CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: BREAKING OFF THE ENGAGEMENT

Madam Fu shook her head and said, "Mingzhu grew up in my family as a cherished treasure. How could he be allowed to misuse her?"

"Old Madam, I respect you and admire the Marquis, but concerning the Second Young Master..." Madam Fu shook her head, "It’s better to forget it."

The Old Madam sighed, stood up, and helplessly said, "Since that is the case, I have no choice but to not make things difficult for you, Madam. This matter was our family’s fault, and we have no face to ask for forgiveness."

"Nanny Wang." The Old Madam called out.

Nanny Wang immediately took out the marriage documents and returned them to Madam Fu.

Madam Fu: "..."

The Old Madam of the Xiao family was indeed prepared, pulling out the marriage documents on the spot.

Madam Fu quickly returned the marriage documents of Xiao Fengxing.

As soon as the Old Madam of the Xiao family left the Marquis’ residence, Madam Fu arranged for the matter to be spread out.

It was said that the Fu family could not bear for Fu Mingzhu to be aggrieved, so they annulled the engagement with the Marquis’ residence.

From then on, Fu Mingzhu and Xiao Fengxing had nothing to do with each other.

In the carriage, the Old Madam of the Xiao family said, "I’ve pondered over it again and again, yet I still can’t understand why the tea didn’t end up being consumed by Lin Qingqing."

At the Marquis of Changping’s residence, Xiao Chengyu was in the study writing, and he stopped, sighed.

If he had known the Old Madam was going to act, he wouldn’t have intervened.

But it allowed Lin Qingqing to escape unscathed.

The Old Madam returned to the residence, just about to have someone call over Aunt Liu and Xiao Fengxing, when unexpectedly, Aunt Liu hurriedly came dragging Xiao Fengxing along.

"Old Madam, I heard that the Fu family wants to annul the engagement?" Aunt Liu asked in a panic.

The Old Madam nodded, "They even returned the marriage documents."

Nanny Wang took out Xiao Fengxing’s marriage documents but, of course, didn’t give them to Aunt Liu.

As an aunt, how could she hold the marriage documents of the young master of the Marquis’ residence?

Aunt Liu staggered back a couple of steps, "They want to annul the engagement, and you just agreed?"

The Old Madam curled her lips and said, "Should we forcibly prevent them from doing so? The Marquis’ residence is not some band of robbers."

"Besides, it was originally Fengxing’s wrongdoing. If it were in private, perhaps we could have helped cover it up a bit." The Old Madam said, "But this time so many people saw it, where would you have the Fu family’s face rest?"

"Though the Fu family is not as noble as the Marquis’ residence, Mr. Fu is also a fourth-ranked official in the court, not someone the Marquis’ residence can easily manipulate." The Old Madam said, "Now that the Fu family wants to annul the engagement, I can only agree."

"As for Yilan, let Fengxing take her in." The Old Madam said.

Because Yilan lost the engagement, it wasn’t enough to disgust Xiao Fengxing.

The Old Madam intended for Yilan to disgust Xiao Fengxing every day.

"Now that all the residences know about the matter between Fengxing and Yilan, it’s difficult to deal with Yilan." The Old Madam said, "It’s not proper to let others think that Fengxing is a dastard who indiscriminately bullies servant girls in the residence."

"Old Madam!" Aunt Liu screamed.

Isn’t this the Old Madam seizing the opportunity to scold Xiao Fengxing?

"For the sake of the reputation of the Marquis’ residence, Yilan can only be raised up as a concubine." The Old Madam said.

"How can that be?" Aunt Liu immediately objected, "The main wife hasn’t even entered the door, and a concubine is taken first. Which proper family would be willing to marry their daughter to Fengxing?"

The Old Madam sneered sarcastically, "If you had known it would come to this, why do it in the first place?"

"Fengxing was being framed!" Aunt Liu sharply protested.

