Chen Miaohe emerged from the Cui residence, still in a daze. Her maidservant quietly reminded her, "Miss, the pastries that the Madam prepared for Young Master Shen still need to be delivered. If we wait much longer, they'll get cold."
Chen Miaohe responded distractedly. Her mother always found various excuses to make her meet Shen Zilan, ostensibly to cultivate affection. She said that engaged couples who didn't correspond by letter or go on outings would feel restless if they didn't see each other for a single day.
Unlike the two of them, who acted as if seeing each other would poison them, not contacting each other for ten days or half a month at a time.
Chen Miaohe knew that her mother was afraid of losing this marriage, but romantic feelings simply couldn't be forced.
Leaning against the carriage wall, Chen Miaohe looked utterly disinterested.
"Miss, when you see Young Master Shen, you should appear happier," the maidservant urged.
If she looked like this, Young Master Shen might think she was being forced.
And wasn't she? Chen Miaohe pouted and muttered, "How boring."
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ministry of Personnel. As soon as Chen Miaohe stepped down, the guard on duty immediately went into the office to report. The maidservant, being tactful, took out some snacks and shared them with the guards.
When Shen Zilan came out, he saw the maidservant mingling with the guards and Chen Miaohe aimlessly pacing back and forth.
"What brings you here?" His tone was steady, carrying an unusual gravity.
"My mother made some pastries and asked me to bring them to you on the way," Chen Miaohe said, signaling the maidservant with a glance. She handed the food box to Shen Zilan, considering her task done.
She was about to leave but thought it would be inappropriate without asking, "How are things at the Ministry of Personnel?"
Shen Zilan nodded.
Then they looked at each other and fell into an awkward silence.
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Chen Miaohe was about to bid farewell when Shen Zilan said, "Miss Chen, I have a few words I'd like to discuss with you privately."
What was there to discuss?
Chen Miaohe had no desire to talk to him.
"It won't take much of your time," he added.
Chen Miaohe nodded, and they found a private room in a tavern near the government office. Shen Zilan got straight to the point, "To be honest, Miss Chen, I wish to break off the engagement."
"... "
A huge question mark seemed to drop onto Chen Miaohe's head, leaving her speechless for a long moment.
Shen Zilan continued, "Our betrothal was arranged by our parents and through matchmakers' words. But I believe marriage should be based on mutual affection, allowing two people to walk through life together."
Chen Miaohe finally understood—he was saying he didn't like her.
"Master Shen, do you speak so bluntly to everyone?" Chen Miaohe said. "Before bringing up breaking the engagement, shouldn't you first compliment me, say I'm too good for you, and then mention it? Where's your gentlemanly conduct?"
"... "
Shen Zilan thought, That doesn't seem to be the main point.
"You truly are a wonderful girl, but fate hasn't destined us for each other," he said.
Chen Miaohe nodded, casually picked up a pastry from the table, and began nibbling on it.
Shen Zilan frowned, growing impatient. "So, what is your thoughts, Miss Chen?"
Chen Miaohe asked, "What does your family say?"
"... I'll try my best to persuade them."
"So that means your family disagrees," Chen Miaohe pressed. Shen Zilan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Interestingly, my family disagrees too." Her brother's marriage had just fallen apart; if she were to be rejected as well, her mother would certainly lose it.
Besides, even before Shen Zilan mentioned breaking off the engagement, she had already brought it up with her parents. The result was that she nearly got a severe beating.
Chen Miaohe rested her chin on her hand, looking distressed. "Do you absolutely have to break the engagement?"
Shen Zilan nodded.
"Why? Have you found a girl who has caught your heart?"
"Yes."
"Who?" Chen Miaohe's eyes sparkled with burning curiosity, showing no sign of anger.
Shen Zilan seemed hesitant but ultimately shook his head. "I haven't yet confessed my feelings to that young lady, so I cannot harm her reputation."
Chen Miaohe nodded. "Very well. Then it seems it really must be called off."
She sighed, but her face showed no sadness. "But I don't have anyone I like," she said suddenly.
That caught Shen Zilan off guard, and he paused before she continued, "So you're in a hurry, but I'm not. Since this matter stems from your Shen family's breach of etiquette, you'll have to handle not only your uncle and grandmother but also my father and mother. That's your problem to solve."
Shen Zilan nodded. "Naturally."
Chen Miaohe asked, "How long will it take?"
"What?"
"How long to break the engagement?"
"... I'll be as quick as possible." The two of them, not exactly on the same page, discussed the dissolution of the marriage for quite a while in the tavern, refreshing the tea twice.
It hardly resembled a couple breaking off an engagement.
Chen Miaohe racked her brains to offer Shen Zilan suggestions, but after his careful analysis, he rejected them all.
Shen Zilan looked suspicious. "Could it be that you hold a grudge against me, Miss Chen, and are suggesting such reckless ideas to have me beaten to death?"
Proposing that he support a courtesan or that he preferred men—truly, she had quite the imagination.
Chen Miaohe pouted. "Anyway, the decision to break the engagement must come from my family, so as not to tarnish the Chen family's honor."
"... "
They fell into silence, staring at each other once more.
Chen Miaohe suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Let me ask you, between your uncle and Eldest Miss Cui, did they..." She pressed her two thumbs together and then separated them.
Shen Zilan understood. He looked at Chen Miaohe but remained silent.
"Come on, tell me, did they or didn't they?" Chen Miaohe pressed.
Shen Zilan looked down and took a sip of tea. "I don't know."
Chen Miaohe said, "You know that Eldest Miss Cui is currently discussing marriage prospects, right? My brother still pines for her. My mother, feeling sorry for him, sent me to negotiate..."
"And then?" Shen Zilan asked eagerly.
"Then Eldest Miss Cui turned me down flat, very decisively." It was actually what Chen Miaohe had expected, since with Lord Shen around, who wouldn't recognize the more eligible man?
Chen Miaohe said this without any embarrassment. "I mean, since you want to break off the engagement, and if Lord Shen and Eldest Miss Cui don't work out, perhaps we could consider exchanging betrothals? As long as it's still a marriage alliance between the Shen and Chen families."
If she married Lord Shen instead, her parents would surely agree.
"... " Shen Zilan stared at Chen Miaohe, who looked dead serious, and suddenly stood up, his expression complicated.
"What's wrong?" Chen Miaohe asked.
"Miss Chen, please don't say such things. If others were to hear, what would they think of both our families?"
Chen Miaohe was annoyed. "This won't work, that won't work. You wouldn't happen to be in love with your uncle, would you?"
"... "
"Miss Chen!"
Shen Zilan was utterly incredulous.
But Chen Miaohe wasn't frightened by his raised voice; she remained seated calmly.
Before, because of their betrothal, she had to act elegant, warm, and speak softly. Now that they were about to break it off, she had no intention of pretending any longer.
In Shen Zilan's ears, Chen Miaohe's words sounded like, "Shen Zilan, you're finished. I'll have your uncle beat you to death—beat you to death!"
"Don't even think about my uncle," he said as he left.
"What a waste of pastries my mother made from scratch," Chen Miaohe muttered, slowly leaving the tavern.
In the Shen family study...
"Your Lordship, the Crown Prince’s faction is growing bolder by the day. It seems all but certain that the son of the Cui family will be recalled to the capital."
Shen Xiabai said nothing. The speaker continued, "If that comes to pass, Prime Minister Cui will only grow more insolent. Your Lordship, perhaps we should…"
The man made a slicing gesture across his throat, startling Yu Feng, who stood nearby.
