"Minister Shen, Minister Su claims he's been wronged. What do you intend to do?"
Shen Changyuan stepped forward directly and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, the marriage between our two families was originally bestowed by Your Majesty during the Mid-Autumn banquet five years ago. I beg Your Majesty to allow our families to annul the engagement!"
Upon hearing this, Su Qingshan immediately grew anxious.
His granddaughter Su Ruoxue was already nineteen—an old maid! Annulling the engagement now would be tantamount to killing his granddaughter!
How vicious!
He was utterly furious!
The two senior ministers argued fiercely in the Jinluandian. After court adjourned, the Jingyuan Emperor brought both of them to the Imperial Study.
"Minister Shen, explain yourself. Why must you insist on annulling the engagement? If you don't provide a reasonable reason today, I won't let you off lightly!"
"Your Majesty, if you send a royal physician to Minister Su's residence, you will immediately understand my position."
The Jingyuan Emperor granted both ministers seats. Wang Xiaohai, the adopted son of Wang Defu, personally escorted Physician Xue to the Su Mansion. When Wang Defu received the news upon their return, his expression changed drastically.
After reporting the results to the Jingyuan Emperor in a whisper, he showed some consideration for Minister Su's dignity.
The Jingyuan Emperor looked at Su Qingshan with a complicated expression.
Old age had brought disgrace to his family!
"Minister Shen, your request is granted! Additionally, Minister Su is penalized with one year's suspension of salary. Take care of yourself."
Su Qingshan was completely stunned!
He looked at the Jingyuan Emperor, then at Shen Changyuan. In the end, he was dazed about how he even left the Imperial Study. He pulled aside Eunuch Wang, forcibly stuffing two Silver Notes into his hand, before hearing the thunderous news that struck him like a bolt from the blue!
His vision went dark, and he fainted on the spot.
"Minister Su! Minister Su!"
"Oh dear, summon the royal physician!"
In the end, Su Qingshan was escorted back home by attendants from the Yikun Palace.
Su Qingshan had always taken great pride in his children's achievements. His only granddaughter, Su Ruoxue, was obedient, sensible, gentle, and refined, renowned for her talent throughout Shengjing.
Later, the Emperor bestowed the marriage, and she was set to become the mistress of the Changping Marquis Manor.
But then…
His beard quivered with rage!
"Ruoxue, kneel down!"
Ever since the royal physician arrived, Su Ruoxue knew she was finished!
"Grandfather, please grant your granddaughter's wish."
"Wahh…"
Su Ruoxue now appeared utterly pitiable, her face drenched in tears.
"Whose child is it?"
Soon, the scholar Qian Xuewen was brought in under restraint.
"Xuewen, Xuewen… Wahh…"
Qian Xuewen's mouth was gagged, preventing him from speaking, but his crimson eyes blazed with fury.
What he shared with Miss Su was true love.
True love is invincible!
True love conquers all!
Su Ruoxue's heart ached to see her beloved bound tightly.
"Grandfather, Father, Mother, please grant us your blessing. Besides, your daughter is now…"
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became.
She knew she had brought shame upon her family!
A gentle breeze swept by as Shen Mingzhu sat at the dining table, eating heartily.
Fortunately, she had transmigrated into the daughter of a Marquis Estate, with no worries about food or drink.
After finishing a bowl of rice porridge and two side dishes, Shen Mingzhu stretched comfortably.
Checking her points, she was pleased to see they were no longer a big zero!
The System Store displayed in the upper right corner: Points: 28!
Just this?
Nevertheless, what made her happy was that the System Store had been activated!
She could now purchase items from the System Store.
The System Store was equivalent to a modern-day discount shopping platform, offering everything one could imagine. Even the Longevity Pills and Longevity Fruits mentioned by the System earlier were available. However, a quick glance confirmed they were far beyond her means.
As a small fry with only 28 points, she wasn't worthy of such high-end items.
After breakfast, Shen Mingzhu comfortably lay back in bed.
After taking a morning nap, her biological father Lord Shen Changyuan returned from court.
