At that moment, the banquet hall suddenly fell silent as an official in dark green court robes strode in.
Xie Cheng'an hurried forward to greet him. "Lord Wang, what brings you here? I heard the Dali Temple was swamped with work and you couldn’t attend today."
Lord Wang clasped his hands politely. "Indeed, the workload is heavy. By His Majesty’s order, I’ve been investigating the Third Prince’s embezzlement case and have had no time to spare. However, I’ve just received an accusation implicating you, Lord Xie, in the matter."
The entire banquet hall froze at his words. He Siyu’s gaze stiffened as he suddenly recalled the Xie Family’s involvement in the affair, his heart sinking. If this case were confirmed, she would surely be implicated as well.
Xie Cheng'an’s expression darkened instantly. "What nonsense! Who dares spread such slander?"
Pei Songhan opened his mouth to speak, but Duke Ning yanked him back, glaring at him in warning. "Stay out of this!"
"But—"
Lord Wang raised a hand to stop Xie Cheng'an, lowering his voice. "The investigation is still ongoing, but as an official, I must follow protocol upon receiving such an accusation. I ask that you cooperate with the Dali Temple’s inquiry. It will also help us report to His Majesty."
Xie Cheng'an’s face twisted in displeasure. Though his rank surpassed Lord Wang’s, the latter had invoked the Emperor’s authority, leaving him no choice but to comply.
"Very well. The Xie Family has nothing to hide. We welcome the investigation!"
Xie Cheng'an instructed his son to placate the guests while he followed Lord Wang out.
The guests, terrified of being implicated, quickly took their leave.
Duke Ning also rose to depart. Pei Songhan urgently protested, "Father! The Xie Family must have been falsely accused! We should—"
Duke Ning cut him off sharply. "How do you know they’re innocent?"
"I—I trust them! Besides, our families are already bound by marriage. We should stand together—"
Duke Ning scoffed coldly. "The wedding hasn’t even taken place yet. What marriage?"
Pei Songhan stiffened, then gritted his teeth. "Sang Ning is my betrothed! No matter what, I can’t just stand by and do nothing!"
"You—!" Duke Ning jabbed a furious finger at him. "Have you grown too bold? What do you plan to do? Plead before the Emperor himself?"
"I—"
Without another word, Duke Ning stormed off. "Return to the estate."
He Wanjun watched the Ning household’s grand departure with disdain.
"Truly, adversity reveals true colors. Just moments ago, they were inviting me to the wedding. Now that the Xie Family is in trouble, the Peis are the first to cut ties. This marriage is likely as good as gone."
Though He Wanjun despised the Xie Family for their alleged collusion with the Third Prince, he also scorned the Peis for their callousness.
He Siyu frowned deeply. "If the Xie Family is truly involved with the Third Prince, won’t the entire clan be doomed?"
He Wanjun snorted. "Naturally. The Third Prince is already imprisoned. If solid evidence emerges, no one in the Xie Family will escape punishment!"
He Siyu’s expression darkened.
He Wanjun suddenly turned to him, his voice grave. "Stay away from the Xie Family’s affairs!"
"Understood."
He lowered his gaze, masking the turmoil in his eyes.
If the Xie Family was truly in danger, he needed to marry her away from them—quickly.
---
With the sudden summons of the Xie Family’s patriarch to the Dali Temple, the household was thrown into panic. Guests swiftly dispersed.
"What do we do now? If the master is condemned, I won’t live either!" wailed Concubine Zhao.
"Could Father really have been involved in the Third Prince’s embezzlement? That’s a crime punishable by execution!" exclaimed the Third Son of the Xie Family, Concubine Chen’s child.
The room paled at his words.
"Silence!" The First Lady snapped. "The master is merely assisting the investigation. Without proof, how dare you spread such rumors?"
The household trembled and fell quiet.
"The Elder Lady has arrived!" A maid announced, and the crowd parted.
Sang Ning supported the dignified Elder Lady of the Xie Family as she entered.
Seating herself at the head of the room, the Elder Lady’s usually gentle face was stern. Her sharp gaze swept over the gathered family. "The Xie Family has endured three dynasties over centuries. What storm haven’t we weathered? Must you wail like mourners before anything is even decided?"
Chastened, they hastily apologized. "Forgive us, Elder Lady. We spoke out of turn."
"All of you, leave! If anyone spreads panic again, they will face severe punishment!"
"Yes."
The room emptied.
Once alone, Sang Ning spoke softly. "Grandmother, don’t worry. Father was only summoned for questioning, which means the Dali Temple lacks concrete evidence. The Third Prince has been imprisoned for half a month—if he had anything to confess, he would have done so already. I refuse to believe Father would be involved in such a crime."
