Chapter 8 Unworthy When he finished, Marquis Sunfair cast Li Han a fierce glare. Yet Li Han's eyes clung to He Xinying, and it nearly made his father hurl his teacup. "Han'er!" Lady Chen swiftly spoke, ever skilled at reading her husband's mood. That was how she had maintained her place as the lady of Marquis Sunfair's household despite all rivals in the harem. At last, Li Han wrenched his gaze away from He Xinying. "Father, what purpose is there in fury now? The engagement is shattered. I have been disgraced. I cannot grovel back." Li Han weighed his own pride. If he stooped to beg, the lords of Ming City would mock him endlessly. Even his closest companions would scorn him. He had already lost a shred of dignity, and he would not endure further shame. Marquis Sunfair read him easily. His palm struck the table with such force that everyone in the hall flinched. Lady Chen forced a quick smile to ease him. "My lord, please restrain your anger. Han'er is still young. He does not yet grasp the depth of this matter. Guide him with patience." Marquis Sunfair gave his son a glacial look. "Do you know why His Majesty granted us one month? It was to grant you another chance. "If you refuse to win her back, then you are no longer my son." Lady Chen's eyes flickered at the cruel words, yet she knew her husband's temper and did not push. Once Marquis Sunfair departed, she turned to see her son still fawning over He Xinying. Her distaste for the servant-born girl grew sharper. Before she could speak, He Xinying sank to her knees. "This disaster is mine alone. Please do not be angered, Old Mrs. Li. I accept any punishment you see fit." Lady Chen lifted her brows, surprise glinting in her eyes. "You were still born within this house. I cannot strike you too harshly. Han'er may cherish you, but in the end, you are nothing more than a concubine. Rules must be upheld." He Xinying lowered her eyes. "I know I am foolish. I will not seek more. I only wish to serve loyally. "Please allow me to study the rules under Madam Feng, so I may serve the Master Han and the future lady of the house property." She knew she could not escape. Rather than wait to be crushed, she moved first. Everyone knew Madam Feng's harsh ways. Asking this was already a heavy penalty. "You have resolve. Very well, I grant it." 1/4 Lady Chen gave her consent and signaled Madam Feng, who gestured to the maids. Two servant girls lifted He Xinying. As she passed Li Han, she gave him a brave smile. She met his eyes with a silent look meant to ease him. By doing so, she knew she would only tighten his devotion. And as expected, when Li Han saw her being led away, he leapt up in alarm. He rushed to his mother and begged. "Mother, you have always been merciful. Please do not be too harsh with Xinying," Seeing her son blinded by love, Lady Chen's face grew stern. She smashed her teacup down. "You do not have time to pity a concubine! If you do not wish that b*stard of the second branch to seize your place entirely, then obey your father's orders." At the name of Li Guan, Li Han's face twisted with bitterness. The thought that the heir's title now belonged to that b*stard seared inside him. And all the resentment he felt at He Xinying's suffering, he turned upon Ma Ting. "I understand, Mother." Seeing that Li Han finally grasped a portion of her meaning, Lady Chen exhaled heavily, her patience strained. "Han'er, tomorrow you will bring a gift of apology and present yourself before the Ma family." "I understand. I still have other matters to settle, so I shall not trouble you further, Mother." Li Han departed in haste. His hurried steps made Lady Chen's anger surge until she leapt to her feet. Madam Feng quickly set a cup of golden chrysanthemum tea before her, urging calm. "Old Mrs. Li, even if Master Han ignores all else, he will not neglect the Ma family. He will surely go, for the sake of securing the heir's position. Please rest easy." Lady Chen sighed bitterly, her eyes darkening. "Go to Dame Hong, and ensure Ma Ting understands that my family is no house to be trifled with." "Yes, I shall go at once!" That very night, Madam Feng visited Dame Hong, and by dawn the next morning, word had already reached Ma Ting through Tang. Ma Ting sifted through the jewelry box and carelessly handed Ding Jie a few worthless trinkets given by Li Han. "Did you give Dame Hong the money?" Tang nodded with a smile. "Just as you instructed, I gave her a tael of silver. Dame Hong could not stop grinning and even promised she would think kindly of you in private." "Madam Feng gave nothing?" Ding Jie asked, startled. At the mention of Madam Feng, Tang's lips curled with disdain. 2/4 According to Dame Hong, Madam Feng strutted about flaunting her airs, then left behind only a single string of coins." Ding Jie broke into laughter she could not suppress. Ma Ting raised her brows ever so slightly, then closed the jewelry box and said, "Bring out everything my mother left me. From this day forward, I shall use those." Tang and Ding Jie exchanged a glance, their faces glowing with delight. "Yes, we will prepare them immediately!" Ding Jie followed Tang out and carried the jewelry box with her. Ma Ting rose slowly. The thousand-strand silk wrapped around her shone like treasure, glittering under the sunlight. It cast her skin in pale brilliance, whiter than snow, and added grace to every line of her figure. She lowered her gaze toward the costly adornments and let out a quiet laugh. Her mother had been the cherished daughter of the Lang family. She brought dowries so vast they filled entire ships during her marriage. How then could anyone say she came from poverty, clothed only in plain garments? In the past, she held back out of care for Li Han's pride, but now there was no reason to restrain herself. Even though the Ma family had waned, it was not something to be crushed in the palm of another's hand. As her thoughts turned toward her next move, Tang returned quickly. "Ms. Ting, someone from the Marquis Sunfair's Residence has arrived. Do you wish to receive them?" Ma Ting nearly refused, but then reconsidered and asked, "Who is it?" "Master Han," Tang answered with annoyance plain upon his face. "If you wish not to see him, the guards can drive him away with sticks." "Bring him in," Ma Ting replied as she slowly rose and straightened her gown. "If I refuse to give him an audience, he will linger stubbornly, and in the end, it is our house that will become the subject of ridicule." She had expected Li Han's arrival, though not with such swiftness. If she denied him today, she knew that Lady Chen would soon come storming in herself. "The Li family is shameless! I will stand guard for you, Ms. Ting. If he dares utter or attempt anything at our gates, I shall cast a bucket of filth upon his head!" Ding Jie stomped hard, her whole stance bristling as if she meant to battle Li Han right then. The sight made Ma Ting's lips curve into the faintest smile. At the guest gates, Li Han stood rigid and cold-faced, feeling the mocking stares of the passersby pierce him like blades. "How much longer will Ma Ting squander my time?" 3/4 His patience thinned to a thread. If not for his father's strict command before departure, he would have left already. Weng Li, beside him, spoke softly in counsel. "Master Han, wait a little longer. Once inside, you can confront her directly." Li Han frowned, but he remained where he stood. Then, his gaze sharpened as it fell upon a figure in the distance. "The Ma family has another daughter?" He narrowed his eyes. Weng Li stretched his neck to see. His eyes caught a woman robed in silken luxury. "I have never heard of another daughter in the Ma family. Perhaps she is a guest." "Judging by that thousand-strand silk, I doubt it's Ms. Ma. As if she could ever afford such splendor." 4/4