Liang Chen snorted, glanced behind him, and said, "You? Able to appease him?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Zhi hadn’t reacted yet when a childish voice ca from behind: "Second Uncle, Second Uncle! Didn’t you say you’d go with to pick bird nests? Why did you change clothes and co here instead?"
Before the words were finished, a heavy little bundle directly bumped into Liang Zhi, who happened to be turning around!
Liang Zhi looked desperate: "Why did you follow ?!"
Liang Chen snorted three more tis: "No self-awareness. You, of all people? Apart from his little granny, there’s probably no one else in this world who can handle him."
Liang Zhi was speechless: "But we’re having an adult gathering, what’s he going to do there? I don’t want to take care of your son! I haven’t even gotten married yet, having a tagalong would affect my marriage prospects!"
Liang Xuan, hearing this, shook his sleeve: "It won’t, Second Uncle. Last ti I played son to Fifth Uncle, and it didn’t stop him from getting cozy with a pretty sister. Whether or not you find a match depends on your skill, right?"
Liang Zhi said, "Your Fifth Uncle? Cozy with a pretty sister? ...When did this happen?!"
"Why are you babbling?! If we don’t get in the carriage soon, they’ll be in a hurry waiting for us!"
Liang Chen glared at them, dropped the carriage curtain with a swoosh, and strode off first.
Liang Zhi and Liang Xuan exchanged glances, then scrambled to climb onto the carriage behind.
...
Fu Zhen drank half a cup of tea, and the voices of people downstairs grew louder.
Having sent Yang Tong to inquire, he returned saying, "Today, so nobles unknown to us seem to have so celebration. They booked that large private room to the east which can hold two or three tables. They even specially brought servants over from their residence to serve. Oh, I just saw two mbers of the Cheng family also ca."
Hearing the "Cheng family," Fu Zhen unconsciously glanced through the half-opened door towards the east. Among the two Cheng gentlen, one was likely Cheng Chili. Since she had sent ginseng to Mrs. Cheng, several days had passed, and she wondered if Mrs. Cheng had gotten better.
Later, the Cheng family did send a substantial gift in return, but that rascal Cheng Chili ntioned wanting to repay her kindness, yet hadn’t shown up at her door. However, seeing him interested in joining such festivities, Mrs. Cheng’s condition must be alright.
Thinking of this, she signaled to Yang Tong: "Keep an eye out; if General Cheng Chili happens to be alone, let know imdiately."
Since it was such a chance encounter, she naturally had to seize the opportunity to orchestrate a eting, remind him, and ensure there were follow-ups in building a connection.
When the Third Lady of the Du Family ca in, she happened to catch Yang Tong, standing in the middle corridor between two private rooms. Upon entering, she said to Fu Zhen, "I apologize for being late. I just t our Brother Chu downstairs; his wife is pregnant, and I stopped to chat with him about family matters."
Fu Zhen smiled slightly: "Madam, there’s no need to be so formal. Even if you were late, I would naturally wait."
The Third Lady of the Du Family seed a bit embarrassed, as if her intentions had been seen through. She said, "A few days ago, your mother ca to our house. Why didn’t you join her for a visit?"
Fu Zhen poured her a cup of tea: "If I had anticipated Madam’s hesitation on the annulnt matter, I would surely have visited personally. There’s no point beating around the bush; the matter that was verbally agreed upon that day—why has Madam changed her mind?"
The Third Lady of the Du Family brushed her hair aside: "That day, I spoke out of anger and said things that shouldn’t be taken seriously. Marriage is a serious matter, and after thinking it over, the family patriarchs who arranged this engagent all those years ago must have had their reasons. —Miss Fu, you probably haven’t t our Brother Cheng, have you? Though he may not be extraordinary, he’s quite accomplished in appearance..."
"Mrs. Du!" Fu Zhen sensed sothing was amiss, "Surely you don’t intend not to break off the engagent, do you?"
The Third Lady of the Du Family stopped short and brushed the hair near her other ear: "Miss Fu, I’ve heard your parents have divorced. Don’t you want a sowhat dependable marriage?"
Fu Zhen looked at her, the smile on her lips turning into a sneer: "You kept stalling on discussing marriage and made a scene at Baihe Temple, just to make unwilling to give up what you claim is this dependable marriage, right?"
The Third Lady of the Du Family was dumbfounded.
Fu Zhen continued, "Mrs. Du, you really know how to calculate! Initially treating as a nuisance you couldn’t shake off, and now coming up with every excuse not to annul the engagent, simply because you realized I have so ambition, hoping I might give your third branch a bit of prestige?
"Yesterday on the mountain, the words you let slip at least earned you so respect from . But now, with your back-and-forth behavior, how are you any different from a petty scoundrel?
"You’ve already seen my thods and know I’m not one to be trifled with. I don’t want to waste words today; I invited you here to break off the engagent.
"Don’t bring up my parents’ divorce again, and don’t even think about it!"
The Third Lady of the Du Family felt her face burning with sha.
With her usual temper, it wouldn’t be surprising if she flipped a table at this mont!
But she didn’t dare!
It’s not that the Du family couldn’t deal with her, but instinctively she felt that this young woman would sohow manage even if the table was flipped!
Understanding this disparity, the Third Lady of the Du Family naturally cald her deanor.
She said, "I didn’t say I wouldn’t annul it, just wanted you to think clearly! Am I wrong to say that without a father in an official position, your future path certainly won’t be as easy?
"Don’t think I’m so bad; I’m only considering this because yesterday you risked your life to carry down the mountain..."
"Mrs. Du," Fu Zhen interrupted her, "the reason I went to such great lengths was to earn the right to speak to you as equals, not to change your will.
"I brought the annulnt contract and the ink with , as well as writing tools; everything is here, so please, do it swiftly."
As Fu Zhen spoke, she unceremoniously pushed the prepared docunt over, while Ziyan brought over the writing set and such.
The Third Lady of the Du Family looked at her mannerism, sighed after a while, and picked up a pen, looking at her across the table: "I had hoped, at least, to persuade you to et our Brother Cheng before making a hasty decision.
"That’s why he ca out with today and is now in the eastern private room welcoming Liang family’s second son. If you agree, I can call him over anyti.
"If there’s really no interest, so be it. But what if fate decides otherwise? Then there’s no need to rush breaking off the engagent, right?
"Now, since you’ve made your attitude so clear, so be it."
She dipped the pen in ink and began to write at the signature spot.
Hearing this, Fu Zhen suddenly directed her gaze at her: "You just ntioned who’s being welcod? Liang family’s second son?"
"Yes," the Third Lady of the Du Family looked up, "the brother of the Great General, General Liang Zhi arrived this morning in the capital, and several young lords arranged to welco him here today at midday.
"Coincidentally, everyone is here..."
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