Chapter 163: Breaking Off the Engagement

In the main study of the front courtyard of the Fang Residence, Fang Fengxian slapped Fang Qian across the face without warning, sending her crashing to the ground.

"You wretched creature!" Fang Fengxian bellowed. "Behaving in such a manner—do you have any idea how much shame you've brought upon the Fang family, or how many people are now laughing at your father behind my back?"

Fang Qian knelt on the floor, cradling her bruised cheek, too terrified to utter a single word in her defense.

Turning his fury toward his eldest son, Fang Fengxian pointed a trembling finger and cursed, "And you, you good-for-nothing! Your sister is an ignorant, reckless woman devoid of sense, but instead of stopping her, you aided and abetted her folly! Are your brains filled with nothing but straw? Do you have no foresight whatsoever?"

"Father, I didn't really do anything," Fang Zeng argued with a grievance.

"You didn't do anything? Then what is this?"

Fang Fengxian slammed an official arrest warrant onto the desk. The portrait sketched upon it was none other than He Shaoxing.

"He was merely a low-ranking servant! If he escaped, he escaped! Was there any need to issue public warrants across the city, making a massive spectacle of it? Are you trying to ensure there aren't enough rumors outside, trying to give people even more gossip to chew on?"

"I... Father, who on earth started these vicious rumors in the first place? Why don't we just round up everyone with a loose tongue and see who dares to whisper then?"

Before he could finish, a teacup came flying through the air. Fang Zeng ducked clumsily, though he was still sprayed with a shower of lukewarm tea, and the porcelain cup shattered against the floor with a sharp crash.

"Can't you use your brain before you act? Round them up? Round up whom? The entire city is gossiping! Are you suggesting we arrest every single soul within these walls?"

"I..."

"Get out!"

Fang Zeng scrambled to his feet and hurried away. Fang Qian also picked herself up, curtsied awkwardly, and prepared to retreat.

"Come back."

The sharp command froze them both in their tracks.

"Have everyone in Qian'er's inner circle quietly disposed of. No one is to be left alive. Especially that man—send out trackers, and execute him on sight the moment he is found."

Fang Fengxian's ruthless tone sent a chill through the hearts of his equally ruthless children. Fang Zeng quickly replied, "Yes, Father."

Fang Qian whimpered, "Father..." but Fang Fengxian cut her off with a look of utter disgust. "Starting today, you will remain confined to the Liufang Courtyard and are forbidden to step outside even a single step. Your marriage has already been arranged; just stay put and wait for your wedding day."

As the three of them spoke, the voice of the head steward echoed from outside the door, "Master, Lord Guo has arrived."

Fang Fengxian waved his hand, dismissing his children before instructing the steward to usher Lord Guo Peng into the study.

A maid had already tidied the room. After Guo Peng took his seat and was served tea, she bowed and quietly backed out, closing the door behind her.

"My dear brother Guo, did you drop by the estate today because you caught wind of that freshly arrived jar of osmanthus wine?" Fang Fengxian chuckled heartily, deliberately avoiding any mention of the rumors outside. "Ah, I was just about to have the steward send an invitation for you to come over and share a couple of cups. To think you'd arrive on your own—what wonderful coincidence! There is no time like the present; today, the two of us shall drink until we're thoroughly intoxicated. What do you say?"

Guo Peng stood up, offered a respectful bow, and replied with a troubled expression, "I am deeply honored by your kindness, Your Excellency. How could I dare refuse? However, my unfilial son has fallen violently and suddenly ill. We have consulted every physician in the city, but none have a cure. In desperation, my wife sought guidance at the temple and drew an oracle slip. When Master Tianyuan interpreted it, he said the boy was fated to undergo this tribulation, and must be sent far away while remaining unmarried until his thirtieth year. Helpless against fate, I have no choice but to send him back to our ancestral village, and I have come specifically to inform Your Excellency."

"Guo Peng, what is the meaning of this?"

"There are genuine extenuating circumstances, Your Excellency. That you were willing to bestow your beloved daughter upon the Guo family was an immense honor, but my son lacks the fortune to receive it. I dare not delay your daughter's future, and I beg Your Excellency for your understanding."

"Are you trying to break the engagement?"

"My Lord, it is truly that my Guo family lacks the fortune to bear this blessing."

