Chapter 60: I’m Preparing to Break Off the Engagement

The Wang family, on one hand, wanted to maintain the dignity of scholars, and on the other hand, wanted to exploit their daughters-in-law. The only way to achieve this was to preach about morality and virtue, brainwash their daughters-in-law, and set strict rules to limit their actions. This way, the daughters-in-law would compete for favor from their parents-in-law and husbands, offering their dowries to please them.

The Wang family was very skilled at brainwashing.

In her previous life, not long after Ye Yaqing got married, Madam Tao regretted marrying her daughter into such a family. Ye Yaqing not only used her dowry to support her husband but also frequently returned to her maternal home to ask for money, claiming that Scholar Wang needed funds for various reasons.

Because of Song Yifeng’s connection, they couldn’t refuse to give the money, and it couldn’t be a small amount.

At that time, Madam Tao still hoped that Scholar Wang would pass the imperial examination and take her daughter to the capital, away from the large family. But until the original owner died, Scholar Wang never passed the examination.

Ye Yaming decided to stop this marriage. She secretly asked Ye Yaqing, “Have you met Scholar Wang?”

Ye Yaqing, already embarrassed by her mother and aunt discussing her marriage, blushed even more when Ye Yaming asked her. She shook her head.

“Are you satisfied with this marriage?” Ye Yaming asked again.

Seeing Ye Yaqing lower her head and remain silent, Ye Yaming became more convinced that this marriage had a problem. She said, “I’m preparing to break off my engagement.”

“What?” Ye Yaqing looked up in surprise.

Her voice was a bit loud, and everyone else looked over. Ye Yaqing quickly smiled apologetically and tugged at Ye Yaming’s clothes, signaling her to stop talking.

When Madam Tao resumed her conversation with Madam Yin and Old Madam Ye inquired about Madam Cai and Ye Yayu, Ye Yaqing whispered, “What’s going on?”

Ye Yaming gestured to the maid behind Old Madam Ye and said, “I’m going to wash my hands with my second sister.”

They were sitting in the main hall of the main courtyard, chatting while the cook and servants set the table in the side hall. Leaving for a moment wouldn’t delay anything. Moreover, the maid knew that Ye Yaming had recently been highly favored by Old Master and Old Madam Ye, so even if something happened, they wouldn’t say anything.

“Alright, I’ll inform Old Madam if she asks,” the maid said with a smile.

Ye Yayin, who was thirteen and still childlike, was playing with her four-year-old cousin Ye Yaxuan, who was adorable. Seeing Ye Yaming and her second sister get up to leave, she wanted to follow, but Ye Yaming stopped her, “Stay here and play with Sixth Sister. We’ll be back soon.”

Once outside, Ye Yaqing asked worriedly, “What did you mean earlier?”

Ye Yaming briefly explained the situation with Song Yifeng.

“What? How could this be? Isn’t this more likely his mother’s idea?” Ye Yaqing, kind-hearted, tried to comfort Ye Yaming.

“No, it’s his idea,” Ye Yaming said calmly.

“You… don’t like him anymore?” Ye Yaqing asked because she knew how much her cousin liked Song Yifeng.

To be honest, she agreed to the Wang family marriage because she saw the sweet relationship between her cousin and Song Yifeng (a big misunderstanding). Because of this, she had a natural fondness for scholars and had no objections to her mother’s insistence on finding her a scholar husband.

If Ye Yaming knew about this misunderstanding, she would be speechless. What sweet relationship? It was just the original owner’s self-induced fantasy. The original owner’s romantic delusions in her previous life harmed two girls. Of course, the mothers’ ambitions also played a role.

Ye Yaming shook her head, “When I learned how he and his mother viewed our family and me, I lost all affection for him.”

She looked into Ye Yaqing’s eyes, “A person without gratitude is cold-hearted. How can I expect him to treat me well in the future? If he doesn’t respect my father and elders or see me as someone worthy of respect, he will only degrade me further. Marrying him would trap me in misery for life. Why would I want such a marriage?”

Ye Yaqing nodded thoughtfully, “That’s true.”

“I’ve only told my grandparents and father about breaking off the engagement. I haven’t dared to tell my mother yet,” Ye Yaming said with a bitter smile. “You know how proud she is of this engagement, and it involves my maternal grandfather’s reputation.”

“I’m telling you this because I hope you’ll be cautious about your own marriage. It’s best to secretly investigate him and his family. Marrying him means living with his family. His parents and siblings will determine your future life. You must be careful about such a significant matter.”

She looked into Ye Yaqing’s eyes, “Don’t be blinded by titles like scholar or provincial graduate. Song Yifeng is not an exception; scholars generally look down on merchants. We know our worth, but they don’t. The Wang family agreed to this marriage not because Scholar Wang admires you but because they want something from our family. And besides money, what else do we have to offer?”

Seeing Ye Yaqing’s eyes widen and her thoughtful expression, Ye Yaming stopped talking, giving her time to process her words.

Ye Yaqing wasn’t stupid, just inexperienced and unable to see through these things.

“Second Miss, Third Miss, it’s time to eat,” Bai Xin called from a distance.

“Coming,” Ye Yaming replied, then said to Ye Yaqing, “Let’s go eat.”

She pulled her along, “Calm yourself and don’t let anyone notice. You can investigate secretly or have Aunt Tao do it. Don’t let anyone know for now. You know how sharp Fourth Aunt’s tongue is.”

Ye Yaqing calmed herself and nodded, “Alright, I understand. Thank you, Third Sister.”

Ye Yaming and Song Yifeng’s engagement could change at any time. By telling her now, Ye Yaming was preventing her from making the same mistake, and Ye Yaqing appreciated her cousin’s kindness.

At the Ye family banquet, although the family ate in the same large hall, a screen separated the men and women. In the past, the women’s table was so crowded that they needed two tables, while the men’s side was sparsely populated, leaving Ye Chongming feeling melancholic.