Chapter 342: Breaking Off the Engagement (Part 2)
When these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked, even Sun Wei had never expected this.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How can you have the final say on matters as important as marriage?" Fang's face changed, and she lowered her voice and scolded, "Why don't you apologize to the Queen Mother right away!"
The Queen Mother raised her hand and asked Fang to stop.
She asked Wang Xuanji, "I remember you've been in love with Ah Jun since you were little, and you were eager to marry Ah Jun. Why are you unwilling to do so in the end?"
Wang Xuanji just lowered her head and said, "Please forgive me, Queen Mother. I really can't..."
She looked extremely sad, and she wanted to say something but stopped herself, sobbing.
The Queen Mother looked very unhappy and asked, "What happened?"
The eldest princess frowned and looked at Wang Yao beside her, asking, "Why did Xuanji suddenly say she didn't want to get married? Does the Crown Princess know the reason?"
Wang Yao gritted her teeth and knelt down as well.
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but a few days ago, Xuanji came to visit me in the Eastern Palace and happened to meet the Crown Prince. He was originally happy, but after seeing him, they had a huge argument and parted on bad terms. I later learned that the Crown Prince had rejected the marriage in front of him. Your Majesty, please understand. Xuanji is from the Wang family and is outstanding in every way, whether in appearance or family background. She is not unworthy of the Crown Prince, but he has repeatedly rejected the marriage. When has a lady of our Wang family ever suffered such humiliation?"
The Queen Mother's face darkened.
She asked the eldest princess and Fang: "Do you two know about this?"
The eldest princess and Mrs. Fang looked unhappy and said they didn't know.
Wang Yao continued, "My sister has suffered such a great injustice, yet she still single-mindedly favors the Crown Prince. I beg you not to tell the Queen Mother and just keep this bitterness to yourself. However, I believe that although the Queen Mother and my parents decided this marriage, since the Crown Prince doesn't want to, wouldn't that mean we're forcing him? If resentment is fostered in the end, wouldn't that only tarnish the reputation of the Queen Mother and the Wang family? Please, Queen Mother, make a wise decision!"
As she spoke, she picked up a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and Wang Xuanji was already crying.
"What are you talking about?" the eldest princess asked quickly. "What do you mean by forcing someone to do something? How can you use these words to describe Wang?"
Wang Yao choked up and said, "I spoke out of turn, please forgive me, Princess."
Seeing that the Queen Mother looked unhappy, the Princess hurriedly patted her back to appease her, saying, "Mother, calm down. I think there must be a reason for this..."
The Queen Mother pushed her hand away and asked, "If I remember correctly, this is the second time this has happened?"
The princess was also quite helpless and could only reply, "I said it in front of General Fang last time."
The Queen Mother pondered for a moment, then looked at Sun Wei beside her.
"Does the princess know about this?"
Since Sun Wei was planning to let it go, there was no reason for him to admit it.
She stepped forward and knelt, answering, "Your Majesty, I understand. These days, I have only been taking care of the internal affairs of the palace, and I know nothing about what is happening outside. The Crown Prince is a very arbitrary person, and I have never mentioned anything he said to the Crown Prince to me."
The Queen Mother snorted coldly: "It's been so long, I thought you had convinced Ah Jun, but now it seems that it's all in vain."
Sun Wei showed a helpless look and said, "I remember the Queen Mother's instructions and advise him from time to time. But the Queen Mother knows the prince's temper and his will is very strong. At first, when I mentioned this, he talked back, but later he didn't say a word. I thought he was convinced, but I didn't know... I have failed the Queen Mother. I beg Her Majesty to punish me."
Seeing this, the eldest princess couldn't help but chime in, "What the princess said is also true. A-Jun's temperament, haven't we seen enough of him? Who can control him? Maybe the more the princess talks, the more he will rebel. And that's what he did? Not to mention her, isn't A-Jun the same way towards us?"
The Queen Mother glanced at her and became even more unhappy.
She had asked the eldest princess to spend more time with Lu Shi in order to avoid any trouble. But she actually treated Lu Shi as a relative.
The Queen Mother said sternly, "Such a major event, yet no one reported it to me. Xuanji, it's wrong for you to protect Ajun, and it's even more wrong for the Crown Princess to help protect him. As for the Princess..."
As she spoke, she glanced at Sun Wei, only to see her kneeling in fear, looking as if she deserved death.
Although she was angry, every time Mrs. Lu looked so humble, she felt like she was punching the mattress. She couldn't even blame Mrs. Lu for being incompetent and stupid, because she knew her own grandson was a stone in the toilet. With Mrs. Lu's little ability, she could only act cute, but she couldn't force him.
She continued, "The princess is also guilty of negligence. And so is the prince. No one can escape responsibility in this matter."
Everyone who was named kowtowed and apologized.
After a while, the Queen Mother waved her hand listlessly, "All of you leave and call the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, everyone took their leave.
Only Wang Yao stayed in the hall and did not leave.
The Queen Mother glanced at her and asked, "Does the Crown Princess have anything to say?"
Wang Yao hesitated for a moment and asked, "There's something I'm not sure whether I should tell you or not."
——
The eldest princess and Fang led Wang Xuanji out of the palace and went to the Shangshu Mansion.
On the way, Fang, who was riding with Wang Xuanji, couldn't help but complain, "You were so rude today. You almost scared me to death. Such a big thing happened, but you didn't say a word. You even brought it up in front of the Queen Mother, embarrassing the Princess and me. Fortunately, the Queen Mother didn't blame me."
Wang Xuanji's tears had dried, and she was now calm, with no trace of joy or anger on her face.
"By doing this, am I fulfilling my mother's wish?" she said lightly.
Fang looked at her in disbelief: "Where did you get that from?"
"I heard everything mother said to father the night before," Wang Xuanji said. "Mother said that the prince had lost his military power in the Northern Prefecture and was disobedient, determined to be an enemy of the Wang family. She asked father to try to prevent this marriage and find another husband for me, wasn't she?"
Fang was furious: "How dare you eavesdrop on what the adults are saying? Go back and let your father punish you!"
There was neither shame nor fear on Wang Xuanji's face.
"Why are you so upset, mother? Isn't it good that your daughter can do what your father can't do for you?"
Fang looked at her unhappily. "I only mentioned it briefly. Your father said it couldn't be done, so I let it go. But you, haven't you always wanted to marry the Crown Prince? Hasn't that been your wish since childhood? Why did you become so cowardly when the time came?"
She finished speaking and sighed deeply, "The man you want to marry and the one your family has chosen are exactly the same. How many women in this world are as lucky as you? You are so lucky, alas..."
"What can I do?" Wang Xuanji said quietly, "If he doesn't like me, do I have to ask him to marry me?"
Seeing that her eyes were still red and swollen, Fang's heart softened and she hugged her in her arms.
"It would be great if you could figure it out," Fang said. "Tell mother the truth. Have you figured it out?"
"I'll figure it out, mother," Wang Xuanji said.
"That's good, that's good," Fang said, "There are many good men in this world. I will find one for you."
Wang Xuanji wiped the tears from her face and eyes, looking at the shaking curtain with a cold gaze.
"Don't worry, mother," she whispered, "I won't cry anymore."
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