Jiang Ancheng glared at Jiang Zhan: “You’re going to embarrass yourself looking like that?”
Jiang Zhan touched his head.
His hair wasn’t messy, so where was the embarrassment?
Jiang Si smiled at Jiang Zhan: “Second Brother, I’m craving Cai’s soup dumplings.”
Cai’s soup dumplings was a century-old establishment, located two streets away from the Earl of Dongping’s residence, near the Kangde Ward where the Duke of An’guo’s mansion was situated.
In her previous life, when Ji Chongyi and Qiao-niang fell into the water, it didn’t cause such a commotion. The Duke of An’guo’s family easily suppressed the scandal. When the two families’ marriage was brought forward, many even speculated that there was something wrong with her.
Back then, she was young and naive, only thinking about marrying into a noble family to gain status. It was only later that she realized the hidden costs were not so easy to swallow.
After last night’s incident, although news of Ji Chongyi’s affair hadn’t reached the Earl of Dongping’s residence yet, it must have spread in Kangde Ward. If Second Brother went to buy soup dumplings at Cai’s now, he would certainly hear the rumors.
“Fourth Sister wants to eat soup dumplings? I’ve been craving them too. Wait here, I’ll go buy some right away.” Jiang Zhan didn’t even mention going to pay respects at the Hall of Compassion anymore. He dusted off his clothes and hurried towards the door, but after a few steps, he turned back, smiling sheepishly at Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng’s brows instantly furrowed into the shape of a river: “What is it?”
Jiang Zhan held out his hand: “Your son is a bit short on funds recently, Father. Could you advance me some money?”
“Get lost!” Jiang Ancheng fished out a piece of broken silver from his waist pouch and threw it into Jiang Zhan’s arms, gritting his teeth.
Jiang Zhan ran off in a flash, calling back when he reached the courtyard gate: “Fourth Sister, wait for me!”
Though his face still wore a carefree smile, his eyes shone with a vivacity that Jiang Si hadn’t seen in many years.
“I’ll wait for Second Brother at the Begonia Pavilion.”
Jiang Si went to the Hall of Compassion with Jiang Ancheng.
The head maid A-Fu in the Hall of Compassion curtsied to the two: “Master, Fourth Miss, the Old Madam is currently receiving guests. Please allow this servant to announce you.”
Receiving guests so early? A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Ancheng’s face.
Jiang Si sniffed lightly, catching a faint fragrance.
The scent was subtle and refined, not common, but Jiang Si recognized it immediately even standing outside – it was gardenia.
The wife of the Duke of An’guo’s heir, Madam Guo, who was once her sister-in-law, was very fond of gardenia fragrance.
Ordinarily, it would be impossible for someone standing at this distance to smell the scent of a person inside the room, but Jiang Si was different.
Her sense of smell was exceptionally keen. Later, when she was stranded in the Southern Frontier, she lived under the identity of a Wumiao tribe elder’s deceased granddaughter due to their similar appearances.
The Wumiao tribe elder was an ageless old woman with many mysterious abilities. Recognizing Jiang Si’s innate talent for scents, she taught her a unique skill. Not only could Jiang Si accurately distinguish different people’s body odors, but she could even judge if rain was coming by detecting subtle differences in the scent of the wind.
Knowing that Madam Guo, wife of the Duke of An’guo’s heir, was inside, Jiang Si secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon, the head maid A-Fu returned and said to Jiang Ancheng: “Master, the Old Madam requests your presence inside.”
Her gaze fell on Jiang Si, with a hint of complexity: “Fourth Miss, you may wait in the side room and have a cup of hot tea.”
“Father, I’ll wait outside then,” Jiang Si curtsied to Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng followed A-Fu inside and immediately saw a woman sitting opposite Old Madam Feng.
The woman was around thirty years old, quite beautiful, with slightly elongated eyes that conveyed a sense of shrewdness.
Jiang Ancheng grew increasingly puzzled.
If Mother was entertaining a female guest, why did she call him in?
“You must be the Earl?” The woman stood up.
Old Madam Feng nodded: “Yes, he’s Fourth Girl’s father. Old First, this is the wife of the Duke of An’guo’s heir. She’s here today to discuss the marriage arrangements.”
“Hasn’t the date already been set?”
