Fu Langxing felt somewhat discomfited under her gaze but forced himself to appear composed as he snorted coldly:
"Hmph! Don't try to act familiar! The scandalous things you've done have spread throughout the capital!"
Song Yiqiu's hand paused almost imperceptibly. She set down the porcelain cup, its base clinking sharply against the table.
She smiled, her tone laced with mockery:
"No matter how harsh the frontier may be, it's about defending our homeland. Naturally, it can't compare to how finely my dear sister Sang Yu has lived these past seven years—comfortably at home, bringing joy to our parents in my stead."
The moment Fu Langxing heard her mention Song Sangyu, he grew agitated. He pulled Song Sangyu behind him protectively and angrily retorted:
"What are you insinuating with your sarcasm? How could Sang Yu be compared to you? She's pure and kind-hearted—don't project the filthy mindset you picked up in the military barracks onto others!"
His words struck Song Yiqiu like a sudden, sharp blow to the heart.
As she looked at this man who was so fervently defending another woman, she couldn't control the memory that surfaced—of an eleven-year-old boy on that Mid-Autumn Festival night.
A small boy, brandishing a comical wooden sword, legs trembling but standing resolutely in front of her, shouting at the ferocious "bandits":
"If you want to kill her, you'll have to step over my body first!"
On the eve of her departure for the frontier, he pressed that little wooden sword into her hands, his eyes shining brightly:
"Yi Qiu, I'll train hard in martial arts! When you return in seven years, I will definitely marry you!"
On the day she left, he chased after her horse caravan, falling again and again but scrambling back up each time, until he became a tiny black dot in the distance…
Seven years had passed.
He hadn't practiced martial arts; instead, he had become a renowned scholar in the capital. And that boy from her memories, who would once risk his life for her, had long since vanished.
"Song Yiqiu! Are you even listening to me?"
Fu Langxing, seeing her distracted, grew even angrier.
"If you know what's good for you, propose to break off the engagement yourself! I, Fu Langxing, would never marry a woman of questionable virtue!"
Outside the hall, servants gradually gathered, peeking curiously, along with some neighbors drawn by the rumors:
"Have you heard? The Song family's eldest daughter, who returned from the frontier, was caught fooling around with the groom!"
"No wonder the young master is here to break off the engagement. Who'd want to marry damaged goods?"
"Tsk, tsk, what a disgrace to the Song family!"
"I think Miss Sang Yu and the young master are a much better match. I heard they've been fond of each other for a long time…"
"Exactly! How can a woman who's been wild on the frontier for seven years compare to the gentle and virtuous Miss Sang Yu?"
Song Yiqiu looked calmly at Fu Langxing, as if regarding a complete stranger.
Suddenly, she raised her voice, loud enough for everyone inside and outside the hall to hear clearly:
"Questionable virtue? Young Master, you keep saying I'm of questionable virtue. May I ask what constitutes virtue? Is it when a woman, upon finding a thief has broken into her chamber to steal, fights back desperately to protect herself and her grandmother's heirlooms—is that what you call questionable virtue?"
"Theft?!Fu Langxing was stunned, reflexively retorting, "You… stop twisting the truth with your excuses! The servants clearly said…"
"What did the servants say?"
Song Yiqiu interrupted him, her sharp gaze piercing toward Song Sangyu, who was hiding behind him.
"That I was fooling around with the groom? Hmm? Which servant supposedly saw this? And who allowed them to spread such lies about their master? Father, Mother,"
She turned to look at Song's father and mother, who had been pretending not to hear.
"How dare the servants of this estate slander the chastity of the legitimate daughter, tarnish my reputation, and bring shame upon the family?" Shouldn't this be thoroughly investigated and severely punished?"
Song Yiqiu's parents turned pale, stammering and unable to respond.
Song Yiqiu sneered inwardly.
She finally understood why Fu Langxing had come so confidently to break off the engagement today, and why there happened to be such a large audience gathered outside.
Even though she no longer held any affection for Fu Langxing, she would never allow this dirty water to be splashed on her.
Smiling, she turned her gaze back to Fu Langxing, whose expression kept shifting:
"It seems the Young Master would rather believe rumors spread by those with ulterior motives than a single word of defense from his 'fiancée'?"
"Without even distinguishing right from wrong, you bring a crowd to my doorstep to humiliate me? Is this the upbringing of the Yongyu Count's household? Is this what you call… childhood friendship?"
Fu Langxing was stunned by Song Yiqiu's series of questions. He instinctively glanced at Song Sangyu, who was hiding behind him.
Feeling his gaze, Song Sangyu immediately lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, revealing her slender neck as if she had suffered immense injustice—making Song Yiqiu appear all the more aggressive.
"I… I…"
Fu Langxing was at a loss for words. The version he had heard was naturally a polished, scandalous tale of adultery, far removed from mere theft.
But now he was in a predicament, especially in front of Song Sangyu, and couldn't show weakness.
He stiffened his posture, though his tone involuntarily softened:
"I don't care what actually happened—whether it was theft or… or something else! The point is, it's caused a city-wide scandal, and your reputation is already ruined!"
"Who in the capital doesn't know that Song Yiqiu caused a scandal as soon as she returned home? My Yongyu Count's household can't afford such shame! I must break off this engagement today!"
Seeing his forced bravado, Song Yiqiu found it utterly ridiculous.
She replied straightforwardly:
"Fine."
Without the slightest hesitation, her response left everyone present stunned.
All the arguments Fu Langxing had prepared stuck in his throat. He stared at Song Yiqiu in disbelief, as if he hadn't heard correctly.
How many noble daughters would kill to secure a marriage alliance with the Yongyu Count's household, and she just… agreed?
So easily?
Song Sangyu also jerked her head up, her eyes wide with astonishment. This was completely different from the scene of desperate clinging she had anticipated.
Song Yiqiu's parents grew anxious.
Song Shenshi quickly spoke up, her tone reproachful:
"Yiqiu, what nonsense are you talking! Marriage is no child's play! Langxing is just upset right now. How can you agree to break it off so easily? Hurry up and apologize to Langxing!"
Song's father also scowled and scolded:
"Exactly! Making such a fuss over a trivial matter! Nephew Langxing, my daughter has grown wild on the frontier and lacks manners. Please don't take it to heart."
"This engagement was decided by the Old Madam and the Count himself. How can it be abandoned over mere rumors?"
They were terrified of losing this prestigious connection to the Count's household.
Hearing her parents finally speak up—not to defend her, but to hastily salvage Fu Langxing's pride, afraid of losing this golden son-in-law—Song Yiqiu sneered inwardly.
So her father and mother weren't mute after all? When others were slandering their daughter's chastity earlier, they hadn't been so eloquent.
Song Yiqiu stopped looking at them and turned her gaze back to the bewildered Fu Langxing.
"Calling off the engagement is acceptable. However, Young Master, today you have made a grand display by barging into my Song residence with this crowd. Without seeking explanations or distinguishing right from wrong, you have groundlessly slandered my virtue and tarnished my reputation. This matter cannot simply be brushed aside."
She slightly lifted her chin:
"I demand that you, before everyone present here, offer me a formal apology for today's recklessness and disrespect. As long as you apologize, I, Song Yiqiu, will immediately agree to terminate the engagement without any hesitation!"