"Fengyu's coming-of-age ceremony is truly lively. I heard that the Duchess Marquis An Yuan even came as the main guest. Fengyu is as stupid as a pig, yet so arrogant and unruly. How dare the Feng Family be so high-profile?"
"What does it matter if she's stupid? The Feng Family is incredibly wealthy, rich enough to rival nations. And Fengyu's fiancé is the new top scorer, many young ladies had secret crushes on him during the street procession that day."
"Jiang Yang is truly a fine gentleman, unparalleled in beauty, and yet he's to marry an illiterate and vulgar Fengyu. It's like a flower stuck in cow dung; what a pity."
"Her uncle is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, her father is General Wude, her mother is the daughter of the wealthiest person, and her fiancé is the new top scorer. Fengyu's reputation is poor, but she's quite fortunate."
In the Southern City, the Feng Family estate stands with high walls and red tiles. A lush old locust tree with luxuriant branches and leaves stands at the entrance.
Inside, there are pavilions, terraces, and towers, green willows and red flowers. A meandering nine-curve corridor leads deeply into the inner courtyard, which is elegant and beautiful, making it a very charming southern estate.
Uncle Feng, Feng Changlin, is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He has a son and two daughters. Second Master, Feng Changqing, is General Wude and has two daughters. The Old Mrs. Feng is still living, and the two brothers have not divided the family.
"Breaking the engagement?" Lady Feng stood up in shock, looking with disbelief at the young man in a deep blue brocade robe in the hall. The young man is exceptionally handsome, with jade-like features and a scholarly demeanor, but what he's doing is utterly absurd.
"Yes, I want to break my engagement with Fengyu!" Jiang Yang stood in the hall, neither servile nor overbearing, presenting his eight-character birth data and returning the betrothal gifts. "I hope the Feng Family will allow it."
The guests were in an uproar, and all eyes gathered on Fengyu.
Fengyu was dressed in a smoke-hued silk gown adorned with vibrant pomegranate flowers on the hem, her hair styled in twin buns embellished with pearl flowers, exuding elegance and freshness. She wore a magnolia branch jade buyao inlaid with pearls, shining brightly. Her skin was as white as snow, and her appearance was as radiant as the begonia flower.
On her wrist was a vivid coral bracelet, setting off her features of icy porcelain, white as snow.
Being rejected during the coming-of-age ceremony was an unprecedented disgrace. The more grandiose the banquet, the more embarrassing it became now.
"Today is Yu'er's coming-of-age ceremony, which has not yet been completed. You were betrothed since childhood, childhood sweethearts. Even if you want to break the engagement, it should be considered carefully. You are the new top scorer, well-read in poetry and books, yet you commit such an absurdity." Old Mrs. Feng turned the prayer beads on her wrist, her gaze sharp, struggling to maintain dignity.
The guests whispered to each other, their expressions varied.
Jiang Yang was about to speak when Mrs. Jiang stopped him, declaring, "Old Madam, this is our third time coming here to break the engagement. Third Miss is infatuated with my son and refuses to end the betrothal. We are left with no choice but to bring up the past at the coming-of-age ceremony. Third Miss, my son has spent years in diligent study, possessing extensive knowledge. How can someone illiterate, boorish, and wild like you match him? Why tarnish your own reputation and invite ridicule?"
Fengyu's head maid, Qiuxiang, was furious and about to scold but was stopped by a glance from Fengyu. Fengyu's face was pale as if she was a jade doll, innocent and puzzled, with a look of pain that evoked sympathy. Seeing this, the Feng family relatives were filled with anger.
"Back then, you mother and son were destitute, relying on General Wude's aid to get an education, hire renowned teachers, and pass the imperial examinations, allowing you to achieve top scorer. Now, you are ungrateful, breaking off the engagement on his daughter's coming-of-age day. No wonder people say bookish men are heartless. It's people like you who ruin the reputation of scholars." The Duchess Marquis An Yuan mocked leisurely, and others who heard showed disdainful looks.
