When the maid hurriedly found Mrs. Jiang and she rushed over, she saw her usually gentle and frail husband somehow gathering the strength to raise a chair and was about to hurl it outside angrily.
Relatives, guests, and servants inside and outside the room were either holding him back or trying to persuade him.
Mrs. Jiang's heart skipped a beat. She shouted, "My lord, what are you doing? My lord, put the chair down quickly."
Jiang Hanlin was a scholar in the Imperial Academy. He always behaved in a proper and methodical way, and was well - reasoned in everything he did. He had a sharp tongue and couldn't stand people who resorted to violence and shouting.
When he was young, he once visited other countries with envoys. He could out - argue several people with his eloquence and managed to persuade the enemy's generals and ministers, thus resolving the conflict between the two countries through words.
But now, such a man was raising a chair, ready to fight someone?
After Mrs. Jiang found out the reason, she was also extremely angry. It turned out that neither the Duke of the He Family nor his wife had come, and even the future son - in - law hadn't shown up. They only sent a side - branch member with gifts. Taking a closer look, those gifts were so shabby that even a family of some status wouldn't offer them.
The reason why Jiang Hanlin was so angry was that a young man from the side - branch of the He Family had shouted that the He Family was a relative of the royal family, and it was already a great honor for them to marry a sickly girl. The Jiang Family should be grateful that they were willing to take Jiang Shishi.
At this moment, an elder of the Jiang Family leaned on his walking stick and said, "Even if you are relatives of the royal family, you can't bully people like this. You of the He Family are people, and aren't we of the Jiang Family people too? If it's like this, tomorrow we'll go to the palace gate, take off our hats, and kneel down to ask the emperor to make a fair judgment!"
The young man from the He Family still said contemptuously, "Do you think your Jiang Family girl is the princess of the Lu Family, who can do whatever she wants?"
Fortunately, not everyone in the He Family was so unreasonable. Uncle He San pushed the young man aside, bowed, and said, "Sir, Lord Jiang, it's truly the He Family's fault. But there's an important matter in the He Family today. The engagement date was set long ago and it's not convenient to change it. So, we had no choice but to do this. Please forgive us, sir."
The elder of the Jiang Family was dissatisfied. "So, you're just being so disrespectful to our Jiang Family girl?"
Uncle He San apologized repeatedly. "It's our He Family's mistake. Sir, please don't get so angry and hurt your body. Today, I, He San, am standing here and am willing to accept any punishment from you, sir."
Although the people of the Jiang Family were all eloquent, they were also very sensitive about their reputation. Seeing the guest being polite, they couldn't say anything impolite.
Uncle He San continued, "Sir, Lord Jiang, our two families are to form a good alliance. The two children are well - matched, a handsome young man and a beautiful girl. This engagement was arranged by the elders of both families and is also a predestined marriage. We mustn't break this wonderful relationship because of this fool's nonsense. Zheng, come here and kneel down. Apologize to the grandfather of the Jiang Family and Lord Jiang. Don't get up until you're told to."
Although it was spring, it was still freezing cold. He Zheng was dissatisfied in his heart, but seeing his uncle so angry, he didn't dare to say anything more and knelt down angrily to one side.
Uncle He San kicked him on the back. "Kneel properly. We're outside now. For your rudeness, your father will surely punish you when we get home!"
In this situation, the elder of the Jiang Family didn't know what else to say. He just waved his hand and let his family help him in, saying no more.
Jiang Hanlin's face was ashen. He looked up and asked, "Since you've said so, I must argue. Today, the Duke and his wife were too busy. We can understand that they're important people and have a lot to do. After all, the second young master is not the heir, so the marriage doesn't need to be that grand. But why didn't the second young master come for his own engagement? Does he look down on us or my daughter?"
Uncle He San felt bitter inside. He knew this errand was difficult, but he had to do it for the direct - branch of the family. So he just forced a smile and said, "Yes, yes, yes. It's all our He Family's fault. Please calm down, sir. Everyone in the capital knows what kind of person Miss Jiang is. How could Wenbo not come today? But during the New Year, it's necessary to accompany guests and drink. He drank a bit too much last night and got a stomachache. He couldn't even get up this morning. He was afraid of making a fool of himself here, so he had to... had to ask us to come on his behalf."
These were just words to gloss over the situation. Mrs. Jiang felt heart - broken when she heard them. What kind of family was her daughter going to marry into? And what kind of suffering would she have to endure?
Jiang Hanlin was also extremely sad. Suddenly, regardless of his dignity, he squatted on the ground and cried loudly.
Uncle He San tried to persuade him from left and right, saying all kinds of nice words. He managed to console Mrs. Jiang, but Jiang Hanlin on the ground just covered his head with his sleeve and refused to get up.
Two aunts from a collateral branch of the Jiang Family had to come out and persuade. "Sister - in - law, the engagement has been set. We can't break it off casually. Shishi is almost nineteen. If we break off the engagement now, with her health, it'll be hard for her to get married."
"Yes, Ling'er and the others are also growing up. Sister, you have to think more. There are other girls in our Jiang Family besides Shishi. Do you want to ruin their chances of getting good marriages?"
Mrs. Jiang's heart was cut like a knife. She covered her face and wept. Being pulled left and right by her two sisters - in - law, she finally returned to the main hall.
Sweat dripped from Uncle He San's forehead. He had to humble himself and tried to talk to Jiang Hanlin nicely.
Suddenly, Jiang Hanlin stood up and shouted, "I'm the head of the Jiang Family. Can't I even make this decision? Your He Family has behaved badly. Why should our Jiang Family always give in? Does a girl from the Jiang Family have to marry a boy from your He Family? Today, I'm going to break off this engagement. If my daughter Shishi has nowhere to go, as long as her father and elder brothers are alive, we'll never let her lack anything!"
Both the Jiang and He families were stunned. He spoke each word as if he was taking an oath, clearly leaving no room for negotiation.
Uncle He San was both anxious and angry. "Lord Jiang, what do you mean? This engagement wasn't arranged by me. Why are you making things difficult for me?"
Jiang Hanlin looked at him. "I think you're a reasonable man. Just put yourself in my shoes. If it were your daughter, would you be willing to let her suffer like this?"
Uncle He San quickly said, "Lord Jiang, please don't say that. The He Family is not a low - class family, and we'll never do anything to bully our daughter - in - law. Well, it's truly our He Family's mistake. I'll send someone back right away and ask the Duke to come here in person to apologize to you."
Jiang Hanlin's face was pale. "The Duke is a reasonable man. I know that, and I'm not trying to blame your He Family. But it's obvious that the second young master looks down on my daughter. Why should my daughter..."
Uncle He San was annoyed inside. "Lord Jiang, you can't talk like that. Since ancient times, it's been the parents' order and the matchmaker's word. How can children choose their own partners? The second young master was really unwell and couldn't come. It's not that he was being disrespectful to Miss Jiang. Indeed, since the Princess Zhaoyang broke off her engagement last December, which shocked the capital, some people have thought that engagements can be broken off casually. But..."
Just as Jiang Hanlin was about to say something, he heard a clear and beautiful female voice behind him.
"Daddy, stop talking. Daughter is willing to marry."