Chapter 1: Breaking the Engagement — How Could One Marry Such a Man?

Late summer, the twelfth year of Yonghui. The Grand Preceptor’s residence in the capital.

A stifling rain had just washed the sky clear, leaving the courtyard bright and spotless. A breeze swept through the covered walkways, making the high-hanging silk palace lanterns sway and display their varied, brilliant colors. Servant women carried armfuls of brand-new silk and satin, decorating the rooms and corridor pillars one by one.

The eldest granddaughter of the household, Chu Qiang, was to be married the day after tomorrow. By imperial decree, she was bestowed in marriage to Xie Ting, the Prince of Fenyang. The Ministry of Rites was assisting with the wedding arrangements, so not a single detail could be handled carelessly.

At this moment, the entire estate was decked out with lanterns and colored festoons, bustling with fiery enthusiasm.

Only the atmosphere in Yishou Hall felt somewhat cold.

Qiao Huaiyuan, the newly minted *jinshi* graduate whose handsome face was as flawless as jade, stood tall in the main hall with his hands clasped in a respectful salute, delivering his report. “It is not that I intentionally broke my promise, but my mother has given her orders, and I dare not disobey. Second Miss possesses a magnificent bearing and beautiful features; she is gentle, quick-witted, and intelligent. That I am unable to fulfill our agreement and marry her is truly due to my own lack of fortune, and I dare not delay Second Miss any longer. I hope Madam will forgive me and allow the betrothal gifts to be returned.”

The “Second Miss” he spoke of was the Chu family’s second granddaughter, named Chu Yan. Marriage discussions between them had already been underway, and the betrothal gifts had even been delivered.

Madam Chu had originally assumed he had come today to congratulate them on the upcoming wedding. She had quite politely invited him into the hall—who would have guessed he came to break off the engagement? Looking at his hypocritically apologetic expression, anger surged within her. “Back then, it was you who came to our door to seek a teacher, wanting to study under my son. That is how you achieved the glory of passing the imperial examinations! Marrying Ah Yan to you was already marrying beneath her station, and now you dare to go back on your word!”

“My mother insists upon it, and there is nothing I can do,” Qiao Huaiyuan replied.

“Pah! Who do you think you’re fooling?”

By virtue of the Grand Preceptor’s esteemed position, Madam Chu held the title of First-Rank Commandery Lady. She usually valued face above all else. She had been happily anticipating her eldest granddaughter marrying far away into a princely estate, adding glory to their household. Seeing the Qiao family come to break off an engagement at such a time inevitably felt like a bad omen. Had she not been mindful of her dignity, she would have beaten him out the door with her walking cane.

Qiao Huaiyuan kept his head bowed, not daring to utter a single word of defiance.

The entire hall fell deathly silent, the ice basin radiating threads of cool air.

Madam Chu’s expression was even darker than the sandalwood-colored brocade she wore. Yet no matter how angry she was, she understood clearly: for the Qiao family to deliberately choose this exact moment to break the engagement, and to even say something like returning the betrothal gifts, meant this marriage was absolutely ruined. Unable to swallow her fury, she pointed at Qiao Huaiyuan’s nose and cursed again, “To beg for her hand and then refuse to marry her—you are ungrateful and forgetful of kindness! And to think you call yourself a scholar, yet you are truly a man without honor. Forget it! Those paltry betrothal gifts were never worth much anyway. Take them all back! If you ever dare show your face at my house again, I’ll have someone break your legs!”

Scolded right to his face, Qiao Huaiyuan didn’t dare retort. He merely bowed deeply, his face flushed red, and said, “Madam’s reprimand is entirely justified. I will bear it in mind.”

“Enough! We are very busy here, so stop standing around like a stump. Someone, bring all the betrothal gifts back out and let him count every single item. From now on, if he dares to come to our door, don’t even accept his visiting card—just throw him out.” Having spoken with a furious expression, Madam Chu slammed her cane heavily against the floor as an order for him to leave, then rose with a cold face and walked toward the inner chambers.

