There is a god in the sky

Chapter 287 The Broken Engagement Scandal 2

Shen Lan noticed that someone was following her and quickened her pace.

When she arrived at the Xiao residence, the people behind her had disappeared, so she didn't pay them any mind.

Upon entering, Granny Li lingered by the screen wall and immediately greeted Shen Lan when she saw her.

"Miss Shen is back. Please come with me to the main hall."

"What happened?" Shen Lan initially thought it was because Madam Xiao was unwell, but when she went to the hall, she realized it wasn't.

"Oh dear, what a disaster! You should go and see for yourself."

Granny Li liked Xuan'er very much and wanted to take her in as her goddaughter, so she also took good care of Shen Lan.

On the way, she whispered to Shen Lan, "If Madam gets angry at you later, don't take it to heart. Madam is just angry."

Shen Lan found it strange, as she hadn't offended Madam Xiao.

Moreover, during this period, she often took Madam Xiao's pulse and cooked delicious food for her, and Madam Xiao treated her very well.

Upon arriving at the hall, she immediately saw Xiao Ji kneeling in the center of the hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Xiao sitting in the main seats.

Mr. Xiao was quietly comforting his wife.

"Don't be angry. He's right. It's better to recognize someone's true character sooner rather than to marry them and have your home turned upside down."

Madam Xiao slapped his hand away and said angrily, "I watched Xuan'er grow up. She is a bit spoiled, but it's normal for a girl raised with such care by the Zhao family to be a little spoiled."

If I had a daughter, I would spoil her too. She wouldn't be as terrible as he described.

Madam Xiao glared angrily at her son, "He's just changed his mind and is using this as an excuse to break off the engagement. Humph, you men, when you like a girl, even her farts smell sweet, but when you don't like her, you'll find even her sneezing disgusting."

Master Xiao disagreed with her.

“Such a big matter, of course I can’t just listen to his side of the story. I also had Liao Wude investigate, and it’s true!”

Madam Xiao frowned. "Really? You and your son didn't conspire to deceive me?"

"How could you think that way, Madam? Do you think I'm the kind of person who can't distinguish right from wrong?"

Madam Xiao looked up and saw Shen Lan standing outside the door.

She carried the medicine bag in her hand, her expression calm, showing neither worry nor joy.

"Miss Shen is back. Please come in. I have some questions for you."

Shen Lan walked in with a puzzled look on her face. She rarely saw the two elders of the Xiao family punish Xiao Ji.

Xiao Ji is a well-known figure outside the family, and he is the undisputed leader in this family. Once he gets married, everyone's seniority in the family will rise.

"Madam, Master, what brings Shen Lan here?"

Madam Xiao spoke first, asking, "Miss Shen, could you tell me about your visit to the Crown Prince's residence that day? The Crown Prince's concubine, Ya Rong, is Zhao Xuan's cousin. Did you see her at the Crown Prince's residence?"

"No, at the time it was inconvenient to meet the Crown Prince, so I took a walk in the garden and only saw a pregnant concubine whose name I do not know."

Later we saw her being forced to kneel as punishment, and then we left.

"So, the whole thing about the concubine framing you with the maids and their children is just your conjecture."

Shen Lan calmly replied, "Actually, I didn't know about the relationship between the Crown Prince's concubine and Miss Zhao. At the time, I just thought that the concubine had been framed."

Later, Lord Xiao intercepted the correspondence between the Crown Prince's concubine and Miss Zhao, from which we drew our conclusion.

Shen Lan thought to herself: Could it be that Madam Xiao thought she had misunderstood her future daughter-in-law and wanted to defend her?

But that's really unnecessary.

The letter has been burned. Only Xiao Ji and Shen Lan had read it, so it's normal for Madam Xiao to have some doubts.

"Miss Shen is a thoughtful and intelligent girl. In your opinion, what kind of person is Zhao Xuan?"

Shen Lan hesitated, wondering whether to answer honestly or try to bluff her way out of it.

"Please speak freely, there are no outsiders here."

Shen Lan then realized that there were only the three of them, mother and son, in the hall, and there were no servants outside.

“Miss Zhao…is scheming, ruthless, vicious, and despicable; she is no good person at all.”

Xiao Ji had considered that Shen Lan wouldn't say anything good about Zhao Xuan, but he didn't expect her to summarize it so accurately.

Madam Xiao was stunned for a moment, then became angry.

However, she wasn't angry at Shen Lan, but rather pointed at Xiao Ji's nose and scolded, "What are you so smug about? Is it something to be happy about when your fiancée has a bad character?"

“I’m not smug,” Xiao Ji retorted innocently.

"Don't think I didn't see you smile just now. With your words that you want to break off the engagement, both families will have to run around doing things for you."

We don't know if the news has reached the Zhao family yet. If they come knocking on our door, do you think we'd dare protect you?

After so many years of marriage, how could the Zhao family possibly let it go so easily?

This broken engagement not only damages the woman's reputation, but also makes Xiao Ji a laughing stock, making it difficult for him to find a wife of equal social standing in the future.

Shen Lan stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ji in disbelief.

Is he going to call off the engagement?

How dare he bring it up?

No wonder Madam Xiao was furious; anyone would be furious in this situation.

"Madam, please don't be angry. Be careful of the baby in your belly," Master Xiao quickly comforted her.

"It's no use talking about this now. We need to think of a way to break off the engagement cleanly, so that no one can find fault with us."

Furthermore, although it was our Xiao family that initiated the annulment of the engagement, we can't bear all the blame. We need to let outsiders know that Zhao Xuan is not a suitable match.

Madam Xiao was very decisive.

At this point, holding anyone accountable is pointless, and besides, Xiao Ji is her son; she knows him all too well.

He would propose breaking off the engagement, and it would never be because he's fickle; it's only because the other party has crossed his bottom line.

She glanced at the kneeling one, then shifted her gaze to Shen Lan.

"Does Miss Shen have a good plan?"

Shen Lan thought for a moment and said, "It would be best if the Zhao family could propose to annul the engagement."

“That’s impossible!” Madam Xiao said firmly.

Zhao Xuan is already twenty years old. If she breaks off the engagement, she will never be able to find a better husband than Xiao Ji, and it's even uncertain whether she can get married at all.

Even if they propose to break off the engagement, the Zhao family might not agree.

Shen Lan also thought it was unlikely.

Xiao Ji's career is progressing smoothly. He has handled several cases well recently and should be promoted soon. The Zhao family will not let him go easily.

"Stop kneeling, get up." Madam Xiao rolled her eyes.

Xiao Ji stood up and led Shen Lan to sit down at the lower end of the table.

Shen Lan didn't know why she had to get involved in the Xiao family's affairs, but since they wouldn't let her leave, she didn't feel comfortable bringing it up.

Marriage is a major life event that should be a harmonious and happy one, but Xiao Ji and Zhao Xuan clearly have incompatible values.

In modern times, if they break up, they'll just separate and each go their own way.

Here, breaking off an engagement can be extremely damaging, even bringing disaster to the entire family.

"Father, Mother, your son will bear all the consequences himself! He will also resolve any adverse effects on the clan."

"Heh, you have several cousins ​​who are getting married. If you ruin their good marriages, don't blame them for resenting you."

Master Xiao waved his hand: "Don't worry about these things."

Now that the Xiao family is mainly composed of our branch, we share both prosperity and adversity. How can it be a situation where everyone benefits?

The Xiao family has enjoyed all kinds of glory because of their lineage. If they can't even handle this small matter, it would truly be disheartening.