The Marquis of Wu'an was momentarily at a loss for words. The entire long street was deathly silent.
Wei Qianrui decided to fight for herself. She prostrated herself on the ground, her posture extremely low.
"The Princess's cultivation and character are naturally excellent. I beg the Princess to spare the life of the child in my belly."
Ru Tong: "Presumptuous! After committing such a shameless act, you dare to beg before our Princess?"
"Esteemed sister, I am truly desperate. How innocent is the child in my womb? I will raise him under the Princess's tutelage, and he will surely be filial to Her Highness."
"Heh, you've certainly calculated well. I, this Princess, do not like raising other people's children, especially those like you. You sicken me just by looking at you."
"Wuwuwu, it is I, your humble subject, who is dull-witted and cannot speak properly. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and grant him a way to live."
"You should be asking not me, but rather thanking me for allowing me to see the true nature of the Marquis of Wu'an's heir – all glitter and no substance."
A young maidservant approached, holding a small casket in her hands, and stood respectfully beside Jun Jiuli.
"I am annulling this marriage today. Here are the betrothal gifts sent by your Marquis's manor. Marquis of Wu'an, please accept them."
The Marquis of Wu'an raised his hands above his head, and the maidservant placed the small casket into his hands.
"Your Highness..."
He opened his mouth to persuade, but Jun Jiuli had already risen and was walking towards the Grand Princess's manor. The Marquis of Wu'an knew that there was no room for further negotiation.
He held the casket, lost in thought, wondering how to face the Emperor's wrath and protect his foolish son.
Wei Qianrui, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a flicker of joy. If the Princess broke off the engagement, perhaps with a little effort, she could become the legitimate wife of the heir.
Wei Qianrui carefully protected her belly, her greatest trump card for establishing a firm footing.
The Marquis of Wu'an boarded his carriage and rushed towards the palace gates. Zhao Guanjin's sixty strokes of the cane had not yet concluded. Wei Qianrui stayed by his side, lamenting pitifully.
As the important figures departed, the onlookers instantly erupted into discussions, pointing and whispering about the two.
"The Marquis of Wu'an's heir is too audacious! He got that girl pregnant before the wedding. Truly shameless."
"This will be quite a show. I see the Marquis rushing to the palace to beg for forgiveness."
"If I had such a burdensome son, I think I would die of anger."
"Hahaha, to refuse to be a驸马 (emperor's son-in-law) and cause such a scene. What charm does that girl possess?"
"She doesn't seem like much to me; rather foolish."
"Alas, I wonder who gave this heir the courage to bring an outside woman, already with child, to challenge the Princess."
"It's a good thing the Princess discovered this now. Imagine how disgusting it would have been if she only found out after the marriage."
"The thought alone is nauseating. Bah, shameless."
"Any decent girl with a shred of dignity would not do such a thing. She's more debauched than a prostitute from the pleasure quarters."
"With such a scandal, how will this matter be resolved?"
"What's it to us? We don't have to worry about it."
Most of the crowd dispersed; the spectators had chores waiting at home.
The guards from the Princess's manor finished their work, tossed Zhao Guanjin onto the ground, and carried their stools back into the manor.
Wei Qianrui rushed to him, heartbroken, and quickly pulled the cloth from his mouth.
"My Heir, my Heir, how are you feeling? It's all my fault, it's all because of me, I have harmed you."
"Silly girl, you... you don't need to blame yourself."
Wei Qianrui looked at him, deeply touched. Before they could exchange many words, the carriage of the Marquis of Wu'an's wife arrived.
The wet nurse accompanying the Marquis's wife stepped forward and grabbed Wei Qianrui by the shoulder, intending to drag her away. Zhao Guanjin's eyes blazed with fury.
"Let her go! Quickly, let her go! Are you deaf? Bold slut, how dare you defy this heir!"
The Marquis's wife alighted from the carriage, her eyes full of concern for her son. Upon seeing Wei Qianrui, her expression changed.
"Jin'er, why must you do this?"
"Mother, Mother, please tell them to stop. Where are you taking her? She is already carrying my child."
"Do not be so stubborn. Someone like her is not fit to enter my Marquis's manor."
"Mother, your son has never begged you for anything."
The Marquis's wife did not wish to argue with him further. She sternly ordered the guards to silence Zhao Guanjin and carry him onto the carriage.
Seeing the Marquis's wife's cold, disdainful gaze, Wei Qianrui knew she was finished. She dared not say another word, fearing she would only incur more of her displeasure.
"You do have some beauty and cunning. I advise you to abandon your unrealistic notions as soon as possible. Even as a concubine to my son, you would be beneath him."
Wei Qianrui gritted her teeth and endured silently, vowing in her heart that one day she would make those who looked down on her kneel and admit their mistakes.
The wet nurse led Wei Qianrui to a simple carriage. As it bumped along, she felt deeply uneasy.
"The Marquis of Wu'an's wife has taken that girl away. Will their family truly accept someone like her?"
"What else can they do? Throw her onto the street? That would invite endless gossip. Acceptance is out of the question; she'll likely not even be a concubine. But I suspect the heir will cause more trouble."
"Alas, it's truly unfortunate to have such a son. The Marquis's wife is also known for her virtuous and capable nature in the capital. This situation must be a source of ridicule among those noble ladies."
"Laughter won't cost them anything. Their son is more important, and they must help him."
Marquis of Wu'an's manor.
"Mother, I want to see Qian Rui. Mother, what do you plan to do with her? It's all my fault."
"Silence! If not for that little slut instigating you, why would you have been so ostentatious upon your return to the capital?"
"Mother, you are mistaken about Qian Rui. She is truly a very, very good person. If you spent some time with her, you would surely see her merits. I also didn't know I would encounter the Princess today."
"Heh, you didn't not know; you simply didn't care. Who in the capital doesn't know that the Grand Princess is deeply devoted to you? She would surely appear when you returned."
"Your son also doesn't understand why the Princess was so aggressive today. Qian Rui and I were not improperly together in public before."
"No one is blind, and no one will indulge you unconditionally. Hearts grow cold. Do you realize the grave mistake you have made?"
"If the Princess says the engagement is off, then let it be. I don't care to be a驸马 (emperor's son-in-law) either. My heart belongs only to Qian Rui."
"Fool! Do you know your father is kneeling at the palace gates for you right now? Unrepentant, stubborn wretch."
"The Princess will not be so petty. Breaking the engagement is a release for us. I have already received sixty strokes of the cane today. I imagine the Princess should be appeased."
"The Princess may be appeased, but what about His Majesty? Whose daughter did you disgrace today? Who can swallow this insult?"
"I... I didn't mean to. I will go explain now. I was merely overcome by emotion. I didn't expect Qian Rui to become pregnant after just one time. Regardless, Qian Rui must not be harmed."
The Marquis's wife was so angered by him that she had no words. She had someone tidy him up and then sent him to the palace gates to kneel.