Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Breaking Off the Engagement
The proposal of Su Jin disguising herself as a man was suggested by Marquis Jibei.
Yesterday, Su Jin also made a merit by saving Princess Shouning and restoring the Emperor’s dignity.
So the negative impact of Su Jin’s disguise, the Emperor couldn’t say anything about it either.
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed Xie Jingchen.
Xie Jingchen, with a face full of bruises, entered the palace.
If even the Emperor misunderstood it to be Su Jin, what more the other people?
Xie Jingchen knew they misunderstood, but he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
After riding out of the palace, he headed straight for the Right Minister Mansion.
Few people at the Right Minister Mansion recognized Xie Jingchen, let alone with his bruised and swollen face.
A man on horseback stopped in front of the Right Minister Mansion.
The servant of the Right Minister Mansion frowned.
"Who goes there?" the servant asked.
The steward of the Right Minister Mansion came out and upon seeing him, said, "Isn’t this the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"
"Is there something the Young Master needs from the Right Minister Mansion?" the steward asked politely.
Xie Jingchen stepped up the stairs and said, "I’m here to retract the proposal."
The steward was stunned.
Although the Prime Minister did not wish to marry the eldest young lady to the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion as a concubine,
the Madam regretted her thoughtlessness.
But since the engagement was already set and widely known, what face can his eldest young lady have if the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion comes to retract the proposal?
But seeing Xie Jingchen’s face, the steward roughly understood why the proposal was being retracted.
Henpecked.
Blatantly henpecked.
But why, being so henpecked, did he publicly molest their eldest young lady?
The steward thought Su Jin had shown restraint; such a heartless man should be beaten to death.
Those gazes surrounding him.
Xie Jingchen was already used to them.
In the main hall.
Old Madam Zhou sat there drinking tea.
The Right Minister’s Wife had a worried face.
The second Madam advised her to take it easy, as children and grandchildren have their own fortunes.
A maid ran in, saying, "Madam, it’s not good, the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has come to retract the proposal."
"What?!" The Right Minister’s Wife stood up angrily.
"How dare he come to retract the proposal?!"
She didn’t go to Duke Zhen’s Mansion to retract the proposal, fearing it couldn’t be undone; now he’s bold enough to come and retract it?!
The little maid said, "The Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion’s face is bruised and swollen, beaten so badly."
The Right Minister’s Wife’s anger froze on her face.
Very angry.
But also not knowing what to do.
The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion dared to even beat her husband, what kind of life would her daughter have after marriage?
Though embarrassing, it was better than losing her life.
How did her daughter end up so unfortunate?
The Right Minister’s Wife, eyes welling with tears.
As for Xie Jingchen, after entering the Right Minister Mansion, he was continuously despised by others; if not for fear, many would have liked to beat him.
The maids and servants hid, observing him.
A servant said, "Is he really the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"
"What’s wrong?" a maid asked.
"The one who molested the eldest young lady yesterday wasn’t him," the servant said.
"How could it be?" the maid exclaimed.
"It really wasn’t; I saw it clearly. That person wasn’t as tall as him, at least a head shorter," the servant affirmed.
Unluckily, he was one of the servants drugged and knocked out by Su Jin.
Standing right in front of Su Jin, he saw very clearly.
The servant’s conversation quickly spread.
The chief steward of the Prime Minister Mansion personally came to ask, "Are you sure the one who molested the eldest young lady wasn’t just now the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"
The servant said a bit fearfully, "They clearly were two different people. If the chief steward doesn’t believe, you can ask Quan An."
The servant Quan An deliberately chased after Xie Jingchen, pursued him to the second gate, then run back.
The chief steward asked, "Did you see clearly?"
Quan An said, "The one who harassed the young lady yesterday really wasn’t him; is he truly the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"
The chief steward raised his hand to slap upwards, "Could I be mistaken?!"
"Even if I am mistaken, the Prime Minister won’t be. Since he dares to come, there can be no mistake," the chief steward said.