He also brought news that her eldest brother Shen Qinghong had called off his engagement.
The whole family gathered in the main hall.
Shen Qinghong remained silent.
Shen Jiaojiao's face was full of displeasure.
"Father, Sister Ruoxue is such a good person, and Big Brother likes her so much. Why call off the engagement so suddenly! What will happen to Sister Ruoxue now? All these years she's been waiting faithfully for Big Brother to marry her. Big Brother, say something!"
Shen Qinghong glanced at his father and mother, then at his second younger sister Shen Jiaojiao.
Then he looked toward Shen Mu,
"Mother, where's Mingzhu?"
"Mingzhu is resting!"
As soon as Shen Mu finished speaking, Shen Jiaojiao immediately pouted,
"How can Sister be resting at a time like this? Shouldn't she come quickly to help Big Brother think of a way to win back Sister Ruoxue?"
Seeing Shen Jiaojiao's attitude, Father Shen immediately snorted lightly.
"The engagement was called off by His Majesty's decree. The Su family's daughter is not a suitable match. Eldest Son, your father and I will carefully select a new marriage arrangement for you. This is not your fault."
"Father…"
Shen Changyuan nodded helplessly.
Shen Qinghong's heart felt as cold as ashes.
[Huh? Why did Big Brother break off the engagement with Su Ruoxue? Shouldn't they have had a romantic encounter, moved the wedding plans forward, ended up with Big Brother raising someone else's child, and eventually giving away the entire Marquis Estate? Why break it off now?]
The voice grew closer, and everyone knew Shen Mingzhu had arrived!
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's indifferent expression, Shen Qinghong was so angry he felt like his internal organs were about to explode!
His sister was still making sarcastic comments, showing no concern for his well-being at all.
"Big Brother, what's wrong with you? If the engagement is broken off, then so be it. The next one will be better!"
Shen Qinghong: …You certainly know how to comfort people!
Shen Mu was very happy to see Shen Mingzhu,
"Come, Mingzhu, sit by Mother."
When Father Shen saw Shen Mingzhu, she sweetly greeted him.
"Father."
Father Shen nodded.
His daughter's inner thoughts were all true!
He needed to start valuing this daughter more from now on!
"Qinghong, where is your younger brother Qingbo?"
"Father, Fourth Brother recently went on a study tour with teachers from White Deer Academy. He'll return before the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Shen Changyuan thought for a moment,
"Hmm, write to him and tell him he must return home before the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Yes, Father."
[Gua Gua, Gua Gua, quickly help me check what Miss Su's final outcome will be?]
Everyone pricked up their ears, wanting to know how Minister Su would handle this matter.
[Sigh… every family has its own troubles! Minister Su ultimately doted on his granddaughter and quietly married Su Ruoxue off to Scholar Qian.]
Shen Mingzhu, [Um… did they live in the Su Mansion after getting married?]
[They moved out! Letting Su Ruoxue keep her life was already Minister Su's limit. According to his original intention, she should have been given a white silk cord to end her life. It was only after Su Ruoxue's parents knelt together and begged Minister Su that he finally relented. If she still lived in Su Mansion, do you want Minister Su to die early?]
Finally, Shen Mingzhu sighed with emotion.
[Sigh… such a well-born young lady from a noble family, what a pity she's a love-struck fool. She's definitely going to have a miserable life!]
The System was very puzzled and couldn't help asking,
[How could that be? Didn't they have mutual feelings and get together? How could it be miserable?]
【Gua Gua, have you ever heard the saying: 'Poverty-stricken couples suffer from all kinds of troubles'? When you see your girlfriends marrying and living better lives, when you have to bow to sisters who were once beneath you, do you think you'll still feel as you do today?】
【The sincerity of this moment is real, but sincerity changes in the blink of an eye!】
System, 【Oh～～～ I don't understand!】
Shen Changyuan: …That sounds so reasonable!
Shen Mu: My daughter is so knowledgeable!
Shen Qinghong: …As if you know anything! You're just Xuan Wang's biggest simp!