The princess raised her hand, and the Wei family personally placed the betrothal letter in Lady Fu's hand, smiling politely. "Madam, this is the betrothal letter of your family's Heir Fu. I'm returning it as it is. Please send someone quickly to return the betrothal letter of my younger sister Wanning to us."
Lady Fu couldn't force a smile at all. She quickly shook her head and tried to push the betrothal letter back. "No... Oh, in - laws, don't do this. This is all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding..."
Lu Hongxi sneered. "A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding could there be? It was you who said before that my wife couldn't make decisions. Were you bullying our Southern - Towning Prince's Mansion for only having female relatives left in the capital? Today, I've come in person. Hurry up and return my son's betrothal letter!"
Duke Fu glared at his wife fiercely and quickly accompanied it with a smiling face. "Your Highness, please don't be angry. I've been too busy with affairs recently and haven't disciplined my family well. Such a mistake happened. It's my fault. Come, Your Highness. We haven't seen each other for more than two years. We should sit down and have a good chat."
Lu Hongxi shook his head. "No need. We've never really gotten along well. After exchanging the betrothal letters, we'll go our separate ways. Why do we need to sit together and drink tea?"
Duke Fu felt embarrassed. He reluctantly persuaded. "This marriage was bestowed by the Empress Dowager after all. How can we be so hasty and just..."
"The Heir Fu dared to be so disrespectful to a marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager's edict. He had an affair with another woman right in front of my son. Or does Your Grace think that if we tell the Empress Dowager about this, she will let it go?"
Lady Fu burst into tears immediately. She grabbed the princess and said, "Princess, where did this come from? My son may have made some mistakes, but men are like this. It's all that Miss Shi's fault. She was unruly during the mourning period and seduced someone else's fiancé. Princess, Miss Shi's mother was a shameless woman, so it's no wonder she gave birth to such a daughter. It's really... not my son's fault. We can't break off the marriage just because of such a small problem, right?"
Lu Hongxi said coldly, "A small problem? Humph. Looking at you, Madam, you don't even think it's a mistake. Do you think it's because of Fu Rongxuan's ability? Our Southern - Towning Prince's Mansion has always had a family precept. For generations, the men of the Lu family can only take concubines if they have no heirs by the age of forty, and they can only take good - born concubines. Neither noble nor low - born concubines are allowed, and there are no such things as bedroom maids or aunts. The ancestral precept cannot be violated. Today, I, Lu Hongxi, will say one more thing. If anyone wants to marry a daughter of the Lu family, they must follow our family's ancestral precepts!"
Lady Fu was stunned. She asked, "You mean that if we want to be in - laws, my son can only take concubines after he's over forty?"
The princess smiled. "Madam, you're wrong. It's not that he can take concubines after he's over forty, but that he can take concubines only if he has no heirs by then."
Lady Fu couldn't help but shout, "What kind of logic is this? If you say this, people will laugh at you. And it's so strict. How can your daughter find a husband?"
Lu Hannian came to boost the momentum. Hearing this, he couldn't hold back anymore. "Madam, don't worry. Our Lu family can afford to feed my little sister. Besides, there are so many men in the Great Zhou. Why does she have to marry into your Fu family and be wronged?"
The princess also chimed in. "That's right. At the beginning, your Fu family was reluctant about this marriage, as if our Lu family was forcing you. Now it's just right to break off the engagement. We'll go our separate ways and owe each other nothing. Why are you acting like this? It's clearly your son who let down our little girl. You should be happy that the marriage is off. Why are you acting so reluctant?"
Lu Hongxi didn't want to talk to them anymore. He just frowned and said, "I don't care what you think. Whether it's coercion or not, I'll put it here today. If you don't return my son's betrothal letter, I'll go to the palace to see the emperor and ask the emperor to make a decision for me."
Duke Fu had no choice but to urge his wife to get Lu Wanning's betrothal letter and return it.
Lu Hongxi didn't make things difficult. He took the betrothal letter and left with his family.
Lady Fu was anxious. She grabbed Duke Fu's arm and asked, "What should we do? The marriage is off. If the Empress Dowager blames us later, won't it..."
Duke Fu glared at Lady Fu fiercely. "I've said before that you should discipline Xuan'er and not let him make a mess. Even the emperor has to give Lu Hongxi some face. But you, relying on Lu Wanning's liking for Fu Rongxuan, caused trouble every day and disliked her for not being ladylike. Well, now you've got your wish. The Lu family doesn't want this marriage anymore. Are you happy?"
Lady Fu was extremely aggrieved. "How can I be happy? Don't I know that Lu Wanning is the favorite princess of the Empress Dowager and can't be offended? Although I did think she was a bit less ladylike than other well - bred young ladies... I never said anything bad about her. I always advised Xuan'er not to do anything rash."
Duke Fu was in a bad mood. He lifted his foot and was about to go to Fu Rongxuan's place. "It's all this unfilial son's fault. Lu Wanning is a princess, even more glorious than a princess. Instead of coaxing and persuading her on a daily basis, he dared to make the princess unhappy before the wedding. I'll teach him a lesson!"
Lady Fu loved her son. She quickly grabbed Duke Fu. "My lord, it's not Xuan'er's fault. Xuan'er has always been obedient. You told him to study hard, so there aren't even any slightly good - looking maids in his courtyard, and he never went to listen to operas with those young masters. It's all that Miss Shi's fault. I spit on her. Is she really the number one talented girl in the capital? Her mother..."
"Enough, enough!" Duke Fu was annoyed. "Go and talk to him properly. The key to this matter lies with Lu Wanning. As long as Lu Wanning changes her mind, that Lu Hongxi is a fool. It doesn't matter. You have to be quick. Don't delay. Settle it earlier to avoid any complications."
Lady Fu was worried. When the Empress Dowager issued the edict, they didn't think much of it, but Xuan'er had a very strong reaction. He even said that he had already fallen in love with someone, and if that person wasn't in the mourning period, he would have sent someone to propose marriage.
Now that she thought about it, wasn't that person Shi Aohan?
Shi Aohan had no father and her mother had passed away. She was living in the He family. Although the He family had a good family background, she was just an orphan girl after all. When she got married in the future, how much help could the He family give her? It was definitely not much. And if they offended the Lu family because of this, it would really be a great loss.
That's why when the He family sent a message to her a few days ago, she flatly refused. She still knew what was more important.
Now that the marriage was off, would it be just as Xuan'er wished?
When Lady Fu arrived at Fu Rongxuan's courtyard, she saw her son sitting in front of the window, holding a book, but his eyes were fixed on the red plum blossoms in the courtyard. He didn't even notice her coming in.
"Xuan'er, what are you doing?"
Fu Rongxuan withdrew his gaze and looked down at the book. Only then did he realize that the book was upside down. He quietly closed the book and put it aside. "Mother, what do you want to talk to me about?"