Seeing Qiu Yuanxi remain silent, Madam Qiu spoke directly, "Xi'er, you've returned this time because you still wish to break off the engagement, haven't you?"
Though phrased as a question, it was stated with certainty.
Since Madam Qiu had brought it up so directly, Qiu Yuanxi was not surprised. She had left precisely because they disagreed with breaking off the engagement. Knowing her personality, they had naturally guessed that her return was still for the purpose of annulment.
"Mother, do you agree?" Qiu Yuanxi cautiously observed Madam Qiu's expression. Seeing her calm and undisturbed, Qiu Yuanxi was somewhat taken aback. Previously, every time she brought up the matter, her mother would immediately forbid it. Why was she so calm this time?
"Xi'er, you should know that the engagement between the Qiu family and the Lei family is one that cannot be canceled."
The engagement between the Qiu and Lei families was arranged by their ancestors. The position of the Lei family's matriarch could only be held by a direct descendant of the Qiu family, and it had been this way for every generation. The third young master of the Lei family was one of the designated heirs of the Lei family, and his wife could only be a direct descendant of the Qiu family; otherwise, he would lose his qualification as an heir.
The patriarch and matriarch of the Lei family had meticulously chosen Qiu Yuanxi, thus the engagement between the two families was settled without regard for the opinions of the two individuals involved.
The third young master of the Lei family was dissatisfied with this ancestral engagement and had been devising ways to cancel it. Therefore, even though the Qiu family was his maternal family and Qiu Yuanxi was his cousin, the third young master of the Lei family disliked the Qiu family.
"Mother, but neither the third young master of the Lei family nor I like each other. Are you going to watch us live a lifetime of resentment? Can you bear to see that?"
"Xi'er, if Mother disagrees, will you run off to the Sacred Hall again?"
"Mother..." Qiu Yuanxi did not answer, but her stance was clear.
Madam Qiu sighed helplessly, thinking of her other daughter, and said with resignation, "Xi'er, this matter needs to be discussed with your father."
"Your daughter understands."
The matter of the alliance between the two families naturally had to be decided by the patriarchs of both families. In fact, Madam Qiu had wanted to break off the engagement during the first two years after Qiu Yuanxi ran away, because few of the direct descendants of the Lei family were normal. Madam Qiu did not want her daughter to suffer at the hands of her aunt. However, the Qiu family patriarch had always disagreed, which was why the engagement could not be broken.
The Qiu family patriarch returned home immediately after handling matters in the military camp. As soon as he arrived, Madam Qiu's maid summoned him.
"Madam, what is it?" The Qiu family patriarch had always respected Madam Qiu, so he came immediately upon receiving the news.
"Patriarch, Xi'er's purpose in returning this time is still to annul the engagement. I'm telling you the situation first so you can be prepared."
This time, the Qiu family patriarch was also unusually calm.
"Madam, when I learned that Xi'er had returned, I knew her purpose."
"Then, do you agree?"
"The key to this matter is not with us, but with the Lei family. The engagement arranged by the ancestors of both families cannot be canceled by us."
"But Patriarch, Xi'er's attitude is very firm, and I don't want to marry Xi'er into the Lei family."
"Madam, actually, I don't want that either."
They knew about the matters of the Lei family, which outsiders did not. He also did not wish for his daughter to marry into their family, but he still had his elders above him. Even if they wanted to break the engagement, their ancestors would have to agree.
"Never mind, since I have nothing much to do these few days, I'll go to Lei City and discuss it with the Lei family patriarch to see their attitude towards this."
"Alright."
The Qiu family patriarch acted on his word. The next day, he took Madam Qiu and Qiu Yuanxi to Lei City.
"Why has Brother Qiu come here?" The Lei family patriarch appeared to be only in his thirties or forties, but he was actually nearly a hundred years old.
"Brother Lei, for what else but the engagement of our two children."
Upon mentioning this, both of them felt a bit awkward. Qiu Yuanxi had run off to the Sacred Hall to avoid the engagement and had not returned home for over ten years. Meanwhile, the third young master of the Lei family had deliberately ruined his reputation in his efforts to cancel the engagement.
