Chapter 45 Bank Run
"break off an engagement?"
Shen Yuanzhu let out a soft "Eh".
Luo said, "Could it be that Jiang You can still remain in his position as the Imperial Textile Commissioner?"
"It's hard to say, you'll know once you go and see Aunt Xie."
After having Ling'er help her change her clothes, Shen Yuanzhu went to the main hall of the house with Madam Luo.
Hua Nanzhi sat next to Ye Yunyi, while Xie Xuchuan looked dejected, as if he hadn't eaten or slept for days.
He gripped the wooden box tightly in his hand, his eyes burning red.
He thought about it all night yesterday and finally decided to give up on the Shenyuan Pearl.
It was too difficult for him to persevere. He couldn't bear the guilt that Yu Lin's death brought, nor could he bear to let Jiang Wansu and Yu Lin's unborn child fend for themselves.
He was even more unable to negotiate with his family and bear the pressure from his parents and clan.
Perhaps this is what youthful affection is like: seemingly pure, yet unable to withstand the slightest turbulence. Once subjected to even the slightest external force, it vanishes like a dream, utterly vulnerable.
Xie Xuchuan lowered his head, wanting to look at Yuanzhu, but not daring to look her in the eye.
The Xie family made a show of announcing the annulment of the engagement, but Shen Yuanzhu remained calm, which frightened Ye Yunyi.
Her face stiffened, and her tone was icy: "The two families have been engaged for so long, everyone in Suzhou knows about it. Now you're just going to call off the engagement like that? Where do you think you're going to put the face of my Shen family's daughter?"
Hua Nanzhi looked exhausted: "This is a matter where the Xie family has wronged the Shen family. Yuanzhu is someone my mother-in-law and I watched grow up. She is no different from my own daughter."
"If Xu Chuan hadn't done this, we would never have called off the engagement."
“Even if Xu Chuan is my biological son, he is no longer worthy of Yuan Zhu. I can’t help but think about what he said before about putting the child under Yuan Zhu’s name…”
Hua Nanzhi choked up: "My face is burning badly."
Seeing Shen Yuanzhu approach, Hua Nanzhi waved her hand and said, "Good child, come here. I'll apologize to you on behalf of the Xie family."
Shen Yuanzhu shook her head: "Aunt Xie, please don't say that. The marriage between our two families is to foster good relations. Now that Young Master Xie has found someone he loves, Yuanzhu also wishes him and his sweetheart a long and happy life together."
"It's because Yuanzhu and the eldest young master are not destined to be together, so how can it be the Xie family's fault?"
Hua Nanzhi, who had initially been putting on an act, suddenly felt genuinely distressed upon seeing Shen Yuanzhu's gentle and considerate nature.
Xie Xuchuan's face was pale, and upon closer inspection, it looked as if he had been gone for several days.
Ling'er glanced at him, then clenched the marriage certificate and betrothal letter in her hand with resentment.
After Shen Yuanzhu finished speaking, she stood quietly to the side, letting Hua Nanzhi hold her hand and caress it reluctantly, time after time.
Such a good girl, she's not her son's anymore.
In contrast, Jiang Wansu only knew how to put on a pitiful act, like a courtesan...
Hua Nanzhi pressed her hand to her chest, glared angrily at Xie Xuchuan, and then turned to say, "It's because Xuchuan is not blessed enough to be worthy of you."
"I've come today because Xu Chuan told me you want to break off the engagement..."
Upon hearing this, Luo lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Although Madam Xie appeared to be very affectionate towards her young mistress, she actually kept shifting the blame for the annulment of the engagement onto her.
Just as Shen Yuanzhu was about to speak, Ye Yunyi interrupted her, saying, "Aunt Xie, you're wrong. What do you mean Yuanzhu wants to annul the engagement?"
"Isn't that your eldest son forcing our young lady not to back out?"
"The wedding is in four months. We're worried about tiring Yuanzhu, so we've already prepared the children for her."
"Your Xie family has done a thoughtful thing, but our daughter can't accept it."
"If we accept it, people outside will think that my Shen family's daughter is lazy, and that before the wedding, her husband will have to work hard to plow, till, and sow the fields, while she reaps the benefits without lifting a finger..."
Ye Yunyi was unconventional in her actions and spoke very bluntly, leaving Hua Nanzhi speechless with just a few words.
After a long while, Hua Nanzhi said sullenly, "It's Xu Chuan's fault, so I've come to apologize today and brought the letter of annulment."
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