"If you ask me, the Liang family's roots are rotten. I heard that Lord Liang broke off his engagement back then and forcefully married into a powerful family, which led to his current status and glory. I didn't expect his son to be the same as his father. Tsk, tsk, it's really... what's that saying?"
"When the beam above is crooked, the beam below will be crooked!"
"Yes, yes, that's the one."
The old woman from the Xu family stood with an air of righteous indignation, her back straight. In contrast, the servants of the Liang family looked shifty-eyed, which was infuriating.
"Since the Liang family isn't sending anyone, this old woman won't be polite."
With that, she raised her hand and unfurled the gift list. The servants who accompanied the Xu family were no fools. With a call from the old woman, they opened the chests and verified the items. The surrounding commoners couldn't help but sigh in admiration, marveling at the wealth of a noble family's wedding. The betrothal gifts were enough for everyone in their ten-mile radius to live a good life for a lifetime.
In the backyard.
Lord Liang was furious, his anger reaching the heavens, but he dared not step out at this moment to invite more misfortune.
"Look at the mess you've made. If it weren't for your engagement to Miss Wei, I'd beat you to death."
He gritted his teeth and squeezed out these words, smashing teacups on the table repeatedly. The tea splashed all over Liang Pan, who was kneeling on the ground, yet he dared not show any resistance.
"Father, please calm down."
"Calm down, calm down, you only know how to tell me to calm down. You want to break off the engagement, but why must you make such a scene with the Xu family? Look, they're blocking the entrance and pointing fingers at our family, scolding us."
When his anger reached its peak, he picked up a nearby flower vase, intending to smash it.
Liang Luo, standing beside him, felt heartbroken for her brother. Fearing that the vase smash might lead to serious trouble, she quickly ran over to comfort Lord Liang, who was in a fit of rage.
"Father, there's no need to be angry. Regarding the broken engagement, it may seem like our family has lost face, but in reality, we've gained a great advantage. How can the Xu family, a declining household, compare to the Wei family? Once Sister Wei marries in, Father, you will be in-laws with Duke Wei, which will be of great help in court!"
After her words, Lord Liang's heaving chest finally stabilized, and his anger subsided considerably.
What she said made sense. The Xu family had no promising young men, and although Elder Xu appeared powerful now, he was no match for the Wei family's influence. If the Ninth Prince were to ascend the throne, they would be relatives of the new emperor.
However, that was a matter for the future.
For now, they were struggling to withstand the wrath of the Xu family. And then there were the Wei family, the Ninth Prince, and even the noble consort in the palace. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
This immense wealth was truly a scorching hot potato.
"The Liang family dares to compete with this consort for someone? Have they eaten bear's heart and leopard's gall?"
In Hanzhang Palace, Consort Wei was in a furious rage. Her well-maintained face was now clouded with darkness. Her slender fingers, stained with the juice of the balsam flower, clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand tightly. She roared in uncontrollable anger, her voice piercing through every corner of the palace.
The attending palace maids trembled in fear, all kneeling respectfully, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Yue Shi, the head palace maid closest to her, trembled as she stepped forward. "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Since the Liang family has done such a thing, you can simply report it to His Majesty and have them punished. Please do not get angry, for it is not worth it if it harms your health."
Her words of comfort did not alleviate the anger churning within Consort Wei. She pursed her lips and glared around.
"Why are you kneeling? Go and prepare the imperial sedan chair. This consort will go to see His Majesty now."
"Yes." The palace maids, upon receiving the order, immediately fled the main hall. A newly arrived palace maid, in her haste, accidentally bumped into a porcelain vase that the consort cherished, and with a crash, shards of porcelain scattered across the floor.
"What kind of people does the Imperial Household Department select? How dare such a palace maid be sent to Hanzhang Palace? Yue Shi, drag her away and have her beaten to death as a warning!"
"Yes." Although Yue Shi felt the punishment was too severe, the consort was clearly in a rage. This palace maid was also foolish to have been in the way, and deserved her misfortune.
"This servant did not do it on purpose, Your Highness, please spare me, Your Highness, please spare me..."
The young palace maid was so terrified that two-thirds of her soul had fled. She kowtowed desperately, but it was no use. Eunuchs stepped forward, knocked her unconscious, and dragged her away.
Consort Wei let out a long sigh, and the pent-up anger seemed to have found an outlet. Yue Shi immediately stepped forward, offering the "Mei Jian Feng Ya" tea that the consort usually favored, and ordered someone to quickly clean up the broken pieces.
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. With His Majesty here, he will naturally uphold justice for Your Highness and the Ninth Prince."
Upon remembering her beloved son, the anger that Consort Wei had barely suppressed surged back into her heart. Her phoenix-like eyes widened as she looked at Yue Shi, her face turning pale.
Yue Shi did not know what she had said wrong and quickly knelt down. Just as she was about to say something, the Ninth Prince walked in, his deep voice chillingly asking, "What is bothering Mother Consort?"
A point of crimson suddenly gathered in his dark eyes, and an icy aura emanated from his entire being.
"Yun Li, are you alright?" Consort Wei looked at him with great concern, her heart aching.
In contrast, the Ninth Prince's chiseled face showed no trace of sadness, his lips thin and pale, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
"To grieve over a woman of questionable character, Mother Consort underestimates me too much." His words conveyed utter disdain for Wei Lanxuan.
After all, she was her own niece, and a child whom Consort Wei had watched grow up. She refused to believe that the matter was Wei Lanxuan's idea and was convinced that the Liang family had instigated it.
Therefore, all her anger was directed at the Liang family, and she had forgotten about her own niece.
"Yun Li, you must not speak of Lan'er like that. She is the one Mother Consort has chosen as your primary consort. In terms of appearance, temperament, talent, and capability, she is second to none. Go and inquire throughout the capital, and you will not find another girl like her."
The Ninth Prince gave a noncommittal snort.
"I have already informed Father Emperor that the imperial decree for this arranged marriage will not be issued. Mother Consort need not intervene for me."
"What?" Consort Wei was greatly alarmed, not understanding the meaning of her son's words. She then asked, "Do you have someone you fancy? If so, it's fine. Once Lan'er enters the mansion and conceives a legitimate heir, you can take her in as a concubine. Mother Consort will not say a word."
In her eyes, as long as the legitimate heir was born to a woman from the Wei family, the others were merely concubines, and a little more favor was acceptable.
Hearing Consort Wei's words, the Ninth Prince's eyes deepened abruptly, and he looked at her sharply.
He said nothing, yet Consort Wei felt a chill run down her spine.
"The person who will be my primary consort will absolutely not be a woman from the Wei family again. If Mother Consort has nothing else, then please find another daughter from a different family for your son."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
Consort Wei realized that the matter was beyond redemption. "Send out invitations. I want to see my father tomorrow."
"Yes."
Today's events were too peculiar, and there must be a hidden hand at play. If she caught the person who disrupted things, she would make them beg for mercy in vain to appease her anger.
After bidding farewell to Feng Jin Yao, Bai Si Ruo took a carriage to a restaurant by Mingchi Lake.
Seeing her arrive, the shopkeeper, familiar with her ways, led her into a private room. The window faced the ice-covered Mingchi Lake. Many children were playing on the ice.