Chapter 75 Chapter 75 The Zhao Family cancels the engagement? It suits me perfectly...
The maid who was sent to deliver the message returned and reported truthfully to Madam Cui:
"In reply to the old lady, the eldest young master seemed very happy and even gave me some silver as a reward. Since I knew he wanted to continue practicing calligraphy, I didn't want to disturb him, so I returned first."
"Okay, go down."
Mrs. Cui took a sip of tea to suppress her irritation. Judging from the maid's reply, there was nothing wrong with the child's reaction, but she still felt something was wrong.
She suspected that Kan'er was related to Cen'er's disappearance, but she had no evidence and had to give up.
"I hope I'm overthinking..." Old Madam Cui said with some emotion. She put these things behind her for the time being and took care of the affairs of the mansion.
On the other side of the Marquis' Mansion, in the study of Qinghui Pavilion.
After the maid sent by Old Madam Cui to deliver the message left, Cui Kan slowly put away the smile on his face, and his eyes became darker and darker.
In fact, there was no need to wait for the old lady's people to come and report, because the movements in the marquis' mansion had already reached Cui Kan's ears.
The moment he knew Cui Cen was coming back, he was so overwhelmed by panic, fear, and resentment that he could hardly stand. He had to hold on to the table to avoid sitting down on the ground.
Despite how scared she was and how much she didn't want him to come back, she couldn't show any flaws on her face. She had to put on a smiling face to deal with the people sent by the old lady, pretending to be practicing calligraphy, but in fact, the pen in her hand was broken.
With a snap.
The broken brush was ruthlessly thrown onto the blank rice paper, splashing black ink and staining the white paper bit by bit.
Cui Kan slumped in his chair. After a long moment, he suddenly looked up and instructed his trusted confidant, "Get the carriage ready immediately. Don't alert anyone else. I need to go to the Prime Minister's residence!"
He can't just sit there and wait for death!
Just as Old Madam Cui had given orders for the preparations, Mother Zhang came in to report that the third wife of the Ningyuan Marquis family had come to visit the old lady with her daughter.
"The third wife of the Ningyuan Marquis family?" Old Madam Cui was a little suspicious. She heard that she usually never went out of the house and only paid attention to worshiping Buddha. Why was she here at this time?
Mother Zhang was an elder by Madam Cui's side, so naturally she knew some of the more private matters. She reminded her, "Madam, you may have forgotten that when the Marquis was still alive, he had a childhood marriage with the Ningyuan Marquis family. Although there was no formal document, the engagement was made."
After her reminder, Mrs. Cui finally remembered that there was such a thing. Since the old marquis passed away, the relationship between the two families gradually became less close than before, and they visited less and less. She almost forgot about it.
"Look at my memory. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten it. My memory is getting worse as I get older." Old Lady Cui smiled and patted her forehead.
She smiled on her face, but was thinking about something in her heart.
After the old marquis passed away, his eldest son inherited the title, but he made few achievements at court, living a mediocre life for most of his life. Even among his younger sons, few have any ambitions, and the Pingyuan Marquis lineage has declined. In recent years, it has become even worse with each passing year. Now, I'm afraid it's just a facade, and its essence is not even comparable to that of a second-rate family in the capital.
Given these circumstances, Mrs. Cui began to think about canceling the engagement.
But on second thought, although it is true that Pingyuan Marquis is dead, the old lady in their family is still alive, and the child has been raised under the old lady's name since childhood. Even if they take into account the face of Old Madam Gu, the engagement cannot be cancelled. In addition, this is a childhood engagement arranged when the old marquis was still alive. No matter what, they cannot bring themselves to cancel the engagement.
Thinking of this, the smile on Mrs. Cui's face warmed a little.
"Since the child marriage has already been arranged, how can we, the Dingguo Marquisate, be the kind of people who go back on our word? It just so happens that Cen'er is old enough to get married, and the Third Lady of the Pingyuan Marquisate has arrived just in time! Please invite them in!"
