Chapter 15 (Anti-Entertainment)

As soon as Granny Wu saw Qin and her daughter off, she immediately turned back to the main hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was not quite right. The young lady and the old lady stood and sat respectively, seemingly facing off in silence.

Just then, she heard Meng Yutong repeat herself: "My granddaughter wants to break off her engagement with the Ji family."

Granny Wu paused, suppressing her startled brows, and quickly returned to Jiang Yunshang's seat, secretly observing her expression.

Jiang Yunshang remained motionless, her right hand resting on the armrest of the armchair, her index finger tapping rapidly at an arrhythmic pace.

Tap, tap, tap...

The tapping was rapid and dense, making one's chest feel constricted.

Granny Wu looked at the hand with a worried expression.

The old lady's right hand has an old injury from before.

At that time, Madam Liu was seriously ill. The old lady happened to be in the southwest purchasing medicinal materials. Upon receiving the news, she risked taking the medicine by waterway in order to save time.

On their journey, they encountered ruthless bandits. To protect the medicinal herbs, the old lady personally took up a knife and fought the bandits.

Although the medicinal herbs were saved, the tendons and bones in her right hand were severely damaged.

After returning home, he didn't have time to rest properly and instead took care of Liu's funeral arrangements, which caused him to fall ill.

From then on, whenever he was emotionally agitated, his right hand fingers would move rapidly and uncontrollably.

The old lady is furious!

She hated trouble more than anything in her life, and she usually turned a blind eye to trivial matters in the mansion unless they crossed her bottom line.

But tonight, first came the dowry controversy, followed by this devastating annulment of the engagement.

She wanted to hear why her usually cautious and well-behaved granddaughter had stirred up such a storm today!

Meng Yutong slowly shook her head, her posture respectful: "Madam Ji is gentle and kind, with a graceful demeanor. She treats her granddaughter very well and has not said a single inappropriate word."

She paused slightly, raising her eyes to meet Jiang Yunshang's probing gaze. "However, Princess Jingfu is also present today. Her Highness, so noble and esteemed, upon seeing her granddaughter, bluntly stated: 'A merchant's daughter is ultimately a inferior choice. To be paired with someone as exceptional as Young Master Ji is like comparing mud to clouds, only inviting criticism.'"

She quietly observed her grandmother's expression and indeed noticed that when Jiang Yunshang heard the words "daughter of a merchant" and "a world apart," the scar on her face twitched very subtly and violently.

Meng Yutong understood and continued, "My granddaughter was naturally saddened at the time. However, after returning home and thinking it over carefully, she realized that what Her Highness the Princess said was true."

"Today, my granddaughter is standing in the grand hall of the Ji family mansion, surrounded by noble ladies and dignitaries. Madam Ji, with her profound composure, has not shown the slightest displeasure with this marriage. However, the gazes of others..."

A faint hint of sarcasm played on her lips. "The way those ladies looked at my granddaughter, whether openly or subtly, was full of contempt and mockery. It was as if the whole world believed that this marriage was a result of the Meng family's elaborate schemes to climb the social ladder, and that my granddaughter had gotten a huge advantage and taken a position she shouldn't have."

"Just because of these gossips from others," Jiang Yunshang's voice suddenly rose, sharp and cold, her right hand tapping the armrest more frequently, "you've thrown yourself into disarray? The Ji family has a century-old reputation and values ​​its promises above all else! Once the marriage agreement is made, there is no reason for you to easily go back on your word! You are marrying into the Ji family, not arguing with those gossipy women!"

"Grandmother, you are wise." Meng Yutong curtsied slightly, her posture still respectful, but her words were unyielding. "What I am concerned about is not my own honor or disgrace. Rather, I am worried that I have already brought a flood of criticism to the Ji family before I have even entered the family."

"Even if the Ji family values ​​keeping promises and Madam Ji and Young Master Ji are of noble character, over time, even the deepest affection and the strongest trust cannot withstand the erosion of public opinion and the destructive power of slander."

She raised her head, her eyes clear and bright: "At that time, it may not be a marriage alliance, but rather a feud! It will be a loss that outweighs the gain, and it will be too late to regret it!"

Meng Yutong stepped forward and went straight to the point: "Granddaughter dares to speak frankly, this marriage was only made possible by the kindness that Grandmother had shown to the Ji family back then. Using such kindness for your marriage is truly a waste of a pearl."

"Why not take this opportunity to break off the engagement, thus preserving face and friendship for both the Meng and Ji families? The Ji family will be grateful for Grandmother's understanding and will surely feel guilty."

"If the Meng family ever needs the Ji family's assistance on their business routes, such as access to medicinal herbs or introductions from influential people, how could the Ji family not remember the broken engagement today and do their utmost to help? This is how to exchange a false reputation for real benefits and a marriage for a business path, making the best use of resources and living up to the favor!"

Jiang Yunshang suddenly let out a short, cold laugh, "Tong girl, you don't seem to be here tonight to discuss things with your grandmother."

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes, weathered by time, looking directly at Meng Yutong. "You've analyzed all the scheming and the stakes so clearly. Now tell me, why did I go to such lengths to climb the social ladder by marrying into the Ji family?"

Meng Yutong met her gaze calmly, her voice clear and steady, "Since my grandfather moved the family business to Lin'an, under your painstaking management, the Meng family's medicinal herb business once flourished, ranking among the top three medicinal herb merchants in Lin'an. However, my grandfather passed away early, and my father was unable to take over the business. In recent years, my grandmother has shouldered the entire burden."

