Chapter 430 - 422: Rejection
Mrs. Dong Sr. was genuinely imploring.
Sister Hui had not spoken at all until she saw her grandmother stop talking, then she finally spoke, "Grandmother, I can understand your feelings. I have thought a lot about this matter since it happened, and I feel it’s better to call off the engagement. I am not doubting Cousin’s character, but rather, because I understand Cousin too well and know what kind of person he is, I feel it’s best to call off the engagement. Cousin is not a careless person, nor is he frivolous. His actions toward Sister Jian clearly show that he has feelings for Elder Sister, so in this situation, I want to help him fulfill his wishes. Grandmother has also seen the life my mother leads; others envy her for being Madam of the Dingyuan Marquis, but who knows what her life is truly like? Grandmother wouldn’t want me to have the same life as my mother after marrying into the Marquis Mansion, would you?"
"Silly child, rest assured, as long as your aunt and I are here, your elder cousin will never do such things." Mrs. Dong Sr. hurried to explain.
Sister Hui shook her head, "As a mother, it’s impossible not to feel for your child. But after Cousin and I marry, if Cousin insists on taking Elder Sister as a concubine, even threatening to do so with his life, would Grandmother and Aunt be able to stop him?"
Seeing her grandmother silent, Sister Hui continued, "I know what Grandmother is worried about. You’re worried that calling off the engagement would harm Cousin’s reputation, but Grandmother can rest easy. Cousin is still young, he can find a well-matched family’s daughter in a few years, that’s no problem. Moreover, I have already lost interest in Cousin, even if he is sincere towards me, we cannot be together. I beg Grandmother to forgive Sister Hui’s selfishness."
Mrs. Dong Sr.’s eyes reddened, she patted her hand, "Sister Hui’er, it’s Grandmother who has wronged you."
"Grandmother, no need to be sad. The past is in the past, I am well now. When Grandmother returns, tell Cousin I am fine and won’t hate him." Sister Hui said a few more words, saying Grandmother needed someone by her side, then she curtsied and left.
Mrs. Dong Sr. wiped her tears after her granddaughter left, and only then managed to stop crying.
"Mother, don’t be sad. This is about the two children not being destined. Initially, I opposed Sister Hui calling off the engagement, but after thinking for a few days, I believe it’s good to call it off. After all, the eldest sister-in-law doesn’t quite like Sister Hui’er. With things as they are, let her find a marriage she is satisfied with!"
"I know you’re feeling quite pleased now, thinking calling off the marriage means you won’t have to bow and scrape before your eldest sister-in-law. But remember, you are a mother, when Sister Hui marries and has children, you will be a grandmother, there are things I don’t need to say that you should understand. But looking at you now, it’s no wonder the Dingyuan Marquis has opinions about you." Mrs. Dong Sr. was in a bad mood and didn’t say more, she directly ordered this person to go back to Dong Mansion.
Mrs. Dong didn’t care about her mother’s words, she knew calling off the engagement would offend the Dong Mansion and needless to say, her eldest sister-in-law.
But remembering since the engagement was set, her eldest sister-in-law had been condescending in front of her, now, she wouldn’t have to pay her any mind.
Moreover, with a son like hers, she wondered how her sister-in-law could continue to flaunt in front of her.
Mrs. Dong felt quite smug, but when Mrs. Gu Sr. returned to Dong Mansion, she saw everyone kneeling, the surroundings silent, and strode inside asking what had happened.
When she reached the main hall, she saw Mrs. Jiang was angry, and upon seeing Mrs. Gu Sr. return, Mrs. Jiang restrained her speaking, approached politely, and Mrs. Gu Sr. motioned for the servants to leave.
"What is going on? I returned to see all the servants kneeling in the yard."
"It was Side who sent news back, his page returned with the message. He doesn’t know where Side is hiding, someone grabbed him at a tavern and made him deliver the message to our mansion." Mrs. Jiang couldn’t help but be angry as she recounted this, "You tell me, for just that incident, what can I do when he returns to the mansion? But now he’s hiding, isn’t he making everyone in the mansion worry about him?"
"So Side sent a message? Where is the message now, let me see what it says?" Mrs. Gu Sr. asked eagerly since her grandson had sent a message, without discussing anything else.
Mrs. Jiang dared not take out the message, "The message was given to Father, after reading it, he was angry about what Side did and tore up the message."
Mrs. Gu Sr. looked at her, "Isn’t Darlang attending court? Should be at the government office by now, did you have someone deliver the message to the government office?"
Mrs. Jiang’s lie was exposed, feeling guilty, she lowered her head, Mrs. Gu Sr. shouted, "Bring out the message for me."
Only then did Mrs. Jiang take the message from her sleeve and hand it over, Mrs. Gu Sr. skimmed through it and slapped it on the table.
Mrs. Gu Sr. uttered "Good" three times, "I humbled myself at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion for him, yet he secretly favors a concubine’s daughter, how did I raise such a grandson? Really slapping my own face."
"Yes, this child had this thought momentarily, you saw in the message he said he was being responsible for Sister Jian, not tempted by beauty." Mrs. Jiang defended her son.
"No need to discuss further, bring that page in, just tell him that Sister Hui has called off the engagement, Side need not concern himself anymore, as for Sister Jian, merely a concubine’s daughter, Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has sent her away, he need not fret over her." Mrs. Gu Sr. spoke angrily.
"Dingyuan Marquis Mansion called off the engagement, how could they? How will our Side face public criticism?"
"Your displeasure here with me means nothing; it was Dingyuan Marquis’s decision. If you oppose, have Darlang talk to him." Mrs. Gu Sr. stood up, "I’m too tired to bother anymore, Side did this but you’re defending him instead of reprimanding him, it’s your spoiling that gave him such boldness."