Chapter 13 Annulled Engagement
As the morning light climbed over the vermilion walls of the Chen residence, Chen Xuanqing had already packed his belongings to apologize.
The black lacquered wooden box was filled with the finest Hangzhou silk and Shu brocade, while the food box next to it contained candied fruit and nourishing medicinal herbs specially supplied by the imperial kitchen. Even the servants carrying the box were carrying mutton fat jade ornaments taken from the inner treasury.
Although he was determined to break off the engagement, he was unwilling to mistreat the Yu family, and even less willing to let others say that the Chen family was heartless.
"Father, Grandmother, your grandson (child) is now going to the Yu family." Chen Xuanqing stood in the main hall, bowing to Chen Yanyun and Madam Chen, who were seated at the head of the table. The hem of his blue robe swept across the blue bricks, revealing a sense of solemnity.
Chen Yanyun nodded slightly and said, "Be careful with your words and actions."
Then he continued, "After I hand over the cases at the Ministry of Revenue, I will go to His Majesty to ask for leave."
His tone became more somber. "Once we arrive in Jiangnan, you must personally kowtow to Master Yu and apologize. As for your annulment of your engagement with Wanxue, we must discuss it thoroughly with the Yu family. We absolutely cannot be impolite again."
Chen Xuanqing's shoulders trembled: "It's my foolishness that has brought shame upon the Chen family, forcing Father to make a personal trip to Jiangnan..."
“There’s no point in saying more now.” Chen Yanyun interrupted him, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping out the window. “Just remember, once you’re at the Yu family, you must be careful with your words and actions and avoid causing any new trouble. Once I’ve finished dealing with things here, I’ll catch up with you.”
Madam Chen held his wrist and instructed him, "Your father is absolutely right, Xuanqing. You must not quarrel with Master Yu. Apologize properly, and if you encounter any difficulties, send someone back to the mansion."
"Grandson understands." Chen Xuanqing replied, then turned and led his servant and gifts onto the mule cart.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, heading towards the Yu family in Jiangnan.
After about a month, Chen Xuanqing finally arrived in Jiangnan.
It was a bustling time in the Jiangnan market, and the mule cart had just passed the silk shop when it attracted the attention of many passersby.
The vendors put down their work and pointed at the stacks of brocade boxes on the cart, saying, "Look at this display, it must be Young Master Chen delivering gifts to the Yu family!"
A woman holding a child leaned closer, her eyes full of envy: "Miss Yu is so lucky! She's engaged to Young Master Chen at such a young age. Look at these gifts, ordinary families can't even see them!"
An old woman who had just returned from visiting the Yu family slapped her thigh and laughed, "I saw Miss Yu embroidering her dowry in the courtyard yesterday. Her stitches were so fine, like a painting. Now that Young Master Chen has given so many good things, she's sure to enjoy endless blessings in the future!"
These words drifted into the mule cart on the wind. Chen Xuanqing sat inside, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the dark patterns on his cuffs, a wave of guilt washing over him.
He knew that the envy of these passersby was based entirely on the perception that "the Chen and Yu families are about to be united by marriage." But his visit today was to shatter that expectation with his own hands and make Miss Yu the laughingstock of the capital.
The servant overheard the commotion outside and couldn't help but lift the carriage curtain and whisper, "Young master, everyone outside thinks we're here to deliver betrothal gifts..."
Chen Xuanqing raised his eyes, his voice soft but firm: "No need to pay attention to it, just focus on doing your job well."
As he gazed at the vermilion gates and mansions passing by outside the car window, he recalled Yu Wanxue's tearful eyes from his past life, and his heart sank even further.
No matter how the Yu family holds him accountable today, he has to accept it; it's something he owes them.
The mule cart gradually approached the gate of the Yu residence. Upon seeing that it was the Chen family's carriage, the gatekeeper hurriedly greeted them with a smile: "Young Master Chen, what brings you here today? Please come in quickly, I'll go and inform the master right away!"
Chen Xuanqing took a deep breath, opened the car door and got out, and said gently to the gatekeeper, "Please inform Master Yu that Chen Xuanqing has come to apologize."
The gatekeeper's smile froze. He hadn't expected him to say "apology," but he didn't dare ask any more questions. He quickly bowed and ran into the mansion.
Standing in front of the Yu residence, Chen Xuanqing looked at the plaque with the words "Yu Residence" on the vermilion gate and felt that the burden on his shoulders was heavier than when he came.
Before long, the gatekeeper rushed over, his footsteps echoing hurriedly, and led Chen Xuanqing through the corridor of the Yu family's residence.
This three-courtyard house was elegantly built in the Jiangnan water climate, with carved wooden windows reflecting the banana trees in the courtyard. However, his gaze did not linger on the moss under the corridor or the copper bells on the eaves for even a moment, but instead walked quickly towards the main hall.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold of the main hall, a timid gaze fell upon him.
Chen Xuanqing's steps suddenly faltered—he had thought that only Yu's parents were present today, allowing him to directly express the apologies and guilt he had been holding in his heart, but he hadn't expected Yu Wanxue to be there as well.
The Yu family had probably long considered his marriage to Yu Wanxue, believing they would eventually tie the knot, so there was no need for them to deliberately avoid suspicion.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, his gaze involuntarily lowered.
