In the solemn Ancestral Hall, the ancestors of the Xia family were enshrined.
Before the heavy Ancestral Tablets, a woman knelt devoutly, her appearance so haggard that it was clear she had been kneeling and pleading here for a long time.
“Madam, Madam, the General has returned!” A maid lifted her skirt and rushed in frantically, with Xia Maoshan hurrying not far behind her.
Xia Madam turned her head abruptly. After confirming she hadn’t misheard, she scrambled up from the ground using both hands and feet. Her legs, having knelt all night, were sore and swollen, unbearable, yet she stumbled and staggered toward that direction.
When Xia Maoshan saw his usually dignified and proper wife running toward him in such a disheveled state, he immediately stepped forward to meet her. Just as the two were about to collide, Xia Madam’s foot slipped, and she tumbled down.
Fortunately, Xia Maoshan reacted quickly, preventing Xia Madam from falling directly to the ground.
Even in her current wretched state, Xia Madam paid no attention to herself. She tightly grasped Xia Maoshan’s hand, her eyes filled with hope.
Seeing the hope in his wife’s eyes, Xia Maoshan instinctively avoided her gaze, then slowly shook his head.
Xia Madam’s hope shattered instantly. She clutched Xia Maoshan’s lapel tightly, nearly desperate: “Then go look for her, go look for her again! She’s our daughter! Hurry and go find her!”
Xia Maoshan looked at his nearly broken wife in his arms, his heart heavy with pain. Just as he was about to speak, a servant ran over: “General, the Yong’an Wangfu has sent someone to our door!”
Xia Maoshan’s expression immediately changed: “Didn’t we send word last night? Today, our family has urgent matters. The betrothal gifts can be discussed another day. Why are they here today?”
The servant’s face looked uneasy, stammering and unable to give a clear explanation.
“Speak!” Xia Maoshan barked sharply.
The servant glanced up at the pale-faced Xia Madam, then cautiously said: “The Yong’an Wangfu came with aggressive intent, seemingly… seemingly to break off the engagement!”
Xia Madam paused, then her legs gave way, and she collapsed straight to the ground.
Xia Maoshan felt fury burning within him. With one arm, he pulled Xia Madam into his embrace, then angrily cursed: “What a fine Yong’an Wang! My daughter is now missing, and he actually chooses this critical moment to break off the engagement? This is beyond insulting! Today, I will personally meet him and see what explanation he can possibly give!”
After calming Xia Madam’s emotions, Xia Maoshan took her hand and strode vigorously toward the front hall.
Just as the two reached the front hall, before even entering, they heard Princess Yong’an’s rather unfriendly voice: “I know your Madam is unwell, but my matter cannot be delayed either. Go and tell her—she will surely come!”
“Your Highness, please do not be angry. Uncle and Aunt are just anxious!” Xia Yuruo’s voice came through. “Please wait a little longer. Aunt will definitely come to see you!”
“What matter is so urgent that you must see Her Highness even when my wife is unwell?” Xia Maoshan lifted the curtain and entered, his face terrifyingly dark.
Kang Muze, the Yong’an Wang Shizi sitting to the side, immediately stood up.
“Uncle…” Xia Yuruo, who had just been crowding near Princess Yong’an, hurriedly rose to greet him.
Xia Maoshan looked at Xia Yuruo with a displeased expression: “What are you doing here?”
“I… I was worried about Eldest Sister and came to see Aunt…” Xia Yuruo hung her head, presenting a thoroughly wronged appearance.
Princess Yong’an looked at Xia Maoshan’s furious state with some displeasure: “The General possesses quite the temper!”
Though grief-stricken in her heart, Xia Madam still patted Xia Maoshan to soothe his emotions before stepping forward and giving a slight bow: “We beg Your Highness’ forgiveness. The General has been traveling all night and is inevitably somewhat irritable!”
Seeing Xia Madam’s haggard, pale face, Princess Yong’an moderated her expression slightly: “I know your household has suffered misfortune, and I’m not deliberately seeking trouble. It’s just…”
Xia Madam looked at Princess Yong’an without speaking, simply watching her quietly.
Under that gaze, Princess Yong’an grew somewhat uneasy. After hesitating for a long moment, she finally spoke: “The news that Jianxi was kidnapped by bandits is already known throughout Bianjing. She stayed out all night. Even if you’ve found her, our Yong’an Wangfu would never marry a woman with completely ruined reputation as principal wife! The marriage contract between our two families… perhaps it would be best to annul it now!”
