The old lady’s words made the obedient Su Xueqing’s expression grow increasingly unpleasant.
Su Xueqing had encountered many who put on airs of lofty detachment, but a family like the Marquis Manor, so excessively sanctimonious, was truly rare.
Nor could she see any genuine aversion to luxury in them.
The ornaments in their hair, the clothes on their backs—and everything displayed in this house—none of it looked inexpensive.
Yet each of the three uttered such words.
This gave Su Xueqing the distinct impression that they were merely pretending to be above worldly concerns.
Hong Yu, who had accompanied Song Yao, stood at the entrance of the Main Hall.
Having followed her mistress into the Marquis Manor for so many years, she had long since seen through the true faces of this household.
Each wore a mask of detachment from worldly strife and indifference to fame and fortune.
Hong Yu had once advised her mistress: since the Marquis Manor enjoyed putting on a show for outsiders, let them indulge in their act to their heart’s content.
As long as her ladyship paid them no mind, these hypocrites of the Marquis Manor would eventually slip up.
Yet her mistress, always feeling guilty toward her in-laws for failing to bear the Marquis a son or daughter, could not let go.
Fully aware that each of them was feigning nobility and indifference to worldly gains, her mistress still insisted on fighting and scrambling on their behalf, heedless of the cost.
Hong Yu sighed inwardly, unable to help shaking her head.
Just as Hong Yu assumed her mistress would, as before, immediately apologize to the matchmaker, something utterly unexpected happened!
Despite her mistress’s earnest and well-intentioned efforts, she failed to persuade the three—old and young alike.
Instead, she decisively took matters into her own hands and outright rejected this excellent marriage proposal.
Yes, that’s right!
Her ladyship rejected the proposal right in front of those three!
Hong Yu instantly felt a surge of vindication.
Song Yao’s expression was equally grim. Turning to Su Xueqing, she said, “Sister Xueqing, I truly apologize.”
“I had hoped to forge a heavenly match between our two children.”
“But I never expected that my presumptuous actions would wound my daughter’s heart.”
“I’m truly sorry; it seems you’ve made this trip for nothing.”
“You came in person to propose marriage, yet our Marquis Manor has been discourteous. On behalf of the manor, I offer my apologies.”
“Since my family members do not agree, let us consider the matter of marriage between our two families settled—or rather, dropped.”
As Song Yao spoke, she curtsied to Su Xueqing, but Su Xueqing quickly reached out to support her.
The moment Song Yao declared the marriage proposal void, the expressions of the three sanctimonious individuals—old and young—instantly turned ashen.
What? Song Yao actually rejected the proposal?
According to her usual way of handling things, shouldn’t she have placated the matchmaker with a few kind words, had the gifts left behind, and then sent the matchmaker away temporarily?
Afterward, wouldn’t Song Yao have come to plead with each of them, pressuring them to agree to the marriage?
How could she have so decisively rejected the proposal today?
Before the three could recover from their shock, Su Xueqing, who had steadied Song Yao, spoke first: “Lady Han, I know you went to the General’s Manor to discuss the marriage with my brother out of good intentions—you meant no harm.”
“My brother, out of respect for the Marquis Manor, sent me personally with gifts to propose marriage at your home.”
“Having seen it today, I must say, the Marquis Manor truly lives up to its reputation as a family of impeccable virtue throughout the city.”
“Every member of the household is akin to celestial beings—unstained by worldly dust, detached from worldly strife.”
Su Xueqing’s words were laced with sarcasm, and anyone with sense could hear it.
“It seems our General’s Manor was indeed reaching beyond our station in seeking marriage with the Marquis Manor. Since our sincere and earnest proposal for marriage is looked down upon by your Old Madam and young lady,”
“Then let it be as they wish, and as you said. This marriage arrangement is hereby canceled.”
“Attendants, carry all the gifts back exactly as they were brought, and return them to the General’s Manor.”
The errand boys immediately entered the Main Hall.
