Chapter 96 Annulling the Engagement
"I'm afraid your grandmother won't agree. We haven't dared to reveal anything about this to her yet," Lin said with some worry. The hardest part of breaking off the engagement was getting past Old Madam Jiang.
“I’ll talk to Grandma,” Jiang Qiuyue said, somewhat confident that she could persuade the old lady.
For several days, the Jiang family remained silent, and Meng's mother also harbored some thoughts of dampening the Jiang family's spirit, lest her son marry into an ancestor's family later, so she did not plan to go to the Jiang family again.
"What? They said they've come to break off the engagement?" Upon hearing that someone from the Jiang family had come to the door, Madam Meng originally thought that the Jiang family was in a hurry and was rushing to make peace. She was going to leave them hanging for a while, but she was so shocked by the maid's words that she dropped the cup in her hand.
"Oh dear! I've been so busy these past few days that I forgot to visit you. I'm so sorry to have troubled you to make this special trip," Mother Meng said, pretending not to know the purpose of their visit and warmly greeting Jiang Qiuyue and her daughter.
“Aunt Jiang, there’s no need for that. We’ve come here specifically to break off the engagement. Meng’s third son is exceptionally talented and has achieved academic success at a young age. Qiuyue knows she is not worthy of him, so we’ve come here specifically to return the betrothal gifts,” Jiang Qiuyue said. This time, she didn’t let Lin speak. Instead, she calmly had her men bring in the betrothal gifts that the Meng family had originally given.
"What's going on here? We can talk things over! Why are you suddenly breaking off the engagement? The two children's marriage is not far off. Breaking off the engagement now would be a laughing stock! If you have any complaints, can't you discuss them with us properly?" When Meng's mother saw boxes of betrothal gifts being carried in, she immediately realized that things were going to get bad and hurriedly asked Lin Shi.
“If Qiuyue really minds that mistress, once the child is born, we’ll send her far away! We’ll never let her appear in front of you again. You can’t just break off the engagement like this! Sanlang has waited so long for you and hasn’t gotten married yet. Now that you’ve broken off the engagement, how can he bear this blow?”
Parents' hearts are always full of love and concern. Even at this point, Meng's mother was still thinking about Meng Sanlang's feelings. She spoke highly of Meng Sanlang to Jiang Qiuyue, but it did not change her mind in the slightest.
"Where is Sanlang? Go and call Sanlang out quickly!" Seeing this, Meng's mother could only grit her teeth and send someone to find Meng Sanlang to persuade him.
"Madam, the young master is not at home. This morning, someone came to say that he has a stomachache..." The maid's voice trailed off.
With Meng's mother right beside her, how could Jiang Qiuyue not hear what the maid was saying? This made Meng's mother's previous words seem somewhat ridiculous.
"Nonsense! What nonsense are you spouting! Sanlang clearly went out to buy books!" Seeing that her maid didn't know how to speak appropriately, and was now in front of the Jiang family mother and daughter, Meng's mother felt as if she had slapped herself in the face, and was somewhat embarrassed.
“Go and call Sanlang back. Since you have decided to break off the engagement, the Meng family will not force you.” Meng’s mother thought that her family had tried so hard to win him back, but her son had failed her at this time. She felt it was pointless and simply returned the engagement tokens.
"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie," Jiang Qiuyue said without showing any sign of distress, and then returned home with Madam Lin.
Meng Sanlang was unaware that his beloved had already broken off the engagement, and was now being troubled by his pregnant mistress.
"My lord praised her for her gentle and charming nature, but now he avoids me time and time again! She is seven months pregnant and promised to bring me into his household, but there has been no sign of it yet. Has he truly forgotten about me and our child after marrying a new bride?"
Meng Sanlang's mistress was originally a courtesan in a brothel. Three years ago, when she saw Meng Sanlang confessing his sins, she plotted to have intimate relations with him. In the end, she won Meng Sanlang's heart with her gentle and charming appearance.
She had originally hoped to gain entry into the Meng family through the fetus in her womb, but Meng's mother refused to budge after learning of her birth. She simply arranged for a house to be prepared for her to take good care of herself during her pregnancy.
What worried her even more was that Miss Jiang had actually agreed to the Meng family's marriage proposal. Others might not know, but she knew that this Miss Jiang was the one who had made Meng Sanlang lose his mind and get drunk. Over the years, she had humbled herself and listened to Meng Sanlang's countless stories about his feelings for Miss Jiang. If he really married Miss Jiang, what chance would she have?
"What nonsense are you talking about? Just focus on your pregnancy. I'm not that heartless. Once Qiuyue is married, I'll let her raise the child. I won't mistreat you and your child. You just need to behave yourself during this time!"
Now that Meng Sanlang is engaged to his beloved, he is quite impatient with this mistress. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be afraid to see Jiang Qiuyue now. He can only hope that on the day of their wedding, he can explain to Jiang Qiuyue.
However, his mistress had been by his side for three years, so how could she not understand his thoughts? She only said that she would take the child to Miss Jiang's care, but she never mentioned letting her into the family. In the end, let alone letting her see the child, she probably wouldn't even be able to get close to the Meng family's gate.
"Of course I understand your intentions, my lord. But pregnant women are bound to be sensitive and prone to overthinking, which is why I keep sending people to call you over. This child in my womb is also your own child. Are you unwilling to spend even this little bit of time on your own son? Waaah..."
Seeing the beauty shed tears, Meng Sanlang naturally couldn't resist. But thinking of the child in her womb who was his own flesh and blood, he couldn't bring himself to be cruel.
"Young master, the old lady has sent someone to summon you back to the manor!" The servant outside the door said to Meng Sanlang, who was inside the room, with his head bowed.
"I know, I'll go back in a bit," Meng Sanlang said casually, assuming that his mother had sent someone to look for him because he had been out for too long.
“My lord, you can’t leave today. You haven’t been here for several days. How long have you been here? With the old lady in the manor, nothing will go wrong. Why don’t you stay and keep me and the baby company? The doctor also said that having the biological father by your side is good for the fetus!” The mistress pressed her advantage and pestered Meng Sanlang.
"Alright, I agree. Tell her to go back and tell Mother I won't be returning to the manor tonight," Meng Sanlang, unable to resist his mistress's persistent advances, instructed the servants outside the door.
Hearing the maid's words, Meng's mother was speechless for a moment, and after a long while she sighed: "So be it, in the end they are not destined to be together. If he wants to make a living outside, let him make a living!"
"Qiuyue? Aren't you waiting to be married at home? What brings you here today?" When Song Yushu saw Jiang Qiuyue, he thought he had mistaken her for someone else. But it really was her, accompanied by a dejected Lin Shi.
"The engagement is off. Meng Sanlang and I are not a good match. Boss Wei, I've been craving food these past few days. Does the restaurant have any new dishes?" Jiang Qiuyue smiled gently at her, but the lighthearted look on her face was gone.
"Yes, I'll send it over to you in a bit. Go upstairs first," Song Yushu knew that the mother and daughter were not in a good mood, probably because of the marriage. So, considering her friendship with Jiang Qiuyue, she decided to treat them to a meal and not charge them any money, as a way of comforting them.
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