Her second daughter-in-law, Madam Wu, hurried over to support her, walking inward together.

Behind the pearwood screen adorned with colorful embroidery on thin silk, Ah Yan pressed her lips together.

It was the height of summer, and she wore light clothing. Beneath her peach-colored gauze top, she wore a soft, thin skirt patterned with auspicious clouds and mist, outlining her graceful and slender figure. She had only just reached the age of fifteen, yet her beauty was exceptionally striking. Her black hair was like mist, her eyes bright, her skin like snow, and her delicate cheeks fair and soft enough to break at a mere breath.

At this moment, her red lips were lightly pressed together, carrying a hint of gloom.

So he really had come to break off the engagement.

Just as others had gossiped: once he passed the imperial examinations and rode the winds of success, he abandoned the declining Chu family to climb toward a higher branch.

How utterly heartless and ungrateful.

…

Ah Yan’s marriage to Qiao Huaiyuan was indeed considered marrying down.

The Chu family held some fame in the capital. Ah Yan’s grandfather, Chu Zhang, was a renowned Confucian scholar of his generation,精通 in calligraphy, painting, and music theory, and had been honored as the Grand Preceptor to the late Emperor. It had been nearly ten years since her grandfather passed away. His two sons currently held fifth-rank official positions. Although the family’s prestige was far less than before, they still had some foundation, propped up by Madam Chu’s First-Rank title.

This time, the Emperor bestowing a marriage between Chu Qiang and Xie Ting, the Prince of Fenyang, was also out of consideration for the Chu family’s status as the late Emperor’s Grand Preceptors.

Qiao Huaiyuan’s background, however, was far inferior to the Chu family’s.

He was a native of the capital region, and his ancestors had no notable scholarly achievements to speak of. In his youth, he received his early education from his father, who was merely a *xiucai*. Later, he studied bitterly by a cold window, gradually earning a reputation for his talent. He found his way to the Chu family and became a student of Ah Yan’s father, Chu Yuangong.

In the spring examinations this year, Qiao Huaiyuan successfully passed as a *jinshi*.

At that time, Ah Yan had just turned fifteen. Because of her beautiful appearance, graceful demeanor, and gentle, quiet nature, matchmakers practically wore down their doorstep.

Seeing her eldest granddaughter bestowed in marriage to a princely estate, Madam Chu’s ambitions grew lofty. She wanted to find a powerful and influential family in the capital for Ah Yan to marry into. Not only would this add luster to the family’s reputation, but the marital ties could also secure patronage from dukes and marquises, paving the way for her grandsons’ careers. Whenever a duke or marquis’s household came to propose, she wholeheartedly wanted to agree.

Chu Yuangong did not think so.

Noble families seeking a wife always prioritized matching social status. Though the Chu family had once been glorious, that glory was granted by the late Emperor. The old Grand Preceptor had been dead for a long time, and Madam Chu lacked political skill, meaning the family had long been on a downward slope. Families looking for a principal wife mostly looked down upon the declining Chu family. The few young men who came to propose were mostly coasting along on their ancestors’ inherited titles—they were either纨绔 playboys or lecherous, hardly suitable matches. Moreover, the inner courts of noble houses were notoriously complex and intertwined, filled with numerous sons and nephews. A daughter raised delicately and ignorant of worldly affairs would have to deal with mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law after marrying up, inevitably having to watch others’ expressions and tread on thin ice, living anything but comfortably.

By comparison, Qiao Huaiyuan was a decent husband.

He was handsome and elegant, full of talent, and more importantly, he was not greedy for female company nor overly romantic. As long as he worked steadily, he would surely have a bright future. If Ah Yan married him, even if she wouldn’t enjoy the same prestige as marrying into a duke or marquis’s estate, once her husband was promoted, she would naturally live as she pleased. Chu Yuangong had met both of Qiao Huaiyuan’s parents; they were fairly kind people, so she certainly wouldn’t suffer grievances after marrying in.

