Early the next morning, Cheng Shi sent someone to the city gate garrison office to request leave. After thinking about it, he also requested leave on behalf of Grand Coachman Lou, then went to notify the Lou family, and only then did he and his wife slowly dress properly.

Xiao Furen noticed her husband’s uncontrollable smile and forcefully tightened his belt: “Keep your face straight. Today we’re going to break an engagement, not receive a reward.”

Cheng Shi touched his recently loosened waistline and cried out softly: “After hearing Cheng Shun’s reports these past two days, aren’t you proud inside! Ouch… be gentler. Especially yesterday, yesterday! The two most outstanding young men in the entire capital are both in our daughter’s bowl!”

“Why do you speak so crudely?” Xiao Furen doubled the force in her hands with a tug. “After the Lou family matter, we must be even more careful about our children’s marriage matters to avoid becoming a laughingstock.”

“Pretend, keep pretending! Who was it tossing and turning all night unable to sleep? Ha, you used to worry Niaoniao couldn’t get married or wouldn’t marry well. Now it seems it was all needless worry!”

Xiao Furen said: “Let me tell you, in the coming days, no matter who comes to propose marriage, you must remain steady. Don’t be like with the Lou family—eagerly agreeing with a red face, as if we’d never seen a marriage proposal in three generations.”

Thinking of the future son-in-law candidates, Old Master Cheng’s face simply glowed red, looking like he’d smeared pig fat on it: “Hey, when do you think someone will come to propose? I bet within half a month. Also, who do you think will come first?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Xiao Furen said. “We just broke the engagement with the Lou family. We should at least wait two months to ease things—being too hasty would make it seem we already had a backup son-in-law. As for the candidates… I’d prefer it to be Yuan Shanjian…”

“Huh? Why not Ling Zisheng?” Cheng Shi’s thinking was simple and direct. “He has even higher position and greater power.”

Xiao Furen pondered for a long while and sighed: “…I can’t read him. He lives without the slightest human warmth, impervious to reason. Besides, if you’re confident, go tell Niaoniao right now. Then if he doesn’t come to propose, see what Niaoniao will do.”

Cheng Shi immediately backed down: “We can’t say that. What if we’re being presumptuous and end up disappointing Niaoniao for nothing? Forget it, forget it. Perhaps you and I are overthinking it. He has no plans to marry at all—he just happened to help out.”

Therefore, when the couple appeared at the Lou residence, they both wore properly arranged, heavy, solemn expressions. Behind them knelt Shaoshang with her head hanging low. Those who didn’t know might think they were attending a funeral.

Today the Lou family’s main hall was tightly closed. In the center of the seats of honor sat Grand Coachman Lou and Cheng Shi from left to right. Next to them sat the Lou First Madam and Xiao Furen. Below Xiao Furen was Shaoshang, while below the Lou First Madam were the Lou Second Madam and Lou Yao. The First Young Madam and Second Young Madam knelt somewhat farther away at the lower seats.

In a few short sentences, Cheng Shi made the intention to break the engagement clear. Upon hearing this, Lou Yao became anxious and blurted out: “Shaoshang, everything was fine yesterday. How come today you… you… Last night I sent someone to your house, but the maid said you’d retired for the night.”

Shaoshang’s eyes were red and swollen. She felt all the tears that needed crying had been shed last night. Now her mind was full of dark humor: “When I boarded the He family’s carriage yesterday, it was just past the first quarter after noon. Yet you only came looking for me at night. If the Jun of Ancheng had intended to harm me, she could have destroyed my body and eliminated all evidence by then, leaving no proof. In that case, your uncle Grand Coachman Lou wouldn’t have needed to request leave today.”

The Lou First Young Madam wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. The Second Young Madam shook her head with a smile. The Lou Second Madam was at a loss. The remaining four had cultivated to become spirits—their faces showed no ripples. Only Lou Yao was tongue-tied: “No, no, it’s not… ” He thought Shaoshang would come tell him immediately afterward, but waited until evening with no news.

Cheng Shi turned to look at Grand Coachman Lou, only to see him shake his head and let out a long sigh, his face pained, saying nothing.

