"Is our timing off? The Marquis's mansion is certainly busy today." A eunuch walked in, holding a whisk.
Although the Chang'an Marquis's mansion was already in decline, they still had the opportunity to enter the palace when the emperor hosted a banquet.
Therefore, the person Lady Chang'an had met this eunuch was Eunuch Fukang, who served the Emperor.
Why is Eunuch Fukang coming at this time? Is it to bestow the title of Marquis of Chang'an upon Xuan'er?
Lady Chang'an quickly put on a smiling face, her kindness bordering on ingratiating. "Eunuch Fukang, you've had a long journey. Is there something you need on this cold day? Please sit here, and someone, please bring some tea."
With a professional smile on his face, Eunuch Fukang said, "Madam, you are too kind. I am here on imperial orders to deliver the decree. Please ask everyone in the Hou family to come and receive it."
He looked around. "Is the young master not at home?"
Lady Chang'an felt relieved. Eunuch Fukang specifically asked her son, Xuan'er, and confirmed that he was definitely going to be granted a marquisate.
Her smile was genuine. "Xuan'er is resting in his room." She said to the maid, "Hurry up and go invite the young master."
He glared at Jiang Wei before giving her a final look, as if to say, "Let's see if you regret it now. It won't be so easy for you to enter the Marquis's mansion again."
Song Tingxuan opened his eyes groggily; he felt like he had slept for quite a long time.
The servant Song Anxin said with delight, "Your Highness, you've finally woken up."
I poured him a cup of tea to feed him, but he waved his hand to indicate that he didn't want to drink it, as his injuries were still very painful.
The maid knocked on the door. "Someone from the prince's palace has come with an imperial decree. The madam requests that the prince come quickly."
"What?" Song Tingxuan asked in surprise, as if he couldn't believe it.
Song An seemed to have thought of something. "Young Master, the Madam wants you to receive the imperial decree!" It must be the decree to confer upon the Young Master the title of Marquis, which is of utmost importance to his young master.
Song Tingxuan quickly got up without delay, enduring the pain in his body, his smile barely concealed by the bruises. "Song An, quickly help this young master change his clothes."
Grandpa Fukang sat and drank tea, without urging him on.
The old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an was already seated at the head of the table, and the whole family was looking towards the door, eagerly awaiting her arrival.
Finally, a figure appeared outside the door, his face bruised and swollen, and he was limping.
Song Tingxuan entered the room and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."
Eunuch Fukang waved his hand, "Serving the Emperor is what we should do. Now that everyone is here, let me announce the decree!"
Song Tingxuan glanced at Jiang Wei and saw that she had a detached expression, as if the person who came in had nothing to do with her and was indifferent.
He glanced at Jiang Rou again; her eyes were filled with tears, her face full of heartache, and she looked at him with constant worry.
As if he wished he could suffer in his place, Song Tingxuan felt extremely satisfied.
Song Tingxuan reassured her with his eyes, "It's okay, don't worry," he said, "I'm fine."
Compared to the two, Song Tingxuan found Jiang Wei increasingly displeasing.
He had previously had to deliberately coax her, showering her with smiles and affection, but he had long since lost patience. And now she dared to come and annul the engagement…
"Please wait a moment, sir," Song Tingxuan said to Eunuch Fukang with a smile.
Grandpa Fukang didn't speak, but nodded.
Song Tingxuan walked up to Jiang Wei with a cold face, "Are you sure you want to break off the engagement?" He had an expression that said, "You'll regret this."
He went to fetch his maid, who had already explained everything that had happened since Jiang Wei arrived.
"Someone go and get some paper and pen." Song Tingxuan raised his hand, which aggravated his injuries.
He endured it.
Lady Chang'an hurriedly stopped him and rushed to his side. "Xuan'er, marriage is a serious matter and cannot be taken lightly. The wedding is less than a month away, and the guests have already received invitations. Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock? Besides, Wei'er is just being a little temperamental. It's understandable, after all, her mother is a merchant's daughter."
Lady Chang'an covered her mouth with a handkerchief. The eunuch was still there, so she quickly changed her words, saying, "A young lady's temper is because she cares about you!"
Since Song Tingxuan got engaged to Jiang Wei, she has been receiving gifts from Jiang Wei, many of which are things that others cannot buy, but Jiang Wei can easily get them.
Seeing that Jiang Wei was about to marry into the Marquis's mansion with her countless dowries, how could they let this piece of fat meat slip away?
The old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an had a glint in her eyes. "Grandson, your mother is right. This is not something to be taken lightly."
That single old ginseng root alone wouldn't even buy her several coffins with her life savings.
“Yes, you must withdraw. Even if you don’t withdraw, I will not be present on the wedding day. The young master will then perform the wedding ceremony alone.” Jiang Wei’s voice was as cold as water from an ancient well.
She ignored Song Tingxuan; she felt disgusted and wished she could kill him.
Song Tingxuan bowed to the old lady and lady of the Marquis of Chang'an, saying, "Grandmother and Mother have both heard this; this marriage must be called off."
He then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Eunuch Fukang and said, "I ask Eunuch Fukang to be my witness. Today I am going to dismiss Jiang Wei. I hope she will not regret it in the future."
Before they could hear Eunuch Fukang's reply, Jiang Wei let out a cold laugh.
Song Tingxuan frowned, extremely displeased, but he couldn't show it now.
Jiang Wei said coldly, enunciating each word clearly: "I will never regret it."
Finally, Eunuch Fukang spoke, interrupting everyone else, "Let's announce the imperial decree first!"
The old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an knelt at the very front, and everyone in the room knelt in turn, with Jiang Wei kneeling at the very back.
Eunuch Fukang's voice softened, "Miss Jiang, kneel down before me so I may hear His Majesty's decree."
Although Jiang Wei was puzzled as to how this had anything to do with her, she still got up and knelt down in front of her.
Just as they knelt down, they heard Eunuch Fukang's shrill voice.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jiang Wei, daughter of the Jiang family, is dignified and elegant, knowledgeable in literature and etiquette, noble yet frugal, and concerned for the country and its people... She is a model for women. However, since she and the heir of the Marquis of Chang'an are mutually disgusted, I hereby grant them the annulment of their engagement. From now on, their marriages shall be separate matters... So be it!"
The Song family members were shocked and incredulous; how could this be?
Jiang Wei was completely bewildered. How could an imperial decree have been issued ordering her to annul the engagement?
She did donate some silver to the Ministry of Revenue because she knew the hardships the people would face this winter and next spring.
She also wrote to her second uncle in Xuantian City, asking him to buy charcoal and grain there. Xuantian City was located in the south, a vast and resource-rich area with abundant grain production, and the journey wasn't too far, which would reduce costs.
But the grain hasn't been delivered yet.
Before she could react, Eunuch Fukang handed her the imperial edict, saying, "Miss Jiang, quickly accept the edict and express your gratitude!"
Jiang Wei hurriedly accepted the imperial decree and expressed her gratitude. Only when she received the decree did she realize it was real and come back to her senses.
As the old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an was being helped to get up, Eunuch Fukang slowly told them to wait a moment, as he still had an imperial edict.
The people of the Song family seemed to see hope again, and the old lady of the Marquis of Chang'an knelt down shakily with support.
After Eunuch Fukang finished reading the imperial edict, everyone in the Song family turned deathly pale, as if they hadn't been struck by lightning. Their faces were ashen, as if they had all been made up by the same opera singer.
Grandpa Fukang clapped his hands three times.
Seeing that everyone had come in, he turned to Jiang Wei and said, "Miss Jiang, the Emperor said that the things you left at the Song residence can be sent back to you by them."
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