After weighing everything, the engagement was settled.

Now, the ceremonies of proposing and exchanging names had all been completed, and they were only waiting to select an auspicious wedding date.

Who would have thought that at this very juncture, Qiao Huaiyuan would come to break off the engagement?

Watching the man turn and leave from behind the screen, Ah Yan’s expression gradually fell silent. Her maid, Yulu, feared she would be heartbroken and gently took hold of her hand.

From the inner chamber, Madam Chu’s voice faintly drifted over. “That girl Ah Yan! Look at her cousin Qiang—sweet-tongued and clever since childhood, calculating yet sensible, which is why she has the blessing of waiting to become a princess consort. But her? She never plans ahead, doesn’t know how to win people’s favor, and now even a scholar with no background dares to break off the engagement with her.”

“Please calm your anger, Mother. I will teach her properly once we return,” Madam Wu replied. Madam Wu was always respectful toward her mother-in-law, who held a noble title. Even when her mother-in-law baselessly blamed her own biological daughter, she didn’t refute a single word, only advising, “Actually, shaking off the Qiao family might not be a bad thing.”

Madam Chu liked hearing this and couldn’t help but nod. “You make a fair point. Earlier, there were proposals from ducal and marquis estates. Those boys may lack scholarly degrees, but they have inherited titles, so she wouldn’t be wronged. We should carefully pick a capable family in the court. That way, when her brothers enter officialdom later, they’ll have someone to look out for them.”

Madam Wu obediently agreed and lifted the inner curtain. As the curtain fell, the voices of the mother- and daughter-in-law gradually faded.

Ah Yan leaned against the cold wall, the rims of her eyes turning slightly red.

Yulu felt heartbroken for her and quickly whispered, “Miss, please don’t be sad. That sort of person who flatters the high and tramples the low isn’t worth it. He put on the airs of a gentleman, but it turns out he was scheming to trade a marriage alliance for his career, even deceiving the Master. Even if such a man has great talent, what kind of future can he possibly have? When the Master returns, he will definitely find someone better for you.”

“It’s fine. I simply encountered the wrong person,” Ah Yan said softly. Somewhat disappointed, she brushed aside a bamboo branch that had poked through the window and headed back to her quarters in the western side courtyard.

On the covered walkway, the palace lanterns swayed, and red silk filled the eyes.

The contrast between the festive joy of the impending wedding and the bleakness of her broken engagement was too stark. Seeing this, Yulu felt deep pity for her young mistress and couldn’t help muttering angrily, “That Young Master Qiao is unbelievable! Back then he spoke with such sincere affection, and now he flips his attitude in an instant. What ‘mother’s orders are hard to defy’—that’s clearly just an excuse! I wonder why he suddenly changed his mind.”

“He found a higher branch to climb,” Ah Yan said, gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky, a mocking smile surfacing on her lips. “Sister Xu told me that after Qiao Huaiyuan’s official appointment this time, he somehow managed to latch onto Chancellor Jifu. The Chancellor only has one daughter, whom he dotes on like the apple of his eye, and he wants to recruit a capable live-in son-in-law. I suspect he caused this scene because he wants to sever ties with our family cleanly, lest his new master be displeased.”

Hearing this, Yulu was astonished. Though she was merely a maid in the inner court, she knew the name Jifu. This man had a notorious reputation for being cunning and vicious. Sitting in the chancellor’s seat, he monopolized power, deceived those above and below him, and was deeply hated by many in the court. However, because he was highly trusted by the Emperor, possessed immense reach, and had numerous faction members, there was no avenue to impeach him, so everyone had no choice but to endure. For Qiao Huaiyuan to marry into his family as a live-in son-in-law was indeed climbing a very high branch.

Unable to contain her anger, Yulu gritted her teeth and said, “Out with the old, in with the new. With Miss being so outstanding, why worry about not finding a good family? For him to casually break his word and climb social ladders like that proves he was never someone worth entrusting your life to.”

