The two families had always greeted each other politely whenever they met—how could they suddenly have this intention?
Ah, right. The Marquis was gravely injured and might pass away. If the Marquis died, Yuanhao would have to observe three years of mourning, and the title would never fall to him anyway. Even though he was currently the heir apparent, the Emperor would never agree to grant the title to a cripple.
Then their daughter would gain nothing by marrying into the family—so why marry at all?
If the Marquis remained healthy, the daughter could marry in and bear a child. Even if Yuanhao never received the title, it could pass down to a grandson. That would have been something to hope for.
Sigh. When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Even the Emperor had Eunuch Ren ask whether Yuanhao's legs could ever recover.
Song Shuqing's tears rolled down again—this time from genuine heartbreak.
"Madam Feng, we are all parents here. I'm sure you can understand.
Besides, even without this marriage alliance, our two families are still friends. It's just that Yarong has been making such a fuss.
We will always remember the kindness the old Marquis showed our family. If there is ever anything we can help with, the Xue Family will do our utmost."
Qin Huanqiao felt deeply embarrassed, but for her daughter's sake, she had no choice.
In truth, she had long wanted to break off the engagement, but her husband had always suppressed the idea, persuading her that even if their daughter bore only a son, he could still inherit the title.
Ever since Feng Yuanhao became paralyzed, their daughter had thrown countless tantrums at home and finally didn't dare go out at all. The moment she stepped outside, other young ladies would mock her.
Back then, the old Marquis had merely caught Xue Jingwen, who had fallen from his horse, during a royal autumn hunt, sparing him from a riding accident. That was how this good bond was formed.
At the time, Feng Yuanhao was only twelve, yet he was already a spirited and promising young man. Many families with daughters had their eyes on him—in truth, it was the Xue Family who had been climbing above their station back then.
Leveraging this connection, the two families interacted frequently and became friends, which led to the engagement between their children.
[Hmph. Sharing in good fortune is fine, but sharing in hardship is out of the question. What kind of family is this? If you give up now, one day you won't be able to climb so high.] Hearing this, Feng Tianxing felt very upset, her little lips pouting.
Sigh, but that's just human nature.
Song Shuqing looked at Feng Tianxing in her arms, then at her eldest son.
If she hadn't heard her daughter's inner voice, or witnessed the miraculous elixir pill she had produced last night, she would truly have been reluctant to give up this match.
If Yuanhao could never stand again, finding him a bride of matching status would be extremely difficult.
But now, her mindset had changed. She had met the Xue Family's girl a few times—the girl had been raised to be rather ambitious and her temperament was not gentle enough. She was not Song Shuqing's ideal daughter-in-law at all.
Since they looked down on them, why keep the engagement? Still, she asked: "Yuanhao, what do you think?"
The child's opinion mattered too.
"Uncle Xue, will you really not reconsider? Perhaps before long, I'll find a divine physician who can cure my legs." Out of regard for their past bond, Feng Yuanhao gave them one more chance.
It wasn't that he truly loved the girl and couldn't bear to let go. Rather, a woman who had been rejected in a broken engagement would find it hard to make a better match.
He had only met the girl twice and never exchanged a word with her, so there was certainly no love between them.
He was an upright man—after all, the engagement had lasted five years, and he had to give them some face.
"Good nephew, you are a fine young man; it's our Yarong who lacks the fortune. I will also help inquire after the Divine Doctor, and I hope you recover soon." Xue Jingwen had long since made up his mind—this engagement was better off broken.
After all, his own daughter was his own flesh and blood.
Who would willingly stake their entire life on an uncertain gamble?
"Very well. Since Uncle Xue has made his decision, our Feng family will not pester you further. Mother, let's break it off. We shouldn't delay Miss Xue from finding a better match." Feng Yuanhao's tone suddenly turned a bit proud.
