When Madam Liu walked out of the Marquis’s main gate, the road before her was already completely blocked by a full seventy-two loads of betrothal gifts.
Load after load wrapped in bright red silk, which had once looked so festive and joyful, now seemed unbearably glaring.
Mama Huang and Steward Liu were standing at the gate negotiating with the doorman. When they saw Madam Liu emerge, they forced a smile that did not reach their eyes and gave a slight bow. “Greetings to Second Madam. We have come on the orders of our Marquis and Marchioness to return the betrothal gifts, and also to retrieve our young lady’s natal chart.”
Madam Liu could only force a smile in return. “There has been a misunderstanding. Please allow me to visit your estate and explain matters to Marquis Anle and the Marchioness.”
But Mama Huang replied, “What misunderstanding could there be? We have already received the letter of annulment written in Minister Meng’s own hand. Surely Madam Liu and Second Master Meng were not unaware?”
Madam Liu was about to say that indeed she had not been aware, but the words caught in her throat, and her expression shifted slightly.
This servant woman was setting a trap for her!
If Madam Liu openly admitted that she and her husband had known nothing of their son’s actions, that would place Meng Zixu in the position of being unfilial.
As the saying goes, “A child’s marriage is decided by the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word.” Since ancient times, children’s marriages have always been arranged by their parents. Their decision to betroth their son to the Ye family was entirely proper.
Yet Meng Zixu had taken it upon himself to annul the engagement.
If she admitted this was her son’s own doing, she would be acknowledging that Meng Zixu, as a son, had defied his parents’ command—truly unfilial and disobedient.
This was one of the Ten Great Crimes. For an ordinary person, being reported to the authorities for such an offense could cost them their life, let alone for Meng Zixu, who held an official position.
If those words left her mouth, a formal accusation would likely follow before she could even take another step.
This…
Her shock turned into cold sweat trickling down her back.
What a sharp-witted old servant!
Madam Liu looked at Mama Huang waiting below the steps for her answer, then at the common folk gathered all around. She closed her eyes, and her expression suddenly shifted to one of remorse. “It is we, the husband and wife, who have wronged your estate’s Third Young Lady.”
“Half a month ago, we visited Wanguo Temple. The eminent monk there told us that the Eight Characters of the two children were not well matched. Our son needed to find a young lady born in the Year of the Sheep, around the Zi hour, to be a suitable match—and Third Young Lady was born in the Year of the Tiger.”
“After we returned, my husband and I thought it over again and again. It was for the sake of the children that we resolved to annul the engagement.”
“Not informing your estate beforehand and deciding on our own was wrong of us. When Second Master returns, we will certainly go together to your doorstep and offer our apologies.”
“All of this is our fault. It has nothing to do with Marquis Anle’s estate, nor with Third Young Lady.” Madam Liu took all the blame upon herself.
Her meaning was clear: she was admitting that the decision to annul the engagement was theirs, and had nothing to do with their son Meng Zixu.
Below, Mama Huang and Steward Liu exchanged a glance, a hint of regret in their eyes.
They had failed to trick Madam Liu into publicly saying something that would harm Meng Zixu.
But that was only on the surface. Everyone knew how things truly stood behind closed doors. Having thrown the blame out first and distanced their own Third Young Lady from any responsibility, Mama Huang and Steward Liu had accomplished their task.
Handing over the betrothal gift list, Steward Liu said with a cold laugh, “Every single item of your belongings has been returned without a single piece missing. If you later claim something is short, we will not be responsible.”
Madam Liu did not even glance at the betrothal gifts.
They had been the ones to break faith and annul the engagement first. Even if the other party had kept everything as compensation, it would not have been excessive. Returning everything so publicly was a resounding slap across their faces.
The people of Marquis Anle’s estate had arrived with great fanfare and departed in grand procession.
After seeing them off, Madam Liu looked at the mountain of betrothal gifts with irritation. “Move them inside for now.”
With that, she turned and went back into the residence.