In the past, Mrs. Cui might not have been so enthusiastic, but she just happened to have received some great news today, and she was in a very good mood.
If I could arrange this marriage for Cen'er today, wouldn't it be double happiness!
Seeing the old lady's enthusiastic attitude, Mother Zhang did not dare to neglect her and quickly invited her in.
Zhao Mingzhu, sitting in a side hall, sipping tea and waiting, quietly surveyed her surroundings, her gaze etched in her mind. She knew the Marquis of Dingguo was wealthier than the Marquis of Pingyuan, but she hadn't expected this "something" to be so opulent it would leave her speechless.
Along the way, the carved beams and painted buildings made the entire garden more imposing than the Ningyuan Marquis's, not to mention the agate stone curtain that was lifted upon entering. Something that she used as a bracelet was so precious, but here it was used as a door curtain. Every time the curtain clashed with it, her heart tightened. Weren't they afraid that the agate would be damaged?
If I could marry into the Dingguo Marquis Mansion, it would seem to be a good choice?
These greedy thoughts filled Zhao Mingzhu's mind, but she quickly shook her head and threw these thoughts away.
No one knows where Cui Cen died, so who should she marry?
The purpose of her coming here today was to break up this child marriage, and she had to do it as soon as possible so that she could be with that man. She believed that the man in the future could also give her these riches, and they would be a hundred times, a thousand times better than this!
Thinking of this, her eyes became more determined.
Compared to Zhao Mingzhu's clear goal, Liang beside her seemed a little uneasy.
Today, she came to the Dingguo Marquis' Mansion to cancel the engagement without telling the old lady at home. Her right eyelid had been twitching since morning, and she always felt that something bad was going to happen.
"Why don't we just forget it..." Liang gently tugged at her daughter's sleeve and said in a low voice.
Zhao Mingzhu was determined to cancel the engagement, so how could she allow her to back out at the last minute? Her brows drooped, and she burst into tears: "Mother, have you been blinded by wealth and fame? Are you pushing me into this hell without caring about your own happiness? Mother, you don't love me anymore!"
After saying that, two tears fell.
Seeing this expression on the face that looked exactly like her husband's, Liang was defeated and hurried to coax him: "How could that be? You are my sweetheart. Fine, fine, if you don't like it, then I'll do as you please."
Just then, a maid came and took them to see Mrs. Cui.
Zhao Mingzhu was just pretending. When she saw someone coming, she changed her expression in a second, put on a smile, stood up and followed the maid. It seemed that Liang behind her was forced to do something she was not prepared for.
As soon as she entered the door, Zhao Mingzhu made a gesture and bowed beautifully.
"Greetings to the old lady."
Seeing the unfamiliar young woman paying her respects, Mrs. Cui was confused for a moment, thinking her eyesight was blurring. She turned to look at Liang and asked, "Who is this? Where is Sheng?"
Old Madam Gu would occasionally bring Zhao Mingsheng to some banquets. Old Madam Cui had seen that child before, and she was a very good-looking girl. She was a perfect match for their Cen'er. But who was this little-known girl?
Zhao Mingzhu remained frozen there, kneeling still.
Zhao Mingsheng! It's Zhao Mingsheng again!
Zhao Mingzhu was so angry that she could hardly stand. Her whole body was swaying and she almost fell. Liang Shi helped her up in time, so Zhao Mingzhu did not make a fool of herself in public.
These days, Old Lady Cui was so preoccupied with Cui Cen that she naturally didn't know what was happening in the capital. Mother Zhang hurried forward and whispered something in Old Lady Cui's ear.
After listening to Mother Zhang's story, Mrs. Cui cleared her cough awkwardly. She didn't know that the whole process would be so bumpy. This was also a poor child.
"Get up quickly."
While Madam Cui called her to get up, she looked at the girl in front of her calmly.
After taking a closer look, she had an idea in mind.
