Wedding cancelled

Guo Sulan nodded, her gaze towards Zuo Murui carrying a hint of anticipation.

At this point, why are you still talking about the friendship between the two families? Zuo Murui's eyes were unreadable. She never thought that the Yu family would be so obsequious and snobbish. Could it be that the help they provided in the snow was all fake? Was the friendship between the two families just a facade?

Zuo Murui was unsure.

"The Minister's behavior is truly unique in the capital." Although she was already furious inside, she did not show it on her face. She concealed her anger and resumed her graceful and dignified demeanor.

Yu Haoying was speechless, and bowed deeply in apology.

Regardless of the circumstances, from an outsider's perspective, the Yu family's decision to break off the engagement was indeed unethical.

Yu Haoying was speechless with bitterness. If his daughter hadn't done something wrong and angered the prince, he wouldn't have needed to apologize and smile here.

In truth, he was unwilling to break off the engagement. He had gone to great lengths to establish a marriage alliance with the Prince's family, hoping to leverage their status as imperial relatives to ensure the Yu family's continued prosperity. The Prince's family was part of the royal family; countless families would do anything to marry their daughters into it. Marrying into the Prince's family was like leaping over the dragon gate—even if they had no children, so what!

Of course, this was just his idea; the decision of whether or not to annul the engagement was not in his hands, but in Xie Zhuo's.

Outsiders were unaware that Xie Zhuo had leverage over the Yu family, nor that the annulment of the engagement was Xie Zhuo's deliberate request, and even less aware that if Yu Haoying did not come to annul the engagement, Xie Zhuo would hand over the evidence of Yu Yadan's hiring of a hitman to the authorities.

"I don't want my bedmate to be a vicious person with blood on their hands." Recalling Xie Zhuo's icy voice, Yu Haoying had no words to express her suffering. In her heart, she scolded Yu Yadan again. It was all this disobedient daughter's fault!

Although the negotiations were not pleasant, the two families eventually reached a consensus on announcing the annulment of the engagement.

Yu Haoying stood up, took a thin piece of paper from her bosom, and placed it on the table.

Zuo Murui picked up the marriage certificate and slowly opened it. The words "May our good marriage be forever united, and may we be a perfect match" on the certificate stung her eyes.

Zuo Murui clenched her fingers. "Only when the marriage certificate is destroyed can the marriage contract be considered null and void."

With a few tearing sounds, the marriage certificate in Zuo Murui's hand was immediately torn into pieces. As she casually tossed it aside, the marriage certificate floated in the air and slowly fell to the ground, turning into a pile of waste paper. A few pieces also drifted down to Yu Haoying's feet.

Zuo Murui's movements conveyed a sense of determination, and the hairpins on her head swayed and collided with her movements, making a soft sound.

Yu Haoying glanced at the scattered fragments of the marriage certificate on the ground, her face turning even paler.

The marriage certificate has been torn up, and the engagement tokens from both parties have been returned.

From then on, marriage between men and women became completely separate matters.

"Someone, show the guest out!" Xie Chi watched patiently as Zuo Murui tore up the marriage certificate, then turned and left the main hall with a flick of his sleeve, afraid that he might not be able to resist killing her if he stayed any longer.

With the order to leave given, Yu Haoying and Guo Sulan had no face to stay any longer.

Zuo Murui watched Guo Sulan's departing figure and said, "They say time reveals true character. Today I've seen it clearly. Our years of friendship can't compare to self-interest. From now on, don't set foot in the Prince's mansion again. You're not welcome here."

As soon as Zuo Murui finished speaking, Guo Sulan paused, then continued walking. She lowered her head to hide her slightly red eyes as she walked out. After stepping through the gate, she suddenly stumbled, and the nanny beside her immediately supported her.

Guo Sulan gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force. She didn't look back at Zuo Murui again. The disintegration of their years-long friendship was painful for her, but she knew she hadn't done anything wrong. In her heart, no one was more important than her daughter.

After seeing off Yu Haoying and Guo Sulan, Zuo Murui felt a turbulent ache in her heart.

On the one hand, she felt sorry for her son who suffered a double blow: being unable to have children was a physical blow, and being rejected by his fiancé was a psychological blow.

On the other hand, she regretted her long-standing relationship with Guo Sulan. They had a good relationship before she got married, and continued to visit each other even after she married. Many of her childhood friends had gone to other places with their husbands' official posts, but the two of them stayed in the capital after their marriages, so their relationship became even closer than before they got married.

With the Prince's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion having fallen into such a state, they will definitely have no contact in the future, and their relationship will grow colder day by day.

Looking at the scattered fragments of the marriage certificate on the ground, Zuo Murui forced herself to hold back her tears.

Things in this world are rarely perfect, and we must always look forward to the future.

The news that the Prince's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion had canceled their engagement had not yet been announced to the outside world. The servants did not know what had happened in the mansion, but they felt that the atmosphere in the mansion was unusually serious, and they became even more cautious in their work.

The phrase "reneging on a marriage proposal" became a taboo subject in the Prince's mansion.

The day after the engagement was called off, Zuo Murui felt increasingly resentful. Considering the status of both families, it was already a high-status marriage for the daughter of the Minister's family to marry the son of a prince. Unexpectedly, it was her family that was the one to be rejected in the end.

Zuo Murui has had a smooth and successful life. She was born into a good family, married well, and has both a son and a daughter. She is truly a blessed person.

The rejection of her son's engagement was a huge setback for her, but what hurt her even more was that the person who stabbed her in the back was her best friend. The feeling of being betrayed was too painful, and Zuo Murui was so angry that she stayed in bed for two days.

Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Granny Zhang advised, "The Yu family is not a good match. It's better to break off the engagement. The young master doesn't really like the Yu family girl anyway."

Zuo Murui nodded, took a deep breath to try and calm herself down, but the more she did so, the less she could calm down.

She knew perfectly well why the Yu family had broken off the engagement. Guo Sulan didn't want to marry her beautiful daughter to someone who couldn't have children, and she understood. What truly saddened her was that the Yu family was too impatient.

She personally went to their home to explain that Xie Zhuo's health would recover completely after recuperation, and that postponing the wedding was to alleviate the pressure of the two children not having children for a long time after their marriage. She didn't expect the Yu family to have no patience at all. As soon as they heard that Xie Zhuo had health problems, they immediately came over to cancel the marriage.

A deep sense of mockery flashed in Zuo Murui's eyes.

Upon hearing the news that Zuo Murui was bedridden, Xie Zhuo came to Yuzhuxuan to visit her.

Upon seeing Xie Zhuo's figure, Zuo Murui's eyes reddened: "Huaiyan, although you didn't say anything, your mother knows perfectly well that you resent me for arranging this marriage for you, and for breaking you up with that merchant's daughter..."

"Mother!"

Zuo Murui paused, her eyes glistening with tears, "I'm so heartbroken. It's all Mother's fault for misjudging people. It's all Mother's fault that you were jilted and became the subject of gossip..."

Xie Zhuo said helplessly, "Why are you saying these things, Mother? I came here to make you happy, but instead I brought tears to your eyes. If you keep doing this, I won't dare to come here often."

After Xie Zhuo comforted her, Zuo Murui took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears: "Yes, my son's good fortune is yet to come! He will surely meet a good family who loves and understands you in the future..."

*

The truth could not be hidden forever; the news of the two families breaking off the engagement caused a huge uproar in the aristocratic circles of the capital.

Because of Xie Zhuo's status, people dared not act recklessly on the surface, but all sorts of rumors circulated behind the scenes.

On the other side, Sun Lixuan, knowing that Xie Zhuo's engagement had been broken off, took the initiative to visit him.

Sun Lixuan, as the garrison commander, was recently dispatched to Youzhou to investigate a case of official corruption, and only returned to the capital a few days ago.

After reporting back from the palace, Sun Lixuan came directly to the Prince's Mansion without even going home. He didn't know the details of Xie Zhuo's injury, only that Xie Zhuo had been poisoned by a strange poison and had narrowly escaped death. The poison was so potent that it couldn't be completely removed, which might make him unable to have children.

Upon arriving at the Prince's residence and seeing that Xie Zhuo was in good spirits and no different from a normal person, his anxiety finally subsided.

Then, he thought of the rumors circulating outside, that infertility was a problem that wasn't apparent on the surface... His expression slowly changed from shock to sympathy.

Sun Lixuan hesitated for a moment.

"Ahem—" He cleared his throat, his tone gentle: "Don't be too sad. Life is full of setbacks. There are no insurmountable obstacles, only people who give up..."

Xie Zhuo frowned: "What are you talking about?"

Sun Lixuan sighed, "Huaiyan, we're brothers, so you don't need to pretend to be strong in front of me. It's okay if you can't have children; we can just adopt one."

The veins on Xie Zhuo's forehead throbbed involuntarily, and he tried to convince himself not to care.

Wasn't this an outcome we had anticipated?

Seeing that he didn't speak, Sun Lixuan thought she had touched a sore spot, and her tone became even gentler: "Being unable to have children doesn't mean you're incapable in bed..."

Sun Lixuan kept saying, "Huaiyan, don't worry, I will find a divine doctor to treat you. With me here, you will definitely have your own child, don't worry!"

Xie Zhuo: "..."

Silence again.

He stared at Sun Lixuan with a blank expression.

Sun Lixuan's eyes were filled with worry, and his expression shifted between relaxation and furrowed brows.

At first, he felt relieved to see that Xie Zhuo was unharmed, but then he thought, wait a minute, if Xie Zhuo is healthy, why are there rumors circulating that he is infertile? With the power of the Prince's Mansion, how could they allow such a secret to spread? Unless it's true... That makes sense, what man would admit that he is infertile?

Sun Lixuan was convinced that Xie Zhuo's nonchalant demeanor was a facade, a way to save face.

Oh dear! Being unable to have children and being rejected by her fiancé is just too tragic.

"Brother, I understand you..."

Xie Zhuo noticed the several changes in Sun Lixuan's eyes. After a few moments of silence, seeing that Sun Lixuan was still rambling on, he couldn't hold back any longer.

You think you understand me? You know nothing!

Sun Lixuan felt a sudden gust of cold wind blow towards him. Out of his professional instincts as a garrison commander, he spoke without hesitation: "Huaiyan, no matter what, I am on your side. Tomorrow I will go and report that old dog Yu to His Majesty."

Xie Zhuo: "..."

Sun Lixuan spoke with heartfelt sincerity, and it was precisely this sincerity that left Xie Zhuo speechless.

Their eyes met again. Under Xie Zhuo's murderous gaze, Sun Lixuan finally understood and stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"No, you can have children?"

Xie Zhuo took a deep breath. "What do you think?"

Sun Lixuan guiltily looked away and let out a long sigh, "Well, it's good that I can give birth."

He then laughed and said, "I was quite shocked when I heard you couldn't have children. I was even thinking of arranging a marriage between my son and your family!"

"You wish!"

Seeing that Xie Zhuo didn't seem inclined to explain the rumors about his infertility, Sun Lixuan changed the subject. He knew Xie Zhuo's temperament well, and since he didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't press further.

Sun Lixuan stretched and yawned: "Let me tell you, about this trip to Youzhou..."