Madam Cen humbly replied, “Please don’t praise him too much. He’s just a mischievous monkey. Believe it or not, if you take your eyes off him for a moment, he’ll climb up a tree.”
“Pfft!” It was Zhao Xiuyun who laughed.
The atmosphere in the flower hall instantly warmed up.
Cen Shaoyuan was aware of his mother’s intentions.
However, he had no interest in his cousin Xiuyun. But since she was here, it wouldn’t be appropriate to give her no face at all.
He could only clasp his hands and bow to Madam Jin. “Aunt!”
He glanced at the young woman in a pink dress standing beside his mother.
“Cousin.”
Zhao Xiuyun hurriedly returned the greeting. “Cousin.”
The more Madam Cen looked at the two of them, the more satisfied she felt.
“Alright, Xiuyun and your aunt are not outsiders.”
“Hurry and sit down. Standing there like that gives me a headache!”
Zhao Xiuyun knew that her aunt was deliberately creating an opportunity for her and her cousin.
She stood up and gracefully walked over to Cen Shaoyuan’s side. “I heard from Aunt that you plan to take the imperial examination?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Cen’s personal maidservant suddenly hurried in from outside, approached Madam Cen, and whispered something into her ear.
Madam Cen’s expression changed slightly.
“Is this true?”
Everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell upon Madam Cen.
Madam Cen cleared her throat.
“It’s nothing.”
She said to her younger son, “Your aunt and cousin rarely visit. Help your mother take them for a stroll in the small garden. I’ll go change my clothes and join you shortly.”
Although Madam Jin found it somewhat strange, she did not voice any objection.
Although Cen’s husband held a minor official position, he served as an assistant in the Office of the Crown Prince’s Household, handling the daily affairs of the Eastern Palace.
If the current emperor had sons, even if a Crown Prince were appointed, the other princes might still have opportunities.
However, the emperor had no sons, and the current Crown Prince came from the imperial clan.
As long as he did not commit any major mistakes, it was unlikely he would be deposed.
Thus, the Cen family had essentially boarded the Crown Prince’s ship.
Once the emperor passed away and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Cen family would naturally rise to prominence.
It was precisely for this reason that the Zhao family wanted to marry their daughter into the Cen family.
Although Cen Shaoyuan was only the second legitimate son and had no official rank, it was easier to thrive under the shade of a large tree.
Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, would he still fear having no opportunities?
…
As soon as Cen Shaoyuan left with Madam Jin and her daughter, Madam Cen immediately ordered her attendants to redo her makeup and hairstyle.
“Make it more elaborate.”
The personal maidservant understood Madam Cen’s intentions and said to the maid specializing in hairstyling, “Work quickly. Use that set of gold filigree hairpins inlaid with gemstones and Sanskrit script.”
Madam Cen remained silent, her gaze fixed on the bronze mirror, watching as the maid swiftly styled her hair. Once her hair was done, a specialized maid adjusted her makeup.
After her makeup and hairstyle were completed, she changed into a deep cyan jacket with ruyi patterns and cloud-and-crane designs.
The maidservant couldn’t help but whisper, “Why go to such lengths to meet a girl from a humble family?”
Madam Cen snorted coldly. “It’s precisely because she’s from a humble family that we must be elaborate, to make her aware of the gap between her and my son now. She should not harbor any delusions of climbing up!”
“She didn’t come earlier or later, but chose this moment. I suspect she has ill intentions.”
The maidservant could only say, “You are wise, Madam!”
…
Madam Cen looked at the plainly dressed woman before her, noticing she wore a deep cyan veiled hat. She couldn’t help but frown, feeling that her elaborate preparations had been wasted on someone who couldn’t see them. Though annoyed, she refrained from showing it.
“Why are you wearing a veiled hat?”
Zhou Mingyi replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “When I was young, I accidentally damaged my appearance. It wouldn’t be proper to frighten people.”
Madam Cen frowned, exchanging a glance with her trusted maidservant beside her.
The maidservant gave a meaningful look, but Madam Cen shook her head, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
She knew her own son best—though A-Yuan appeared careless and frivolous, he was actually most fond of beautiful things.
A mother could hardly say her son was fond of feminine beauty.
It was just that when Cen Shaoyuan was young, he would only allow pretty maids to hold him; if their waists were too thick or their skin too dark, he would cry at the sight.
At the time, Madam Cen had laughed at how picky the child was, like a clever little monkey.
Now, it seemed to be a good thing.
This girl from the Zhou family had a flaw in her appearance.
