Glory

After a moment's thought, he added, "Give me the house deed."

Yu Shi was taken aback and immediately refused, "No. The residence absolutely cannot be given away."

"I'm just preparing in advance." Song Yifeng had a premonition that the Ye family wouldn't let him break off the engagement so easily today without significant concessions.

Stimulated by Wang Wenzhi, his perspective had broadened, and his determination to break off the engagement had never been stronger. No matter the cost, he was resolved to end this betrothal.

Unable to resist her son and trusting his judgment, Yu Shi had no choice but to open the cabinet, retrieve the house deed, and hand it to Song Yifeng.

Song Yifeng instructed Guizi to carry the box containing the silver and went to the Ye residence.

Arriving at the Ye family's gate, the gatekeeper didn't stop him but directly led him inside to the outer courtyard hall.

"Please wait here, Young Master Song. I'll inform Old Master Ye," the servant said at the foot of the steps.

Song Yifeng nodded, glancing around the courtyard. Seeing it was as quiet as ever and the passing servants bowed to him from a distance as they always had, he felt reassured.

It seemed the Ye family had no intention of opposing him or spreading news of the broken engagement throughout the household. This would make dealing with the situation easier.

"Young Master Song, please," the servant who had gone to report came out and spoke to Song Yifeng with the same respectful attitude as before.

This behavior further put Song Yifeng at ease.

He ascended the steps calmly and stepped across the threshold. But as one foot entered and the other remained outside, he paused abruptly.

In the hall, besides Ye Chongming, Ye Hongchang, and Ye Jiaxing—three generations of grandfather and grandsons—there were actually three women present. One was Old Madam Ye, another was the matchmaker Zhang Yuniang, both of whom he recognized; in addition, there was a woman in her fifties whom Song Yifeng had never seen before.

Seeing her dressed in fairly new silk garments, composed in demeanor, and seated in the guest seat of honor, Song Yifeng knew this person must hold some status.

His heart sank slightly, and he felt a surge of anger.

He had hoped to dissolve the engagement with the Ye family amicably, but it seemed they had other plans. If that was the case, they shouldn't blame him for taking action against them in the future.

Madam Wu was seeing Song Yifeng for the first time.

Noticing his gaze sweep over her and Zhang Yuniang with visible resentment, she shook her head inwardly.

Everyone present was older than Song Yifeng, and given the adversarial relationship, no one stood to greet him.

Only Zhang Yuniang, the matchmaker, who was neutral and of lower status, rose quickly to avoid an awkward atmosphere. "Young Master Song, you're here? Come, have a seat," she said.

Previously, as future in-laws, Song Yifeng had been the junior to the Ye family members and naturally showed them the respect due to elders.

But now, on the verge of breaking off the engagement, he considered himself severed from the Ye family. With his status as a Recommended Man, he believed Ye Chongming, a mere merchant, was beneath him and unworthy of sitting as an equal.

Thus, upon entering, he did not bow to Ye Chongming or Old Madam Ye. Seeing them seated in the host positions, with Ye Hongchang, Ye Jiaxing, and the unfamiliar woman in subordinate and guest seats, and no one offering him a seat, his resentment grew, his face as cold as ice.

However, breaking the engagement was the priority, and he didn't want to complicate matters. He promptly sat down, leaving two seats between himself and Ye Jiaxing.As the party being served with divorce papers, and with Song Yifeng's elders present, it was understandable that the Ye family ignored him. However, Song Yifeng neither greeted anyone nor performed the customary bows. With a cold expression, he directly took his seat, making Zhang Yuniang feel extremely awkward.

Madam Wu also felt embarrassed on everyone's behalf.

She shook her head inwardly once more.

The Ye family had made a terrible choice in selecting this grandson-in-law. Not only was his character poor, but he also lacked basic manners. His conduct was utterly disgraceful and truly beneath contempt.

No wonder the Ye family had immediately agreed when he proposed to break off the engagement. Any family that married their daughter to such a man would be courting disaster for eight generations, essentially ruining their own daughter's life.

Zhang Yuniang, who frequently moved among influential households and was well-versed in social etiquette, understood her role today perfectly.

Seeing the awkward situation, she remained standing and fulfilled her duty by addressing Song Yifeng: "The Ye family has invited me here today, stating that Young Master Song wishes to dissolve the engagement. May I confirm if this is true?"

Song Yifeng opened his mouth, intending to repeat what he had told Ye Chongming that day to position himself on moral high ground.

He wanted to claim that the Ye family engaged in illicit tea trade, demonstrating moral deficiency, and he refused to be associated with such misconduct, hence seeking to terminate the engagement.

But he also knew that withholding mention of the illicit tea matter was his best leverage against the Ye family. If this advantage were lost, what if the Ye family, having nothing left to lose, refused to dissolve the engagement? Even if they agreed, what if they stubbornly demanded reimbursement for all these years' expenses?

Although Ye Chongming had denied the illicit tea allegations that day, Song Yifeng suspected they might be true, given how readily the Ye family had agreed to the dissolution.

So he swallowed his words and merely shot a cold glance at Ye Chongming before nodding to Zhang Yuniang: "Indeed. As for why I'm terminating the engagement, it's naturally because the Ye family has done things I cannot condone. It's not that I disregard all these years of relationship."

Ye Jiaxing immediately flared up, springing to his feet: "What do you mean by that? What has the Ye family done that you disapprove of? Don't beat around the bush—speak clearly!"

He pointed accusingly at Song Yifeng: "You're the one who's ungrateful! Now that you've gained some status, you look down on our Ye family's humble position. You want to break off the engagement to climb higher, yet you dress it up with noble-sounding words and smear our family's reputation. I've never seen someone so heartless!"

Except during his impoverished childhood, Song Yifeng had never endured such humiliation. Previously, whenever he visited the Ye residence, everyone from Ye Chongming to the servants had treated him with respect and courtesy. Moreover, he was a young man of shallow cunning and hot temper.

Being publicly denounced like this by Ye Jiaxing, he nearly threw a punch.

Fortunately, he restrained himself at the critical moment, though his face contorted violently.

Flushing crimson, he glared at Ye Chongming with fire in his eyes: "Old Master Ye, is this how your family intends to proceed? Do you still want to dissolve this engagement or not?"

Only then did Ye Chongming speak unhurriedly, scolding Ye Jiaxing: "Enough! Stop talking and return to your seat."

Watching Ye Jiaxing resentfully sit back down, clearly frustrated, Song Yifeng immediately felt pleased and quite smug.

It seemed the Ye family indeed traded in illicit tea—otherwise, how could Ye Chongming restrain his anger so effectively?

Ye Chongming looked at Song Yifeng: "Since we both agree to dissolve the engagement, let's handle this cleanly. Yesterday I asked you to bring all the expenses from these years so we can settle accounts and sign the divorce papers. Have you brought the silver today, Young Master Song?"