The servant nodded, "After molesting the young lady yesterday, that man went to the Baihua Building. Shortly after he went in, the Young Master Xie went in too."
"The Young Master Xie definitely knows who that man is," the servant affirmed.
Realizing the mistake, the chief steward hurried to the inner courtyard.
Xie Jingchen entered the main hall.
Seeing his bruised face and eyes, everyone understood Su Jin’s ruthlessness.
Xie Jingchen saluted Old Madam Zhou and the Right Minister’s Wife.
Old Madam Zhou looked displeased, "Our Prime Minister’s Mansion has no wish to marry our daughter to you as a concubine, but the matter has come to this, we have no choice."
"The engagement was set, yet your Duke Zhen’s Mansion wantonly spread it, making it widely known. Now you come to retract the proposal, are you trying to push my granddaughter to her death?"
This was indeed wrong on the part of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.
Xie Jingchen wouldn’t deny it.
Moreover, Nanzhang County Princess’s actions harmed not only the Right Minister Mansion’s lady but also him.
In a certain way, he and the Right Minister Mansion stood on the same side.
Xie Jingchen bowed to Old Madam Zhou, saying, "My wife was being headstrong, causing Miss Zhou’s reputation to be tarnished. I am here to apologize on her behalf."
"What?!" Old Madam Zhou’s voice rose several tones.
Xie Jingchen said once more, "It was my wife who rescued Miss Zhou yesterday, and ’insulted’ her; she was disguised as a man, wearing my Jade Pendant."
Old Madam Zhou, "..."
The Right Minister’s Wife, "..."
"It was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion who saved my daughter?" The Right Minister’s Wife’s voice floated over, with a bit of a tremor.
"Indeed it was my wife. If the Prime Minister’s wife doesn’t believe, I can have my wife come and apologize personally," Xie Jingchen said.
The Right Minister’s Wife’s previously unsettled heart finally calmed down.
She was both angry and amused, "It turns out to be a misunderstanding."
As for having Su Jin apologize,
The Right Minister’s Wife definitely dared not.
"The Eldest Young Madam had good intentions in saving my daughter. Her disguise was mistaken by our mansion’s servant as harassment towards Yiyi, which forced her to run," The Right Minister’s Wife laughed involuntarily.
Only, a servant witnessed that man entering the Baihua Building.
Young Master Xie said it was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion in disguise.
Then did the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion actually visit a brothel?
The Right Minister’s Wife, "..."
Never had she seen such a bold woman.
Her actions were indeed somewhat unconventional.
But considering the Baihua Building was raided,
No need to say more, definitely connected to the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.
The Right Minister’s Wife couldn’t help but laugh.
Outside, a maid ran in and said, "Madam, you must go persuade the eldest young lady, she wants to hit her head until she dies, the maids can hardly stop her."
Xie Jingchen, "..."
The Right Minister’s Wife, "...!!!"
Not caring about Xie Jingchen, the Right Minister’s Wife stood up and rushed out.
Her steps were hurried and disorderly.
Xie Jingchen raised his hand to rub his forehead.
How did things get so chaotic?
How did he end up cleaning up such a mess?
The Right Minister’s Wife hurriedly ran to her daughter’s residence; before entering, she heard the maid advising Miss Zhou not to act rashly.
"Let me go, let me just die," Miss Zhou cried incessantly.
Originally, she didn’t want to marry, but now they don’t want her either.
She felt her life only brought shame to her parents.
A maid hugged her waist, while Miss Zhou couldn’t reach the pillar with her head.
The Right Minister’s Wife quickly went in, holding Zhou Jingyi, saying, "Retracting the proposal is a good thing."
Miss Zhou looked at the Right Minister’s Wife, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Mother, please don’t deceive me," Miss Zhou cried.
"It wasn’t the Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion who harassed you yesterday," the Right Minister’s Wife said anxiously.
"If not him, then who?" Miss Zhou’s face turned pale.
"It was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion."
"..."