“Yes, I never imagined his character was actually like this,” Ah Yan sighed softly. Thinking of Qiao Huaiyuan’s former demeanor as a modest gentleman, she felt nothing but irony.

She had never expected her husband to earn her titles and privileges for their descendants. But she also knew that a man capable of passing the imperial examinations as a *jinshi* would surely have some prospects if he served as an official steadily and acted cautiously, even if he didn’t attain high office and thick salary. Qiao Huaiyuan could clearly have built his career step by step honestly, yet he insisted on taking the shortcut of clinging to a noble family. This proved that beneath his mouthful of righteousness and benevolence hid a heart eager for quick success and immediate profit.

How could one marry such a man?

…

Amidst the noisy chirping of cicadas, all the betrothal gifts the Qiao family had delivered that day were carried out and placed in the shade of the trees along the outer wall. Qiao Huaiyuan’s men loaded them onto carts and hurriedly departed.

Soon, news of the broken engagement with the Qiao family spread throughout the entire residence.

Chu Yuangong had recently been dispatched on official business and was touring various regions, so he wasn’t in the capital. Since Madam Chu and Madam Wu had both nodded in agreement and thrown all the betrothal gifts out, the matter was set in stone.

Though the servants of the estate didn’t dare speak openly, they couldn’t help comparing the two in private. They felt that the eldest miss of the first branch had received an imperial marriage decree and was visibly about to marry into a princely estate to enjoy wealth and honor, while the miss of the second branch had her engagement broken off by the man—it was truly pitiful. What a shame for someone with such flawless, jade-like beauty. Born into the same Grand Preceptor’s residence, yet lacking the eldest miss’s fortune.

No one dared gossip recklessly about these things. But from their whispers, anyone could guess what they were thinking.

When Nanny Lu returned from fetching dinner from the kitchen, she noticed all sorts of gazes along the way. Entering the room and seeing Ah Yan spacing out on the chaise lounge by the window, she couldn’t help saying with pity, “Miss, please eat first. There are so many fine young men in this world. With our Miss being so outstanding, why worry about not finding a way forward?”

“Who’s worrying?” Ah Yan snapped out of her daze, rising with a smiling scold.

Nanny Lu remained worried, seemingly unconvinced.

Ah Yan rolled up her sleeves to wash her hands in the bronze basin brought by Yuquan. The initial disappointment and sorrow had faded, and her expression was already calm. “When Grandfather was alive, he often said that when the old man lost his horse, who could tell if it wasn’t a blessing in disguise? Since the Qiao family has such character, it’s better to sever ties early. Otherwise, if the marriage had gone through and he later encountered the Chancellor’s high branch, becoming unwilling to let me hinder his career, a betrayal at that point would have caused an ugly scene. The way things are now, I’ve actually dodged a pit of fire.”

Hearing this, Nanny Lu smiled. “As long as Miss can see it in a positive light, that’s good.”

“I’m just worried about Mother and Grandmother…” Everyone knew perfectly well what schemes those two were plotting—they simply wanted to trade their granddaughter’s marriage for the young masters’ futures.

Nanny Lu couldn’t help sighing again. “Madam is truly… You are her own flesh and blood, yet she refuses to keep you in her heart. The young masters’ futures depend on their own abilities. How can they trade a girl’s lifelong happiness for that?” She muttered a couple more sentences but didn’t dare say anything too disrespectful. She merely handed over a soft towel and told Yulu to serve the soup and set the chopsticks.

Ah Yan dried her hands and went outside to eat.

In truth, she was long used to it. Her grandmother had always been biased, favoring only her sweet-tongued, flattering cousin while constantly picking faults with her. Her mother favored sons over daughters, valuing her sons’ futures more than her own life. Seeing Chu Qiang marry into a princely estate, she probably hoped Ah Yan would also catch the eye of a duke or marquis’s household to pave the way for her brothers. The number of people in this estate who genuinely cared for her could be counted on one hand. Over so many years, she had seen it all clearly.

