CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 154: PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT (PART 1)

Wen Wan and the others were sitting in the dining room for quite a while before Mrs. Xu rushed over.

Having been forewarned by Xu Shu that Wen Wan couldn’t speak, Mrs. Xu simply exchanged a few greetings, and after the meal, she took her aside to talk about what to pay attention to during pregnancy.

With someone to teach her, Wen Wan naturally learned humbly, memorizing every point carefully.

When the two came out, Song Wei had already been invited to the front hall by the Great General, leaving only Song Fang and Xu Shu’s twelve-year-old sister, Xu Jia, in the side hall.

Xu Jia, being introverted, didn’t love to speak and sat there wide-eyed, staring at Song Fang.

Mrs. Xu’s gaze lingered on Song Fang for a moment.

The girl was indeed beautiful, even more so than Xu Shu’s cousin, she just didn’t speak much. Perhaps it was her first time at the General Mansion, she felt unfamiliar and dared not speak freely.

If you were to say the old lady was muddle-headed, her discerning eye for people was impeccable. But if you say she wasn’t muddle-headed, this girl was visiting the Xu Family for the first time, no background or details known, yet the old lady was determined to matchmake her with Shu’er.

Sighing softly, Mrs. Xu slowly sat down, noticing it wasn’t early. She instructed the servant to take Xu Jia back to sleep.

In the side hall, only Mrs. Xu, Wen Wan, and Song Fang remained.

Since Wen Wan couldn’t speak, naturally, only Song Fang could chat with Mrs. Xu.

Recalling the earlier incident in the old lady’s yard, Mrs. Xu once again showed an expression of apology, "Miss Song, thank you for helping my son and me earlier."

Song Fang tugged at the corner of her mouth, "As you said, madam, it was just an act; I won’t take it seriously."

Before coming to the Xu Family, she had considered a sham marriage with Xu Shu to get a spot at the Hongwen Academy, but after arriving at the Xu Family, especially after meeting their old lady, all her thoughts vanished into thin air.

The old lady sincerely wanted a granddaughter-in-law. Her own intentions were impure, and knowing this would surely upset the elder in the future.

She couldn’t do something so heartless.

"How old are you this year?" Mrs. Xu suddenly asked.

Song Fang replied calmly, "Eighteen."

Eighteen, well past the age for marriage.

Mrs. Xu made an acknowledging sound, "Which family have you been promised to?"

Song Fang’s cheeks warmed, her fingers nervously tightened on her lap, and she shook her head, "Not yet!"

Mrs. Xu was about to ask more when a servant came in to whisper something in her ear.

She stood up, told Song Fang to sit and have some tea, and said she had some matters to attend to and would be right back.

With that, she stepped out of the door.

Xu Shu waited in the garden; seeing his mother come out, he finally let out a sigh of relief, "Mother, please go deal with Grandma. Just now, she called me over and prattled on, making my head spin."

Mrs. Xu asked him, "Is it about getting married again?"

"What else could it be? There’s nothing new she talks about."

Mrs. Xu glared at him, "Then why don’t you agree to it? After a few days, I’ll help arrange it. You take leave and come back to get married, so Grandma stops nagging every three days."

"This time you guessed wrong," Xu Shu said, "She insists on the girl we just met; I regret bringing her to meet Grandma."

Mrs. Xu frowned slightly, "Well, there’s no point in talking about this now; it won’t solve the problem. You go back first, and I’ll check on Grandma."

Xu Shu nodded and returned to the front hall to accompany Song Wei.

Mrs. Xu went directly to the old lady’s courtyard.

The old lady was in great spirits today, not feeling sleepy at all. At that moment, she was amusing herself with the parrot on the bird rack, accompanied by her servants.

Seeing Mrs. Xu come in, the old lady glanced at her, "Has the granddaughter-in-law left?"

Mrs. Xu nodded and said she had left.

She feared that if she said no, the old lady would have someone accompany her to talk.

Their old lady now cared about nothing but open and close her mouth about granddaughters-in-law.

"Don’t just sit around then; make sure to hasten the wedding plans for the young couple."

Mrs. Xu was about to nod when the old lady continued, "I’ve already picked the day; the first day of next month looks good, an auspicious day."

Mrs. Xu took a deep breath; the first day of next month was just days away.

"I’ve set my eyes on a granddaughter-in-law. Besides Xiao Fang, no one else is getting in."

Mrs. Xu rubbed her temples in frustration.

She’s a guest in their home! They had only met once, so why was the old lady so stubbornly insisting this person be her granddaughter-in-law?

——

After coaxing the old lady, when Mrs. Xu returned, Song Fang and Wen Wan were still sitting in the side hall.

The old lady’s meddling made Mrs. Xu feel a bit embarrassed when she looked at Song Fang.

She had asked earlier about the girl’s situation, knowing she was not betrothed. However, it was her first visit to the Xu home, and as a guest, Mrs. Xu hesitated to speak abruptly, fearing it might scare her away. But if she didn’t speak up, who knew when they would meet again after she left?

According to Shu’er, Song Wei was soon returning to Ningzhou, and as his sister, Song Fang would surely follow.

Mrs. Xu thought of this matter, and her emotions were somewhat unstable. After pondering for a long time, she finally spoke, "Um, Miss Song, how do you find our Shu’er?"

