Although Xinhe had roughly guessed what the reply from the Great Prince would be, she still felt it necessary to see for herself.
Upon viewing it, however, her expression immediately changed.
Seeing her shocked and bewildered reaction, Mu Houchu lifted the corner of his lip and asked, "What’s wrong? Looking at your pale face, Leng Zhuo couldn’t have written a letter to break off the engagement, could he?"
Xinhe shot him a glare: "Cursed mouth!"
Feigning innocence, Mu Houchu touched his nose: "Did I actually guess right?"
Just as he spoke, a servant hurried in announcing: "Your Highness, Madam Song from the Song Family’s Second House is here, she requests an audience with you."
Xinhe put up a stiff response: "I understand."
Mu Houchu squeezed her hand: "If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to meet her. Regardless, it’s not a good matter. Why should you take this fall for them?"
He had mentioned that this was not his business to help out with, and now, it proved futile, doing nothing but delivering the letter of dissolution. Instead of being a help, he had turned into a villain. Indeed, she would probably be resented for this.
Xinhe massaged her temples; she never intended to lend a hand either!
However, this was the first time that Madam Song from the Second House had asked her for a favor, and their relationship all this while had been decent. She seemed incapable of rejecting it at the time.
At present, holding this letter of dissolution, Xinhe truly felt as though she was holding a hot potato.
She clenched her teeth and finally held up the letter, saying, "Let me be the guilty one."
As she spoke, she swiftly picked up her skirt and walked out.
Mu Houchu smirked, seemingly expecting this. He seemed unperturbed, sitting down to continue tackling his paperwork.
These issues seemed troublesome to Ji Xinhe, but for Mu Houchu, they were rather straightforward. He deemed no difference between the second or third branch of Song Family; he held the opinion that if they were offended, then let it be. They were all insignificant, so what difference did it make?
The truth was that Xinhe still maintained some consideration for old relationships. This was the first time Madam Song from the Second House had asked her for a favor, and it ironically resulted in such an ominous outcome.
When Xinhe entered the hall, Madam Song and Song Yalin were waiting.
Upon seeing her, they immediately rose to pay their respects.
Xinhe assisted Madam Song up: "You don’t need to be so formal."
Only then did Madam Song speak: "I wonder... has there been a reply?"
Xinhe forced a smile, though it was probably quite hideous.
She finally gave a nod: "Indeed, there is a reply."
Aided by the sight of Xinhe’s uneasy face, Madam Song’s heart leaped to her throat. She already sensed that the news wouldn’t be good, and after waiting for a while, finally asked, "What... what did the reply say?"
Xinhe pressed her lips together before speaking: "The Great Prince just wrote back, stating his intention to break off the engagement."
At these words, the teacup in Song Yalin’s hand slipped and shattered upon impact with the floor. Her usually calm expression turned deathly pale.
"What?" Song Yalin asked, nearly in disbelief.
What she received in return was Xinhe’s affirmative nod: "The Great Prince said he wants to break off the engagement. He even sent the letter of dissolution."
As Xinhe spoke, she handed the letter of dissolution to Song Yalin.
Grabbing the letter, Song Yalin’s face turned even paler.
She had never imagined the marriage she had waited for five years, the marriage she had invested the prime of her youth into, would end up with just a letter of dissolution!
How could he possibly actively break off the engagement? Didn’t they drag it out till today, just waiting for her to take the initiative to mention it? As long as she didn’t initiate the break, he would not have the guts!
This engagement was a royal order by the Empress Dowager herself! How dare he defy it? How dare he truly propose to dissolve the marriage?
For a moment, Song Yalin felt as if she had just been slapped across the face. Overwhelmed with shame, her eyes turned red.
However, Madam Song seemed to regain her calm following her temporary spell of shock, despite the visible gloom in her eyes: "I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later."
Xinhe could only try to console: "The engagement was probably unsuitable from the start. The Great Prince went away to the frontier because of his disagreement and emotional dispute with the Empress. As this engagement was granted by the Empress herself, the chance of the Great Prince going against her and having the marriage proceed was slim to none. It’s not too late for this matter to end now."
Madam Song sighed softly: "I wish it weren’t too late, but now..."
As she spoke, she glanced at Song Yalin, a hint of helplessness coloring her gaze before speaking again to Xinhe: "Regardless, we are eternally grateful to you for your assistance today. We are fortunate that you lent us a hand. I won’t say much, but I do hope that you will keep this episode a secret for now. A woman being broken up with... is not exactly a glorious event."
If it were Song Yalin who proposed to break off the engagement, they could still manage to save some face. But now that the Great Prince initiated it, it indeed was a massive loss of face.
A woman who has been broken off with inevitably loses value, which is an unpleasant reality. More so, Song Yalin’s five years of engagement with the Great Prince, never once culminating in marriage, have already given birth to numerous rumors within Yu State. The pressure and negative news Song Yalin has had to face in recent years far exceeded the honor she gained from being the fiancée of the Great Prince.
Hence, if this episode comes out, it would be tremendously difficult for Song Yalin to marry into a decent family.
Xinhe nodded in understanding: "Rest assured, I won’t mention this. You can trust me, Madam Song."
"That’s good." Madam Song expressed her gratitude to Xinhe once again, before saying: "We will not impose any longer."
"Of course, Shulan, see the guests off."
After Shulan escorted them out, Xinhe watched as Song Yalin stiffly exited, her mind heavy with thoughts.
——
Duan Lan picked up his tea and took a sip, eyes gleaming with interest: "The Great Prince personally sent a letter of dissolution?"
"Yes, the news is still not out yet. However, such a huge matter is like fire hidden within paper, it will inevitably be exposed sooner or later."
"Our Great Prince is indeed arrogant, going as far as to dissolve an engagement granted by the Empress herself. He does show some courage, but unfortunately, he applied it to the wrong place," Duan Lan shook his head, "Rendering him brainless."
"Sir could capitalize on this situation. The Second House of the Song Family is said to have a good relationship with the Pingyang Prince Mansion. If we can exploit this opportunity to damage their relationship, it would be a blow to the Pingyang Prince Mansion, wouldn’t it?"
However, Duan Lan scoffed: "The insignificant second branch of the Song Family – what do they even count as? Do you think Mu Houchu would care about it whether it exists or not?"
He knew well through these years, whereas others might be oblivious, that while the Song Family appeared united on the surface, discord had long since been sown amongst the three branches.
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