vrcanaries Chapter 571 Xie Jue's Storyline: Annulling the Engagement
Chapter 571 Xie Jue's Storyline: Annulling the Engagement
"Do you think I can stop them?" Xie Jue said coldly.
Jiang Huaiyu's chest heaved with anger. "Xie Jue, don't be so arrogant! Who do you think you are? The Emperor has already approved this marriage, what right do you have to cancel it?"
"Heh, let's give it a try."
Jiang Huaiyu was even angrier and strode over.
At this moment, Gao Wanzhi suddenly spoke up, "Jiang Huaiyu, let's break off the engagement."
Jiang Huaiyu froze, her face contorted as if she had been slapped hard, completely stunned.
"What did you say?" He looked at her incredulously.
Main hall.
The red candles flickered, the guests had left, and the lingering smell of burning embers remained in the air.
The originally festive atmosphere was now frozen solid.
Jiang's father suddenly stood up from the head of the table, "What, annul the engagement?!"
Madam Jiang looked at Gao Wanzhi in disbelief. "Wanzhi, why do you suddenly want to call off the engagement? Although the wedding was delayed due to the fire in the mansion today, it can be rescheduled for another day. Setting a wedding date is not a problem!"
Gao Yunzhi sat to the side, her brows furrowed slightly, and sighed softly.
She knew then that the marriage was doomed.
Gao Wanzhi lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Suddenly, she stepped forward and knelt down.
With a "thud," it slammed heavily onto the ground.
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were startled and exclaimed almost simultaneously, "Wanzhi!"
"How could a princess, whose health is of utmost importance, possibly comply?"
Madam Jiang's eyes reddened with anxiety. "You are a princess, how can you kneel before us?"
Gao Wanzhi did not look up. "This was Wanzhi's fault, and she should apologize."
Madam Jiang rushed forward to help her, "Wanzhi, stop talking, we can still discuss this—"
Xie Jue stood to the side, wanting to step forward and kneel down to explain as well.
Before I even got close, I heard her speak slowly.
"Wanzhi did not think things through at the time and hastily agreed to the marriage. Now she realizes that she made a grave mistake. She wishes to offer this sacrifice to apologize to the Jiang family."
“I am willing to personally go to the palace to apologize to the Emperor, and the Princess’s Mansion will also compensate the Jiang family with generous gifts.”
She spoke very politely and comprehensively, taking full responsibility for all the mistakes.
Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang exchanged a glance, and for a moment they were speechless.
They sighed, wanting to agree, but Jiang Huaiyu suddenly stepped forward at that moment.
"Princess, please allow us to reconsider whether to annul the engagement."
"Today's turmoil has suddenly arisen, and everyone's emotions are bound to fluctuate. Making a decision based on this may be inappropriate."
He looked at Jiang's father and wife and said, "Why don't we both calm down for a few days and then make a decision?"
"A few days to cool off?" Xie Jue suddenly sneered. "She already said she wants to break off the engagement, what are we waiting for?"
"Jiang Huaiyu, what exactly are you—"
Before he could finish speaking, his arm was suddenly grabbed by a hand.
It's Qin Jiuwei.
She stood behind him, her voice barely audible, "That's enough."
"If you really care about her, then don't block all her escape routes in front of everyone."
Xie Jue's throat moved, but he ultimately remained silent.
After a long pause, Gao Wanzhi spoke softly, "If the Jiang family wants to reconsider, then we'll listen to Young Master Jiang."
"But my mind is made up, and I don't want to mislead anyone."
She knew that her sudden proposal to annul the engagement was already a breach of etiquette. Further pressure would only embarrass the Jiang family.
Madam Jiang was also on good terms with her mother, and she didn't want the two families to become enemies because of this.
The carriage headed towards the Prince's Palace.
Qin Jiuwei leaned back and turned to look at Xie Jue, "Did you start the fire today?"
Xie Jue did not dodge and nodded.
Qin Jiuwei's tone carried a hint of helplessness and annoyance, "This matter was handled very poorly. If the fire had been any bigger today and someone had actually died, it would have been a violation of the law and harmed innocent people."
"I was wrong, Mother." Xie Jue lowered her head.
Although he set the fire, he kept a close watch to avoid harming innocent people.
Xie Yanli looked at him and asked, "Do you really want to marry Gao Wanzhi?"
Xie Jue was silent for a moment, then replied softly, "I want to."
Do you need my help?
Xie Jue looked up at him, then shook her head.
"Father, no need."
He can do it himself.
The next morning, teahouses along the streets of the capital opened early, and people gathered in twos and threes in front of the tea tables, discussing the wedding at the Jiang family mansion the previous day.
"Have you heard? The wedding at the Jiang family mansion caught fire!"
"How could a fire suddenly break out? I passed by yesterday and saw flames shooting into the sky; even soldiers went there."
"I heard it started in the backyard and spread quickly. Now the Jiang family has all moved to another house."
"Are we still going to have the wedding? The couple is already halfway through the marriage..."
"Who knows? They haven't said they'd call off the wedding. I reckon they'll go ahead with it once the Jiang family has fixed up their backyard."
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, the discussion was lively and engaging.
In a secluded private room on the second floor of the teahouse, the window sill was half-open, and a young man in a dark blue robe stood in front of the window, looking at the crowd from behind the curtain.
Xie Jue held a teacup in his hand, but never brought it to his lips.
Changqing strode in from outside, and Xie Jue whispered, "Go and investigate all of the Jiang family's businesses in the capital, including shops, sources of goods, account books, and personnel involved. The more detailed the better."
"Yes, my subordinate will do it now."
The eldest princess's mansion.
Gao Wanzhi sat at the table, the scene from last night replaying in her mind.
The firelight illuminated half the sky, and he pulled her into the house, kissing her without a word.
A faint blush rose on Gao Wanzhi's cheeks. She was momentarily lost in thought when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.
"Princess," a maidservant whispered from outside the door, "Young Master Xie is in the front hall and says he wants to see you."
Gao Wanzhi was taken aback. "He asked why he came?"
"Young Master Xie didn't say, he only said that he wanted to see the princess."
Gao Wanzhi was silent for a moment, then said, "Let him wait in the flower hall. I'll be there in a bit."
Flower Hall.
Xie Jue arrived early, his eyes frequently glancing towards the door.
Before long, footsteps approached from afar, the curtain was lifted, and Gao Wanzhi slowly entered.
She wore a peach-pink jacket with delicate embroidery at the waist.
Gao Wanzhi glanced at the food box in his hand and asked softly, "What did you bring?"
Xie Jue quickly opened the food box and took out the dishes one by one and arranged them.
"Don't you like glutinous rice pastries? These are all freshly made, soft and chewy but not greasy, you should try them."
After Xie Jue finished setting things up, he looked up at her and said in a low voice, "What happened at the pear garden that night was my fault, and I also said the wrong thing afterward. If you are still angry, you can scold me or hit me."
"But please don't refuse to see me, okay?"
Gao Wanzhi clenched her hands in her sleeves, walked over to him under his gaze, sat down, picked up a pastry, and took a small bite.
"It tastes really good," she said softly.
Xie Jue was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
Xie Jue watched her take the first bite, and the tension in his heart finally eased a little.
He picked up a piece of pastry himself and took a bite.
After a moment, Xie Jue composed himself and his tone became much more serious.
"Are you really going to leave the decision of whether or not to hold this marriage to the Jiang family?"