Chapter 974 Escape? No Way!
“What? She went to the court?” When she heard such news, the Madam of Duke Yangqu almost fainted. She supported herself by the table corner and ordered anxiously, “Hurry… Hurry up and invite Princess to come over!”
The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son came very quickly. She had also received news that her daughter had sent Liu Xincheng to the Ministry of Justice. It was said that he chased her daughter to the street and beat her up. He wanted to beat her daughter to death for a prostitute.
The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son was born in a military family and had a bad temper. How could she bear this? She gathered all her men and was about to go to the Ministry of Justice. She did not expect that the Madam of Duke Yangqu would ask her to come at this time.
Therefore, she brought the large group of people with her to the wife of Duke Yangqu.
As soon as she entered the door, a teacup flew over. She slightly moved to the side, and the teacup smashed heavily on the doorframe and fell to the ground.
“You are so unfilial. I told you to marry her as soon as possible, but you refused. See what has happened!” The Madam of Duke Yangqu pointed at her and abused her.
“Mother, you’re right. I’ll go and have a look now. I can’t believe he could be shameless to mess around with prostitutes. How could he look down on our family? If we silently swallow the insult and humiliation, how can my husband and yours keep their dignity in the future? We’re not selling her for the sake of glory!”
The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son intentionally misinterpreted her words. She bowed to the Madam and said respectfully, “I’m going to bring Xiaowan back now.”
“You… Hurry up!” Although the Madam of Duke Yangqu knew that the Princess was playing the fool again, she had no choice but to let her go.
How could a Miss from an aristocratic family really stay in the Ministry of Justice? Furthermore, her daughter-in-law had mentioned her husband and son just now. Even if it was for their reputation, she could not allow Luo Xiaowan to stay in the Ministry of Justice. She had to get her back as soon as possible. This marriage… Well, the marriage was no longer an important thing for the Madam of Duke Yangqu now.
This matter had blown up. If she did not agree to break off the engagement, others might say she was an inhuman social climber who sacrificed her granddaughter to curry favor with the Empress for wealth and power.
Even if she really wanted to please the Empress with this marriage, she could not reveal her intention at this time.
She couldn’t hinder the official career of her husband and son!
Even though she was very upset with her daughter-in-law, she had no choice but to ask her to bring Luo Xiaowan back first.
“Yes, mother. I will go right away!” Hearing this, the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son immediately nodded. She turned around and led a large group of people to the Ministry of Justice. She wanted to see how that incapable man dared to do such a thing!
Since the matter had gotten out of hand, it didn’t matter how big it was. Anyway, her daughter’s reputation had been harmed by this good-for-nothing man. She wouldn’t swallow the grievances in silence.
They arrived at the Ministry of Justice. As the official there heard that the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son came, he led her in. Then, she saw the shivering Luo Xiaowan in the room.
Her hair was messy, and there was a scratch on her face. Her fair and tender face looked a little red and swollen. The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son was furious. She turned around and asked the official behind her, “Where’s Liu Xincheng?”
“In the next room!” the official said.
“I’ll go and take a look!” She instantly turned around and walked towards the room on the side. The official of the Ministry of Justice, knowing she would do something bad, hurried over.
But he was still a few moments late. In the jail, she lifted Liu Xincheng up, pushing him violently to a corner of the table on one side. Liu Xincheng instantly bent over in pain.
“You… you…”
“You bastard, how could you marry my daughter? Who do you think you’re? Don’t you know what kind of trash you are?” The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son said with hatred. Thinking of her daughter’s miserable look just now, she gnashed her teeth.
They were never a good match. Because of what the Empress said, the Old Madam of Marquis Xing’s Mansion followed her words wholeheartedly. She agreed to be the matchmaker just to please the Empress. As for her mother-in-law, she also didn’t want to displease the Empress, so she never allowed them to break off the engagement.
This engagement was canceled, but her daughter’s reputation was almost ruined. When she thought of this, the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son wanted to skin and eat Liu Xincheng alive.
She didn’t hit him in the face, no matter how much she hated him. Since he was a prisoner, it was not convenient for her to slap him in the face at this time. She could only give him a hard push.
“Princess, let’s talk outside!” The official of the Ministry of Justice arrived. The scene brought him out in a cold sweat. He could only ask her to go out. If they came to blows here, he would be responsible for it.
She glared at Liu Xincheng again and returned to the previous room. With her daughter in her arms, she felt sorry for her and secretly made up her mind: no matter what, she couldn’t let him go. She couldn’t let her daughter have anything to do with this playboy. Although her daughter’s reputation was damaged, it was much better than ruining it after marrying that man!
It would be terrible if they got married and were forced to divorce!
Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved. She immediately asked someone to negotiate with the Ministry of Justice. Luo Xiaowan was the accuser, but she was a Miss from an aristocratic family. Of course, it was inconvenient for her to show up, so she left a servant girl to speak on her behalf. Luo Xiaowan returned with her mother, who left her capable old maid to help the servant girl go to court.