They covered the six large wooden chests filled to the brim and carried them away.
Before leaving, Su Xueqing grasped Song Yao’s hand once more.
She said, “I’ve often heard people say that the Marquis Manor has always held itself above others. Today, I see the rumors are indeed true.”
“Sister Song Yao, you are a good person. I had hoped that after our families were joined by marriage, we could visit each other often. Now, it seems there will be no such opportunity.”
Su Xueqing’s words were not explicitly stated, but after hearing them, Song Yao felt even more that her past self had been unworthy.
Even an outsider could see that she had been constantly drained by the entire household of ungrateful wretches in the Marquis Manor.
Yet, because she had always remembered her inability to bear children, she had desperately and willingly allowed them to cling to her and drain her dry, foolishly unaware of it all.
Song Yao apologized, “It is the Marquis Manor’s fault. I hope you will speak a few kind words to the General when you return.”
Su Xueqing nodded, “We all know your character. My brother will not blame you. Sister, please stay, no need to see us off!”
Watching helplessly as the matchmaker who had come to propose took the generous betrothal gifts and returned home, Madam Jin, the Old Madam seated at the head of the hall, could no longer remain still.
She quickly rose and walked over, glaring at the departing figures outside the hall door.
Her two hands nearly tore apart the prayer beads she was holding.
Chunlan Xiu and Han Lingyue felt just as unsettled as Madam Jin.
The two of them held each other’s hands tightly.
At this moment, no trace of calmness or detachment could be seen on their faces.
Such immense wealth had slipped right through their fingers. Anyone would be filled with regret.
They had originally thought that by holding out a little longer, they could raise the already high status of the marquis’s daughter even further. But now, why had things turned out this way?
The Old Madam, who devoted herself to Buddhism and paid no heed to worldly affairs—a woman who had always been as calm as still water—tugged and tugged at her prayer beads until they finally snapped apart.
The beads scattered across the floor, rolling in all directions.
Hearing the sound of the beads falling, Song Yao shifted her gaze from the doorway to the Old Madam.
She saw the Old Madam’s wrinkled face filled with dark anger, and the floor covered with scattered beads.
Song Yao twisted the knife in the hearts of the three.
“Mother-in-law, since none of you were satisfied with this marriage arrangement, I have followed your wishes and sent them away. You need not worry any longer that your precious granddaughter will suffer after marrying into their family.”
Listening to her mistress speak, Hong Yu, standing to the side outside the door, could hardly contain her laughter.
Madam Jin’s already darkened face grew even darker.
Song Yao instructed the maids serving in the hall, along with Hong Yu, to quickly help pick up the prayer beads.
Several maids soon gathered all the scattered beads from the floor.
Song Yao said she would restring the broken beads and return them to her mother-in-law.
If there was nothing else, she would retire to restring the beads.
The usually calm and detached Old Madam Jin finally could not hold back her outburst, “Song Shi, what is the meaning of your actions today?”
“A perfectly good marriage proposal, and you just sent them away like that?”
Madam Jin finished calling out to Song Yao and didn’t wait for her to respond.
Han Zhang and Han Zhi, who had been absent all along, came jogging over. The two arrived in the front hall.
Han Zhi spoke first, “The general’s mansion sent a matchmaker to our house to propose marriage. Why did the matchmaker leave so quickly?”
Song Yao looked at the two sons she had raised with her own hands, her fists secretly clenching.
In her previous life, after Su Xueqing had left the betrothal gifts and departed,
the two of them had appeared just like this.
They had heard from Han Lingyue that their mother was stubbornly forcing her to marry into the general’s mansion.
These two fine sons, together with Han Lingyue, had bombarded their mother with endless questions.
Chunlan Xiu and Old Madam had even more relentlessly criticized her.
This lifetime, after the matchmaker left, they appeared just as before.
But looking at them, they didn’t seem happy that their sister didn’t have to marry into the general’s mansion.
They appeared even more anxious than Han Lingyue, Chunlan Xiu, and Old Madam.