Mrs. Jiang, seeing the lavishly adorned and imperious Marchioness, did not dare to argue back but instead mentioned Fengyu's persistent entanglement and refusal to break off the engagement, questioning how a young lady's reputation could withstand such rumors.
Jiang Yang looked at Fengyu, recalling their childhood innocence and time as childhood sweethearts. Fengyu was very beautiful, and her family was extremely wealthy. A youth's love for beauty once moved him, yet even that couldn't compare to his future prospects.
"Fengyu, my dear sister, we were indeed childhood friends and sweethearts. I know you have affection for me and would marry no one but me, but we are truly not a match. No matter how much you insist, I will not yield. You must stop dreaming; I will not marry you." Jiang Yang spoke decisively.
Fengyu clutched a handkerchief, her face flushing, unable to tell if it was shame or fury. Her eyes reddened at Jiang Yang's words, which seemed to her both humiliating and soul-crushing.
"Jiang Yang, stop speaking nonsense!" The Old Madam slammed the table and got up.
Several wives from military families couldn't bear it and criticized Jiang Yang. Mrs. Jiang naturally sided with her son, and a verbal fight ensued. The entire scene became chaotic. Fengyu lowered her head, wiping the corners of her eyes, occasionally letting out a cough. Her handkerchief covering her mouth, her suppressed coughing was intermittently concealed by the sound of their quarrels. Mrs. Jiang repeatedly criticized her for foolishness, claiming she was not worthy of Jiang Yang, while the wives from military families accused Jiang Yang of ingratitude, with the same words going back and forth. As Fengyu coughed, she lazily yawned, tears sparkling, leading others to think she was crying from sadness, which only increased their sympathy.
As Mrs. Jiang engaged in a war of words with the crowd of women and began to lose ground, she suddenly rushed towards Fengyu.
"Third Miss, please, I beg you, let Jiang Yang go. There are many fine gentlemen in the world. The Feng Family will surely find another good match for you, so stop clinging to him." Mrs. Jiang said with great emotion, suddenly kneeling before Fengyu, "I beg you, let him go."
Everyone was shocked. Her kneeling just escalated the situation.
Lady Feng wanted to intervene but was too late. Before she could kneel, Fengyu suddenly clutched her chest, unable to bear the pain, and fainted.
"Miss!" Qiuxiang exclaimed, quickly supporting Fengyu. "Such a vicious woman! If anything happens to our Miss, you'll pay with your life!"
Fengyu fainted, and the hall descended into chaos.
As Fengyu was helped out of the main hall by Qiuxiang and others, she regained consciousness. Qiuxiang, knowing her mistress was pretending, had long dismissed the others, leaving only Qiuxiang and Chunlu beside Fengyu.
"Miss, don't be upset. When Second Master and Madam return, they'll find a perfect match for you."
"To be rejected at the coming-of-age ceremony, and for my deep affection for Jiang Yang to be unabashedly exposed, clinging shamelessly, how can such a reputation lead to a good marriage?" Fengyu's steps were light, but her face was ghastly, hinting at an impending storm.
The second branch of the Feng Family already has a future daughter-in-law in the Marquis Zhenbei's family, Feng Shu, wealthy enough to rival nations, so there could only be one foolish and reckless low-arranging marriage for Fengyu. Jiang Yang was initially a good choice.
"Jiang Yang spoke nonsense; the young miss hasn't seen him for years, let alone had profound feelings for him."
Qiuxiang, thinking of Fengyu's ruined reputation, began to cry. Standing by the lake, Fengyu knitted her eyebrows. The issue of the Jiang family's mother and son breaking the engagement was something she had never known. Grandmother hadn't told her, intending perhaps to wait until after the coming-of-age ceremony to discuss it, not expecting that Jiang Yang wouldn't wait.
"Jiang Yang's scholarly achievements in the autumn exams made him a top scorer, his future is bright, but he's only a top scorer without any assigned duty, and the Jiang family has no foundation. My father is General Wude, my uncle is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Is he mad or possessed to dare speak such words at my coming-of-age ceremony, offending our Feng Family?"