her. She scolded him from above, “Listening to every bit of gossip! When faced with a problem, don’t you think for yourself first? Is that big head on your shoulders just to make you look taller than others?

“You don’t talk about the problem but come back and throw a tantrum! Did I provoke you, or did those maids outside? Even if the matter is true, does throwing a tantrum and crying do any good?

“You’re a grwon-up, yet you cry just like that, without any self-control. After all this time, you’ve made no progress! I am so angry!” Xu Nian’an threw the handkerchief she had used to wipe his tears at his face and turned to face the screen, sulking with her back to him.

The room was quiet for a while, and then she heard his nearly inaudible footsteps approaching from behind.

“Dong Jiejie,” he gently embraced her from behind, resting his head against her cheek, his voice soft and trembling, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

Xu Nian’an bit her lip.

“I was just so scared, so scared that what she said would come true. Zufu isn’t foolish, but he has the whole Zhao family to consider; he’s not just my Zufu. I’m afraid that Su Wang Yé and Wang Fei, like their daughter, might be unreasonable and pressure Zufu. If that happens and you go to Zufu to voluntarily give up, I… I won’t be able to stop anyone.

“I know it’s really embarrassing for me to cry so easily at my age, but just now I was truly scared, distressed, and at a loss. I didn’t know what else to do but to vent my feelings through crying. I will work hard to change this, to control my emotions and view things rationally. I won’t throw tantrums anymore.”

Xu Nian’an slightly turned her face and asked, “Really?”

“Really.”

Xu Nian’an freed herself from his embrace, turned around, and looked at the pitiable youth with red-rimmed eyes. She asked, “What if you can’t do it?”

Zhao Huanxi thought for a moment and made a solemn vow, “If I can’t do it, then you can punish me by not letting me paint for a year!”

Xu Nian’an said: “No. It won’t do to have you making no progress elsewhere while also falling behind in your painting.” After a moment of thought, she added, “Instead, you’ll be punished by not being allowed to hold my hand or hug me.” With that, she turned and walked outside.

Zhao Huanxi, hearing this, was anxious and tried to negotiate, “Dong Jiejie…”

Xu Nian’an stopped, slightly turned her face, and gave him a sidelong glance, “En?”

Zhao Huanxi immediately deflated, lowered his gaze, and said submissively, “Alright then…” But in his heart, he thought: As long as I can achieve it, I can still hold hands and hug her. So the final decision really lies with me, so long as I can do it!

Realizing this, he became happy again, washed his face, and ran to find Xu Nian’an.

At this moment, the Fifth Branch was in a state of gloom and despair.

Wu Taitai, having heard the story from her daughter-in-law, went to the Lingde Hall to find Lao Taitai, looking very worried. “Mom, what should we do about Shuxian making such a scene in front of Lu Lao Taitai?”

Lao Taitai furrowed her brow, her body remaining still as she slowly turned the Buddhist beads. After a long while, she said, “During the time I’ve been in the Buddha hall, you don’t even know when the First Branch has made connections with Prince Su’s household. What have you all been doing every day?”

Wu Taitai was puzzled and said, “I truly haven’t heard of any connection between the First Branch and Prince Su’s household.”

“If there were no connections, then how could Qingxiang Junzhu speak in favor of them the First Branchs so confidently?” Lao Taitai said, displeased.

Wu Taitai fell silent. She genuinely didn’t know.

“The damage has already been done; there’s no point in talking about it now. First, handle these three things. One, the zhuanghua gauze that was given to your daughter-in-law, she hasn’t used it yet, right?” Lao Taitai asked.

Wu Taitai replied, “I haven’t seen her wear it, so I don’t know if she has used it.”

“Find out. If she hasn’t used it, take it back and send it to the First Branch. Then make it known that the two pieces of zhuanghua gauze were one for the First Branch and one for the Fifth Branch. This will let outsiders know that Qingxiang Junzhu’s remarks at Ying Guogong Residence were purely her own conjecture and nonsense.”

“And if she has used it?” Wu Taitai wondered, feeling uncomfortable about asking for it back if it had already been used.

“Even if she has used it, you must still retrieve it and send it to the First Branch. Yin Shi is proud and would definitely refuse used items. Make sure to spread the word that it was given to the First Branch and that they didn’t accept it because they looked down on it,” Lao Taitai said.