In fact, this case about a quarrel between the two families was not a big deal. At most, it would hurt their reputation. Originally, they were not supposed to be sent to the Ministry of Justice. In addition, the two sides were related by marriage. With someone mediating between them, this matter was settled in the evening.
On the face of it, the case was settled. However, due to this matter involving the Ministry of Justice, they had no choice but to break off the engagement. Duke Yangqu’s Mansion could not let others scold them for selling their Young Madam for glory.
On the same day, the Madam of Duke Yangqu invited the Old Madam of Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Since she was the matchmaker, it also should be her responsibility to break off the engagement.
“Does the Empress know about it?” The Old Madam said lightly and frowned. It was obvious that she was not very happy.
“I think she has learned about it. It’s not trivial, after all. Now the two families are like enemies. The engagement is no longer a happy event. Let’s cancel it!” The Madam of Duke Yangqu smiled bitterly. She had wanted to curry favor with the Empress, but she did not expect such a big thing to happen.
“How could it be so simple? You’d better go to the imperial palace in person!” Old Madam didn’t want to take the responsibility alone, so she pushed this matter to the Madam.
At that time, she pushed the matter through with a few words to please the Empress. However, she did not expect that she did not win the favor. Instead, she was in trouble. This matter greatly humiliated her, the so-called matchmaker.
“I’d better go to see the Empress afterward.” said the Madam of Duke Yangqu. In the current situation, she had to discard the engagement. The marquis had also told her that it would be difficult to end this matter if the Empress interfered. Thus, they’d better deal with it by themselves first and then inform the Empress about it. Even if she would be a little unhappy, she could only accept the result.
This matter was a disgraceful thing to everyone. The fewer people knew, the better.
“I can’t make the decision for you, but since you have decided, then let’s call it an end!” The Old Madam said faintly. She was also occupied with a lot of matters in her family, so she really didn’t want to be worried about the affairs of Duke Yangqu’s Mansion.
She asked Nanny Yu to handle this matter and sent her to find Liu Xincheng to get the engagement contract. At first, everyone thought it was a simple task, but unexpectedly, something unexpected happened again. After Liu Xincheng came out of the Ministry of Justice, he left immediately and said he was going home.
When Nanny Yu went over, he had already left!
If he was back, they couldn’t end this engagement, and Luo Xiaowan had to wait again. A man could get married at an old age, but women could not. How long would it take?
The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son was shocked when she heard that. She hurriedly sent some people to chase after him, ordering them to get him back.
The people she sent out chased after them all the way, but they couldn’t catch up with him. The wife of Duke Yangqu’s son anxiously paced around the room, thinking that if Liu Xincheng were determined to put it off, there would be no solution for this marriage!
“My daughter’s life will really be ruined. Liu Xincheng is really vicious. How could he come up with such a method to drag on it?” She thought to herself in worry.
When Luo Xiaowan heard the news, she burst out crying. No maids beside her could make her stop.
By nightfall, the people sent by the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son had yet found Liu Xincheng.
“Miss, Princess Chen has sent someone here. This is a letter for you!” A servant girl hurriedly brought a letter over. Luo Xiaowan wiped her tears and took it. She opened the letter and finished it with no delay. Then, she stood up happily, lifting the hem of her skirt regardless of others, and ran hurriedly to her mother.
When her mother read Shao Wanru’s letter, she was overjoyed and sent someone out in a hurry. It didn’t take long for her to find Liu Xincheng in a yard northeast of the capital.
It turned out that he didn’t leave at all, so the people sent by Duke Yangqu’s Mansion couldn’t catch up with him, even at top speed.
Even after he was found, Liu Xincheng was still unwilling to break off the engagement. Later on, when both people from Marquis Xing’s Mansion and the wife of Duke Yangqu’s son appeared, he reluctantly took out the engagement contract. Finally, the engagement ended as scheduled.
Shao Wanru returned to the mansion in the evening. She went to the Palace of Benevolent Peace and talked with Empress Dowager for a while, telling her what she happened to see on the way. When Liu Xincheng chased to beat Luo Xiaowan, Shao Wanru’s carriage “happened” to be on the street and saw that scene.
After hearing about this, Empress Dowager pitied Luo Xiaowan very much. How could a Young Madam from an aristocratic family be engaged to such a playboy? This marriage was not good at all!
After that, Shao Wanru accompanied Empress Dowager and chatted with her for a while, and then she returned to Prince Chen’s Mansion from the side door. She had arranged everything before entering the palace.
As soon as they arrived at Prince Chen’s Mansion, Qing’er came to report. “My Lady, Liu Xincheng has been found. I followed your instructions and sent someone to keep an eye on him. When he is settled down, they will send a message to Miss Luo.”
They did this to be sure, but they didn’t expect Liu Xincheng to do something unusual!