"Ha! His Majesty and I saw that perfectly clearly. Young Master Song, are you trying to publicly humiliate Miss Ji? Let me ask you—Miss Ji has not even stepped through the doors of the Song family. Is she already supposed to endure your beatings and lectures? I might just have to pay the Song family a visit and demand an explanation. Does your family have some peculiar tradition of disciplining a woman before she's even married in?"
"His… His Majesty was here too…"
Song Yuxi paid no heed to Xiao Shen's other words. The only thing on his mind was that the Emperor had seen everything.
After all, the current Emperor and Empress were known for their deep and harmonious relationship.
Even after being pressured by the great aristocratic families into making one of the Songs an Imperial Concubine, he had never shown the slightest favoritism toward Consort Song.
The Emperor was particularly disgusted by men whose mistresses became pregnant before their official wives had even entered the household.
"General Xiao, it's a misunderstanding. I… I was just teasing Song. I'll go to the Ji family and apologize right now."
Large beads of sweat rolled down Song Yuxi's forehead. His eyes were filled with terror and unease, and his voice trembled when he spoke.
He no longer dared to meet Xiao Shen's icy, cutting gaze. Lowering his head, he turned to the side, trying to slip past him.
His steps were frantic and rushed, as if a demon were chasing him, and he completely forgot about Yue Niang.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was rushing to the Ji family to atone for his actions and praying for the Emperor's anger to subside. Everything else was forgotten.
"Mr. Song… Husband, wait for me!"
Seeing Song Yuxi rush off, having completely forgotten about her, Yue Niang quickly broke into a trot.
But after a few steps, she slowed to a stop, her hands subconsciously moving to cradle her slightly swollen belly, her face a mask of worry and fear.
'She knew that Song Yuxi couldn't even fend for himself right now, leaving her without support. If something were to happen to her from all this running, it would all be over.'
'Song Yuxi was going to the Ji Mansion. She couldn't follow him there; she could only go and wait by the gates of the Song family's estate.'
Once they had both left, Xiao Shen bent down and helped Ji Xiaosong to her feet.
"You've had a scare today, Miss Ji. If you don't mind, would you allow me to escort you home?"
Ji Xiaosong lifted her head slightly, her face still showing a hint of terror. She bit her lower lip, as if trying to suppress the storm of emotions within her.
"Thank you, General Xiao. It's just… I feel dizzy, and my legs have gone weak. I'm afraid I won't be able to get back on my own."
As she said this, her body swayed, as if she were about to collapse, and she conveniently leaned against Xiao Shen.
Xiao Shen quickly steadied her by gently taking her arm.
"Easy now, Miss Ji. Take a moment to steady yourself."
Then, he instinctively glanced toward where the Emperor had been, intending to bid him farewell, only to find that he had discreetly left at some point.
Xiao Shen was momentarily taken aback, but his priority right now was to care for Ji Xiaosong. He put the thought aside, whispered a few words to his guard, and led Ji Xiaosong slowly toward a carriage on the street.
He carefully helped Ji Xiaosong board the carriage, then followed her into the compartment and instructed the driver to head for the Ji Mansion.
The carriage slowly came to a stop before the Ji Mansion. Xiao Shen alighted first, then turned and carefully helped Ji Xiaosong down.
The moment she reached the gate, it was as if all the strength had been drained from Ji Xiaosong. Her steps were faltering, and she was all but leaning on Xiao Shen as they entered the Ji Mansion.
The servants in the mansion saw the scene and rushed forward, their faces a mixture of shock and concern.
A maidservant took over and helped Ji Xiaosong into the main hall. Hearing the commotion, Mr. and Mother Ji came rushing in.
The moment she saw her parents, Ji Xiaosong's eyes reddened and tears welled up. She broke free from the maidservant's grasp and threw herself into her mother's arms, bursting into tears with a loud "WAAAH!"
"Father, Mother, you must get justice for me!"
Ji Xiaosong was so choked with sobs she could barely speak, her body trembling with each gasp.
"I am engaged to Song Yuxi, but he… he has a mistress, and that woman is pregnant! I went to confront him, but not only did he show no remorse, he wanted me to accept it. He even tried to strike me! If General Xiao hadn't shown up when he did, I fear I would have been gravely humiliated today."
This news truly shocked Ji Xiaosong's parents. The Song family had a good reputation; they never would have expected something like this.
Mother Ji's heart ached as she hugged her daughter, gently patting her back. Her own eyes were filled with a mixture of rage and tender love.
"How could that Song brat be such a scoundrel? And to think we trusted him so much."
Mr. Ji's expression was grim, his brow furrowed. He gave a slight bow to Xiao Shen, his hands clasped. "Thank you, General Xiao, for stepping in to help today. Because of you, my daughter was saved from harm."
Xiao Shen returned the bow. "You are too kind, sir. When Miss Ji suffered such an injustice, it was only natural for me to help. Song Yuxi's actions were unconscionable. A gentle and kind person like Miss Ji should not have to endure such a slight."
Ji Xiaosong lifted her head from her mother's embrace and said between sobs, "Father, Mother, I don't want anything more to do with the Song family. That Song Yuxi is a heartless beast."
Seeing his daughter in such a state, Mr. Ji nodded. "Song, don't you worry. We will have this engagement annulled. The Ji family will not allow you to be bullied like this."
"That's right, my dear husband. Thank goodness our Song hadn't married him yet. If she had only found out after the wedding, her suffering would have been endless."
As Ji Xiaosong watched her parents discussing the matter, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
'Song Yuxi definitely left before we did. By all rights, he should have arrived at the Ji Mansion long before us. So why hasn't he shown up?'
Rongrong noticed Ji Xiaosong's searching gaze and immediately knew who she was looking for.
[Who would've thought? Xiao Shen is more cunning than he looks. When you left, he sent his personal guard to intercept Song Yuxi and stop him from getting to the Ji Mansion first and spewing nonsense.]
'He was right to stop him,' Ji Xiaosong thought. 'My parents dote on their children, but if they had heard his fabricated story first, they might not have been so quick to agree to annul the engagement.'
Just as Ji Xiaosong was communicating with Rongrong, the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in.
"Master, a messenger from the Imperial Family is here with a decree!"
Mr. Ji hastily straightened his robes and led the entire Ji family to the front hall, where they knelt to receive the imperial edict.
The Imperial Eunuch cleared his throat and announced in a high voice, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Song Yuxi has shown blatant disregard for his marriage vows and is found wanting in virtue. His conduct is deplorable. The engagement between the Song and Ji families is hereby annulled…"
Song Yuxi had just arrived at the Ji Mansion in time to hear the Imperial Eunuch's words.
Annul the engagement?
What annulment?
Why did the imperial decree arrive so quickly?
'With this decree, wouldn't his actions be nailed to a pillar of shame for all to see?'
'After this, what young lady in the entire Capital City would be willing to marry into the Song family?'
The Imperial Eunuch was still reading, but Song Yuxi's body had gone completely limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
The Emperor had betrothed Ji Xiaosong to Xiao Shen. He not only bestowed a generous dowry but also, considering that Xiao Shen was the only one left in the Xiao family, ordered the Ministry of Rites to handle all the wedding arrangements.
This was an honor Song Yuxi wouldn't have even dared to dream of.
He hadn't yet returned to his senses when Mr. Ji was already leading the Ji family in a resounding cheer: "Long live the Emperor! Long may he reign!"