Chapter 14 Annulled Engagement 2
The candlelight in the main room flickered, casting a dim light on the plain handkerchief in Yu's mother's hand.
She clutched the corner of the handkerchief between her fingers, tears streaming down her face, staining the handkerchief and leaving a small damp patch. Her voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness: "Master, but this can't go on like this... If we really bring this up at the banquet, not only will our Yu family lose face, but how will Wanxue, a young lady, ever face anyone again?"
Mr. Yu sat in the grand chair at the head of the table, his fingers repeatedly stroking the carvings on the armrest, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.
He sighed heavily, his voice weary yet still bearing the composure of a scion of a prominent family: "How could I not know? The initial engagement with the Chen family was based on two reasons: first, the Chen family was a prestigious clan, and Xuanqing was the future head of the family, so Wanxue would have someone to rely on; second, our Yu family had been upright and honest for generations, with prestige but no real power, so a marriage alliance with the Chen family would ensure our family's stability. But now…"
He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
Just as the two were speechless and filled with sorrow, Zhang Mama, who was standing next to Yu's mother, quietly raised her head.
Having served Madam Yu for many years, she understood the anxieties of her mistress best. Seeing the two at a loss, she stepped forward half a step, her voice low but tinged with a hint of urging: "Madam, if I may be so bold as to speak disrespectfully—since the Chen family has already decided to annul the engagement, they have already lost their manners. This 'unkindness' is evident first, so why should we bother with formalities? In my opinion, we should find an opportunity to prepare a pot of spiked wine for Miss and Seventh Young Master Chen, and force them to consummate their marriage. By then, the die will be cast, and even if the Chen family is unwilling, they will have no choice but to accept the marriage. Seventh Young Master Chen will then be unable to escape Miss's grasp."
As soon as these words were spoken, the main room became so quiet that the sound of the servant sweeping the floor could be heard outside.
Madam Yu abruptly stood up from her chair, not even noticing the handkerchief slip from her hand. Her face turned deathly pale, and her voice trembled as she said, "How...how could this be! Wanxue is someone we've raised with our own hands. If she does something like this, how will she ever be able to hold her head high in the Chen family again? If word gets out, her reputation will be completely ruined!"
Although she was eager to save the marriage, she never thought of using such despicable means, which would push her daughter into a pit of fire.
Mr. Yu's face turned ashen. He slammed his hand on the armrest of the armchair, making the teacups on the table shake.
He pointed at Granny Zhang, his tone full of anger and disapproval: "Absolutely not! Our Yu family has been a family of scholars for generations, and we value being honest and upright in our conduct and actions. How could we do such a vulgar and filthy thing? If word gets out, not only will Wanxue be unable to live her life, but our Yu family's century-old reputation will also be ruined by your absurd idea!"
Terrified by Yu's father's anger, Zhang Mama knelt down with a thud, her head bowed low, her voice trembling with tears: "Master, please forgive me! Madam, please forgive me! I was just confused in my haste, thinking I could save Miss's marriage, that's why I said such outrageous things. Please forgive me this time, Master and Madam!"
Looking at the kneeling nanny and then at her husband's angry face, Yu's mother felt even more distressed.
Yu's father held the handle of the teacup between his fingers. The warm tea did not dispel the anger between his brows, but it made his tone more determined: "I will have the steward prepare a carriage and send Old Lin to the capital to find out the news."
“Old Lin has been with me for many years. He’s good with words and knows a bit about human relationships. Let him go see Third Master Chen and Old Madam Chen first and find out what the Chen family is planning.”
"In addition, I instructed my servants to announce that I had been caught in the rain last night and had caught a cold, so I needed to stay home and rest, and I would not see any visitors."
Madam Yu nodded hurriedly, her grip on the handkerchief finally loosening slightly. "Alright, I'll go and instruct the servants to prepare right away. Old Lin is reliable; I can trust him to go. But... what if the Chen family suspects we're deliberately delaying? Won't they be even more upset?"