Old Madam Feng glanced at Madam Guo.
Madam Guo’s face showed a hint of shame: “There were some unexpected events last night. My father-in-law and mother-in-law wish to bring Fourth Miss into our family earlier…”
“Why is that?” Jiang Ancheng’s expression darkened slightly.
Generally, when a pre-arranged marriage is suddenly moved up, it tends to invite gossip. This doesn’t affect the groom’s side much, but it’s disadvantageous for the bride’s family.
Although Madam Guo felt awkward, she knew last night’s commotion couldn’t be kept secret. She explained uncomfortably: “My young brother-in-law was careless and accidentally fell into Mowu Lake last night while playing—”
No matter what rumors were circulating outside, the Duke’s family absolutely couldn’t admit that the young master had attempted to elope by jumping into the lake with a woman. That would be far too embarrassing.
Jiang Ancheng interrupted Madam Guo with a dark face: “What does your Third Young Master falling into the water have to do with moving up the wedding? Don’t tell me he’s on his last breath and you want my daughter to marry over for good fortune?”
“The Earl has misunderstood. Although my brother-in-law was quite shocked, he’s not seriously hurt.” Madam Guo felt a wave of displeasure.
If it weren’t for her foolish brother-in-law doing such a thing, why would she have to humble herself before this small Earl’s family?
“Then why move up the wedding?” Jiang Ancheng pressed relentlessly.
With three children who lost their mother early, he couldn’t be careless about their marriage matters.
Jiang Ancheng’s aggressive tone made Madam Guo, who was used to being fawn over, increasingly uncomfortable. However, she didn’t let it show on her face: “Although my brother-in-law isn’t badly hurt, there was a young woman who fell into the water with him last night… To prevent idle gossip, my in-laws discussed it and thought it best for Fourth Miss to enter our family earlier…”
“Another young woman?” Jiang Ancheng’s face turned cold as ice. “Who is this woman?”
Annoyed by Jiang Ancheng’s attitude and seeing that the Old Madam of the Earl of Dongping had already tacitly agreed earlier, Madam Guo decided to be frank: “To be honest, my brother-in-law was previously acquainted with that young woman. Of course, the Earl needn’t worry. My brother-in-law was just young and foolish. My in-laws will discipline him properly in the future. As for that young woman—”
“Cancel the engagement!” Jiang Ancheng coldly spat out two words, not wanting to hear anymore.
Madam Guo was stunned.
Did she hear that correctly? What did the Earl of Dongping just say?
Cancel the engagement?
Madam Guo found it utterly absurd.
For the Earl of Dongping’s family to be engaged to the Duke of An’guo’s family was an opportunity they couldn’t find even if they searched with a lantern. How could the Earl so casually say he wanted to cancel the engagement?
“Earl, please don’t be hasty. Let me finish—”
“Cancel the engagement!” Jiang Ancheng said decisively.
What was there to wait for? Could anything good come out of this woman’s mouth?
“Old Madam, what do you think—” Madam Guo turned helplessly to Old Madam Feng.
It seemed the Earl of Dongping was a stubborn fool. How did such a person manage to save her father-in-law’s life by chance, leading to this marriage arrangement?
Fortunately, the Old Madam of the Earl of Dongping seemed to be a sensible person. Surely the Earl would have to listen to the Old Madam about whether to cancel the engagement or not.
“Old First, you should at least hear the Heir’s wife out. Marriage is a serious matter between two families. How can you talk about canceling it so easily?” Old Madam Feng said sternly.
“It’s precisely because marriage is such a serious matter that I can’t push my daughter into a fire pit!”
“Earl, you’re going too far. That girl could at most become a concubine. She won’t threaten Fourth Miss’s position as the Third Young Madam in any way—”
“Cancel the engagement!” Jiang Ancheng’s two words cut off the rest of Madam Guo’s speech.
Madam Guo said coolly: “Earl, shouldn’t we ask for the Old Madam’s opinion on this matter?”
Jiang Ancheng sneered: “Madam Heir comes from a good family, so I assume you’ve received a proper education. Let me ask you, what is the most important principle in matters of marriage?”
“Of course, it’s the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words,” Madam Guo replied without hesitation.
“There you have it. I’m her father, so what’s wrong with me wanting to cancel the engagement?”