…

In the eastern side courtyard, separated by two walls, the evening breeze brushed the willows while the lake stones still radiated heat. Chu Qiang, awaiting her wedding, sat by the pond feeding the carps, yet there was no trace of a smile on her face.

When she first heard the imperial marriage decree, she had indeed been ecstatic. To be a princess consort—who wouldn’t want that? Among all the noble ladies in the capital, only a rare few could marry into a princely estate. Some even fought openly and secretly for the mere position of a secondary consort, whereas she only needed to marry in to immediately become the princess consort. She could laugh herself awake from her dreams.

But as news regarding the Prince of Fenyang gradually reached her ears, Chu Qiang grew increasingly uneasy.

Xie Ting’s reputation was genuinely terrifying.

The Xie family ancestors were military generals who, relying on illustrious battle merits, became the only non-imperial princes of the current dynasty. Furthermore, the title could be passed from father to son, placing them at the absolute pinnacle of a subject’s power. Regardless of whether the court’s original reward was due to the monarch’s favor or forced by necessity, over the years the Xie family had commanded over a hundred thousand strong troops, wielding heavy power to govern a region, making the foundation of their estate as solid as a boulder.

Six years ago, the old prince died in battle.

Xie Ting, only fifteen at the time, inherited the title. He led troops in slaughter, maneuvering brilliantly. First, he annihilated the invading enemy forces entirely, personally beheading the enemy general. Then, joining hands with his widowed mother, he rooted out several disloyal generals within the army, swiftly stabilizing the situation. Over these past few years, Xie Ting’s iron cavalry swept across the lands. The Khan of Northern Liang sent troops to probe the borders several times, but Xie Ting defended fiercely every time, not letting a single soul return alive.

It was said that those battlefields ran with rivers of blood and mountains of bleached bones. Even now, evil ghosts wailed at night, and chilling winds blew even on sunny days, so no one dared approach. Only Xie Ting, on the anniversary of his late father’s death every year, would personally visit the old battlefields, remaining completely composed amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Beneath his heart of iron and stone, there wasn’t a shred of tenderness.

Chu Qiang had been delicately raised in the inner chambers since childhood. Before the marriage decree, her heart was entirely set on marrying a refined scholar with elegant bearing and poetic talent. Hearing these horrifying tales, how could she not be afraid?

Beyond the rumors, other matters reached her ears.

It was said that Guo Wei, the Minister of War’s daughter, had married far away to Yunnan, where she suffered endless bullying from her in-laws. Because Guo Wei was in the capital and his reach fell short, she ultimately died in despair, isolated and helpless. And just recently, news of the Princess Consort of Xin dying of depression was causing an uproar in the capital. She, too, was the daughter of a prominent minister. Her father governed a region in Huainan and held a noble title, yet he still couldn’t protect his daughter’s life.

Chu Qiang specifically sent her maid, Ruyan, to investigate. Supposedly, the Princess Consort of Xin fell out of favor after marriage and was suppressed and schemed against by the secondary consorts. Being somewhat weak-handed, she tragically perished. Though she received a lavish burial from the royal family, her life was lost for nothing.

Listening to this, Chu Qiang felt her heart and courage turn to ice.

Those two women both had powerful maiden families, yet they ended up like that. If she left home alone to marry Xie Ting—a ruthless man who didn’t possess an ounce of tenderness or cherishing for women…

Moreover, the Prince of Fenyang’s estate wielded overwhelming power. Since this was a royal bestowal of marriage, why bypass all the noble ladies in the capital and specifically choose her, the granddaughter of a deceased Grand Preceptor? Behind such a bizarre marriage decree, there likely hid many hidden truths, just as others whispered. Yet she, along with the entire Chu family, remained completely oblivious.

The fish food was crushed into fine powder in her grip, and Chu Qiang’s face turned pale. After a long while, she raised her head and whispered, “Ruyan, I don’t dare marry him anymore.”