“You…” Xia Maoshan burned with rage and was about to rebuke her when Xia Madam stopped him with a hand. “Your Highness should understand that the marriage contract between our families was established by the old Wang Ye. If you wish to break the engagement, you should petition His Majesty, not come to us!”
“The marriage contract established by the old Wang Ye cannot be so easily broken!” Princess Yong’an said, casting a glance toward Xia Yuruo standing nearby. “The old Wang Ye originally betrothed a daughter of the Xia family. Your Xia family has more than one daughter, does it not?”
After hearing Princess Yong’an’s words, Xia Yuruo slightly lowered her head, her face full of bashful delight.
Everyone in this room was shrewd. Watching Xia Yuruo’s performance, Xia Madam felt extreme grief and indignation. Clenching her teeth, her eyes filled with resentment, she said: “Would Your Highness care to speak plainly?”
“Yuruo and our Muze grew up together since childhood. She has a gentle and graceful disposition. Under the circumstances, why don’t you simply transfer the marriage document left by the old Wang Ye to Yuruo? This would still fulfill the alliance between our two families!” Princess Yong’an affectionately took Xia Yuruo’s hand as she spoke with a smile.
Looking at the affected Xia Yuruo before her, Xia Madam felt only the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. After a long while, she finally turned her gaze to Yong’an Wang Shizi Kang Muze standing nearby: “Does the Heir share this opinion?”
Kang Muze, standing to the side, looked somewhat uncomfortable. He instinctively raised his head to look at Xia Madam, but immediately averted his eyes when they met hers.
Seeing that Kang Muze didn’t even dare to look her directly in the eye, Xia Madam felt utterly grief-stricken and indignant. She gave a bitter laugh: “I originally thought the Heir was a responsible young man. I never imagined he wouldn’t even dare to speak plainly, hiding behind the Princess to become a coward despised by all!”
Kang Muze flushed crimson with shame at Xia Madam’s words. Gathering his courage to look at her, he was just about to speak when a servant rushed in from behind: “Madam! General! The young lady has returned!”
Xia Madam, who had been maintaining her noble composure until then, immediately abandoned Princess Yong’an and the Heir, stumbling out in haste.
Seeing this, Kang Muze nearby also wanted to follow, but was pulled back by Princess Yong’an: “What are you doing? Even if she has returned, after being missing all night, can she still be that pure and innocent Xia Jianxi?”
“Mother… even if the engagement is to be called off, I should at least go see if she is safe!” Kang Muze pushed away Princess Yong’an’s hand and strode out.
“Brother Muze!” Xia Yuruo watched Kang Muze’s hurried departure, feeling inexplicably flustered.
Princess Yong’an comfortingly patted Xia Yuruo’s hand: “Don’t worry, let’s go see as well!”
Xia Madam walked so hastily that she nearly stumbled several times, fortunately Xia Maoshan kept supporting her, allowing her to stagger to the entrance.
Before the general’s mansion stood a man with his back to them, hands clasped behind him, and beside him, there was no sign of Xia Jianxi.
“Wang Ye?” Xia Maoshan was the first to recognize Yi Zichuan.
Hearing the voice, Yi Zichuan turned around. He glanced at Xia Maoshan and Xia Madam before him, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Kang Muze hurrying out after them.
“What brings the Heir here today?” Yi Zichuan raised an eyebrow slightly. “I heard the Heir’s wedding is approaching. Could it be you’re here to present betrothal gifts to Miss Xia?”
Kang Muze’s face stiffened. Steeling himself, he stepped forward to bow before asking: “I heard Jianxi has returned. Why is it that we see Wang Ye here instead of Jianxi?”
Yi Zichuan arched an eyebrow, then looked toward Xia Maoshan: “The General has raised an exceptional daughter!”
While Xia Maoshan was still perplexed, the door of a nearby carriage opened. A maid stepped forward, carefully assisting the person inside to slowly emerge.
“Jianxi!” Xia Madam immediately noticed Xia Jianxi’s pale face.
She rushed over immediately, reaching out to grasp her, but was stopped by the maid: “Madam, Miss Xia is injured! Please be gentle!”
“Injured?” Xia Madam’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. “How was she injured?”
Yi Zichuan cast a faint glance at Kang Muze before saying: “Last night my mother was attacked by assassins. Thanks to Miss Xia risking her life to protect her, my mother emerged unharmed. Madam Xia, you’ve raised a remarkable daughter!”