Xie Yanchuan returned to his courtyard in a daze and locked himself in his room for a whole day and night without coming out.
Seeing this, Xie Jing and Xu Qing were extremely worried.
Their son had grown up so much, and this was the first time he had been so heart - broken for a woman.
They instantly felt that something was wrong.
So, the couple couldn't wait to rush to the courtyard of Old Master Xie, intending to call off the engagement between Xie Yanchuan and Ruan Jiu.
When Ruan Jiu was called to the main hall by Steward Li, she saw Old Master Xie sitting upright in the main seat with an inscrutable expression.
Xie Jing was rubbing his hands, looking at Xie Chong with a cautious look on his face.
Xu Qing was also standing beside him, not daring to breathe loudly.
She immediately knew the purpose of the eldest branch's visit today.
She walked forward slowly and bowed respectfully to Xie Chong.
Xie Chong looked at Ruan Jiu, still with a kind and amiable face, and said, "A Jiu, the eldest branch is here today to discuss your engagement with Yan'er. What's your opinion?"
After all, once Ruan Jiu's engagement was called off, she would be gossiped about by outsiders.
Moreover, it was at such a crucial moment.
He still wanted to hear Ruan Jiu's thoughts.
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu was secretly delighted.
But on the surface, she remained calm. "A Jiu will follow whatever grandfather decides."
Xie Chong didn't say a word. He slowly picked up the teacup beside him and took a gentle sip.
Seeing that Xie Chong didn't speak for a long time, Xie Jing said anxiously, "Now that the young lady has done something so disgraceful to the family, she is really not suitable to marry Yan'er."
After hearing this, Xie Chong put down the teacup and his eyes turned serious. "Disgraceful to the family?"
"Yes, the news has spread throughout the mansion."
"Oh? How is it spread?"
"Everyone says that the young lady has repaid kindness with ingratitude and is extremely unfilial. The Xie family has been kind enough not to send her to the government."
Xie Jing repeated every word the servants had said, even adding some exaggeration.
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu clenched her fists tightly.
To call off the engagement, she endured!
After hearing this, Xie Chong slammed his palm heavily on the table.
Everyone present was startled.
"I'd like to see who is spreading rumors about the master behind their backs!"
The word "master" made everyone widen their eyes.
Outsiders might not know, but everyone present knew Ruan Jiu's identity.
A glimmer of light appeared in Ruan Jiu's eyes, and she was deeply touched.
Xie Jing was even more surprised. He didn't expect that Ruan Jiu held such an important position in Old Master Xie's heart.
For a moment, he regretted bringing up the topic of calling off the engagement today.
It was not until Xu Qing secretly tugged at his robe that he came back to his senses.
Xu Qing leaned over and whispered in his ear, "After all, she has been raised in father's courtyard since childhood. If she can't prove her innocence in a month, father will surely be disgusted with her.
Moreover, even Xie Jingchu is eager to distance himself from her now. Why should we get involved?"
After hearing this, Xie Jing pursed his lips.
Indeed, the leakage of the craftsmanship diagram was a big deal.
If it was really her doing, and the old master blamed the eldest branch, it would be a great loss.
Just as Xie Jing was about to open his mouth to continue speaking, Xie Yanchuan rushed in from outside the door in a hurry.
"I disagree!"
Hearing the voice, Ruan Jiu turned her head and looked at Xie Yanchuan.
What was he doing here to cause trouble!
Xie Yanchuan knelt on the ground and said earnestly, "Grandfather, since you have arranged my engagement with A Jiu, I regard her as my future wife. Now that she has become the target of public criticism, how can I call off the engagement with her at this time!"
After hearing this, Xie Chong nodded in satisfaction.
He didn't expect that his useless son had raised such a loyal and affectionate son.
"Yan'er! You..."
"Father!" Xie Yanchuan interrupted Xie Jing loudly. Then he turned to look at Xie Jing. "Don't think I don't know what you were up to when you agreed to my engagement with A Jiu!"
Xie Jing was stunned and stood there awkwardly.
Then, Xie Yanchuan said to Xie Chong, "Grandfather, even if A Jiu has made a wrong decision for a moment and done something wrong, grandson is willing to bear the responsibility with her!"
"Bear the responsibility?" Xie Jing was so angry that he jumped up. He stepped forward and grabbed Xie Yanchuan's ear. "Do you know your own limitations? How can you bear it!"
If it was really Ruan Jiu who leaked the craftsmanship diagram, when the old master blamed them,
even if they handed over all the shops they owned, they couldn't make up for the losses of the silk and satin store.
Why did he give birth to such a stupid son!
"It's not just A Jiu who can make mistakes. Have you forgotten that you lost all the money in the grain store on West Street last year? And the year before last, you were cheated out of 100,000 taels of silver by a swindler."
Hearing his own son enumerate his absurd deeds one by one, Xie Jing was so angry that he was fuming.
The strength in his hand couldn't help but increase a bit.
"Ouch! It hurts!" Xie Yanchuan covered his ear with one hand and said, "You can do it, but others can't talk about it?"
"Get back to your room!"
Xu Qing, on the side, felt sorry for her son on the one hand and blamed her son for being so ignorant on the other.
Her two hands kept moving back and forth between the two of them, not knowing what to do.
"Enough!" Xie Chong was so annoyed by the noise that he had a headache.
His deep voice made everyone quiet down.
"All of you go back first."
No one dared to refute Xie Chong's words.
At this time, Xie Jing didn't even care about calling off the engagement. He just wanted to teach this little brat a good lesson.
He grabbed Xie Yanchuan's ear and walked out, still muttering non - stop.
"Since you like to kneel so much, then go back and kneel properly!"
After the people from the eldest branch left, it became much quieter.
Ruan Jiu was full of helplessness. She thought she could successfully call off the engagement today.
Unexpectedly, someone had come to spoil the plan.
"A Jiu." Xie Chong waved to Ruan Jiu, signaling her to sit down.
Ruan Jiu obediently sat down beside him.
Xie Chong sighed deeply. He always knew Xie Jing's character.
But he didn't expect that because of a little rumor, Xie Jing was so eager to distance himself from A Jiu.
And his grandson, although loyal and affectionate, lacked trust.
"A Jiu, do you blame grandfather?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu looked puzzled. "Grandfather, what are you talking about?"
"Although the eldest son has the status of the eldest son of the Xie family, he is really not up to the task. The Xie family will surely be handed over to the fourth son in the future.
So I betrothed you to Yan'er, thinking that with your intelligence and talent, you could help a little.
Moreover, your relationship with the fourth son is special. After you marry into the eldest branch, the Xie family won't end up with brothers fighting against each other.
Now it seems that the eldest branch is not a good match for you, but I also have my own difficulties.
A Jiu, are you willing to sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of the Xie family?"
This was the first time Ruan Jiu had heard Old Master Xie say these words.
She just didn't expect that the grandfather who had always doted on her actually regarded her as a pawn to balance the family.
She had naively thought that grandfather betrothed her to Xie Yanchuan because he was reluctant to let her marry outside.
At this moment, her heart felt like it had been cut open and salt had been sprinkled on it.
It was like an embroidery needle had been inserted into a tiny crack and was being constantly hammered by a small hammer.
Every time she took a breath, it was a stabbing pain.
The fist in her hand tightened and loosened, then tightened again.
She bit her lips tightly to hold back her tears.
After a long time, she slowly said, "Ruan Jiu understands."
After saying that, she got up, bowed, and left.
Hearing that Ruan Jiu no longer referred to herself as "A Jiu", Xie Chong was stunned.
Looking at Ruan Jiu's departing back, he murmured to himself.
"Grandfather owes you..."