"I want to break off the engagement!"
As soon as Su Qianqian said these words, the front hall of the Su Family plunged into a deathly silence!
Su Changyuan and Madame Su suddenly lifted their heads, looking at Su Qianqian in shock.
Su Changyuan, in disbelief, said, "Qianqian, what did you say?"
Su Qianqian's gaze was firm, "Father, I said, I want to break off the engagement!"
Su Qianqian: "Father, I don't like Zhao Yi at all, marrying him won't make me happy!"
Su Changyuan felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, almost spitting blood from anger!
He gritted his teeth looking at Su Qianqian, beseeching, "Qianqian, do you know what you're saying? This is a major life decision, don't be foolish!"
Su Qianqian solemnly replied, "Father, your daughter knows what she's saying!"
"Father, your daughter has grown up and wants to pursue her own happiness!" After saying this, Su Qianqian looked at Su Changyuan expectantly, "Weren't you the one who loved your daughter the most? You will support her, won't you?"
Upon hearing this, Su Changyuan's expression turned extremely grim.
He looked at Su Qianqian, eyes filled with disappointment.
Su Changyuan, through gritted teeth, said, "The happiness you speak of, is it that monk on West Mountain?"
Su Qianqian, caught in her girlish crush and suddenly having her thoughts exposed, bashfully lowered her head, coincidentally missing the near-murderous look in Su Changyuan's eyes.
She hesitated for a moment before bravely nodding.
Su Qianqian: "Yes! The person your daughter likes is Master Fajing of West Mountain Temple!"
Su Changyuan was so furious he trembled all over, "You insolent fool! That monk has taken vows, and you are betrothed; how could you do something so disgraceful?"
Su Qianqian was unfazed, "What about taking vows? One can renounce them too! I am only engaged to Zhao Yi, we haven't married, so why can't I marry someone else?"
Su Changyuan shouted, "Marriage is a matter dictated by parents and matchmakers; how can it be a trifling matter?"
Su Qianqian argued, "But you can't sacrifice your daughter's entire life's happiness for your riches and glory!"
Upon hearing this, Su Changyuan spat out a mouthful of blood in anger, his body swayed before he fell straight to the ground!
Madame Su quickly supported her husband, crying out, "Master, Master, what's happened to you?"
Crying, she turned to scold Su Qianqian, "You unfilial girl, do you want to anger your father to death?"
When Su Qianqian saw her father spitting blood, she was startled and hurried forward to check, "Father, Father, please don't frighten your daughter!"
After a long time, Su Changyuan faintly awoke.
He calmed himself, then turned with great difficulty to the amused Huang Ying, bowing, "Our family misfortune makes Miss Huang laugh! Please report back to His Highness the Sixth Prince that my little daughter is indeed unworthy of the title of Imperial Consort, our Su Family agrees to break the engagement!"
"Husband!" Madame Su cried out, "We can't break the engagement! If we do, Qianqian is finished!"
Su Qianqian was completely unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Hearing her father's consent to break the engagement, she immediately showed an expression of joy.
"Thank you, Father!" Su Qianqian said happily, "I knew you loved me the most!"
Su Changyuan looked at the clueless Su Qianqian, his face showing a complex expression of both despair and relief!
Despair, because Su Qianqian was still complacent, not knowing what terrifying situation she was about to face!
Relief, because such a fool fortunately doesn't enter the royal family, otherwise the Su Family would face disaster!
Su Changyuan waved his hand, weakly saying, "Enough! As long as you're happy."
They likely won't be happy for long!
Huang Ying, having enjoyed enough of the spectacle, finally satisfied, smiled and said, "Lord Su, take good care of yourself. In a few days, His Highness will report this to the Emperor during the grand court assembly, and the letter of cancellation will be sent."
Su Changyuan looked desolate, as if his energy and spirit had been drained, aging several decades instantly.
He bowed to Huang Ying, "I await your command."
Huang Ying nodded, then with a spring in her step, left the Su Family.
Once Huang Ying was out the door, Madame Su pushed Su Qianqian aside, carefully helping Su Changyuan to his feet.
"Husband, let me help you up."
Su Qianqian stood to the side, embarrassed.
