Madam Guo had already realized that the Earl of Dongping, Jiang Ancheng, was not a refined man.
When a scholar meets a soldier, reason cannot prevail. She suppressed her frustration and smiled at the Old Madam of the Earl of Dongping: “Old Madam, marriage is about uniting two families. Of course, we can’t be hasty. Why don’t you discuss it with the Earl first? I’ll wait for your decision in the flower hall.”
Seeing Madam Guo temporarily step aside, Old Madam Feng felt slightly relieved.
Although she had no intention of canceling the engagement, she couldn’t appear too soft in front of the Duke of An’guo’s people. The Duke’s family was at fault first, so of course, they couldn’t miss this opportunity to gain some benefits.
Come to think of it, she had been worrying about finding a way for her grandson Cang to become a disciple of the great scholar, Master Qingya.
In Old Madam Feng’s mind, the engagement absolutely could not be canceled, but taking advantage of the situation to gain some benefits would be ideal for everyone.
Of course, she still needed to persuade her eldest son.
Looking at her son’s iron-gray face, Old Madam Feng couldn’t help but frown.
Her eldest son was of average talent, and last year he had lost the use of one hand while saving the Duke of An’guo from a landslide. Forget about finding ways to extend the glory of the Earl’s family; maintaining their current status would be good enough.
A grown man, and still so inconsiderate!
“Mother, there’s nothing to discuss. This engagement must be canceled. The Duke of An’guo’s family is too overbearing!”
“Must be canceled? Old First, have you thought about how much harm canceling an engagement does to a young woman? Even if it’s the man’s fault, how can a girl who’s had her engagement canceled ever find another good match?”
Jiang Ancheng sneered: “Even if we marry Si’er to a commoner, it’s better than marrying her to a man who meets with other women before his wedding!”
“A commoner?” Old Madam Feng looked at Jiang Ancheng with disappointment. “Do you know that Fourth Girl’s monthly allowance for cosmetics alone is enough to cover a family of five commoners’ yearly expenses?”
Jiang Ancheng was stunned by Old Madam Feng’s question.
Old Madam Feng’s tone grew colder: “Love can quench thirst is nothing but a joke. The Heir’s wife of the Duke of An’guo told me that the girl is from a humble background and can barely read. Young Master Ji is just momentarily infatuated. Once he takes that girl as a concubine, it won’t be long before he tosses her aside.”
Jiang Ancheng snorted heavily through his nose, saying resentfully: “Mother is wrong. This isn’t about whether that scoundrel cares for other women or not. It’s that he has no respect for Si’er at all. Such a person is not a good match!”
“Have you asked for Si’er’s opinion?” Old Madam Feng suddenly asked.
Jiang Ancheng’s voice faltered.
Old Madam Feng’s lips curled slightly: “You haven’t even asked Si’er, so how do you know if she wants to cancel the engagement? Even if marriage is decided by parents, aren’t you afraid of making the wrong decision and having Si’er resent you for the rest of her life?”
Old Madam Feng’s words made Jiang Ancheng’s face turn pale.
His late wife left him with two daughters and a son. Among the three children, he loved Si’er the most.
He knew it wasn’t right to favor one child, but Si’er resembled his late wife the most.
Just seeing his youngest daughter would involuntarily soften his heart.
But his little daughter had never been close to him since childhood. Today, her attitude had finally started to improve, and he didn’t want to distance her again.
Old Madam Feng secretly sneered.
She knew that bringing up Fourth Girl would work to persuade her eldest son.
“Even if Si’er resents me, I still—”
“Invite Fourth Miss in.” Old Madam Feng interrupted Jiang Ancheng’s words, instructing the head maid A-Fu.
A-Fu immediately went to the side room to invite Jiang Si.
Jiang Si was calculating the timing.
By now, Father should have understood the situation.
In her previous life, Father had disagreed with moving up the wedding. This time, Qiao-niang hadn’t died, and given the Duke of An’guo’s wife’s indulgence towards Ji Chongyi, they certainly wouldn’t dare to send Qiao-niang away. Once Father knew about this, he would want to cancel the engagement.
Of course, when Madam Guo spoke of her family’s scandal, she would inevitably sugarcoat it. Father’s anger still lacked the necessary intensity.