She had originally been worried about how to break off this engagement.
When Zhou Mingyi’s father was alive, he had been a classmate of Cen Shaoyuan’s father. Both had passed the imperial examinations in the same year, with Zhou’s father ranking even higher than Cen’s.
The two had gotten along well, and thus had pledged a marriage alliance between their children.
However, Cen’s father and Madam Cen had no legitimate daughters, and it would not have been appropriate to marry off a concubine-born daughter to the Zhou family.
Thus, they betrothed their second legitimate son to Zhou Mingyi, the youngest daughter of the Zhou family.
Who could have expected that the Zhou couple would have such ill fortune, dying young, and the family’s decline was now evident.
Cen’s father paid no attention to such domestic trivialities, and Madam Cen naturally looked down upon Zhou Mingyi, whose family had fallen from grace.
Originally, when Zhou Mingyi came of age last year, as prospective in-laws, Madam Cen should have sent some congratulatory gifts.
In Great Zhou, once a woman came of age, she could marry normally.
The Cen and Zhou families already had a marriage agreement, and they were only waiting for Zhou Mingyi to come of age before formally sending betrothal gifts.
But Madam Cen was unwilling, so the matter was delayed.
Just as Ming Yi had thought, Cen Shaoyuan was a man—he could afford to wait, but Ming Yi, as a woman, could not.
The Cen family was simply waiting for Ming Yi to grow impatient and take the initiative to break off the engagement.
Or, they could simply disregard the agreement, arrange another marriage for Cen Shaoyuan, and once the new bride entered their household, what could the Zhou family do?
Therefore, upon learning that Ming Yi had come to their door, Madam Cen had been on high alert.
“A woman’s appearance is of utmost importance. What a pity.”
Zhou Mingyi’s expression remained unchanged.
“I have come today to break off the engagement on behalf of my parents.”
“Back when my father was alive, he arranged a marriage between me and the second young master of your esteemed household. Now that I am unworthy, I naturally cannot cause trouble for your family.”
Hearing Zhou Mingyi’s humble words, Madam Cen was at a loss for what to say.
“May I ask the reason?”
“Our Cen family honors its promises. It is just that my son once said, ‘How can a man marry before establishing his career?’ This has unfortunately delayed you for a year.”
She thought for a moment and asked, “Could it be because your elder brother offended His Majesty in the Golden Hall?”
“I did hear my husband mention this matter.”
“Your brother’s righteous words were commendable, but they were perhaps too impulsive for a young man.”
Cen’s father served in the Office of the Crown Prince’s Affairs and was well-informed about court matters.
But he was unwilling to offend the Emperor for the sake of a prospective daughter-in-law who might never materialize.
Thus, he feigned ignorance.
Moreover, he had received some whispers through special channels, learning that Zhou Mingchong had not offended the Emperor but had instead caught the eye of Princess Chaoyang…
A Tanhua Lang from the Hanlin Academy being forced to become a princess’s paramour—this was a tremendous scandal.
Since it concerned the royal family’s dignity, as long as it was not brought into the open, these old foxes naturally pretended not to know.
It was an unspoken understanding.
Through her veiled hat, Zhou Mingyi’s gaze was icy.
This Madam Cen was a master of veiled words.
In her past life, when Ming Yi had come seeking help, she was arranged by Cen Shaoyuan to stay in the rear courtyard of the Cen residence. There, she was toyed with by Madam Cen’s people and ultimately, with a dose of sweat-inducing medicine, was sent to the Crown Prince’s bed.
Madam Cen’s handiwork was undoubtedly behind it all.
However, the Cen family is still unaware that my brother has been released?
It’s clear the Cens do not hold the Zhou family in high regard.
Ming Yi’s voice remained gentle, “Yes, thank you for your concern, Auntie. I will certainly advise my brother.”
Madam Cen nodded and gave a meaningful glance to her trusted maid.
The maid immediately understood, “Miss Zhou, what brings you here today to break off the engagement?”
Zhou Mingyi lowered her gaze slightly, her voice subdued, “I know my appearance is unsightly and unworthy of being a suitable match for Young Master Cen. I voluntarily withdraw from the engagement.”
Madam Cen nearly laughed out loud.
“Good child, why do you belittle yourself so?”
Zhou Mingyi was utterly weary of Madam Cen’s pretense—clearly eager to break off the engagement yet feigning reluctance.
After several rounds of such exchanges, she finally ordered someone to retrieve the token of promise from the betrothal years ago.