"My mother comes from a rural background and doesn't know much about etiquette, so she might have misspoken and offended you, Commandery Princess. I ask for your understanding. My betrothal to your fifth sister has been agreed upon by both our families and is already a settled fact. Why would the Commandery Princess insert herself into this matter? The ancients also say, 'It's better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage.' Please think thrice before you act, Commandery Princess."
The words were spoken smoothly and beautifully.
Cold light glinted in Yan Wanqing's eyes.
No wonder he had been able to bewitch the Emperor with his glib tongue, leading to the Yan Family being wiped out!
"If the Wang Family came to propose a marriage, where is the matchmaker? Where is the betrothal letter? Without a matchmaker or betrothal gifts, you think to marry a daughter of my marquis' household?"
Wang Shujian immediately retorted, "Who says there were no betrothal gifts..."
"Is this what you mean?" Yan Wanqing looked at a chest on the ground with a hint of mockery, directly challenging Wang Shujian's dignity as a man. "Open it and let's see."
Cong Ge stepped forward and lifted the lid. Inside the large chest, a few scattered hairpins and ornaments were woefully inadequate.
Even Aunt Song couldn't maintain her composure upon seeing this.
She stepped forward and took a look, her face turning ashen. "What is this?"
Such a large chest, and it only contained a few hair ornaments!
"I had thought that the marquis' household was above coveting wealth and fame and would not quibble over the amount of the betrothal gifts. These items represent all of our Wang Family's assets, even including my mother's dowry. They are modest, but their value lies in their sincerity; true feelings can't be bought with a thousand pieces of gold! I had thought the Commandery Princess was unlike the average woman, but I didn't expect you to be so superficial. Truly, this chills the hearts of scholars everywhere!"
Wang Shujian said with a heartfelt pain.
Yan Wanqing sneered.
This man was so slick and could talk circles around anything, turning white to black. To actually debate with him would be both nauseating and time-consuming.
Everyone in the world thought that she, Yan Wanqing, valued propriety and reason the most.
In her previous life, she indeed did.
Unfortunately, living a second time comes with changes.
This time, she wouldn't seek vain glory or concern herself with the world, only herself and the Yan Family!
What did the opinions of others matter to her?
"What a joke! You showed disrespect by coming without a matchmaker or betrothal gifts, and further disrespect by spouting nonsense. Do you really think, just because you became the Top Scholar, that you can pick and choose among the daughters of Capital City?" Yan Wanqing's voice was loud and clear, penetrating everyone's ears crisply.
Wang Shujian's face turned red with embarrassment. "Though you are a Commandery Princess, you should not slander me! If the elders have agreed on this marriage, is it not disrespectful for the Commandery Princess to suddenly come out and deny it?"
"Did the matriarch personally consent to this marriage? Were the marital letters openly exchanged?" Yan Wanqing knew that in her previous life, these were things that her mother had arranged later; the Wang Family had never cared about her fifth sister!
The fifth sister was just a vine for Wang Shujian to climb higher!
Who would care about the life or death of a single vine?
Poor Aunt Song wholeheartedly wanted her daughter to be the principal wife, yet she ultimately pushed her toward an even more terrifying abyss...
"Nothing at all." Yan Wanqing slowed her voice, yet Wang Shujian felt a chill down his spine. "What gives you the right to claim a daughter of the Yan Family for the Wang Family?!"
Madame Wang stepped in, shielding her stunned son, and her face grew stern. "She's just a woman who can't bear children. The daughters of the Marquis' household are precious, but if our Wang Family doesn't marry her, that's that! As soon as we leave, we will ask around in Capital City what kind of rule this is!"
Today, she was determined to spread the word for the Marquis, to see who would dare to marry a daughter of the Yan Family in the future!
So aggressive, so venomous!
"Young Master Wang." Yan Wanqing ignored Madame Wang and stared directly at Wang Shujian. "Capital City is a place full of right and wrong, and many disasters come from the mouth. Young Master Wang has an unlimited future, be careful not to ruin it over disputes of the tongue."
Wang Shujian felt sweat drench his back.
Indeed, he had just been named Top Scholar, a moment when he felt as proud as a swift horse.
But the Yan Family's military glory and centuries of foundation, how could he shake that? It was like an ant trying to shake a giant tree!
Yet, how could he swallow this affront?!
Wang Shujian's face was ashen as he remembered his earlier instructions to marry the Yan Family's fifth daughter at any cost, a key step for his future promotion and nobility!
That's right, a true man can bend and stretch.
So, Wang Shujian shrugged off his mother's hand and suddenly knelt on the ground, a look of sorrow on his face, turning to Yan Hongzhao, "Fifth Miss, this humble one desires to marry out of earnestness, unfortunately burdened by humble origins. But I vow with all sincerity that, should you agree to marry me, I shall be devoted to you for all my life...
Before he could finish speaking, he saw an infuriated Yan Hongzhao directly kick him over, "Scoundrel!"
Her kick landed squarely in his chest, causing Wang Shujian's features to twist with pain.
"Shameless creature, with your elders present, your proposal rejected, you dare to use such frivolous words to insult our Yan Family's young lady." Yan Wanqing pulled Yan Hongzhao back two steps and said, "Someone, please escort the Wang Family out!"
She looked around her, raised Yan Hongzhao's hand, and said with a proud and steady voice.
"I, Yan Wanqing, say this today, that every daughter of the Yan Family is precious and will not suffer the covetous thoughts of any nefarious men. Anyone who wishes to marry a daughter of the Yan Family must present betrothal gifts that match our status and fetch her home in grand style with a full bridal procession. If anyone harbors dishonorable intentions, aspiring to trample over our young ladies to raise their own status, let them abandon such thoughts at once! Our Commandery Princess's mansion has stood for a century, upright and unwavering, armed with the Imperial Sword granted by the late Emperor, ready to cut down all the filth in the world. We will not tolerate vermin that defile courtly order!"
The Wang Family, along with that battered empty chest, were thrown out of the mansion gates.
The servant loudly recited Yan Wanqing's words at the entrance, causing Wang Shujian such shame he wished he could bury himself on the spot!
What was supposed to be a done deal was now thrown into disarray by the appearance of Yan Wanqing, and he had no time to return home; he left his mother and little sister behind and went elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Yan Wanqing lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt straightforwardly in front of Madam Sun.
"Mother, please punish me," she said.
Everyone inside the room looked nervously toward the seat of honor.
Madam Sun placed the prayer beads on her wrist, "What do you mean by this?"
Yan Wanqing lowered her head, "I failed to inform mother in advance and rashly interfered with my younger sister's marriage. I have behaved inappropriately, please punish me, Mother," she said.
Madam Sun did not speak.
Seeing her older sister's frail figure kneeling on the ground, Yan Hongzhao grew anxious, but she dared not contradict her mother.
So.
Aunt Song was nudged by Yan Hongzhao beside her.
Aunt Song first glanced at Madam Sun, who was lost in thought, and was overwhelmed with emotions.
If it weren't for the eldest daughter's appearance, this marriage would have surely been settled. The Wang Family was not a suitable match, and Wanqing's future might have been very difficult. She plotted for her daughter to have the position of a principal wife but did not wish to push her into a fiery pit.
Everyone said the eldest daughter was cold, indifferent, and having experienced the battlefield, she must have grown accustomed to life and death and would not care about this half-sister, but who would have imagined that she would stand up for her today...
As Aunt Song's eyes began to well up with tears, she was about to speak, but Madam Sun beat her to it.
"Knowing your mistake, shouldn't you apologize to your aunt?"