Wu Taitai bowed deeply and acknowledged.

“Second, after Guogong Yé returns, let Shuxian go to him and apologize, saying that she was too headstrong and caused the elders to be embarrassed, and that she will change in the future. Be sincere in her attitude.”

Wu Taitai agreed to this as well.

“Third, expedite the arrangements for the Xu Family’s girl’s matter. Ensure that there are no loose ends, and leave no trace afterward. At this point, Shuxian’s marriage must not be hindered by anyone,” Lao Taitai said with a stern gaze.

Wu Taitai felt some fear but agreed, biting her teeth for the sake of her daughter’s future.

After all, the man involved in that matter was a fool who couldn’t communicate clearly. For the woman involved, facing such a situation, how could she has face left to discuss it with others? Wouldn’t it be like biting the bullet and swallowing blood (swallowing anger)?

Since it was a relative of Er Taitai, unrelated to the Fifth Branch, it should be fine.

Wu Taitai reassured herself as she headed back.

In the courtyard of the First Branch, Nanny Qiu, accompanied by maidservants holding the zhuabghua gauze, arrived at Jiaxiang House. Zhao Huanxi and his wife, along with Yin Luochen, were in Yin Furen’s room enjoying fresh jujubes. The jujubes, freshly picked from the orchard and brought in, were as large as eggs, with a greenish-yellow skin. They were crisp, tender, and sweet when bitten into.

Nanny Qiu looked enviously at the fresh jujubes but knew that they were grown on Yin Furen’s private estate. Whether or not to send any to the other branches depended on Yin Furen’s mood, not necessity.

Seeing Nanny Qiu standing there, persistently glancing at Yin Luochen without speaking, Yin Furen asked, “If you have something to say, just say it. This is my nephew, not a stranger.”

Nanny Qiu felt troubled, thinking: To you, this nephew is obviously not a stranger, but to us in the Fifth Branch, he is.

However, she didn’t have the authority to demand Yin Furen dismiss her nephew just to deliver a piece of fabric, so she could only force a smile and have her maidservants present the bundle. “Da Taitai, Lao Taitai sent this piece of gold-woven peacock feather zhuanghua gauze to you, saying that both the First and Fifth Branch should each receive one piece.”

Yin Furen noticed that the shape seemed off and said, “Open the bundle.”

Nanny Qiu showed a difficult expression.

“How can I know if what you’ve brought is indeed the gold-woven peacock feather zhuanghua gauze if you don’t open it for me? If it’s not, how will I explain it once you’ve left?” Yin Furen said.

Nanny Qiu had no choice but to let the maid open the bundle.

Qianhe stepped forward and pulled out the fabric, reporting, “Furen, the fabric has already been cut.”

“Oh, so you’re bringing cut fabric as a gift to the First Branch? Is that how your family’s ‘fairness’ works?” Yin Luochen, who was quick to criticize, sarcastically remarked.

Nanny Qiu’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Yin Furen sneered, “Cut fabric…”

Before she could continue, Xu Nian’an suddenly coughed, as if she had choked on a jujube.

Zhao Huanxi quickly asked, “Are you alright?”

Xu Nian’an shook her head, covering her mouth with her hand, but her eyes were fixed on Yin Furen.

Yin Furen: “…..”

After a slight pause, she turned back to Nanny Qiu and said, “Normally, we wouldn’t accept cut fabric in the First Branch, but for the sake of Lao Taitai’s ‘fairness’, we’ll reluctantly accept it. Qianhe, take the fabric.”

Qianhe went to retrieve the bundle from the maidservant behind Nanny Qiu.

Nannu Qiu was stunned. She had expected that Wu Taitai and Xu Er Nainai (Zhao Huanxu’s wife) had only intended to annoy the First Branch and then take it back, never imagining that the First Branch would actually accept it. What should she do now?

“Is there something else?” Yin Furen asked, picking up her tea cup and casting a sharp glance at Nanny Qiu.

Nanny Qiu jolted and hurriedly said, “Nothing else. Laonu will take one’s leave.” She performed her farewell, and quickly went back to report to Wu Taitai.

Once Nanny Qiu had left, Yin Furen turned to Zhao Huanxi and Yin Luochen and said, “Huanxi, Ah Chen, take the jujubes outside to eat. Nian’an and I have some household matters to discuss.”