Jing Yun did not move her feet, but used a bit of subtle force to break free from her grip.
Only the original owner of this body, that fool, would treat such a two-faced woman as a respected mother-in-law. Had it been her former self, she wouldn't have given this kind of person the chance to disgust her—the woman wouldn't even have gotten a word out before her bodyguards threw her out.
"Yun'er…" Yao Zhuhua turned her head to look at her, facing her icy gaze with both guilt and embarrassment.
"Unless this matter is properly settled today, I will not acknowledge this marriage." A trace of mockery curled at Jing Yun's red lips. "Besides, there is already a new bride in the bridal chamber. If I were to go there now, is the Old Madam Du worried that one woman isn't enough to serve your son?"
The guests present once again began to murmur among themselves.
They didn't find her words too sharp; rather, they felt she was making a valid point. After all, there was already a bride in the bridal chamber. Even if the Sixth Miss of the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi was perfectly legitimate in her claim, two brides in the same bridal chamber—what kind of spectacle would that be?
Yao Zhuhua's face turned ashen. She never imagined that the person who had always been obedient, sensible, and respectful toward her would be so disagreeable today, even humiliating her in public.
Just then, today's groom, Du Yuanran, appeared. Not only did he emerge from the bridal chamber, but he was also dragging a woman dressed in bridal attire.
It was Jing Yun's senior maidservant, Xiangxing!
Before Du Yuanran could speak in agitation, Xiangxing rushed forward and knelt before Jing Liangyu and his daughter, crying out, "Marquis, Miss Yun'er, the Du household sent people to receive the wrong bride. They mistook this servant for the young miss and made this servant bow to General Du in the wedding ceremony. This servant has been wronged and feels deeply ashamed before Miss Yun'er. I beg you to grant this servant death!"
Nanny Fu and Nanny Liu, along with the dowry maidservants, also came running in a panic and knelt in unison before the father and daughter.
Nanny Fu spoke first, "Marquis, this servant doesn't know how this happened either. Earlier, when General Du came to the bridal chamber and lifted the bride's red veil, he discovered that the bride was not Miss Yun'er!"
Nanny Liu continued, "Marquis, after causing such a blunder, General Du did not reflect on his own fault—instead, he suspected that this servant and the others had switched the brides, and even wanted to hold us accountable. I beg the Marquis to seek justice for us. Today's mistake of receiving the wrong bride has nothing whatsoever to do with us. Even with the boldest of courage, we would never dare to sabotage Miss Yun'er's marriage!"
Seeing them each speaking in turn, crying and wailing, Du Yuanran was so furious his face turned ashen—steam might as well have been billowing from the top of his head.
But constrained by the guests filling the courtyard, and with Jing Liangyu standing right before him, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and hastily explain to Jing Yun, "Yun'er, today it was all the matchmaker's carelessness—she failed to distinguish who was who and brought Xiangxing into the residence thinking she was you! Don't be angry. I'll call the ceremony master over right away, and we can perform the wedding rites again. What do you say?"
As he spoke, he moved closer to Jing Yun, intending to take her hand affectionately as he usually did.
However, before Jing Yun could even step away from him, Jing Liangyu quickly pulled his daughter behind him and glared at Du Yuanran, saying sternly, "Such a blunder has not only ruined Yun'er's reputation, but also the honor of my Residence of the Marquis of Anqi. You think a mere 'the matchmaker was careless' can brush this aside? What do you take my Residence of the Marquis of Anqi for? What do you take Yun'er for? Even if you still wish to marry Yun'er, don't forget—you have already bowed to another in the wedding ceremony. Xiangxing is now the bride you carried in with your eight-person sedan!"
"I… I…" Each word struck like a hammer, leaving Du Yuanran utterly defenseless. Amid the murmuring of the assembled guests, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"The Marquis, please calm your anger." It was Yao Zhuhua who shamelessly spoke up, her face full of guilt as she said, "Today's mistakes are all our fault. We have brought shame upon the Marquis's household and wronged Yun'er. Please rest assured, Marquis, we will definitely give Yun'er an explanation. We will never let her marry with the slightest grievance."
