Chapter 9 The marriage is called off.
Yun Zhao held back for a long time before finally managing to say, "It's good that you know."
Xu Qingyi has always been filial. Although Old Madam Xu was not their biological mother, she had the grace of raising them.
"Mother, that's not what I meant."
Xu Qingyi said patiently.
"Mother, in my opinion, they were originally from the Yun family, so what does it have to do with our Xu family?"
Fourth Aunt held onto Old Madam Xu's arm, muttering to herself incessantly.
She didn't lower her voice too much, so others could hear her.
Xu Yifei and the others looked extremely ugly, and Old Madam Xu only gave them a scolding.
"Alright, that's enough!"
Only then did Fourth Aunt reluctantly shut up.
Yun Zhao's gaze swept back and forth between the Xu family members, finally settling on his fourth aunt.
It seems that if she wants to get rid of this stepmother's family, she has to start with her fourth aunt.
"Everyone's here, let's go!"
The official counted the heads to confirm the numbers matched, then shouted loudly to set off.
Xu Yifei carried Yun Zhao, and Xu Yiyan carried Yun Huaijin to him.
"Sister, let me hold Xiao Jin."
The three brothers instinctively surrounded their sister and walked behind the Xu family.
The group walked towards the south gate. Yun Zhao leaned on Xu Yifei's shoulder, blinking her big eyes as she looked at her mother.
"Mother, the book says that bad people come from poor villages. Are there many bad people in Lingnan?"
"Hey, Zhao Zhao is so young, yet she's already been to school?"
Xu Yinan asked with a cheerful smile.
"Of course, the teacher said Zhaozhao is smart, and he has shown Zhaozhao many, many books!"
Yun Zhao proudly raised her little head and tilted it as she asked, "Second Uncle, do you know if there are many wicked people in Lingnan?"
"Lingnan is a place of exile, so of course there will be many wicked people there. Are you afraid, Zhao Zhao?"
"Anan! Don't scare the child!"
Xu Qingyi disapproved and scolded in a low voice.
Yun Zhao's eyes darted around, and she waved her little hand at Xu Qingyi.
"Mother, Mother!"
"What's wrong with Zhao Zhao?"
"Mother, Fourth Aunt said Zhao Zhao isn't family. Then, what about Sister Zhi Chun? Zhao Zhao really likes Sister Zhi Chun and wants to be with her!"
When Yun Zhao mentioned it, Xu Qingyi remembered that Zhi Chun must have brought a lot of things with her.
Previously, she only thought about packing as much as possible so that her family could make it to Lingnan alive.
But just now, her mother, brother, and sister-in-law clearly did not treat her and Zhaozhao as family.
Seeing Xu Qingyi's silent demeanor, Yun Zhao was secretly pleased.
It seems Mother has taken my advice to heart.
The group exited through the south gate, where a large crowd had already gathered to see them off.
Fourth Aunt was immediately stunned.
"Mother, don't worry, your daughter-in-law's parents will definitely come to see her off!"
Madam Xu's complexion improved somewhat.
My fourth maternal aunt's father was a minor clerk in the Ministry of Rites, so marrying into the general's family was considered a step up for her.
My fourth maternal aunt's family used to reap a lot of benefits from the General's Mansion.
Now that the general's mansion has been suddenly exiled, they have been detained there and have no time to hide their silver.
If no one had come to see him off with money and clothes, he probably wouldn't have survived to Lingnan.
The exiled procession never dared to be seen off within the city, but once they left the city, the officials didn't care anymore.
For the officials, the more people who saw them off, the more gifts they received, and the more illicit gains they made on the road.
Luo Qing raised his hand, signaling the procession to stop, but showed no intention of letting anyone see them off.
Many people craned their necks, trying to find someone they recognized among them.
It wasn't until Lady Li Peiwen, the wife of the Marquis of Cheng'an, walked out from the crowd that her maidservant slipped some loose silver to Luo Qing.
Luo Qing nodded slightly and turned to the side: "Please, madam."