This wasn’t a problem. Once Second Brother returned with the rumors he heard outside and told Father, Father would be able to make up his mind completely.
Jiang Si was clear in her heart that at the crucial moment, this grandmother in the Hall of Compassion, who was relatively kind to her, couldn’t be relied upon.
But why hadn’t Second Brother returned yet?
“Fourth Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence inside.”
Jiang Si pulled back her thoughts, her expression calm as she followed A-Fu inside.
“Fourth Girl, did you wait long?”
Jiang Si paid her respects to Old Madam Feng and smiled: “Grandmother was receiving guests. It’s only right that I waited a while.”
“Fourth Girl is so understanding.” The wrinkles at the corners of Old Madam Feng’s eyes deepened as she called Jiang Si forward. “Si’er, do you know who the guest was?”
“This granddaughter doesn’t know.”
“It was the wife of the Duke of An’guo’s heir.” Old Madam Feng, seeing no change in Jiang Si’s expression, continued, “The Duke’s family wants you to enter their household earlier. Are you willing?”
“Mother!” Jiang Ancheng’s face turned black with anger.
“What’s wrong with Mother? Asking Si’er without even explaining the situation to her first, isn’t that just deceiving her?”
Old Madam Feng ignored Jiang Ancheng, her gaze fixed intently on Jiang Si.
She understood this granddaughter better than her eldest son did.
The saying “heart as high as the sky, fate as thin as paper” described this girl perfectly. She didn’t believe she would be willing to give up such a good marriage.
Jiang Si’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly asked: “Could it be that Third Young Master Ji is dying and needs me to enter their household early for good fortune?”
Old Madam Feng was taken aback.
The corners of Jiang Ancheng’s mouth couldn’t help but lift slightly. For some reason, hearing his daughter say this made him feel reassured.
“Third Young Master Ji is perfectly fine, Fourth Girl. What are you talking about?” Madam Feng finally regained her composure, flustered by Jiang Si’s unexpected response.
“Or perhaps An’guo Duke or Madam An’guo is on their deathbed and needs me to bring good fortune by marrying in early?” Jiang Si pressed on.
“Ahem, ahem!” Jiang Ancheng coughed, trying to disguise his amusement.
Madam Feng started to feel a headache coming on. Fortunately, the Heir’s Wife of An’guo Duke wasn’t present. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be fuming after hearing these remarks from this girl?
“There is no one seriously ill in the An’guo Ducal Estate,” Madam Feng clarified.
Jiang Si maintained a serious demeanor. “If that’s the case, then I truly can’t understand their reason for rushing the marriage.”
Madam Feng felt a throb in her temples. She had no choice but to explain, “Well, yesterday, Third Young Master Ji was out boating with a commoner girl and accidentally fell into the water. Such an incident, if spread, would bring shame to both families. That’s why they wish to proceed with the marriage as soon as possible…”
While speaking, Madam Feng closely observed Jiang Si’s expression. “What do you think, Si’er?”
Jiang Ancheng couldn’t help but tense up.
“What arrangements does the An’guo Ducal Estate plan to make for that girl?” Jiang Si inquired nonchalantly.
“Given what has happened, they’ll naturally take her in as a concubine. Fourth Girl, you’re a clever child and should understand that a concubine is nothing more than a breathing object—something of little importance.”
Jiang Si sneered inwardly.
A breathing object?
Ji Chongyi treated this so-called breathing object so preciously that even after almost a year of marriage, he never laid a finger on her. If viewed in that light, she was worth less than a mere “breathing object.”
“Fourth Girl?” Seeing Jiang Si fall silent, Madam Feng urged.
Lowering her gaze, Jiang Si slipped off a pair of exceptionally fine jade bracelets from her wrists and placed them in Jiang Ancheng’s hands.
These jade bracelets were part of the betrothal gifts from the An’guo Ducal Estate. Jiang Si had taken a liking to them at first sight and had been wearing them ever since, never putting them away.
Madam Feng’s expression shifted slightly.
Jiang Si lifted her gaze, offering a sweet smile to Madam Feng. “When it comes to marriage, it’s ultimately a matter dictated by parental consent and the matchmaker’s words. I will listen to Father’s decision. If Father believes I should continue wearing these bracelets, then I will. But if he thinks I should return them, I’ll gladly comply without regret.”