"Breaking off the engagement? Fourth Girl, have you thought this through clearly?
Regardless of the reason, breaking off an engagement always affects a girl's reputation.
As for today's matter… hasn't it already been cleared up?"
Ye Cishu's father, Second Master Ye, first glanced at the Old Master Ye of the household before speaking up.
Ye Cishu did not speak, merely looking at Old Master Ye.
Old Master Ye glanced at his second son, then at Ye Cishu.
"Fourth Girl, tell me, why do you want to break off the engagement? Is it only because you were wronged today?" Old Master Ye asked.
Ye Cishu looked at Master Ye, whose beard was white but whose spirit was vigorous, and nodded seriously.
"Grandfather, Brother Su is not a good match. Cishu does not wish to wrong herself, nor to wrong the Ye Family," Ye Cishu said earnestly.
A glint flashed in Old Master Ye's eyes as he stroked his graying beard.
"Fourth Girl, what do you mean by that? Explain it properly to your grandfather.
How exactly would it wrong you, and wrong the Ye Family?"
Ye Cishu gave a slight curtsey.
"Grandfather, when that object fell from Scholar Wang's embrace today, Brother Su's first reaction was not to believe me.
He… did not protect me! He did not trust me!" Ye Cishu said softly.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Ye narrowed his eyes.
"He did not protect you?"
"Yes! His first reaction was disappointment, and then he said something to that Scholar Wang about 'having the grace to help others fulfill their wishes' or the like.
Grandfather, if he were a good match, would he have kicked me when I was down in such a situation?" Ye Cishu retorted.
Old Master Ye nodded, then waved his hand at Ye Cishu.
"If you wish to break off the engagement, then… so be it!
You were wronged today and must be tired. Go back and rest early, and pay your respects to your grandmother tomorrow.
Second Son, have someone escort Fourth Girl back. Fourth Girl has always had a weak constitution and suffers from palpitations.
Don't let her stay in her own courtyard tonight; have her stay in Eldest Girl's courtyard instead.
Also, take the Ye Family's name card to Ping An Tang and invite Doctor Liao to take Fourth Girl's pulse.
Doctor Liao should have returned from the Southwest by now," Old Master Ye instructed.
Second Master Ye respectfully agreed and sent someone to escort Ye Cishu to the courtyard of the Ye Family's Eldest Miss, Ye Wanshu.
After arranging everything, Second Master Ye returned.
"Father, do you truly intend to let Fourth Girl break off the engagement?" Second Master Ye asked nervously.
How many ladies and young misses in Gusu City envied this match to the point of gnashing their teeth, and yet the Ye Family would break it off just like that?
Old Master Ye snorted, the kindness he had shown his granddaughter earlier now gone from his face.
"Originally, I thought that doing more good deeds would also benefit the Ye Family.
If that young man from the Su Family made something of himself, he would remember the Ye Family's kindness.
Who would have thought that the Ye Family would end up raising an ingrate," Old Master Ye said calmly.
"Father, you mean Xiaosheng he…" Second Master Ye still found it hard to believe.
Old Master Ye glared at his second son.
This son was also rather dull-witted.
He couldn't even see something so obvious.
"Enough! Outsiders cannot be relied upon. No matter the time, one must rely on one's own strength!
This is true for individuals! And even more so for great families!
Rather than hoping for others to earn honors for the Ye Family, it would be better for the Ye Family's own sons to make something of themselves.
That carefully nurtured young man, at the first sign of promise, immediately thought of distancing himself from the Ye Family."
Hah, so this is our Jieyuan!
Fortunately, Third Young Master also passed the Xiangshi this time, though his ranking is beyond twentieth place, but there's still time.
Perhaps in next year's Metropolitan Examination, Third Young Master might also make something of himself!" Old Master Ye sighed.
Second Master Ye dared not speak.
Third Young Master was his own son, single-mindedly devoted to studying the classics, diligent enough, but compared to that Su Xiaosheng in natural talent, he still fell a bit short.
"Father, about the matter of breaking off the engagement… should I have Concubine Su go talk to her cousin?" Second Master Ye suggested.
Su Xiaosheng's mother and one of Second Master Ye's concubines were cousins.