"You all may withdraw first," the Lei family patriarch said to the servants.
"Yes."
Seeing this, the Qiu family patriarch understood the Lei family patriarch's intention and said to Qiu Yuanxi, "You may withdraw as well."
Qiu Yuanxi was startled, then obediently retreated.
Seeing that only the four of them remained, the Lei family patriarch cleared his throat and said, "Brother Qiu, speaking of which, this engagement between these two children has been set for nearly twenty years. My third son has truly been unruly. You can punish him however you see fit."
The Qiu family patriarch hesitated for a moment before stating the purpose of his visit.
"Brother-in-law, since it's just the four of us here, I won't beat around the bush."
Hearing this address, the Lei family patriarch was taken aback. The current matriarch of the Lei family was the Qiu family patriarch's own elder sister. It was not wrong for the Qiu family patriarch to address him this way, but the Qiu family patriarch had never done so before. Not only the Lei family patriarch but even the two ladies were not reacting to it.
"Brother-in-law, I'll be frank. My fifth child has always wanted to break off the engagement and even ran off to the Sacred Hall, with no news for over a decade. I was unwilling at first, but since Xiao Wu is so determined, and her current status means she cannot afford any mishaps, and your third son has also privately told me that he doesn't want to marry my Xiao Wu, I think it would be better to cancel their engagement rather than let them become a resentful couple."
After hearing the Qiu family patriarch's words, the Lei family patriarch did not react too strongly, as his third son's reputation was indeed not good. Moreover, the Qiu family held a slightly higher status than the Lei family, and he understood the Qiu family patriarch's decision, but...
"Brother Qiu, you are the patriarch of the Qiu family and you know that this matter is not for us to decide. It must be decided by the ancestors, but the ancestors will certainly not agree."
If they were to agree, how could they not know about the commotion caused by the third young master of the Lei family? The fact that they had not intervened meant they did not agree to break off the engagement.
Madam Qiu also knew this, so she said, "Brother-in-law, Sister, I also know that it's impossible to cancel the engagement between the two families, but we are all parents, and we all want the best for our children. What was supposed to be a good thing has turned into this, which is truly not good. Brother-in-law, Sister, how about this: the engagement between the two families remains, but can the chosen candidates be changed?"
"Change the candidates?" The Lei family patriarch and Madam Lei exchanged glances, simultaneously thinking of someone.
"Brother-in-law, Sister, it's a bit embarrassing to say, but two years ago, my seventh child got along well with your fifth child. I see that both of them have some feelings, and your fifth child and my seventh child are both of marriageable age. I know the possibility is slim, but as a mother, I am shamelessly putting this forward, hoping you can consider changing the engagement to your fifth child and my seventh child."
In fact, Madam Qiu was reluctant to bring this up, but Miss Qiu Qi was her most well-behaved daughter. Since birth, she had only asked her for this one thing. She could not bear to refuse. Moreover, compared to canceling the engagement, changing the candidate was easier to accept.
This proposal seemed to have no issues. Miss Qiu Qi was Madam Qiu's own daughter and, like Qiu Yuanxi, a direct descendant. However, the fifth young master of the Lei family was different from the third young master of the Lei family; he was a concubine-born son. With direct male heirs present, no family would allow a concubine-born son to inherit the position of family patriarch.
One of the conditions in the engagement between the two families was that the Lei family matriarch must be a direct descendant of the Qiu family. Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, whichever young master of the Lei family a direct descendant of the Qiu family married, that young master would become the future patriarch of the Lei family. With direct male heirs in the Qiu family, how could Madam Qiu agree?
As Madam Qiu spoke, Madam Lei's expression soured, and her gaze towards Madam Qiu was no longer as affectionate as before.
The Qiu family patriarch also knew what the consequences of this statement would be. Therefore, after Madam Qiu finished speaking, he said, "Brother-in-law, Sister, please consider this matter carefully. We will be staying in Lei City, so you can inform us anytime once you have considered it."