"Bah! I saw it with my own eyes, and the servants of the Qian family saw it with their own eyes. How dare you accuse us of framing you?"

The maidservant protecting Madam Hu was sharp-tongued.

"Is this true?" Madam Qian quickly asked the servants of the Qian family who were holding the person in custody.

“Madam, when we arrived, this young master was indeed embracing Madam Hu. Madam Hu kept shouting for help, and the maid was rushing forward to fight her.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xushi swayed precariously, and Zhou Chang quickly supported him. This young master Xu was certainly not behaving like a human being.

Li Xushi was unaware of Zhou Chang's thoughts. He was both angry and secretly pleased. "Good, good, let's see if I don't break off the engagement today."

"How dare you disregard my daughter and the Li family! That's bad enough, but you also disregard the Qian and Chen families? You're nothing but a hypocrite! I, Li Xushi, was blind and ruined my daughter!"

"No wonder when we were discussing poetry and literature with Young Master Xu just now, he mentioned Madam Hu many times, and his words were full of pity for her."

Suddenly, Guo, the scholar, shouted from the crowd that he had arrived later and, knowing what was happening, had intervened.

Xu Yan clearly looks down on me. How noble he thinks he is! I rely on my own family, after all. How dare he, someone who lives off a woman, look down on me? This time, I'll definitely crush him in the mud.

"I see. It's clear that Young Master Xu has long harbored feelings for Madam Hu. Brother Xu, do you still remember that you are a scholar?"

"Indeed, all that studying the classics has been in vain!"

"I am ashamed to associate with him!"

Several people nearby echoed this sentiment, adding insult to injury.

"No! I didn't!"

"Brother Guo, Brother Liu, why did you harm me!"

Xu Yan felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had cracked. His hateful eyes were fixed on the scholars who were talking. These people just couldn't stand to see him doing well. He wished he could tear their flesh apart to relieve the hatred in his heart.

The group, seemingly unconcerned by Xu Yan's gaze, sneered. Who knew if someone with no future would even stand before them again?

Li Xushi stared wide-eyed at these words, panting heavily. "You beast! I want to annul the engagement!"

"I ask all of you present to bear witness that Xu Yan's actions have utterly disgraced the Li family. Today, we annul our engagement and vow never to see him again! If he continues to harass the Li family, we will not let him off easily!"

Li Xu bowed to everyone, then rushed to Madam Qian and said, "Madam Qian, please forgive me for disturbing the old lady's birthday banquet. I will prepare a generous gift after I return home."

“Madam Chen, I will certainly apologize to Registrar Chen after I return home.”

"Master Li, you flatter me. You are also innocent victims." Madam Qian and Madam Chen had no choice but to swallow their anger and accept the favor. The Li family had connections in the capital, and they could not afford to offend them. They could only vent their anger on Xu Yan.

After saying this, Li Xu turned and left.

"...That's how it is. We've finally gotten rid of the Xu family."

At Tianhua Garden, Li Xushi hurriedly returned home and told Pan Jinhua everything that had happened that day.

"knew."

Pan Jinhua nodded; these playboys had indeed helped her.

Just then, Lian'er hurried in and paused when she saw that the Second Master was also there.

"It's alright, go ahead and speak."

"Yes, Madam. When Madam Hu returned to the Chen family with Madam Chen, she jumped off the carriage. The Chen family chased her all the way to the moat. Madam Hu said she had lost all face and could not go on living, so she jumped into the river in public to commit suicide."

"This! Someone has actually died!" Li Xushi exclaimed in shock.

Pan Jinhua, however, was not particularly surprised, and asked Lian'er, "Have the follow-up arrangements been made?"

"Don't worry, Madam. The Chen family went into the water to rescue her, but our people have already rescued Madam Hu."

"Mother?! How does Hu Niangzi jumping into the river have anything to do with our family?"

Seeing Pan Jinhua nod, Lian'er then revealed the truth.

"Second Master, that Madam Hu was a widow. Madam Chen felt sorry for her and often invited her to visit the Chen family. However, Lord Chen took a liking to her and forced her to go. In this world, it is difficult for women, and she was a widow. Later, Lord Chen secretly kept her in that alley behind Madam Chen's back. The day Madam Chen caught her in adultery, she became pregnant with Lord Chen's child. Madam Hu had long intended to die. We only told her to find an opportunity to plot against Xu Yan today. We will prepare a travel permit for her to leave and give her a sum of money to live comfortably in her old age. That's why today's events happened."

Li Xushi opened his mouth wide.

“Xu Yan is a scholar, the Qian family won’t do anything to him,” Pan Jinhua changed the subject.

"When the Chen family left, Xu Yan was also released."

"Master, Xu Yan is kneeling at the gate." Zhou Chang rushed in from outside.

"Hehe, go to the door and tell him that Madam Hu jumped into the river. If he still doesn't want to leave, then bang the gong and tell everyone about the good deeds he did at the Qian family's house!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhou Chang laughed. This old man is too wicked!

However, after he told Xu Yan that Hu Niangzi had jumped into the river, he disappeared without a trace, leaving him no chance to even mention it.

Xu Yan originally wanted to go to the Li family to ask for help again, but he never expected to hear the news that Madam Hu had drowned herself. He was terrified. Madam Hu had harmed him, but she committed suicide. Why? Who could he have offended?

He ran home in a daze, only to be greeted by the Xu family, who were wailing and constantly asking him what had happened!

"Leave me alone!" Xu Yan was so annoyed that he went into his room.

The backyard of the Li family.

"My son."

Mo Qiaoniang was accompanying Li Qingruo in Weirui Pavilion.

When news spread that Xu Yan had taken liberties with Madam Hu and that Li Xushi had broken off their engagement, Li Qingruo burst into tears. Since her engagement to Xu Yan, she had secretly seen him and had some expectations for the marriage. Now, before the wedding was even off, this news had suddenly arrived; how could she not be heartbroken?

"Mother, I'm just feeling sad right now." Li Qingruo's eyes were red from crying, and she felt a little embarrassed when she saw her mother.

Mo Qiaoniang immediately pulled Li Qingruo into her arms.

"Mother knows, Mother and Father will definitely find you someone even better!"

"Mother~", Li Qingruo said, feeling ashamed and angry, "Mother, don't worry, I am a daughter of the Li family. Since you are heartless, I will leave you. I deserve better!"

Li Qingruo was only saddened by the humiliation she had suffered and by the criticism her family had faced because of her. She had been loved and cared for by her parents and elders and was a proud person.

"My son is the best this way." Mo Qiaoniang was delighted. Her daughter deserved the best. She had only chosen Xu Yan because she thought he was easy to control and a scholar. With a little support from her family, he could easily become a provincial graduate. She chose him for her daughter's sake. Now he dared to do such a thing. He really had no shame.