This was also the reason why Su Xiaosheng's mother had brought Su Xiaosheng to seek refuge with the Ye Family in the first place.
"Let's not discuss this matter for now.
Rashly proposing to break off the engagement at this time would sound very bad to outsiders.
Take it slowly. As for breaking off the engagement, the Ye Family's reputation certainly must not be damaged, and Fourth Miss's reputation cannot be harmed either.
We'll plan it slowly, aiming to break off this engagement before the end of the year." Old Master Ye said slowly.
"Father, it's all my fault. If I hadn't been so soft-hearted and short-sighted back then, I wouldn't have brought such an ungrateful wolf into our home." Second Master Ye felt somewhat guilty.
He had thought simply back then.
The Ye Family was wealthy; supporting two more mouths wasn't a problem.
Later, when he discovered Su Xiaosheng was good at studying, he even began to entertain improper thoughts.
Thinking that if Su Xiaosheng became the Ye Family's son-in-law, the Ye Family would no longer be merely merchants…
Who would have thought, in the end, they had raised something that couldn't be tamed.
"I also bear responsibility, thinking that having one more grandson-in-law with an official position would always be beneficial.
As the old saying goes, to forge iron, one must be strong oneself!
Never rely on others." Old Master Ye also sighed.
Thinking back to when Su Xiaosheng and his mother first entered the Ye Family's doors, Second Master Ye's eyes instantly turned cold.
"Father, rest assured. Since that brat dares to scheme against the Ye Family, I won't let him off.
I will…"
"What do you plan to do? Don't touch anything that violates the law.
Doesn't that brat think his wings have hardened?
Isn't he just a Xiangshi Jieyuan? How many such Jieyuans are there within Dayu?
Does he really think his Zhuangyuan title is a sure thing?
There are still six months until the Metropolitan Examination. Who knows what might happen during these six months.
After someone has seen the splendor of the world, suddenly falling from a great height—that taste isn't pleasant either." As Old Master Ye spoke, he lightly tapped the table beside him.
Second Master Ye quickly understood Old Master Ye's plan.
Indeed, looking down on the Ye Family, wanting to scheme against the Ye Family—it shows this brat's desires are great.
Dealing with people who have desires, the Ye Family is truly very adept.
"Father, then how should we arrange things for that mother and son below?" Second Master Ye asked.
"Send them away first!
Tomorrow, have your concubine take congratulatory gifts to visit that mother and son.
Coincidentally, there's a ready-made excuse.
Your cousin has written, saying she's coming back to pay respects to her uncle and aunt. It's not suitable to have unrelated men in the house.
Find them a decent residence and have them move out first.
The Su mother and son probably also want to move out now.
Remember, you must send generous gifts.
The Ye Family has plenty of silver, more than we can spend. Giving them a little is nothing." Old Master Ye sneered.
"Aunt is coming back? Then the newly built residence will finally be put to use."
"Father, then I'll arrange to have all the furnishings inside replaced. Aunt has seen great scenes and grand occasions in the capital, so we must make sure she stays comfortably," Second Master Ye said with a smile.
The newly built four-courtyard residence behind the Ye Family's mansion was the finest in every way, prepared specifically for this aunt who had been away from home for many years.
However, the residence had been completed for over twenty years, yet the aunt had never returned to live in it.
Now it could finally be put to use.
"There's still at least a month left! Your cousin wrote in her letter that she is returning along the way with a distinguished person. I don’t know who this distinguished person is, but never mind—let’s quietly prepare in advance. Just in case the distinguished person comes to visit! However, to the outside world, we’ll say it’s for your cousin’s return to pay respects and prepare for the ancestral rites," Old Master Ye instructed.
Second Master Ye smiled and agreed.
…
Ye Cishu did not return to her own courtyard, Qiu Mo Ge. Instead, she went to the eldest young lady Ye Wanshu’s courtyard, Meng Yue Ju.
Ye Wanshu had not yet returned, as she was assisting Madam Li with managing affairs.
The maids of Meng Yue Ju, having already received instructions, had prepared everything.
Ye Cishu changed into casual robes and leaned on the chaise longue, sipping tea while slowly pondering matters.