In her previous life, the Hu family had meticulously chosen a suitable family for Hu Xiaoye, going through countless selections.
Song Chaoyu remembered that during the imperial examinations the following spring, there would be several exceptionally talented scholars.
The top scholar, Zhuangyuan, was personally appointed by the Emperor as the驸马 (fùmǎ - consort to a princess), making him unattainable for other families.
Thus, the second-place scholar, Bangyan, and the third-place scholar, Tanhua, became the highly sought-after sons-in-law for the wealthy families in the capital.
In fact, the Bangyan of the following year was widely considered to be undeserving of his title. Some even whispered that the examiner had leaked the questions to him, allowing him to rise above the other scholars.
After all, no one had ever heard of him before; he was merely an ordinary scholar.
The Tanhua of the following year was named "Xie Zhiyong," who was originally a strong contender for the Zhuangyuan position.
Even before the spring examinations began, he had already gained renown throughout the capital for two peerless poems.
As for the Bangyan named "Feng Xing," due to his impoverished background and the general belief that he had passed the examination through sheer luck, the prominent families in the capital paid him little attention.
In the competition to secure Xie Zhiyong as a son-in-law, the Hu family naturally wished to win him for their youngest daughter.
Ultimately, they succeeded, and everyone believed it to be a match made in heaven.
Hu Xiaoye was such a beautiful and charming young woman, and Xie Zhiyong was the best Tanhua.
That wedding was a grand affair that shook the capital.
Even Song Chaoyu at the time had heard how magnificent the wedding was.
However, this seemingly perfect couple, after their marriage, descended into a tragedy of tragedies.
As it turned out, Xie Zhiyong was not as good as everyone had imagined.
For the first six months after their marriage, he was still acceptable. Although he and Hu Xiaoye were not deeply in love, they at least treated each other with respect.
But after half a year, things began to take a strange turn.
Initially, Xie Zhiyong simply enjoyed inviting a group of people to his home for drinks.
They claimed to be discussing poetry and literature, but in reality, each gathering left the Xie residence in disarray.
Hu Xiaoye, having been doted upon by her family, naturally could not tolerate such treatment. Yet, despite arguments and pleas, and even persuasion from her family, Xie Zhiyong would only behave for two days before resuming his disruptive behavior.
This continued until that winter, when Hu Xiaoye became pregnant.
Because Hu Xiaoye was pregnant, Xie Zhiyong's mother came from their hometown to care for her.
Xie Zhiyong's family was in business, and his mother was rather materialistic.
Hu Xiaoye, with her straightforward nature and accustomed to a life of luxury, displeased Xie's mother, who complained that Xie Zhiyong's official salary was not easy to come by, and Hu Xiaoye was always spending money carelessly.
Over time, Xie's mother stopped paying attention to Hu Xiaoye. She turned a blind eye to whatever unruly behavior Xie Zhiyong engaged in at home.
Meanwhile, a piece of news began to circulate throughout the capital.
It was said that Xie Zhiyong and several scholars, while drinking outside, had captured a young boy from a manor in the outskirts of the capital.
The group had then sexually assaulted the boy, and the boy's parents had brought the case to the capital's prefectural government.
Xie Zhiyong was an official in the imperial court, and he also had the Hu family as his in-laws. Consequently, the matter was eventually dropped.
However, from then on, the capital was rife with rumors that Xie Zhiyong was a homosexual. Even Song Chaoyu, who was confined at the time, had heard of it.
The Xie family's major downfall occurred just before the New Year of that year.
By then, Hu Xiaoye was seven months pregnant.
One day, after Xie Zhiyong and a group of scholars had gotten drunk again, he brought them home.
Two of them took a liking to Hu Xiaoye's young cousin, who was visiting the Xie residence, and attempted to assault the child right in front of Hu Xiaoye!
Hu Xiaoye naturally moved to protect her cousin. To her horror, those insane beasts did not even spare the pregnant Hu Xiaoye.
It was said that Xie Zhiyong did not intervene at all. His mother was not at home. Hu Xiaoye's personal maid was beaten into a near-death state, and the servant woman who wanted to report the incident to the authorities was also detained within the Xie residence.
The maids and servants of the Xie family, obeying Xie Zhiyong's orders, dared not step forward, leaving Hu Xiaoye and her cousin to be dragged into a room by those beasts.
That day was a descent into hell for Hu Xiaoye.
Amidst screams, Hu Xiaoye not only lost the child she had been carrying for seven months but also her young cousin.
The incident caused a sensation in the capital!
Miss Hu was brought back to the Hu family the very next morning. Lord Hu, a military official, shed his official robes and knelt in plain clothes before the imperial court at Chengan Hall for a day and a night, begging the Emperor to have Xie Zhiyong and those beasts executed and their bodies dismembered.
However, at that time, Mu Hansu, who had already gained the Emperor's favor, vouched for Xie Zhiyong. Xie's mother, in an attempt to save her son, left a blood-written confession and then committed suicide by striking her head against a pillar, testifying that Xie Zhiyong was also a victim of malicious slander.
The Emperor, with no other recourse, severely punished the scholars who had committed the assault, ordered the execution of the household servants and maids who failed to protect Hu Xiaoye on that day, and symbolically demoted Xie Zhiyong by one rank.
The day after learning of this outcome, Hu Xiaoye, covered in injuries, secretly fled the Hu residence in the dead of night and hanged herself at the entrance of the Xie residence.
It was said that the servant who opened the door the next morning was so terrified that he fainted.
Thus, the world lost the lovely and forthright Hu Xiaoye.
Although Song Chaoyu had not met Hu Xiaoye in her previous life, she lamented her fate, like a fallen blossom.
Therefore, in this life, upon seeing Hu Xiaoye at the Lin family's residence, Song Chaoyu felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Looking at Hu Xiaoye's lovely and captivating face before her, Song Chaoyu smiled and offered a pastry, "You came with your mother, didn't you? Your mother must be worried that you ran out like this."
Hu Xiaoye took the pastry from Song Chaoyu's hand and pouted, "Mother lost me, not the other way around."
This girl was too adorable!
Song Chaoyu stood up and extended her hand to Hu Xiaoye, "Most of the ladies are gathered together. Come, I'll take you to find them."
Then she turned back and glanced at Song Xiuxiu's maid and Tiahong, "You two wait here. I'll be back shortly."
She took Hu Xiaoye's hand and walked out, noticing that Hu Xiaoye was half a head shorter than her, making it feel as if she were holding her younger sister's hand.
Hu Xiaoye ate as she walked, smiling and looking at Song Chaoyu from time to time, "Fourth Sister Song, you are so kind! Can I come visit you often in the future?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, "Of course! But before you come, you must inform your mother."
Hu Xiaoye immediately brightened up.
Song Chaoyu led Hu Xiaoye to where the ladies were gathered. As expected, she immediately saw Madam Hu hurrying towards them, "Sister, you've run off again, haven't you? I've been looking for you for ages!"