It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 33

Shen Qing Li and Liu Yuyan were chatting happily when Chun Hua ran over from the distance, panting heavily.

“Miss, you must go to the garden quickly! The Madam Lu Shi is slandering you to everyone.”

Shen Qing Li’s smile stiffened. She had yet to see her aunt since arriving today and had thought she wouldn’t come.

Hand in hand with Liu Yuyan, she walked through the covered corridor and entered the garden, drawing envious gazes along the way.

Liu Yuyan was the esteemed legitimate daughter of the Duke’s household. Not only was her status noble, but she was also dignified, well-mannered, and exceptionally talented in both literature and martial arts. She was the model of all noblewomen in the capital. Many young ladies from wealthy families wanted to befriend her but never got the chance—yet here she was, casually befriending Shen Qing Li, who had no powerful backing.

Upon entering the garden, Shen Qing Li immediately spotted her aunt standing at the center, surrounded by a group of noble ladies and young misses. Qian Shi and her daughter were also among them.

“We only pitied my niece and wanted to help her, so we arranged for her to marry Zhi Li. It was already a marriage of a lower match. Who knew that after Zhi Li got drunk and favored a concubine’s daughter, she would be so displeased… and now, the engagement is off,” Lu Shi said, twisting the truth.

Hearing her aunt’s blatant distortion of facts, Shen Qing Li’s gaze grew cold.

“What? That Miss Shen looks so gentle, but she’s actually jealous and petty. No wonder the wedding was suddenly called off.”

“Truly ungrateful! With just a few days left before the wedding, she dares to withdraw from the engagement? Whoever marries such a woman will have misfortune.”

“Exactly, don’t be upset. Zhi Li is a fine young man. Not marrying such a woman is actually a blessing for him.”

The ladies were eagerly gossiping when someone noticed Shen Qing Li standing in the corridor, quietly listening. These were all respectable people, and being caught gossiping by the subject herself was undoubtedly awkward.

For a moment, they all fell silent, exchanging glances.

Lu Shi also noticed Shen Qing Li. She lightly patted her own lips and smiled. “Oh, listen to me rambling. In the end, it’s always the girl who suffers most in these matters. Ladies, let’s not spread this around and ruin Li’er’s reputation.”

Shen Qing Li observed her for a moment before stepping forward with a smile. “If Aunt is so concerned about my reputation, why not share in detail how Jiang Zhi Li and his cousin are so deeply in love? I, too, would like to help them fulfill their happiness.”

Lu Shi’s expression changed instantly, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly.

Shen Qing Li’s words carried an unmistakable threat—if Lu Shi continued tarnishing her reputation, then she wouldn’t hesitate to expose Jiang Zhi Li and Lu Ci’s affair.

Lu Shi’s smile stiffened. “It was my mistake. Indeed, this was Zhi Li’s fault, and it shouldn’t have been brought up. Now that the engagement is broken, you two can go your separate ways and marry as you please.”

Her humble attitude left the crowd puzzled.

Today’s goal had been achieved. With Shen Qing Li’s appearance, the situation had played out even better than expected. The responsibility for the broken engagement now rested entirely on Shen Qing Li, ensuring that Jiang Zhi Li’s chances of marrying into a prestigious family wouldn’t be hindered.

And since Shen Qing Li had let this opportunity to explain slip away, any attempts to clarify later would be futile.

Lu Shi smirked—she was still too young.

Shen Qing Li caught the scheming glint in her aunt’s eyes but didn’t bother to explain further. Since she no longer intended to marry, she would consider this as repaying the favor of the Marquis estate’s care over the years. After today, they would have nothing to do with each other.

She said coldly, “As long as you understand.”

Liu Yuyan then spoke up. “Come, accompany me to pay respects to the Eldest Princess. There’s no need to waste time with people who don’t know their place.”

The crowd was taken aback, especially some of the young ladies, whose gazes toward Shen Qing Li were now filled with envy and jealousy.

