The Princess and Lady Wei exchanged a glance. Finally, Lady Wei recounted what had happened at the Duke He's Mansion on the day of He Chan's coming - of - age ceremony.
When she got excited, Lady Wei couldn't hold back and pointed at Lu Wanning's forehead. "Look, Ning'er still has a scar on her head that hasn't fully healed. She has to apply medicine every day to recuperate."
Lu Hanchi had already stood up and walked up to Lu Wanning. He ruffled her hair and indeed saw a long scar on her temple. Although it was almost healed, a closer look could still reveal it.
He flew into a rage and gritted his teeth. "How dare Fu Rongxuan humiliate my sister like this? He simply doesn't put us in his eyes. Hannian, get the sword. Let's go and seek justice for our sister."
Lu Hannian was naturally an impulsive person and was already extremely angry. He had just been waiting for his elder brother's words. He responded and was about to go out.
Lu Wanning quickly grabbed Lu Hanchi's sleeve. "Brother, elder brother, second brother, please stop. I don't like Fu Rongxuan. It's best to break off the engagement as soon as possible."
Lu Hanchi knew that his sister had been fond of Fu Rongxuan for years. How could she stop liking him so easily? He thought his sister was just saying this to avoid worrying them and felt even more heart - broken. After all, his sister had been pampered since childhood and couldn't bear the slightest bit of grievance. Her current understanding showed how much suffering she had endured.
Lady Wei also quickly stood up and grabbed Lu Hanchi to explain. "Don't be in a hurry, husband. Ning'er said that day that she wanted to exchange back the betrothal records of the two families and call off the engagement. Since the Empress Dowager wasn't in good health, mother didn't want to trouble her."
Only then did Lu Hanchi turn to look at Lu Wanning and ask, "Is it really so?"
Originally, Lu Wanning was a bit dissatisfied with this nominal elder brother for scolding her as soon as he came back. But now, there was not a trace of unhappiness left. She quickly showed a smile and hugged his arm. "He's neither good nor does he like me. Why should I marry him?"
Lu Hanchi hesitated. "But anyway, breaking off the engagement will damage your reputation. Have you really thought it through?"
Lu Wanning raised her eyebrows. "I've thought it through perfectly. Is reputation more important than my future life? If Fu Rongxuan treats me so lightly now, if we really get married, won't he trample me into the dust?"
"How dare he!" It was Lu Hannian, with veins popping on his forehead, who spoke.
In the book, Lu Hannian was shot seventy - eight arrows on the battlefield while covering his elder brother. More than fifty of those arrows came from the Lu family's army. At that time, the Lu family had betrayed the country, and the Lu family's army was no longer truly the Lu family's army.
Lu Wanning felt a bit sad. She walked up to Lu Hannian and said, "Whether he dares or not, I'm not willing to try. If I can't get married, will my brothers drive me out?"
Lu Hannian quickly said, "Of course not. If Ning'er can't get married, elder brother will support you for a lifetime."
The Princess spat twice. "Nonsense. With Ning'er's looks, how could she not get married?"
Only then did Lu Hongxi ask, "Since you didn't report it to the Empress Dowager, the engagement hasn't been broken off yet?"
Compared to the Princess, Lu Hongxi really didn't like this engagement. By the time he found out, the Empress Dowager's imperial edict had already been issued, and the betrothal records of the two families had been exchanged. He was far away in Luocheng and couldn't do anything. Now that he heard the engagement was called off, he was extremely happy. That Fu Rongxuan was just good - looking and only achieved his current status because of his family background. He even gave up martial arts for literature. How could he be worthy of being Lu Hongxi's son - in - law?
The Princess explained, "After Ning'er said that that day, I thought that since it was Fu Rongxuan who had done such a disgraceful thing, no matter what, they should give our Prince's Mansion an explanation. But after waiting for a few days and not seeing the Fu family come to our door, I took the initiative to return Fu Rongxuan's betrothal record and ask for an explanation. But..."
When talking about this, she was also a bit unhappy.
Lady Wei continued, "But the Fu family's opinion was that since you, father, were not at home, this matter had to be decided by the head of the family. What mother and Ning'er said didn't count."
Lu Hongxi gritted his teeth in anger. "What kind of nonsense is this? Can't my wife make decisions? When the engagement was first decided, they didn't ask for my consent either. Why did their words count then?"
Lady Wei added, "Moreover, mother personally took me to return the betrothal record. But the Fu family only sent an old nursemaid beside Lady Fu to return the betrothal record of the Heir Apparent Fu."
Lu Wanning's eyes widened. "Really? Mother, sister - in - law, why didn't you tell me? We should have just thrown the betrothal record out. I wouldn't even look at such a man if he was given to me!"
Seeing that her younger sister - in - law was being too outspoken, Lady Wei quickly covered her mouth. "Ning'er, stop talking nonsense."
Lu Wanning waved her sleeves. "How is it nonsense? It was Fu Rongxuan who humiliated me first. He's already having an affair with Shi Aohan. Why did he still accept the Empress Dowager's imperial edict? Hmph, now that I think about it, I really feel like I'm crazy. It's as if I forced him to marry me."
An unmarried girl shouldn't discuss her own marriage. Lady Wei had no choice but to pull Lu Wanning out and whisper, "It's getting late. Father and mother should rest. Come on, sister - in - law will take you back to your courtyard."
Lu Wanning was still angry and pulled Lady Wei to continue complaining. "Sister - in - law, am I not right? Why does Fu Rongxuan refuse to break off the engagement? I don't care. I won't marry him even if you beat me to death."
Lady Wei comforted her gently. "Don't be in a hurry, Ning'er. Father and your elder brothers are back. How could they force you to marry again?"
Lu Wanning stomped off angrily. In this era, children had no say in marriage matters. It was all up to the parents to handle. Her begging to marry Fu Rongxuan was already a shocking thing. Now that she wanted to break off the engagement, Lu Hongxi naturally wouldn't let her get involved again.
However, the next day, before Lu Hongxi could take people to the Fu family, Lady He, the wife of the Duke He, brought He Chan to visit.
Since the conflict between the two families on the day of He Chan's coming - of - age ceremony, there had been no contact for more than ten days. Lu Wanning and He Chan had never been on good terms anyway, so the lack of contact didn't matter. But unexpectedly, early that morning, the mother - daughter duo came on their own initiative.
Lu Hongxi knew that it was the niece of Lady Shi of the He family, who was living in the He family, that had disrupted his daughter's engagement. Naturally, he didn't have a good attitude. He didn't even want to show his face. Instead, he pulled his two sons to the martial arts training ground in the outer courtyard to practice, and even took his little grandson Lu Cheng with him.
The Princess sat on the upper seat in the hall with a clearly unhappy look on her face and didn't even raise her head.
However, Lady He smiled and asked, "Why haven't I seen Miss Ning'er? Last time, Chan'er misunderstood Ning'er and has been pestering me, saying that she wants to send a gift to her cousin and ask her not to be angry with her anymore."
No one would believe this. Who in the noble circles of the capital didn't know that Princess Zhaoyang of the Prince of the South - pacifying Mansion and He Chan, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of the State - assisting Mansion, had been on bad terms since childhood?
Lady Wei, who was used to being tactful, immediately continued, "Aunt, you've come at a bad time. Yesterday, Ning'er was naughty and went out in the wind and snow to welcome father back. Her shoes and socks got wet. Today, the maid in her courtyard came to report that she wasn't feeling well. She's taking medicine and resting."