Behind Jing Liangyu, Jing Yun curled her lips into a sneer of contempt.
What a load of crap—using torn socks as a face mask, utterly shameless!
What did she mean by "never let her marry with the slightest grievance"? Wasn't having a concubine enter the household on the same day as her a grievance? Wasn't her fiancé fooling around with another woman before marrying her and getting that woman pregnant also a grievance?
However, since her goal had not yet been achieved, she had no choice but to swallow this disgusting anger and hold back her urge to lash out.
Before coming out, she had discussed the matter in detail with Jing Liangyu. Yao Zhuhua's words were exactly what they had anticipated. Jing Liangyu looked at Du Yuanran, who was indignant but dared not speak, and his stern expression did not waver. "Do you still wish to marry Yun'er?"
Hearing this, Du Yuanran immediately knelt before him and pleaded, "Marquis, my feelings for Yun'er are deep and sincere. Today's mistake was never my intention. As long as the Marquis is willing to give Yun'er to me in marriage, I would go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Perhaps his resolute attitude softened Jing Liangyu's mood somewhat. "If it weren't for the fact that you still have some genuine sincerity, I would never allow my daughter to marry you! But there are two things you must do, or else the marriage between you and Yun'er is off!"
"I await the Marquis's command!" Du Yuanran replied respectfully, as if he were fully prepared to sacrifice anything at a moment's notice for his so-called sincerity.
"First, the marriage contract between you and Yun'er is to be voided. Second, you are to give Xiangxing a letter of divorce."
"This…"
Du Yuanran raised his head, his mouth agape, his eyes filled with obvious shock and reluctance.
Jing Yun stepped out from behind Jing Liangyu, first sweeping her gaze across the assembled guests, then fixing her eyes on this man who had once sworn vows of eternal love with her predecessor.
Actually, her predecessor's taste wasn't entirely bad. This Du Yuanran had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and was somewhat handsome. Coupled with years of martial arts training, he had a tall and sturdy build. By the standards of twenty-first-century women, he could be considered a hunk.
Unfortunately…
This man had been fed too well by her predecessor's genuine affection, and once his belly was full, he started to get cocky!
Suppressing the disgust that filled her heart and lungs, she feigned grievance and said, "Brother Du, the marriage contract is the proof of the bond between you and me. But today, you welcomed another woman into your home with a grand eight-person sedan and performed the wedding ceremony. This goes against the marriage contract. It's like a farce, and it's hard for me to take it calmly. My father's intention is for you to formally marry me again according to the Six Rites. If that is to be, then the existing marriage contract must be voided, and you must divorce the woman you wed today. Only then can I regain the status and dignity I deserve."
Through her predecessor's memories, she knew the wedding customs of this era. Her predecessor's marriage process with Du Yuanran had followed the standard rites—Proposal (Na Cai), Inquiry of Name (Wen Ming), Divination of Auspiciousness (Na Ji), Betrothal Gifts (Na Zheng), Requesting the Date (Qing Qi), and Bridal Procession (Qin Ying)—not a single step omitted. And the marriage contract of this era was equivalent to a twenty-first-century marriage certificate. Not only did it contain the birth dates and times of her predecessor and Du Yuanran, but most importantly, it also bore the information of the matchmaker, witnesses, officiant, and elders from both families.
Breaking off the engagement, breaking off the engagement—if she truly wanted to dissolve her marriage contract with Du Yuanran, it would not be a matter of a single Letter of Divorce. Only by destroying that Marriage Contract could it be considered truly annulled!
Seeing her expression of tearful grievance and utter injustice, Du Yuanran hurriedly rose to comfort her. "Jing Yun, it was my carelessness that caused you such grievance. As long as it can dispel your anger, never mind beatings and scoldings—even if you wanted my life, I would be willing. Please don't be sad anymore, all right? When you are like this, my heart feels as if it is being sliced by a knife."
