Pan Yuanzhou was wrong. The people who came to the door were not from the Prince Ding's Mansion, but Madam Wei, the eldest son, and the third daughter.
Upon seeing them, Pan Yuanzhou breathed a sigh of relief and immediately sent someone to invite his wife out to entertain the guests.
Before long, Pan Yuanzhou, his wife, and the Wei family mother and son sat together in the front hall, and tea and snacks were served one after another.
Pan Yuanzhou asked politely, "May I ask what brings you here today, sister-in-law?"
Madam Wei sipped her tea slowly, her expression somewhat arrogant. She didn't speak, and neither did the third Miss Wei sitting next to her.
It was the eldest son of the Wei family who answered, his tone furious: "The eldest son of the Pan family and my third sister were already engaged, but last night he spent the whole night in a secret rendezvous with the daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong. He simply doesn't respect the Wei family at all. Shouldn't Lord Pan give the Wei family an explanation?"
Sobbing, Miss Wei accused, "Before we are even married, Young Master Pan has already betrayed me. If we are to marry in the future, won't he have a whole bunch of concubines, maids, and mistresses? How am I supposed to live like that? His actions are trampling on the dignity of the Wei family, and even more so, on my dignity!"
This accusation is far too serious. Pan Yuanzhou and his wife exchanged a glance, both speechless.
The Pan family was facing a desperate situation. Last night, he had no choice but to take a gamble, hoping for a miracle. Little did he know that this gamble would lead to their demise.
At this point, Pan Yuanzhou was convinced that Ye Qingxue was sent by the Prince of Ding. His eldest son had already been dragged into hell, and his entire Pan family was doomed to die.
The Wei family's complaint was just the beginning; the next to come and arrest the Pan family would surely be Prince Ding.
Madam Wei slammed her teacup down on the coffee table. "Lord Pan, Madam Pan, your son is so accomplished that our third daughter is far too unworthy of him. This marriage is off!"
He added, "Your family was the one who humiliated us first. The bride price will not be returned, but please tear up the marriage certificate!"
Madam Pan panicked, her face turning pale and then red, and hurriedly said, "Heng'er did go out, but he went to take care of important business, not to meet with the young lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion!"
"The accusations made by Young Master Wei and Third Miss are far too serious. I cannot accept them until the truth comes out."
“Even if Madam Wei wants to annul the engagement, she should wait until my Heng’er returns and understands the whole story before she can annul the engagement. Otherwise, I will not agree to annul the engagement. I cannot let my Heng’er suffer such a loss in silence.”
Regardless of whether the behavior of the third daughter of the Wei family, who cries and complains whenever something happens, is good or bad.
If her son is rejected, he will be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of his life for having an affair with another girl before the marriage. Wherever he goes, he will be criticized. How can he face people for the rest of his life?
A girl's reputation is important, but a boy's reputation is equally inviolable!
Madam Wei said, "The news that Young Master Pan was having a secret rendezvous with the young lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion came from the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. Now that the eldest young lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion and Young Master Pan are both not at home, how could their secret rendezvous be false?"
"Besides, the whole city saw them leave the city overnight and then return together. Now everyone outside is saying they're indecent. I understand Madam Pan's protectiveness of her son, but I can't let my daughter suffer such humiliation without doing anything!"
"Since Young Master Pan already has someone he loves, our young lady will never do such a thing as stealing someone else's love! The Wei family now has only one request: annul the engagement!"
The master has already told her that Prince Ding intends to make an example of the Pan family to deter others and completely eliminate the Crown Prince's faction. The Pan family's days are numbered.
The reason the master arranged for the third daughter to be engaged to Pan Heng was to keep it a secret that her master was actually a subordinate of the Prince of Ding.
Now that Pan Heng has caused such a commotion with the daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family, it is the perfect time to annul the engagement!
Moreover, the Pan family bears the infamy, while the Wei family is the victim. Not only can they withhold the betrothal gifts, but it also doesn't affect the future marriage of their third daughter.
Of course, no one knew that the three girls had already found new partners before they came here!
When Pan Yuanzhou heard that others had seen his eldest son enter the city, it meant that his eldest son would be home soon. He wanted to wait until his eldest son returned to understand the situation before deciding whether to agree to annul the engagement.
However, the Wei family clearly wanted to cut the Gordian knot quickly. Suddenly, the third young lady of the Wei family pulled out a dagger from her wide sleeve and held it to her throat.
"Please, Lord Pan and Madam Pan, grant my request to annul this engagement. Young Master Pan has humiliated me so much that I cannot continue this marriage. If you two do not agree, I will have no choice but to die here!"
The eldest son of the Wei family was furious: "It's bad enough that the good son you Pan family raised is so filthy, shameless, and despicable, but do you have to sacrifice my third sister's life before you're satisfied?"
Pan Yuanzhou had served as an official for many years, and his eldest son was outstanding. He had never been insulted like this before. He was so angry that he almost fainted!
Madam Pan's condition wasn't much better; she was so angry that she was swaying precariously and had to be supported by her nanny!
The young woman threatened him with her life, humiliating their eldest son to the point of being worthless. The couple were so angry that they couldn't utter a single word for a moment.
Pan Heng rode his horse to the front of the hall and happened to hear the conversation between the Wei siblings. He frowned, strode inside, and his face was cold.
It has been confirmed that Wei Jingtong embezzled funds, and that he embezzled them for the sake of Prince Ding. It seems that the marriage agreement between the Wei family and the Pan family in the past was not a genuine commitment, but merely a smokescreen.
Now that they've come to annul the engagement, claiming he had a secret rendezvous with the eldest daughter of the Ye family, it's probably just an excuse. The deeper reason is that Prince Ding wants to eliminate the Pan family, and they want to take this opportunity to sever ties with them in advance.
“Since Miss Wei is so resolute, threatening suicide to force us to annul the engagement, then I agree to this matter!” Pan Heng said in a deep voice, and strode into the hall.
When Pan Yuanzhou and his wife saw him, tears streamed down their faces instantly; they felt they had found a pillar of support.
Madam Pan did not know what he had done last night, but Pan Heng was the son she had raised. She knew his character and knew that he would never do such a scandalous thing.
Pan Heng strode up to her, and she took his hand: "Heng'er, what exactly happened between you and Miss Ye? If you tell me the truth, your mother will stand up for you!"
Pan Heng thought that this matter should wait until his father entered the palace and informed the emperor about Wei Jingtong's embezzlement. Only after the emperor sent people to confiscate the stolen goods and search Wei's house could the matter be discussed.
Otherwise, it would be like alerting the enemy. Although the distance from the capital to Jingzhou is not far, it is not close either, and it will take time.
In the span of a few hours, many things could change, so he closed his eyes and made a pained expression: "Mother, please agree to the Wei family's request to annul the engagement!"
Pan Yuanzhou walked up to him, and said in astonishment, "Heng'er, you..."
Pan Heng shook his head almost imperceptibly at him, his gaze sharp as a blade.
That look startled Pan Yuanzhou. Wei Jingtong had indeed embezzled money. Ye Qingxue hadn't lied to him. In this desperate gamble, the Pan family had won!
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