Jiang Yuying felt increasingly uneasy. This younger sister of hers had always been unremarkable—how had she suddenly managed to befriend Miss Liu?

At that moment, Lu Shi finally noticed that Shen Qing Li was not wearing the pair of earrings. She cast a subtle glance at Qian Shi.

Then, a woman’s voice drew everyone’s attention.

“Madam Jiang, did you just say that your son has broken off his engagement?”

The one who spoke was Madam Zhou, the wife of the Minister of Rites. She had always held a high opinion of Jiang Zhi Li.

Not only her—many of the surrounding madams and young ladies were suddenly eager to find out more.

After all, Jiang Zhi Li was the only legitimate grandson of Yongwang Marquis. He had recently passed the imperial exams as a scholar, always maintained a gentlemanly image, and, to this day, had not taken any concubines.

Many had previously inquired about him, but after hearing he was engaged, they had given up.

Now that the engagement was broken, and it was supposedly due to the girl being jealous, Jiang Zhi Li was once again a highly sought-after prospect.

Lu Shi’s face beamed with pride. Her son was handsome and came from a noble background—many women would be eager to marry into their household.

She enthusiastically began chatting with the madams, eager to discuss potential matches.

Madam Zhou was puzzled and pressed on, “If the engagement was broken because the young lady was too jealous, then why was Madam Jiang acting so reserved just now?”

“Well…” Madam Lu put on a troubled and patient expression before sighing. “Madam Zhou, please don’t ask further. Just take it as Zhi Li’s fault.”

But since this concerned her daughter’s future, Madam Zhou wasn’t going to let it slide so easily. “How can we just ‘take it as’ his fault? Who’s right and who’s wrong should be made clear, don’t you think? Madam Jiang, why don’t you explain it to us?”

The others, whether genuinely interested or just eager for gossip, all chimed in, urging Madam Lu to speak.

Madam Lu hesitated for a moment before saying, “This involves a young lady’s reputation, so if I tell you, you mustn’t spread it around.”

“We won’t, of course! We’re not the type to gossip,” said Madam Liang, the wife of the Chief Minister of the Capital. She was infamous for knowing and spreading every bit of gossip in the city.

The moment she spoke, the crowd went silent for a brief second—if she wasn’t the type to gossip, then no one in the world was.

Madam Lu quickly followed up, “Oh, I trust you all.”

She then carefully explained: when Shen Qing Li’s mother arrived at the Marquis’ manor, she was seriously ill. Qing Li was still young then, so they had helped manage her family’s business. Now that she had grown up, she accused them of trying to seize her property. Just because Jiang Zhi Li spent the night with a concubine in a drunken mistake, she insisted on breaking off the engagement.

The moment she hinted at this, the household immediately returned all of Shen Qing Li’s assets to her.

At the end of her story, Madam Lu even dabbed at her eyes, sighing, “Our old madam was so furious she fell ill. We took care of her all these years, and now she repays us with such accusations. Fine, let her call off the engagement.”

“Our old madam even told us to keep quiet for the young lady’s sake, telling others that it was all Zhi Li’s fault.”

Madam Zhou was already fuming. “It’s just some property. Does she think we’re all as petty as she is? As if the Marquis’ manor would stoop to such things!”

Madam Lu sighed, appearing aggrieved. “Perhaps, since her father gave her a slightly larger dowry than usual, she didn’t feel at ease leaving it in our hands.”

“She came from a humble background. How much wealth could she possibly have?” Madam Zhou scoffed. “Honestly, it’s good that you called off the engagement. She should count herself lucky to have met such an upstanding young man like your son!”

The other ladies all voiced their agreement.

“You’ve been too kind! You helped her manage everything for so many years—you should’ve at least taken some compensation for your efforts.”

“How many noble sons in the capital don’t have concubines or maidservants? Getting drunk and spending a night with one is hardly worth making a fuss over.”

“Your Old Madam Lu is just too soft-hearted. That’s why people take advantage of her.”