Chapter 242 Breaking the Betrothal or Not?
“Miss, First Miss and Mei Xue did leave from the back gate secretly. Don’t know where they are going at this time?” Qin Wanru had asked Yujie to keep an eye on Qin Yuru. So, when she found Qin Yuru left Qin’s Mansion dressed as a servant girl, she returned hurriedly to report it to Qin Wanru.
Qin Wanru was reading the medical book Mingqiu Nun gave her in the very quiet room. As she heard what Yujie said, she raised her head but shook it. “Don’t care about that. At this time, she must be going to meet Qi Tianyu.”
As she spoke, she took up the small scissors on her side slowly and cut a part of the dancing wick and the long tears of the candle. Just now, the flame was dancing, not steady, but now it became peaceful.
“Is she going to beg First Young Master of the Qi Family to prove the previous matters are all lies? Miss, what shall we do? He is bound to help First Miss!” Yujie became anxious as she heard it because she knew First Miss’ great influence on him.
“Qi Tianyu won’t help her!” Qin Wanru smiled. Her beautiful hair had already been re-combed, with her double rings unknotted, and she only made a braid and let it dangle from her shoulder, looking more charming and beautiful.
“Why won’t he? Qing Yue had told me once in Jiangzhou, First Young Master of the Qi Family came to trouble you because he meant to help First Miss!” Yujie said.
Qin Wanru narrowed her watery eyes, took a look at the candle tears on the candlestick, and had a small smile on her beautiful lips. “Today is different from the past. The cause of this matter is because of Qi Tianyu, and how can he disgrace himself!”
“Because of First Young Master of the Qi Family?” Yujie was shocked. These days, there was too much trouble, the entire mansion seemed to be messy, and its atmosphere was also depressing. Everyone knew the matter had clear evidence and wouldn’t be solved easily, but people of the mansion guessed that the matter’s cause was related to Shui Ruolan and Qin Wanru.
Unexpectedly, Qi Tianyu was the cause of it.
“Qi Rongzhi was hurt so much, how can she keep quiet? No doubt, she will ask Qi Tianyu to help her!” Qin Wanru said slowly.
“First Young Master of the Qi Family trusts First Miss most, doesn’t he?” Yujie was befuddled. As for the previous details, she was not very clear, but she heard most from Qing Yue and then knew it.
“The times are different. If Qi Tianyu hadn’t thought it through until this moment, he was extremely stupid!” Qin Wanru’s smile turned cold. She never thought Qi Tianyu was stupid, or he could not have won the third place in the national civil examinations in her previous life, and she even felt that Qi Tianyu never had such deep love that he showed.
Some of the things that came out this time were within expectations, and some were not, but the result was good.
Qi Tianyu asked his men to spread the rumors, but it was Qin Wanru who asked Chu Liuchen to release the cart driver later. As for letting the cart driver tell the truth, it was easy for Chu Liuchen. Yet, the honest words of the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son were unexpected. Initially, Qin Wanru thought even if the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son had wanted to be her witness, she wouldn’t have done it at this time.
Undoubtedly, this was a better time, but it was easy to push the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son to the frontline!
For the reaction of the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son, Qin Wanru felt very grateful. In the beginning, she wanted the cart driver to come out at some special moment after the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son saw him. But now was a better opportunity. She could advance step by step, then spread the matters that happened in Jiangzhou, and also prove some of them.
For some rumors, it usually happened that if one part of them was proven, people would believe the rest firmly!
Qin Wanru had long learned this effect!
At that time, there were many peddlers’ family members in Jingxin Monastery. In the past, when no one mentioned it, these people dared not speak anything, but now when everyone began gossiping, they also became witnesses and would not cover up what they saw and heard.
The more the rumors were gossiped about, the truer they became in people’s eyes!
“First Young Master of the Qi Family doesn’t meddle in, but what about Duke Yong’s Mansion?” Yujie felt relieved, but she suddenly thought of Duke Yong’s Mansion and said.
Qin Wanru remained silent this time, but gave a small smile, which had a profound meaning!
Duke Yong’s Mansion couldn’t do anything any longer!
The following day, Duke Yong visited Ningyuan Army General’s Mansion. Qin Huaiyong invited him to his study, and they sat down according to the guest-and-host rules.
Once sitting down, Duke Yong showed a cold expression, banged the table with his hand, and, wearing a sullen face, said to Qin Huaiyong, “Brother-in-law, what do you want by locking my sister up? Is it that you wish to love your concubine but kill your wife?”
In this way, Qin Huaiyong got the accusation “love your concubine but kill your wife”. Since he had no relations in the capital city, if such an accusation were believed, his official’s career would be hard to advance.
“Elder Brother-in-law, what do you mean?” Qin Huaiyong said calmly.
“What do you mean by locking my sister up? Do you think our Duke Yong’s Mansion is dead? You locked up my sister only because of hearing some rumors.” Today, Duke Yong came to help Madam Di, with enough ferocious airs, and he didn’t believe Qin Huaiyong dare offend him.
