Chapter 5 — Wedding Hall, No Groom

Within the sprawling and imposing General Estate, the atmosphere was suffocating, heavy as the sea before an impending tempest. Grand General Xiao Zhen sat rigidly upon the high seat, clad in full battle armor, his face as dark as the bottom of a charred cooking pot. Before him on the cold stone floor knelt Xiao Huai. Though dressed in simple civilian attire, the young man could not conceal the lingering bruises and cuts scattered across his robust frame.

Rebellious wretch!

The porcelain teacup clutched in Xiao Zhen’s calloused hand slipped from his grip, shattering violently against the hard floor.

I ordered you to confine yourself to your quarters and reflect! Is this the pitiful conclusion you have drawn?!

Xiao Huai lowered his head even further, his voice raspy and choked with profound exhaustion.

Father, this son knows he was in the wrong.

Knowing the wrong? The aged general trembled with uncontainable fury, pointing a shaking finger directly at his son's nose. Do you believe your mistake lies simply in saving a drowning life? No! Your error is one of sheer, unmitigated stupidity! You failed to read the situation, lacking all sense of proportion and propriety! In the middle of your own wedding ceremony, beneath the watchful gazes of dignitaries from every corner of the capital, you abandoned your bride. You humiliated not only Grand Preceptor Shen, but you dragged the proud, generations-old honor of the entire Xiao family through the mud!

The old general had fought countless campaigns on bloody battlefields and commanded formidable prestige within the imperial court. He understood better than anyone the catastrophic fallout of his son’s impulsive actions. This was no mere romantic misstep; it was an open confrontation between the martial generals and the scholarly civil officials. Shen Jing’s scathing words spoken directly before the Son of Heaven were nothing less than a sharp blade pressed against the throats of the entire military leadership. From ancient times until the present, monarchs had always harbored deep suspicions toward generals who held vast military power yet acted recklessly, ignoring imperial command. Xiao Huai’s reckless stunt had served only to validate those very fears.

The fact that His Majesty did not strip away your military command on the spot was purely out of respect for your past achievements and the loyal reputation of the entire Xiao household! Xiao Zhen’s voice rose in pitch with every word. Yet what in the heavens were you and that addle-prained woman—your own mother—thinking?!

At that precise moment, a gentle, worried voice chimed in from beyond the doorway.

Uncle, please do not blame Brother Huai any longer. It is all Yun Wei’s fault... My fate is simply too bitter. I never should have fallen into the water at that moment, bringing such terrible trouble upon Brother Huai and the General Estate...

Liu Yun Wei wore an elegant gown of pure white, leaning softly upon the arm of Lady Xiao as they stepped into the hall. Her complexion was translucent and pale, her delicate eye rims tinged with pink, making her look as though a single passing breeze could easily knock her to the ground. The moment Lady Xiao laid eyes on her kneeling son, a wave of fierce maternal heartache washed over her. She hurried forward to pull him up, glaring daggers at her husband.

Old man! How can you be so cruel! Huai’er is still recovering from his wounds! What wrong did he commit by saving a life? Was he simply supposed to stand by and watch Yun Wei drown? If you ask me, the real culprit is that ill-tempered girl from the Shen family! Narrow-minded and prone to making mountains out of molehills! She threw a massive tantrum and demanded the cancellation of the marriage just because she had to wait a little longer, dragging her father before the Dragon Throne to have Huai’er beaten half to death by you!

You know nothing of the bigger picture! Xiao Zhen pointed straight at his wife's face, his chest heaving with rage. Ignorant woman, your vision is as shallow as a puddle!

So what if I am shallow! Lady Xiao refused to yield, pulling her son protectively behind her back. Yun Wei is obedient, sensible, and gentle—she surpasses that Shen Shu Yan in every conceivable way! And what of that Shen girl? Arrogant, overbearing, and accustomed to bullying others with her family's influence! Huai’er, listen to your mother. A woman like that is not worth marrying! Once this chaotic storm passes, I will make the final decision and take Yun Wei as your proper bride!

Mother! Please, say no more! Xiao Huai hastily interrupted her, his expression twisting into an even uglier scowl.

Nearby, a flicker of triumphant cunning flashed across Liu Yun Wei’s eyes upon hearing those words, though she masked it instantly with a mask of profound sorrow and guilt. She sank weakly to her knees, tears streaming down her pale cheeks like spring rain.

