Family Meeting (2)

"Thank you for your concern, Marquis Jiujiang. I'm fine now. Don't worry."

As Tan Xiuying looked into Marquis's caring eyes, her heart ached with the weight of the secrets she carried. How could the real Tan Xiuying not have cherished the love her father bestowed upon her? In this new life, she was determined not to squander such affection.

Father, I won't let you down anymore, she silently vowed, her resolve strengthening. She knew she had to protect her family and uncover the truth behind the mysterious events that haunted her household. This newfound mission would not only redeem herself but also honor the memory of the original Tan Xiuying, who had endured so much.

Tan Xiuying's stepmother, Li Jiayi, broke the silence with a wry smile. "It's good to see that you're safe, Xiuying," she said it, and her voice had a hint of disdain in it. "But causing such a ruckus outside the capital is hardly becoming of a young lady from a prestigious family."

Tan Xiuying remained composed, masking the turmoil inside her. "I apologize if my actions caused any inconvenience, Madam. I assure you, it won't happen again."

Li Jiayi's eyes narrowed slightly, searching for any sign of vulnerability in Tan Xiuying's expression. However, Tan Xiuying's composed look only seemed to frustrate her stepmother further.

Tan Meixiu, Tan Xiuying's half-sister, watched the scene with a mix of curiosity and jealousy. She had always felt overshadowed by Tan Xiuying's beauty and charm, and this recent incident seemed to elevate her sister's status even further in their father's eyes.

Tan Jianjun couldn't help but be confused by the way Tan Xiuying behaved at the moment. She was usually spoiled, careless, and restless, but today she was shockingly polite and calm. Li Jiayi had drawn a bad picture of her, but her actions didn't match that picture. He wrinkled his brows, feeling uncertain and confused as he looked at his wife, hoping to get some answers.

Madam Marquis, Li Jiayi, was a woman of mature beauty. Despite being in her thirties, she maintained a charming and elegant appearance. Coming from a humble village background, she received a strict and proper upbringing from Tan Xiuying's late mother. After living in the mansion for quite some time, she had transformed into a refined and graceful lady, adding to her allure.

Madam Marquis quickly answered, as if she knew what her husband was worried about. She looked at Tan Xiuying quickly and said softly, "Xiuying, you shouldn't talk to your father like that. Behave yourself."

"Apologies, Madam. I meant no disrespect. I simply wanted to address the Marquis with the appropriate title. Is that not acceptable?"

"Obviously not. But you used to call him 'Father.' This seems a little strange."

"Alright, that's fine. I apologize."

Tan Xiuying had no mood to engage in a dispute over title with this cunning woman. The situation was made more awkward for her since this was her first encounter with the real Tan Xiuying's family, and being from modern times, she was unfamiliar with the ancient era's etiquette and customs. It left her feeling out of place and uneasy in their midst.

"Third Sister, I heard from Grandma about what happened to you earlier. Why did you decide to run away on your way to exile? If you hadn't run away, that incident probably wouldn't have happened to you," Tan Meixiu chimed in.

"Meixiu, it's not good to talk about this matter in front of everyone," Liu Meifeng reprimanded.

Tan Meixiu pouted and said, "I was just curious, Grandma. I didn't mean any harm."

"Exactly! Can you for once just heed your father's words? I had already decided on a lenient punishment by sending you to a distant village, but you defied me and secretly fled to meet your lover. What sort of behavior is this, tarnishing both your own dignity and the family's reputation? Do you even realize that your actions have angered Her Majesty Queen? If the Emperor gets wind of this, it will spell disaster for us all!" Tan Jianjun's voice was laced with frustration and anger.

As her father's words hit her like a wave, Tan Xiuying's heart beat hard in her chest. His disappointment and anger felt like a weight on her shoulders, and she felt both remorse and guilt for what she had done. She started to understand how bad the situation was when she realized that her hasty choice could have long-lasting effects.

The Tan Aristocratic Family was originally an unremarkable noble clan, not particularly influential in terms of imperial power and leadership. However, their fate took a significant turn when a member of the Tan lineage rose to become the highest-ranked official in the empire. This marked a profound shift in their standing and influence.

The family was exceptionally fortunate when one of their own, a man bearing the surname Tan, not only reached the highest level of government authority but also married the eldest daughter of two consecutive generations of emperors. These unions established strong connections between the family and imperial circles. The Tan Aristocratic Family gained significant influence over the ministries in the Jiujiang commandery when they were granted the prestigious title of Marquis.

Given his status and prestige, it wasn't surprising that Tan Jianjun had an authoritative and pompous personality, which his daughter, Tan Xiuying, later took after him.

"Xiuying, you have ruined our family's reputation! If you understand how serious this is, I will set up your marriage to the Fourth Prince right away. You'll be one of his concubines."

Tan Xiuying was taken aback. Marrying into the imperial family was a significant privilege, but becoming a concubine held its own complexities and challenges. She had to carefully choose her words to respond.

She furrowed her brows as she responded, "Father, please understand that I'm still young and not yet ready for marriage."

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew that her response would have far-reaching consequences, and she hoped her father would consider her feelings.

"Given your unwavering desire to marry the Fourth Prince, it seems that the only course of action left is for me to approach the Emperor and request the arrangement of your marriage," Tan Jianjun declared with determination.

Hearing what her father said, her heart sank again. She had not expected that casually mentioning the Fourth Prince would result in such a significant consequence. She felt a sense of impending doom as the possibility of an arranged marriage hung over her, causing her to sense her freedom slowly slipping from her grasp.