Only then did everyone realize that Luo Qing was waiting for them to give him money.
Other relatives and friends who came to see them off stepped forward to give money, and the fourth aunt craned her neck, looking for her parents among them.
But then Li Peiwen walked straight up to Xu Qingyi, and a maid handed her a bundle.
"Qingyi, Lingnan is a long way away. These are for you and the children."
Before Lady Cheng'an was married, she and Xu Qingyi were close friends.
After her marriage, the Marquis of Cheng'an and the Prince of Jin maintained a good relationship.
Therefore, the two families have always maintained contact.
"Peiwen, why are you here? Although the Prince has been wronged this time, it is still a crime of embezzlement. You...you shouldn't have come!"
Xu Qingyi worried that someone in the court would use this incident to make a fuss, and that Marquis Cheng'an would also be implicated.
"Don't worry, everyone has seen what kind of person the Marquis is, and I believe that good people are always blessed."
But you and the children, I've heard that Lingnan is a hot and humid place, teeming with snakes, insects, and rodents. What will become of your health?"
As she spoke, Li Peiwen couldn't help but burst into tears.
As the best friends said goodbye, Xu's uncles instinctively stood a few steps away.
Only Xu Qingshi hurriedly stepped forward, "Madam, have you seen Brother Chen?"
Li Peiwen paused in her crying, looking at Xu Qingshi with some difficulty.
The youngest daughter of the General Who Protects the Nation is already engaged to Li Chen, the grandson of Li, the Minister of the Imperial Academy.
Li Chen and Li Peiwen are relatives, which is why Xu Qingshi came to ask her.
"Qingshi, just forget about Achen."
After all, she had watched the child grow up, and Li Peiwen felt a little reluctant.
Xu Qingshi frowned her delicate brows. "What does Madam Mei mean by this?"
Li Peiwen turned her head, and the maid beside her handed her a jade pendant.
"This is a jade pendant that the Li family asked me to bring. Your marriage to Achen is hereby called off."
The Xu family was all taken aback.
"What does the Li family mean by this? In the beginning, it was the Li family who came to propose marriage to our Qing Shi. Now that the Xu family is in trouble, are you kicking them when they're down?"
My fourth aunt shouted sternly, and everyone's eyes turned to look at her.
It was indeed the Li family's fault for handling this matter, which is why Li Chen's family asked Li Peiwen to pass it on.
Li Peiwen originally intended to give it to the Xu family quietly, but Xu Qingshi was relentless, and her fourth daughter-in-law, Wu Lianzhen, even shouted it out loud.
"It is the Li family that has wronged you. This is compensation that Li Chen's parents asked me to send."
Upon seeing this, Wu Lianzhen hurriedly stepped forward and took it.
The bundle was quite heavy, and her eyes lit up immediately.
"Mother, look, there are a full one hundred taels!"
Old Madam Xu was displeased and glared at her daughter-in-law with a sullen face.
Wu Lianzhen didn't care.
Since she's not his own daughter, of course he doesn't feel sorry for her.
"Mother, since the Li family doesn't approve of this marriage, it's good that we can still get the money! Otherwise, how will we survive on the road to exile?"
The sudden turn of events left Xu Qingshi unable to accept it for a while.
"How could this be! Brother Chen wouldn't do this to me. He even said he'd welcome me into his family in the spring!"
"It was you who locked up Brother Chen, forcing him to commit a crime!"
Li Peiwen was, after all, the lady of the Marquis's mansion, and it was no surprise that she was questioned in public by a junior.
Worried that even the hundred taels would be gone, Wu Lianzhen hurriedly pulled Xu Qingshi aside.
"Qingshi, it's only natural that the Li family would abandon you when the General's Mansion fell on hard times. At least they offered compensation, didn't they? Mother, please say something!"
Only then did Madam Xu speak with a cold face.
"Madam Mei, rest assured, our Xu family is not the type to pester others. The marriage between the Xu and Li families is hereby called off!"
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