Listening to his heartfelt confession, Jing Yun was just short of vomiting up last night's dinner…
No, she wanted to vomit up every meal she had eaten in the twenty-first century!
"General Du." Sikong Hengyi suddenly spoke. The Crown Prince, who was always as gentle as jade, rarely showed a stern and severe expression. "Today's marriage is indeed like a farce. My cousin Jing Yun has been deeply devoted to you for many years, and she truly should not suffer such humiliation. Moreover, the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi is no ordinary commoner household. Such a mistake also concerns the dignity of My Imperial Mother. No matter how deep your feelings for Jing Yun may be, you must still give the Marquisate an explanation."
"Your Highness's reprimand is correct, I…" Du Yuanran bowed in acknowledgment. Compared to his earlier fury in the bridal chamber, he was now as meek as a lamb, not daring to show even a trace of temper.
But before he could finish speaking, his mother Yao Zhuhua could not help but tug at his sleeve and said with great reluctance, "Yuanran, we mistakenly brought Xiangxing into the residence to bow in marriage with you. You need only give Xiangxing a Letter of Divorce. There is really no need for that Marriage Contract…"
Jing Liangyu angrily interrupted her. "Jing Yun is the legitimate daughter of my Jing family. Is Madam Du's argument meant to make Jing Yun swallow her pride and make do? If you insist on humiliating Jing Yun in this way, then this marriage is finished! You failed to carry my Jing Yun through the front gate in an eight-carried palanquin, so my Jing Yun is not a member of your Du family. Even if there is a Marriage Contract, I will risk my reputation and deny it on Jing Yun's behalf!"
He then glared furiously at Du Yuanran, his words resounding with finality and leaving no room for negotiation. "If you truly wish to marry Jing Yun, then abolish the existing Marriage Contract and choose an auspicious day to come to my Marquisate to present betrothal gifts anew. Otherwise, you will never see Jing Yun again in this lifetime!"
Yao Zhuhua was anxious and wanted to speak again, but Du Yuanran had clearly conceded and hurriedly stopped her.
At this point, no matter how many doubts he had about the mix-up of the bride, he had no strength to argue. Moreover, most of the guests filling the hall were colleagues at court, and they had all witnessed this farce. With both Jing Liangyu and the Crown Prince Sikong Hengyi applying pressure on him simultaneously, he had no other choice.
He looked at Jing Yun with sorrowful eyes.
In the past, she had always sided with him. When others looked down on his origins, she would praise his virtues to them. When others thought him mediocre, she would do everything in her power to create opportunities for him, to let him display his talents, to make others feel they were well matched…
Yet now, looking at her, he felt an inexplicable panic in the depths of his heart.
The familiar oval face was still so delicate and beautiful, but she stood upright at Jing Liangyu's side, her face devoid of any expression. She did not respond in the slightest even to his hinting gaze, so cold and indifferent it was as if she did not know him at all.
"Jing Yun…" His throat tightened, and waves of guilt surged through his heart.
Her coldness must be because she was angry about his taking Tang Yingying as a concubine!
How could Jing Yun not know what he was thinking? If she could, she would right now give anything to knock this scumbag to the ground with one punch, then step on his shameless face and directly force him to hand over the Marriage Contract!
But in the end, she still restrained the impulse, putting on a sorrowful expression as she said to him, "Brother Du, for your sake, I can endure any grievance. But marriage is a lifelong matter, and I must have dignity. You truly want to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me, right? Then tear up the Marriage Contract in front of everyone, and let our marriage be conducted again according to the proper rites, all right? That way, not only will my dignity be preserved, but it will also further prove that your feelings for me are sincere—that no matter what happens, nothing can tear us apart."
A legitimate daughter of a marquis household using such a pleading tone thoroughly eliminated any thought of saying "no" from Du Yuanran's mind.
