Chapter 5: An Unwelcome Proposal Withdrawn in Person

"Call off the engagement?!"

Chi Guiwan’s voice rose an entire octave. It wasn't just her; even her maid, Xianchun, who was standing by, looked incredulous. She hurried over to Fudong, the maid who had brought the news, and asked with visible tension, "What is going on? When Old Madam Qiao came to visit last year, she was still discussing the wedding date for our young lady and the Young General Qiao. How could this talk of calling off the engagement come up just after the New Year? What is the reason? Did they give one?"

Fudong, the maid, looked equally helpless. She shook her head and said mournfully, "The news came from the Master’s study. I heard from Sister Xiuzhi that it’s because our young lady’s... reputation is not very good, and the Qiao family has some objections. Then, there is the news that Old Madam Qiao has been ill this year and is not showing signs of recovery. They had someone divine the fates, and it was said that our young lady’s horoscope clashes with hers. They say that if the marriage were to be forced, it would only lead to disaster, and so..."

Before she could finish, He Lingyi was startled by a loud crash.

Turning around, she saw that her mother had shattered the teacup in her hand. Her otherwise beautiful face was instantly twisted with rage as she scoffed, "Call it off then! What kind of ridiculous excuse is that? They claim my fate clashes with the old madam—why don't they just say that if I marry into their family, it will bring ruin and death upon them? It is absolutely laughable! Fudong, go tell my father that this engagement is definitely off. It is not the Qiao family who is ending it; it is I, Chi Guiwan, who disdains to marry into their house!"

Her explosive temper was easily ignited, which explained why she had suffered so many losses over the years.

The two maids looked anxious. He Lingyi sighed, but she quickly steadied herself. She could easily guess that Madam Guo and Chi Guiying were behind this; those two were desperate for this engagement to be broken so that one of them could take her place.

The more they schemed against them, the more determined He Lingyi was not to let them succeed. She held her mother down and, keeping her voice calm, began to analyze the situation.

"Sister Chi, there is something suspicious about this. Don't you see it?"

Her words effectively dampened Chi Guiwan’s anger, leaving her puzzled. "The Qiao family has already come to our doorstep. How could there be a mistake?"

"As far as I know, the Qiao family is as prestigious as the Marquis of Hai’s estate, and they have an excellent reputation. Since they already agreed to this match, they wouldn't just call it off on a whim. According to what Fudong said, the Old Madam was perfectly fine last year. Why would she suddenly fall ill this year? And then a random, unreliable fortune-teller appears out of nowhere, claiming your horoscopes clash. In my opinion, someone intentionally set this trap so you wouldn't marry into the Qiao family. If you truly believe them and go through with breaking the engagement, you will only be causing pain to those who love you and joy to those who hate you!"

Her argument was logical and well-founded, and the two maids nodded in agreement, filled with admiration.

"Miss He is right. Young Lady, don't be hasty. Let us plan this out carefully before making any decisions!"

Chi Guiwan looked at He Lingyi with hesitation. Her words did make sense. But who would have so much time on their hands to scheme against her marriage?

She truly had no leads for the moment.

"Sister Chi, have you never suspected anyone within this household? If your engagement falls through, who stands to gain the most?" He Lingyi reminded her subtly.

To her surprise, her mother refused to believe it and blurted out, "You are talking nonsense! That is impossible!"

Her voice was so loud that the three of them were taken aback. He Lingyi, in particular, looked at her mother with heartache. If she hadn't experienced those torments herself, she wouldn't have dared to believe that her closest kin could be the ones to harm her. But for now, she could not reveal her true identity, leaving her in a difficult position.

She turned to Fudong and instructed, "Fudong, please go and investigate again. See what the Vice Minister’s attitude is. The two families have been betrothed for many years; it is impossible for things to fall apart just like that. I suspect today was merely an excuse to state their intentions, and we still have time to plan."

Perhaps it was He Lingyi’s calm demeanor that eased their worries, for Fudong nodded solemnly and left. Xianchun called for a younger maid to clean up the mess and then helped her young lady and He Lingyi move to the study to sit for a while.

In the new setting, the atmosphere was no longer as tense.

He Lingyi took a deep breath and said to Chi Guiwan in a comforting tone, "Sister Chi is in the prime of her youth; no matter where you marry, you will surely lead a happy and fulfilling life. But this marriage was arranged for you by the late Madam Hai. For that reason alone, you should think carefully before making a decision, shouldn't you?"

Having brought up her late mother, Chi Guiwan’s anger subsided further. She looked at He Lingyi with a complex expression, unsure of what to say. The thought that had just crossed her mind was truly terrifying.

Madam Guo—her stepmother.

For all these years, she had always been compliant and kind to her. Even when her father was furious, she had always protected her. How could she possibly be the one scheming against her marriage?

Chi Guiwan could not fathom it, yet she did not know if she should voice her suspicions. Suddenly feeling deflated, she nodded with a hint of resignation. "Let’s wait for Fudong’s news. As you said, this engagement was indeed settled by my mother; it shouldn't be so easily cast aside."

Seeing her relent, Xianchun gave He Lingyi a grateful look.

For all these years, her young lady had appeared to be living a life of great prestige, but in truth, she had never had a single true confidante. The young ladies and noblewomen who came to associate with her were all driven by motives related to the Vice Minister’s mansion or the Marquis of Hai’s estate. It was all a facade!

As a maid, Xianchun had tried to warn her many times, but each time, the second young lady and Madam Guo would sweet-talk her into forgetting it. Over time, this had fostered her young lady’s habit of constantly arguing and bickering with others. It had made the old madam and the master of the house lose favor with her, and even offended her uncle and aunt from the Marquis of Hai’s estate. It was truly a case of thorns hidden behind a beautiful facade.

Yet, her young lady remained completely unaware, clinging to her naive, reckless nature.

That was why, having encountered a friend like Miss He who genuinely cared for her, Xianchun felt a deep sense of appreciation.

"Miss He, please sit for a moment. I will go and prepare some calming tea to help soothe your tempers."

"Very well, go ahead. I will stay here with Sister Chi."

Xianchun nodded and hurried out. Left alone in the study, the atmosphere became somewhat heavy.

He Lingyi seemed to see in Chi Guiwan’s brow the same sorrow her mother had once hidden in her room. It was heartbreaking and painful. She swore to herself that, no matter what, she would shield her mother from this catastrophe. She asked, "Sister Chi’s marriage was long ago decided, but what about the second young lady? Has she not been betrothed?"

Vice Minister Chi Yunqing was not a man of loose morals; for all these years, he had only had two wives. Six months after his first wife, Madam Hai, passed away, he brought Madam Guo into the home. She became pregnant almost immediately, giving birth to the second young lady, Chi Guiying, and later their only son, Chi Guizhao. During that time, she had arranged for two concubines to serve her husband, but unfortunately, one died in childbirth, and the other passed away from illness years ago.

Because of this, the inner courtyard of the Vice Minister’s mansion was remarkably clean, with not a single child born of a concubine.