Cheng Shi hated this dead-faced look of scholars most in his life. He immediately deployed his trump card: “If the Grand Coachman doesn’t speak, after leaving the Lou family gate today, I’ll go around saying that our Cheng family came to break the engagement, but the Lou family refused no matter what, absolutely wouldn’t agree!”

Grand Coachman Lou was shocked: “Ah…” The Lou First Madam said excitedly: “Colonel Cheng, watch your words!”

“So you agree to break the engagement then.” Cheng Shi said. “Then quickly return each other’s tokens. I brought the betrothal mutton-fat jade today. Commandery Administrator Lou already sent back the golden tiger to the capital, right? Bring it out. Then tear up both families’ betrothal documents, and the matter is done.”

This time even the Lou First Madam didn’t know what to say. The entire venue fell into awkward silence. Though they’d been mentally prepared, the Cheng family’s decisive actions left the Lou family members at a loss for what to do.

Still, young Master Lou had a clear theme and kept urgently asking: “Shaoshang, what’s going on? Didn’t you say as long as I didn’t go back on my word, you wouldn’t retreat?”

Shaoshang’s face was expressionless as she said: “Your question has two answers. To make a long story short: my father and mother are moved by the loyal minister and good general who fought for the country until his family was destroyed. Therefore, the Cheng family has decided to fulfill General He’s dying words.”

Having finished this speech, everyone in the Lou family stared blankly at her, especially the Lou First Madam—weren’t these the very words she’d said just a few days ago? Which had drawn such cold mockery and sarcasm from her.

The Lou Second Young Madam smiled slightly: “Miss Cheng speaks with profound meaning, sacrificing herself for righteousness. Truly admirable.”

“Sister-in-law!” Lou Yao shouted.

The Lou Second Young Madam didn’t even lift her eyelids: “What? Where is Miss Cheng’s statement wrong? Or do you truly want several brothers to divorce their wives and remarry?”

Cheng Yao’s face flushed bright red, then turned from red to purple. He was never good with words. Now that all the great principles were on the other side, he had even less to say and could only worry anxiously.

Xiao Furen’s gaze swept across everyone’s faces. She said directly: “Since both sides have no objections, quickly return the tokens and tear up the betrothal documents.”

The Lou Second Madam also wept softly: “Ayao, just listen to everyone. I like Shaoshang too, but… but…”

“But the situation is such. Ayao, you must be obedient!” The Lou First Madam’s voice carried pressure.

Lou Yao froze in place for a long time, then suddenly stood up and shouted in grief and anger: “I won’t break the engagement, I won’t! Since childhood, you’ve all used a pile of grand principles to trick me—this way is righteousness, that way repays kindness—but the one wronged in the whole family is only me, only me! You either watch from the shore, or say painless things. Even Mother, though she feels sorry for me, can’t live the rest of my life for me! Why must it be me? Why?!”

Hearing these words, the Lou Second Madam had already covered her face and collapsed on the ground crying. The Lou First Madam wore a displeased expression. Grand Coachman Lou sighed and turned his back. Cheng Shi and Xiao Furen exchanged glances, unwilling to intervene in Lou family private affairs. To speak a helpless truth: in families like the Lou clan, whether a marriage succeeded or not depended only on the elders’ intentions—how could descendants have a say?

Shaoshang looked at the young man’s angry, aggrieved face and laughed despite herself: “Ayao, is your leg better?”

Lou Yao was stunned. His anger was momentarily restrained as he said sheepishly: “Actually, I could stand up long ago, but the physician told me to rest a few more days, so I still had people carry me.”

Shaoshang said not without sadness: “That’s wonderful. The Jun of Ancheng will certainly marry during the mourning period. By then your legs will be nimble too.”

“You… you…” Lou Yao became anxious again.

