Volume One, Chapter 11: Breaking Off the Engagement

After the crowd dispersed, Leng Yueheng failed to glean any useful information from her uncle. The person who came to see him wore a mask and was clearly a servant.

Leng Xuanru sent someone to tail her uncle in the opposite direction, but it yielded no results.

In the following days, the Leng residence went through a flurry of activity: geomancers were invited, burial rites performed, the grave was rounded off, and the seven-day mourning period observed. It took over half a month before the matriarch’s funeral was fully completed.

Leng Yueheng wanted to complain about how cumbersome the ancient funeral rites were—she hadn’t been able to go anywhere in all that time.

On the second day after the seventh day’s end, after changing her clothes and preparing to climb over the wall to leave, a servant reported that the Xiao family had arrived and wished to see the Third Miss.

It seemed the Xiao family had come to break off the engagement.

Leng Yueheng led Aunt Zhuang into the Minghui Hall, where she saw her father seated in the main seat, with Madam Jiang on his right and a dignified, elegant Madam Xiao on his left. Beside Madam Xiao sat a handsome young gentleman.

Leng Yueheng performed all the proper courtesies, bowing gracefully to her parents in greeting.

Leng Xuanru introduced the two guests, and Leng Yueheng greeted each of them with composed calmness, then took her seat to the right of Madam Jiang, showing no hint of resentment.

Both families were respectable, and after a round of meaningless pleasantries, Madam Xiao took the initiative to speak.

“We originally intended to come earlier, but out of respect for your family’s recent loss, we refrained from disturbing you. Let us speak plainly: now that both children have grown, the betrothal arranged by the late General was nothing more than a jest, not to be taken seriously. We come today to clarify this, so the two may each pursue their own marriages without delay.”

Good heavens! The original engagement was merely a joke? How does one even respond to that? If they took it seriously, people would say they mistook a joke for truth; if they let it go, it felt utterly humiliating.

Leng Xuanru felt equally aggrieved. Even a broken engagement deserved some dignity—could it be dismissed with a mere “just a joke”? If it truly were a joke, a rumor would suffice; why come in person to break off the match? Yet he was uneasy, unsure whether his daughter’s reputation was untarnished.

“The late General was earnest in this matter! If he had considered it a joke, then so be it,” Leng Xuanru replied.

“The General now serves loyally at the frontier for His Majesty; such a minor matter should not trouble Master Leng,” Madam Xiao said, smoothing her gown with disdain. She then looked at Leng Yueheng and added, “Third Miss, with such extraordinary beauty, your aunt fears your good marriage has been delayed.”

Leng Yueheng nearly lost her temper. Was this a veiled insult to her virtue? Fine! If they wanted to break off the engagement, they’d first pay for the damage done to her honor.

“Aunt, Yueheng has always remembered her betrothal to Master Xiao over the years. After all, the late General was loyal and patriotic, a man of great achievements deserving respect. No matter what others say, Yueheng would never take the General’s words as a jest,” she replied calmly.

Madam Xiao was momentarily taken aback. This young girl dared to imply disrespect toward her father-in-law? What a sharp tongue. She would not let this insolent girl off lightly.

With a smiling but icy tone, Madam Xiao said, “Third Miss is right; the General’s words cannot be disregarded. But… your aunt also sympathizes with you. She fears my son, Yun, might delay your good marriage prospects.”

Leng Xuanru wished he could vanish into the floor. To refute would be to admit the insinuation; not to refute was to tacitly accept that his daughter was unchaste.

“Aunt speaks truly. There were indeed excellent matches courting me before. Father intended to accept, but since I was betrothed to Master Xiao, he could not go back on his word and had to refuse with regret. Truly a pity,” Leng Yueheng said with biting sarcasm.

Leng Xuanru listened to his daughter’s veiled barbs and wanted to give her a thumbs up for her spirited defiance.

Madam Xiao’s face flushed purple, her chest rising and falling in anger. This girl was insinuating that her son was inferior, that their family was lesser, and accusing her of breaking her word? Such a fierce tongue for a mere girl.

Her son was nothing but a disreputable scoundrel; how could she boast and look down on him?

“Speak plainly! What would it take for you to agree to break the engagement?” Xiao Jingyun, unable to bear the tension, said bluntly—young people favored straight talk.

Leng Yueheng preferred straightforward players herself.

“I missed out on good matches because of you. This concerns my future. Your family must compensate me!” she blurted out.

She had been somewhat shy to speak of this spiritual damage compensation, but seeing Madam Xiao’s arrogance, all trace of guilt vanished.

“How much compensation?”

“Five hundred taels of silver!”

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. Was Leng Yueheng mad?

Judging by their expressions, she recalled the original owner’s memories and realized it might be a bit much. Five hundred taels could easily pay to marry her off. Master Xiao hadn’t even touched her hand—charging five hundred taels just to see her once?

At that moment, Madam Jiang saw the conversation had reached a deadlock. With nothing good left to say, and Leng Yueheng having thoroughly offended Madam Xiao, Madam Xiao’s disdain created an opportunity for her own daughter, Yue Mei.

“Master, Madam Xiao, this matter is simple. Our families have long enjoyed good relations. Let’s not sour the mood and invite ridicule from others. Yue Mei!” she called loudly into the inner hall.

Yue Mei responded promptly, stepping out gracefully to bow. Her face bore a gentle blush, as beautiful and alluring as a peach blossom in spring, captivating all eyes.