*Bang!*

Fang Fengxian slammed his palm onto the desk, his face contorting with rage. "Guo! Who is responsible for the position you hold today? I always regarded you with special favor and promoted you time and time again. I never imagined that at the mere whisper of gossip, you would lose your nerve and seek to break off the marriage! Where does this leave my Fang family? Where does it place me?"

A flash of resentment crossed Guo Peng's eyes.

Even if there had once been a debt of gratitude for his patronage, it had been repaid long ago over the years. To honor that obligation, how many times had he acted against his own conscience, shouldered undeserved curses, and taken the blame for others?

Even regarding this marriage alliance, he had gone against his only son's wishes and broken the boy's heart. Yet he had not expected the Fang family's daughter to be so utterly devoid of shame and propriety, bringing about such a scandal. Did the Fang family truly expect the descendants of the Guo family to share the disgrace and be pointed at by the populace?

At this thought, Guo Peng straightened his posture, neither servile nor overbearing as he spoke, "Your Excellency's kindness in lifting me from obscurity is a debt this subordinate will never forget. However, given my son's frail health and our failure to live up to Your Excellency's high regard, the fault lies entirely with the Guo family. Once my son recovers slightly, I shall personally bring him to make a formal apology in a hair shirt carrying thorns. As for the marriage alliance, our Guo family genuinely lacks the fortune to partake in it."

With those words, he drew the engagement betrothal cards from his sleeve—fortunately, only the formal cards had been exchanged, and the official wedding proposal had not yet been formally submitted.

Fang Fengxian's face remained dark as water, silent save for a cold, menacing stare fixed upon him.

After a long, oppressive silence, he summoned the steward, retrieved the Guo family's betrothal card from the mistress's quarters, and tossed it back into Guo Peng's hands.

Leaving aside Fang Fengxian's boundless fury after Guo Peng's departure, and the irreparable rift that formed between the once-allied Fang and Guo families—turning them gradually from associates into strangers and ultimately adversaries—we turn our attention elsewhere.

Liu Qin, accompanied by a group of young men, was strolling through her Xiao Family Estate with a look of profound satisfaction.

Bai Lingfeng hovered by her side, eagerly leading the way.

"Young Master, look over here, and over there as well," Bai Lingfeng pointed out enthusiastically.

The estate had indeed undergone a complete transformation. Neat rows of houses had been constructed, flowerbeds laid out, large trees planted, and poultry raised. It was far more orderly than when she had first purchased it, and bursting with a vibrant energy it had previously lacked.

"Brother Wei, you've done a magnificent job." Liu Qin gave Wei San a sincere thumbs-up.

Following behind, Wei San scratched the back of his head sheepishly with a grin. "You flatter me, Young Master. I didn't really do anything special."

"You don't need to be modest, Brother Wei. I've already heard all about it from A-Nuo. The surrounding fertile fields have been meticulously managed as well, turning a profit within just a few months and allowing us to acquire even more land. Brother Wei, you are truly a rare talent—aren't you, A-Nuo?"

"Ah? Oh, yes, indeed!"

Fang Nuo snapped out of his reverie. He had been glaring daggers at that scoundrel Bai Lingfeng the entire time. Such unprovoked attentiveness definitely meant the fellow had ulterior motives; it seemed the beating he'd received last time hadn't been severe enough if he still dared loiter around the young lady.

"Heh, I truly don't deserve the Young Master's praise," Wei San said. "Ah, right, some mountain produce was just delivered from the villagers today. I'll go arrange things and have them prepare a meal for the Young Master and the young master to sample."

At the mention of good food, Liu Qin instantly lit up as if injected with adrenaline. She waved her hand eagerly, "Splendid, off you go then! Don't mind me."

Wei San cupped his fists in farewell and strode swiftly toward the kitchens.

Watching his departure, Bai Lingfeng smiled. "Young Master, Brother Wei is surely going to instruct my elder sister. Her cooking is exceptionally delicious! Hearing that you were coming, she's been busy in the kitchen since early morning."

Hearing this, Chang Xing's eyes flicked over to Liu Qin and Jiang Li. "In that case, I shall go lend a hand as well."

Without waiting for their approval, he spun around and dashed off toward the kitchen.

His haste brought laughter from the other three youths, leaving Liu Qin completely bewildered. She privately wondered what secret joke eluded her yet again. *(To be continued.)*

*(Note: Due to a broken computer and lack of internet access, this update was delayed. My sincere apologies!)*