Shaoshang said gently: “Ayao, will you listen to me? Alright, first sit down, then I’ll make a short story long…”

Seeing Lou Yao suppress his anger and slowly sit down, she began: “These past months, we’ve talked about everything. You told me that although you don’t like the Jun of Ancheng, General He treated you very well. You’ve loved martial arts since childhood. No one in the Lou family could guide you, but no matter how busy General He was, he was always willing to make time to teach you. He was both teacher and father figure—you greatly respected and loved him, yes or no? All these years you’ve accommodated He Zhaojun—half was for the sake of gratitude and duty, but the other half was for General He’s sake.”

Lou Yao’s anger diminished slightly as he remained sullenly silent.

Shaoshang continued: “And Fifth Young Master He—he was only two years older than you. Since childhood, he took you fishing and bird hunting, wandering east and west. Your first little bamboo bow was made by him. You treasure it so much you keep it to this day. But… but…”

Her tone shifted: “But do you know? When Fifth Young Master He led a team of scouts trying to break through to report, he was forcibly thrown to the ground by the Xiao family traitors, then trampled alive into meat paste by galloping horses!”

Grand Coachman Lou sighed deeply, wiping tears as he turned his head. He knew these things, but the female family members didn’t. The Lou First Madam and her daughters-in-law shrank back in fear. The Lou Second Madam was directly frightened into tears. Only the Lou Second Young Madam remained relatively composed, though she couldn’t help but lower her head to wipe tears.

Lou Yao stared with wide eyes as tears streamed down.

“I asked my second brother carefully. Not only did Fifth Young Master die miserably, but also First Young Master and Fourth Young Master. Life and death on the battlefield are common, but to provoke General He into leaving the city, the traitors dragged the two young masters’ bodies behind horses, racing around the city, finally even severing their heads and mounting them on spear tips to flaunt their power. Ayao, when you were small, didn’t First Young Master often hoist you on his shoulders to pick fruit? Fourth Young Master taught you to ride horses. Yet they… died without complete corpses!”

Lou Yao’s face was already streaming with tears. The remaining female family members all wept softly. Even Cheng Shi and Xiao Furen turned back with sighs of pity.

“…Second Young Master was pierced through the heart by several arrows atop the city wall. He hung on for a day and night but couldn’t make it. Third Young Master was ambushed while rushing back with reinforcements—he fought to exhaustion and died in battle…” Shaoshang unknowingly moistened her eyes again. “Second Young Master’s wife was six months pregnant, killed by brutal traitors’ blades through her belly. First Young Master’s wife stood on the city wall, watching with her own eyes as her husband’s head was separated from his body. Now she’s in a mad daze—who knows when she’ll recover. Ayao, you told me First Young Madam He made the best glutinous rice cakes, Second Young Madam could brew sweet rice wine… but they, even they…”

The He and Lou families were intimately connected. Many people were just names to the Cheng family, but to the Lou family members, they were vivid memories—voices and smiling faces still present, but the people already gone. This time the Lou First Madam cried without pretense, hugging her daughter-in-law and covering her mouth in silent wailing. The Lou Second Madam directly cried aloud, collapsing into the Second Young Madam’s embrace.

Lou Yao seemed to become a statue carved from salt rock, motionless, his tears dried.

“Ayao, when we were in Hua County, we saw the tragic devastation wrought by war, saw the mass grave mounds with crows flying, saw orphans and widows wailing without tears. At that time, you said a true man should protect the common people so he can face heaven and earth without shame. Do you know? This time the people of Feng Yi Commandery didn’t suffer like Hua County did. General He was that kind of true man…”

As Shaoshang spoke, she also began crying: “Ayao, I also feel very sorry toward you. I speak well, but it’s you who has to marry He Zhaojun. If only I could marry her in your place!”

“Don’t say anymore.” Lou Yao finally showed emotion, smiling through tears. “Shaoshang, you haven’t wronged me. But you’re right—I spoke grandly about being a great man who protects the people, yet I’m unwilling to endure even this little bit of grievance. Isn’t that laughable?”

“Ayao, you’re only aggrieved for a moment. Don’t let it become a lifetime of grievance.” Shaoshang forcefully wiped her tears.

“Can I… can I do it…?” Lou Yao’s tear-filled eyes were dazed.

