Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan's mind went blank for a moment.
She hurriedly raised her head and saw Song Xizhi's smiling eyes, as if he were watching a play.
Seeing Song Xizhi's gaze, Song Ruoan was so angry that her teeth chattered and her whole body trembled.
I never expected Song Xizhi to be so different from before!
Not only was she not implicated in the marriage exchange, but she even managed to make Huang doubt her innocence with just a few words!
Large tears rolled down Song Ruoan's cheeks as she sobbed, "My husband is only angry because of the arranged marriage, nothing else!"
“I admit that I was the one who arranged the marriage, but a woman’s innocence cannot be questioned. Mother can go and ask my husband directly!”
Huang snorted coldly: "Of course I will ask."
She turned around and called over Qian Mama, who was standing beside her: "Go and call Yun Ce here. Let him tell you what exactly happened last night!"
Song Ruoan remained kneeling with her back straight, even though she had been kneeling on the ground for a long time and her knees had lost all feeling, she still wanted to pretend to be aloof and arrogant.
Despite the mocking and sarcastic gazes of the servants sweeping over her back repeatedly, she became even stronger the more they did so.
For some reason, even though He Yunze himself said that he wanted to arrange a marriage exchange, no one believed him!
Once He Yunze arrives, he will definitely be able to tell the truth!
She was certain that even if He Yunze hated her, he couldn't possibly accuse her of losing her innocence.
But to everyone's surprise, Song Ruoan knelt for a long time before she heard a series of hurried footsteps.
She turned her head nervously, straightened up and looked behind Granny Qian, but did not see He Yunce's figure.
Granny Qian shook her head helplessly: "Madam, the second young master is unwilling to come."
He said he was unwilling to marry such a woman of low character, and that such a woman was unworthy of being a wife!
"He also said... that Madam need not send anyone to fetch him, as he did not want to see that face!"
These words shocked the entire audience!
Everyone in the Marquis's mansion knew that the Second Young Master He, He Yunce, was an extremely gentle person, or to put it bluntly, a coward.
He is usually a man of few words, and would never say such hurtful things.
In the past, a maid in the Marquis's mansion neglected her duties and brought him spoiled food for several days. He tolerated it all, but in the end, it was Madam Huang who discovered it and punished the maid.
But now, the weak He Yunce said such hurtful things to his newlywed wife!
What else could be the reason for such poor character?
Song Ruoan's face turned deathly pale in an instant. She collapsed to the ground, completely panicked.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible..."
Madam Huang's face instantly turned extremely gloomy. She abruptly stood up from her chair: "Where are the maids? Where are the maids from the bridal chamber last night?"
Granny Qian sighed, "I asked, and all the maids in the bridal chamber have been sent away by the second young mistress!"
That was because Song Ruoan deliberately sent away Song Xizhi's dowry in order to arrange a marriage exchange!
Huang gritted her teeth, her arms trembling uncontrollably: "Where is the matchmaker? Where is the matchmaker from last night?"
Granny Qian's voice became even softer: "This old servant also asked! The people from the Marquis's mansion saw that matchmaker and packed their valuables this morning, then fled!"
On their wedding night, even the matchmaker was scared away!
Marquis An Ding sighed deeply and clenched his fists.
Even Old Madam He stopped laughing. She stared at Song Ruoan's face, full of disappointment: "It's one thing to arrange a marriage and slander your elder sister, but you're not even clean-cut."
"How could such a woman exist in the world? She is of low moral character and a habitual liar! What a tragedy!"
Upon hearing Madam He's words, Song Ruoan broke out in a cold sweat, as if she had been pulled out of the water.
Her hair was stuck haphazardly to her forehead, and her thick makeup was washed away by cold sweat, revealing her swollen eyes from crying last night and bruised eye bags. She looked utterly disheveled.
Her throat tightened slightly.
She originally just wanted to shift the blame to Song Xizhi, since He Yunce had already discovered the arranged marriage.
But she never imagined that she would have to prove her innocence in front of everyone in the Marquis's mansion!
What a humiliation this is! What woman in the world could bear it?
But Song Ruo'an had no other choice. She could only say through tears, "Grandmother, Mother, your daughter-in-law is willing to let the nanny examine her body to prove her innocence."
Upon hearing this, Madam Huang laughed: "Since my son has discovered your shady dealings, then the matter is settled! What do you want to verify by having the old nanny come here now?"
"Are you trying to turn the tables and accuse my Marquis's mansion of bullying you?"
As she spoke, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. Even though her son was weak and cowardly, he had always been outshone by his older brother.
But no matter what, she couldn't let others look down on him like that!
She could consummate a marriage with a living dead or a cripple, but her healthy son was forced to sit alone in the study all night!
Now even the bride is going to cheat on him!
Huang was so angry that her vision blurred and the world spun around her.
It was only after Song Xizhi helped her to a chair to rest that she was able to catch her breath, and he quickly pinched her acupoints and fanned her.
Once Huang could breathe again, she said directly, "Song, you have acted so improperly and humiliated my son. I am determined to go to the Song family to seek justice! The engagement must be annulled!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan's eyes lost focus. She didn't know why things had developed to this point.
Break off the engagement?
If she is rejected, not only will Song Ruoan's reputation be ruined, but the entire female family of the Song family, including her parents, will be despised!
Marquis An Ding also abruptly stood up from his seat, he could no longer contain himself: "I will go to the Song residence myself and ask Lord Song what kind of fine daughter he has raised!"
Song Ruoan shook her head in disbelief, her heart filled with endless resentment.
She didn't understand why He Yunce would humiliate her like this, making her lose face in front of the entire Marquis's mansion.
But Song Ruoan had no choice. She hurriedly crawled a few steps on her knees, grabbed the hem of Madam He's skirt, and humbled herself to the extreme.
"Grandmother, Grandmother, believe me! Ruo An's innocence is clear as day, there must be a misunderstanding between my husband and me! There must be a misunderstanding!"
"That's not what my husband meant at all. Please let me ask him. Please let me meet with him!"
Madam He sighed and reached out to comfort Marquis Anding: "Calm down. Although Yun Ce is angry, we still need to find out what happened to Yun Ce before going to the Song residence to break off the engagement. It's not too late."
So, in full view of everyone, Song Ruo'an was tied up and taken to the ancestral hall of the Marquis's mansion. All the servants and maids who passed by pointed at her and gossiped about her, their faces full of disgust.
Meanwhile, Madam Huang, lifting her skirt, hurried off to He Yunce's study.
When she arrived at the study, she saw He Yunce sitting at his desk, smiling as he savored fragrant tea, looking serene and content.
Huang asked urgently, "What exactly happened last night? If you've been wronged, just say the word, and your father will immediately go to the Song family to annul the engagement on your behalf!"
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