Cao Sheng's face darkened. Just like that? It was over just like that? It was a bit too fast.
He had thought Ye Xi would plead with him desperately not to break off the engagement. After all, Ye Xi had been so into him before, and now that she was disfigured, who else would marry her?
Shouldn't she hold on tightly to him, this "life - saving straw"?
Why did she agree so readily?
However, Grand Tutor Cao snorted and said,
"The Second Miss is kind - hearted and gentle. Naturally, she deserves my respect. But the gates of the Cao family are not open to just anyone!"
Grand Tutor Cao's words were almost a direct indication that she was unworthy of the Cao family.
Ye Jueyao's face turned pale. A few years ago, when the Cao family came to propose marriage, she and her parents had tried to transfer this marriage from Ye Xi to herself. But after numerous attempts, Grand Tutor Cao refused to budge. Finally, they thought Ye Xi didn't have many years to live anyway, and as long as the Ye family could form an alliance with the Cao family, it would be a lifetime connection. So they reluctantly agreed to the engagement between Ye Xi and Cao Sheng.
But at that time, Grand Tutor Cao hadn't spoken so harshly. He just laughed it off. Now it seemed that the Grand Tutor had disliked her for a long time. Without the consideration of Ye Xi's marriage, Grand Tutor Cao didn't spare any face at all.
"Grandfather!"
Cao Sheng shouted discontentedly. His grandfather was being too harsh. Yao Yao was just a young woman. How could she bear such words?
Grand Tutor Cao glanced coolly at Cao Sheng and Ye Jueyao, then said unhurriedly,
"This engagement can be broken if you want. But if it's to be carried out, it should never be with the Eldest Miss Ye."
"Sir Cao," Qian Fangxue was not happy. Cao Sheng had neither a title nor an official position. If it weren't for Sir Cao's status and the fact that there was a queen in the Cao family, she wouldn't even consider it. But now Grand Tutor Cao was being picky.
"My Yao Yao is both beautiful and talented, well - known in the capital. She is a perfect match for your grandson. Now that the two children are in love with each other, why do you have to play the role of the villain and separate them?"
"Grandfather," Cao Sheng immediately pleaded,
"Yao Yao and I truly love each other. Please, grandfather, give us your blessing."
Ye Jueyao also shed tears and repeatedly said, "Please, Grand Tutor Cao, give us your blessing."
Grand Tutor Cao was so angry that his head ached. He slapped the table loudly.
"Fine, fine, fine! Since you two are so in love, then you can live with the Eldest Miss Ye! And don't ever come back to the Cao family!"
"Father!"
Cao Dexiu was shocked. He knew his father was just angry. But the situation was so chaotic that he was afraid his father might say something irreversible in a fit of anger.
Cao Sheng's mind went blank.
His grandfather... was going to drive him away? Was he going to drive him out of the Cao family for an outsider?
Looking at Grand Tutor Cao in disbelief, Cao Sheng felt a surge of anger and sadness rush to his head. Without thinking, he blurted out,
"Grandfather! Are you really going to drive me away!? You only love the Second Brother, don't you? If it were the Second Brother in this situation, you definitely wouldn't scold him like this."
"Fine. Since you want to drive me away, I'll leave!"
"You unfilial son!" Cao Dexiu wished he could sew Cao Sheng's mouth shut.
"Can't you tell your grandfather is just angry? Your grandfather has always treated everyone in the Cao family equally. Everyone can see that! It was your fault in the first place. Instead of admitting your mistake, you dare to argue with your grandfather. Your mother and I have spoiled you too much, making you so arrogant and ignorant!"
Ye Jueyao quickly tugged at Cao Sheng's sleeve, tearfully signaling him not to be impulsive.
After what had happened, she was afraid she couldn't marry anyone else but Cao Sheng. If Cao Sheng really left the Cao family on impulse, how could she live?
Just as the situation was getting tense, Ye Xi suddenly clapped her hands as if having an epiphany.
"I was wondering why Lady Cao tried to frame the Second Young Master Cao for having an affair with a concubine. So it's because the Eldest Young Master Cao thought the Second Young Master was too favored and wanted to drive him out!"
Everyone except Cao Sheng:??
Saixing thought to herself: Sure enough, my lady knows exactly when to stir things up.
"What did you say?" Cao Dexiu stared at Ye Xi angrily.
He knew nothing about what was going on in his own yard!
Cao Sheng glared at Ye Xi hatefully. His mother had deliberately not come today to avoid that Taoist nun, in case she accidentally blurted out what had happened in the State Uncle's Mansion. Who would have thought this nun was so ungrateful? Why didn't those assassins kill her?
The angrier he got, the louder he shouted,
"You're talking nonsense! Mother invited you to clear the Second Brother's name. How can you just spout nonsense?"
Ye Xi pretended to cover her mouth through the gauze curtain and said,
"I spoke out of turn. Sir Cao, please don't take it to heart."
After that, she refused to say another word.
Although Cao Dexiu was easily influenced by others' words, he wasn't stupid. He had heard nothing about this matter, which meant his wife must be very cunning. But they were still at the Ye family's place. This wasn't the time to talk about family affairs. He should solve the current problem first.
"Father," Cao Dexiu bowed to Grand Tutor Cao. "It's my fault that I didn't teach my child well, which led to today's incident. Since he thinks you favor the Second Brother, why don't you just give your blessing to this foolish boy's marriage with the Eldest Miss Ye. He'll understand your good intentions one day!"
Grand Tutor Cao didn't expect Cao Sheng to have such resentment towards him. He was heart - broken, feeling that all his efforts in cultivating Cao Sheng for more than a decade had been in vain. He didn't want to care about Cao Sheng anymore. He just closed his eyes and said weakly,
"Fine. I shouldn't have interfered in this marriage in the first place. You're his father. You decide."
Saying that, he waved his hand and was about to get up and leave.
Ye Jueyao was overjoyed. She knelt down and kowtowed, repeatedly saying,
"Thank you, Sir Cao, for your blessing. Thank you, Sir Cao, for your blessing."
But for some reason, Cao Sheng felt a sense of uneasiness. He always felt that his grandfather's concession wasn't a good thing.
Seeing that Grand Tutor Cao was about to leave, Jiang Ning quickly called out,
"Sir Cao, please wait."
Her matter wasn't settled yet. If Sir Cao left, it would be difficult to handle.
Taking a few steps forward, Jiang Ning turned to Qian Fangxue and Ye Pengcheng, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed three times. She sobbed,
"I'm happy that my elder sister and Young Master Cao will finally be together."
"But mother went through so much trouble to find this woman to pretend to be the Immortal Mianping and stage this play. I'm sure mother knew about my elder sister and Young Master Cao's relationship long ago. As your daughter, I'm so disappointed that you favor my elder sister so much. Maybe I don't deserve to be your daughter..."
"Since Sir Cao is here today, I'd like to ask Sir Cao to be a witness."
Jiang Ning took off the bracelet that Qian Fangxue had given Ye Xi when she went to the mansion to "visit" Ye Xi, and placed it neatly on the ground in front of her. She said firmly,
"Today, Ye Xi, the legitimate second daughter of the Ye family, has shown disrespect to her parents and elder sister. She is unfilial and unkind, and has violated human ethics. Therefore, she requests to be expelled from the family, to abandon the surname Ye, to change her name to Xiniang, to be removed from the family genealogy, and vows never to return to the clan even after death!"