The Old Madam waved her hand, "There’s no need to tell me all this now, saying these things to me is of no use."

"Alright, things have come to this, and there’s no retrieving the situation." The Old Madam said, "You all may leave, I’m also weary."

"Old mother..." Xiao Fengxing couldn’t help but call out.

"I put aside my old face to apologize to the Fu Mansion on your behalf." The Old Madam said, "I’ve done all I can."

Nanny Wang assisted the Old Madam in getting up and heading to the inner room.

Xiao Fengxing had no choice but to leave with Aunt Liu.

Back at Aunt Liu’s place, she finally said, "You go to the Fu Mansion!"

"No matter what method you use, kneeling at their door or going to cry and act pitiful." Aunt Liu instructed, "You go with rods to beg forgiveness, ask for the Fu family’s pardon."

Xiao Fengxing looked unwilling, "You want me to beg Fu Mingzhu? Before, she was always chasing after me, and now you want me to beg her, wouldn’t that be letting her walk all over me?"

"Then her dowry, the Cheng family’s industry, you don’t want them anymore?" Aunt Liu retorted, "I’ve warned you many times, even if you don’t like her, you should wait until you’ve secured these things first."

"This time it wasn’t my fault." Xiao Fengxing complained, "Clearly there was a mistake with the tea, it was supposed to be given to Fu Mingzhu, how did it end up with Yilan?"

"If things had gone smoothly, there wouldn’t be so much trouble now."

Aunt Liu took a deep breath and said, "Now the whole capital thinks you lack propriety, not as upright as you used to be. Your reputation is damaged, and that’s likely to hinder your future prospects. For the sake of your future, you should go to the Fu family to beg for forgiveness. At least show others your determination."

Back when the old Marquis was still alive, Aunt Liu could suppress the Old Madam who was the legitimate wife, only barely managing to protect her pair of children. When Xiao Chengyu grew up, the Old Madam’s situation improved somewhat.

Aunt Liu’s methods can be seen at a glance.

"I understand." Xiao Fengxing reluctantly agreed, knowing that he would have to go through with this.

However, he first wanted to see Lin Qingqing.

He had arranged to meet Lin Qingqing at the back mountain of the Law Temple.

In the afternoon, Xiao Fengxing hurried to the Law Temple.

After waiting for a while at the back mountain, he finally saw Lin Qingqing approaching, accompanied by her maid.

Seeing him from afar, Lin Qingqing’s face turned pale. She slowed down her steps, looking as though she wanted to approach but couldn’t make up her mind.

Xiao Fengxing decisively strode over and stood in front of Lin Qingqing.

Lin Qingqing’s maid tactfully retreated to a short distance away to keep watch for them.

"Qingqing." Xiao Fengxing called softly.

Lin Qingqing’s eyes were brimming with tears as she turned her face away.

"Qingqing, are you not planning to speak to me anymore?" Xiao Fengxing hurriedly asked.

"You already have a beauty by your side, do you still remember me?" Lin Qingqing said with a pale face, "You said it was with Fu Mingzhu, but I never expected it to actually be..."

"I also never expected to see with my own eyes the one I care about with another woman..." Tears overflowed in Lin Qingqing’s eyes, "If it were Fu Mingzhu, I could still endure, because I always knew you’d marry her. But what is Yilan?"

"Qingqing." Xiao Fengxing grasped Lin Qingqing’s shoulders.

Lin Qingqing wept, trying to break free, but Xiao Fengxing not only refused to let go, he even held her tightly in his arms.

"I won’t let you go." Xiao Fengxing allowed Lin Qingqing to struggle in his embrace, refusing to let go, with a face full of agony, "Qingqing, I was also framed."

"Originally, the target was indeed Fu Mingzhu, but something went wrong in the process, and unexpectedly..." Xiao Fengxing said as he held Lin Qingqing, "From the start with Fu Mingzhu, I was already enduring disgust, feeling guilty towards you, and my heart was tormented."