She still had concerns. After all, the Chen family was a prestigious clan, and if the Yu family's "delaying tactic" was discovered, it might escalate the conflict.
"It doesn't matter if you notice."
Mr. Yu put down his teacup, his tone calm yet confident, “The Chen family values manners and etiquette above all else. Since I am recuperating, even if they still have the intention to break off the engagement, they would never bring it up at this time—if word gets out, they will only say that the Chen family is abusing their power and disregarding the dignity of their in-laws. Third Master Chen would not do anything that would damage the Chen family’s reputation.”
He knew the Chen family's weakness, which is why he dared to use the "feigning illness" tactic. This preserved the Yu family's dignity and bought them time for what was to come.
Hearing him say this, Yu's mother felt a little relieved and turned to give instructions to the servants.
But as soon as he reached the door of the main room, he stopped in his tracks.
Granny Zhang's words, "It's too late to cook the rice," were like a fine needle, gently pricking her heart.
She glanced back at Mr. Yu, who was sitting at the head of the table. He was looking down at the books on the table, his brows furrowed, clearly still planning his next move.
Then think of Granny Zhang standing in the corner, her hands hanging down. Although she still looked respectful, there was a hint of resentment in her eyes.
Yu's mother secretly clenched the handkerchief between her fingers, and the scales in her heart began to sway gently.
Yu's father's method was prudent, but ultimately it was just a "delay".
Old Lin went to the capital to sound out their intentions, which would take several days. Even if he found out the news, if the Chen family was determined to break off the engagement, the Yu family would still be helpless.
In the end, Wanxue will still have to face the fate of being "rejected from marriage" and endure the gossip in the capital. Her reputation for life may be ruined.
But Zhang Mama's method... is too despicable. If it gets out, the Yu family's century-old reputation for integrity will be completely ruined. Even if Wanxue marries into the Chen family, she will be criticized and vilified, and she will never be able to hold her head up in the Chen family.
Two thoughts tugged at Yu's mother's heart. She stood at the door, looking at the half-fallen sycamore leaves in the courtyard, her eyes gradually becoming complicated.
She remembered that Wanxue was still embroidering her dowry in her room yesterday, with a shy smile on her lips, saying, "Young Master Xuanqing is gentle and kind, he will definitely treat me well in the future."
Thinking that if the news of the annulment of the engagement got out, Wanxue might hide in her room and cry, and might be ridiculed by other aristocratic families in Jiangnan and the capital.
An indescribable anxiety welled up from the bottom of my heart again.
"Madam?" The maid at the door called out softly when she saw her standing still.
Madam Yu snapped back to reality, suppressing the unease in her heart, and forced out a trace of composure: "It's nothing. Go tell the steward to have Old Lin set off for the capital immediately. Also, instruct the kitchen to prepare some ginger soup to ward off the cold and send it to the master."
"Yes," the maid replied and withdrew.
Yu's mother walked back into the main room, but did not approach Yu's father again. She simply sat down on a chair to the side, her gaze fixed on the candlelight on the corner of the table, her eyes somewhat unfocused.
Granny Zhang glanced at her furtively and, seeing her dazed expression, also became worried.
Unaware of his wife's unusual behavior, Mr. Yu continued to ponder the next steps, occasionally sighing but never admitting to taking the "wrong path."
The candlelight in the main room flickered, reflecting the different expressions on the three people's faces.
The father's composure, the mother's wavering, and Zhang Mama's hidden intentions formed an invisible net that quietly enveloped the Yu family, as well as Yu Wanxue, who was hiding behind the main hall.
Yu Wanxue's upbringing taught her that her father's method was the most respectable choice at the moment, but Zhang Mama's words were like a seed that quietly fell into her heart.
If the news that Lao Lin brought back was bad, if the Chen family was really determined to break off the engagement... she dared not think about it, yet she couldn't help but think about it—perhaps, there really was a "last resort"?
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