“Of course you can! After marrying, you must not only be He Zhaojun’s husband but also her older brother, her support! You must care for her, teach her. When she’s wrong, you can’t indulge her. If she loses her temper and throws her weight around, you absolutely can’t swallow your anger like before…” Shaoshang said loudly. These were truly her heartfelt words.

“I can teach her.” Lou Yao seemed to see new horizons before him. “If she’s unreasonable and makes trouble again, I… I’ll drag her before General He’s spirit tablet to ask…”

Shaoshang crawled forward several steps on her knees, saying earnestly: “Exactly so! If you encounter something you can’t figure out, just ask Second Young Madam. What’s wrong with asking your own sister-in-law!”

The Lou Second Young Madam looked at Shaoshang with moved eyes. Seeing this scene, Grand Coachman Lou thought what a pity.

Shaoshang glanced sideways at the Lou First Madam and suddenly added: “Ayao, don’t be afraid of quarrels. As long as reason is on your side, what are you afraid of? Let’s see which busybody with nothing better to do comes to interfere in your household affairs…”

This statement Cheng Shi and Grand Coachman Lou didn’t quite understand, but all the female family members present knew perfectly well.

This excessively simple engagement-breaking ceremony ended with Lou Yao’s hoarse crying. After crying it all out, he seemed to grow up in an instant. Watching the golden tiger and jade be returned, the silk betrothal documents torn in two, Lou Yao’s expression was calm.

When seeing the three Cheng family members off, he could actually smile: “Uncle Cheng, Aunt Cheng, in the future I’ll still seek advice from the brothers. Just consider me your own nephew.”

Cheng Shi, rarely softening, nodded.

Xiao Furen said gently: “You and the Jun of Ancheng should live well together in the future. She’s lonely and suffering now. She seems fierce and aggressive, but inside she’s pitiable. Treat her with propriety, treat her with heart—you won’t go wrong.”

Lou Yao bowed in agreement, then turned and said: “Shaoshang, from now on call me elder brother.”

Shaoshang rubbed her increasingly red and swollen eyes and gave him a withering look: “Stop that nonsense. If you want to be my elder brother, you’re far from it!”

Lou Yao laughed heartily, laughing out two lines of tears. Shaoshang felt sad inside and couldn’t help but shed a few more tears.

The two families thus bowed and bid farewell. Although this was a complete and successful engagement-breaking, the three Cheng family members couldn’t feel happy.

When they returned to the Cheng residence, Cheng Yang had already prepared the midday meal. The Cheng brothers all knew what their parents and younger sister had gone to do this morning, so they’d all requested leave to stay home. Everyone gathered in the main hall, silently eating. Cheng Shi drained a cup of wine in one gulp and said loudly: “…From now on, Niaoniao has nothing much to do with the Lou family. This matter is concluded! Did you all hear?”

Cheng Yang and the three brothers all nodded in acknowledgment. Only Cheng Mother at the head seat angrily said: “What kind of world is this? A perfectly good marriage forced to break!”

Nanny Hu quickly stepped forward to comfort her: “Aiya, Old Madam, please stop talking. Breaking this engagement makes the Master, Madam, and young mistress sadder than anyone. Didn’t the young masters just explain all the reasoning to you?”

Cheng Mother pushed Nanny Hu aside and said loudly: “What broken reasoning is worth anything compared to the Lou family’s wealth and treasures! You broke off such a good marriage for the sake of some broken reputation—is it worth it? I think you’ve become stupid from being an official. The grain in the granaries, the silver in the boxes, the land under your feet—only these things matter…”

Cheng Mother loudly complained above, droning on endlessly. The several children below ate quietly, not interjecting a single word.

Seeing his mother speaking more and more outrageously, Cheng Shi couldn’t help saying: “Mother, what nonsense are you…”

Before he finished speaking, a maid suddenly rushed in to report—

Someone from the palace had come, saying they were summoning Cheng Shi and his wife along with Shaoshang into the palace. The young eunuch delivering the edict was already waiting in the front courtyard.

Xiao Furen’s chopsticks clattered as they fell onto the food table. She looked at her daughter in panic.

Shaoshang still didn’t understand and sat there in a daze.