Uncle, Auntie, I beg you not to quarrel over me anymore... My destiny is cursed, bringing only disaster to those around me. Brother Huai, you must go and offer your apologies to Lady Shu Yan. As long as the two of you can reconcile, Yun Wei... Yun Wei is willing to leave the capital this very day, seek refuge behind monastery doors, and spend the rest of my life chanting scriptures by the dim light of an oil lamp, bringing an end to this wretched existence...

Before she finished, she broke into a violent fit of coughing, as though her very heart and lungs might tear apart. This display of fragile submission, combined with her devastatingly pitiful appearance, struck precisely at the softest, most vulnerable chord within Xiao Huai’s heart. He rushed forward to steady her, his eyes swimming with desperate anxiety and deep anguish.

Yun Wei, what are you saying! Your constitution is already so fragile, where would you go if you left the estate? How could I ever allow you to live such a desolate life! This matter has nothing to do with you; it is simply my failure to handle things properly.

Gazing at the frail young woman held tightly in his son’s arms, then looking toward his unyielding wife and his boiling-mad father, Xiao Huai felt his mind tangle into an insoluble knot. He knew he had wronged Shen Shu Yan, yet facing Liu Yun Wei in such a state rendered him utterly incapable of cold cruelty. He felt trapped in a suffocating chasm—every direction demanded a duty he could not shirk. Watching this pathetic spectacle, Xiao Zhen felt a bitter taste of blood rise in his throat. He finally understood with absolute clarity that this son of his had been thoroughly bewitched and driven to utter madness by a woman. Wearily, he sank back into his armchair, closing his eyes tightly, refusing to look upon the farce any longer.

Fine, fine... Do as you please. I wash my hands of this. Whatever mess you have created, bear the consequences yourselves. Let me offer you just one warning—Shen Jing is not a man to be trifled with, and his daughter... is even less forgiving. Whatever seeds you sow today, you will surely reap a matching harvest of retribution tomorrow!

With that, he flicked his sleeves in disgust and strode out of the hall, leaving behind a chamber steeped in chaotic absurdity. Lady Xiao watched her husband’s departing back with a cold, contemptuous sneer, then turned to take Liu Yun Wei’s hand, offering a soothing, gentle tone.

There, there, do not be afraid. With your auntie here, no one in this world dares to bully you. As for that Shen Shu Yan, she is merely putting up a hollow front now. I want to see for myself how a disgraced woman whose wedding was canceled can possibly maintain her footing in the capital from this day forward!

07

The news that the Grand Preceptor’s estate was hosting a Grand Treasure Exhibition struck the tranquil surface of high-society circles like a massive boulder tossed into a pond, instantly stirring up towering waves. The invitations sent out were remarkably refined—crafted from pale cyan paper and inscribed with delicate calligraphy using a fine brush:

Appraising rare treasures over fragrant tea, reminiscing on past bonds through ancient heirlooms.

Signed: Shen Shu Yan

Devoid of redundant pleasantries or flowery embellishments, the invitation radiated an aura of aloof nobility and detached grace. It was dispatched exclusively to the female quarters of officials holding the second rank or higher, alongside a select few prominent imperial merchant families. Every recipient was a person of substantial weight within elite capital circles. In an instant, wild rumors spread like wildfire through every parlor and tea house.

Have you heard? The Grand Preceptor’s young miss is actually putting her bride price gifts up for public sale!

It is not just the betrothal gifts; rumors say she is even selling off the personal heirlooms and antiques left behind by her late mother!

How could that be? It is the Grand Preceptor’s household, after all. How could they possibly be in such desperate financial straits?

Have you not heard the gossip? On the day the General Estate called off the wedding, the Grand Preceptor was so furious he had ten miles of red dowry processions hauled back to his own doors, while simultaneously returning every single piece of the Xiao family’s betrothal gifts. Those gifts were packed with mountains of gold, silver, and fertile farmlands—the Grand Preceptor certainly reclaimed his family’s pride, but the liquid funds within their private vaults must have suffered a devastating blow.

How heartbreaking for the young miss of the Shen family. She was once the peerless darling of heaven, yet thanks to General Xiao and that woman surnamed Liu, she has been reduced to selling even her mother’s cherished possessions. It is truly tragic.