Chapter 17: The Hua Family Withdraws from the Marriage Engagement
The Old Madam soon learned about the commotion. After listening quietly without commenting on the matter, she said, "Let this be the last time. Even if Zhi Er openly allows everyone from each household to inquire, such distrustful actions will still make her uncomfortable. Regardless of what she intends to do or what she has done, since she is willing to step forward and shoulder all responsibilities during the most difficult times, her actions will only benefit the Hua family."
Su Momo was filled with shame and murmured her agreement.
Unlike before, the Old Madam did not comfort her. Times had changed. Since the Hua family now relied on Zhi Er to hold things together, she, as a grandmother, must not hold her back. Cuixiang was her attendant, and her words and actions reflected her own attitude. Such incidents must not happen again.
However, Hua Zhi’s thoughts were not occupied with such trivial matters. After arranging all necessary affairs, she once again approached the Old Madam to discuss withdrawing from the marriage engagement.
"This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later. If we wait for the Shen Family to make the first move, there will be no trace of goodwill left between our two families."
This time, the Old Madam did not refuse her proposal but asked, "Does your mother know about this?"
"I will explain it clearly to her." As long as she said it was all for the sake of bringing her father back, even if her mother had objections, she would swallow them. It wasn’t that her mother didn’t care for her daughter, but compared to her marriage, her husband’s return was clearly more important.
The Old Madam understood this well and sighed, saying, "Zhi Er, rest assured, the Hua family will never let you down."
Hua Zhi bowed slightly, conveying everything without words.
"Tomorrow, I plan to visit the villa and the estate, staying overnight at the estate. Please do not worry, Grandmother."
"Take more people with you, and prioritize your safety above all else."
"Yes."
Having made the decision, the Old Madam did not delay. Early the next morning, she sent a visiting card to the Shen Family. Dressed in a deep blue gown, with her hair secured only by a simple silver hairpin, she set out.
After several days of keeping their doors closed, the Hua family finally made a move. Those watching the Hua family noticed the Old Madam’s elderly servant accompanying the sedan chair and turned their attention to the scene.
When the sedan chair was carried into the Shen residence, no one was surprised. It seemed the Hua family could no longer restrain themselves and had come seeking help. The only question was whether Official Shen dared to involve himself in the Hua family’s affairs.
The Shen family was also contemplating this matter. Shen Zhui, the elder of the Shen family, happened to be resting at home that day. From the moment he received the visiting card, he had been pacing without pause.
The two families had been close for many years, exchanging gifts even more generously than others during festivals. However, given the current circumstances, the two families were no longer well-matched. The Hua family had fallen out of the emperor’s favor, and even if Shen Zhui cherished their past ties, he dared not treat the marriage engagement seriously. Yet, he could not hastily sever ties immediately after the Hua family’s misfortune, for even if he retained the emperor’s favor, he would be scorned by others.
Unexpectedly, the Old Madam had chosen to visit at such a time. With so many eyes watching, he could not possibly turn her away. However, how to receive her and under what pretext still required careful consideration.Old Madam Shen did not keep Old Madam waiting long. No sooner had she taken her seat and been served tea than Old Madam Shen emerged briskly, supported by her maids and serving women, apologizing with a beaming smile, "I was just sitting in the prayer hall earlier and came away smelling of sandalwood. My apologies for keeping you waiting, dear sister."
Though she had already sensed the shift in the Shen Family's attitude, these words still warmed Old Madam's heart. It was good that they still remembered past affections. Even if relationships cooled after one's decline, she hoped it wouldn't happen too quickly.
"It is I who am intruding," Old Madam replied.
The use of "I" instead of the usual "sister" made Old Madam Shen's eyes flicker, uncertain of Old Madam Hua's purpose for visiting.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Madam went straight to the point. "Given the long-standing friendship between our families, I'll speak plainly. I came today to call off the marriage."
This genuinely surprised Old Madam Shen, who had forgotten her own original intention to do the same. She hurriedly asked, "Why so suddenly..."
"To be frank, sister, this is my eldest granddaughter's decision. She insists on sharing the Hua family's hardships and doesn't wish to leave home at such a time. I told her the Shen Family would never mistreat her like other families might now that the Huas have fallen on hard times, but she simply said she has no fate with your young master and isn't destined to enjoy comfort in the Shen household."
Old Madam Hua dabbed at her reddened eyes. "With a timid mother above her and young siblings below, it's understandable she'd worry. Still, my heart aches whenever I think of it. Please, out of our past friendship, don't press further. Though the Hua family has been confiscated and left with little of value, please calculate the total silver spent on betrothal gifts. I'll write you an IOU and repay every coin once the Hua family recovers."
Compared to preserving the Shen Family's reputation, silver was nothing! Suppressing her delight, Old Madam Shen expressed regret: "It's our Shen Family's loss that we cannot marry such a fine young lady. Please never mention an IOU again—that would shame me and the Shen name. My husband already feels terribly sorry for failing to help, given our families' friendship. Mentioning silver would truly damage our bond."
"This is a separate matter," Old Madam Hua insisted. "There's no precedent for calling off a engagement without returning the betrothal gifts. I won't have my Zhi Er scorned by others. The Hua family has fallen, but we are no family of defaulters."
After much back-and-forth, Old Madam Shen reluctantly accepted and had an IOU written on the spot, which Old Madam Hua stamped with her fingerprint.
The two families parted amicably. Bowing slightly to Old Madam Shen who saw her to the door, Old Madam stepped into her sedan chair, feeling unexpectedly relieved. Just as Zhi Er had said, this way both families preserved their goodwill and the Hua family kept its dignity. Henceforth, even if the Shens couldn't actively help the Huas, they at least wouldn't kick them while they were down.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Shen hurried back to the inner courtyard and faithfully reported Old Madam Hua's purpose, concluding with admiration, "I must say, the Hua family's integrity is truly impressive."
Shen Zhui shook his head. "The one with real integrity is likely the Hua family's eldest daughter who proposed ending the engagement. What a pity."
"I've met that girl a few times—she seemed quite decent. But do you really think, as Old Madam Hua claimed, that breaking off the engagement was a young girl's idea?""Given the Hua family's current circumstances, their willingness to withdraw from this marriage engagement without any resistance points to only one possibility." Shen Zhui tapped the table. "Keeping their eldest daughter in the Hua family serves them better than forming an alliance with our Shen Family through marriage."
Old Madam Shen frowned slightly. "Does the Old Master overestimate her? What can a mere girl accomplish?"
He too wanted to see what she could achieve. Shen Zhui shook his head with a soft sigh. He truly hoped she would accomplish something remarkable. It was truly regrettable that the Hua family had come to such an end, and that someone as upright as Hua Yizheng had been exiled.
"Keep a closer watch from now on. Lend a hand whenever possible."
"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but the Hua family has fallen out of the Emperor's favor. Won't involving ourselves in Hua family matters affect our Shen Family?"
"If the Emperor's displeasure toward the Hua family were truly irreconcilable, even the Empress Dowager wouldn't have been able to save the Hua women." Shen Zhui saw things clearly. Yet even so, persuading the Emperor to recall the exiled Hua men would be no easy task—imperial decrees are unalterable!
Old Madam Shen sighed. "I just worry that those with old grudges against the Hua family will seize this opportunity to cause trouble, making life even harder for them."
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