"What else do you have to say? My darling is virtuous and talented, excelling in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Once she leaves the Grand Commandant's mansion, there are plenty of fine young men seeking her hand in marriage."

Although Yang appears delicate, she is actually very strong-willed.

Even if the engagement was called off, she would still say a few tough words and have the matchmaker deliver them to the Wu family.

The matchmaker glanced at Madam Yang with one eyelid, then lowered her eyes to conceal the disdain in them.

He said respectfully, "Madam Wu means to ask Miss Jiang for a marriage proposal on behalf of Young Master Wu."

"The Jiang and Wu families are eventually related by marriage, so outsiders won't say anything. Everyone just thinks they misheard and got the names of Miss Jiang the eldest and Miss Jiang the second wrong."

"you……"

Yang was so angry that her lips trembled and her throat felt like it was being choked, and she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

The matchmaker had seen many families who were jilted and ridiculed, so Yang's reaction was exactly what she expected.

Because the Wu family offered so much money, even if Madam Yang scolded her, she was determined to keep the marriage going.

She rose and bowed to Madam Yang, saying, "Madam, please calm down. I understand your feelings. It's understandable that the Second Miss will be upset if the Second Miss is replaced by the Eldest Miss. As the Second Miss's mother, it's only natural that you're angry."

With a dark expression, the hairpin in her hair swayed slightly as she said in an unfriendly tone, "Does the Wu family treat our Jiang family like a vegetable market? If they're not satisfied with this one, they pick the next one. Is it that if the eldest daughter isn't suitable, they'll pick the illegitimate third daughter?"

The matchmaker's forehead twitched as she listened, and she said with a forced smile, "Madam is joking. The third young lady is not yet of marriageable age, and Old Madam Wu did not mean it that way. Besides, it is only natural to arrange a marriage for the eldest young lady first."

The matchmaker's words practically put Yang in a very difficult position.

Everyone knows that Miss Jiang was not born to Madam Yang. If she insists on refusing, it would be considered that she, as a stepmother, is unkind and has ruined a perfectly good marriage for her legitimate daughter.

The matchmaker was a shrewd woman; she didn't mention a word about Miss Jiang's resurrection, just as no one had ever heard the Jiang family release news of Miss Jiang's sudden death.

Yang was racking her brains, trying to figure out how to refuse while clearing herself of any wrongdoing.

"Madam, Master is back," the maid whispered in her ear.

As soon as Yang looked up, she saw Jiang Zhengming striding over.

"This humble subject pays his respects to Lord Jiang."

Before Yang could react, the matchmaker suddenly knelt down.

Jiang Zhengming sensed the strange atmosphere in the room. He said "No need for formalities" and looked at Madam Yang.

At this moment, Granny Qu returned with the birth chart of the third young master Wu and placed it in front of Madam Yang with both hands, saying, "Madam, the birth chart has been brought."

Jiang Zhengming was an extremely intelligent man. Seeing this situation, he understood without Yang's explanation that the Wu family had come to break off the engagement.

After the matchmaker stood up, she bowed and said, "Lord Jiang, you've returned just in time. Madam Wu wants to change the marriage to Miss Jiang, but she's hesitating. Please, Lord Jiang, make a decision."

"Since ancient times, there has been an order of seniority. Madam Wu is a person who values ​​etiquette and rules, and I suppose Lord Jiang thinks so too."

Jiang Zhengming's head buzzed, and his body swayed slightly.

He looked at the matchmaker in disbelief and asked, "Say it again, what does Madam Wu mean?"

The person in front of him was, after all, an important official of the imperial court, and he naturally exuded an aura of authority.

The matchmaker was also apprehensive. She took a step back and, with a forced smile, repeated what Old Madam Wu meant.

Jiang Zhengming was truly dumbfounded. If he could establish a kinship with Wu Taiwei's family, his career could still rise.

But if he agrees, where will he find Jiang Shuyue? And even if he does find her, so many years have passed—has she married someone else?

He would be unwilling to accept the marriage proposal outright.

This was clearly an opportunity to curry favor with the powerful, but if I refused, I would offend Grand Commandant Wu terribly, and my future in the court would certainly be fraught with difficulties.

Refusing is not an option, nor is refusing; it's a dilemma.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Zhengming gritted his teeth and agreed to the marriage proposal.

The matchmaker received her reward and left satisfied.

Looking at Wu San Gongzi's birth chart on the table, Madam Yang regarded it as a hot potato.

"Husband, we don't know where Yue'er is. If the Wu family comes to take someone, where are we going to find a bride for him?"

"You just need to prepare the dowry for that wretched girl; I'll take care of everything else."

Seeing her husband's reckless attitude, Madam Yang suppressed the surge of anger and frustration in her heart.

He almost coughed up a mouthful of blood.

She still had to prepare a dowry for that wretched woman to marry into the Wu family. If the dowry was too meager, the one who would be criticized was not Jiang Shuyue, but her, the stepmother.

Watching Jiang Zhengming leave in a hurry, Madam Yang hurriedly walked towards the backyard.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Jiaojiao immediately launched into a tirade of abuse.

"What a damned old hag! How great does she think her Wu family is? This old lady is determined to marry into a high-ranking family and trample her Grand Commandant's mansion under her feet!"

There was no one else in the room. After finishing her rant, Jiang Jiaojiao collapsed onto the small couch and began to sob softly.

"Don't worry, my dear. The matchmaker is right. The Wu family and the Jiang family are still engaged. As long as we deny the marriage exchange, it won't stop you from finding another good match."

Seeing her daughter's distress, Madam Yang gently comforted her.

Granny Qu, feeling guilty for not having investigated the matter thoroughly, stood behind Madam Yang.

Jiang Jiaojiao stopped crying, and Caiyan brought her water to wash her face.

"Second Miss, I'm sorry, that Old Madam Wu is too cunning. She returned from the temple without making a sound."

Qu Pozi's old friend worked in the kitchen, little did she know that after Madam Wu returned home, she called her eldest daughter-in-law into the room and gave her a severe scolding, then punished her by confining her to her quarters for reflection.

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