“Elder Brother-in-law, don’t you know the rumors in the air?” Qin Huaiyong asked coldly. There were so many rumors in the air, which he didn’t like, either, but since the problem happened, he must solve it with the least sacrifice.
“It must be your mansion’s people spreading the rumors. It is enough if you investigate Madam Shui and your second daughter. It must be them, who envied my sister and Yuru and spread these rumors. Brother-in-law, I need to remind you: If you can’t handle your family’s affairs, how can you serve as a general?”
Duke Yong sneered and said.
“Not them!” Qin Huaiyong said firmly.
“Brother-in-law, is it that you are covering them up? Who else apart from them? Look at it, is it something moral one should do? If my sister is in a poor condition, will your mansion be good?”
Duke Yong’s eyes nearly shot fire. “If anyone should be grounded at home, it should be them. If you ground them, the problem is solved!”
“When the trouble began, they were still in Huaguang Temple, and they didn’t use their servants. It’s not them! As for the cart driver, they could not have meddled in because they have no so much ability,” Qin Huaiyong said. The trouble suddenly broke out, and he did suspect Shui Ruolan and Qin Wanru, but after his investigation, he found they had no relations to it.
“Qin Huaiyong, so what do you mean now? Do you want to imprison my sister for a lifetime?” Duke Yong was unhappy and eyed Qin Huaiyong sharply.
“What other choices do I have now? Or do you wish to let Yuru bear the burden of the trouble?” Qin Huaiyong ignored Duke Yong’s angry face and said coldly.
Not only Duke Yong but also he was in serious trouble, and these terrible things were caused by Madam Di. So, he had reason to be angry! At this time, he suppressed hard the fire of anger in his chest and spoke to Duke Yong.
Now, he didn’t want to break ties with Duke Yong, for this was neither good for him nor Duke Yong.
“Yuru is only a child, if she bears the burden…” When he found he could not overpower Qin Huaiyong in airs, Duke Yong turned his eyes and lowered his voice. Before he came, Countess Yong also told him another possibility. Although he disagreed, now he also felt it was feasible.
“No! Elder Brother-in-law, are you dissatisfied with Yuru?” Before he finished talking, Qin Huaiyong’s face had turned fierce because he already knew what Duke Yong was about to say!
“Yuru is young after all. As long as my sister is with her, her problem will be solved!” Duke Yong explained hurriedly but anxiously.
“Let Yuru take responsibility for the trouble, then Di Yan can break his betrothal with Yuru. Is this what you mean, elder brother-in-law?” Qin Huaiyong’s smile turned eerily cold. Although he was dissatisfied with Di Yan, he also knew Di Yan was Qin Yuru’s best choice at this time. At this point, he shared the same idea with Madam Di.
“Why do you… you think this way! I also want to solve the current problem!” Duke Yong stuttered, but instantly he made his upper body stand straight and said loudly, trying to show his selflessness. In fact, this was the idea of Countess Yong.
Before he came, he had discussed this issue with his wife. Repet.i.tively, Countess Yong said that Qin Yuru bore a bad reputation and would hurt Di Yan if they were married. At this time, they should use the chaos to break the betrothal and get him another good lady from a renowned family, who would lead him to the right track, not to worsen his reputation.
Initially, Duke Yong didn’t agree. Madam Di was his sister and the one he loved most, but when Countess Yong kept speaking of Di Yan’s future, he compromised a little inwardly. Although he didn’t promise his wife, he said he would act as circ.u.mstances dictated by the time.
Now, he changed his way of thinking and got this idea, which was becoming stronger and stronger. Anyway, his son couldn’t be affected by Qin Yuru, or he would achieve nothing and also have a worse reputation in the future!
“The betrothal should still be effective, can’t be broken!” Qin Huaiyong said unquestionably.
“Brother-in-law, this betrothal has been unsuitable since the beginning. Yan’er has been brought up along with Caixian, and they have loved each other a long time before. He did want to marry Ning Caixian, but later my mother said he must marry Yuru, and their bond was broken. Yet, Yan’er has been adoring Ning Caixian. This time, we can say Ning Caixian was forced to die by Yuru. If they are forced to live together, in fact, they won’t have happiness.”
“Elder Brother-in-law, you must break the betrothal?” Qin Huaiyong looked more sullen.
“This is also good for them. Anyway, we cannot let them become a couple hating each other. Thus, later… they two won’t have happiness. Without Ning Caixian’s death, perhaps they could still marry, but now Ning Caixian is dead, and the dead should be respected. If she becomes Yan’er’s dream G.o.ddess, when Yuru marries into… I am afraid… even after we break the betrothal, we are still relatives, and our family will help Yuru get a better match!”
Duke Yong spoke hypocritically, pretending he thought in the place of Qin’s Mansion. With gentle and tough words said, he didn’t believe he could not break the betrothal!
“What about the imperial plate?”