"The network of connections that your grandfather and you painstakingly built back then has gradually crumbled like sand over the years. Now, the family business seems to still have a solid foundation, but in reality, it is like being trapped in an isolated city, with sales declining day by day and vitality gradually withering away."

She paused slightly, her gaze sharp, "The marriage alliance with the Ji family is the only way you've found a way out of this deadlock. By leveraging the Ji family's reputation as a renowned medical family and their century-old legacy, we can reopen trade routes, rebuild our connections, and alleviate the Meng family's urgent crisis."

"Since you see things so clearly," Jiang Yunshang's voice suddenly rose, "knowing that this marriage is a lifeline for the Meng family! Then what makes you think I would agree to break off this engagement?!"

Hearing this, Granny Wu felt a pang of anxiety and couldn't help but sigh softly.

The old lady's words made it sound as if she were treating the eldest daughter as a pawn to be used in exchange for the family's interests. But she knew that the truth was not so simple.

The old lady's temperament is such that the more she cares, the more hurtful her words become.

“Grandmother,” Meng Yutong did not back down from the stern questioning. Instead, she straightened her back even more and her eyes shone brightly. “In my opinion, this marriage is by no means the best solution to the Meng family’s predicament.”

"It may provide temporary relief, but it is like drinking poison to quench thirst, treating the symptoms but not the root cause! How can we ensure the prosperity of the Meng family by relying on this thin and fragile kinship bond that depends entirely on the will of others?"

"The Ji family may fulfill their promise today out of gratitude, but who knows if they might harbor resentment in the future due to rumors or personal gain?"

"Oh?" Jiang Yunshang suddenly sat up straight, leaning back in her chair, her imposing aura undiminished. "Listening to you speak so eloquently, do you perhaps have a better method?"

“Grandmother!” Meng Yutong no longer hesitated. She suddenly lifted her clothes, bent her knees, and knelt down on the cold, hard blue brick floor!

"Young lady! You mustn't!" Granny Wu exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward to help her up.

"Step back!" Jiang Yunshang shouted sharply, her gaze fixed on her granddaughter kneeling below the hall.

Tonight, every move and word of this girl was completely different from her usual cautiousness.

It's as if a gentle shell has been shed, revealing the sharp edges within.

Meng Yutong raised her hands above her head and solemnly kowtowed deeply to Jiang Yunshang at the head of the table, her forehead touching the ground with a muffled thud.

"Granddaughter, I muster the courage to apologize to Grandmother first. In the past, when Grandmother was teaching her to study medicine, she strictly forbade her to show it in front of outsiders."

"However, a few days ago, my granddaughter encountered the young master of the Ji family on Peach Blossom Street who suddenly suffered from severe abdominal pain and was in critical condition. Knowing that life was at stake and there was no time to lose, my granddaughter rushed to his aid in a moment of panic, breaking her promise to her grandmother. This is my fault, and I am willing to accept my grandmother's punishment!"

"After all this beating around the bush," Jiang Yunshang said impatiently, "what exactly are you trying to say?"

Meng Yutong raised her head, a faint blush already etched on her forehead, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness:

"I have heard that the Imperial Medical Academy has recently issued a decree to recruit skilled doctors from the common people. Any doctor with excellent medical skills who passes the examination can be included in the official roster, enjoy the support of the court, and be given official duties."

"My granddaughter is not talented, but thanks to my grandmother's years of careful instruction, my medical skills, while not to say they are unparalleled, are certainly not mediocre. After hastily treating Young Master Ji that day, Young Master Ji Yun himself commented: 'His techniques are refined and skillful, surpassing most of the renowned doctors in the city.'"

She took a deep breath and finally revealed her ultimate request:

"I earnestly request my grandmother's permission to open a clinic. If I can seize this opportunity to enter the official ranks, not only will the Meng family's predicament be resolved, but we can also build a strong support system that is personally solidified by the bloodline of my Meng family."

"This mountain is rooted in me, and its rise and fall are in my hands. Isn't it more solid, longer-lasting, and more unbreakable than the kinship ties that depend on the Ji family and live at the mercy of others?"

"Ha!" Jiang Yunshang seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. A cold smile appeared on her lips, full of undisguised sarcasm. "You little brat, you have the nerve to talk big! Open a clinic? Get on the official register? Do you think this is child's play?"

"You have neither connections nor substantial wealth, yet you think you can rise to the top in one step with just a few arrogant and ignorant words? I taught you medicine, not so you could learn such arrogance and ignorance!"

Faced with this merciless rebuke, Meng Yutong not only did not back down, but instead looked calmly at Jiang Yunshang:

“Grandmother!” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a powerful, resounding strength. “When Mother was alive, she often told her granddaughter: ‘Aying, the stubbornness in your bones that refuses to bow down is just like your grandmother’s when she was young. Equally flamboyant and unrestrained, believing there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.’”

“You were so incredibly talented in your youth, and even though you have now sheathed your sword and concealed your brilliance, I believe your heart is still sharp.”

Meng Yutong's gaze was fixed on Jiang Yunshang's slightly trembling right hand. "You must feel resentful."

Jiang Yunshang clenched her fists and placed them on her knees.

Granny Wu listened to these words with a pounding heart, looking at her nervously, her hands resting on her knees trembling slightly.

"Young lady, you must be exhausted today. Why don't you go back and rest early?" Granny Wu looked around anxiously, like an ant on a hot pan.

How did this young lady know about the old lady's past? It must have been Gui Yufen who said something to her. That reckless old hag!

"Grandmother, do you dare to make a bet with me?" Meng Yutong remained kneeling, the coolness of the floor seeping up through her knees.

A note from the author: