524 A Written Complaint (Part 2)
How could he miss out on such a big show?
He did not expect that the woman who only knew how to cry would do such a bold thing. One really could not judge a book by its cover.
Most importantly, Wei Shilai and Liu Sanniang were old friends. How could he let go of the opportunity to make his presence known in front of Liu Sanniang?
Su Yanyu quickly left the mansion.
There were already many people surrounding Xuanyi Department.
The Zhang family and the Li family reached the place. Zhang Shuangshuang and her maid were kneeling on one side. On the other side were Zhang Heng, You Xuerou, Li Dongxian, Li Jing, and Li Yuntian.
Liu Sanniang and Chu Yan had already arrived. The two of them stood in the crowd, but everyone’s attention was on the Left and Right Censor-in-chiefs.
Wei Shilai sat at the top. In the past, when he was in Yong County, he had dealt with many domestic disputes. They were about the same.
He banged on the table. “Is the complaint Zhang Shuangshuang made against you true?”
Zhang Heng had never been so angry before. He looked at Zhang Shuangshuang with a murderous gaze.
The smile on You Xuerou’s face had also disappeared. With Zhang Shuangshuang making a fuss, even if Zhang Yufei married Li Jing, there would still be gossip.
Zhang Heng said in a low voice, “Of course it’s not true.”
Li Dongxian’s expression darkened. “I’m afraid there’s a misunderstanding.”
Zhang Shuangshuang’s eyes become brighter and brighter. She said, “Everything I said is true.”
Wei Shilai looked at Zhang Heng. “What’s not true? What is the misunderstanding?”
Zhang Heng glared at Zhang Shuangshuang. “It’s not that we broke off the engagement for no reason. She is rude and disrespectful to her elders. How can we let such an impudent daughter harm others?”
Li Dongxian frowned and said calmly, “There are many things that others don’t know. My son wants to break off the engagement, so as his parents, we naturally can’t force him. That’s why we talked to Lord Zhang about it.”
Zhang Shuangshuang had no status in Zhang Heng’s eyes. It was impossible for the Li family to marry Zhang Shuangshuang. Marrying her would not help them at all.
Zhang Shuangshuang asked calmly. “What do you mean by I’m disrespectful to elders? Do you mean that I didn’t obediently agree to breaking off the engagement and handing Li Jing over to Zhang Yufei?”
Zhang Heng gritted his teeth in anger. He wished he could strangle her to death.
Zhang Shuangshuang looked at Li Dongxian. “Lord Li, Madam Li, I remember that you came personally to arrange the marriage back then. Why did you choose to cancel the engagement now? Why didn’t you even give me an explanation? Is it because my mother is dead?”
Madam Li frowned and quickly clarified. “No, why would you think that?”
“No? Then what is the reason? If I didn’t report it to the government today, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even be able to see the two of you.”
Zhang Shuangshuang sneered.
She looked at her fiance. “Li Jing, you don’t even have the guts to come to cancel the engagement yourself. What kind of a man are you?”
Li Jing’s expression changed. He looked at Zhang Shuangshuang coldly. Zhang Shuangshuang was no longer as weak as before. Her face was pale, but there was calmness and determination in her eyes.
Zhang Heng was so angry that he pointed at Zhang Shuangshuang with trembling hands. “Unfilial daughter, unfilial daughter!”
Zhang Shuangshuang sneered. “Father, since you said that I’m an unfilial daughter, I have no choice but to be unfilial. If you want me to break off the engagement with Li Jing so that your precious daughter can marry him, it would only happen if I’m no longer related to the Zhang family.”
You Xuerou covered her mouth and said in shock, “You, are you asking to cut ties with your father?”
Zhang Heng pointed at Zhang Shuangshuang with a trembling hand. “Alright, alright, alright. Since you made the decision yourself, don’t regret it. I’ll fulfill your wish.”
Zhang Shuangshuang looked at Li Dongxian and his wife. “Lord Li, Madam Li, my mother has already handed the marriage contract to me. Unless I personally agree and press my thumbprint on it, the Li family can’t break off the engagement, right? If the Li family breaks off the engagement for no reason, they will have to compensate me with ten thousand taels of silver. After that, we will have nothing to do with each other.”
Li Dongxian’s expression was cold, and Madam Li’s face was dark. They all thought that Zhang Shuangshuang was the easiest one to deceive. After her mother died, she was powerless. However, they did not expect Zhang Shuangshuang to take this step.
Zhang Shuangshuang even brought up the marriage contract. She took it out from her pocket. “My lordship, this is the marriage contract my mother left behind back then.”
Zhang Heng’s eyes widened. “You, you… Where did you find it?”
The marriage contract and the land deed left behind by Zhang Shuangshuang’s mother back then were all gone. They had searched for a long time but could not find them. It did not matter if the things were missing. But once they were found, it would be very disadvantageous to the Zhang family.
A strong hatred flashed across You Xuerou’s eyes.
Zhang Shuangshuang handed the marriage contract to Wei Shilai. She smiled self-mockingly. “What my mother left to me is naturally mine. When I don’t want it, you can take it. But if I want it, I won’t let anyone take it.”
Zhang Heng gritted his teeth.
Wei Shilai looked at the marriage contract and was a little surprised.
It was an unfair marriage contract because if the Li family broke off the engagement, they would have to compensate Zhang Shuangshuang with ten thousand taels of silver. If Zhang Shuangshuang agreed, the engagement could be canceled without the Li family needing to pay anything.
If Zhang Shuangshuang did not agree, Li Jing would have to marry Zhang Shuangshuang when she was 18 years old. If Zhang Shuangshuang wanted to take the initiative to break off the engagement, the Li family would have to agree unconditionally. If the Li family treated Zhang Shuangshuang badly, Zhang Shuangshuang could even leave whenever she wanted. This initiative was actually in Zhang Shuangshuang’s hands.
On it was the handprint of the Li couple and a small handprint. The Li couple must have received a lot of benefits to be willing to sign such a marriage contract back then. Otherwise, how could they agree to such an unfair marriage contract?
Wei Shilai’s expression darkened. After reading the marriage contract, he asked. “Lord Zhang, Lord Li, do you have anything to say?”
Li Dongxian’s face darkened. WIth the marriage contract in Wei Shilai’s hand, what else could he say?
Madam Li smiled awkwardly and walked up to Zhang Shuangshuang. “Shuangshuang, this is a family matter. There’s no need to do this, right?”
Zhang Shuangshuang’s expression was calm. “Madam Li, you forced me to do this. Have you forgotten?”
Madam Li was speechless. Zhang Shuangshuang, who had changed completely, was no longer someone who could be easily manipulated. With that piece of paper, Zhang Shuangshuang would always be the one in the right.
Li Jing stepped forward. “It’s my fault, but we’re not fated to be husband and wife. You can’t force it.”
Li Yuntian curled his lips and said, “Second Miss, I like you sincerely. I didn’t propose marriage to you on a whim.”
It would be strange if he was sincere. His face was filled with unwillingness.