"Ah?" Song Fang didn’t expect Mrs. Xu to suddenly ask this, and was full of surprise.

Seeing her reaction, Mrs. Xu realized she was indeed startled and hurriedly explained with a smile, "I just think that Shu’er is quite close to you all, so it seems your relationship is pretty good."

In front of someone’s biological mother, Song Fang didn’t dare mention how the two fought whenever they met, so she replied vaguely.

Mrs. Xu wanted to continue, but Xu Shu sent someone over, saying he had something to discuss with her.

So, Mrs. Xu once again left the two sisters-in-law and went out to the garden.

"What does Shu’er want to discuss with me?" Mrs. Xu asked.

Xu Shu said, "Mother, I’ve thought of a win-win solution. Listen to it, and if you think it’s feasible, I’ll discuss it with Song separately later."

"What solution?"

Xu Shu pondered and said, "It’s like this, Miss Song wants to study at Hongwen Academy, but she doesn’t have a Capital residency, and her brother hasn’t passed the Advanced Scholar exam to secure a spot. My thought is to fake a marriage with her..."

As soon as Mrs. Xu heard the words "fake marriage," she was immediately displeased, "If you marry, do it for real. What fake marriage, are you out of your mind?"

"No, Mother, please listen to my explanation first!"

"Explain what?"

"Isn’t Grandma insisting that I marry her? It’s not certain that Miss Song would be willing. But since she wants to enter Hongwen Academy, we could give her the opportunity. The condition is to fake a marriage with me, which would only be to appease Grandma. Internally, she’s my wife; externally, she’s my cousin. We won’t hold a wedding, just make a show for Grandma."

Mrs. Xu fell into deep thought.

Xu Shu urgently said, "Mother, this is the only way I can think of. If you find it inappropriate, fine, you handle Grandma yourself because I’m not stepping in."

Seeing her son about to walk away, Mrs. Xu quickly stopped him, "It’s not that it can’t be done, but will the lady agree?"

Hearing this, Xu Shu raised his eyebrows, "Whether she agrees or not depends entirely on my persuasive skills, right?"

Mrs. Xu gave him an amused glance, "Such manners!"

Xu Shu thought about Song Wei still in the front hall, "Then I’ll go back now, otherwise Father will complain that I’m not being a good host."

——

Before Song Wei and the others left the General Mansion, Xu Shu first discussed this matter with Song Wei alone.

Song Wei squinted, "Internally you are husband and wife; externally, she’s your cousin?"

Xu Shu nodded, "It lets her seize the opportunity to go to Hongwen Academy, pleases our family’s old lady, and prevents outsiders from knowing and damaging her reputation. Isn’t this method smart, buddy?"

Song Wei said, "I’m not too assured."

Once he’s gone, his little sister would be left alone in the Capital. Given her straightforward personality and her disagreements with Xu Shu, if they really became a fake couple, and she got wronged by the Great General and General’s wife, who’d have her back when he, the older brother, isn’t there?

Xu Shu knew Song Wei wouldn’t directly agree, "If you’re really not assured, we can set three rules. I promise not to touch her, not to bully her, and not to let her be wronged in this house. Is that okay?"

Song Wei gave him a look, "Verbal promises aren’t credible."

"Buddy, am I such an unreliable person?"

Song Wei said, "Go talk to her. If she agrees, then I have nothing more to say."

"That’s what you said!" Xu Shu turned and quickly headed to the side hall, where he talked to Song Fang alone.

Upon hearing his proposal, Song Fang furrowed her brow, "I won’t do it!"

The answer was completely unexpected to Xu Shu, "Why not?"

Song Fang gave him a sideways glance, "Internally, we’re a fake couple; externally, I’m your cousin. It’s all decided by you. I’m just a weak woman; if I’m deceived, who do I cry to?"

"So there’s no room for negotiation at all on this?"

"It’s not impossible." Song Fang lifted her chin slightly.

"Oh dear lady, what conditions do you have? Just say it, and I’ll try my best to satisfy you."

Song Fang said, "We need to draw up an agreement and have my third brother witness it."

All of this is essentially about setting the three rules.

"Fine, seeing that you’ve caught the old lady’s eye, whatever you say is like an imperial order now."

Song Fang glanced at him, secretly pleased.

She didn’t expect things to go this smoothly. It was obvious that Xu Shu’s parents were very filial; otherwise, they wouldn’t agree to such an absurd thing just to please the old lady.

However, in this way, her matter of attending Hongwen Academy was resolved.

The prenuptial agreement was drawn up in Song Wei’s presence. Its content was almost identical to the three rules Xu Shu had mentioned, only more detailed.

Xu Shu hadn’t intended to be a real husband to her anyway, so whether the prenuptial agreement existed or not made little difference to him.

But there was one point he stated seriously, "I must make it clear in advance, since we are married, regardless of it being fake, you must live in the General Mansion in the future; otherwise, if the old lady exposes us, it would be embarrassing for everyone."

Song Fang said, "As long as you can adhere to the agreement, I surely have no objections."

She wasn’t unreasonable, either. Although it was mutual benefit, in the end, it counted as the Xu family helping her significantly. What she could do to cooperate with Xu Shu, she would make every effort to do so.