Mama Huang and Steward Liu returned to Marquis Anle’s estate to report, only to discover that the Marchioness was no longer at home.
Upon inquiry, they learned that the moment they had left the estate to return the betrothal gifts, the Marchioness had taken Third Young Lady into the palace to lodge a complaint with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.
In the Hall of Benevolent Longevity
Having listened to the Marchioness of Anle, who was weeping into her hands, the Empress Dowager was also furious. “Is the young master of the Marquis of Ningguo’s estate truly so base and arrogant?”
How could any man not understand the immense harm a public annulment would do to a young woman’s reputation? He had trampled over others without a care, all to achieve his own ends.
And a man like this had actually risen to the position of prefect of an entire prefecture.
“Your Majesty, your subject’s wife speaks not a single word of falsehood. That is exactly what Meng Zixu did today. This is the letter of annulment written in his own hand.” With that, she produced the letter Chang Ke had given her.
The Empress Dowager took it and looked it over. It was indeed genuine.
The Marchioness of Anle continued her tearful account: “We are not an unreasonable family. If he truly did not care for this engagement, he could have simply sent someone to speak with us privately. Could we have forced Su’er to marry him against her will? But instead, he had to make a public spectacle of it so that the entire city would know.”
The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt. What had started as seven parts performance and three parts genuine feeling gradually became real tears.
Her poor daughter—why did her marriage prospects always encounter one setback after another? Once, twice, three times now. How would the people of the capital look upon her in the future?
Ye Su could see that her mother was truly heartbroken. Though she herself was also angry, she first spoke softly to comfort her mother. “Mother, I am fine. If I don’t marry him, then I don’t.”
Before the Marchioness of Anle could speak, the Empress Dowager retorted, “That will not do. Not marrying him is one thing, but we cannot simply let him off so easily!”
In the Empress Dowager’s view, this was utterly outrageous. Ye Su was her niece from her natal family and often came to the palace to keep her company—she was no outsider.
The Marquis of Ningguo’s household and Meng Zixu should show respect for the monk’s sake by honoring the Buddha—this was blatantly disregarding her, the Empress Dowager!
“Nanny Qi, go to Tongxin Hall and summon the Emperor,” the Empress Dowager instructed her personal nanny who had been standing behind her.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Nanny Qi hurriedly acknowledged and went to deliver the message to His Majesty.
Tongxin Hall
This was the palace where the reigning Emperor of Daqing conducted his daily affairs. The front served as the place for summoning ministers to discuss matters and review memorials, while the rear housed the sleeping quarters.
The Chuigong Hall, where morning court was held, was not far from here. The current Emperor was born frail and spent most of his days in his own Tongxin Hall, occasionally visiting the rear palace.
Jiang Zhaoyi was reviewing the memorials in his hands when Eunuch Dehai suddenly walked in from outside and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests that you come to Renshou Palace at once.”
The vermilion brush paused in his hand. Jiang Zhaoyi looked up, revealing a slightly pale face.
He checked the time. His mother would occasionally summon him to dine with her, but this was not mealtime.
“Did Mother say what it was about?” Jiang Zhaoyi asked.
Eunuch Dehai shook his head. “She didn’t say, but today the Marchioness Anle and the Third Young Lady entered the palace.”
“According to the palace attendant who led the way, the Marchioness Anle did not look pleased.”
The Marchioness Anle had arrived too quickly—news from outside the palace had not yet reached within, so Eunuch Dehai was unaware of the reason.
Jiang Zhaoyi set down his vermilion brush. “Is that so? Whoever came to deliver the message—bring them in to see me first.”
Before long, Nanny Qi was led into the hall. She knelt respectfully and bowed: “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Jiang Zhaoyi waved his hand. “Rise. What business brought the Marchioness and the Third Young Lady to see Mother?”
His mother summoning him was certainly related to his second aunt and Ye Su’s sudden arrival at the palace. He would ask for the details first before going over—there was no rush.