[Big Brother, well done! Better to cut ties with a family like this sooner rather than later. Someday they'll regret it until their guts turn green.] Feng Tianxing gave Feng Yuanhao a thumbs-up for his decisive manner.
Which fine young ladies there were in the capital—she knew them all perfectly.
One day she would find Big Brother the very best wife.
Feng Yuanhao glanced at Feng Tianxing with a smile in his eyes.
He never forced anyone, and marriage was one of life's great matters—a melon forced off the vine is never sweet.
Once he recovered, they would be the ones full of regret.
Only those who have endured hardship truly understand the meaning of life.
"Whatever you decide is fine." Song Shuqing was equally straightforward.
Her eldest son, once he rose, would surely be a dragon among men—how could a small family like the Xue Family ever be worthy of him?
Though Xue Jingwen held a third-rank official post, the Xue Family had no deep roots; they were scholars risen from humble origins.
Song Shuqing didn't even bother consulting Feng Zuwen. She went straight into the inner room and brought out the marriage contract from years ago, along with the Birth-date Slip of the Xue Family's daughter.
Qin Huanqiao also brought out the copy she held.
Seeing that matters had gone as they wished, the two did not linger and took their leave at once.
Renshou Courtyard.
Ruan Ruoying was still mulling over the face she had seen that morning—Feng Tianxing's face. The more she thought about it, the more something felt wrong.
Why did that child look so much like A-Qing?
She remembered that the moment the babies were switched, she had ordered Lǜchá to strangle the child at once and dump her in the mountains for the wild beasts.
"Nanny Zhao," Ruan Ruoying called.
This Nanny Zhao was the steward nanny of her courtyard, a dowry servant she had brought from her natal home—a loyal old servant whom she kept in the dark about nothing.
"This old servant is here."
"You saw that little beggar child in A-Qing's arms today as well. What did you make of her?"
"Old Madam, this old servant thought that child looked remarkably like you, Madam."
"You think so too?" Ruan Ruoying had assumed she alone had this feeling.
"Yes. But back then, Lǜchá truly did take the child out of the city. However, not many people can know of this matter—she handled it alone. Shall we summon her and ask?" Nanny Zhao dared not be certain.
Lǜchá was the Old Madam's personal head maid, chosen from the dowry estate of her natal family—all of them had been household-born servants of the Ruan Family. She should not betray them.
"Bring her here." Ruan Ruoying had to know the exact answer.
Nanny Zhao entrusted the task to no one else—she went to find her personally.
Because of that matter, Ruan Ruoying had married Lǜchá off to the son of an estate steward of hers—a mark of favor, really, a sort of reward for carrying out that deed.
It was dark when Nanny Zhao led Lǜchá quietly into the residence through the back gate, unnoticed by the First Household.
But a little black bird saw them.
"Old Madam." Lǜchá knelt properly before Ruan Ruoying.
"Rise." Ruan Ruoying had long since dismissed all the maids attending in the room, leaving only Nanny Zhao by her side.
Lǜchá rose, trembling.
"Let me ask you—back then, the infant you were ordered to abandon on the mountain outside the city, did you strangle it to death?" Ruan Ruoying's voice suddenly turned icy, frightening Lǜchá into a shudder as she knelt down again.
"Old Madam, this servant did strangle it, truly." Lǜchá spoke anxiously and hurriedly, deeply unsettled.
She had indeed strangled the child, but whether it died or not, she honestly didn't know.
She hadn't dared to confirm. She had hastily tossed the child into the undergrowth and fled.
She was only seventeen at the time, taking a human life for the first time.
Even though it was an infant, she was terrified, completely unlike her usual calm composure.
"Tell me everything that happened, in detail, from beginning to end," Nanny Zhao interjected.
Lǜchá dared not hide anything. She carefully recalled the situation at the time and recounted it conscientiously.
"So you never even confirmed the child was dead before you abandoned it and ran off?" Ruan Ruoying's anger flared.
A teacup came flying.