She hadn't expected that just breaking off the engagement with Zhao Yi would be such a blow to her parents.
But thinking of soon being with her beloved, she was filled with sweetness!
Su Changyuan, seeing Su Qianqian's expression, could easily understand her thoughts.
Suppressing the raging anger in his heart, he calmly said, "Qianqian, you must be tired after running around for so long. Go back to your room and rest!"
Su Qianqian, her mind full of her impending tryst with her lover, was in high spirits.
Upon hearing her father's words, she did not hesitate, cheerfully saying, "Father, I'm not tired! It just occurred to me, I made plans with some family ladies to go shopping this morning, so I won't be going back to rest!"
After saying this, Su Qianqian turned and headed towards the door.
Madame Su's face was livid.
Just as she was about to stop Su Qianqian, she saw Su Changyuan shake his head.
Only then did Madame Su reluctantly remain silent.
Su Changyuan smiled and said, "Go then, remember to come back early."
Then he turned to say, "Little Cui will stay behind, I have something to instruct her to do."
Little Cui shivered, looking to Su Qianqian for help.
Su Qianqian frowned slightly, not knowing what her father wanted with the maid Little Cui.
But she didn't think much of it.
Her father agreeing to break the engagement was already the ultimate indulgence.
Moreover, taking a maid to meet her lover would indeed be inconvenient.
Thinking this, Su Qianqian ignored Little Cui's pleading look and said, "Little Cui, since Father has tasks for you, you should stay, I can go out by myself!"
Little Cui was immediately anxious, "Miss, you can't leave me behind, I need to be by your side to protect you!"
Su Qianqian waved her hand, not turning back, "Don't worry, I'm with them, no one will harm me!"
"Miss!"
Little Cui watched as Su Qianqian walked further away, her eyes gradually filled with despair.
"Humph!"
Once Su Qianqian had left, Su Changyuan snorted coldly, looking expressionlessly at Little Cui.
"Little Cui, do you have anything to say to your master?"
Little Cui shivered again.
She mechanically turned her body, her legs trembling uncontrollably, struggling to say, "Re-reporting to master, Little Cui has nothing, nothing to say..."
"Is that so?" A hint of murderous intent flashed in Su Changyuan's eyes.
He turned to look at Madame Su, viciously saying, "Madam, go fetch the family law, today I'll beat this treacherous maid to death!"
Madame Su coldly looked at Little Cui, her face full of disgust.
She replied, "Yes, husband!"
With that, Madame Su stood up to go to the back to fetch the family law.
Little Cui was so frightened that she lost her wits!
She knelt down with a thud, banging her head on the ground towards Su Changyuan.
"Master, please don't kill me! I'll say, I'll say everything! Spare my life, please!"
Meanwhile.
Su Qianqian left the Su house and headed straight for West Mountain.
As the sun set, she made her way to the gates of West Mountain Temple.
The temple gates were closed, and from within the Buddhist walls came the sound of monks chanting their evening prayers.
Knock knock!
Su Qianqian reached out and knocked on the door.
Soon, the gate opened, and a novice monk poked his head out.
Seeing Su Qianqian, the novice monk was momentarily stunned, then placed his hands together, "Benefactor, the temple has closed for the day. If you wish to offer incense, please return in the morning!"
Su Qianqian smiled sweetly, placing her hands together, "Little Master, I'm not here to offer incense, I'm looking for someone! I'm here to see Master Fajing, could you please inform him that an old acquaintance, Su Qianqian, seeks him?"
The novice monk was again momentarily stunned upon hearing Su Qianqian's name.
"You are Su Qianqian?" he asked uncertainly.
Su Qianqian's eyes lit up, "You know my name? Did Master Fajing tell you?"
The novice monk nodded, "The benefactor's name was indeed told by Uncle Fajing to this monk."
Upon hearing this, Su Qianqian was immediately delighted, "So Master Fajing anticipated I would come look for him! Did he tell you to wait for me? Quickly take me to him!"
The novice monk shook his head, "Uncle Fajing did not ask me to wait for you here! He only asked me to tell the benefactor that West Mountain Temple does not welcome you, and you should not come again!"
Su Qianqian was utterly dumbstruck!
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