In terms of appearance, this girl is indeed not as pretty as Sheng. Although she has learned the rules well and does not have the vulgarity of a country girl, I heard that she grew up in the countryside. When Mrs. Cui thought of this, she felt a little blocked in her heart.
No matter how much they object, if they reject the marriage because of this matter, it would go against the wishes of the old marquis when he was alive. How could they, the Marquis Dingguo, be such a treacherous person?
Thinking of this, Mrs. Cui's smile did not diminish. She ordered people to bring the best cakes and tea, and expressed the doubts in her heart with a loving face.
"I wonder why you came here today?"
Mrs. Cui took the lead, and Liang finally mustered up the courage to speak out the speech she had prepared long ago.
"Actually, it's about the marriage of my two children..." But just as she started, she backed off.
Liang was hesitant. She had come to break off the engagement without telling her mother-in-law, who would surely punish her if she found out. Furthermore, she had witnessed the Cui family's prosperity throughout their journey. Furthermore, the Marquis and his wife had passed away, leaving only Cui Cen as their legitimate son. Wouldn't the future of the Cui family belong to him?
After marrying into the family, she would not have to serve her parents-in-law, only her grandmother. She saw that Mrs. Cui was a kind person, and in her opinion, the Cui family was the best marriage. But why did her daughter not want to marry?
When Mrs. Cui heard that she came for marriage, although she thought it was a bit early, it was understandable. Her daughter would be of marriageable age after the New Year, so it would be better to settle it earlier.
It wouldn't make sense for the woman to initiate such a matter, so Old Madam Cui continued, "Although the two children already have a written engagement, it was ultimately a child marriage, and it should be formally handled. Don't worry, I'll personally propose to your family on behalf of my daughter Cen'er in a few days."
"How can I trouble you, Madam Cui?" Liang was a little flattered when she heard that Madam Cui would come to propose marriage again. "Today, we are actually here..."
Liang's hesitant words made Zhao Mingzhu anxious, and she couldn't help but cough lightly.
Cui Cen's body might be rotting and stinking in some mountain ravine by now, and this old lady Cui actually wanted to hide it from them.
It sounds nice to come and propose marriage in person, but who are you proposing to? Are you going to let her come and become a widow?
Thinking of this, Zhao Mingzhu curled her lips in disdain.
After receiving the urging signal from her daughter, Liang knew that the arrow had already been drawn and had to be shot. She simply gritted her teeth and said it out loud.
"Back then, the old marquis of your mansion and my father-in-law arranged a marriage for two children out of a joke. Now that the two children have grown up, they realize that something is amiss..."
Liang said this with a wry smile, and seeing that Mrs. Cui's expression was getting uglier, she quickly picked up some nice things to say.
"Erlang Cui has both good character and good looks, a rare and good boy. It's a pity to marry this useless man from my family. I hope Madam Cui can put this matter to rest so that our children can marry each other."
Just let it go?
Mrs. Cui’s eyes went dark and she almost couldn’t breathe.
That sounds nice, but isn't this just a cancellation of the engagement?
She has also been a mother, so how could she not understand the little thoughts involved?
Marry women of low status and marry women of high status.
If Liang really believed that her grandson was as good as she said, how could she bear to push such a good son-in-law away?!
Mrs. Cui knew very well what kind of person her own child was. Because she knew this, she understood even more clearly that Liang obviously looked down on her own descendants and that was why she wanted to cancel the engagement!
She knew it was wrong to do so, but for the sake of her daughter's happiness, she had to give it up. Although the Marquis Dingguo was good, who made her daughter dislike him?
"Okay, I agree."
Just when the scene was extremely chaotic, a clear young voice suddenly rang out from outside the house, like a cool breeze, breaking the stuffy atmosphere in the house.
As soon as he finished speaking, a bold and unrestrained figure strode into the room.
Seeing this person who could never appear here, Zhao Mingzhu widened her eyes in horror.
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