The words of "pleading guilty" that he had just prepared were now stuck in his throat, and he didn't even dare to look at Yu Wanxue anymore.
After all, he had only faced his elders before, but now that she was present, even his apology seemed to be tinged with an indescribable awkwardness.
Yu Wanxue sat by the window, wearing a green dress with delicate orchid patterns embroidered on the collar, and the green beads on her head swayed gently with her breath.
The morning light fell on her hair, making her face appear even more beautiful than Chen Xuanqing remembered, and it also overlapped with the image of her with tears in her eyes in her previous life.
Just as Chen Xuanqing was distracted.
Madam Yu's voice, tinged with barely suppressed urgency, broke the silence of the main hall first: "Xuanqing, have you come today to discuss the wedding date with the Chen family?"
She had just heard the gatekeeper say that Chen Xuanqing had come to "apologize," and her heart skipped a beat.
Why should I apologize when everything is fine?
After much deliberation, only the worst thought came to mind: Could it be that he wanted to break off the engagement? But Wanxue had longed to marry into the Chen family and become a Chen family wife since she was a child. If it were true, how would this child bear it? Where would the Yu family's reputation be?
Therefore, before Chen Xuanqing could speak, she steered the conversation toward "discussing the wedding date," as if trying to block the worst-case scenario.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanqing first bowed respectfully to Mr. and Mrs. Yu.
As he rose, his brows furrowed slightly, and a clear look of difficulty appeared in his eyes. He paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "The reason I've come is to discuss something with you two elders..."
The sentence was left unfinished, with no further developments.
Instead of responding to the question about the wedding date, he appeared hesitant and unsure of what to say.
Seeing this, Yu's mother's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly sank.
The atmosphere in the main hall was as cold as if it were covered with a thin layer of ice.
Yu Wanxue sat to the side, not saying a word, but she had already sensed something was wrong from her mother's tense expression and Chen Xuanqing's barely concealed embarrassment. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes, and she even softened her breathing.
Seeing the awkward silence, Mr. Yu rose from his seat and walked slowly to Chen Xuanqing's side. He patted the boy's shoulder and gently smoothed things over, saying, "Xuanqing has come from afar and must be tired. No matter how important the matter, there's no need to rush. Go to the side room and rest for a bit. We can talk about it slowly over dinner later."
Chen Xuanqing was well-mannered, and seeing the arrangement made by his elders, he naturally could not insist any further.
He nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you, Uncle."
"Someone come here."
Yu's father called out towards the door, and a servant immediately responded and came in. "Take Young Master Chen to the east wing to rest and take good care of him."
The servant respectfully agreed and made a "please" gesture. Chen Xuanqing followed him and turned to walk out. When he passed by Yu Wanxue, he paused almost imperceptibly, but ultimately did not dare to turn back and hurriedly walked out of the main hall.
As soon as Chen Xuanqing's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate, the gentleness on Yu's father's face vanished instantly, his brows furrowed, and his expression darkened.
Seeing this, Yu's mother immediately turned to her daughter and said, "Xue'er, go back to your room and embroider your dowry. Your father and I have something to talk about."
Yu Wanxue was still clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with unease. She had no desire to go back to her room. She stood there without moving, a hint of pleading in her eyes for her to stay.
"Xue'er!" Mother Yu's voice deepened, carrying an unquestionable tone.
Yu Wanxue bit her lip, ultimately daring not to disobey her mother. After bowing to the two of them, she slowly withdrew.
But as soon as she reached the corner of the corridor, she stopped in her tracks.
An unease crept into her heart like vines, making it impossible for her to put her mind at ease.
After hesitating for a moment, she quietly went around to the back of the main hall, held her breath, pressed herself against the windowsill, and pressed her ear tightly against the cool window paper.
Inside the house, Madam Yu's voice was filled with unconcealed worry: "Master, what do you think the Chen family's intentions are? Xuanqing's appearance doesn't seem like that of someone who's here to discuss the wedding date."
Mr. Yu sighed heavily, his voice full of helplessness: "Judging from this, I'm afraid they've come to break off the engagement."
"Break off the engagement!" Madam Yu suddenly raised her voice, startled and standing up from her chair. "How can the Chen family bully us like this! What makes our Wanxue unworthy of Chen Xuanqing?"
She had already suspected it, but when her husband confirmed it, she was both angry and anxious, her chest heaving.
She had never given birth to a legitimate son in her life, only her daughter Wanxue. She had gone to great lengths to secure this marriage for her daughter, hoping only that she could live a peaceful life. If the engagement were broken off, her daughter's reputation would be completely ruined. How could she face anyone afterward? In this world, how many talented and promising young men like Chen Xuanqing could one find?
Mr. Yu stepped forward and supported his wife's trembling shoulders, his tone heavy: "Xuanqing has now achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations, and his future is limitless. His future ascension to the top of the cabinet is beyond our control. The fact that he dared to come today must mean that he has already received the approval of Third Master Chen and the Grand Madam. Xue'er's marriage is probably...into trouble."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wanxue outside the window swayed violently, her fingertips digging deeply into her palms. Tears welled up unexpectedly, but she bit her lip tightly, refusing to make a sound.
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