Looking at the guests' reactions, not only were they buzzing with discussion, but even several of his friends at court were simultaneously shooting him looks, meant to remind him not to chill the heart of the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi.
What else could Du Yuanran say?
The only person who disapproved was his mother, Yao Zhuhua.
But with the Crown Prince's imposing presence right there backing the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi, and with both father and daughter of the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi insisting on holding him accountable for today's blunder, Yao Zhuhua, despite having a thousand and one reluctances, could only watch as her son instructed the steward to fetch the Marriage Contract.
She secretly glared at Jing Yun, so hateful and heartbroken that it hurt, while inwardly she couldn't help but grind her teeth—once her son brought the girl through the door, she would absolutely "establish her authority" properly, and let this senseless dead girl know that she and her son were not so easy to bully!
Before long, the steward Zhao Hai brought over an exquisite box and handed it to Du Yuanran.
Du Yuanran opened the box, took out the booklet folded from red paper inside, and handed it to Jing Liangyu for inspection.
Jing Liangyu took it with a dark expression, and after confirming it was correct, returned it to him.
The scene suddenly fell silent, with everyone's gaze fixed on the red booklet in Du Yuanran's hands.
Du Yuanran gave Jing Yun one last deep look.
Jing Yun didn't meet his gaze, only lowering her head as if wronged, twisting her handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.
Du Yuanran gritted his back teeth, tossed the empty box at his feet, then forcefully tore the Marriage Contract apart.
Immediately after, he had Zhao Hai bring brush and ink, and wrote out a Letter of Divorce for Xiangxing.
Watching the moment Xiangxing received the Letter of Divorce, Jing Yun turned her head, the corners of her mouth curving upward beyond her control.
However, as she turned her head, she inadvertently caught sight of a man not far away—none other than Prince Yu, Xia Yanli, who had escorted her back to her family home!
He was leaning against a tree, utterly leisurely and languid, his devastatingly handsome face wearing a playful, wicked smile, as if telling onlookers that today he had watched a most spectacular show…
The upturned red lips of Jing Yun froze in an instant, and for some reason, she felt the urge to have black lines drop down her forehead.
She immediately shifted her gaze, wanting to conceal a certain sense of embarrassment. But just then, she suddenly caught sight of the eaves in the distance, where stood a woman dressed in red bridal attire!
Her lovely face instantly turned cold, and her heart churned with disgust.
Setting aside for now how much Du Yuanran simultaneously taking a wife and a concubine hurt her original body, the fact that Tang Yingying, entering the household as a concubine, was actually wearing the same red dress as the principal wife—this was simply grinding the face of her original body into the ground. Did the Du mother and son treat her original body like an orphan?
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
She was just thinking about how to expose the matter between Du Yuanran and Tang Yingying, but she hadn't expected Tang Yingying to be so impatient—she had actually run out on her own.
A desire for revenge surged in her heart. She immediately grabbed Jing Liangyu's sleeve with one hand and pointed at the woman under the eaves with the other, feigning confusion as she said, "Father, look quickly—isn't that the concubine-born daughter of the Tang family? Why is she at the Residence of the Fuyuan General? And she's even wearing a wedding dress!"
The commotion in the residence was so great that Tang Yingying naturally heard about it in the side courtyard. She too was extremely shocked by the matter of the wrong bride being brought back, and amid this shock, a hint of pleasant surprise arose. So, disregarding the dissuasion of her maids and serving women, she ran out, wanting to see the truth with her own eyes.
Upon hearing Jing Yun's words, all the guests couldn't help but look in the direction she was pointing.
At this look, quite a few guests were startled again, and an uproar broke out once more.
Du Yuanran and Yao Zhuhua turned around, their faces instantly turning ghastly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from them.
"Du Yuanran!" Jing Liangyu suddenly roared furiously, pointing at Tang Yingying under the distant eaves, directly exploding with rage. "You dare to take a second wife on the same day you marry my Yun'er?! Do you think everyone in my Residence of the Marquis of Anqi is dead?!"