The Elder Lady nodded. "You’re right. Moreover, I know my son’s character. Though he’s never achieved greatness, he’s always been cautious. He wouldn’t dare meddle in such matters."
Sang Ning squeezed her hand. "There’s no need for excessive concern. The Xie Family’s roots in the court run deep. Half the officials were Grandfather’s students—his influence spans the realm. How could such baseless accusations topple us?"
Even the Emperor would hesitate before moving against the Xie Family’s entrenched power. At worst, their influence might be further diminished, pushed to the fringes.
The Elder Lady studied her, her aged eyes sharp with clarity. "You, a girl confined to the inner chambers, see things so clearly."
Sang Ning smiled faintly. "I merely speculate."
The Elder Lady sighed. "In your great-grandfather’s time, the Xie Family stood at the pinnacle of nobility—the foremost among aristocratic houses, unmatched in power. But by your father’s generation, our influence wanes with each passing day."
Sang Ning nodded. "I know. Great-grandfather was a prodigy, single-handedly securing the Xie Family’s glory for a century. In his era, even the Emperor deferred to us."
Alas, such brilliance appeared only once in the Xie Family’s long history.
The Elder Lady’s clouded eyes dimmed with sorrow. "For families like ours, the greatest fear is a decline in talent among descendants—no one left to uphold our legacy. Your grandfather maintained what he could, though he never surpassed his father. Still, he kept the Xie Family at the forefront. But your father..."
By her son’s generation, the family’s talents had dwindled. Even among the grandchildren, mediocrity prevailed.
Though outsiders saw no change, the Elder Lady knew the truth—the Xie Family was fading.
Xie Cheng'an had gambled by sending his sister into the palace, preserving an illusion of prestige. But now, entangled with the Third Prince’s downfall, the family faced an even harder fall.
The Elder Lady saw it all, yet she had no solution.
Sang Ning murmured, "Why worry, Grandmother? No noble house lasts eternally at its peak. All families rise and fall. The Xie Family’s roots run deep—surely, our time to rise again will come."
The Elder Lady’s eyes glistened. She patted Sang Ning’s hand fondly. "If you were born a man, the Xie Family wouldn’t need to wait for that day."
Among the younger generation, Sang Ning was the most intelligent by far. Even at a tender age, she displayed far more clarity of mind than her father. Had she been allowed to pursue an official career, the Xie Family wouldn’t be in such a precarious position now.
What a pity…
—
Duke Ning’s Residence.
Duke Ning paced anxiously in the hall, his expression tense, while Duchess Ning sat with a furrowed brow.
Finally, a servant rushed in with news: "My Lord, I’ve just learned that Lord Xie has left the Court of Judicial Review."
Madam Pei let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "Then it seems nothing was uncovered."
But Duke Ning’s expression remained grave. "Even if no evidence was found, with the Third Prince imprisoned and the Imperial Consort’s faction collapsing, the Xie Family—as her maternal relatives—will inevitably face repercussions."
"But if nothing was proven…"
Duke Ning scoffed. "Such shortsighted thinking! The fact that His Majesty ordered an investigation at all shows his displeasure with the Xie Family. Once the Emperor’s favor is lost, how can they expect smooth days ahead?"
Madam Pei paled. "Then what should we do? Our families are already betrothed. If we’re implicated later…"
Duke Ning’s voice turned cold. "This engagement must be called off. The Xie Family is in decline. If Songhan marries their daughter, it will bring no advantage to the Pei Family—only potential trouble."
"But the betrothal is already settled, and the wedding is imminent. If we withdraw now, think of the scandal!"
It would make them seem like opportunists, abandoning those in misfortune.
Duke Ning glared at her. "What does a slight to our reputation matter? Severing ties with the Xie Family is far more important."
Madam Pei hesitated. "But I fear Songhan won’t agree. He’s quite taken with Sang Ning."
"There’s no need to consult him. Marriage is a matter of parental authority and matchmakers’ arrangements. Since when does he have a say?" With that, Duke Ning stormed out.
—
Xie Cheng’an returned home safely, and the entire Xie Family breathed a sigh of relief.
But their relief was short-lived. The next morning, disaster struck.
"My Lady, my Lady—terrible news!" Xia Zhu rushed in, panting.
Sang Ning was still having breakfast when the commotion interrupted her. Frowning, she asked, "What’s the matter? Why such panic?"
Xia Zhu blurted out, "The Duke Ning’s Residence has sent word—they want to break off the engagement!"
