“Brother Sun, why are you suddenly angry? Qing’er knows that we were betrothed since childhood, but you never came to see Qing’er. To Qing’er, who knew if you were flat or round? Now that you’re here, Brother Sun, your looks are truly handsome, so Qing’er won’t disdain you anymore…”
Not to mention that she had no intention of hastily marrying someone she barely knew, his attitude toward her alone was enough to infuriate her. What kind of man was this? Just a nobody who rose to prominence in the capital by clinging to the Empress’s coattails, yet he had the audacity to act so high and mighty.
The thought made Wanqing nauseous. A man who climbed the ranks by clinging to a woman’s skirts dared to look down on her? She’d make sure he regretted it.
Noticing Sun Fengyu’s fiery, furious gaze, Wanqing inwardly sneered but pretended not to see it. She stood up with a puzzled expression, feigning innocence. Watching Sun Fengyu turn livid, his throat seemingly clogged with rage, his fists clenched at his sides as if ready to shove her away at any moment, she gently tugged at his sleeve with an air of docility, as if to say, “Don’t be angry, I don’t disdain you.”
“You—look at yourself! How dare you say you don’t disdain me? I came here today to break off the engagement. Marquis…”
Sun Fengyu was already disgusted by her, and the sight of the red blemishes on her face only intensified his revulsion. The thought of marrying such a woman made him want to vomit. When she tugged at his sleeve, speaking as if she were some prize all men chased after, he could barely contain his fury.
Unable to endure it any longer, he yanked his sleeve back, his face dark with rage, teeth clenched as he fought the urge to shove her away. He turned to Mu Zhenfeng beside him, barely suppressing his disgust.
“This…”
Mu Zhenfeng found Wanqing’s behavior unusual. His daughter had changed, and not just in demeanor. Had meeting the Crown Prince’s heir twice really altered her so much?
Meanwhile, Lady Liu and Mu Wanxia exchanged smug glances, delighted that Sun Fengyu had taken one look at Wanqing’s unveiled face and recoiled. Yet, instead of backing down, Wanqing had the nerve to say she didn’t disdain him. They were baffled—had the girl lost her mind? Was this really all she had in terms of wit and tactics?
When Sun Fengyu abruptly declared his intent to break off the engagement, Mu Wanxia glanced at her mother, who gave her a reassuring smile. Lowering her head in feigned shyness, she secretly reveled in her victory.
Mu Wanjun, watching her sister and mother, smirked. So much for acting high and mighty at home—now she was being rejected. Seeing Wanqing humiliated made the air feel lighter, and she couldn’t help but smirk in schadenfreude.
Wanqing observed their expressions coldly. Such a worthless man—she couldn’t care less about him.
“Brother Sun, what did you say? You want to break off the engagement? Qing’er already said she doesn’t disdain you. Why are you still so insecure?”
Inwardly sneering, Wanqing put on a shocked, heartbroken expression, blinking innocently as she reached for his sleeve again.
“Let go! Marquis, the engagement between me and the Second Miss is hereby annulled. I’ll inform my mother and aunt. Eldest Miss Mu, Marquis, Madam, I take my leave.”
Her revolting words made Sun Fengyu’s stomach churn. Gritting his teeth, he tore his sleeve free and stormed out without a backward glance, ignoring Wanqing as she stumbled from his abrupt movement. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Mu Zhenfeng and the others with a dark expression before striding away.
“Ah, no need to help me. Brother Sun, don’t go! Don’t break off the engagement! Qing’er already said she doesn’t disdain you. Why are you, a grown man, so insecure? Brother Sun…”
Hongyan rushed to steady Wanqing as she swayed, but the moment she regained her footing, Wanqing shoved her away and wailed after Sun Fengyu, her voice thick with fake tears. Her theatrics only made Sun Fengyu quicken his pace, fleeing as if pursued by demons.
“He’s gone. Just like that. Tsk, how boring. No need to act anymore—those lines nearly made me vomit. Let’s go back. Wait—Aunt, Father, the Crown Prince’s heir explicitly said you were to prepare proper accommodations for me. Surely you don’t expect me to keep living in my old quarters?”
Chasing Sun Fengyu all the way to the front courtyard, Wanqing finally stopped, panting slightly as she watched him flee like a man possessed. Turning to Chunhong and Hongyan, who had followed her, she dropped the act entirely.
Remembering another matter, she spun on her heel and marched back to the main hall. The others were still reeling from Sun Fengyu’s abrupt departure, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. Wanqing smiled sweetly at the two masterminds.
“Well?”
Her demeanor was now completely different from before. Lady Liu and her daughter exchanged puzzled glances—had the girl been acting all along? They’d genuinely thought her a fool. But her words left Lady Liu no choice but to glance helplessly at Mu Zhenfeng.
“Fine. Madam, arrange for her to move into her mother’s former residence. Sigh.”
Mu Zhenfeng had also pieced together the truth. Though his daughter was usually useless, a marriage alliance with the Sun family would have brought honor to the Marquis’s household. Yet she’d deliberately driven Sun Fengyu away.
Though frustrated, Mu Zhenfeng nodded at Lady Liu’s unspoken question. Glancing reproachfully at Wanqing for ruining the engagement, he sighed and stormed off.
“Go pack your things. I’ll have the maids clean the Bamboo Fragrance Courtyard for you. Chuncao, arrange for it to be prepared for the Second Miss.”
Though Lady Liu seethed with resentment—the Bamboo Fragrance Courtyard had been Wanqing’s mother’s residence, a serene retreat lush with greenery and rare flowers, cool even in summer—she maintained a composed facade. She’d begged Mu Zhenfeng countless times to let her and her daughter move in, only to be ignored. Now, it was being handed to Wanqing.
The thought of such a prime residence going to her stepdaughter made Lady Liu’s blood boil, but she forced a stiff smile and instructed her maids to prepare the courtyard.
“In that case, thank you, Aunt. Oh, and Aunt—you did promise the Crown Prince’s heir to return the money stolen from me. I’ve tallied it up: six hundred and eighty taels. Surely, as the lady of the house, you wouldn’t go back on your word?”
Lady Liu’s jaw tightened with suppressed fury. Wanqing couldn’t fathom why moving into her mother’s old residence would provoke such a reaction. Smiling sweetly, she pressed the issue, her tone light but unyielding.
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