Chapter Thirty-Two: Astonishment

In the midst of an awkward silence, Lady Ping's wrinkled face scrunched up, and at last she released a series of phlegmy coughs.

Unfortunately, none of her confidant daughters-in-law or daughters were seated beside her today. After coughing for a while and finding no one to smooth things over, Lady Ping set her face sternly and said stiffly, “A-Ying, what are you saying? Who has ruined your reputation as a maiden? Hmph, you are my own granddaughter; would your grandmother ever harm you?”

With Lady Ping yielding, Lu Ying would naturally not push the matter further. At once, a smile blossomed upon her icy face. She bowed respectfully to Lady Ping and said politely, “Thank you, Grandmother, for your understanding.”

Though Lu Ying was smiling, her expression was serene and distant, lacking any trace of the previous careful flattery. Lady Ping felt a surge of dislike. Yet, with both sides having spoken to this extent, she had to make some gesture.

So she turned to General Zeng and addressed him with forced courtesy, “General Zeng, let us speak no more of what happened earlier. Did you not bring the marriage contract? Since I am present, why not settle things once and for all?”

Her words were polite, but her tone carried a hint of rigidity. General Zeng, a military man, had not expected Lu Ying, a mere young woman, to be so difficult to handle. With just a few words, she had unraveled Lady Ping’s resolve, compelling her to break her promise.

His face darkened, and General Zeng glared with bulging eyes, emitting a cold snort. He drew the marriage contract from his chest and placed it on the table, fixing Lu Ying with a rough voice. “Lu, you wish to break the engagement?”

His voice was harsh, but his eyes glittered sharply. Lu Ying glanced at him and understood instantly: if she uttered a word of desire, she would soon face his obstruction. The more urgent her wish to dissolve the engagement, the more unreasonable his resistance.

She lowered her gaze, her long, fan-like lashes fluttering. After a moment, she spoke with difficulty. “I…” She bit her lip, her voice barely audible. “The marriage contract is destroyed.” Her tone was uncertain, as if she knew the contract was gone, understood that her marriage to Zeng Lang was impossible, yet felt some lingering attachment.

Now, that was proper.

General Zeng, who believed his son flawless, sneered. He slapped the table, his voice thundering, “Indeed, the marriage contract is destroyed. Now, even if you kneel before us, the Zengs would never dare to marry you.” Then, fearing Lu Ying might regret insufficiently, he lowered his voice, speaking with weight, “Changzhi has been betrothed to you for years. As your uncle, I’ve watched you grow up, long regarding you as my own daughter-in-law. A-Ying, even if you suffered a great injustice, you could have waited for Uncle Zeng to return. With our families’ closeness, would I not have made things right for you?”

He shook his head with a sigh. “Such a simple matter, yet you tore up the contract and even struck someone… Tell me, have you not ruined your own marriage prospects?”

Seeing Lu Ying’s head sink lower, he snorted, flinging the marriage contract toward her. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Now it’s yours. Whether you and your brother prosper or fail, it has nothing to do with the Zengs any longer.”

How ridiculous—had the Zengs ever truly cared for her and her brother?

Lu Ying took the contract, glanced at it carefully, tucked it into her bosom, bowed to Lady Ping and General Zeng, and turned to lead Lu Yun out.

Watching Lu Ying’s gloomy demeanor, the fury in General Zeng’s heart dissipated by half. He thought: I had intended to find an opportunity to teach these reckless siblings a lesson. Now that she regrets it, there’s no need.

He knew that the entire city of Hanyang was watching this engagement. Any action on his part would quickly be noticed. When he had planned to punish the siblings, he had felt a bit of defiant anger, ready to accept the consequences. Now, let her remain a spinster for life!

His son’s discarded woman—let’s see who dares marry her! Hmph, isn’t she proud? Let her be proud forever!

Once Lu Ying had left, General Zeng rose as well. He glanced at Lady Ping, snorted coldly, and strode out without a word.

Lady Ping, humiliated by the younger generation and now glared at by General Zeng, felt her anger ignite. She called out, “You—” but had barely begun before grasping her chest, panting with agitation.

General Zeng had taken barely five steps when hurried footsteps approached. The portly Steward Zhao, sweating profusely, rushed in. After bowing hastily to Lady Ping, he looked around anxiously and asked, “Where is A-Ying?”

Lady Ping, still fuming, snapped, “Gone.”

“What? But Lord Ping said he’d take her to meet someone right away.” Then, choosing his words carefully, Steward Zhao asked, “Madam, did you quarrel with Lu Ying?”

Lady Ping glared at him, breathing heavily. “What? Am I not allowed to quarrel with that wretch?” Her tone was full of displaced anger. Normally, Steward Zhao would have soothed her, denying any wrongdoing.

But Lady Ping had not anticipated that Steward Zhao would sigh heavily, speaking with worried humility, “I hurried here precisely to beg your magnanimity, Madam. Alas, I am a step too late.”

Hearing this, General Zeng took interest. He turned and asked gruffly, “So Lord Ping has an interest in a ruined clan? Too bad they’ve just left; you can still catch up.”

His words carried a hint of mockery, but Steward Zhao seemed not to notice, sighing repeatedly. “Catch up I must, but please tell me what happened just now. Why are you so angry, Madam?” He seemed intent on first understanding the situation, then seeking a way to reconcile.

Lady Ping, though narrow-minded, was shrewd. She frowned, “What happened? It’s just a lowly person; must you be so cautious?”

“Madam, you may not know. When I escorted the Lu siblings earlier, I encountered that nobleman from Luoyang. He was exceedingly courteous to Lu Ying, addressing her as ‘Ying-Ying,’ and even asked with concern whether she still had the jade pendant he gave her.”

“What?”

With a sudden motion, Lady Ping stood up, and General Zeng, about to leave, also stared wide-eyed in shock.

Steward Zhao forced a bitter smile. “This is no fabrication. Witnessing this, I hurried to report to Lord Ping as soon as I entered the manor. Madam, you must know—the nobleman’s household is quite empty… Though Lu Ying has a peculiar temperament, she is quite beautiful. Who can say if she has caught the nobleman’s eye!”