It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 11

The Marquis of Yongwang quickly reacted and kicked Jiang Zhi Li behind his knees: “You didn’t return last night. Were you set up? Speak the truth, and the Duke can help you.”

Jiang Zhi Li understood his grandfather’s hint and immediately knelt to Jun Mo Ran, “Jiu Qian Sui, please have mercy. Yesterday, I drank too much at the Duke’s banquet, and when I woke up this morning, I cannot remember anything.”

“From what everyone says, was my aunt sick yesterday?” He glanced anxiously at Shen Qing Li.

Jun Mo Ran took a step, shielding Shen Qing Li from his view, and looked at him with disdain: “Oh? So you don’t know why you were in bed with your cousin?”

The implication was disgraceful, and everyone looked at the pair with contempt.

Jiang Zhi Li replied firmly, “A gentleman knows what he should and shouldn’t do. If I don’t know, I don’t know. Lu Ci, tell us how this happened.”

He looked indignant, as if he had been wronged. 

Lu Ci’s face was full of disbelief and turned pale. She couldn’t believe the man she admired would push all the blame on her. Knowing this concerned her future, Lu Ci knelt and cried, “It’s all my fault. I’ve admired my cousin for a long time. Seeing him drunk and unconscious yesterday, I took him to the inn, and then…”

“I don’t dare ask for anything, just to stay by his side, even as a maid.”

With a few words, she cleared Jiang Zhi Li of the blame.

The Marquis of Yongwang felt relieved; this was his only legitimate grandson, and if anything happened to him, the family would be finished.

The old lady Lu scolded, “Foolish girl, Ci’er! How could you do such a disgraceful thing when your cousin is about to get married? Now, whether you can stay depends on whether Qing Li will allow it. If she’s angry, you may have to shave your head and become a nun.”

She seemed to speak for Shen Qing Li, but actually put all the blame on her. If she wasn’t forgiving enough to accept her cousin-in-law, she would be seen as the bad one and ruin Lu Ci’s  life.

Shen Qingli was utterly disappointed in this family and coldly said, “I am determined to break off the engagement with Jiang Zhi Li. This doesn’t concern me anymore.”

Minister Xu, understanding the situation, couldn’t help but intervene: “Since Lady Shen has already proposed breaking off the engagement, it no longer concerns her. A pure girl shouldn’t be dragged into this mess.”

Jiang Zhi Li, panicking, hadn’t noticed Minister Xu and thought everyone was from his family. He angrily said, “Get out! My affairs are none of you poor people’s business.”

He didn’t realize he had offended everyone who’s present. He looked sincerely at Shen Qing Li and said, “Qingli, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have drunk too much at the Duke’s banquet. After all these years, you can’t just break off the engagement because of this. I’ve never had a concubine and only thought of you. How can you turn your back on me now?”

“How many men would accept a fiancée who loves martial arts over traditional feminine arts? I never complained and even found rare weapons for you. I also supported your business. Am I not good enough? Look around and see how many men are as clean-living as I am.”

Most men in the courtyard felt Jiang Zhi Li’s words were reasonable. He never had a concubine and was once privately mocked for it. Sleeping with a cousin didn’t seem like a big deal.

Shen Qing Li stepped out from behind Jun Mo Ran and coldly said, “If you were sincere, you’d know I don’t use swords. If you cared, you’d know I learned to use a soft whip from my father.”

Jiang Zhi Li replied, “Impossible; you always seemed happy with my gifts.”

Shen Qing Li sneered, “I was foolish to think you were sincere.”

“You mentioned my business, but not that the profits mainly went to the Marquis’s mansion. Who in the mansion doesn’t rely on my business? I didn’t even want it, but Aunt asked me to do it.”

“Jiang Zhi Li acts sincere, but he doesn’t really care. Do you know why I dislike swords? Do you know if I prefer sweet or spicy food?”

Jiang Zhi Li was speechless for a moment. “You’re so fussy. How many men care about such details? It’s already thoughtful to give gifts. Besides, the incident with Lu Ci was just once, and it was an accident.”

Shen Qing Li felt a chill. Jiang Zhi Li wasn’t entirely wrong; in Shengjing, men often had many wives and concubines.

Jun Mo Ran spoke, “Fussy?”

His voice was cold. “If you hadn’t deceived her, Lady Shen wouldn’t have had high expectations. Being uncaring is one thing, but pretending to be deeply in love while not caring at all is your fault.”

His voice was like a clear spring, washing away the confusion in people’s hearts.

Jiang Zhi Li was already terrified by Jun Mo Ran’s presence and didn’t dare to argue further.

Yun Sheng brought a chair, and Jun Mo Ran sat on the steps, saying, “General Shen devoted his life to our country, and to think that after his death, you bully his only daughter. How can soldiers’ hearts not be chilled by such behavior?”

His tone turned harsh, and the courtyard fell silent.

Tears streamed down Shen Qing Li’s face.

No one had spoken up for her in years, nor had anyone mentioned her father with such respect in a long time.

When someone dies, their contributions are often forgotten.

He was standing up for her, for her father, and for the soldiers who died silently on the battlefield.

Shen Qing Li didn’t know why he was helping her, but she was grateful.

Jun Mo Ran calmly said to Yun Sheng, “Bring them in.”

A servant from Yumanlou walked in, head down. “Your Grace, Jiang Zhi Li, and Miss Lu have been living on the back street of Yumanlou for over a year. They often bought jewelry from us, so I’m quite familiar with them. Jiang Zhi Li tipped generously, so we would send new items to them.”

“Also, the wedding headdress Lady Shen ordered six months ago was originally ready, but Miss Lu liked it, so Jiang Zhili gave it to her and had another one made for Lady Shen. It was rushed and not as good as the first one.”

The truth was revealed, and Jiang Zhi Li had nothing left to say.

“You’ve brought shame to our family,” the Marquis of Yongwang said, slapping Jiang Zhi Li hard. He turned to the Duke and bowed, “It’s our fault for not teaching our son properly. This marriage is over.”

“Qing Li, I apologize.”