Tianliangyuan

Chapter 65 The engagement cannot be called off!

Zhao's suggestion wasn't too outrageous. After all, no matter which prestigious family it happened to, a woman who had an affair with a man outside the family would not have a good ending.

She would either be abandoned by her family and die of illness, or be sent to the family temple for blessings, or she would truly become someone's concubine.

However, girls who marry out through such means are essentially abandoned by their families. Not only will their dowry be meager, but they may even be declared to be severing ties with their families.

The fact that Zhao didn't kill Wang Wenying directly is already a lenient gesture.

The Wang family still has several unmarried daughters. If Wang Wenying's situation were to affect the marriage prospects of the other girls, that would be a real headache.

Li Qingmei thought it was a good idea. After all, Wang Wenying was a girl who had grown up in front of her. She couldn't bear to watch Wang Wenying die.

However, her daughter's marriage was now off, and she had to start looking for a husband again, which was a real problem.

"We still need to discuss this carefully with the Feng family. After the engagement is called off, we can't let the Feng family members spread rumors outside, otherwise they will ruin the reputation of my Wang family's daughter. Even if Wang Wenying dies a hundred times, it won't be enough to atone for her sins!"

Li Changgeng spoke, and no one in the room dared to raise any further objections.

Wang Ruolan sighed, fearing that the Feng family would not let the matter rest.

The two families must reach a consensus on breaking off the engagement; otherwise, it could result in a lose-lose situation.

Even if the Wang family's daughter's reputation is damaged, the Feng family's sons will not have a good reputation either. At that time, it will probably not be so easy for the other sons of the Feng family to marry daughters of prominent families.

Xu Zhaozhao didn't care much about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, after all, she wasn't the original owner of this body.

However, I still find Wang Wenying's self-degrading behavior particularly despicable.

Why would she seduce her own brother-in-law when she could have married and become a legal wife?

Even if Feng Erlang had acted improperly first, didn't you, Wang Wenying, know to avoid suspicion?

In short, in Xu Zhaozhao's opinion, neither of them were good people!

Wang Ruolan held Wang Wenxiu's hand and said, "This is the only way. It's just that we've suffered for Wenxiu. Don't worry, your aunt will keep an eye out for good men for you."

Xu Zhaozhao laughed and said, "Mother, you're wrong. I think it's a blessing for my cousin to find out about this early. If it had been discovered after the wedding, then my cousin's suffering would have truly begun. Now that the marriage hasn't taken place, we can simply break off the engagement, and my cousin can find another good man in the future. It's better than being depressed all the time."

These words gave Li Qingmei a hint, and she realized that her niece's words made sense.

It's best to recognize a scoundrel like Feng Erlang as soon as possible!

“Zhaozhao is right, Wenxiu, don’t be sad. It’s not worth it for such a shameless person. There are plenty of good men in the world. We can choose one slowly.”

After receiving such unique comforting words from Xu Zhaozhao, Wang Wenxiu's mood indeed improved considerably.

Finally, Wang Ruolan simply suggested that Wang Wenxiu come and stay with her for a while, so that he could relax.

Wang Wenxiu was the eldest daughter of the main branch, while Wang Wenying was the second daughter of the concubine. It was somewhat awkward for them to see their whole family as soon as they stepped out.

Li Qingmei readily agreed and immediately sent someone to pack the young lady's things.

“That’s wonderful! Mother, there’s no need to arrange a separate courtyard for my cousin anymore. She can live with me. My Purple Garden is very large, and it can accommodate two more of my cousins.”

These words drew a few light laughs from the elders.

Everyone knows that Xu Han dotes on his daughter. Apart from the main courtyard, the best place in the mansion is the Purple Garden. Moreover, it is the current Purple Garden, which Xu Han has expanded and merged several times over the past ten years. It is more than twice the size of the original Purple Garden when Xu Zhaozhao first moved in.

Which young lady in the capital didn't envy Xu Zhaozhao for having such a doting father?

With that settled, Wang Wenxiu moved into Ziyuan with them.

Wang Wenxiu had visited Ziyuan before, but had never stayed there. Xu Zhaozhao showed her around and then vacated the Linshui Pavilion for her.

There is a small pond not far from the waterside pavilion. The weather is hot and humid now, so staying here is quite cool. Moreover, you can enjoy the lotus flowers and the moon from the second-floor window. It couldn't be better!

“Sister, the view from this waterside pavilion is truly beautiful. I thought you wouldn’t want me to stay here.”

"How could that be? My cousin is family. You pack your things first, and we'll have dinner with Father and Mother tonight. It'll be a good opportunity for you to try my new recipe."

"Okay, I've long heard that my cousin has many talented people working under her, especially skilled in cooking."

Xu Zhaozhao said shyly, "I'm just a glutton, and my mother is always worried that I'll eat too much and get indigestion."

"Your aunt is just worried about you."

That evening, Wang Wenxiu tasted the Eight Treasure Duck that Xu Zhaozhao had ordered to be made.

Wang Wenxiu was stunned by just one bite.

This dish wasn't anything particularly rare, and Wang Wenxiu had eaten it many times, but this was the first time she had tasted Eight Treasure Duck with such a delicious flavor.

"So, cousin? Are you satisfied?"

Wang Wenxiu nodded and praised without reservation, "My cousin is truly amazing! This is the best eight-treasure duck I've ever eaten."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled smugly, raised her chin and asked Xu Han, "Father, do you think it's still edible?"

Xu Han grinned from ear to ear: "Delicious! The recipe my Zhao Zhao came up with is definitely the best in the world."

Xu Zhaozhao was satisfied; it wasn't for nothing that she had ruined several ducks to succeed.

"Zhaozhao, this Eight Treasure Duck is indeed delicious. Your mother also owns a restaurant, don't you think?"

"I'll send the prescription to my mother later."

Wang Ruolan was satisfied. As expected of her daughter, she was very filial!

Wang Wenxiu's hiding in the Marquis's mansion saved her from some of the subsequent embarrassment and awkwardness.

In fact, Wang Ruolan suggested bringing her to the Marquis's residence for a short stay in order to avoid the Feng family.

Based on her understanding of the Feng family, she feared that resolving this matter peacefully would take some time.

Especially after learning from her sister-in-law that Feng Erlang actually wanted to marry Wang Wenxiu as his principal wife, she felt that this matter would cause trouble.

Sure enough, no sooner had Wang Wenxiu settled into the Marquis's residence than the Feng family became restless.

Only Madam Feng and Feng Erlang knew that the matter had been exposed, so the mother and son discussed how to continue the marriage. At the very least, they had to get the Wang family girl to marry into the family, so that they could help Feng Erlang.

The Wang family was of noble birth, but they were not poor.

The Wang family owned a lot of farmland and shops, but they didn't manage most of them themselves. Instead, they rented them out, and the Wang family only needed to collect the annual rent.

Moreover, what the Wang family truly possesses are their antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and their network of connections.

When Madam Feng brought Feng Erlang to the door, she kept saying that Feng Erlang had done something wrong and also criticized Wang Wenying for seducing her, but she just wouldn't break off the engagement and kept calling her in-laws. Li Qingmei was extremely annoyed.

“In-laws, our two families have been engaged for quite some time now. It’s not uncommon for men to have some wandering thoughts. Besides, your Wenxiu will be the principal wife when she marries into the family. Who can possibly surpass her?”