“Not to mention Xi’er stayed out all night to save me, even if she had truly been kidnapped by those bandits, how could you declare her virtue ruined before she even returned?” Song Taifei said indignantly. “Moreover, the marriage arrangement between the Xia family and Yong’an Wangfu was established by the old Wang Ye and the late Emperor! How could you possibly break it off so casually!”
Princess Yong’an grew somewhat defensive: “I never said we would break off the engagement, I…”
“Indeed, you didn’t say you’d break the engagement. You said the marriage arrangement with your Yong’an Wangfu was with a daughter of the Xia family, and the Xia family has more than one daughter!” Xia Madam interrupted Princess Yong’an with a cold snort.
Song Taifei looked at Xia Yuruo, who had been hiding behind Princess Yong’an all this time, and suddenly understood: “It seems Yong’an Wang Shizi has already set his heart on someone else, and that’s why you’re using this pretext to break off the engagement!”
Xia Jianxi, who had remained silent until now, finally lifted her head to look at Kang Muze before her: “Is this true?”
Kang Muze gazed at Xia Jianxi’s pale face, her red-rimmed eyes filled with disbelief, and found himself momentarily speechless.
Seeing Kang Muze remain silent, Xia Yuruo feared he might waver and quickly stepped forward: “Elder sister, Brother Muze doesn’t mean it that way…”
“Then what does he mean?” Xia Jianxi turned to Xia Yuruo. Though tears welled in her eyes, Xia Yuruo could clearly detect a faint but unmistakable killing intent within them. “While I was kidnapped by bandits, with my fate unknown, not only did he not send anyone to search for me, he actually came to break off our engagement! He’s faithless and utterly shameless!”
Princess Yong’an couldn’t tolerate anyone speaking ill of her precious son like this and immediately flared up: “Faithless and utterly shameless? Xia Jianxi, how dare you question Muze so self-righteously? Do you expect our Wangfu to still marry you even if your virtue has been completely ruined?”
“Virtue ruined?” Xia Jianxi looked toward Kang Muze in the distance. “So you don’t care whether I lived or died at all? All you care about is whether I remained pure?”
Kang Muze looked at Xia Jianxi, her eyes brimming with tears, and in that moment, he felt nothing but heartache and overwhelming shame: “I…”
“Elder sister!” Seeing Kang Muze’s expression, Xia Yuruo grew inexplicably panicked and quickly interrupted him. “Brother Muze had no choice! The news of your disappearance has spread like wildfire through the streets. After all, Yong’an Wangfu is an aristocratic family – they must consider their reputation!”
“Xia Yuruo, you call me ‘elder sister’ with every breath, yet every word you speak defends Yong’an Wangfu. Could it be that your surname isn’t Xia, but Kang from Yong’an Wangfu?” Xia Jianxi coldly stared at Xia Yuruo, questioning her word by word.
“I, I was only…”
“Xia Jianxi, Yu Ruo was merely speaking fairly for our Muze! Why must you be so aggressive!” Princess Yong’an stepped forward to shield Xia Yuruo, clearly protective of the younger generation. “Besides, this matter is ultimately your fault to begin with!”
“Princess Yong’an, what do you mean by ‘ultimately Jianxi’s fault’? What has Jianxi done wrong from beginning to end!” Xia Madam stepped forward angrily.
Princess Yong’an glanced at Xia Madam before turning her gaze to Xia Jianxi. “Our families had long agreed upon today as the betrothal date. As a young lady about to be married, you should have stayed properly at home instead of going out. That’s why this incident occurred. Yet now you shift all the blame onto our Muze. Is this how the Xia family raises their daughters?”
“You think I went out willingly?” Seizing the key point, Xia Jianxi suddenly let out a scornful laugh. Then, staring fixedly at Kang Muze before her, her voice trembled with tears. “Do you think so too?”
Xia Jianxi was always a proper young lady—gentle, dignified, and graceful. This was the first time Kang Muze had seen her so fragile, as if she might shatter the next moment. “I didn’t, Jianxi, I…”
“Yesterday was the Flower Festival…” Xia Jianxi didn’t want to hear Kang Muze’s excuses. She lifted her eyes to Princess Yong’an. “Several cousins begged me for a long time, but I never agreed to go out. It was the Heir’s servant who repeatedly delivered letters inviting me to see the lanterns. I didn’t want to refuse and embarrass the Heir, so I accepted the invitation. And now, this becomes Her Highness’s criticism?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Yuruo’s face instantly changed color, her hands involuntarily clenching her sleeves at her sides.
Yi Zichuan, watching coldly from the sidelines, was the first to notice Xia Yuruo’s unease. He crossed his arms, smirking faintly at the unfolding drama.
Princess Yong’an was momentarily stunned before immediately turning to Kang Muze and demanding sharply, “Is this true?”
Kang Muze shook his head at once. “No. I knew we were sending betrothal gifts today—why would I invite Jianxi to some trivial lantern festival the night before…”
“Is the Heir denying his own actions now?” Xia Jianxi accused tearfully. Then, she pulled neatly folded letters from her sleeve and flung them at Kang Muze. “Does the Heir not even recognize his own handwriting?”
The moment Xia Yuruo saw those letters, all color drained from her face, leaving her terrifyingly pale.
She had clearly sent someone to destroy those letters—why were they now in Xia Jianxi’s hands?
Kang Muze’s servant immediately picked up the letters, glanced at them briefly, and handed them to Kang Muze, his eyes wide with shock. “Heir, it really is your handwriting!”
Xia Jianxi, her eyes red, stared at the disbelieving Kang Muze and asked word by word, “Does the Heir have anything else to say?”
“This is indeed my handwriting, but I didn’t write these!” Kang Muze held the letters, feeling utterly unable to defend himself.
“You deny it? These letters were received personally by my maid from your Shu Tong. If you don’t believe me, summon your Shu Tong to confront me!” As she spoke, tears streamed down Xia Jianxi’s cheeks.
Yi Zichuan slowly stepped forward, bent down, and picked up a letter Kang Muze had accidentally dropped. On the yellowish-white paper were smudged bloodstains—uncleaned traces of blood from her hand.
Those letters were personally transcribed by Xia Jianxi despite her injuries. After examining them carefully, he had to admit that even if Dali Temple officials specializing in handwriting analysis were to inspect them, they would struggle to distinguish the forgery.
“Since Muze claims he didn’t write them, it must be that thief deliberately imitating Muze’s handwriting to lure you to the Flower Festival and target you!” Princess Yong’an’s expression shifted repeatedly before she finally exclaimed in anger.
Song Taifei, who had remained silent until then, suddenly chuckled. “Are you suggesting that rebel bribed your family’s Shu Tong, went through great pains to imitate the Heir’s handwriting, kidnapped Miss Xia, and then attempted to assassinate me? Isn’t it more likely that your Yong’an Wangfu colluded with the rebels in a plot to harm me?”
Princess Yong’an’s face paled dramatically. She understood all too well that being associated with rebels would mean utter ruin for the entire Yong’an Wangfu. “Dowager Consort, we have absolutely no connection to those rebels!”
Yi Zichuan tucked the letters into his palm and turned his gaze to Princess Yong’an. “Since this matter involves rebels, Yong’an Wangfu must provide a full explanation. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to report this truthfully to His Majesty. When that happens, Yong’an Wangfu—”
“Bring that Shu Tong to me immediately! Now!” Princess Yong’an grabbed a servant by the arm, her voice tinged with panic.